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Owen-Corning
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his decision relating to the proposal by Rockwell to take over Owen-Corning's plant at Pentre, Deeside, Flintshire. [83981]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 13 May 1999]: On 7 May I announced that I had decided to prohibit the proposed acquisition by Rockwool Ltd. of the stone wool manufacturing business of Owens-Corning Building Products (UK) Ltd. My decision was in accordance with the recommendation of the Competition Commission and the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading.
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Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Michelin Tyre plc's application to build a new combined heat and power gas-fired power station at their Stoke-on-Trent tyre factory. [84622]
Mr. Battle:
I have today granted consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 to Michelin Tyre plc for construction of a 58 MW gas-fired Combined Heat and Power station at its tyre factory in Stoke-on-Trent Council. The station has also today been given clearance as a gas-fired station under Section 14 of the Energy Act 1976 and planning permission has been deemed to be granted, subject to 50 planning conditions agreed with the City of Stoke-on-Trent Council. The decisions have been taken in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper entitled 'Conclusions of the Review of Energy sources for Power Generation and Government response to fourth and fifth Reports of the Trade and Industry Committee' (Cm 4071).
Copies of the Press Notice and decision letters are being placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on Rolls-Royce Power Venture Ltd's notification to build an open cycle gas turbine power station at Croydon. [84621]
Mr. Byers:
I have decided not to issue a direction under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 to stop Rolls-Royce Power Ventures Ltd. building a new 49MW gas-fired power station at Croydon. In taking my decision I concluded that the contribution to providing future diversity of technology by allowing the commercial demonstration of this innovative development is such that it would have been inappropriate to issue such a direction.
Although new natural gas-fired generation would normally be inconsistent with the Government's energy policy concerns relating to diversity and security of supply, the Energy White Paper indicated that there may be a few exceptional examples which might merit support so as to help provide future diversity of technology. The White Paper also emphasises the importance of long term diversity of technology (together with diversity of fuels and sources of supply) in promoting flexibility and an ability to adapt to an uncertain future. I have concluded that the need for Rolls-Royce's Industrial Trent turbine to be commercially demonstrated, and so ensure the future diversity of technology, is such that it is appropriate for the proposal to be carried out.
Copies of this Press Notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many heavy goods vehicles are receiving the reduction in
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vehicle excise duty announced in his Budget statement following a reduction in the amount of their exhaust emissions. [83823]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
As of 30 April 1999, 120 heavy goods vehicles were licensed in the Reduced Pollution tax classes. This figure does not take into account any operators who obtained a Reduced Pollution Certificate in April and waited for the end of the month before relicensing at the lower rate.
Mr. Cotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received calling for the installation of speed cameras on the A370 between Weston- super-Mare and Congresbury. [84181]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
No representations have been received calling for the installation of speed cameras. The installation of speed cameras on the A370 is for North Somerset Council to consider in its role as the local highway authority. The Secretary of State's consent is not required.
Mr. Cotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for new safety measures on the A370 between Weston-super-Mare and Congresbury. [84182]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The A370 is a local road for which North Somerset Council is the local highway authority. It is for the local authority to determine the need for new safety measures on this road.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his definition is of homes which have been substantially altered, as it relates to his Department's report, Water Charging in England and Wales: Government Decisions Following Consultation, page 7, paragraph 24. [84224]
Mr. Meale:
I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much the Audit Commission has paid to Mr. Tony Childs, the Westminster Auditor's legal representative, for his professional fees incurred over the period 18 July 1989 to 30 April 1999 in connection with the Auditor's inquiry into Westminster City Council's designated sales policy; [84119]
(3) how much the Audit Commission has paid to Mr. John Howell QC, for his professional fees incurred in representing Westminster City Council's appointed Auditor at (a) the Divisional Court hearing in 1997, (b) the Appeal Court hearing in 1999 and (c) since he
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Ms Armstrong:
The cost of investigations carried out by auditors appointed by The Audit Commission are borne by the authority concerned. The Commission indemnifies the auditor for the cost of any court proceedings resulting from such investigations. Under the indemnity the Commission has met, in relation to the Westminster designated sales inquiry, costs of £2,997,000 incurred by the auditor in respect of his costs, and those of his solicitor and barrister.
Mr. Patrick Hall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the revised UK Strategy for Sustainable Development. [84538]
Mr. Prescott:
"A better quality of life--a Strategy for sustainable development for the UK" will be published on Monday 17 May. Copies will be placed in the House Libraries. It will also be available on my Department's website at www.detr.gov.uk.
The aim of sustainable development is to deliver a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. That means building economic prosperity in a way that protects our environment and shares that prosperity more widely. It means creating "livability"--towns, cities and rural areas which are based on sustainable communities, offering a better quality of life for all. The Sustainable Development Strategy will provide the framework for meeting those objectives, by tackling problems in a co-ordinated way and by linking local, national and international action. The Strategy will look at the overlapping themes of a sustainable economy, sustainable communities and managing the environment and resources, with the challenges and opportunities each represents. It will include indicators as a means to measure progress, including a set of headline indicators.
The Government will lead in putting the Strategy into practice. But it will be important for each sector--and all of us as individuals--to pull in the same direction. The Strategy is therefore being supported by the launch of the next phase of the "Are you doing your bit?" advertising campaign, to communicate key elements of sustainable development to everyone.
Dr. Brand:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of lives that would be saved each year if every local authority dwelling in England was fitted with a smoke alarm. [79606]
Mr. George Howarth
[pursuant to the reply, 13 April 1999, c. 62]: I have been asked to reply.
The previous reply provided figures for fire casualties in all households in England; a separate estimate is not available for local authority dwellings. Fire statistics do not reveal whether the dwelling in which the fire occurred was owned or rented in the private or public sector, although it is known that 17 per cent. of all households in England are in the ownership of local authorities.
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(2) how much the Audit Commission has paid to Mr. John Magill, the Westminster Auditor, in professional fees over the period 18 July 1989 to 30 April 1999 in connection with his inquiry into Westminster City Council's designated sales policy; [84120]
was first consulted in connection with the Auditor's inquiry into Westminster City Council's designated sales policy. [84121]
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