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South West RDA
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria he used to select people to serve on the South West Regional Development Agency; how many people
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representing organisations in Gloucestershire were considered as suitable applicants under this criteria; and if he will make a statement. [64813]
Mr. Meale:
The criteria for selection were set out in the information pack for people expressing an interest in serving on the Agency's Board. Copies of the information pack are available in the Library.
Of the 28 people interviewed for the Board, five came from Gloucestershire, although they were not, given the criteria for selection, "representing organisations in Gloucestershire". One of these five Gloucestershire candidates, Nigel Costley, has been appointed to the Board.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that the particular interests of Gloucestershire are represented on the South West Regional Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [64848]
Mr. Meale:
The role of the boards of regional development agencies is to consider the interests of the region as a whole. Appointments were therefore made on the basis of the expertise that each member brings to the board, rather than to provide representation for particular localities or organisations.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people representing organisations in Gloucestershire expressed interest in serving on the South West Regional Development Agency; which organisations in Gloucestershire proposed people for membership; and if he will make a statement. [64812]
Mr. Meale:
The role of the boards of regional development agencies is to consider the interests of the region as a whole. Appointments were therefore made on the basis of the expertise that each member brings to the board, rather than to provide representation for particular localities or organisations.
336 people applied to be members of the Board of the South West Regional Development Agency. Thirty nine of these came from Gloucestershire.
Two organisations in Gloucestershire supported particular applications for board membership.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that the appointments he has made to the South West Regional Development Agency reflect the geographical spread of the area covered. [64811]
Mr. Meale:
The role of the boards of regional development agencies is to consider the interests of the region as a whole.
In making appointments, the Government have sought to ensure that board members bring understanding of the range of conditions existing within their regions. This has resulted in a broadly even geographical spread.
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Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average cost per mile of rail travel based on standard return fares in each EU country. [64647]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
This information is not available.
Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the percentage price increase for (a) peak and (b) off peak journeys for each of the privatised rail company areas in each year since privatisation. [64651]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
This information is not held centrally in the form requested. Rail fares are set by individual Train Operating Companies (TOCs) subject only to limits on increases which the Franchising Director applies to the fares he regulates. The general limit on regulated fares from January 1999 is minus 1 per cent. on the movement in the Retail Prices Index (i.e. the maximum regulated fare increase is 2.5 per cent.). For London Commuter TOCs, the limit varies depending on performance and the average maximum regulated fare increase for 1999 for those is 1.9 per cent. (1.6 per cent. below inflation). There have been many instances of individual unregulated fares being increased above the rate of inflation. Nevertheless, research shows that the average price paid per mile by passengers in 1997-98 was 13.4 pence and this was an increase of 3 per cent. (1 per cent. below inflation) on 1996-97. The research is based on tickets actually sold so 1998-99 data are not yet available, but the Franchising Director will continue to monitor the situation.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will consider exempting accommodation provided wholly or predominantly for tourists from Houses in Multiple Occupation registration schemes. [64833]
Mr. Raynsford:
The current statutory definition of a house in multiple occupation may include some accommodation of this type. If so, it would be within the scope of our model registration schemes. Local housing authorities may seek approval for schemes which depart from the models, and we would consider any such request on its merits.
We plan to issue a consultation document on proposals for a HMO licensing scheme early in the New Year. In this, we will also seek views on options for changes to the HMO definition.
A proposal to exempt accommodation provided wholly or predominantly for tourists, in the context either of the existing registration arrangements or of the HMO definition and the proposed licensing scheme, would, however, require careful consideration. Such premises are sometimes let for extended periods outside the holiday season to people with no other home.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the Houses in Multiple Occupation registration scheme; and if he will make a statement. [64835]
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Mr. Raynsford:
We have made no formal assessment, since we are committed to replacing housing authorities' discretionary powers to make HMO registration schemes with provisions for a compulsory licensing system. However, in the meantime we are encouraging authorities to adopt registration schemes in order to ease the transition to an eventual licensing regime.
Mr. Anthony D. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the outcome of the Second London Oceans Workshop. [65307]
Mr. Meale:
With Dr. Bernardes, the Brazilian Deputy Minister of the Environment, I had the pleasure of chairing the Second London Oceans Workshop on 10-12 December. The Workshop was attended by representatives nominated by 40 national governments, 14 international agencies and 14 non-governmental organisations.
The theme of the Workshop was the integration of the management of the oceans. The main conclusions started by emphasising the role of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Against this background, the two major problems for the conservation and sustainable use of the seas were seen as over-fishing and other unsustainable fishing practices together with pollution from land-based activities. Shipping, exploitation of sea-bed minerals (including oil and gas), coastal development, dumping of waste and climate change are also sources of problems that need to be addressed.
At the national level, Governments were called on to consider the social economic and environmental values of coastal and marine ecosystems, how to achieve the integrated approach as called for by Programme Area A of Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 (including the involvement of all stakeholders), how to join in international agreements already negotiated and how to report on the status of their seas. International organisations were requested to analyse what is hindering the wider acceptance of international agreements and to consider what can be done to remove the obstacles.
The workshop agreed that the regional level was where international co-operation was most needed. UNEP was called upon to revitalise the Regional Seas Programme and to ensure there was a clear focus for the related tasks. Regional fisheries organisations were requested to adopt clear targets for achieving sustainable catches and to develop indicators for over-fishing. Integrated coastal zone management needed support at the regional level. For shipping, more effective port-state control networks were needed, together with action on the regulation of fleets, alien species, anti-fouling agents and registers.
In the global context, the workshop called for immediate action to implement recent UN fisheries agreements. The Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries was also crucial. Revitalising the Global Programme of Action on Land-Based Activities was essential. The environmental management of offshore oil and gas required further initiatives to follow up the success of the Noordwijk Workshop. Because of the range
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of interests and organisations necessarily involved, improved coordination is needed. The UN General Assembly should consider how the annual debate on the oceans and the law of the sea can be broadened and better prepared.
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