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Farm Buildings
Mr. Ashdown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to facilitate the conversion of disused farm buildings for residential and other purposes; and if he will make a statement. [113145]
Mr. Raynsford: Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 7: Countryside, already positively encourages the re-use and adaptation of rural buildings. I shall be considering whether any revised guidance maybe appropriate in the light of the Performance and Innovation Unit's report "Rural Economies".
China Clay Quarrying
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the extension of china clay quarrying in Dartmoor is an exceptional circumstance in the sense intended by his own guidance; and what examination of proposals for such quarrying he has conducted. [113573]
Mr. Raynsford: Whether a planning application for an extension of china clay quarrying in Dartmoor comprises an 'exceptional circumstance', as explained in paragraph 4.5 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 7--The Countryside: Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development, would depend upon the scale, nature and individual circumstances of that proposal.
So far as I am aware, no applications have recently been submitted for new or extended china clay quarrying. If they had, the Dartmoor National Park Authority would be responsible for determining them. The Secretary of State would only examine such an application if he called it in for his own determination or if it came before him on appeal.
I am, however, aware of several applications that have been submitted to both the National Park Authority and to Devon County Council under the old minerals planning permission (OMP) review provisions of the Environment Act 1995. These are for the determination of modern operating and restoration conditions for existing china
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clay planning permissions within and adjoining the Dartmoor National Park, and not extensions of existing quarrying operations. The local authorities for areas within which these are located are responsible for determining them. As these applications may come before the Secretary of State on appeal, he is unable to comment on their merits.
A35
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what AADT figures were recorded for the Chideock section of the A35 in 1998 and 1999; and what percentage increases are projected for the years 2000 to 2010. [113576]
Mr. Hill: The Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) figures in 1998 and 1999 were 13,186 and 13,618 respectively.
DETR forecasts indicate that by 2010, a central traffic growth estimate (which represents an average of low and high estimates) would add a further 20 per cent. to traffic levels.
In the case of the A35 at Chideock this would mean estimated AADT figure in the region of 16,500 vehicles per day by the year 2010.
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will monitor kerbside nitrogen dioxide in Chideock on the A35. [113574]
Mr. Hill: Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 requires local authorities to review and assess the current and likely future air quality in their areas. Local authorities are required to consider whether one or more of the national air quality objectives, as prescribed in regulations, are unlikely to be met by the required date. Objectives have been set for a number of air pollutants including nitrogen dioxide. The Secretary of State has issued guidance on how to undertake such reviews and assessments, including on where and when monitoring of air pollutants is needed. I understand that West Dorset district council will consider monitoring the kerbside nitrogen dioxide in Chideock on the A35, in addition to their existing monitoring sites throughout the area.
Regional Assemblies
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he plans to give to regional assemblies. [113599]
Ms Armstrong: The eight regional assemblies and chambers already established are voluntary bodies. We have no plans to give them statutory powers but we have provided them with important roles specifically in relation to Regional Development Agencies, regional planning guidance, and regional sustainable development frameworks.
Housing Stock
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those local authorities in England which (i) have completed an LSVT of housing stock and (ii) are currently undertaking an LSVT. [113598]
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Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 22 February 2000, Official Report, columns 923-25W.
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the average turn around times between tenants of local authority housing stock for each authority in England. [113597]
Mr. Mullin: Local authorities in England provide estimates of the average time taken to relet their housing stock on their annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) Operational Information returns. Information reported for lettings during 1998-99 is given in the table. There are variations in the way local authorities maintain lettings records and compile these estimates, and comparisons between authorities should be treated with caution.
(4) Excludes dwellings let after major works, mutual exchanges and tenancy successions.
(5) Denotes authorities which had transferred all or most of their housing stock, under Large Scale Voluntar Transfer arrangement, by 31 March 1999
(6) Not available
Source:
DETR Housing Investment Programme returns 1999
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