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New Housing
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the implications are of his announcement of revised household projection figures on 29 March for the need for new housing developments in (a) Stevenage, (b) Devon, (c) West Sussex, (d) East Sussex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) West Midlands. [80086]
Mr. Raynsford: As the Deputy Prime Minister said in his answer on 29 March 1999, Official Report, column 472, my Department will be writing to regional planning bodies setting out further information which may be relevant in the context of preparing regional planning guidance.
Fuel Poverty
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the proportion of pensioners who are, on his Department's definition, living in fuel poverty; and if he will provide separate estimates for pensioners aged (a) 65 to 69, (b) 70 to 79 and (c) 80 years or above. [80095]
Mr. Meale: Using data from the 1991 English House Condition Survey (EHCS) we estimate that some 77 per cent. of lone pensioners were in fuel poverty and a further 43 per cent. of older couples (at least one of whom was of pensionable age) were also fuel poor. Data are not readily available on the number of pensioners in larger households in fuel poverty.
The EHCS relates to households and so detailed information on ages is readily available only for the head of each household. In 1991, of heads of household aged
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(a) 65 to 69, (b) 70 to 79 and (c) 80 years or more, we estimate that some 50 per cent., 58 per cent. and 80 per cent. respectively were fuel poor.
Provisional data from the 1996 EHCS show a welcome reduction in the number of households in fuel poverty. The data are currently being analysed and will be published in the 1996 EHCS Energy Report later this year.
This information is based on the standard definition of fuel poor households being those needing to spend more than 10 per cent. of household income to achieve a satisfactory indoor heating regime.
Dr. Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what correspondence he has had with Ofwat concerning the non-publication of the condition and grade of critical sewers in (a) Southern Water, (b) North West Water, (c) North Surrey Water, (d) Thames Water, (e) South West Water, (f) South East Water and (g) Mid Southern Water areas following advice to Ofwat by these companies that the information is confidential. [80444]
Mr. Meale:
None. I have asked the Director General of Water Services to write to my hon. Friend.
Dr. Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's definition of a critical sewer. [80443]
Mr. Meale:
Critical sewers are those which are either costly or difficult to repair, and/or are important to the performance of the network. The definition is given in the sewerage rehabilitation manual (Water Research Council) adopted by the industry in 1983.
Dr. Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to give further guidance to Ofwat on developing absolute standards for the sustainability of sewerage networks; and what discussions he has had on this matter with the Director General of Ofwat. [80442]
Mr. Meale:
We published "Raising the Quality" in September 1998, giving guidance to the Director General of Water Services on the environmental and quality objectives to be achieved by the water industry in England and Wales in 2000 to 2005. Paragraphs 125 to 131 of this document set out the Government's views on the maintenance of water supply and sewerage assets.
This guidance endorses the approach of the Director General, based on the serviceability of assets to customers and to the environment, as the correct framework for considering the financing of asset maintenance in the current periodic review.
The guidance also sets out the Government's view that, in the longer term, it would be appropriate for the Director General to develop absolute standards for the serviceability of water distribution and sewerage networks. We shall discuss with Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environment Agency the work needed to develop a strategic approach of this sort.
Dr. Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the meeting between Water UK and the Local Government
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Association on tackling rat infestation of sewerage networks proposed in his Department's response to the Environment Sub-Committee's report on Sewage Treatment and Disposal has taken place; and if he will make a statement. [80445]
Mr. Meale:
The first meeting was held in March. The next will be in the Summer when information currently being obtained by Water UK and the Local Government Association will be considered.
Miss Widdecombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will postpone the implementation of the proposed inspection charges under the Town and County Planning (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations pending his comprehensive review of health and safety legislation. [80281]
Mr. Meacher:
The Deputy Prime Minister announced on 30 March 1999, Official Report, columns 586-87, that he is 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. It is not our intention to revisit the basic structures of the Act, or to conduct a comprehensive review of health and safety legislation. The aim is to inject new impetus and relaunch the health and safety agenda. The appraisal has no bearing on the implementation from 1 April of the Control of Major Accidents Hazards Regulations 1999.
Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those members of advisory committees to his Department who have declared outside interests with (a) DiaDexus, (b) Cerebrus Ltd., (c) Cerebrus PLC, (d) Stanford University, (e) Human Genome Services Inc., (f) Glaxo Wellcome, (g) the Wellcome Institute, (h) Monsanto, (i) AgrEvo and (j) SmithKline Beecham. [80128]
Mr. Meale:
The only member of an advisory non departmental public body sponsored by my Department who has declared an interest in one of the organisations listed in the question is:
| Name | NDPB | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Tom Blundell | Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution | SmithKline Beecham |
Energy Conservation
Mr. Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to report to Parliament on activities by energy conservation authorities under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [80719]
Mr. Meacher:
I have today published a report covering activity in England under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 (HECA) as at the end of 1998. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.
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Local authorities were identified as crucial to the success of the Home Energy Conservation Act. Some authorities have achieved good results--but many need to do much more. Local authorities' reports point to an improvement of some 2% to 2½% in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation over the two years to the end of March 1998. This is a useful initial step, but progress is patchy, with too many areas reporting no improvement at all. Local authorities need to make faster progress towards achieving the potential they have identified.
Museums and Galleries (School Visits)
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school visits from each LEA have taken place to museums and galleries sponsored by his Department in each of the last five years; [76392]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils who have participated in school visits from each LEA to museums and galleries sponsored by his Department in each of the last five years. [76391]
Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 16 March 1999]: The visits over the last five years by school pupils to each of the museums and galleries sponsored by my Department has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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