| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Research Contracts
Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 338W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108193]
Mr. Mullin: I refer to the answer that I gave on 1 February 2000, Official Report, column 521W, on Departmental Research Contracts, when a copy of the standard research contract conditions in use by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, was placed in the Library of the House of Commons. Standard condition 13.6 requires that the contractor shall not communicate with representatives of the general or technical press, radio, television or other communications media unless specifically granted permission to do so in writing by the Department. This would apply to disclosure to journalists both before and after publication.
Public-private Partnership
Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will lis the public-private partnership schemes currently in progress in Leeds. [108608]
Ms Beverley Hughes: There are currently three public-private partnership schemes in progress in Leeds:
- 1. Refurbishment and renovation of Swarcliffe Estate--Leeds City Council
- 2. Provision of replacement buildings for Cardinal Heenan Secondary School
- 3. Provision of a new primary school and refurbishment of four other primary and two secondary schools.
Zoos
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many zoos in England and Wales are situated next to (a) funfairs and (b) amusement or video arcades. [108629]
Mr. Mullin: Information on the proximity of zoos in England and Wales to funfairs and amusement and video arcades is not held centrally.
Dacorum Borough Council
Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect on Dacorum Borough Council of the changes in negative housing subsidy which he has proposed. [108582]
Mr. Mullin:
My Department is currently consulting on the detail of the proposals for changes in the Housing Revenue Account subsidy regime. Consideration of the outcome of that exercise will be required before any decisions are taken. It is too early to say what the financial impact of any changes will be. The financial implications for any authority will depend upon both the results of the consultation exercise and conditions pertaining nearer the time that any changes are made.
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 101W
Mr. Norman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department will publish its finalised guidance on land use planning and electro-magnetic fields. [108495]
Mr. Raynsford:
My Department issued for consultation the draft of a joint circular with the Department of Health on land use planning and electro-magnetic fields. The guidance will be finalised as soon as practicable after the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, set up at the instigation of the Government and chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS, FRSE, has reported in the spring.
Mr. Norman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to update the Code of Best Practice for Telecommunications Prior Approval Procedures; and what representations his Department has received on the code in the last 12 months. [108494]
Mr. Raynsford:
My Department has reconvened the working group responsible for the preparation of the Code to update it to reflect the changes in planning policy and procedures set out in Circular 4/99 'Planning for Telecommunications'. The working group comprises representatives of local government and the main mobile operators.
My Department has not received representations relating specifically to the Code in the last 12 months.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made by the EU on plans to develop harmonised guidelines for GMO risk assessment for cosmetic products; and if he will make a statement. [108622]
Mr. Meacher:
Proposals for the development of such guidelines are still under consideration by the European Commission Scientific Steering Committee.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent advice he has received about the use of antibiotic marker genes in genetically modified plants which provide raw materials for the production of cosmetics and perfumes. [108621]
Mr. Meacher:
I have received no additional advice further to that given in my answer of 17 June 1999, Official Report, column 200W.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what arrangements he has in place to monitor the activities of the European Parliament's Environment Committee in respect of its (a) work on legislative oversight and amendment and (b) reports prepared by the committee, on matters relevant to United Kingdom environment and transport policy. [108692]
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 102W
Mr. Meacher:
The Department receives regular information on the agenda and activities of the European Parliament and its Committees through the UK Representation to the European Union, and through contact between Ministers and Members of the European Parliament. The European Parliament and the European Commission's websites are a further source of information.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many press releases his Department has issued in each year since 1995. [108599]
Ms Beverley Hughes
[holding answer 4 February 2000]: The information is as follows:
| Number of press releases | ||
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment | ||
| 1995 | 655 | |
| 1996 | 579 | |
| 1997(5) | 171 | |
| Department of Transport | ||
| 1995 | 440 | |
| 1996 | 410 | |
| 1997(5) | 96 | |
| Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions | ||
| 1997(6) | 586 | |
| 1998 | 1,121 | |
| 1999 | 1,248 | |
(5) 1 January 1997 to 30 April 1997
(6)1 May 1997 to 31 December 1997
Landlord Registration
Miss Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authorities operate landlord registration schemes following applications to his Department for the special control scheme. [109188]
Mr. Mullin: Nine authorities in England, mainly in coastal areas, have had registration schemes for houses in multiple occupation confirmed containing the special control provisions in Part II of the Housing Act 1996. One further scheme has been agreed in principle.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assumption about the number of asylum seekers staying in the United Kingdom is incorporated in the forecast of housing demand up to 2021 used by his Department. [109027]
Mr. Raynsford:
Information on net levels of international migration assumed in the latest household projections can be found in Annexe C of the Department's publication "Projections of Households in England to 2021", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This Annexe summarises the assumptions contained in the 1996-based national population projections which are published in "National Population projections: 1996- based" Office for National Statistics series PP2 No. 21.
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 103W
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has in place to protect coasts from oil slicks. [107317]
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.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |