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Kyoto Protocol
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to sign the Kyoto Protocol. [30744]
Mr. Meacher: It is our intention that the UK will sign the Kyoto Protocol at an early date. We are in discussion with our EU colleagues with the aim of maximising the participation of Member States and the Community in signing the Protocol at the same time, before the end of the UK Presidency of the EU at the end of June.
Millennium Dome
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to what depth the site of the Millennium Dome has been cleared of contaminants. [30516]
Mr. Caborn: The depth of contamination on the site to be occupied by the Millennium Dome varied widely. The majority of contamination was contained within the surface layer, which varied between 2 and 4 metres in depth. In isolated instances the contamination extended up to a maximum of 14 metres. The treatment applied to each part of the site depended on the type and depth of the contamination. No part of the site was treated to a depth of less than 2 metres and in places the treatment extended to 14 metres.
Mr. Maude:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contaminants were present on the Millennium Dome site. [30515]
25 Feb 1998 : Column: 223
Mr. Caborn:
A large proportion of the Millennium Dome site has been chemically contaminated to varying degrees as a result of former industrial activities, principally the generation of coal, gas and associated by-products. By-products include the manufacture of sulphuric acid and ammonium sulphate fertiliser in a dedicated chemical works as well as the production of coal tar and a range of organic chemicals such as benzene and naphtha in a separate tar works.
As a result, the principal contaminants found on the site were:
The contaminants were identified during a comprehensive site investigation undertaken both by the original site owners (British Gas) and by the current owners, English Partnerships.
The approach to the treatment of the site has been approved by both the Environment Agency and the London Borough of Greenwich and is consistent with Government policy on the treatment of contaminated land.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many acres of land are covered by the Contaminated Land Register; [30946]
Mr. Meacher:
There is at present no contaminated land register. Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (inserted by section 57 of the Environment Act 1995) will place a duty on enforcing authorities to maintain registers containing prescribed particulars of enforcement action taken with respect to contamination and of remediation works carried out on that land. I would also refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mrs. Ellman) of 22 December 1997, Official Report, column 439.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the total amount spent on derelict land grant in the last five years. [30947]
Mr. Caborn:
My Department ceased to accept further applications for Derelict Land Grant (DLG) in March 1994 when the programme ended. Since April 1994, transitional arrangements have been in place whereby English Partnerships make payments to local authorities on behalf of the Secretary of State for all DLG projects
25 Feb 1998 : Column: 224
which had been approved at that time. Annual payments have, inevitably, decreased, with an annual breakdown as follows:
Since April 1994 all DLG applications from local authorities have been handled within the framework provided by English Partnerships' overall development programme (Investment Fund), largely as part of its Land Reclamation and Partnership Investment Programmes. The operation of this Fund places greater emphasis on flexible partnerships and funding mechanisms and on maximising private investment.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the extent of public liability in the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [30937]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government are committed to grant payments worth £1.8 billion NPV overall. If London and Continental Railways are unable to fulfil their obligations under the CTRL Development Agreement awarded to them by the previous Government, Eurostar (UK) Limited, its assets and liabilities, would revert to the Government. This would include accumulated debt worth in the region of £400 million, which would be met from future Eurostar revenues.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library the development agreement signed between the Government and London and Continental Railways. [31031]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Reasons of commercial confidentiality prevent copies of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Development Agreement with London & Continental Railways (LCR) being placed in the Library. The previous Government issued a memorandum about the Development Agreement and other contracts with LCR in March 1996. Copies were placed in the Library at that time.
Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the reduction of road freight transport from the North West and West Midlands Regions to mainland Europe that would be achieved by (a) the completion of the high speed rail link from the Channel Tunnel to central London, connecting to the West Coast main line and (b) a scheme between the Channel Tunnel and Ebbsfleet; and if he will make a statement. [31192]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
No such assessment has been made. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is primarily intended to provide for passenger services, though it would also facilitate rail freight both directly and through freeing capacity on existing lines.
25 Feb 1998 : Column: 225
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) on what date the Standing Committee on the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation last met; how many times it has met; and what reports it has made on the operation of the code; [31005]
(3) what plans he has to review the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation to take account of the Environment Act 1995. [31007]
Mr. Meacher:
The Standing Committee has so far met seven times, the latest meeting being in November 1995. A report by the Standing Committee on the effectiveness of the Code of Practice was published in July 1993. Annual reports by the water companies on their conservation, access and recreation activities are considered by the Standing Committee, which includes representatives from the main conservation and sports bodies. There are no plans at present to change this process. The Code of Practice is currently being reviewed, with a view to producing a revised Code later this year.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the annual salary of each member of the Board of the National Air Traffic Services. [31186]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
National Air Traffic Services Ltd. formed its own Board, separate from that of the Civil Aviation Authority, in April 1996. My Department holds information on salaries only for those members of the NATS Board who are also members of the CAA Board. These members are the following:
Wastes from tar production and distillation including coal tar and a variety of derivatives;
Materials from gas purification including foul lime, clinker waste and spent oxide;
Carboniferous materials including coal, coke and clinker.
(2) if he will make a statement on the future of the Contaminated Land Register. [30948]
1993-94 £103.780 million (paid by former DOE)
1994-95: £84.633 million
1995-96: £65.402 million
1996-97: £25.000 million
1997-98: £18.000 million (estimated outturn).
Access and Recreation
(2) what plans he has to standardise the process of independent validation of conservation, access and recreation reports produced by the water industry; [31006]
Mr. Malcolm Argent: (2 days per week)
Mr. Derek McLauchlan: (Full time until June 1997, when he was replaced by Mr. Semple)
Mr. William Semple: (Full time--appointed 1 July 1997)
Mr. Anthony Herron: (2 days per week)
Mr Roderick Lynch: (2 days per month).
| £ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Member | Salary 1996-1997 | Salary 1997-1998 |
| Mr. M. Argent | 45,441 | 46,804 |
| Mr. W. Semple | 100,000 | 103,000 |
| Mr. A. Herron | 46,575 | 47,972 |
| Mr. R. Lynch | 7,886 | 8,122 |
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the annual salary paid to Derek McLauchlan for each of the last five years of his employment as Chief Executive of National Air Traffic Services. [31185]
25 Feb 1998 : Column: 226
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Mr. McLauchlan was the Chief Executive of National Air Traffic Services Ltd until June 1997. His annual salary for each of the five years leading up to his departure from NATS Ltd was as follows:
1992-1993: £83,200
1993-1994: £84,450
1994-1995: £86,140
1995-1996: £87,000
1996-1997: £87,870.
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