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Cyclists
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make it an offence for motorists to advance to a cyclists' advance stop line at traffic lights. [78732]
Ms Glenda Jackson: It is an offence, under section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and by virtue of the Traffic Signs Regulations 1994, to proceed beyond any stop line as shown in diagram 1001 in those Regulations and placed in conjunction with light signals when the red signal is showing. At junctions where an advance stop line for cyclists is provided Rule 154 of the current Highway Code instructs motorists that they must wait behind the first white line reached.
Insurance Cover (Local Authorities)
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what (a) representations and (b) requests for assistance he has received from local authorities on the withdrawal of insurance cover due to the threat of the millennium bug; and if he will make a statement. [79211]
Mr. Meale: We have received one representation--from Bournemouth Borough Council--seeking assistance on the withdrawal of insurance cover due to the threat of the Millennium Bug. It is a matter for each individual council to put in place such arrangements as it considers appropriate and practicable to meet the risks posed by the Millennium Bug.
Fluoridated Drinking Water
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the UK population receives fluoridated drinking water; what measures are being taken to ensure
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that the systems for the control of dosage will not be affected by the millennium bug; and if he will make a statement. [79016]
Mr. Meale:
About 10 per cent. of the population receives fluoridated drinking water supplies. The Drinking Water Inspectorate, during its inspections of water companies in England and Wales in 1998, examined the companies' general arrangements for maintaining the wholesomeness and quality of their supplies both during and after the millennium. The Inspectorate was satisfied with the progress being made by companies and will continue to keep the matter under surveillance during 1999.
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 sewerage works under construction at Yaverland, Sandown, Isle of Wight. [78571]
Mr. Meale
[holding answer 26 March 1999]: The Government have said that we wish to see secondary treatment installed on the Isle of Wight as soon as practicable. Southern Water need various consents from Government to proceed with the works. They are currently in the process of providing the necessary supporting information and we are putting pressure on them to do so as soon as possible.
Mr. Hunter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authority owned dwellings are empty in each English shire county; and if he will make a statement. [78905]
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 26 March 1999]: I have placed in the Library a table presenting the latest information on the number of vacant dwellings owned by local authorities in each English shire county (as in existence before the creation of unitary authorities), and reported by them at 1 April 1998.
Mr. Ottaway:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications since May 1997 he has called in following a resolution by the relevant local planning authority to refuse planning permission. [79160]
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of (a) the quantity and (b) the trend rate of growth of annual United Kingdom CO 2 emissions generated by (i) the household sector, (ii) industry excluding power generators, (iii) power generators, (iv) the service sector and (v) other sectors. [79190]
Mr. Meale:
The following table gives estimates of CO 2 emissions in 1997 and 1998 from the UK's greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The 1998 data are provisional. The table also gives estimated growth rates based on the trends observed since 1990.
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| Emissions in 1997 (million tonnes carbon) | Emissions in 1998 (million tonnes carbon, provisional) | Trend (% per year) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household Sector | 23 | 23 | 0.3 |
| Industry excluding power generators | 41 | 41 | 0.3 |
| Power generators | 40 | 41 | -3 |
| Service sector | 9 | 8 | 0.2 |
| Other sectors | 43 | 43 | 0.1 |
Other sectors include transport, land use change and waste. The land use change emissions estimates are currently under review.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current estimate of (a) the quantity and (b) the trend rate of growth of annual CO 2 emissions in respect of (i) power generation as a whole, (ii) gas-powered generators, (iii) coal-powered generators and (iv) other power producers. [79191]
Mr. Meale: The following table gives estimates of CO 2 emissions in 1997 and 1998 from the UK's greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The 1998 data are provisional. The Table also gives estimated growth rates based on the trends observed since 1990, rounded to the nearest per cent.
| Emissions in 1997 (million tonnes carbon) | Emissions in 1998 (million tonnes carbon, provisional) | Trend (% per year) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power generation as a whole | 40 | 41 | -3 |
| Gas powered generators | 12 | 12 | +50 |
| Coal powered generators | 27 | 27 | -6 |
| Other power producers | 1 | 1 | -10 |
Other power producers include oil powered generators and the incineration of municipal solid waste.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the effect on the level of carbon dioxide emissions of (a) the moratorium on gas-powered electricity generation, and (b) the use of a fuel mix chosen solely on cost grounds. [79234]
Mr. Meale
[holding answer 29 March 1999]: The environmental impact of the Government's programme of reform of the electricity market is discussed in Annex H of the White Paper 'Conclusions of the Review of Energy Sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports from the Trade and Industry Committee' (Cm 4071). This makes clear that the new policy does not aim to achieve any particular outcome on fuel mix. The Government have therefore not sought to provide a quantification of the effect of the policy on CO 2 emissions or fuel mix relative to what would have occurred in its absence. The Department of Trade and Industry is currently developing a set of scenarios on future CO 2 emissions from energy use in the United Kingdom. These scenarios will take the new policy on fuels for electricity generation into account and will be
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used to inform decisions on the scope and nature of additional policies to meet our commitments on reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Mr. Pollard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will extend fuel duty rebate to coach operators who operate contracted school bus services. [79402]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I have at present no plans to change the eligibility arrangements for fuel duty rebate. Bus services which only take pupils to or from school are not eligible for rebate. However, bus services provided or secured by a local education authority are eligible for rebate if they are registered with the Traffic Commissioner as a local bus service, and if they are normally available to, and are used by, members of the general public.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on which dates in 1999 the Department's web site relating to releases into the environment was updated; how frequently he plans to update the site; and if he will make a statement. [79093]
Mr. Meale:
The DETR's Web site updated information from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment on the following dates: 26 January, 3 February, 9 February, 10 February, 18 February, 22 February, 24 February and 16 March. These pages are amongst the top ten most popular of this site's environmental information pages. The Web site will continue to be updated as and when required.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many staff are currently employed by British Rail; and what are their functions. [78981]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I understand from the British Railways Board that the latest (March 1999) staff in post figure is 2,363. Of these, 2,194 work for the British Transport Police. The remaining 169 staff are largely employed on the administration, and sale where appropriate, of the BR property estate, on other residual BR functions and central services such as finance and legal.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total wages bill for British Rail for the last 12 months for which figures are available. [78982]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The total staff costs of the BR Board for the year to 31 March 1998 are shown on page 21 of the BR Annual Accounts 1997-98. Total salaries and wages in that year were £83.7 million. This related to an end year employment figure of 2,386, down from 4,328 at end 1996-97.
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