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Somerset Levels
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assistance he is providing to the Environment Agency to further the promotion of eco-tourism on the Somerset Levels. [89019]
Mr. Meale: The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions provides the Agency with grant in aid each year to enable it to carry out its statutory duties. One of its duties is to promote the conservation and enhancement of water and associated land for recreational purposes. In addition the Agency is a lead organisation for flood defence and water level management, both of which contribute to the distinctive landscape of the area.
The Agency is just one of many organisations that has a role in maintaining, managing and developing the internationally important Somerset Levels wetland area. An organisation known as the Levels and Moors Partnership (LAMP) was set up some years ago to bring all the partnership organisations together to address such issues as the socio-economic development of the Levels. This work has included the development of a sustainable
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tourism strategy which recognises the economic needs of the local people and the needs of visitors, while providing effective protection to the environment.
Mr. Pearson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of (a) the cost of the climate change levy to his Department and (b) the savings from the reduction in National Insurance Contributions that will occur when it is introduced. [88857]
Mr. Meale:
The net impact of the climate change levy and the associated reduction in the main rate of employers' National Insurance Contributions on the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will depend on the rates of the climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until Finance Bill 2000.
In addition, the Government are still considering a number of detailed issues on the tax treatment of different energy products which could have a significant impact in some instances. It is, therefore, not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the percentage of properties undergoing major repairs and renovation that have been empty for over 12 months. [88839]
Mr. Raynsford:
Out of an estimated 11,200 vacant local authority-owned dwellings in England awaiting or undergoing major repairs on 1 April 1998, almost one third (31 per cent.) had been empty for more than a year. Equivalent information for Registered Social Landlord vacant stock indicates that of approximately 9,000 such dwellings, just over a quarter (27 per cent.) had been vacant for over one year.
Comparable information about other residential stock in the public and private sectors is not available centrally.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will visit Tunstall Floral Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. [88810]
Mr. Prescott:
I have at present no plans to do so.
Mr. Efford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will alter the rate of the charge tariff for licensed London taxis for the period of the millennium public holiday. [89068]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I shall make a decision later in the year on whether any supplement, above that which would normally apply at the New Year, is justified for the millennium public holiday, and if so, what it should be.
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Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the proposed Food Standards Agency will have powers to publish the details of all regular health and safety inspections of restaurants under the proposals for freedom of information. [89132]
Mr. Meale:
The proposed Food Standards Agency remit is to look after food hygiene. Health and safety inspection of restaurants and similar premises is carried out by local authorities under the general direction and guidance of the Health and Safety Commission. Each local authority will be directly responsible under the Bill for the disclosure of the information it holds.
Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultation took place with his Department on the contents of "Sustainable Energy from Waste", published by the Department for Trade and Industry; what representations he made; and if he will make a statement. [89116]
Mr. Meale:
The pamphlet is itself publicity for the Government's complementary strategies on waste, "A Way With Waste: a draft waste strategy for England and Wales", and renewable energy "New and Renewable Energy: prospects for the 21st century".
Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to publicise the Government's pamphlet, "Sustainable Energy from Waste"; and if he will make a statement. [89117]
Mr. Meale:
Officials in both Departments work together closely on the full range of waste and renewable energy issues. This document was prepared by consultants in line with agreed policy.
Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to issue guidelines to the Environment Agency on its responsibilities in relation to housing in rural areas. [89156]
Mr. Meale:
The Environment Agency has no direct responsibilities for housing in rural areas. The Department has no plans to issue rural housing policy guidance to the Agency.
Our White Paper for Rural England will, however, explore how a wide range of policies will support sustainable rural communities in the future.
Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many houses the Environment Agency owned in each parliamentary constituency in the South West in each of the last five years. [89154]
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Mr. Meale:
Since 1994 the Environment Agency has owned houses in the following constituencies in the South West region:
Mr. Meale:
Disposal of property is an operational matter for the Agency to determine in accordance with the Financial Memorandum issued to it by the Department.
Dr. Fox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of statutory instruments introduced by his Department into Parliament in (a) 1998, (b) 1992, (c) 1985 and (d) 1973 had the European Union as their legislative source. [89163]
Mr. Meale:
The total number of Statutory Instruments (SIs) registered as General Instruments in 1998, 1992, 1985 and 1973 is listed in the table. Of the SIs so registered in 1998, 306 were made by my Department, of which 9.9 per cent. were made (either wholly or as to part) to comply with Community obligations. As a result of machinery of government changes, it is impracticable, without incurring disproportionate cost, to determine how many of the SIs made in 1992, 1985 and 1973 by the predecessor departments of my Department were introduced to comply with Community obligations.
Cotswold: 2 houses
New Forest: 1 house
North Dorset: 1 house
Salisbury: 2 houses (one sold in 1996)
West Dorset: 2 houses
Somerton and Frome: 2 houses (one also sold in 1994)
Taunton: 3 houses (one being sold by auction in July 1999)
Tewkesbury: 2 houses
Torridge and West Devon: 2 houses (one sold in 1996 and the other sold by auction on 30 June 1999)
Truro: 1 house bought in 1998 and demolished for a flood defence scheme.
Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the disposal of Environment Agency properties; and what matters he will take into consideration in respect of such disposals in rural and environmentally sensitive areas. [89155]
| Year | Number of SIs |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1,565 |
| 1992 | 1,692 |
| 1985 | 1,204 |
| 1973 | 1,260 |
Source:
Statutory Publications Unit of HMSO: an SI is classified as a General Instrument if it is in the nature of a Public General Act. SIs may otherwise be registered as Local Instruments if they are in the nature of local or private Acts. SIs implementing EC/EU legislation will always be classified as General Instruments.
Birth Certificates
Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those purposes for which his Department and its executive agencies require a birth certificate to be furnished by (a) employees, contractors or those applying for employment or contracts, and (b) other persons. [89152]
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Mr. Meale:
The sight of a birth certificate is requested in the following circumstances within DETR(C) and its executive agencies:
to enable checks on identity and nationality to be carried out on people applying for jobs in the Department;
to establish the identity of relatives of departmental staff in circumstances relating to the payment of pensions.
Where contractors or consultants are directly employed by the Department, it may be necessary in certain circumstances to see certificates for security clearance purposes and where contractors supply individuals to the Department, for example building security guards or temporary staff, the contracts may include the need for basic checks to be carried out which could involve the contractor seeing a birth certificate.
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