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Tree Felling (Croydon)
Mr. Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the outcome of his review of the proposal by Croydon Council to fell trees at Gravel Hill, Croydon. [109510]
Mr. Mullin: The Secretary of State received on 12 January a request to make a tree preservation order in respect of trees at Gravel Hill, Croydon. This request and subsequent submissions are currently being considered. I will write to the hon. Member when a decision has been made.
Housing Associations (Borrowing)
Mr. Pickles:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is (a) the
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value of borrowing by housing associations to finance investments in housing stock and (b) the average length of the term for repayment. [109545]
Mr. Mullin:
According to information from the Housing Corporation at 31 March 1998 committed loan facilities of £13.5 billion had been arranged by housing associations and other registered social landlords, of which £10.6 billion had been drawndown. Whilst the vast majority of this funding was to finance the purchase, development or improvement of housing stock, it is not possible to identify separately that element which was raised to meet other costs.
The average length of term for repayment is not available. Typically long term funding may be for periods of 25 to 35 years. Short-term funding may be up to five years.
Dr. Stoate:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he will announce his decision on the planning application for the cement works at Holborough, Kent; [109551]
Mr. Raynsford:
On the Holborough application, we are considering the Inspector's report and will issue a decision as soon as possible.
On the Stone Lodge application, it was necessary to seek further representations from the parties on the question of need for the facilities proposed. We are analysing the responses and will issue a decision shortly.
Mr. Prior:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance is being given to those responsible for implementing the provisions of the Single Programming Documents for Objective 1 funding in (a) Merseyside, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) Cornwall, with regard to issuing draft programme Complement and Guidelines in advance of the final approval of the SPD, to enable project sponsors to move ahead with their projects without delay. [109556]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
My Department has issued guidance to programme managers on the implementation of Objective 1 programmes. This will be updated as new policy and other developments arise. We are very keen to avoid any delay in the implementation of these programmes, to enable partners to maximise the opportunities afforded by the new programmes.
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received on whether biodiversity action planning should be placed on a statutory footing; [109991]
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Mr. Mullin:
A number of representations on whether the biodiversity action plan process should be placed on a statutory footing have been received since the announcement, in the Queen's Speech, of a Bill to give people greater access to the countryside and improved protection for wildlife. This issue and representations received on many others are currently being considered.
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implications for the national biodiversity action planning process of the Countryside Council for Wales's decision not to work on biodiversity action plans. [109990]
Mr. Mullin:
The implications of the Countryside Council for Wales's decision are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the titles of (a) research studies, (b) audits and (c) surveys he commissioned for completion in the last 12 months, stating in each case when the results were published. [109944]
Mr. Mullin:
I refer to the answer that I gave on 8 December 1999, Official Report, column 544W, on Departmental Research, when I explained that details of each project are not held centrally. As on that occasion, a list of research projects will be prepared and placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each (a) unitary, (b) shire county, (c) shire district, (d) metropolitan district and (e) London borough council (i) the real terms cash and percentage increase in standard spending assessment between 1997-98 and 2000-01, (ii) the real terms cash and percentage increase in revenue support grant between 1997-98 and 2000-01, (iii) the real terms cash and percentage increase in total external support between 1997-98 and 2000-01 and (iv) the real terms cash and percentage increase in aggregate external finance between 1997-98 and 2000-01. [109600]
Ms Armstrong
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: The information requested, to the extent that it is available, has been placed in the library. It is not possible to provide the increase in aggregate external finance to 2000-01 as the latest available figures relate to budgets for 1999-2000.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy that hon. Members should have the opportunity to make oral representations at the examination in public concerning the development plan policies relating to their constituencies. [109975]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
Existing policy on the selection of participants in Structure Plan examinations in public (EIPs) is set out in Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and in the booklet "Structure Plans--A Guide to
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Procedures" published by my Department in December 1999. There are currently no plans to alter this policy. The purpose of an EIP is to provide the local structure planning authority with more information, through public discussion of certain issues, before reaching decisions on the plan. It is not intended that all those who have made objections or representations on an issue selected for discussion should be invited to take part.
Primary legislation gives responsibility to the EIP panel and the local planning authority for selecting participants. The basic criterion will be the significance of the contribution which they can be expected to make to the discussion of the matters to be examined. The aim will be to select participants (whether statutory bodies, interest groups or individuals) who between them represent a broad range of viewpoints and have a relevant contribution to make.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of amending planning and public inquiry rules and legislation to give hon. Members the right to make oral representations at the examinations in public on the development plan policies concerning their constituencies. [109977]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
None. However, my right hon. Friend, the then Minister for Planning, indicated in "Modernising Planning--A Progress Report", published by my Department in April 1999, that while a number of improvements had already been achieved, we would continue to consider proposals for further changes to make the planning system more efficient and effective. A summary report on research into the Operation and Effectiveness of Structure Planning System was also published in April 1999, and indicated that the Department intended to carry out a short-term review of the structure planning process in England. That review will commence shortly.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to (a) reduce noise levels and (b) improve safety at small airports outside London; [109797]
Mr. Mullin:
Our policy on noise is the same for small and large airports--reduction of noise at source, and airport specific measures where necessary. The Government continue to work for international agreement on higher certification standards and on phasing out noisier aircraft. Apart from the designated London airports, where the Secretary of State has direct responsibility, measures to reduce operational noise are the responsibility of the airport management, working in consultation with local interests. We shall shortly consult on the details of proposed legislation to strengthen aerodromes' powers to establish and enforce noise amelioration schemes, and to enable the Secretary of State to designate an aerodrome requiring it to agree such a scheme with an appropriate local authority.
All United Kingdom airports are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and must be operated safely, regardless of their size or location. Similarly there is no
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necessary correlation between the age of aircraft and their safety: what is important is that the aircraft are maintained properly. Commercial aircraft must be maintained to an approved maintenance programme by qualified engineers working for an approved maintenance organisation. The age of the aircraft will be taken into account in determining the maintenance programme. Similar arrangements apply to aircraft with a private category certificate of airworthiness.
(2) when he will announce his decision on the planning application for Stone Lodge Park, Dartford; and if he will make a statement. [109550]
(2) if he will make a statement on the safety and age of aircraft using small airports. [109798]
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