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Tyres
Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to prevent the sale in Scotland of part-worn tyres which are below United Kingdom safety standards. [77421]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 seek to control the safety and supply of part-worn tyres throughout the United Kingdom. The Regulations stipulate that, before being offered for sale, part-worn tyres must have been properly examined internally and externally to ensure suitability for their intended use and must be marked "PART WORN" adjacent to their European or British Standards approval markings. They must also have a minimum tread depth of 2mm across the whole breadth of the tyre. The priority afforded to enforcement of these requirements is a matter for Local Authority Trading Standards bodies.
Airports (Passenger Service Charges)
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each airport in the United Kingdom, in rank order, the schedule of passenger service charges for passengers (i) arriving and (ii) departing from and to destinations within (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the EU and (c) elsewhere. [77297]
Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 18 March 1999]: Passenger charges are levied on the airlines by airports for services and facilities provided by the airport operator. A schedule of passenger charges at UK airports subject to economic regulation by the CAA under the Airports Act 1968 are set out in the table. As the structure of charges varies widely between airports, it is not possible to rank them. Charges are generally shown for domestic and international passengers, and distinctions between EU and other international destinations are not made. Airport levy charges on either departing passengers or arriving passengers, but not both.
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 883
19 Mar 1999 : Column: 883
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom by 20 per cent. of the 1997 level by 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77623]
Mr. Meale:
At Kyoto, the EU agreed to a legally binding target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 8 per cent. below 1990 levels over the period 2008-12: under the UK Presidency this target was shared out between the member states, with the UK agreeing to a 12.5 per cent. reduction. Achieving this target must be our priority. But the Government are committed to moving beyond that towards our domestic goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.
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Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into a link between contaminated waste sites and birth defects in the local area. [77800]
Mr. Meale:
(a) Following the publication of the EUROHAZCON study on congenital anomalies near hazardous landfill sites, the following research has been commissioned:
The Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU) (Imperial College) has been commissioned to carry out a study of health effects around landfill sites, including congenital malformations.
(b) The following research has been evaluated.
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A one day meeting of experts was held on 26 January 1999 by the MRC Institute of Environment and Health, at the request of this Department, to discuss the links between health effects, especially congenital anomalies, and landfill sites. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss recent research findings, to identify gaps in the knowledge base, and to agree and prioritise further research requirements. The meeting made a number of recommendations for further research work. We are currently considering the best way to take forward these recommendations.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the members of regional development agencies regarding their environmental role; what plans he has to monitor the environmental impact of RDAs; what plans he has to assess the implementation of the regional strategy of the RDAs; and if he will make a statement. [77366]
Mr. Meale:
Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have a statutory purpose to contribute to sustainable development, and a statutory duty to formulate a regional strategy in relation to all their purposes. The statutory guidance we will be giving to RDAs in relation to their strategies, which will be supplemented with more detailed advice from my Department, will emphasise the fact that sustainable development is integral to the RDAs' work. An RDA's strategy will be expected to include an appraisal of the contribution the strategy will make to sustainable development, and how it will foster the four key principles of sustainable development: high and stable levels of economic growth and employment; social progress which recognises the needs of everyone; effective protection of the environment and prudent use
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of natural resources; and integration of economic, social and environmental objectives. RDAs are aiming to submit their first strategies by October 1999.
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