| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Air Quality (London)
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on air quality in London from January 1998 to the latest available date, listing all major pollutants, times when maximum recommended levels were breached; and by what extent. [93191]
Mr. Meale: The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House. Raw data on air pollution from the national monitoring networks and summary statistics, including exceedences of national and international standards and guidelines, are also available on the Department's website at:
http:///www.environment.detr.gov.uk/airq/aqinfo.htm.
Public Appointments
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many appointments to public bodies were made by his Department in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99, broken down by (i) gender and (ii) ethnicity; and if he will list the chairmen appointed to those bodies in those years, similarly broken down. [92522]
Mr. Meale: The Secretary of State made the following appointments to NDPBs, nationalised industries and public corporations sponsored by the Department:
| 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 | Chairman | Members | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 12 | 179 | 191 |
| Female | 1 | 54 | 55 |
| Total | 13 | 233 | 246 |
| Ethnic Minority | 1 | 15 | 16 |
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 9
| 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 | Chairman | Members | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 21 | 335 | 356 |
| Female | 5 | 159 | 164 |
| Total | 26 | 494 | 520 |
| Ethnic Minority | 0 | 23 | 23 |
Full details of the Department's plan on equal opportunities are contained in "Quangos, Opening Up Public Appointments 1999-2002", published by the Government on 25 May 1999, a copy of which is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. This sets out
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 10
our goals and objectives for improving representation of women, people from ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.
Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many practical driving tests took place at test centres in Leicestershire in each of the last five years; if the location of these centres is under review; and if he will make a statement. [92509]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The number of practical driving tests taken at the six driving test centres in Leicestershire are as follows:
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 9
| Test centre | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester (Gypsy Lane) | 7,527 | 8,031 | 8,797 | 5,084 | 5,590 |
| Leicester (Welford Road) | 3,039 | 3,352 | 3,331 | 2,323 | 2,690 |
| Leicester (Wigston) | 5,328 | 5,646 | 6,443 | 5,491 | 5,196 |
| Loughborough | 4,132 | 4,196 | 4,309 | 3,586 | 3,600 |
| Melton Mowbray | 2,052 | 2,196 | 2,198 | 1,910 | 1,907 |
| Hinckley | 2,415 | 2,224 | 2,405 | 1,940 | 2,228 |
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 9
The Driving Standards Agency keeps its test centre estate under constant review to ensure that centres can provide tests of a satisfactory standard while maintaining acceptable local levels of service in a cost effective manner. There are no plans at present to close any of the centres in Leicestershire.
Local Education Authority Funding
Mr. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000 in respect of standard spending assessments for primary education, the 10 highest and 10 lowest local education authorities in terms of SSA per pupil aged five to 10 years in maintained schools and the percentage difference, for the mean for all maintained schools, of each of the 20 authorities; [92800]
- (2) if he will list for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000 in respect of standard spending assessments for secondary education, the 10 highest and 10 lowest local education authorities in terms of SSA per pupil aged 11 to 15 years in maintained schools and the percentage difference, for the mean for all maintained schools, of each of the 20 authorities. [92799]
Ms Armstrong: The information has been placed in the Library.
Polegate Bypass
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received about the Polegate Bypass Project. [92569]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We have received representations on the need for early completion of the Polegate bypass, from East Sussex County Council; on the need for the
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 10
design of the Cophall Junction to be changed from a delegation led by the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker); and on the need for the scheme to be extended westwards to the A27 from a member of the public.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) the groups which (i) he and (ii) his Ministers received in the last six months to discuss the Polegate Bypass Project and (b) the names of the persons who made up the groups. [92570]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
In March, my noble Friend Lord Whitty received a delegation representing the Council for the Protection of Rural England, Transport 2000, Friends of the Earth and the A27 Action Group. The delegation was led by the noble Lord, Lord Rea, and the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker).
Mr. White:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what were the findings of the Financial Management and Policy Review on the Darwin Advisory Committee; and what is the Government's response. [93284]
Mr. Meale:
The Darwin Advisory Committee advises Ministers on the overall direction, and selection of projects, for the Darwin Initiative grant scheme, which helps developing countries conserve their biodiversity through partnership with British experts. As a non-departmental public body, the Committee is subject to a financial management and policy review every five years and my Department appointed in-house consultants in February this year to carry this out. The Review has been completed, and found in the first stage of its work that there was a continuing need for the functions
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 11
provided by the Darwin Advisory Committee and that the Committee was the most efficient and cost-effective means of fulfilling those functions.
The second stage of the Review considered the performance of the Committee against its terms of reference, the continued relevance of the terms of reference, the effectiveness of the Committee's working methods and whether the administrative support meets desired standards. The overall impression of this stage of the Review was favourable, although some recommendations were made to enhance the running of the programme. In particular, the Review recommended that now the Initiative has been running for six years, it is timely to take stock of the direction of the Initiative and its principles.
We accept almost all the findings of the Review and have drawn up a plan for future action taking up its recommendations. The Review and the Government response are both available on my Department's website www.detr.gov.uk and copies are being placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had, and with whom, about improving the environmental situation in Kosovo following the conflict there; and if she will make a statement. [92199]
Clare Short:
I met the Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Klaus Topefer, on June 15, when we discussed the UNEP mission to the Balkans. The aim of the mission, which began earlier this month, is to establish what impact the conflict has had on the environment in Kosovo and elsewhere in the Balkans. Initial assessments indicate that the main environmental threats to health are contaminated water sources and landmines. My Department has made action in both sectors a priority. We have sent twelve rapid response teams to carry out emergency surveying and demining. And we are establishing an Infrastructure Engineering Unit within our Pristina office which will focus on water and electricity rehabilitation.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement about the current humanitarian situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea. [92819]
Clare Short:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Sir T. Taylor) on 14 July 1999, Official Report, column 388.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has received concerning a humanitarian response to the drought in Ethiopia. [92818]
Clare Short:
Representations have been received from a number of the major multilateral aid agencies and international non-governmental organisations about the worsening humanitarian situation in Ethiopia. Since
26 Jul 1999 : Column: 12
January 1998 we have provided over £6 million for humanitarian actions. My officials are in Ethiopia this week making a further assessment.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with the Government of Eritrea regarding the reduction in the aid budget for that country. [92808]
Clare Short:
The Government of Eritre pursue a policy of self-reliance. A reduction in bilateral development activities has taken place by agreement with the Government over the last 18 months. We continue to contribute to development and humanitarian needs in Eritrea through the EC.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |