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Homophobic Bullying
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent independent research the Government have commissioned into (a) the extent of homophobic bullying in schools and (b) the attitudes of teachers to section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. [107271]
Ms Armstrong: The most recent research into homophobic bullying in schools and teachers' attitudes towards section 28 of which we are aware was published in November 1997 by the University of London's Institute of Education. The Government itself did not commission this, or any other recent research on these issues.
Ghost Ants
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports his Department has recently received about infestations by ghost ants; and if he will make a statement. [107164]
Planning Decisions
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of extending
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the right of appeal to opponents of planning applications following granting of planning permission by local authorities. [107564]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
It is the responsibility of local planning authorities to act in the general public interest when determining planning applications. They must determine applications in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Such considerations can include views expressed by local residents and other third parties. The scope for third parties to participate fully in the development control process has been increased in recent years, through statutory requirements to consult on the preparation of the development plan and to publicise all planning applications. Local authorities' handling of
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planning applications may also be challenged in the courts. While the introduction of a third party right of appeal would give opponents of particular development proposals further opportunities to have their views considered, this could delay many otherwise acceptable developments on which people have already been consulted.
Mr. Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times he has rejected the recommendations of planning appeals inspectors; what proportion of the total number of such recommendations this represents; and how many such decisions were subsequently the subject of legal challenge, in each of the last five years. [107592]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The information is as follows:
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| 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of recommendations rejected | 8 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 8 |
| (Total number of recommendations) | (179) | (154) | (153) | (125) | (80) |
| Proportion of total recommendations | 4% | 4% | 5% | 8% | 10% |
| Subject of legal challenge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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Mr. Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many times he has made decisions which were at variance with determinations made by the appropriate local planning authority following an appeal hearing, in each of the last five years. [107593]
Ms Beverley Hughes: In each of the last five years the number of decisions made by the Secretary of State, following a planning appeal which he has recovered, at variance with determinations made by the local planning authority is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 21 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 1997 | 16 |
| 1998 | 26 |
| 1999 | 12 |
Hawksbill Turtles
Mr. Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the draft proposal by Cuba on hawksbill turtles for discussion at the forthcoming conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. [107609]
Mr. Mullin: This proposal, together with others for consideration at the forthcoming CITES Conference, was discussed at a recent informal meeting of EU experts.
It seems unlikely that the Commission will recommend member states to support Cuba's main proposal. While EU experts were in general agreement that Cuba's precautionary measures, as observed by the fact-finding mission in September 1999, appear to be in order, the status of the species in Caribbean waters remains unclear.
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Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to (a) develop and (b) support services to the Irish community in Britain. [107586]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The Department's policies and programmes are aimed at promoting social cohesion and at providing opportunity for all. It is however principally for local authorities, housing associations, and local regeneration partnerships to identify the needs of particular communities within their areas, including the Irish community, and to develop and support services to meet these needs.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the safety studies on the A66 will be completed. [107576]
Mr. Hill:
The Highways Agency is currently in the process of letting a contract to carry out the study. Work is expected to start during April 2000, and is expected to take about nine months. It is therefore expected that the study will be completed around the end of the year.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many proposed developments on playing fields have been referred to him for approval following the introduction of new legislation to protect playing fields; and how many he has objected to. [107725]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
Since the Town and Country Planning (Playing Fields) (England) Direction 1998 came into effect on 23 December 1998, 17 planning applications have been referred to the Secretary of State, one of which was called-in for his determination and six of which are currently under consideration.
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Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures (a) he has introduced and (b) plans to introduce to prevent oil spills from tankers at sea affecting the United Kingdom's coast. [107923]
Mr. Hill:
My Department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will shortly be publishing a revised National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations. The plan provides a framework for the UK's response to marine pollution from ships and offshore installations. The MCA implements the plan when marine pollution incidents involving ships and offshore installations occur in UK waters. The plan remains under constant review in the light of the experience gained from incidents and exercises.
The MCA also inspects at least one quarter of ships calling at UK ports to ensure that they comply with international safety rules and standards and operates surveillance aircraft to patrol UK waters.
In addition, my Department will shortly begin a consultative process that could lead to the setting up of Marine Environmental High Risk Areas (MEHRAs) to help protect sensitive marine and coastal environments at particular risk from pollution from shipping.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assistance his Department is giving to the French authorities in dealing with the Erika oil spill. [107925]
Mr. Hill:
My Department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has assisted the French authorities in a number of areas of counter pollution response.
The MCA co-ordinated the provision of an oil recovery vessel, the British Shield. It provided specialist oil recovery equipment for the vessel from its stockpile and an operator to operate and maintain the equipment on site. I understand that this equipment has made a valuable contribution to the oil recovery operation.
Staff from the MCA have visited the affected sector of the French coastline to provide advice on beach clean-up techniques, the nature and fate of the heavy fuel oil involved, and waste disposal. It has co-ordinated the provision of advice on, and assistance with, wildlife cleaning and rehabilitation.
The MCA will continue to assist the French authorities as efforts to clean up oil spilt by the Erika continue.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the Erika oil spill on United Kingdom biodiversity, with particular reference to breeding birds. [107924]
Mr. Hill:
None. However, the Government's statutory adviser on wildlife, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, co-ordinates periodic surveys of coastal colonies of seabirds. A full survey is currently under way.
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