| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
London Strategic Authority
13. Mr. Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for which areas of current local government the strategic authority for London would have responsibility. [9360]
Mr. Raynsford: We have today published a Green Paper setting out our proposals for a Greater London authority, which lists the range of functions the Greater London authority will have and considers how they can be delivered effectively. Copies of the Green Paper are available in the House Libraries.
16. Mr. Merchant: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the costs of establishing and running a strategic authority for London. [9363]
Mr. Raynsford: Our Green Paper, published today, sets out proposals and seeks views on a range of options for the nature and functions of the new strategic authority for London. It is not possible to make firm estimates of the cost of establishing and running the authority until we are clearer, following this consultation, on the final form that the new arrangements will take. Our overriding objective is that the new strategic authority should improve the efficiency with which pan-London activities are carried out. We intend that any additional spending on setting up the new authority will be offset by longer-term savings.
Planning Policy
14. Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will amend the general development order to extend those categories of development which are subject to planning application and public inquiries. [9361]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants a general planning permission for a variety of mostly minor
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 192
developments, subject to limits and conditions designed to protect amenity and the environment. We have no immediate plans to amend the order by bringing certain classes of permitted development within full planning control.
17. Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps are being taken to reduce those environmental pollutants which have been demonstrated to contribute to the incidence of asthma. [9364]
Angela Eagle:
No pollutants have been demonstrated to contribute to the incidence of asthma, but sulphur dioxide, ozone, particles and possibly nitrogen dioxide may cause a worsening of symptoms in asthmatics. The Government recognise the health effects of air pollution and are committed to rapid implementation of the national air quality strategy in order to improve air quality across the United Kingdom.
18. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with water companies on the subject of charging arrangements in substitution for the present system based on rateable values. [9365]
Mr. Meacher:
The Deputy Prime Minister and I have met representatives of the water companies at the water summit and at other times. We shall consider their views alongside all others in the Government's review of the water charging system.
19. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under what arrangements the boards of directors of the regional development agencies will be appointed. [9366]
Mr. Caborn:
In the short term, we expect the boards of the regional development agencies to be appointed by the Secretary of State for he will wish to be guided by the needs and wishes of the regions.
20. Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend the range of organisations placed under the requirement to take Agenda 21 on sustainable development as an instrumental part of their responsibilities. [9367]
Mr. Meacher:
There is no mandatory requirement on any organisation to take on Agenda 21. However, a wide range of organisations, including central and local government, business and the voluntary sector, are committed to take forward the Agenda 21 agreement on sustainable development.
The Government accept their leadership role and are determined to implement sustainable development
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 193
through their policies. We are introducing a new series of measures which will deliver this effectively throughout central Government Departments.
In relation to local government, last month, at the UN special session on the environment in New York, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister acknowledged the pivotal role of local authorities in promoting Local Agenda 21 and called on all UK local authorities to adopt Local Agenda 21 strategies by 2000. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister followed this up at last week's Local Government Association conference by announcing that a joint central-local government document will be produced giving practical guidance on how to put such strategies in place.
Businesses are subject to a range of environmental regulations which themselves are part of the UK Government's whole sustainable development package. We are working with them in other ways to promote sustainable development in the business sector. Extensive support to help companies improve their environmental performance is freely available through the Government's energy efficiency and environmental technology best practice programmes and network of regional contacts. The uptake of formal environmental management systems--that is International Standard Organisation 14001 and eco-management and audit scheme--has also been extensively promoted and leading companies are responding positively. We should like all UK businesses with over 250 employees to have a publicly declared environmental policy and report to their stakeholders on progress.
22. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of global temperature changes.[9369]
Mr. Meacher:
Information on global temperature changes is assessed and published regularly on behalf of the Government by the UK Meteorological Office in conjunction with the climatic research unit at the university of East Anglia. The latest data available for 1997 show that the global surface temperature for the first half of the year was approximately 0.33 deg C above the 1961-90 average. Global temperatures are, on average about 0.5 deg C warmer now that they were at the end of the last century.
25. Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the preservation of the countryside. [9372]
Angela Eagle:
We have received a large number of representations about a range of issues affecting the countryside. The countryside is one of our great national assets and we are carefully reviewing rural policy to ensure its improved protection and stewardship.
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 194
26. Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will bring forward proposals for a power of community initiative in local government. [9373]
Ms Armstrong:
We intend to consult the Local Government Association and all other interested parties on the proposed new duty for councils to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area as we implement our manifesto programme for good local government.
34. Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the regulation of Railtrack. [9382]
Mr. Prescott:
The Government are reviewing the regulation of railways generally and of Railtrack in particular, with a view to establishing a more effective and accountable regime.
35. Mr. Merchant:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he proposes to increase the use of the private finance initiative on the London Underground. [9383]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We support use of private finance to improve the underground through projects like the proposed power PFI deal. We are determined to attract more private finance to tackle the investment backlog in the underground's key assets, such as track, signalling and civil engineering structures. That is why we are reviewing public-private partnership options for the underground as a matter of urgency.
49. Mrs. Gorman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of private investment in London Underground. [9399]
Ms Jackson:
London Underground is negotiating two PFI contracts--power and prestige--and awaiting bids for a third--connect. London Underground is also developing proposals for a number of other PFI projects. The Government are also considering public-private partnership options for London Underground as a matter of urgency.
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much funding at current prices the Government provided to London Underground in each year since 1979. [11297]
Ms Jackson:
Government funding is provided to London Transport, rather than its constituent businesses. The distribution of grant by LT between London Underground Ltd. and its other businesses is a matter for LT, subject to the ring fencing of support for Jubilee line extension. Total annual grant in constant 1997-98 prices provided to London Transport since 1979 is shown in the table.
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 195
| Year | Total grant £ million |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 396 |
| 1980 | 493 |
| 1981 | 447 |
| 1982 | 602 |
| 1983 | 629 |
| 1984-85 | 592 |
| 1985-96 | 536 |
| 1986-87 | 475 |
| 1987-88 | 310 |
| 1988-89 | 242 |
| 1989-90 | 332 |
| 1990-91 | 600 |
| 1991-92 | 669 |
| 1992-93 | 988 |
| 1993-94 | 754 |
| 1994-95 | 840 |
| 1995-96 | 943 |
| 1996-97 | 963 |
| 1997-98(21) | 759 |
(21) Estimated outturn.
The table excludes Docklands light railway grant, but from 1996-97 onwards it includes Croydon tramlink grant.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |