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Heavy Goods Vehicles
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost per heavy goods vehicle of the fitting of an exhaust system incorporating a particulates trap in order to attract the reduction in vehicle excise duty announced in his Budget statement. [83824]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The Government's assessment of the current cost of retrofitting a particulate trap to a heavy goods vehicle is between £3,000 and £4,500, compared with the maximum Vehicle Excise Duty reduction of £1,000 when vehicles meet the emissions standards required to receive a Reduced Pollution Certificate. The cost for smaller vehicles is at the lower end of this scale, increasing to the upper figure for the largest and most powerful lorries. It is expected that the cost of emissions reduction technologies will fall as the market for them grows, leading to competition between manufacturers and economies of scale in the production of devices.
Drinking and Driving Laws
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what conclusions
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he has reached from his analysis of the responses received to the consultation about possible changes to the law relating to drinking and driving. [84369]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We are still considering how best to take forward the matters raised in the consultation document in the light of the responses received and in the broader context of road safety policy. Our conclusions will be incorporated within the road safety strategy which we will publish later this year.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports his Department has received concerning the efforts of the state Government of Rio Grande do Sul to guarantee non- genetically modified soya bean production throughout their state; and what plans his Department has to give assistance. [84500]
Mr. Meacher:
I met the Secretary of Agriculture for the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul on 13 May at his request to hear about the ability of his State to supply non genetically modified soya to UK customers. We shall certainly take this information into account in sourcing for the future and I have agreed to a further exchange of information at official level.
Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) the names and current employers of the board members of each regional development agency and (b) the names and previous employers of the senior management team appointed by each regional development agency. [84714]
Mr. Meale:
The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.
Dr. Ladyman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the official guidance on the minimum distance between mobile telephone and other communication masts and (a) residential property, (b) schools and colleges and (c) places of business in (i) other EU countries, (ii) Scandinavian countries, (iii) the United States of America and (iv) Canada; [84953]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Government's statutory advisers on radiological protection matters are the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB). The Board's advice to Government is based upon a continuing review and assessment of published scientific studies covering the fields of biology and medicine, epidemiology and dosimetry.
The NRPB have issued guidelines on limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). This guidance specifies restrictions on the exposure of people, rather than safe
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distances from equipment, and is related to established health effects of EMFs, such as effects on perception, central nervous system effects and the heating of tissues.
The NRPB advise that radio waves at ground level and in regions accessible to the public tend to be many times below guideline levels and should present no health risk. Telecommunications operators have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 and the Management of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 to ensure that their work activities, which would include the operation of their apparatus, do not present a risk to employees and the general public. The practical effect of the combination of the NRPB guidelines and health and safety legislation should be that people are kept at a safe distance from sources of EMFs.
The NRPB also advise that there is no convincing evidence of a causal effect between exposure to EMFs and other health effects, such as cancer, and that published human health studies relating to these do not provide a basis for advice on setting exposure standards.
The Government continue to monitor international work on the possible health effects of EMFs and to gather information on worldwide practice on the limitation of public exposure to EMFs. The UK has also participated actively in negotiations of the proposed EU Recommendation on this subject and in the World Health Organisation's International EMF Project. We shall continue to take international practice and research results into consideration in taking forward policy on this matter, including in developing guidance on land use planning and electromagnetic fields.
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what powers are available to (a) the DVLA and (b) local authorities to remove abandoned vehicles on the public highway; [84980]
(3) what estimate he has made of the cost of the removal of abandoned vehicles from the public highway by (i) local authorities and (ii) the DVLA in each year since 1995-96; [84978]
(4) what procedures exist within his Department for the monitoring of the number of abandoned vehicles on the public highway collected by (i) local authorities and (ii) the DVLA. [84979]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The DVLA has no powers to remove abandoned vehicles on the public highway. Local authorities have powers, under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to remove such vehicles. The Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986 prescribes the procedure that should be followed by local authorities. There are no plans at present to review these powers and procedures.
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There is no requirement for local authorities to provide information on the costs of removing vehicles. My Department does not monitor the number of abandoned vehicles collected from the public highway by local authorities.
Mr. Martlew:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assistance the Government are giving toward the Carlisle Northern Relief Road. [85042]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Should Cumbria City Council bid for support for this scheme as part of their Local Transport Plan, it would be considered along with other major schemes across the country.
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the level of carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998. [85094]
Mr. Meale:
Emissions of CO 2 in the UK are estimated to have been 155 million tonnes of carbon in 1997. 1998 emissions are provisionally estimated to have been about 156 million tonnes of carbon, about 1 per cent. higher than in 1997, and 7 per cent. lower than in 1990. The increase between 1997 and 1998 was associated with delays in commissioning and starting up combined cycle gas turbine power stations, planned maintenance at nuclear plant and some reduction in imported electricity.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whether the packaging of each available anti-wear additive for petrol will list the functional chemical component and the concentration of its active element when added to unleaded petrol in the recommended amount. [85251]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Information to be provided on additive packaging would be a matter for individual suppliers.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 April 1999, Official Report, columns 71-72, on British Standards, if he will make a statement on (a) the early problems in Sweden associated with the lead replacement petrol, (b) the reasons for sodium being dropped from the draft standard for lead replacement petrol issued in 1998 and (c) what problems were identified in Sweden with the use of sodium in lead replacement petrol and (d) whether the problems solely related to the use of sodium. [85248]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Following the introduction in Sweden of Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP) in 1994, an increase in engine component wear was identified by engine repairers. The problems focused upon engine valves and on turbochargers and appeared to have been caused by a phenomenon known as hot corrosion reportedly due to the use of sodium in the fuel. With the emergence of this information, LRP in Sweden was changed to a potassium-based product and once the changeover was complete the incidence of engine damage
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dropped. During the changeover of the fuels, concern over the use of both sodium and potassium existed, but I understand this mostly disappeared as the use of potassium increased. The British Standards Institution has adopted a precautionary approach by excluding sodium from its draft standard for lead replacement petrol.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whether sodium- based additives to petrol are being marketed in the United Kingdom to the public. [85249]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We are not aware that any petrol supplier is marketing petrol which includes a sodium- based additive. The Federation of British Historic Vehicles has tested and endorsed one self-dosing additive containing sodium.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the information he has published in the last 12 months on the use of sodium-based additives in petrol. [85250]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Department has published two advisory leaflets to help motorists who may have concerns about the withdrawal of leaded petrol. These include general information on additives as an alternative to lead, whether already included in lead replacement petrol or provided separately for motorist's use, but do not refer to particular types of additives. Copies of the leaflets have been placed in the House Library and may be viewed on the Internet at www.environment.detr.gov.uk/unleaded/index.htm.
(2) what discussions he has had with representatives of professional medical opinion on the guidance for the minimum distances between mobile telephone and other communication masts and occupied properties; and if he will make a statement. [84954]
(2) what plans he has to review the powers and procedures exercised by (a) the DVLA and (b) local authorities for the removal of abandoned vehicles from the public highway; [84981]
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