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Electric Cars
20. Ms Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the use of electric cars in urban areas. [73432]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Electric vehicle technology has the potential to offer significant environmental benefits, especially if used in urban areas. That is why the Government is undertaking research and development into this technology through the Foresight Vehicle programme, and providing grants to help cover the additional purchase costs of electric vehicles through the Powershift programme. The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force is also considering their longer-term role.
Professional Drivers
21. Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about managing road risk for professional drivers. [73433]
Mr. Meale: I receive representations from time to time from a number of organisations in the field of road safety including ROSPA and BRAKE, on the question of the management of occupational road risk.
Road Congestion
22. Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives from the Automobile Association regarding his proposals to tackle road congestion. [73434]
Dr. Reid: Ministers from the Department meet representatives of the Automobile Association from time to time to discuss matters arising out of the Integrated Transport White Paper. A number of such meetings took place in October and November last year.
Single Regeneration Budget
23. Mr. Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the time scale is for consideration and implementation of regeneration schemes under the new single regeneration budget, SRB5. [73435]
Mr. Caborn: Final bids must be submitted to Regional Development Agencies (or in London, the Government Office) by 30 April. Decisions on which to support will be made in June.
Mr. McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the names of those people serving as members of the local Single Regeneration Budget partnerships. [75158]
Mr. Meale:
This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
9 Mar 1999 : Column: 147
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if hon. Members are eligible to serve as members of local Single Regeneration Budget partnerships. [75159]
Mr. Meale:
I am not aware of any rules that prevent hon. Members, other than Ministers and Parliamentary Private Secretaries, from serving as members of local Single Regeneration Budget partnerships. Ministers and Parliamentary Private Secretaries are governed by the terms of the Ministerial Code.
24. Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to encourage companies to participate in community forest schemes; and if he will make a statement. [73436]
Mr. Meacher:
This is for the Community Forest teams, who I am pleased to say are succeeding in attracting an increasing amount of support from the business community. The £7.7 million of support received in 1997-98 represented a 400 per cent. increase on the level in 1994-95.
25. Mr. Barry Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the contribution of business to meeting the targets in the UK climate change programme. [73437]
Mr. Meacher:
The climate change consultation paper which we published last October set out the options on how we might meet our climate change targets. The paper looked at the potential contribution from all sectors. The consultation has now closed and we are in the process of analysing the responses. We are aiming to publish a draft UK programme later this year.
26. Sir Sydney Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost of the administration of the Greater London Authority in its first year of operation. [73438]
Mr. Raynsford:
No estimate has yet been made specifically for the GLA's first year of operation. As noted in "A Mayor and Assembly for London" (Cm 3897), we estimate that the annual cost of entirely new administration costs--such as for the Mayor, the Assembly, their support staff and central services--will be about £20 million.
27. Mrs. Organ:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he is taking to encourage the improvement of bus services. [73439]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We have made an additional £150 million available to local authorities over 3 years to support rural bus services and an additional £700 million
9 Mar 1999 : Column: 148
of capital resources for local transport expenditure. Our policy proposals for buses were set out in the Transport White Paper last July.
28. Mr. Gray:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors were taken into account in appointing board members to regional development agencies. [73440]
Mr. Caborn:
Our primary concern in appointing the Board members for the RDAs was to choose people who would make an effective contribution and represent the interests of the region as a whole. Board members have a wide range of experience, including business, local government, rural affairs, education, trade unions and the voluntary sectors.
29. Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the provision for housing development in structure plans currently under review. [73441]
Mr. Raynsford:
Provision for housing development in structure plans is a matter for local planning authorities in the first instance. In determining provision, they must have regard to national policies (for example, "Panning for the Communities of the Future") and Regional Planning Guidance. Assessment of plans by the Secretary of State will include, amongst other things, the extent to which the local authority has had regard to these matters.
30. Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on private finance initiative road schemes. [73442]
Dr. Reid:
Using private finance for road construction and maintenance can offer good value for money to the taxpayer. Highway Authorities should consider what form of procurement is likely to offer best value for money after they have satisfied themselves on the transport need for a scheme.
31. Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that local authorities continue to have the role of monitoring and setting environmental standards at animal rendering plants. [73443]
Mr. Meale:
Animal rendering plants fall within the scope of EU directive 96/61 concerning integrated pollution prevention and control. My Department issued a third consultation paper on the implementation of this directive in December last year. Paragraph 52 of the paper specifically invited views on the proposal that animal rendering plants should be regulated by the Environment Agency rather than local authorities under the directive. The consultation period ended on 28 February. The Government will make a decision on future regulation of animal rendering plants thereafter.
9 Mar 1999 : Column: 149
32. Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions have taken place with the Local Government Association regarding the principles underpinning the review of SSAs. [73444]
Ms Armstrong:
The principles of the review of revenue grant distribution were set out in the White Paper "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People", which was presented to the House in July 1998. Officials from a number of Departments met representatives from local government, including the LGA, the Association for London Government and the Treasurers' Societies on 10 February to discuss the review. Further regular meetings with the LGA are planned during the course of the review.
34. Mr. Olner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to improve health and safety in the workplace. [R] [73446]
Mr. Meale:
The Government are working with the Health and Safety Commission and Executive to improve health and safety in the workplace. The Health and Safety Commission will shortly be submitting a three-year strategic plan to the Government. My right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Environment met the Commission recently to discuss the Plan. It will be published in May and copies will be placed in the House Library. The Government are providing an extra £13 million in running costs to the Commission next year, and a further £23 million and £27 million for the following two years to enable the Commission and Executive to increase their efforts still further. This signals our strong commitment to improving health and safety standards.
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