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Opencast Coal Extraction
Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish a consultation paper on planning policy for opencast coal extraction; and if he will make a statement.[11978]
Mr. Caborn: We have published a consultation document on the review of planning policy for opencast coal today. This consultation paper, which deals with England only, seeks views on the issues raised by the 10-point plan for opencast coal, which we prepared when in opposition, and the options for change. In the light of responses to this consultation, the Government will decide what changes to policy guidance could and should be implemented in interim planning guidance, which would better be accommodated in a full review, planned for 1998, of minerals planning guidance note No. 3--coal mining and colliery spoil disposal--and whether any legislative changes are necessary. I intend that this should be a short but thorough inquiry to remove any uncertainty. Copies of the consultation document will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mr. Chisholm), expects to publish shortly an equivalent paper for Scotland.
Oslo and Paris Convention
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the (a) scope and (b) time scale of the review on the Government's environmental policies on issues relevant to the Ospar Commission. [11865]
Angela Eagle: The review of the UK positions on the issues to be discussed within the Ospar Commission covers all issues relevant to conclusions to be reached by the Commission. It will be completed in time to provide guidance for the UK representatives in those negotiations.
Mr. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advantages of lifting the United Kingdom reservations on the Ospar draft objectives relating to (a) the continuous reduction of discharges of hazardous substances to the maritime area, (b) the continuous reduction of discharges of radioactive substances to the maritime area and (c) the prohibition of the dumping of offshore oil installations in the maritime area. [11859]
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Angela Eagle:
UK reservations on aspects of these instruments are all covered by the review of the UK positions on the issues to be discussed within the Ospar Commission. As I told my right hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 23 July, Official Report, column 623, I shall write to that hon. Member outlining any major changes on which we decide, and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House. I will also send a copy of the letter to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor).
Mr. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which civil servants are dealing with the review of the Government's environmental policies on issues relevant to the Ospar commission. [11860]
Angela Eagle:
All those civil servants who normally deal with the issues concerned.
Mr. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which other (a) Government Departments and (b) organisations his Department is consulting in the review of the Government's environmental policies on issues relevant to the Ospar commission. [11866]
Angela Eagle:
The review of the UK positions on the issues to be discussed within the Ospar Commission is to provide guidance for the representatives of the UK Government in those negotiations. All Government Departments with an interest are therefore being consulted. We are also taking into account such views as have been expressed by other organisations.
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amount of radioactive waste was handled by the Edmonton waste incinerator in (a) 1996 and (b) 1997; and what monitoring procedures are in place at the incinerator to monitor levels of radioactivity. [11044]
Angela Eagle:
The disposal of radioactive waste is regulated in England and Wales by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. I understand that the agency has neither received an application for authorisation nor issued an authorisation under the Act to dispose of radioactive waste at the Edmonton waste incinerator.
Mr. Etherington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission's report published in January 1994 on the British Waterways Board. [11628]
Angela Eagle:
The British Waterways Board has now made its third and final response to the report. I am placing a copy in the Library of the House.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what actions his Department will take to ensure that renovations carried
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out by the release of capital receipts as proposed in the Local Government Finance (Supplementary Credit Approvals) Bill take into account the access needs of disabled people. [10859]
Mr. Raynsford:
It will be for individual local authorities to determine their local needs and priorities when they apply resources released under the capital receipts initiative. When an authority decides to use resources to support new provision by registered social landlords, that development must meet the Housing Corporation's scheme development standards. These set out minimum requirements for new developments: all passenger lifts must be accessible to those in wheelchairs; new developments for the elderly must take account of their increasing accessibility needs; and properties built for wheelchair users must conform to standards agreed with the National Wheelchair Housing Association Group.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce a decision in relation to supermarket planning matters in Cockermouth. [10634]
Nick Raynsford:
The Secretary of State expects to be able to announce his decision in respect of the four separate proposals for new large food stores in Cockermouth shortly.
Mr. Terry Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce further environmental quality standards for the discharges of dangerous substances into controlled waters. [11852]
Mr. Meacher:
A consultation paper proposing environmental quality standards for 13 dangerous substances, as defined in directive 76/464/EEC on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances
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discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community, was issued by my Department in March. It is planned to bring regulations containing these standards before the House shortly. In addition, I have today placed in the Library of the House a consultation paper proposing standards for a further 21 dangerous substances. These substances are:
Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of homes in (a) each region of the United Kingdom and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole were owner-occupied in each year since 1979. [11304]
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 29 July 1997]: The latest available estimates, as at end December for each year, are provided in the table.
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4-chloro-3-methyl-phenol
2-chlorophenol
2,4-dichlorophenol
2,4 D (ester and non ester)
1,1,1-trichloroethane
1,1,2-trichloroethane
bentazone
benzene
biphenyl
chloronitrotoluenes
demeton
dimethoate
linuron
MCPA
mecoprop
mevinphos
naphthalene
omethoate
toluene
triazaphos
and xylene
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(30) Figures are not yet available.
(31) Tenure split not available.
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