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Climate Change Levy
Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the climate change levy on British aerospace companies. [98325]
Mr. Meacher: I will write to my hon. Friend.
MOX Production
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what quantities of plutonium contaminated waste have been created to date in the production of MOX fuel for export at Sellafield; and what arrangements exist for the storage or disposal of plutonium contaminated radioactive wastes from MOX production. [97453]
Mrs. Liddell: I have been asked to reply.
Details of total plutonium contaminated waste arisings at Sellafield to date are provided in the 1998 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory which was published in July 1999. I understand from BNFL that, to date, around 80 200-litre drums of plutonium contaminated material can be attributed to the operation of the MOX Demonstration Facility at Sellafield. It is not possible to identify how much of this total amount is attributable to the production of MOX for export.
I understand that plutonium contaminated material at Sellafield will be compacted, and then encapsulated, prior to storage and ultimate disposal in an intermediate level waste facility. The latter will be subject to a consultation which my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment announced on 25 October.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the proportion of car owners who use motorways less than once a month; and what proportion never use motorways. [97907]
Mr. Hill:
The main source of information on travel patterns of car drivers, and others, is the National Travel Survey which does not identify use by road type. For the general population, the 1997 Road User Satisfaction Study, commissioned by the Highways Agency, showed that 22 per cent. of respondents had not used a motorway in the previous year and a further 34 per cent. had used a motorway less than once a month.
In terms of total car traffic, measured in vehicle miles, around 17 per cent. was on motorways in 1998.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the assets sold by his Department and their value broken down by item, in each year from 1991-92 to 1998-99 together with an estimate of the value of asset sales planned for 1999-2000 and 2000-01. [95809]
Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 26 October 1999]: The following table sets out the proceeds for the Department and its agencies. Assets have not been specified item by item as this information could not be provided without
11 Nov 1999 : Column: 685
incurring disproportionate cost. The list excludes non-departmental public bodies, Public Corporations and Nationalised Industries. Details of the proceeds received from privatisation and paid into the Consolidated Fund are given separately.
| £ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property retained for construction | Land and building | Plant and equipment | Totals | |
| Sale of assets for Financial Year 1991-92 | ||||
| DoE/DoT | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| DVLA | -- | -- | 95,762 | 95,762 |
| Totals | -- | -- | 95,762 | 95,762 |
| Sale of assets for Financial Year 1993-94 | ||||
| DoE/DoT | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| DVLA | -- | -- | 5,500,000 | 5,500,000 |
| Totals | -- | -- | 5,500,000 | 5,500,000 |
| Sale of assets for Financial Year 1994-95 | ||||
| DoE/DoT | (6)-- | -- | -- | -- |
| VCA | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| MCA | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| PINS | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Highways Agency | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| DVLA | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Totals | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Sale of assets for Financial Year 1995-96 | ||||
| DoE/DoT | -- | -- | 1,800 | 1,800 |
| VCA | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| MCA | -- | 257,000 | 62,000 | 319,000 |
| PINS | -- | -- | 365 | 365 |
| Highways Agency | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| DVLA | -- | -- | 2,731 | 2,731 |
| Totals | -- | 257,000 | 66,896 | 323,896 |
| Sale of assets for Financial Year 1996-97 | ||||
| DoE/DoT | -- | -- | 11,000 | 11,000 |
| VCA | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| MCA | -- | 199,000 | 79,000 | 278,000 |
| PINS | -- | -- | 16,643 | 16,643 |
| Highways Agency | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| DVLA | -- | -- | 159 | 159 |
| Totals | -- | 199,000 | 106,802 | 305,802 |
| Sale of assets for Financial Year 1997-98 | ||||
| DETR(C) | -- | -- | 2,950 | 2,950 |
| VCA | -- | -- | 170 | 170 |
| MCA | -- | 235,000 | 494,000 | 729,000 |
| PINS | -- | -- | 1,533 | 1,533 |
| Highways Agency | 6,017,000 | 53,731,000 | 76,000 | 59,824,000 |
| DVLA | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Totals | 6,017,000 | 53,966,000 | 574,653 | 60,557,653 |
| Sale of assets for Financial Year 1998-99 | ||||
| DETR(C) | -- | -- | 615 | 615 |
| VCA | -- | -- | 470 | 470 |
| MCA | -- | 67,000 | 90,000 | 157,000 |
| PINS | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Highways Agency | 4,131,000 | 56,038,000 | 33,000 | 60,202,000 |
| DVLA | -- | -- | 2,385 | 2,385 |
