| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Commuting
Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on disincentives to commuting journeys in respect of his integrated transport strategy. [18876]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The closing date for responses to the consultation on an integrated transport policy was 14 November. We have received a large number of responses which we are in the process of analysing. It is too early to give details of representations on individual subject areas although a number of respondents have mentioned specific journey purposes including commuting in their responses. The importance of encouraging "Green Commuting" was a major theme in the regional consultation meetings held to discuss the consultation document.
4 Dec 1997 : Column: 286
A full report on the consultation exercise will be published with the White Paper.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the present mileage within the Greater London Authority area of the red route system. [18965]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The length of the red route network is 315 miles.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what measures are in place for the monitoring and control of approved building control inspectors from the private sector; and if he will make a statement; [18871]
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 3 December 1997]: Local authority building control officers are answerable to the chief officers of the authorities for which they work, and through them to elected members. As regards private sector approved inspectors, the appointing body also has the power to withdraw approval. In the case of corporate bodies, approval is given by the Secretary of State, and, in the case of individuals, it is given by the Construction Industry Council. I am currently consulting the Local Government Association, the Construction Industry Council and the Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors on ways of securing consistent building control standards and better conditions for competition across the public and private sectors of building control.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will meet deputations from local authorities to discuss his provisional capping and grant settlement. [18976]
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 3 December 1997]: Yes. My Department wrote to local authorities on Tuesday 2 December with details of the provisional local government finance settlement 1998-99 and set out the arrangements we propose for discussions on our proposals.
Mr. Tyler:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice his Department has offered local authorities on millennium compliance and its cost. [18887]
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 3 December 1997]: Each local authority is responsible for ensuring its own millennium compliance. Authorities have access to high-quality advice on this issue, through the Local Government Management Board and other professional bodies. In addition, the Government have published best practice guidance on millennium compliance. We have
4 Dec 1997 : Column: 287
taken the financial implications of millennium compliance into account in the proposed 1998-99 local government financial settlement.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total cost of millennium compliance to local government. [19202]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Department has not itself made an estimate of the total cost of millennium compliancy. The Local Government Association's estimate of the cost, for 1998-99, of information technology adaption for the year 2000 was taken into account in the Local Government Finance provisional settlement which was announced to the House on Tuesday 2 December.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which Acts of Parliament require him to call in planning appeals for proposed developments involving more than 150 houses or flats for his own determination. [19036]
Mr. Raynsford:
There is no statutory requirement for my right hon. Friend to recover planning appeals for his own determination. Under paragraph 3 of schedule 6 to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, my right hon. Friend may, if he thinks fit, direct that a planning appeal will be determined by him rather than by an appointed person.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many planning applications for proposed developments involving more than 150 houses or flats were (a) approved and (b) rejected on appeal in (i) 1994-95, (ii) 1995-96 and (iii) 1996-97; [19035]
Mr. Raynsford:
The provision of information on Planning Appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from C. J. Shepley to Mr. Tim Yeo, dated 4 December 1997.
(2) what measures are in place for the monitoring and control of local authority building control inspectors.[18870]
(2) how many planning appeals for proposed developments involving more than 150 houses or flats were called in for his or his predecessor's own determination in each of the years (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96 and (c) 1996-97 [19038]
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Questions about planning appeal decisions in 1994-95 to 1996-97 for proposed developments involving more than 150 houses or flats.
Our records, for those appeals where the number of dwellings were indicated, show the following:
Planning appeals involving more than 150 houses or flats
| Year | Allowed | Rejected |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 2 | 8 |
| 1995-96 | 3 | 3 |
| 1996-97 | 3 | 5 |
4 Dec 1997 : Column: 288
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 18 |
| 1995-96 | 14 |
| 1996-97 | 8 |
Task Force on Cleaner Vehicles
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Minister for the Environment was informed that Mr. Keith Taylor, Chief Executive of Esso, had been appointed to the Government's task force on cleaner vehicles. [19151]
Mr. Meacher: The members of the Task Force's steering group were nominated by the Minister for Transport, in close consultation with the Science, Energy and Industry Minister and officials from the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Department of Trade and Industry. I, along with other relevant DETR Ministers, have been kept fully informed of developments in appointing members of the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force.
Regional Planning Guidance
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advice of the West Midlands Regional Forum of Local Authorities on housing provision; and if he will issue an amendment to Regional Planning Guidance II. [19508]
Mr. Caborn: The Forum is to be congratulated on the comprehensive nature of its advice and its involvement of the House Builders Federation and the Council for the Protection of Rural England in its formulation.
4 Dec 1997 : Column: 289
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |