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ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Genetically Modified Crops
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account he took of the geographical extent of bee activity when deciding the extent of the sanitary cordon around genetically modified trial crops. [75093]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 8 March 1999]: Each application for the release of genetically modified (GM) plants for research purposes is supported by a risk assessment, which is evaluated by Government experts and independent scientists on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). Their consideration will include the possible spread of GM pollen by all means, including bee activity, and its likely consequences. One member of ACRE is an expert on bees and their behaviour. Based on the type of GM plant, how it has been modified and the circumstances of the proposed release it may be judged necessary to minimise the potential for cross-pollination of neighbouring sexually compatible crops or wild relatives by the GM plants. The precautions taken to prevent or reduce cross-pollination include the removal of flowers, specific isolation distances between GM and non-GM plants or borders of non-GM plants around the plots of GM plants. It has to be recognised however that bee activity may in some cases involve the dissemination of GM pollen beyond the isolation distances traditionally used.
Speed Limit Repeater Signs
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in favour of permitting repeater signs indicating the 30 mph speed limit in built-up areas; and if he will make a statement. [79690]
Ms Glenda Jackson: We regularly receive a small number of letters requesting that repeater signs be allowed so as to reinforce the 30 mph speed limit. We are currently conducting a speed policy review which will consider all speed related issues, including the role signs play in managing traffic speeds.
Motorcycle Advisory Group
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the terms of reference of the Government's motorcycle advisory group will be; [79928]
- (2) which non-governmental groups will be invited to join the Government's advisory group on motorcycling; [79927]
(3) what steps he is currently undertaking to encourage the use of small motorcycles. [79926]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Arrangements will be made shortly for the convening of the first formal meeting of the Motorcycling Advisory Group. We will announce the date and the Group membership shortly. The Terms of
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Reference will be finalised at this meeting. However, a central feature will be to consider the role of motorcycling in our integrated transport policy.
We are already providing assistance over motorcycle security in that we are supporting Lord Rotherwick's Bill, introduced on 30 March, which will enable local authorities to provide secure parking devices.
Mr. Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many submissions he received in response to the Government's Green Paper on Residential Leasehold Reform in England and Wales by 31 March. [80645]
Mr. Raynsford:
We had received 923 responses to the consultation paper by 31 March.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the setting of the standard spending assessment level for the planning period in respect of local authority road maintenance expenditure. [80400]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 13 April 1999]: This was amongst the issues discussed as part of the overall level of expenditure for transport and local authorities during the CSR period.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact that his revision downwards on the projection of the number of houses that will need to be built between now and 2016 will have on the projected number of houses needed in (a) Essex and (b) Mid-Essex. [80289]
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.
Mr. Jim Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish a statement defining the strategic relationship between English Nature and his Department. [80902]
Mr. Meale:
We have published today, the "English Nature Management Study", copies of which can be found in the House Libraries.
Export Licences
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many licences were (a) granted and (b) refused between 3 August and 31 December 1998 for
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the export of military or police goods to (1) Angola, (2) Chad, (3) the Democratic Republic of Congo, (4) Namibia, (5) Uganda and (6) Zimbabwe; and if he will specify the number of licences granted in each of the categories set out under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994. [80502]
Dr. Howells:
The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 3 August and 31 December 1998, 16 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 7 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in the specified countries of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List. In the same period, no applications for such licences were refused. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings and/or countries.
| Angola | Chad | DR Congo | Namibia | Uganda | Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ML1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| ML2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ML3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ML5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ML6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ML11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| ML13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ML15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| PL 5017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| PL 5031 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PL 5033 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Angola | Chad | DR Congo | Namibia | Uganda | Zimbabwe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ML1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| ML2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ML3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| ML10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| ML15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| PL 5002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| PL 5018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.
This information should be considered in light of the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870-71.
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In addition, goods on the Military List may have been exported under certain Open General Export Licences; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of House.
Mr. Gerrard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences for the export of military equipment to Sri Lanka have been refused in each of the last five years. [80439]
Dr. Howells:
The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the following results were obtained. Between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1998, six applications for Standard Individual Export Licences covering the export to consignees or end-users in Sri Lanka of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, the so-called Military List, were refused. In the same period, no applications for Open Individual Export Licences covering such exports were refused. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the Table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
| 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of refusals | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| Number of applications refused in each year covering goods with this rating | ||||||
| ML1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| ML2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| ML3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| ML4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
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