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Right to Roam
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what economic assessment he has carried out of the impact of the right-to-roam proposals on hill farmers; and if he will make a statement. [86418]
Mr. Meacher:
My Department commissioned independent consultants, Entec UK Ltd., to undertake an assessment of different approaches for securing greater public access to open countryside. The study included an assessment of the effects on landowners and occupiers including agricultural enterprises such as sheep and cattle farms. Copies of the report, "Appraisal of Options on Access to the Open Countryside," have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to fund any increased costs of dealing with wider access to the countryside (a) by increasing resources to and (b) from existing budgets of (i) the Countryside Agency, (ii) English Nature and (iii) English Heritage. [86419]
Mr. Meacher:
The Government's proposals for giving people greater access to the countryside are set out in our "Framework for Action" which my Department published on 8 March this year. We do not expect them to have major financial consequences but we have made clear that, where appropriate, resources will be made available to the relevant statutory agencies to cover costs arising from the new legislation.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend the law governing rights of way; and if he will make a statement. [86420]
Mr. Meacher:
My Department expects to publish a consultation paper on rights of way shortly.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the safety impact of compulsory use of vehicle lights during daylight hours; and if he will make a statement. [86938]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Research into the effectiveness of daytime conspicuity lights on vehicles has been conducted for the Department by the Transport Research Laboratory. This work indicated that conspicuity lights could be of benefit in certain weather conditions, however, in clear weather, no obvious safety benefits were apparent.
The European Commission is presently considering the possible costs and benefits of the use of vehicle lights during daylight hours. The negative environmental impact of the use of vehicle lights in daytime is being considered as part of this work. No formal proposals to regulate in this area have yet been put forward but the UK continues to play its part in discussions with the European Commission and other member states.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the report on the New Household Projections to 2021. [86425]
Mr. Caborn:
The technical volume giving the main results and methodology for the 1996 based household projections is due to be published later this summer.
Mr. Touhig:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to introduce measures to tackle workplace violence and bullying. [85590]
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Mr. Meacher:
I strongly condemn workplace bullying. It has no place in a decent society. The Government have already in place measures to protect workers. Some instances of workplace bullying may well constitute an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Where workplace bullying presents a risk to a worker's health, health and safety inspectors could in principal use powers under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to require an employer to take action to protect the employee's health. No further legislative measures are planned.
I am very concerned about workplace violence. I have therefore asked the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) to consider options for further action that would make a significant impact on preventing assaults, verbal threats and abuse in the workplace. Any plans I make to introduce measures will be based on HSC's advice.
Mr. Moore:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he has received from English Nature concerning the notification of the River Tweed as a candidate special area of conservation under the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora; and if he intends to proceed to notification. [86868]
Mr. Macdonald:
I have been asked to reply.
The Government have no plans to propose the River Tweed to the European Commission as a candidate Special Area of Conservation.
From 1 July 1999 the selection of Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has made for the co-ordination of refugee return to Kosovo. [86480]
Clare Short:
The UNHCR has been given the lead responsibility for co-ordinating the arrangement for the return of the refugees to Kosovo. We are trying to assist them to strengthen this capacity to carry out their role as efficiently as possible.
The refugees will be provided with information about the conditions in Kosovo when the details become available, including the presence of mines, booby traps and unexploded ordnance. Arrangements for orderly return are being discussed with refugee leaders.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what money she has allocated for the process of de-mining in Kosovo. [86481]
Clare Short:
To date £250,000 has been allocated for de-mining, including a mine awareness programme, in Kosovo. We expect to allocate more once the needs are
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clearer. Education, about the danger and location of mines, and unexploded ordnance, for refugees inside and outside of Kosovo, will be a priority.
Mr. Kaufman:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will itemise and state the value of (i) aid and (ii) trade preferences provided, respectively by the United Kingdom and the European Union, for (a) Trinidad and Tobago, (b) Jamaica and (c) each of the other Caribbean Commonwealth countries which have the penalty of capital punishment. [86408]
Clare Short:
Net figures for official development assistance (oda) provided in 1997 (the latest year for which full figures are available) to those Commonwealth Caribbean Countries which retain statutory provision for capital punishment are as follows:
| UK | EC | |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| Barbados | 0.3 | 3.5 |
| Belize | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| Dominica | 5.2 | -0.4 |
| Guyana | 91.9 | 4.0 |
| Jamaica | -2.9 | 45.6 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | 0.2 | 0.8 |
| St. Lucia | 1.4 | 6.9 |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 0.4 | 20.4 |
Note:
Negative figures are the result of repayments on past oda loans. The UK oda figure for Guyana is particularly high because of a large debt relief payment made in 1997.
As with other non-EU members of the Lome Convention, the Caribbean benefits from Lome trade preferences including those relating to commodities. It would not be possible to quantify the value of these preferences to the countries in question without disproportionate cost.
Balkans (Reconstruction)
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the resources required for refugee return and longer-term reconstruction of Kosovo and the Balkan region. [86482]
Clare Short: Most of the refugees are likely to return if their long-term security is guaranteed by an international security presence in Kosovo with NATO at its core. This is one of the conditions that has now been accepted. Arrangements for the withdrawal of all Yugoslav security forces, and the early entry of the international security force into Kosovo are currently being finalised. The immediate tasks are de-mining, and the provision of emergency relief for those who had remained in Kosovo and those returning (shelter, food, medicine, emergency rehabilitation of infrastructure).
In co-ordination with the lead agency, the UNHCR, we are preparing for the reception of refugees when they return to Kosovo. We have a team positioned in Skopje ready to provide a rapid assessment of the resources required to begin the process of planning provision of
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humanitarian relief repairs and rehabilitation. As I have stated previously, our objective remains as it has always been to assist as many refugees to return to Kosovo as quickly as possible.
Recent donor meetings have assessed the impact of the Kosovo crisis on neighbouring countries and highlighted action needed to deal with the consequences. We continue to work closely with the International Community to help these countries.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money is allocated by her Department for the return of Kosovan refugees and the longer-term reconstruction costs in the Balkans. [86479]
Clare Short:
Since 24 March 1999, the Government have committed £40 million for humanitarian assistance to the region. We are working with the EU member states, IMF, the World Bank and regional banks to determine the resources required for the return of the refugees and the longer-term reconstruction in the Balkans. We expect to make an appropriate contribution to the reconstruction effort.
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