| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Thames Water (Discharges)
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent reports he has received concerning radioactive discharges relating to Thames Water. [9847]
Angela Eagle: All radioactive discharges in England and Wales must be authorised by the Environment Agency under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993. Limits for discharges of radioactivity are set by the Environment Agency in accordance with national and international standards, and the potential cumulative effects of discharges are carefully considered. Levels of actual radioactive discharges reported to the Environment Agency are placed on the public registers.
The Environment Agency also monitors levels of radioactivity in the waters and sediments of the River Thames. The results of this monitoring programme demonstrate that levels of radioactivity in the River Thames are low and consistently below World Health Organisation guidelines for drinking water. MAFF undertakes a separate monitoring programme, which includes levels of radioactivity in certain fish, plants and sediments of the River Thames.
Both the Environment Agency and MAFF produce annual reports of their monitoring programmes. Although I received no such report recently, I understand that the next agency report is expected to be issued during the summer, and the next MAFF report, the title of which is "Radioactivity in Food and the Environment" at the end of September.
In addition, information on radioactive discharges from, and levels of radioactivity recorded at, various sites in the UK, including some on the River Thames, is included in the "Digest of Environmental Statistics" No. 19 1997, which was published on 11 July.
31 Jul 1997 : Column: 537
I am investigating what information is available on historic discharges into the River Thames from the principle sites involved, and I will write to the hon. Member.
Ms Perham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often since 1992 his Department or its predecessor Departments have been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions upon those who could apply. [9511]
Angela Eagle
[pursuant to her reply, 24 July, c. 694]: Employment advertisements placed by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions have not carried age restrictions for some years. This Department believes that older workers have a great deal to offer in the way of skills and experience and we welcome applications from people irrespective of their age. However, certain advertisements placed by its agencies have reflected age criteria appropriate for specific jobs. A lower age limit of 25 is imposed on the Vehicle Inspectorate's traffic examiners and the Driving Standards Authority's driving examiners. The Coastguard Agency used to recruit watch officers only between the ages of 27 and 50, but this restriction ceased in 1995. In 1996 the planning inspectorate advertised for inspectors who could offer 10 years' service prior to the normal retirement age.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to provide guidance to the Office of Water Services on the implementation of legislation to improve the quality of drinking water and the environment as part of the 1999 periodic review of water pricing. [10649]
Angela Eagle:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, together with the Secretary of State for Wales, will issue public guidance in 1998 to the Director General of Water Services on the extent and timing of the water quality and environmental obligations likely to be placed on water and sewerage companies during the review period. In providing this guidance, the Government will draw on advice from the Environment Agency and the drinking water inspectorate on quality requirements, and advice from the Director General of Water Services on the investment likely to be required to meet quality standards and the price implications for customers. It is then for the director general to take account of that guidance in setting price limits in the 1999 periodic review.
My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, announced an inter-departmental review of the regulation of the utility industries on 30 June, Official Report, columns 20-21. When issuing guidance to the Director General of Water Services, the Government will take into account the conclusions of that review.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the purity of English drinking water by region; and how that compares with the purity of drinking water in other EU countries. [12167]
31 Jul 1997 : Column: 538
Angela Eagle:
The drinking water inspectorate publishes an annual report on the quality of water supplied by the 29 water companies in England and Wales. The report for 1996 was published on 8 July and is available in the House Library. It confirms that the quality of drinking water in England and Wales remains very high. In excess of 3 million samples were tested in 1996 and of these 99.7 per cent. complied with the standards. Comparable data for the quality of drinking water in other EU member states are not generally available.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the statutory duties of the Director General of Water Services which relate to the periodic review of water pricing. [10650]
Angela Eagle:
Condition B of the instrument of appointment of the water undertakers, made under section 6 of the Water Industry Act 1991, sets out the formula for calculating price limits. It provides for a review of all price limits by the director at 10-yearly intervals, or after five years at the request of the companies of the director.
The Director General of Water Services, under section 2 of the Water Industry Act 1991, must exercise and perform his powers and duties in a manner best calculated to ensure that water and sewerage companies can carry out and finance their functions under that Act, in particular by securing a reasonable rate of return on their capital. Subject to that, he has to protect customers and promote economy and efficiency.
Under section 3 of the Act, the director general, so far as is consistent with his duties under section 2, has general environmental and recreational duties, including a duty to further the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty and the conservation of flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest and a duty to have regard to the preservation of public amenities such as freedom of access to the countryside and seaside.
My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, announced an inter-departmental review of the regulation of the utility industries on 30 June, Official Report, columns 20-21. The Government's objective for the review is to set a long-term stable framework for utility regulation which is seen as fair by all the interest groups involved, particularly by consumers
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of total departmental expenditure on computer-related current and capital work for (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98, (d) 1998-99 and (e) 1999-2000; and if he will make a statement. [11384]
31 Jul 1997 : Column: 539
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 29 July 1997]: The table sets out total estimated departmental payments--£ million--on computer-related current and capital work for the years requested:
| Year | Current and capital work £ million |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 55.5 |
| 1996-97 | 55.7 |
| 1997-98 | 64.1 |
| 1998-99 | 62.2 |
| 1999-2000 | 59.3 |
Regional Development Agencies
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to bring forward legislation to create regional development agencies. [11704]
Angela Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Houghton and Washington East (Mr. Kemp) on 24 June 1997, Official Report, column 478.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has in respect of membership of the boards of the proposed regional development agencies; if there will be representation allocated to the co-operative and mutual sector; and if he will make a statement. [12226]
Angela Eagle: On 11 June, the Government launched a wide ranging consultation on our proposals for regional development agencies. We will make our detailed decisions in the light of that consultation
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the boundaries in England for the proposed regional development agencies will be the same as those proposed for regional lists for elections to the European Parliament. [12079]
Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |