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Catering Job Vacancies
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his Department's estimate of current vacancies in the catering sector in (a) the North West of England and (b) Sefton. [84416]
Mr. Andrew Smith: The Office for National Statistics publishes a seasonally unadjusted quarterly count of vacancies notified to Employment Service Jobcentres broken down by 1992 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC92) category--it combines catering and hotels.
(a) Focusing on Jobcentres in the North West Government Office Region:
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Dr. Brand:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list for schools in the Isle of Wight Local Education Authority the change in the average size of classes, taught by one teacher, between January 1998 and January 1999 for pupils in (a) nursery classes, (b) Key Stage Two and (c) secondary schools. [84718]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Information on class sizes for individual schools is not published centrally. The available information for Isle of Wight Local Education Authority area is shown in the table.
in the 12 months ending April 1999, there were around 40,600 notified vacancies in the hotel and catering industry--representing approximately 15 per cent. of notified vacancies.
in April 1999, there were around 4,400 unfilled vacancies in the hotels and catering industry.
(b) Focusing on Jobcentres in the Sefton metropolitan district:
in the 12 months ending April 1999, there were around 1,900 notified vacancies in the hotel and catering industry--representing approximately 14 per cent. of notified vacancies.
in April 1999, there were around 200 unfilled vacancies in the hotels and catering industry.
Not all vacancies are, however, notified to Employment Service Jobcentres.
| January each year | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery classes | 36.7 | 27.0 |
| Key Stage One | 25.7 | 23.8 |
| Key Stage Two | 27.6 | 28.3 |
| Overall Primary | 26.5 | 25.6 |
| Secondary | 22.4 | 22.4 |
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Fuel Duty Escalator
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 April 1999, Official Report, column 299, what methodology will be used to assess the impact of the fuel duty escalator on transport emissions and when an accurate assessment of impact will be prepared. [81619]
Ms Glenda Jackson: We draw on a number of forecasting techniques to estimate the impact of the fuel duty escalator on emissions. These techniques principally focus on the long-term, since the fuel duty escalator is a long-term policy. Our forecasting methods are kept under review, and adjustments are made as and when improved techniques or new data become available.
To some degree all these methods rely on statistical analysis of historic data, and we suspect that we will need a number of further years' traffic and emissions data before we can make a definitive short-term assessment of the impact of fuel duty increases since 1996. Even then, such an assessment will remain reliant on forecasts of what would have happened had the increases not been implemented, and will not pick up the full effects of the policy which will only become apparent over the longer term. Work in this area continues, and we will make available short-term estimates to complement the long- term estimates we have already published, once these can be provided with an acceptable degree of reliability.
National Land Use Database
Mr. Bennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the National Land Use Data Base. [84365]
20 May 1999 : Column: 416
Mr. Caborn:
I am today publishing the first results of the National Land Use Database (NLUD). This shows that there are around 33,000 hectares of previously developed vacant and derelict land in England of which about a third could be recycled for housing. Another 23,000 hectares are currently in productive use but are planned or expected to become available for redevelopment. Together, this is capable of accommodating more than 710,000 dwellings.
The Government's target is that 60 per cent. of additional homes should be built on previously developed land or should utilise existing buildings. We have always said that this target is tough but achievable. Latest figures show that we had reached 56 per cent. by 1996.
The results of NLUD are a snap-shot in time and provide only part of the information about the position in reaching the target. The stock of land and buildings available for recycling is continually being added to, as well as being developed for housing and other purposes, and these changes have to be fully taken into account. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has therefore asked the Urban Task Force to review the future availability of recycled land and buildings, taking account of the NLUD data. The Task Force expects to present its report at the end of next month.
Everybody has to have the opportunity of a decent home in which to live. New houses have to be built but in a sustainable way which helps put new life into our towns and cities, makes best use of land and does not squander the precious resource of our English countryside. Policies to achieve these objectives were set out in our revised Planning Policy Guidance note 3: Housing, which was issued for consultation at the end of March.
Today's publication represents the first step towards a comprehensive National Land Use Database which my Department is developing in partnership with local government, English Partnerships and Ordnance Survey.
The statistical bulletin released today gives national and regional results for different types of land, with information about planned uses and assessments of suitability for housing. Some results are also being made available for individual local planning authorities.
This information will be valuable to all those concerned with planning and urban regeneration, including the regional planning conferences--who will be setting regional targets for the re-use of previously developed land for new housing, English Partnerships--who are doing further work on key sites, and the Regional Development Agencies and local authorities who have a key role in supporting the development of previously used sites.
I want to thank local authorities for their splendid efforts in helping us assembly the new database. The data will be useful to them as well as us in seeking to make the very best use of recycled land. The intention now is to build on this work by working with them to develop a system to keep the information up to date, and to expand the scope of the database to encompass all land uses.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cases
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of nuisance caused by misuse of fireworks were reported to environmental service departments between January 1998 and January 1999. [84695]
Mr. Meale:
Information on the number of cases reported to environmental service departments is not collected centrally.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications for authorisation and categorisation of fireworks to be imported to the United Kingdom there have been in each year since 1996; how many were (a) approved and (b) denied; and what were the categories involved in each case. [84696]
Mr. Meale:
The applications received by the HSE for the classification and authorisation of fireworks since 1996 are as follows:
| Year | Number of Applications |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1997 | 54 |
| 1998 | 42 |
| 1999 | 14 |
No applications were refused. The fireworks covered by these applications were in any of the four British Standards categories.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the contribution which switching wherever practical to (a) energy-efficient light bulbs and (b) semi- conductor (gallium nitride) illumination in traffic lights, would make toward meeting the UK's obligations under the Kyoto Accord. [84549]
Mr. Meale: We have made no overall assessment of potential energy savings from improved traffic lights but we are aware of the developing technology in this area which could yield savings in the longer term. In particular, my Department participates in an International Energy Agency technology procurement agreement which includes a project to bring forward semi-conductor (Light Emitting Diode) traffic light technology. The first UK site trial was started last summer. Savings in both energy and replacement costs of as much as 60 per cent. are predicted but no firm figures are yet available. The trial was actively encouraged by the Highways Agency who formed a partnership, to promote this technology, with Bristol City Council and the manufacturer.
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