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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 14 December 1998
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Council Tax
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will place in the Library a table showing the Band D council tax increase for each (i) billing authority and (ii) notifiable authority in England, (a) in cash terms and (b) in percentage terms, based on the assumption that all councils apply his 1998-99 capping principles and spend up to the limit that would imply; [62853]
- (2) if he will place in the Library a table showing the Band D council tax increase for each (i) billing authority and (ii) notifiable authority in England, (1) without applying council tax benefit limitation and (2) showing the extra increase that would arise from council tax benefit limitation (a) in cash terms and (b) in percentage terms, based on the assumption that all councils apply his 1998-99 capping principles and spend up to the limit that would imply. [62854]
Ms Armstrong [holding answer 7 December 1998]: I have today placed in the Library of the House tables showing the information requested. The figures are entirely speculative. Councils will each take their own decision about their budget requirements for 1999-2000, in the light of the substantial increases in funding announced on 2 December 1998, Official Report, columns 883-86. Each will look at its own circumstances and consider very hard the need for any council tax increase at all. There is no reason for the capping principles used in 1998-99 to be part of a council's budgeting decisions. The figures for some councils are particularly distorted by an assumption that they would increase their spending up to SSA even where they have in the past consistently spent below that level.
Local Government Finance (Essex)
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons Government grant support for Brentwood Borough and Epping Forest District Councils is to decline in the next financial year. [63041]
Ms Armstrong: Brentwood Borough Council and Epping Forest District Councils will receive central support reduction grant for 1999-2000. This ensures that their income from redistributed non-domestic rates and central government support under various grants to be paid for 1999-2000 will not be less than the income from redistributed non-domestic rates and various grants payable to them for 1998-99.
Both local authorities will, however, face a reduction in revenue support grant (RSG) for 1999-2000.
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The main reason for the reduction is RSG for Brentwood Borough Council in 1999-2000 is the change to the method of calculating the element of the Standard Spending Assessments (SSAs) for local authorities' own expenditure on Flood Defence. The calculation is to be based on outturn expenditure instead of budgeted expenditure. Brentwood's budgeted expenditure has been substantially greater than what it has actually spent on flood defence. Other reasons include the adjustment of Capital Financing national totals to allow for the effect of reserved receipts on financing costs and a decrease in the values of some of the indicators used in the calculation of the 'District services' element of the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services SSA.
The main reason for the reduction in RSG for Epping Forest District Council in 1999-2000 is the adjustment of Capital Financing national totals to allow for the effect of reserved receipts on financing costs. Other reasons include a decline in its assumed level of debt, and a decrease in the values of some of the indicators used in the calculation of the 'District services' element of the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services SSA.
Mr. David Stewart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the number of road (i) deaths and (ii) accidents each year which would not occur if people taking tranquillisers did not drive. [62685]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions is presently conducting a three-year survey, which started in October 1996, into the incidence of drugs (legal or illegal) in fatal road accident victims. A report on interim results to 7 January 1998 was published on 11 February 1998. My written answer of that date, Official Report, column 233, explained that a copy was being placed in the Library.
This survey will not provide evidence of accident causation but it will help to establish the extent of drug use among road users. the interim results show that medicinal drugs were present in some 6 per cent. of road accident fatalities (drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists).
Mr. Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given to county councils on the setting up of retail outlets; and if he will make a statement. [63315]
Mr. Raynsford:
Government policy on town centres and retail development is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 6.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the percentage of night flights at Gatwick by QC4 and QC8 aircraft (a) between October 1993 and September 1994 and (b) for the latest available 12 month period. [63456]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
8,651 night flights were counted against the noise quotas and movement limits in the period 24 October 1993 to 23 October 1994, of which 4 were by aircraft classified QC/8 and 420 (4.85 per cent.) were by aircraft classified QC/4.