| Totals | 4,131,000 | 56,105,000 | 126,470 | 60,362,470 |
(6) No significant sales reported
11 Nov 1999 : Column: 686
| Land and building | Plant and equipment | Investments | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DETR(C) | (7)789,000 | -- | (8)11,500,000 | (9)12,289,000 |
| VCA | -- | 1,896 | -- | 1,896 |
| MCA | 84,000 | 32,000 | -- | 116,000 |
| PINS | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Highways Agency | 55,000,000 | -- | -- | 55,000,000 |
| DVLA | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Totals | 55,873,000 | 33,896 | 11,500,000 | 67,406,896 |
(7) Plus Seymour House: under negotiation
(8) Refers to sale of Railtrack Group Plc shares
(9) Plus amount under negotiation
| Land and building | Plant and equipment | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DETR(C) | (10)-- | (10)-- | (10)-- |
| VCA | -- | 400 | 400 |
| MCA | 30,000 | 20,000 | 50,000 |
| PINS | -- | -- | -- |
| Highways Agency | 45,000,000 | -- | 45,000,000 |
| DVLA | -- | -- | -- |
| Totals | 45,030,000 | 20,400 | 45,050,400 |
(10) No major sales planned
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | |
| British Rail net proceeds from sales of businesses | (11)10,000,000 |
| 1995-96 | |
| British Rail net proceeds from sales of businesses | (11)556,000,000 |
| Sale of PSA Building Management business | 11,914,000 |
| 1996-97 | |
| British Rail net proceeds from sales of businesses | (11)253,000,000 |
| Gross proceeds from ROSCO sales | 1,822,000,000 |
| Gross proceeds from Railtrack sale | 1,930,000,000 |
| Sale of PSA Building Management business | 27,550,000 |
| Privatisation of Building Research Establishment | 1,700,000 |
| 1997-98 | |
| British Rail net proceeds from sales of businesses | (11)5,000,000 |
| Sale of PSA Building Management business | 2,834,000 |
| Gross proceeds from ROSCO sales (being deferred consideration) | (12)25,000,000 |
| 1998-99 | |
| Gross proceeds from ROSCO sales (being deferred consideration) | (12)26,000,000 |
| 1999-2000 | |
| Gross proceeds from ROSCO sales (being deferred consideration) | (12)11,000,000 |
(11) The amounts in respect of British Railways Board were used to reduce the grant paid to BRB by the same amount in those years.
(12) Treated as an Appropriation-In-Aid
GM Crops
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what new distances he will prescribe for the buffer zones surrounding genetically modified crops; if he will give his reasons for the change; when a further review will take place; and if he will make a statement. [96776]
11 Nov 1999 : Column: 687
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 1 November 1999]: Recent information from studies about the dispersal of pollen has been referred to ACRE, and it will, if necessary, be taken into account in future advice.
I am aware of the concerns expressed by some, especially organic farmers, regarding the spread of GM pollen. I have consulted other organisations including the Soil Association, and I am considering their responses.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his press release of 5 November concerning GM crops, what commercial benefits the consent holder for GM crops subject to the voluntary agreement will be permitted to seek; if the crops may be given to farmers to feed to animals; what steps he is taking to ensure that such crops do not enter the human food chain; and if he will make a statement. [98108]
Mr. Meacher:
I will write to my hon. Friend.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his press release of 5 November, concerning GM crops, if he will list the plantings of farm-scale trials of GM crops subject to the voluntary agreement which he expects to agree between now and 2002, indicating the crops to be planted, when they are to be planted, what acreage is required for each, what separation distances will be used for each and how long after harvest he estimates the environmental effects of each crop will be completely evaluated. [98109]
Mr. Meacher:
GM fodder maize and spring and winter oil seed rape, all modified for herbicide tolerance, are the three crops currently in the farm-scale evaluations. Subject to the advice of the independent Scientific Steering Committee, a fourth crop, herbicide tolerant beet (sugar/fodder), may be included in the farm-scale evaluations from next year. Plantings for the farm-scale evaluations are limited to 20-25 fields per crop per year, each field being 5-10 ha in size (approx. 13-25 acres), subject to the advice and requirements of the Scientific Steering Committee. Plantings covered by this agreement will take place during the three years 2000, 2001 and 2002. Separation distances are defined by the terms of the individual consents and the SCIMAC guidelines, and are currently 50 m for oil seed rape and maize, and 200 m for registered organic crops. The Government will ask the Scientific Steering Committee to review data from the farm-scale evaluations and provide recommendations/ advice by end-October 2002. For winter oil seed rape, for which the third year harvest will be summer 2003, the Government will ask the Scientific Steering Committee to complete analysis and reporting of results in time for Autumn 2003 plantings to take place should the null hypothesis be confirmed.
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