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Planning (London)
Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action the Government are taking to involve the business community in the reform of the planning system in London. [89493]
Mr. Raynsford: We have consulted widely at all stages in the development of the new planning arrangements for London that will come into operation once the Mayor and Assembly are in place. We have met with representatives of the business community on numerous occasions to discuss the proposals.
GLOBE Projects
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the environmental GLOBE projects carried out by schools; and if he will make a statement. [90400]
Mr. Meale: GLOBE stands for Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment. It offers school children structured opportunities to carry out environmental experiments and compare results with other schools globally using the World Wide Web. In England it is managed by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, with a grant from my department's Environmental Action Fund (EAF), linked to private sector support from the ARC Environment Fund and the National Grid Company. The Warwickshire Wildlife Trust assesses the projects carried out by schools as part of its EAF funded work. We in turn assess their performance during each year of grant funding, and will carry out a more detailed terminal assessment at the end of the grant in April 2001.
BA Tail Fins
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how
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many misidentifications of British Airways aircraft have been reported by air traffic control as a result of confusion caused by the tail fin design. [90498]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that no misidentifications of British Airways craft have been reported by air traffic control as a result of tail fin design.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason persons who hold a current United Kingdom driving licence have to sit a driving theory test as part of the qualifying test for a public service vehicle licence. [90647]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
It is vital that people who wish to drive buses and coaches are properly trained and tested. The theory test examines a learner's knowledge and understanding of road safety matters relating to these vehicles before having skills and behaviour assessed in a practical test.
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to improve transport links to seaside resorts. [90373]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government are working with a wide range of bodies, including local authorities, regional planning bodies, the Highways Agency, the rail and bus industries and transport user groups, to deliver its integrated transport strategy. Where relevant, transport links to seaside resorts would be considered in this work. We are also encouraging the tourism industry to improve information about public transport links and alternative transport modes to tourist attractions.
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in implementing the Beacon Council Scheme. [90374]
Mr. Meale:
In May we published our Application Brochure inviting councils to submit by 31 July their applications for beacon status. We intend to announce the first Beacon Councils in November.
Mr. John M. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if membership of (a) English Heritage or (b) the National Trust is a bar to appointment as a planning inspector; and what are the reasons for these arrangements. [90394]
Mr. Raynsford:
(a) Yes; English Nature has a statutory function in the planning process, and is involved in a large number of planning cases. It has been felt that membership might bring into question the requirement that Planning Inspectors should be fair, open and impartial, but at my request this policy is now under review.
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(b) No; because the National Trust plays no customary part in the development control process. Membership by Planning Inspectors would be unlikely to call into question the requirement that they should be open, fair and impartial.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what guidelines he proposes to establish for the level of salaries for executive mayors and members of local council cabinets; and if he will make it his policy to collect statistics on the salaries awarded; [90431]
Mr. Meale:
As stated in the White Paper: "Modern Local Government--In Touch with the People" (Cm 4014), we will work with the Local Government Association to develop guidance on allowances and the criteria to be applied in determining their level. We do not propose to collect statistics on these decisions, which as the White Paper indicates, are to be taken by individual councils in the light of recommendations from local independent panels.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the London Boroughs that have produced recycling plans; and what actions he proposes to take in respect of those Boroughs that have not yet done so. [90350]
Mr. Meale
[holding answer 12 July 1999]: Under section 49 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 all Waste Collection Authorities (WCAs) are under a duty to have in place Waste Recycling Plans. In London, the London Boroughs are the WCAs. All London Boroughs produced recycling plans in 1992.
(2) what guidelines he plans to issue for the levels of special responsibility allowances in local government. [90430]
(2) Greenwich and Lewisham are working on a combined municipal waste management strategy
(3) North London Waste Authority and its constituent collection authorities (LBs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Islington and Waltham Forest) are working on a municipal waste management strategy
(4) West London Waste Authority and its constituent collection authorities (LBs of Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames) are working on a municipal waste management strategy
(5) East London Waste Authority and its constituent collection authorities (LBs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge) are working on a municipal waste management strategy
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Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what requirements govern the extent to which county council waste local plans have to include a specific provision for waste incineration. [90853]
Mr. Meale: PPG23 requires local authorities to have regard to the following principles when drawing up their waste development plans:
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the best practicable environmental option for a particular waste stream in a particular location, which is in turn informed by
the proximity principle (dealing with waste as close to its source of generation as possible), and
the waste hierarchy, with an emphasis on waste reduction, re-use and recovery (both materials and energy) before waste disposal options are considered.
"A Way with Waste", the draft waste strategy for England and Wales published on 30 June 1999, gives greater detail on how waste management decisions should be taken at the local level. The strategy creates no obligation to include incineration within waste development plans. It recognises, however, that energy recovery, by a variety of routes, combined with high levels of recycling and composting, is likely to form part of a balanced and integrated plan.
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