11,470 night flights were counted against the noise quotas and movement limits in the period 26 October 1997 to 24 October 1998, of which one was by an aircraft classified QC/8 and 731 (6.37 per cent.) were by aircraft classified QC/4. The figures included in the above for the summer 1998 season are provisional.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many night flights were permitted at Heathrow and Gatwick airports in the year October 1992 to September 1993; and how many are due to be permitted in the year October 1998 to September 1999. [63454]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Prior to 24 October 1993, night flights at Heathrow and Gatwick were restricted on the basis of movements quotas. Since then, the night restrictions have been based on a system of movements limits and noise quotas. The night restrictions have always been set on a seasonal basis and details are available on that basis. The seasons change with the clocks.
| Airport | Winter 1992-93 | Summer 1993 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatwick | |||
| Delayed Departures(1) | 20 | 30 | 50 |
| NN/B(2) | 815 | 1,780 | 2,595 |
| NN/C | 1,542 | 3,410 | 4,952 |
| Total | 2,377 | 5,220 | 7,597 |
| Heathrow | |||
| Delayed Departures | 30 | 60 | 90 |
| NN/B and NN/C | 3,000 | 2,750 | 5,750 |
| Total | 3,030 | 2,810 | 5,840 |
(1) Prior to October 1993, aircraft were classified into four groups depending on their noise performance on take-off. The noisiest types, NN/A, could not normally operate at night, apart from a small quota for delayed aircraft.
(2) At Gatwick, the movement quotas were subdivided between NN/B and NN/C aircraft as a further control on the number of take-offs and landings by the next noisiest types of aircraft. The movement quotas at Heathrow were not subdivided in this way but NN/B aircraft were barred from taking off between 0030--0500.
| Season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | Winter 1998-99 | Summer 1999 | Total |
| Gatwick | |||
| Movements Limit | 5,250 | 11,200 | 16,450 |
| Noise Quota | 6,820 | 9,550 | 16,370 |
| Heathrow | |||
| Movements Limit | 2,550 | 3,250 | 5,800 |
| Noise Quota | 5,000 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
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Both night restrictions regimes additionally permit movements by exempt types of aircraft, although far fewer types of aircraft are exempt under the present regime than previously. Both night restrictions regimes also include provisions for some movements to be given dispensations. The latest guidelines on dispensations were published in the second stage consultation paper on Night Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, which was announced on 17 November 1998, Official Report, columns 492-93.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of the night flight noise point quota system at Gatwick in encouraging the use of quieter aircraft. [63457]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
This is considered in the second stage of the consultation on Night Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted issued on 17 November 1998, Official Report, columns 492-93.
Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the number of night noise quota points used at Gatwick Airport (a) between October 1993 and September 1994 and (b) in the latest available 12 month period; and to what extent the number of noise quota points used is proportional to the volume of noise at night. [63455]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Since October 1993 the night noise quotas set for Gatwick Airport have been 6,820 quota count (QC) points for each winter season and 9,550 QC points for each summer season, making an annual total of 16,370 QC points. The usage made of these quotas in the periods 24 October 1993 and 23 October 1994 inclusive was 8963.5 points; and that in the period 26 October 1997 and 25 October 1998 inclusive was 12413 points.
The figures included in the above for the summer 1998 season are provisional.
For the purposes of the night restrictions, aircraft are classified into seven QC bands, in most cases according to the noise certification data collected when the aircraft was tested to show that it met the internationally agreed noise levels. The metric EPNL (Effective Perceived Noise Level) is used for noise certification purposes, and each aircraft, depending on the engines fitted, is classified into one of seven 3EPNdB-wide QC bands. They are classified separately for take-off and landing. Therefore, the number of quota points used is proportional to the volume of noise according to the following scale.
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| Quota Count | Noise Classification |
|---|---|
| QC/0 | less than 87 EPNdB, but in the case of jet aircraft, those having a maximum certificate take-off weight not exceeding 11,600kg. |
| QC/0.5 | 90-92.9 EPNdB |
| QC/1 | 90-92.9 EPNdB |
| QC/2 | 93-95.9 EPNdB |
| QC/4 | 96-98.9 EPNdB |
| QC/8 | 99-101.9 EPNdB |
| QC/16 | Greater than 101.9 EPNdB |
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