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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 17 November 1997
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Workplace Injuries
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 October, Official Report, column 721, on workplace injuries, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the increase in major injuries reported between 1995-96 and 1996-97 which is accounted for by the extension of the definition of major injuries in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. [14472]
Angela Eagle: Based on provisional figures for 1996-97 it is estimated that at least 45 per cent. of the increase in major injuries to employees, and all of the increase in major injuries to the self-employed reported to HSE and local authorities between 1995-96 and 1996-97 is accounted for by the extension of the definition of major injury in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. The remaining 55 per cent. of the increase in major injuries to employees could be due to extensions to the definition of injuries reportable under RIDDOR 1995. These cannot be separately identified since they are classified within general categories previously reportable as major injuries.
Figures for 1997-98 will be available next summer. At that stage we will be able to make a better assessment of the effects of the changes brought by RIDDOR 1995. However, there is no room for complacency, any accidents at work are unacceptable and we have asked the Health and Safety Commission to analyse the statistics further and to try to identify the main influences.
Bridge Strengthening
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 October, Official Report, columns 713-14, relating to bridge strengthening, how many bridges on the trunk road network have been strengthened to date; when he expects local authorities to complete their assessment of their bridge stock; and by what criteria and by whom decisions on which require strengthening will be made. [15033]
Ms Glenda Jackson: With regard to bridges on the trunk network, the position at 1 April 1997 was that 528 had been strengthened. Work on the strengthening programme continues and I shall write to my hon. Friend in due course providing an update on progress.
The vast majority of local authority assessments will have been completed by 31 March 1999. However, it seems likely that a small number, on roads of less strategic importance, will remain to be assessed in 1999-2000. It is for local authorities to decide, in the light of local needs and
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circumstances, whether to strengthen individual bridges or to make use of alternative measures such as weight restrictions or traffic management.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to make an announcement on the widening of the M6. [15644]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The two schemes for widening the M6 between Junctions 11A and 19 are subject to consideration within the strategic trunk road review which my right hon. Friend announced in June. We expect to announce the outcome of the review next year.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the expenditure by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on official hospitality for (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1987-88, (iii) 1990-91, (iv) 1991-92, (v) 1992-93, (vi) 1993-94, (vii) 1994-95, (viii) 1995-96, (ix) 1996-97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997. [15230]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 11 November 1997]: Figures for years (i) and (ii) are not available. Figures for the Department and its Agencies, where these are available, for years (iii) to (x) are as listed. This information is not held centrally for Non-Departmental Public Bodies and the information could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.
| £000 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Department | Agencies | |
| (iii) 1990-91 | 92 | 14 |
| (iv) 1991-92 | 131 | 27 |
| (v) 1992-93 | 389 | 36 |
| (vi) 1993-94 | 408 | 23 |
| (vii) 1994-95 | 359 | 102 |
| (viii) 1995-96 | 253 | 111 |
| (ix) 1996-97 | 318 | 130 |
| (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997 | 115 | 44 |
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the new sites granted SSSI status by English Nature in each year since 1990. [15675]
Angela Eagle: An up-to-date list of sites notified since April 1991 (when English Nature was set up) has been deposited in the Libraries of the House.
Telecommunications Developments
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce procedures to enable local planning authorities to extend the 28 day limit in their determination of prior approval for telecommunications developments; and if he will make a statement. [15662]
Mr. Raynsford:
An application for prior approval determination in respect of telecommunications development provides the local planning authority with
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the opportunity to say whether they wish to approve, within 28 days, details of its proposed siting and appearance. Currently we have no plans to extend the 28-day period allowed.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the 28 day prior notification limit for telecommunications developments on (a) consultation with parish or town councils and councillors, (b) the opportunities for comment from local residents and (c) the opportunities to negotiate and amend proposed schemes; and if he will make a statement. [15663]
Mr. Raynsford:
Where an application for prior approval determination is to be made, Appendix E to the Department's Circular 9/95 emphasises the importance of discussions between the operator and the local planning authority to minimise any difficulties about the proposal and avoid delay in processing the application. It also encourages publicity for such proposals so that people likely to be affected can make their views known to the local planning authority. It is important that authorities make satisfactory arrangements to enable them to deal with these applications. The Department's Code of Best Practice on telecommunications prior approval procedures as applied to mast/tower development provides guidance on how local planning authorities and operators can co-operate to make it easier for prior approval applications to be dealt with effectively within the 28 day period allowed.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce national guidance in respect of (a) the circumstances in which the public health impact of telecommunications developments should be a planning consideration and (b) the weight which should be given to public health issues by local planning authorities; and if he will make a statement. [15665]
Mr. Raynsford:
Planning Policy Guidance note 1 advises local planning authorities that any consideration which relates to the use and development of land is, in principle, capable of being a planning consideration. The issue of whether, in any individual case, a particular matter is a material consideration will depend on the prevailing facts and circumstances. It is for the body determining the application (usually the local planning authority) to decide which are the material considerations applicable in the first instance. This is the planning position. Any organisation engaged in telecommunications development should comply with Health and Safety legislation.
Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the findings of the Medical Research Council's Institute for Environment and Health's preliminary assessment of health risks associated with the domestic use of medium-density fibreboard. [16069]
Angela Eagle:
The Medical Research Council's Institute for Environmental Health has not yet undertaken a formal assessment of the risks associated with the domestic use of medium-density fibreboard. Without wishing to prejudice the outcome of the assessment, the
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Institute has expressed the preliminary opinion that inhalation of dust from operations involving medium-density fibreboard is more likely to be an occupational rather than a domestic hazard. Although inhalation of any dust is to be avoided (especially very fine particles which can reach the deep lung) the Institute does not consider occasional "DIY" activities involving medium-density fibreboard to pose a particular risk. Good working practice when cutting or sanding medium-density fibreboard, would be to wear a suitable dust mask or where possible, perform this work out-of-doors. Like other types of particle board, medium-density fibreboard can give off formaldehyde gas (used in resin bonding) but only in exceptional cases is this likely to cause problems.
Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of (a) alternatives to medium-density fibreboard and (b) low or zero formaldehyde emission fibreboard in do-it-yourself home construction. [16065]
Angela Eagle:
The Department does not consider medium-density fibreboard a risk to health to individuals involved in do-it-yourself activities. Therefore, the Department does not have a policy to encourage the use of alternatives.
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