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Dangerous Goods Cargo
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many dangerous goods incidents attributed to the carriage of cargo have been reported to the CAA in the last 12 months; how many of these were investigated; how many of these were forwarded to the CPS for prosecution; and how many led to successful prosecutions. [94539]
Mr. Mullin: In the twelve months to the end of September 1999, the Civil Aviation Authority received 126 reports of incidents involving dangerous goods carried as cargo. The CAA's Dangerous Goods Office reviews the circumstances of all reported incidents and will take appropriate action. If an incident is the result of a deliberate action or has potentially serious consequences, it may be referred to the CAA's Aviation Regulation Enforcement and Investigation Branch for formal investigation. Five of the dangerous goods incidents reported in the last 12 months have been referred for formal investigation. So far, one of these incidents has resulted in a prosecution by the CAA. That prosecution was successful.
Housing (North-west)
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in meeting targets for housing on recycled land in the north-west. [94533]
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Mr. Raynsford:
The Department's Land Use Change Statistics show that, in 1994, 57% of new dwellings were built on previously developed land in the north-west, but these figures exclude conversions from existing buildings. The existing Regional Planning Guidance for the region emphasises the importance of channelling growth back into the main urban areas, but gives no targets. This guidance is currently being reviewed, and the issue of an appropriate target for the reuse of previously developed land and buildings for housing is under consideration.
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government take to regulate the size of audit fees for small village councils. [94531]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The setting of audit fees in respect of the audit of accounts is a statutory responsibility of the independent Audit Commission under Section 7 of the Audit Commission Act 1998. The Secretary of State has no powers to direct an auditor or the Audit Commission on the conduct of an audit.
The Commission is aware of the burden that audit costs can impose on small parish councils and have introduced measures designed to reduce fees. Parish Council audit fees are charged at a rate that is 40% of that charged for principal authorities. Parishes with an income below £5,000 per annum can reduce the burden further by adopting the 'triennial scheme' which allows three annual audits to be undertaken together to save on the overheads associated with an audit.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many responses were received to the public consultation which closed on 23 July on the Sellafield MOX plant; what proportions were in favour; and what proportion were received from abroad. [94154]
Mr. Meacher:
A total of 332 responses were received during the public consultation period on the economic case for the Sellafield MOX plant. Of these, 16 (5 per cent.) were in favour, and 32 (10 per cent.) were from abroad.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon), 16 July 1999, Official Report, column 341, if he will list the Departments which did not send a Minister to the Green Ministers' meeting of 6 July, indicating the reasons given for non-attendance; and if he will make a statement. [94294]
Mr. Meacher:
The Departments represented by Ministers were: Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; Law Officers Departments; Department of Trade and Industry; Home Office; Ministry of Defence; Department of Culture, Media and Sport; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and the Northern Ireland Office. Those represented by officials
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were: the Chancellor's Departments; Cabinet Office; Department for Education and Employment; Department for Health; and Department of Social Security. The Departments not represented were: Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Lord Chancellor's Department; and the Department for International Development.
Several Ministers were absent from the meeting because they were attending a ministerial awayday organised by the Cabinet Office on behalf of the Prime Minister.
The first annual report of the Green Ministers Committee has been published since the meeting. This sets out in some detail the achievements and future plans of the Committee.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to bring forward measures to restrict the use of powered garden tools on Sundays. [93644]
Mr. Hill:
The Government have no plans to bring forward measures to restrict the use of powered garden tools on Sundays.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what dates Special Advisers from his Department have visited the United States of America on official business since 1 May 1997; which of his Special Advisers took part in each visit; and if he will list the meetings which these Special Advisers held with members and officials of the United States Government during each visit, specifying the date and location of each meeting and the names of the US members and officials at each meeting. [93959]
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Mr. Prescott:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 27 July 1999, Official Report, column 332. In addition, I was accompanied by a Special Adviser when I undertook a further visit to the United States of America in April 1999.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings he held with members and officials of the United States Government during his visit on 7 to 9 June 1998 to the United States of America for the UN Special Session on Drugs; and if he will list the date and location of each meeting, and the names of the members and officials of the United States Government at each meeting. [93950]
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what analysis he has carried out where MTBE has been found in ground water and aquifers; and if he will make a statement; [93666]
Mr. Mullin:
At the request of my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment, the Environment Agency is undertaking a research project to establish the incidence of MTBE in England and Wales, the results of which are expected in the first half of next year. The Environment Agency has already monitored for MTBE at 300 sites in its Thames region. MTBE was found at the sites listed although my advice is that the observed concentrations are all below the level at which it has been suggested that health hazards may arise.
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(2) what assessment he has made of the extent of ground water contamination by MTBE; if he will list those sites where MTBE contamination has been detected; and if he will make a statement. [93665]
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