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Rent-to-Mortgage Scheme
Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many tenants exercised their rights under the rent-to-mortgage scheme in each year since its introduction. [94348]
Mr. Mullin: Latest information on rent-to-mortgage activity in England since the introduction of the scheme in October 1993 is given in the table.
| Claims | Acceptances | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 1993 to March 1994 | 152 | 19 | -- |
| 1994-95 | 738 | 89 | 12 |
| 1995-96 | 396 | 45 | 8 |
| 1996-97 | 373 | 34 | 4 |
| 1997-98 | 402 | 51 | 7 |
| 1998-99 | n/a | n/a | 9 |
The figures to March 1994, and for Sales in each period, are of reported activity only as no estimates were made for non-responding authorities in either grouping; the figures cover around 90 per cent. of authorities.
London Airports
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many passengers passed through the London area airports in the past year; what is his forecast for the year 2015; and what estimate he has made of the number of such passengers who would in the next year if duty were to be imposed on aviation fuel at the same rate as on motor vehicle fuel, assuming a similar rate of tax is imposed by other countries. [93832]
Mr. Mullin: In 1998, 102 million terminal passengers passed through the London area airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City).
In the DETR 1997 air traffic forecasts, the unconstrained forecast for London area airports (defined there as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton) is 147 million (low growth) to 212 million (high growth) with a mid point forecast of 184 million.
No specific estimate has been made on the effect of imposing a tax on aviation fuel at the same rate as that on motor vehicle fuel. However, studies have been done by
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the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and for the European Commission, among others, on the effects of applying different tax rates to aviation fuel under different scenarios. In reviewing such studies the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in its Special Report on Aviation and the Global Atmosphere published earlier this year, noted that levies (taxes and charges) could be a means of reducing growth of aircraft emissions by further stimulating the development and use of more efficient aircraft and by reducing growth in demand for aviation transportation. The studies also showed that to be environmentally effective, levies would need to be addressed in an international framework. Consequently further work on market based approaches to limit the growth in aviation emissions is being taken forward by ICAO.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions at what time on the morning of 23 July the M4 bus lane was opened to all vehicles; at what time it was closed again; and what period of time elapsed between the closure of two lanes due to an accident on that morning and the opening of the bus lane to all vehicles. [94204]
Mr. Hill:
The accident occurred in the nearside lane (lane one) at about 7:30am. At 7:37am lane one closure signs were displayed on the two matrix sign gantries approaching the incident and all traffic except buses and taxis used the middle lane (lane two). This continued until 8:14am when this lane was also closed and the bus lane was opened to all traffic. This was carried out under police supervision to enable the fire brigade to work safely. At 8:54am, lanes one and two were re-opened to traffic and lane three reverted to being a bus lane.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the planned date on which Swanwick air traffic control will become operational. [94202]
Mr. Mullin:
Swanwick is still expected to become operational in the spring of 2002.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre of the Government's proposals for the future of NATS. [94300]
Mr. Mullin:
The Government recognises the importance of introducing the right strategic partner to the New Partnership Company under the PPP. In order to protect the public interest and national security, given the strategic importance to the UK of NATS activities, the Government will have to be satisfied of, among other things, the strategic partner's commitment to the development of the New En Route Centre at Swanwick and the NSC, thereby maintaining the two-centre strategy.
The arguments for the PPP include: to give NATS access to private capital; enable that capital to be used to best effect; and bring in the investment and project
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management skills which only the private sector can offer. Additionally, it will free NATS investment and management decisions from Government financing constraints, allow NATS the commercial opportunities it lacks in the public sector, and introduce quality key private sector management skills to build on NATS operational excellence.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the climate change programme referred to on page 47 of the Government's Annual report 1998-99 will include measures designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. by the year 2010 based on 1990 levels. [94200]
Mr. Mullin:
The draft UK climate change programme will set out the Government's strategy for meeting the UK's legally binding target agreed at Kyoto to reduce a basket of six greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008-12 and moving towards our domestic goal to cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent. by 2010. We are aiming to publish our draft programme towards the end of 1999 for consultation.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the level of carbon dioxide emissions in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on future targets for carbon dioxide emissions in each area. [93862]
Mr. Meacher:
A report is currently being completed for the Government and the devolved Administrations which will provide details of historic emissions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The report will detail emissions of the six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol for the years 1990 and 1995 and will be in the same format as that currently used for the UK-wide greenhouse gas inventory. The report is due to be published shortly. In future years, the Government plans to produce a greenhouse gas inventory for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, alongside the UK inventory, on an annual basis.
Following Kyoto in 1997, the UK has a legally binding target to cut emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels over the period 2008-12. The UK Government also has a domestic goal to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The Government is currently developing a draft climate change programme which will set out how the UK will deliver its Kyoto target and move towards its domestic goal. We are aiming to publish the draft programme for consultation towards the end of 1999.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what response the Government have made to the report requested from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on the rationale
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behind the listing of threatened species on schedules associated with Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. [94203]
Mr. Mullin:
My Department is actively discussing with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee what further measures may be appropriate to protect the relevant species.
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people living in fuel poverty in (a) solid-walled and (b) cavity-walled housing; [94311]
Mr. Meacher:
Data from the English House Condition Survey shows that there were at least 4.3 million fuel poor households in 1996. Of these, 1.5 million are estimated as living in solid-walled properties and 2.4 million in cavity-walled housing. The remaining 0.4 million are thought to live in non-traditional and mixed-construction housing.
The new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) has been designed to tackle fuel poverty, focusing on those households most at risk of ill health due to cold homes. It does so by providing packages of heating and insulation improvements that will reduce the cost of keeping warm for households by up to £1,000 a year.
During the development of the scheme, the full range of heating and insulation measures were considered, including the use of external or internal wall insulation for solid wall properties. Discussions with the insulation industry showed that the cost of external wall insulation was about £2,500 for an average 3-bedroom semi-detached property with disruption for the household. With internal wall insulation, installation costs are less but the disruption to households is greater and there is a loss of internal space. In addition, there are redecoration costs after the work has been completed.
It was therefore felt that both these measures were more appropriate for large-scale estate renewal programmes where they could be combined with other work such as damp proofing, rather than for new HEES which will target individual properties, primarily in the private sector.
The packages available for solid walled properties under the new HEES include higher levels of heating improvements than those for cavity walled homes, so providing similar reductions in fuel costs for both types of property.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what responses have been received to the consultations relating to the proposed redefinition of households in fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on his plan for action following the consultation. [94199]
Mr. Meacher:
The consultation document on the new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme invited comment on two aspects of the commonly used definition of a fuel poor
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household--that is to say, one needing to spend more than 10 per cent. of income to achieve a satisfactory heating regime--namely:
The eligibility of households for assistance under the new HEES is not directly dependent on the definition of fuel poverty. However, it is relevant more widely to the discussion of fuel poverty issues, and we intend to look at the definition in the light of the comments received.
I shall write to my hon. Friend separately with a full copy of the analysis of the consultation responses and place a copy in the Library.
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what percentages of heat is lost on average from (a) solid- walled and (b) cavity-walled housing; [94310]
Mr. Meacher:
On behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions the Building Research Establishment has undertaken research into heat loss from solid-walled and cavity-walled housing.
In a typical semi-detached dwelling with un-insulated cavity walls and with average insulation standards for the other elements, the walls account for about 40 per cent. of the total dwelling heat loss (reducing to slightly below 20 per cent. if cavity-wall insulation is added).
(2) what plans he has to provide funding for the insulation of the walls of solid-walled properties for those deemed to be living in fuel poverty. [94308]
whether the use of fuel for non-heating purposes should be included in assessing the amount of fuel needed to achieve a satisfactory heating regime;
and
whether the calculation of household income should exclude any element of housing costs such as rent or mortgage payments.
A total of 252 responses to the consultation document have been received to date. Forty per cent. of respondents did not comment on either of these particular questions. On the issue of non-heating fuel, 54 per cent. felt that all fuel costs should be taken into account; 6 per cent. had various other suggestions. On the issue of housing costs, 34 per cent. felt that they should not be excluded from income; 20 per cent. felt the opposite; and 6 per cent. made other suggestions.
(2) what assessment he has made of the principal sources of heat loss in domestic properties. [94309]
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