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Car of Tomorrow Project
Mr. MacGregor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to implement the recommendations contained in the Twentieth report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in respect of the United Kingdom's funding for the European Commission's Car of Tomorrow project. [14423]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The Government are committed to working in partnership with industry to develop and promote less polluting vehicles, as demonstrated by yesterday's announcement by my hon. Friend the Minister for Science, Energy and Industry, at the launch of the Foresight Vehicle LINK programme. The Government will continue to attach considerable importance to the potential contribution that European research and development can make to the development of cleaner vehicles as it discusses the make-up of the fifth framework programme with the European Commission.
Leasehold Valuation Tribunal
Jacqui Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to investigate the speed with which cases are processed through the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal; and if he will make a statement. [14095]
Mr. Raynsford:
My Department is working with the Presidents of the Tribunals to minimise delays in the procedures which are within their control. I understand that the West Midland Leasehold Valuation Tribunal typically issues decisions within a month of the hearing. My hon. Friend may, however, have in mind three cases relating to properties in Redditch which were heard in June. These are unusually important and sensitive cases
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on which the tribunal has found it necessary to deliberate at considerable length. It hopes to be able to issue its decisions later this month.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which draft county structure plans the Government office for each region has (a) responded to and (b) commented on since 1 May. [14076]
Mr. Raynsford:
Since 1 May 1977, formal interventions have been made by Government Offices on behalf of the Secretary of State in respect of the deposited County Durham structure plan (objection submitted by Government Office for the North East) and the Cornwall structure plan (withdrawal of direction not to adopt by the Government Office for the South West).
| County | |
|---|---|
| Government Office for the West Midlands | Shropshire |
| Staffordshire | |
| Warwickshire | |
| Government Office for the Eastern Region | Essex |
| Government Office for the South East | Oxfordshire |
More generally, Government Offices maintain ongoing discussions with all structure planning authorities in their areas.
Lighting Systems
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to legislate for the control of light pollution from domestic and commercial security lighting systems and general floodlighting systems. [14013]
Angela Eagle: The Government believe that any problems caused by such lighting are best dealt with by raising public awareness and by providing guidance on how these problems might be avoided.
My Department, in conjunction with the Countryside Commission, has recently published a good practice guide, "Lighting in the Countryside", which provides advice to local authorities, developers, professionals and members of the public on the effects of lighting and how best to minimise its intrusiveness. Much of the advice it contains is equally applicable to urban areas.
Other wider concerns about light pollution are being considered by my officials. Any decisions on action will be taken once their work is complete.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies his Department has undertaken to assess how
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many bridges, owned by local authorities, will need strengthening in order to meet the requirements under directive 85/3/EC. [14194]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
My Department regularly monitors progress made by local authorities in implementing the programme of bridge assessment and strengthening, initiated in 1987.
Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review planning policy guidance to facilitate increased job creation in the rural economy. [14177]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Government's planning policy for rural areas is contained in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG)7 which was revised in February 1997. This reaffirms that the guiding principle in the countryside should be that development should both benefit economic activity and maintain or enhance the environment.
The revised PPG7 encourages business diversification and allows for greater discrimination in favour of re-use of rural buildings for business rather than for residential purposes.
It also makes it clear that the range of industries which can be successfully located in rural areas, without causing unacceptable disturbance, is expanding. It advises local authorities to make provision for commercial development in their local plans, and gives greater encouragement to, and guidance on, development proposals for agricultural diversification.
We have no plans to review PPG7.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many public appointments he has made since 1 May. [14244]
Angela Eagle:
The Secretary of State has made the following appointments to non-departmental public bodies and nationalised industries sponsored by the Department since 1 May.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| NDPBs: | |
| Executive | 42 |
| Advisory | 30 |
| Tribunals | 59 |
| Nationalised Industries | 2 |
| Total | 133 |
The Secretary of State also makes appointments to various small, mainly local, public bodies and other miscellaneous appointments. Details of these appointments are not held centrally.
Delegated Legislation
Mr. Clifton-Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list
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all (a) secondary, (b) other delegated legislation and (c) all deregulation orders his Department made during the summer adjournment. [14381]
Angela Eagle:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster yesterday, 5 November 1997, Official Report, column 216.
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further legislative steps he plans in order to deal with radioactively contaminated land. [14360]
Angela Eagle:
The Environment Act 1995 contained powers to establish regimes for both radioactively, and non-radioactively, contaminated land by secondary legislation. The Government are considering how best to apply the provisions of this Act, and we expect to make an announcement shortly.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to require the obtaining of planning permission for the erection of all telephone and radio masts. [14012]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants a general planning permission for certain telecommunications masts providing:
A full application for planning permission is normally required for any mast which does not meet these criteria. There are no current plans to amend the regulations in this respect.
Mrs. Ann Cryer:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans she has to change the current guidance, in Policy Planning Guidance and the Town and Country Planning Acts, in respect of their presumption in favour of development. [14358]
Mr. Raynsford:
Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires a planning application to be determined in accordance with the adopted development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. As explained in PPG1, this establishes a presumption in favour of proposals that conform to the prevailing development plan, rather than a general presumption in favour of development. The Government have no plans to change this "plan-led" system. Any changes to Planning Policy Guidance or Minerals Planning Guidance will be announced in the normal way.
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Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to include crime statistics as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications relating to change of use. [14176]
Mr. Raynsford:
DoE Circular 5/94, "Planning Out Crime", advises that crime prevention is capable of being a material consideration when planning applications are considered. As with other material considerations, the weight that is given to it will depend on the individual circumstances of the case. Crime statistics may be useful in making this assessment.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to amend the Planning Regulations so that public houses and hot food takeaway premises do not fall within the same use class; and if he will make a statement. [14014]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Use Classes Order 1987 groups together various types of land use because, in planning terms, they have a similar impact on a neighbourhood. As public houses and hot food takeaway premises tend to raise the same land use issues, they are both included within Use Class A3, the Food and Drink Class. There are no plans to amend this class, although we keep the arrangements under review.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to remove permitted development rights and same category use rights from the privatised utilities and public bodies for buildings or land which formerly had the benefit of Crown immunity, but have subsequently ceased to be used in full or part for the original purpose, and to require the submission of planning applications for any changes of use which have been implemented or planned since privatisation. [14032]
Mr. Raynsford:
We have no plans to remove permitted development rights or same Use Class rights from privatised utilities or public bodies. Last year my Department commissioned research to establish the extent to which statutory undertakers rely on permitted development rights and to consider whether any changes are needed. The research project is now complete and we are considering the findings.
the mast is erected by a telecommunications code system operator licensed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the Telecommunications Act 1984;
the mast does not exceed 15m in height;
the mast is not erected in a National Park, area of outstanding natural beauty, conservation area, or the Broads; and
the mast is not refused prior approval by the local planning authority within the period allowed under the Order. The authority must be given the opportunity to say whether they wish to approve, within 28 days, details of the mast's siting and appearance. The authority may refuse approval if they consider there to be a serious threat to amenity.
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