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Water Prices
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress is being made in respect of the future regulation of water prices; and if he will make a statement. [79102]
Mr. Meale: On 1 March 1999 Ministers announced their guidance to the Director General of Water Services on the programmes of investment in environmental and water quality improvements by water and sewerage companies that he should assume in setting their price limits for the period 2000-01 to 2004-05. While the setting of price limits is the responsibility of the Director, the required investment programme of some £8 billion of quality improvements over five years should allow room for significant price reductions in 2000-01. The Director will announce his provisional determinations of price limits in July.
Under proposals in the Water Industry Bill, currently before Parliament, household water customers would gain increased choice in the method of calculation of their individual bills. The Bill also proposes new powers for the Director and Ministers to regulate the provisions of companies' charges schemes.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce regulations to limit Heavy Goods Vehicles to the inside lane on busy commuter motorways. [78960]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Goods vehicles with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes are already banned from the outside lane of motorways with three or more lanes. We do not believe that a further restriction to the inner lane is justified for road safety reasons. It would cause a queue to form in the inner lane, moving at the speed of the slowest. Journey times are often a significant factor for hauliers, and drivers might be tempted to divert from motorways to less suitable roads through towns where accident rates are higher and there are more vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.
Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to mark the 25 anniversary of the laying of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. [79664]
Mr. Prescott: I intend to take forward a strategic appraisal of health and safety to mark the 25th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974. This legislation has delivered significant improvement in standards of health and safety at work. But we cannot be complacent: people continue to lose their lives and suffer serious injury at work. Not only does this have a terrible human cost, but it also jeopardises the competitiveness of our economy.
It is not my intention to revisit the basic structures of the Act, but I want to inject new impetus and relaunch the health and safety agenda. We also need to make sure that our approach to regulation continues to be appropriate
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for the changing world of work as we enter the next millennium, but without simply adding new and unnecessary regulatory burdens to business, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. Our aim must be to reduce the rate of workplace accidents and ill-health still further, crucially by working with all stakeholders to demonstrate that a healthy, well protected workforce is not only right, but is good for business and good for society.
I will launch a public consultation document, jointly with the Health and Safety Commission, in the summer to open up a debate on this important issue.
Mr. Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to publish revised planning guidance for opencast coal mining. [79770]
Mr. Caborn:
We have published revised Mineral Planning Guidance on Coal Mining and Colliery Spoil Disposal today. This meets the major concerns expressed in the 10 Point Plan for Opencast Coal issued before the General Election and firmly puts the interests of protecting the environment and local communities first.
The revised guidance takes account of our pre-election commitments, the final conclusions of the Energy review published in October 1998 and the responses to the draft guidance issued for public consultation in October 1998.
The guidance will ensure that planning permission for opencast coal mining is only given where the development is environmentally acceptable or provides over-riding local or community benefits. If neither of these requirements is met, there should be a presumption against opencast coal.
Mr. Colman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme which organisations have been registered under the Group Environmental Body Scheme; and how much has been awarded to environmental bodies under this scheme. [78556]
Ms Hewitt:
I have been asked to reply.
This is a matter for the Regulator for the environmental bodies credit scheme. I have passed on my hon. Friend's question to them and asked them to reply direct. The Regulator is:
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(g) Cory Environmental Ltd.; and if he will list the environmental projects which have been supported by these organisations. [78582]
Ms Hewitt:
I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is best provided by the Regulator for the environmental bodies credit scheme. I have passed my hon. Friend's question to them and asked them to reply direct. The Regulator is:
Ms Hewitt:
I have been asked to reply.
Entrust, who is the Regulator for the environmental bodies scheme, has been notified by the environmental bodies of awards of £6.56 million since 1 January 1999. All donations by landfill site operators through the scheme are voluntary, although they can receive landfill tax credits of 90 per cent. against their donations.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the six bed-space rule relating to the business rate for small guest houses and hotels; and if he will make a statement. [78429]
Janet Anderson:
I received representations on this subject during a recent meeting with the Chairman of the National Council of Hotels Associations. The matter has also been raised with me by tourism business people during visits to various parts of England. The Government have no current plans to amend the "six-person test" for non-domestic rates, although matters such as these are kept under review.
Ms Kelly:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the successful bids for millennium festival awards in the north-west. [78785]
Janet Anderson:
A list of successful bids is shown in the following table. This information is also available on the Millennium Commission's website (www.millennium.gov.uk). In addition, the North West has benefited from Watson Steel of Bolton winning the contract to provide the steel for the structure of the Dome.
Entrust Ltd.,
Suite 2, 5th Floor,
Acre House,
2 Town Square,
Sale,
M33 7WZ.
Mr. Colman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme how much has been awarded under the Group Environmental Body Scheme to (a) Albany Architecture Heritage Trust, (b) Enventure, (c) Global Balance Trust, (d) Global Wildlife Trust, (e) Triedar Ltd., Salisbury, (f) Cory Environmental Trust, Thurrock, and
Entrust Ltd.,
Suite 2, 5th Floor,
Acre House,
2 Town Square,
Sale,
M33 7WZ.
Mr. Colman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions under the Landfill Tax Credit scheme how much has been awarded to environmental bodies since January; and what percentage of this total is a voluntary donation from landfill operators. [78555]
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