| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Advisory Committee on Releases into
the Environment
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria he will employ in appointing new members of the Advisory Committee on Releases into the Environment. [81387]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 19 April 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Stinchcombe) on 11 May 1999, Official Report, columns 106-07.
Jubilee Line
Mr. Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the outturn, estimated outturn or planned level of core investment excluding the Jubilee line extension in London Transport for the years 1993-94 to 1999-2000, in 1999 prices. [82419]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The requested information is in the table.
| LUL | PFI (1) | LTB and other LT Businesses (2) | Total core business investment excluding JLE (3) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94(4) | 556 | 0 | 38 | 594 |
| 1994-95(4) | 563 | 0 | 28 | 591 |
| 1995-96 | 522 | 122 | 31 | 675 |
| 1996-97 | 395 | 145 | 24 | 564 |
| 1997-98 | 334 | 165 | 37 | 536 |
| 1998-99(5) | 415 | 53 | 35 | 503 |
| 1999-2000(6) | 335 | 161 | 29 | 525 |
(1) The PFI figures are not estimates of what the private sector is investing in London Transport. Rather they are London Transport's estimates of what investment in PFI projects would have cost had LT undertaken the investment themselves.
(2) LTB and other LT Businesses include LT Buses, LT Property, Victoria Coach Station, PASS, LT Museum and Group Services.
(3) Also excluding other smaller ring fenced activities including Croydon Tramlink, Dial-a-Ride, Crossrail, LUL works at Kings Cross for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and London River Services pier purchase and construction.
(4) 1993-94 and 1994-95 include expenditure by London Buses Limited subsidiaries, which have since been sold to the private sector.
(5) Estimate
(6) Planned
Conventional Plant Breeding
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the environmental impact of herbicide-resistant oil seed rape varieties created by conventional plant breeding methods; what controls exist on such plants; and if he will make a statement; [82071]
24 May 1999 : Column: 6
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 27 April 1999]: No formal assessment has been made of the environmental impact of herbicide-resistant oil seed rape varieties created by conventional plant breeding methods or the adequacy of the regulatory systems for crops created by conventional plant breeding in respect of their potential environmental impact.
However, concern over the environmental implications of herbicide-tolerant crops (whether produced by genetic modification or conventional methods) have been raised on several occasions by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE), in particular in their annual reports for 1996-97 and 1998.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is co-funding research on the management of genetically modified herbicide tolerant crops through the so-called BRIGHT project.
The guidelines developed by the industry grouping SCIMAC (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops) for growing herbicide tolerant crops also applies to both conventionally bred and genetically modified crops.
In their report on the EC Regulation of Genetic Modification in Agriculture at paragraph 178, the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities recommended that, from now on, any crop with novel traits which may have the potential to impact significantly on the environment should be subject to an oversight system.
In responding, the Government recognised that regulating on the basis of process rather than product could lead to anomalies and undertook to ask ACRE to advise what might be done to address the issue raised by the Committee. ACRE have now taken this task on. However the Government consider it right that the focus is on the genetic modification of organisms since this can result in the crossing of species barriers where potential risks have to be particularly carefully assessed and managed. The EC legislation on genetically modified organisms reflects this view.
Mr. Cotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the volume of road traffic which is accounted for by journeys to and from places of work. [83041]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 5 May 1999]: In 1997, the volume of road traffic accounted for by journeys to and from places of work was about 97 billion km, 26 per cent. of the total of 368 billion km for all car and taxi traffic in Great Britain.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with representatives of British Transport Police on the future role and responsibilities of their service; and if he will make a statement. [84744]
24 May 1999 : Column: 7
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government announced on 31 July 1998, Official Report, column 637, their intention to seek to establish, when a suitable legislative opportunity arises, an independent national police authority for the British Transport Police (BTP). Subject to Parliament's approval the legislation would also place the jurisdiction of the BTP for all railway land (including the London Underground and the Docklands Light Railway) on a statutory basis. Following consultation the Home Secretary is also considering an extension to the BTP's jurisdiction outside the railways in specific circumstances. If acceptable this would also be included within the legislation. My officials meet regularly with senior officers from the BTP to discuss a range of issues.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to implement the measures to protect limestone pavements in the United Kingdom proposed by the Wildlife Trusts. [83843]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 20 May 1999]: Limestone Pavement is a priority habitat under both the Habitats Directive and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Under the latter, the Wildlife Trusts are members of the Limestone Pavement Working Group, which is seeking to ensure no further losses in extent or quality. The Group is preparing a report on what further measures may be necessary, and I shall consider any recommendations carefully.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will specify in contracts between his Department and construction companies the use of a minimum percentage of recycled materials; and if he will make a statement. [84898]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Department follows the advice of the "Green guide for managers on the government estate", published in March 1999 to promote more sustainable construction. This guidance refers to the importance of using recycled materials and ensuring future recyclability in obtaining best value. The Environment Agency has adopted a target for the engineering works it procures that 20 per cent. of the aggregates used should be from secondary sources, while the Highways Agency is encouraging the adoption of material specifications which make recycling technically practical.
The Department is helping the Government Construction Clients' Panel to develop a methodology for assessing how well Departments and Agencies procure and manage their built assets against indicators of sustainability, which are expected to include criteria relating to the re-use and recycling of materials. In addition, the Department is working with representatives of the whole construction industry to develop a strategy for more sustainable construction. This strategy, which will set out how the industry intends to contribute to sustainable development, is due to be published later this year.
24 May 1999 : Column: 8
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the effect of genetically modified pollen on butterflies. [85285]
Mr. Meacher:
I am aware of the recent report in "Nature" about the possible adverse effects of pollen from genetically modified insect resistant maize on the Monarch Butterfly in America. The maize in question has had a gene from a naturally occurring soil bacterium "Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)" inserted which allows it to produce a toxin that kills corn boring insects.
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulatory systems for crops created by conventional plant breeding in respect of their potential environmental impact. [82072]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |