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Roads (Noise Abatement)
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ring-fence money provided for the Highways Agency to carry out noise abatement measures on existing roads; when he expects to announce how much will be provided; and if he will make a statement. [59598]
Ms Glenda Jackson: We announced our intention to establish a ring-fenced budget and revised criteria for this purpose in "A New deal for Trunk Roads in England". Work on this is currently in hand and we shall make a full announcement as soon as possible.
Parish Council Audits
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average charge made by the District Auditor on behalf of the Audit Commission to carry out audits of parish councils' yearly accounts; what percentage this charge represents of the average annual precept for parish councils; what options for redress are open to parish councils in the case of disputes over audit fees; and if he will make a statement. [59599]
Mr. Raynsford:
The average audit fee for the audit of parish councils' accounts was £175 in 1997-98 which represents some 1.25 per cent. of the average annual precept of parish councils in England. The number of hours required for any audit are agreed between the
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auditor and the audited body at the time of the audit. The first option for redress for a parish council would be to discuss the matter with the auditor. Subsequently they should pursue any complaint through the formal procedure operated by the Audit Commission.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment will be looking retrospectively at all the genetically modified crop approvals given to date in the light of its new remit. [59751]
Mr. Meale:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked ACRE to look at not only direct and indirect effects of releasing genetically modified organisms but also the possible resultant changes in agronomic practice and subsequent effects of biodiversity. This will apply only to applications to market GM crops for cultivation in the UK. When the results are known of the farm-scale ecological monitoring we will be asking ACRE to consider whether there are any implications for approvals given to date.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if companies are still required to give information about the progress of a genetically modified crop to his Department after the crop has been given marketing consent by his Department. [59749]
Mr. Meale:
Companies are required to inform my Department if new information becomes available concerning the risk assessment on which the original marketing consent was based.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the monitoring of genetically modified crops; and if he will ensure that this includes the monitoring of gene transfers. [59753]
Mr. Meale:
All experimental releases of GM crops must be monitored by consent holders, and reports must be submitted to my Department on the outcome of the monitoring. In addition, my Department is funding the monitoring of releases of Plant Genetics Systems' herbicide tolerant oilseed rape which is being grown in the UK under a marketing consent for seed production only. This work is being carried out by the National Institute for Agricultural Botany and includes monitoring for evidence for gene transfer. Other genetically modified crops will be included in this programme when they enter commercial production.
Negotiations are now underway on the European Commission's proposal for amending Directive 90/220 on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms to the environment. The Government support the proposals for post-market monitoring of GMO products including monitoring for gene transfers.
At the House of Lords Select Committee, my right. hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced his intention to allow farm scale plantings of GM crops to take place in order to carry out ecological monitoring. The Government are still in the early stages of developing the specifications for how the ecological monitoring will be carried out.
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Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what acreage of the genetically modified oilseed rape (Ref. 95/ml/1) marketed by Plant Genetic Systems Ltd has been licensed to be grown on a commercial scale in the United Kingdom. [59750]
Mr. Meale:
The genetically modified oilseed rape developed by Plant Genetic Systems has been granted a consent for commercial seed production only. No specific acreage has been licensed by the Secretary of State for growth in the UK.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the earliest dates that herbicide-tolerant or insect-resistant crops could have been grown legally in the UK. [59752]
Mr. Meale:
Legislation has permitted the growing of genetically modified crops, under consent from the Secretary of State, since February 1993. They could have been grown prior to this under the Genetic Manipulation Regulations 1989 and a voluntary agreement covering risks to the environment. The first release of a GM crop under this scheme was in 1987.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will give a decision on the appeal by New Forest District Council against Hampshire County Council on the question of car parking charges which the Government Office of the South East has referred to him. [60164]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
A decision will be issued shortly.
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of traffic congestion within Southend-on-Sea; and if he will promote a bypass road from Shoeburyness to the A127. [58635]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
These are both matters which are the responsibility of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Essex County Council. Essex County Council have withdrawn their proposal for a £75 million road and both authorities are now pursuing sustainable transport solutions in the South East Essex package.
Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to issue detailed proposals on the next night restrictions regime for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted; and what his plans are for consulting on the introduction of runway alternation at night at Heathrow and the continuance of westerly preference at night. [60384]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
This is the second consultation in the two-stage process announced earlier this year on 27 February 1998, Official Report, column 404.
Part 1 of this consultation invites comments on detailed proposals for future night restrictions at the three airports. Part 2 deals with Heathrow only, and invites views on options for the possible introduction of night-time runway alternation and on changing westerly preference at night.
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It also includes a summary of the assessment of the continuing trial procedure for landings over London in the early morning. The Government wish to consider all responses to Part 2 before reaching a view.
In developing these proposals we have taken into account the responses received to the preliminary consultation paper. We have sought to strike the right balance between the need to protect local communities from excessive aircraft noise at night and the need to allow air services to operate at night where they benefit the local, regional and national economy.
A ban on night flights is not considered practicable but further steps are proposed to restrict operations by the noisiest types of aircraft at night and to encourage the use of quieter types.
Our aim is to put in place arrangements which, over time, will bring about improvements in the noise climate during the night quota period (11.30 pm-6.00 am) around Gatwick, and further improvements around Heathrow. We also wish to provide for the planned development of Stansted, broadly as envisaged in 1993, while maintaining and strengthening the incentive for airlines to use quieter aircraft.
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