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Residential Development

Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on which dates since 1 May was (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials met representatives of the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development to discuss increasing the Government's target of new residential development to be built on previously used land. [18319]

Angela Eagle: Neither Ministers nor officials have met representatives of the UK Round Table specifically to discuss the Government's target of new residential development to be built on previously used land. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment has, however, had general discussions with the Chairman about Round Table recommendations.

Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of new homes provided in each year since 1981 through (a) urban infill and (b) house conversions. [18302]

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Mr. Raynsford: Estimates of the number of dwellings provided through conversions are shown below.

Net gain in dwellings from conversions and changes of useEngland

	Thousands of dwellings
1981	14.6
1982	17.6
1983	16.2
1984	17.3
1985	16.6
1986	17.1
1987	17.3
1988	14.8
1989	14.6
1990	12.4
1991	13.1
1992	10.1
1993	7.7
1994	9.3
1995	9.2
1996	8.9

Estimates of number dwellings through urban infill are currently not available, but should be available soon.

Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what in each of the last three years for which information is available, was the proportion in each region of the amount of new residential development built on previously used land; and what (a) meetings he has had and (b) other actions he has taken in respect of these regions where the proportion was under 50 per cent. [18321]

Mr. Raynsford: The table below shows the percentage of new residential development that is on land previously developed for urban uses, by Government Office Region, for the latest three years for which reliable estimates can be made.

The Government has held a number of meetings at which the issue of land recycling and other household growth matters have been discussed. The Government has also made it clear that, in making their housing land allocations, local authorities should make the best possible use of previously used sites for new housing. This applies in particular to those authorities who are achieving low levels of land recycling. The Government is considering these and other issues, taking into account the public consultation earlier this year, and will announce decisions in due course.

Per cent.

Government Office Region	1991	1992	1993 (provisional)
North East	43	46	40
North West and Merseyside	49	56	59
North West	49	54	55
Merseyside	48	65	76
Yorkshire and the Humber	38	42	48
East Midlands	33	34	33
West Midlands	44	46	49
Eastern	41	46	49
London	83	84	83
South East	50	49	49
South West	30	35	32
England	44	47	48

Source:

Land Use Change in England No. 12 (Table 8.5), Statistical Bulletin.

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Household Growth White Paper

Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the seminars which his Department (a) has held since 1 May and (b) plans to hold to debate the issues raised in the Green Paper "Household Growth: Where Shall We Live" (Cm 3471). [18318]

Mr. Raynsford: No public seminars have been held by the Government specifically on this subject since 1 May, nor do we have any current plans to hold such seminars in the near future. Officials attend independently arranged seminars on this subject as appropriate.

Planning Appeals (Redundant Farm Buildings)

Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appeals his Department has received in each year since 1988 involving the refusal of planning consent for the conversion of redundant farm buildings into (a) houses and (b) other uses; when the Department last issued new guidance on this subject; and what plans he has to issue revised guidance. [18301]

Mr. Raynsford: The following information has been provided by the Planning Inspectorate. Information is not available for the period before 1990. The data do not reveal whether the appeals related to redundant farm buildings. The number of unsuccessful appeals against refusal of planning permission for conversion of farm buildings to residential use was as follows:

	Number
1 January to 31 December
1990	523
1991	419
1992	298
1993	194
1994	198
1995	196
1996	188
1 January to 1 November
1997	88

In 1990 there were 3 unsuccessful appeals against refusal of planning permission for conversion of farm buildings to industrial use. There have been none since.

The Government's guidance on the conversion of redundant farm buildings is contained in Planning Policy Guidance note 7 "The Countryside--Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development", which was revised in February 1997. This allows greater discrimination than formerly in favour of re-use for business rather than residential use. There are at present no plans to issue revised guidance.

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Energy Efficiency

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the report "Options for the Future Development of Energy Efficiency Standards of Performance", prepared for him and the President of the Board of Trade OXERA Consultants. [18271]

Angela Eagle: I have placed a copy of the report in the Library. The analysis of options provided by the report will be taking into account in the Government's consideration of future regulation of the energy industry and of the achievement of energy efficiency climate change targets. There will be consultation on both issues.

Organophosphates

Dr. Brand: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will empower the Health and Safety Executive to examine with the permission of the patient the medical records of any person who suffers accidental exposure to organophosphates and other chemicals which results in admission to hospital or consultation with a doctor. [18162]

Angela Eagle: HSE may already examine medical records when it investigates reports of ill-health because of exposure to chemicals if the sufferer gives permission, except in special cases where the doctor judges that disclosure would itself put the patient at risk. Reported incidents of ill-health resulting from exposure to pesticides, veterinary and human medicines (including organophosphates) are assessed by expert panels who routinely examine medical records on this basis.

Trees

Ms Jenny Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage tree planting and the conservation of mature trees in urban areas to reduce storm water run-off. [18479]

Angela Eagle: My Department encourages local authorities to develop long term strategies to guide the planting, maintenance, conservation and replacement of all trees in their area. Such strategies should contain an appraisal of how trees might contribute to the local environment, taking account of local circumstances and conditions. This might include their role in reducing storm water run-off.

Railway Lines (Trespass)

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the duty to fence off railway lines with a view to requiring Railtrack plc to prevent trespass on railway lines. [18372]

Ms Glenda Jackson: Following a recommendation by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), a review of railway safety legislation was completed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 1996. As a result, the

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Railway Safety (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1997, which came into force on 10 May, place a new duty on Railtrack to take reasonably practicable measures to prevent unauthorised access by trespassers. Guidance on these Regulations, issued by the HSE, gives advice on the type of fencing or other physical barriers that should be provided.

Rat Control

Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the legal responsibilities of water and sewerage companies in respect of the control of rats. [18501]

Angela Eagle: There is no specific duty on water and sewerage undertakers in relation to the control of rats in sewers. However, all sewerage undertakers have programmes to control and reduce the number of rats in their systems. This includes the use of baits in pumping stations and air vents to stop rats entering the system and within sewers. In addition, I understand that the water industry will be undertaking some research into the issue of rats in sewers early next year. Finally, under Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a duty to inspect their area for statutory nuisances such as "any premises in such a state as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance."

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