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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 14 July 1999
NORTHERN IRELAND
Police Interview Recordings
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to her answer of 12 May 1999, Official Report, columns 170-71, if, in exceptional circumstances, by permission or on request by the interviewees (a) the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres, (b) the Chairman of the Independent Commission on Police Complaints, (c) the Police Ombudsman and (d) representatives of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture may have access to an audio recording of an interview conducted in a holding centre. [86136]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 9 June 1999]: The circumstances in which the persons mentioned can have access to audio recordings of police interviews with terrorist suspects in the holding centres are as follows:
- (a) There are currently no arrangements in place for the Independent Commissioner for the Holding Centres to gain access to the audio recordings of police interviews with terrorist suspects.
- (b) Under the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Complaints, etc.) Regulations 1988, the Independent Commission on Police Complaints is to be supplied with such information and documents as it may reasonably require relating to a complaint or matter referred to it, for the purpose of enabling it to fulfil its functions. This could include listening to audio recordings of police interviews with terrorist suspects if considered relevant to such a complaint or matter.
- (c) Provision for a new Police Ombudsman has been made in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. Once appointed and operational, he or she will take over the functions of the Chairman of the ICPC, and in turn will have access to material (including audio recordings) considered relevant to a particular complaint or matter made or referred to him or her, as the case may be.
- (d) The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, established by virtue of Article 1 of the European Convention of that name, may have access to information which is necessary for the Committee to carry out its task. This would appear to include access to audio recordings if necessary for that purpose. In seeking such access, the Committee is required to have regard to applicable rules of national law and professional ethics.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Petrol Prices
Mr. Woolas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the amount by which petrol prices would have to rise in order to reduce UK road traffic levels by one per cent. per year, cumulatively for each of the next 15 years. [89364]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government's fuel duty policy is primarily intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road transport, as part of our strategy to tackle climate change. It is, however, also one element of the package of measures we are implementing, following last year's Integrated Transport White Paper, to tackle traffic growth. We will publish our first report under the Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act 1998, on the issue of whether to set a national traffic reduction target, by the end of this year.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responsibilities the Environment Agency has in respect of the dock system at Seaforth and its immediate environs. [90171]
Mr. Meale:
The Environment Agency has powers and duties to prevent pollution of controlled waters including the River Mersey and adjoining dock area.
Under Section 85 of the Water Resources Act 1991, it is an offence to cause or knowingly permit any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter or any solid waste matter to enter controlled waters. It is similarly an offence to cause or knowingly permit the discharge of any trade effluent or sewage effluent into controlled waters except in accordance with a relevant consent. The Environment Agency is the enforcing authority.
The Agency has issued Discharge Consent (no. 6992575) for the discharge of treated sewage effluent from a septic tank at Berth S6 of the Container Terminal. The Agency has a duty to inspect the premises and take samples of the discharge on a regular basis to ensure compliance with the consent.
A Waste Management Licence (no. 192-03) is held by the Sheppard Group Ltd, for the storage and treatment of scrap metal at Seaforth Area B. Agency officers are required to inspect licensed sites to ensure that licence conditions are complied with and that the authorised activities are carried out in ways that protect the environment and human health.
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what help is available from his Department to improve public transport in rural areas. [90376]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The aim of our integrated transport strategy is to increase transport choice for all--including those who live in rural areas. In addition to the extra £700 million of funding to assist local authorities with the implementation of their local transport plans, we have made available a further £170 million over three years to improve public transport in rural areas.
The bulk of this £170 million is being used to provide additional bus services in rural areas. We are allocating £32.5 million each year to English local authorities in Rural Bus Subsidy Grant for the support of new rural bus services, as well as making £15 million available for this year's Rural Bus Challenge competition and £15 million
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for next year's Challenge. We have also set aside £4.2 million a year for the Rural Transport Partnership fund, to assist community-based transport initiatives.
Lancashire was allocated £751,438 in Rural Bus Subsidy Grant for 1998-99, and the same amount for 1999-2000. In addition, the authority was allocated a total of £481,606 for its two successful bids under the 1998 Rural Bus Challenge competition, involving the creation of a new bus and rail interchange facility at Clitheroe and the establishment of a high quality bus corridor to include low floor accessible vehicles, improved shelters, and better provision of information for passengers.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each of the past three years the proportion of waste (a) glass, (b) paper, (c) metal, (d) cloth and (e) biodegradable material that has been recycled in each London borough; what is his estimate for the current year; and what are the boroughs' predictions for 2000-01. [90351]
Mr. Meale
[holding answer 12 July 1999]: This information will take some time to put together. I will write to my hon. Friend with the details and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications were received for (a) driving tests in each of the last 10 years and (b) driving theory tests in each year since their introduction. [90593]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 12 July 1999]: The number of applications for all categories of practical tests for the financial years 1989-90 to 1998-99, and for the theory tests for the years 1996-97 to 1998-99 are as follows:
| Number of applications for | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Practical tests | Theory tests |
| 1989-90 | 2,056,271 | -- |
| 1990-91 | 2,076,211 | -- |
| 1991-92 | 1,942,421 | -- |
| 1992-93 | 1,756,152 | -- |
| 1993-94 | 1,731,115 | -- |
| 1994-95 | 1,720,373 | -- |
| 1995-96 | 1,871,351 | -- |
| 1996-97 | 1,608,438 | 1,231,186 |
| 1997-98 | 1,380,491 | 1,237,709 |
| 1998-99 | 1,460,832 | 1,220,514 |
Water Prices Review
Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the likely impact on domestic and business water users from 2000 to 2005 of the periodic review of water prices to set prices for that period. [91163]
Mr. Meale:
Under the Water Industry Act 1991, the regulation of water and sewerage undertakers' price limits is for the Director General of Water Services. In setting price limits, the Director General is also under a duty to
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ensure that the interests of customers are protected, and he will therefore have regard to the impact of the periodic review on customers.
We believe that reductions in average water and sewerage bills can be secured. The Director General expects to announce draft price limits for each undertaker later this month.
Dan Norris:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has given to the Director General of Ofwat concerning the periodic review of water prices to set prices for the period from April 2000 to 2005. [91162]
Mr. Meale:
Under the Water Industry Act 1991 the regulation of water and sewerage undertakers' price limits is for the Director General of Water Services. The Government have given guidance to the Director General on the environmental and water quality improvements to be delivered by 2005. This guidance was published under the title "Raising the Quality" in September 1998, and was supported by more detailed announcements of company programmes on 1 March 1999.
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