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Waste Incinerators
Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of new municipal waste incinerators that will need to be built by May 2002 to meet the Government's international commitments; [107377]
- (2) what plans he has to increase the number of waste incinerators; and if he will make a statement. [107378]
Mr. Mullin:
There are no international obligations requiring the construction of municipal waste incinerators, although there are stringent EU standards for emissions from such incinerators. Proposals for higher standards are under consideration.
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The number of additional incinerators required in order to deal with municipal waste in the future is a matter for local authorities, who should make their decisions on the basis of the waste hierarchy and the Best Practical Environmental Option as proposed in the Government's Draft Waste Strategy. That focuses on the need to increase recycling and reuse substantially. The number of incinerators that might eventually be required will depend on the success of the Strategy in minimising the waste collected from householders.
Underground Fuel Tanks
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what grant-in-aid has been provided to the Environment Agency in Wales in each of the last two years to fund emergency works arising from leaks from underground fuel tanks; and if he will make a statement. [106147]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency in Wales is unhypothecated, and it is a matter for the Environment Agency to determine its own priorities for expenditure within the context of such high level objectives as the sponsoring body may set. Over the last two years, no grant-in-aid has been provided to the Environment Agency in Wales specifically to fund emergency works arising from leaks from underground fuel tanks. However, a small sum from general grant-in-aid has been spent on investigation and advice, and in responding to major incidents including those at Bontddu and Llanrwst.
Prior to 1 April 1999, grant-in-aid to the Environment Agency was paid on an England and Wales basis by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. With effect from 1 April 1999, grant-in-aid has been paid separately toward the Environment Agency's activities in Wales, initially by the Secretary of State for Wales and, since the transfer of functions on 1 July 1999, by the National Assembly for Wales.
I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 17 January 2000, Official Report, columns 247-48W.
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what extra funding is planned for the NHS in Wales this year in response to the influenza outbreak. [106855]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what preparations in Wales were made in 1999 to deal with the annual rise in demand for the NHS over the Christmas period. [106857]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
It was envisaged early on that this winter would be particularly difficult, with the potential additional problems from the Millennium date change and the possible impact of Millennium celebrations on hospitals.
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This year the NHS in Wales received its largest ever increase in discretionary allocations (+10.5 per cent.). This additional money was announced at the beginning of the current financial year, allowing all parts of the NHS to draw up action plans and make contingency arrangements early in the year, building on experiences following the allocation of £22 million over the previous two years.
Plans drawn up by the NHS included the provision of increased numbers of staff and beds in hospitals, extra local rapid-response home care services and more beds in the nursing home sector. In addition, in August last year the Chief Medical Officer for Wales issued guidance on the immunisation of vulnerable people.
Since 1 July 1999, responsibility for the NHS in Wales has been for the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the need for additional resources for the Welsh Assembly to implement the first part of their recent strategic plan, with particular reference to the 30 target objectives; and what representations he has received on this matter. [107226]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have made no such assessment as the detailed actions and targets of the recent strategic plan for the period up to the end of the current Assembly (May 2003) are consistent with existing spending plans, and this is a matter for the National Assembly.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the impact on the National Assembly for Wales during the financial year 2000-01 arising from the designation of West Wales and the Valleys as an Objective 1 area. [107225]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
It is too early to know the impact of Objective 1 on the National Assembly for Wales for the forthcoming financial years 2000-01. The figures set out by the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Partnership on the Objective 1 financial tables relate to expected commitments of funding over the full life of projects. The actual rate of expenditure will depend on the spending profiles of projects submitted and approved, which are not yet known.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the European Commission over the eligibility of private or voluntary sector finance to contribute to the member state's match-funding for European Objective 1 projects; and if he will make a statement. [107228]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
I have had no such discussions. The European Structural Funds Regulations, which apply to all EU member states, set no requirements for sources of match funding, which is the responsibility of the grant applicant. It is the eligibility of the activities of each specific project which needs to be assessed against the priorities in the Objective 1 programming document. Match funding from the private and voluntary sectors has been used in previous Structural Funds programmes across the UK and there is no reason why this should not continue for the new Objective 1 programme.
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Mr. Curry:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 356W, what assumptions he made about the level of VAT evasion which would occur with a 5 per cent. rate on house repair and refurbishment relative to the current rate. [107110]
Dawn Primarolo:
The effect on the level of VAT evasion of levying a 5 per cent. rate of VAT both on house refurbishment and repair and on construction on previously undeveloped land is uncertain. My answer of 17 January therefore made no allowance for any such effect.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disabled people in (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (b) Shropshire have benefited from the disabled persons tax credit since its introduction; and if he will make a statement. [107252]
Dawn Primarolo:
Reliable estimates for the numbers of families in receipt of the disabled persons tax credit are not yet available on a constituency or county basis, but will be available shortly.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the UK share of Community resources provided to the Federal Council of the International European Movement on 6 November; what was the nature of that support; and what was the nature of UK participation. [105539]
Mr. Vaz:
I have been asked to reply.
The International Secretariat of the European Movement received a subsidy of euro 300,000 from the European Community budget in 1999.
In 1999, the UK's gross contribution to the EC budget (i.e. before abatement) was approximately 15 per cent.
The relevant budget lines are administered by the Commission headquarters in Brussels.
Dr. Kumar:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment he has made of the progress made by football clubs in tackling racist behaviour among football spectators; [106286]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Under Section 3 of The Football (Offences) Act 1991, as amended by Section 9 of the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999, it is an offence for a person to engage or take part in chanting of a racist nature at football matches. The 1999 Act came
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into effect in September 1999 and the police and courts have been urged to use the extended powers at their disposal.
(2) what measures his Department is taking to tackle racist behaviour among football spectators. [106287]
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