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Railtrack
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met the Chief Executive of Railtrack; and how often he (a) has met the Chief Executive and (b) officials in his Department have met officials of Railtrack. [19223]
Ms Glenda Jackson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has met the Chief Executive of Railtrack once, on 30 October. Officials from the Department meet Railtrack officials frequently to discuss various railways issues.
Mobile Phones
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to prohibit the use of mobile phones by drivers in charge of their vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [19465]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The police can and do prosecute motorists using mobile phones for failing to have proper control of a vehicle, careless and inconsiderate driving or other more serious offences where appropriate. The Association of Chief Police Officers considers that existing road traffic legislation is sufficient to deal with cases arising from the use of a mobile phone while driving.
Our aim is to persuade motorists not to use phones while driving. One of the principal changes proposed in the recent consultation on the new edition of the Highway Code was a strengthening of the advice on this issue. We are drawing up good practice guidelines for drivers and for employers; and are considering what other measures may be necessary to reinforce the advice in the Highway Code.
Discharges to Water
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many discharges to water in excess of permitted limits were
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identified by the Environment Agency in 1996; how many prosecutions resulted; how many were successful; and what penalties were applied. [18683]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 4 December 1997]: The number of discharges which exceeded their consented limits in 1996 was 3,448. Inevitably, this headline figure disguises a considerable range of cases from marginal exceedances to substantial failures. The Agency brought 18 prosecutions under section 85(6) of the Water Resources Act 1991 for breaches of consent in 1996. All were successful and the fines imposed ranged from £450 to £10,000. However, the majority of prosecutions brought by the Agency are for the general offence of causing water pollution under section 85(1) of the 1991 Act. Some of these cases may also be attributable to a consented discharge. One of the reasons for the low number of prosecutions in relation to breaches of consent is that, on being notified of a failed sample, most dischargers take prompt action to remedy matters. In other cases, the Environment Agency may issue a formal caution.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many car park spaces are provided for his Department's (a) Ministers, (b) employees and (c) visitors in (i) London and (ii) the United Kingdom. [19366]
Mr. Raynsford:
My Department provides the following car parking spaces:
| London | United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Ministers | 9 | 0 |
| (b) Employees | 405 | 5,406 |
| (c) Visitors | 204 | 1,242 |
Slurry Lagoons
Mr. David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's policy on the requirement for a site investigation covering the hydraulic properties of soil, subsoil and bedrock as a prerequisite to the granting of permission for slurry lagoons in areas of high groundwater vulnerability. [19120]
Angela Eagle:
Any person having custody or control of slurry must store it in accordance with the requirements of the Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations 1991. Slurry storage systems covered by the regulations include lagoons. The regulations require the base and walls of any effluent tank, channels and reception pit and the walls of any pipes to be impermeable. The regulations do not require a site investigation to be undertaken. However, no part of the storage tank, any effluent tank, channels, pipes or reception pit is to be situated within 10 metres of any inland freshwater which slurry could enter if it were to escape unless this has been agreed by the Environment Agency on the basis of suitable precautions to avoid any significant risk of pollution of controlled waters. The Department has issued general guidance to farmers on the regulations. The Code of Good Agricultural Practice for
8 Dec 1997 : Column: 423
the protection of water issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also contains advice to farmers in respect of slurry storage.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government's target for a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 is contingent upon the carbon dioxide emission targets of other countries; and if he will make a statement. [19264]
Angela Eagle:
Our domestic aim is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. After Kyoto we will be launching a national debate on how we might move over time towards this level of reduction. However, this is not an offer to take on a legally binding target of 20 per cent. regardless of the commitments other countries are prepared to make. In Kyoto we are supporting the EU proposal that all developed countries should reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases to 15 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the Government is awaiting the outcome of the Kyoto environment conference before setting out the measures which will be taken to achieve its 20 per cent. carbon dioxide reduction target; and if he will make a statement. [19263]
Angela Eagle:
As a first stage, we will consult next year on a programme of measures which will largely focus on delivering our legally binding commitment from Kyoto. We will also launch a national debate on how we might move over time towards our 20 per cent. aim. Our programme must take account of decisions reached at Kyoto, including those on targets, policies and measures, and the scope for using instruments such as emissions trading and joint implementation. It must also reflect the outcome of a number of policy reviews in progress, such as on renewable energy and development of an integrated transport policy.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the depreciation associated with the average use of an average bicycle. [18791]
Dawn Primarolo:
I have been asked to reply.
Tax relief for depreciation on the cost of a bicycle used for the purposes of a business or employment is available through capital allowances at 25 per cent. per year. The allowance is adjusted for any private use.
Public Expenditure
Mr. Beggs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total public expenditure in each district council area in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [18933]
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Mr. Paul Murphy:
The information requested is not available. Public expenditure allocations are generally not recorded by District Council area.
Mr. Trimble:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with regard to the application for planning permission for land to the south of No. 68 Mahon Road, Portadown, made on 28 July 1996 (N/96/0564), what were the original observations of the Roads Service when consulted by the Planning Service; what previous applications were made in respect of that land; what was the outcome of such applications; and what were the reasons for refusal. [18958]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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