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National Bus Company
Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made towards resolving the issue of the former National Bus Company pension scheme; and if he will make a statement. [67102]
Ms Glenda Jackson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell) on 12 January 1999, Official Report, column 167.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence he has assessed that biotechnology may cause permanent changes to the ecosystem. [66680]
25 Jan 1999 : Column: 40
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 21 January 1999]: All applications for consent to release GM crops are assessed on a case by case basis. The applicants for consent are required to submit evidence regarding the potential impact on the environment. This evidence may be based on the applicants own trials and on studies carried out by independent workers.
In deciding whether or not to grant consent, the Government are advised by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). A consent would only be granted if the evidence suggests that the GMOs are unlikely to result in harm to human health and the environment occurring.
Further evidence is gathered through a Government funded research programme which investigates specific issues in order to underpin the risk assessment and decision making process.
An ACRE sub-group will be set up shortly to consider the wider biodiversity implications of the introduction of GMOs, taking into account current practices and the Government's Biodiversity commitments, to halt and where possible reverse declines in farmland wildlife. Where such research indicates that GM crops have or could cause reductions in this wildlife, action will be taken to stop this.
A number of research studies have indicated potential interference with ecological systems from GM crops, with varying degrees of permanance.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the potential of horizontal gene transfer biotechnology to produce new viruses and bacteria. [66684]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 21 January 1999]: Horizontal gene transfer technologies are the basis of modern biotechnology and allow the transfer of genes between unrelated species under contained laboratory conditions. Such work often involves the production genetically modified viruses and bacteria as vectors for gene transfer or research tools. All such work is subject to a risk assessment which considers the potential to unintentionally create new viruses and bacteria that may be pathogenic to man or harmful in the wider environment. If the risk assessment indicated there may be a danger then the work would either not be allowed or it would proceed under the highest containment levels. If a risk assessment turned out to be deficient or incorrect it could unwittingly lead to the production of new viruses or bacteria. However, experience of this technology over the last 25 years both in the UK and worldwide has demonstrated that such events are unlikely.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with beekeepers about and what assessment he has made of (i) the possible implications for the health of the bee population and (ii) the possible contamination of honey resulting from the cultivation of GM crops; and if he will make a statement. [67482]
Mr. Meale:
My officials have responded to correspondence and telephone inquiries from beekeepers regarding these two issues. The possibility that crops genetically modified to resist attack from insect pests
25 Jan 1999 : Column: 41
might also cause harm to non-target beneficial insects is considered in the risk assessment of the approvals procedure. The risks of eating honey made by bees that have visited GM plants have been considered by MAFF. They were advised by the Advisory Committee for Novels Foods and Processes (ACNFP) that the risks were negligible. This is contained in the ACNFP Annual Report 1992, a copy of which is available in the library.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the result of the research project by IACR Rothamsted on the impact on non-target insects of insect-resistant GM crops. [67486]
Mr. Meale:
My Department's research contract with IACR Rothamsted to investigate the environmental impact of insect resistance in genetically modified plants with insect resistance genes is due to finish on 31 December this year. The report of the outcome of these studies will be published by the Department early in 2000.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire concerning the lack of representatives of their counties on the East Midlands Development Agency Board. [67265]
Mr. Meale:
Representations have been received from Northamptonshire County Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Wellingborough Borough Council, and West Lindsey District Council; from my hon. Friends the Members for Northampton, South (Mr. Clarke), for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe), for Kettering (Mr. Sawford) and for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) and the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell); and the MEPs from Northampton and Blaby and Lincolnshire and Humberside, South. Representations have also been received from the Northampton Chamber of Commerce, Lincolnshire Industrial Mission and Nene University College Northampton; and a member of the public.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people of Asian origin he has appointed to the Board of the East Midlands Development Agency. [67264]
Mr. Meale:
No candidates of Asian origin have been appointed to the Board of the East Midlands Development Agency. People from ethnic minorities make up to 5% of the board membership nationally.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many bridges are (a) closed and (b) weight-limited pending full implementation of bridge strengthening works required under EU Directive 85/3/EEC. [67559]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Bridge closures and weight-limits are decided by the highway authority in each case following risk assessment procedures published by the Highways Agency last year. We have no central record of the numbers of temporary closures and weight limits imposed by local highway authorities pending strengthening of structures.
25 Jan 1999 : Column: 42
However, the Directive does allow authorities to place permanent weight restrictions on structures where strengthening is not regarded as necessary on the basis of strategic importance for HGVs. The Transport Policies and Programmes submitted in July 1998 suggest that some 1,000 permanent weight restrictions have been placed as a result of the bridge assessment programme. These are largely on minor roads.
Pending completion of the strengthening programme for Highways Agency bridges, 2 bridges carrying trunk roads or important routes over trunk roads have been temporarily closed and 6 are weight limited.
Dr. Brand:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the timing of the introduction of secondary sewage treatment at the new sewage works under construction at Yaverland, Sandown, Isle of Wight. [67563]
Mr. Meale:
I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 11 January 1999, Official Report, column 47.
Mr. Burgon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what ways he expects the Environment Agency and the Director General of Water Services to ensure that water companies have satisfactory plans for maintaining public water supplies. [67651]
Mr. Meacher:
My Department together with the Welsh Office, has today published Maintaining Public Water Supplies--Ministerial guidance to the Director General of Water Services and to the Environment Agency on issues arising in the preparation of Water Resources Plans by the water companies of England and Wales. Copies are available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the health and associated risks from the placement of telecommunications masts in residential areas; and what plans he has to review his assessment. [67627]
Mr. Raynsford:
Guidance on limiting exposure to electro-magnetic radiation is issued by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB), which has a statutory function to provide advice to Government on all radiation matters. The Board continuously reviews and assesses the published scientific studies covering the fields of biology and medicine, epidemiology and dosimetry, and has concluded that there is no convincing evidence that exposure to emissions from telecommunications transmitters below the recommended guideline levels causes any adverse effects on people's health. In respect of telecommunications base stations, the NRPB further advises that experience with typical personal telecommunications installations has shown that the specified maximum exposure power densities are only likely to be exceeded within a few metres and directly in front of the antenna. However, the strength of radio waves at ground level and in regions accessible to the public tend to be many times below guideline levels and should present
25 Jan 1999 : Column: 43
no health risk. My Department has issued for consultation the draft of a joint circular on land use planning and electro-magnetic fields (EMFs). The circular provides advice to local planning authorities in deciding applications for development giving rise to EMFs, such as telecommunications base stations. A copy of the consultation package has been placed in the Library. The closing date for responses is 19 February.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the means by which people are informed of proposed masts for telecommunications; and if he will make a statement. [67648]
Mr. Raynsford:
It is important that the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposed installation of telecommunications masts. Where it is proposed to erect a mast subject to a planning application, the statutory requirement for a local authority to publicise any planning application will apply. In respect of mast development carried out under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO), we last year consulted on a number of proposed changes to that Order, including one designed to improve opportunities for informing the public. Following consideration of the responses to our proposals, my hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning announced in November our intention to introduce a new 42 day prior approval procedure in respect of ground-based masts which it is proposed to erect under the GPDO in place of the current 28 day procedure. This will include a new requirement that the developer should erect a site notice to publicise the development proposed. Local planning authorities will also be advised of the importance of giving additional publicity to the proposal. In this way people will have a better opportunity to comment on the siting and appearance of all proposals to erect ground-based masts under the GPDO.
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