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Biodiversity
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he expects the Government to sign up to the OECD agreement on The Global Biodiversity Information Facility; [111991]
- (2) what commitments the Government have made to implement the terms of the agreement on The Global Biodiversity Information Facility. [111992]
Mr. Meacher: We recognise that there is a need for global biodiversity data to be collected and managed, and therefore used to underpin the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The National Biodiversity Network, to which the Government have announced a £250,000 contribution, aim to do this for the UK. We recognise too that there is already much work going on globally producing many results and outputs. However, because there is no set protocol of compilation or standardisation of such work, its full potential, particularly when coupled with modern information technology, is not being realised.
The OECD has usefully identified this gap through its Mega Science Forum and has carried out some preliminary work in suggesting ways for promoting a mechanism to meet these needs.
Plans for the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) are still being drafted and will not be ready for adoption and signature until the end of the year. We have, however, demonstrated our interest by playing a full part in the discussions so far and shall continue to do so. Our aim is to secure a GBIF which will meet its objectives cost effectively, and through collaboration with all information providers and collectors, all interested countries, and other arrangements and institutions including those associated with the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Mr. Edward Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the effect of introducing buses with a maximum width of 2.55 m on existing bus services, with particular reference to the impact of such a change on the number of bus routes that would have to be discontinued. [112408]
Mr. Hill:
Following an extensive consultation, the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 were amended in 1995 (SI 1995 No. 3051) to allow vehicles to operate at a maximum width of 2.55 m. No problems were raised at the time of the consultation in respect of this increase. The dimension is a maximum allowance and, therefore, it is permissible to operate buses at less than 2.55 m on routes that require narrower vehicles to be used.
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Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of the addition of methyl tertiary butyl ether to petrol; and if he will make a statement. [111892]
Mr. Hill:
The Government remain neutral on the use of MTBE in petrol. It can provide worthwhile improvements in air quality through the reduction of vehicle pollutants, e.g. carbon monoxide by 25 per cent. and hydrocarbons by 15 per cent. On the other hand, not all petrol sold in the United Kingdom contains MTBE. The average concentration of MTBE in UK petrol is about 1 per cent., well below that permitted under EU law.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the maximum concentration of methyl tertiary butyl ether allowed in petrol. [111893]
Mr. Hill:
Directive 98/70/EC stipulates that member states may not prevent, restrict or discourage production, marketing and free movement of blended petrol that contains 15 per cent. or less MTBE by volume. This requirement has been implemented in UK law by the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the locations where methyl tertiary butyl ether has been found in groundwater supplies in excess of maximum safe levels in the past three years. [111894]
Mr. Mullin:
Environment Agency monitoring of groundwater has not encountered any concentrations of MTBE which the Agency considers excessive. The Agency is currently undertaking a research project on the incidence of MTBE in England and Wales, the results of which will be available this summer.
Mr. Tony Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in developing the Government's road safety strategy; and if he will make a statement. [112908]
Mr. Hill:
Today, we have published our road safety strategy, "Tomorrow's roads--safer for everyone". This sets stretching new targets to reduce the number of casualties on our roads, particularly child deaths and injuries. By 2010 we want to see a 40 per cent. overall reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured and a 50 per cent. reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured, compared with the average for 1994-98. We also want to see a 10 per cent. reduction in the rate of slight injuries, measured per 100 million vehicle kilometres.
Measures to achieve these objectives include:
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The Government's detailed review of speed policy has also been published today. "Tomorrow's roads--safer for everyone" reflects the findings of this review. It does not recommend blanket changes to existing speed limits, but acknowledges that there is a place for lower limits in specific areas where there is an accident problem.
Copies of the documents published today--the Government's detailed review of speed policy; the Government's response to the ETR Select Committee's report, "Young and Newly Qualified Drivers: Standards and Training"; the Government's response to the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety's report, "Road Traffic Law and Enforcement; the Highways Agency's safety plan, "Making the network safer--Highways Agency strategic plan for safety" and a report by the Transport Research Laboratory, "The numerical context for setting national casualty reduction targets"--have all been placed in the Library.
Mr. Leslie:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to revise motorcycle licensing rules following the safer motorcycling consultation exercise undertaken by the Driving Standards Agency last year. [112909]
Mr. Hill:
The document, "Tomorrow's roads--safer for everyone", which is published today, sets out the broad context for how we propose to deliver road safety improvements for motorcyclists. A detailed report of the decisions taken in response to the consultation exercise has also been issued today, and I shall place copies in the Library of the House.
We are removing unnecessary restrictions while improving training and testing for learner riders. We shall abolish the rule that means learner riders lose their provisional licence after two years, and we shall improve the training they receive. New licences will be valid until age 70 years, providing the rider holds a current training certificate. New car drivers will have basic safety training before riding a moped.
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Ms Ward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the External Financing Limit for the British Waterways Board. [112973]
Mr. Mullin:
The 1999-2000 External Financing Limit for the British Waterways Board will be increased by £340,000 from £58,690,000 to £59,030,000. This will enable them to replace a life expired pumping facility at Gloucester Docks. It will be funded by an increase in grant in aid to the Board arising from savings elsewhere on Class III, Vote 3.
expecting local authorities to use their powers to introduce self-enforcing 20 mph zones around schools and in residential areas;
a robust package of measures to further reduce drink driving;
strengthening enforcement of drug driving, including a commitment to legislate to give police the powers to test for drugs at the roadside;
consulting the public on a package of measures designed to encourage young and new drivers to take a more structured approach to learning to drive;
continuing to monitor the driving test to ensure it is sufficiently stretching and appropriate for modern driving conditions;
developing information schemes and advice for older drivers and publicity on the dangers of driving while using a mobile phone;
expecting a 30 mph speed limit to be the norm for villages;
increasing resources for Local Transport Plans, which will include local road safety plans and targets, to £1 billion next year;
setting up a Road Safety Advisory Panel which will include representatives of the main stakeholders and will help us to review our targets and strategy; and
raising the standard of road safety education, particularly promoting child pedestrian training in deprived areas, where we know children are at greater risk.
Enforcement of road traffic law will have a major part to play in improving road safety. The Home Office is conducting a major review of all road traffic penalties, including those for speeding and careless driving, which will report in due course.
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