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Radioactivity
Mr. Livsey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has (a) undertaken and (b) commissioned to determine the radioactivity levels and isotopic composition of PM10s or dust particles with a diameter of less than 10 microns. [105582]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 20 January 2000]: Radioactivity in the air is monitored for the DETR by contractors managed by the Environment Agency. As part of this programme, there is a network of high volume air samplers around the UK in which the particles in the air, including PM10s, are drawn onto the air filter papers and the long-lived radioactivity associated with those particles is measured. The Environment Agency publishes the results of this "fall-out" monitoring programme annually in "Radioactivity in the Environment".
It is known that the main radioactive species attached to PM10s in the air are short-lived decay products of the naturally occurring radioactive gas radon, which are addressed in the Government's radon programme.
Since 1987 some 400,000 measurements have been carried out in homes most likely to have elevated levels of radon and its decay products.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to support the inclusion of trade issues on the agenda of the Earth Summit 3 Conference in 2002; and if he will make a statement. [106866]
Mr. Meacher:
The Earth Summit 3 Conference will be further considered at the meeting of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in April, including the agenda.
We will continue to use all appropriate opportunities that arise through bilateral contacts and our involvement in multilateral fora to pursue our dialogue with other countries, especially developing countries, on the relationship between trade and the environment. This issue will also be discussed at this year's meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development.
In addition, the United Kingdom will continue to press within the World Trade Organisation for the launch of a comprehensive Round of trade negotiations at the earliest possible opportunity, because we believe that a comprehensive Round offers the best means of delivering trade liberalisation in a manner consistent with the pursuit of global sustainable development and, in particular, delivering benefits for developing countries.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what type of enforcement notices were issued following failure to comply with (a) the Health and Safety Consultation of Employees Regulations 1996 and (b) the Safety Representatives and Safety Committee Regulations 1977 in each year since the regulations were in force. [106780]
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Mr. Meacher:
The numbers of requirements on enforcement notices under the Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996, and their type, issued by HSE inspectors for the years the regulations have been in force are given in the following table:
| Type of notice | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Improvement | Immediate prohibition |
| 1996-97 | 1 | -- |
| 1997-98 | 3 | -- |
| 1998-99(1) | 1 | 2 |
(1) Provisional
According to available information, one improvement notice was issued by HSE inspectors under the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 in 1984.
Information on enforcement notices issued by local authority inspectors, who also enforce these regulations, is not available on a regulation-by-regulation basis.
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of (a) the number of liquid petroleum gas-powered road vehicles in the UK and (b) the rate of growth in the market for liquid petroleum gas-powered road vehicles in the UK in the last year. [107002]
Mr. Hill:
The DETR holds detailed information on the vehicle stock in Great Britain, which it receives from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. It is not possible to identify precisely those vehicles that run on LPG. However, the record shows vehicles that run on either gas, or petrol and gas combinations and these are shown in the table.
| 1998 | 1999 | Increase (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 2,598 | 2,766 | 6.0 |
| Petrol/gas | 8,589 | 12,617 | 47.0 |
| Total | 11,187 | 15,383 | 38.0 |
These data are for the end of June each year and are for Great Britain only. Similar information on Northern Ireland vehicles is not available.
Planning
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to (a) make it easier to relocate footpaths, (b) impose a time limit on definitive map claims and (c) permit green lanes to become bridleways. [107528]
Mr. Meacher:
The Government's proposals for changes to rights of way legislation were set out in the consultation paper "Improving Rights of Way in England and Wales". The paper includes proposals on the relocation of footpaths, a time limit on definitive map claims and the reclassification of Roads Used as Public Paths.
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We are now considering these proposals taking into account the comments in around 2,000 responses to the consultation paper, and we expect to introduce legislation to Parliament soon.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what rail facilities grants are available to (a) rail operators and (b) commercial and industrial concerns who wish to gain better access to the rail network. [107347]
Mr. Hill:
Two grants are available through my Department.
Freight Facilities Grant is available to any company facing higher costs as a result of choosing to move freight by rail rather than road. These grants assist with the capital costs often associated with rail movements (eg rail infrastructure and specialised loading/unloading equipment).
Additionally, Track Access Grants may be paid to rail operators to help defray Railtrack charges for access to the rail network in respect of traffic which would otherwise move by road.
Funding may also be provided from a number of other sources and agencies including Government Departments, Regional Development Agencies and the European Commission.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the public/private partnership schemes currently running in the Greater London area. [107119]
Mr. Hill:
There are a total of 97 PFI public/private partnerships currently in progress in London. They are:
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