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Environment Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the outcome of the Environment Council held in Brussels on 11 and 12 March; and if he will make a statement. [77248]
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the issues discussed at the Environment Council on 11 and 12 March, indicating the positions adopted by the UK Government. [76201]
Mr. Meacher:
I represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council which took place in Brussels on the 11 March.
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The Council reached a common position on the proposal for a Water Framework Directive following the receipt of the European Parliament's opinion in February. This is a major environmental proposal which will set demanding but achievable targets for improvements in the quality of both surface and groundwaters to be delivered through co-ordinated plans, where necessary between Member States, for each river basin. It was agreed to postpone a final decision on the End of Life Vehicles Directive until the next Council meeting in June.
Discussions took place on Council Conclusions establishing the Community's negotiating position on climate change for the next round of global negotiations. These focused in particular on the definition of a concrete ceiling on the use of emissions trading and other off-set mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol. A final consensus was not reached on this despite protracted negotiations, and Ministers will return to this issue in the near future.
Council Conclusions were adopted on the Commissions negotiations with Japanese and Korean car manufacturers, which seek to secure an equivalent voluntary agreement to that reached with ACEA last October. This is part of the EU Strategy on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from cars. The Conclusions impress on the Commission to conclude their negotiations by May and report back to the Council by June.
First Ministerial debates were also held on two other dossiers. The first, on a proposal to amend the Directive limiting emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants, is an integral part of the Commission's Acidification Strategy. It will reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxides, both of which can potentially cause acidification and health problems. During discussions on whether the directive should cover existing plants emissions, I argued that these were better covered by the current IPPC directive and National Emissions Ceilings Directive being developed by the Commission. The second debate was held on a proposal that would allow voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme. Both of these proposals will return to the Council in June, along with a proposal for a directive on the incineration of waste. At this Council the Commission reported on the progress of negotiations in working group of this dossier.
I welcomed the Presidency announcement on its plans to reach a common position at the June Council on the proposal for a revision to the 90-220 Directive controlling the release and marketing of genetically modified organisms. In addition, Council Conclusions were agreed that reflect on the suspension of discussions on the biosafety protocol in Cartegena last month, and agree that a strategy be developed with a view to completing the negotiations.
Mr. Lilley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the number of road accidents involving lorries for each year since 1980. [77211]
Dr. Reid:
The number of road accidents involving a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) is shown in the following table.
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| Year | Number of accidents (2) |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 14,117 |
| 1981 | 13,283 |
| 1982 | 13,307 |
| 1983 | 12,328 |
| 1984 | 12,950 |
| 1985 | 13,073 |
| 1986 | 13,435 |
| 1987 | 13,642 |
| 1988 | 14,775 |
| 1989 | 16,107 |
| 1990 | 15,063 |
| 1991 | 13,616 |
| 1992 | 13,016 |
| 1993 | 13,173 |
| 1994 | 13,178 |
| 1995 | 12,613 |
| 1996 | 12,426 |
| 1997 | 13,122 |
(1) HGV: From 1 January 1994 the weight definition changed to those vehicles over 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible gross weight. Prior to that these vehicles were defined as goods vehicles over 1.524 tonnes unladen weight and included vehicles with six or more tyres, some four wheel vehicles with extra large bodies and larger rear tyres and tractor units travelling without their usual tailer.
(2) Accidents may involve more than one HGV.
Bus Service Partnerships
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many quality partnerships for delivery of bus services are currently in place; and what plans he has to put such partnerships on a statutory basis. [77175]
Dr. Reid: I am aware of over 30 quality partnerships in existence, and more in prospect. We announced in the Transport White Paper our intention to provide statutory backing for quality partnerships and will be publishing further details shortly.
Government Grants
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what grants each (a) unitary, (b) shire county, (c) shire district, (d) metropolitan district and (e) London borough council received for 1998-99 from central Government other than those included in the total external support figure; and if they were ring-fenced for any purpose; [76789]
- (2) what grants each (a) unitary, (b) shire county, (c) shire district, (d) metropolitan district and (e) London borough council will receive for 1999-2000 from central Government other than those included in the total external support figure; and if they will be ring-fenced for any purpose. [76790]
Ms Armstrong:
The information has been placed in the Library of the House. It has been assumed that the question relates to grants for revenue purposes. All revenue grants, apart from those included in total external support, are specific or special grants which are, by definition, earmarked for the purpose indicated by their title.
16 Mar 1999 : Column: 585
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the measures his Department is taking to develop shipping and ports. [77180]
Dr. Reid:
The Government's policy for developing British shipping is set out in the White Paper "British Shipping: Charting a new course", published in December 1998. A ports policy paper is currently out for consultation and should be issued later this year.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish advice to local authorities on good practice in improving the safety and convenience of cycling. [77177]
Dr. Reid:
The Department generates a wide range of advice to local authorities on encouraging safer and better conditions for cycling. In addition to our Local Transport Notes and Traffic Advisory Leaflets, we have worked with the Institution of Highways and Transportation, the Cyclists' Touring Club and the Bicycle Association to produce "Cycle-friendly Infrastructure". We have also collaborated with the Institution of Highways and Transportation to produce "Guidelines for Cycle Audit and Cycle Review". Four new Traffic Advisory Leaflets on cycling will be produced in April.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice his Department plans to issue to landowners regarding public liability insurance as a result of his Department's plans to provide a statutory right of access to open countryside. [76792]
Mr. Meacher:
It is, in the first instance, for individual landowners and their advisers to decide what insurance, including public liability insurance, is most appropriate for their needs. The Government have made clear that the liability owed by landowners to people exercising a new statutory right of access will be limited to that owed to trespassers.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the extra public liability insurance costs for landowners as a result of his Department's plans to provide a statutory right of access to open countryside. [76796]
Mr. Meacher:
The Government do not expect a new statutory right of access on foot to open countryside to have a significant impact on public insurance costs for landowners. An economic appraisal study for the Government by independent consultants suggests that any increase in the public liability insurance premium will be small.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to place on local councils a statutory duty to protect the homeless. [77088]
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Ms Armstrong:
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for London and Construction to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Love) on Monday 1 March 1999, Official Report, columns 519-20.
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