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Airports (Public Safety Zone Policy)

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the residual work of the Civil Aviation Authority in administering the Public Safety Zone policy will be transferred to his Department. [120070]

Mr. Mullin: Since 1 January 1982, the Civil Aviation Authority has, under a Memorandum of Understanding negotiated with the then Secretary of State for Trade, undertaken responsibility, on behalf of the Secretary of State, for advising local authorities on planning applications relating to sites within Public Safety Zones. The draft circular issued for consultation on 15 June 1999 contained guidance to local authorities to enable them to decide planning applications within Public Safety Zones without the need for advice from the Authority. In the light of the comments received on the draft circular, I am satisfied that I should meet the Authority's wish to discontinue its role in Public Safety Zone administration. The Authority will be terminating the Memorandum of Understanding with early effect. In the interim period before the new circular comes into effect, my Department will be willing to provide advice to local authorities in place of the Authority where this would be appropriate.

The announcement of 15 June 1999 also referred to the establishment of Public Safety Zones at other airports for which modelling work suggested that this would be justified. In the light of the modelling work so far

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completed, Public Safety Zones will be established for Biggin Hill, Exeter, Humberside, Inverness and Plymouth airports.

Newspapers (Recycled Content)

Mr. Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress he has made in his negotiations with newspaper publishers to develop a voluntary agreement for increases in the levels of recycled content in newspapers; and if he will make a statement. [120297]

Mr. Meacher: I am pleased to be able to announce today the successful conclusion of my negotiations with the newspaper publishers. Ten years ago, the publishers entered into a voluntary agreement with the Government to increase levels of recycled fibre in newspapers. Over the last decade this has led to increases in the recycled content of newspapers from 28 per cent. to 52.4 per cent.

Both I and the newspaper publishers acknowledge that to achieve further significant increases in recycled content will require a major addition to the recycled output from British newspaper mills. However, in anticipation that the new capacity will be forthcoming within the next two years UK publishers have agreed the following targets: 60 per cent. by the end of 2001; 65 per cent. by the end of 2003; 70 per cent. by the end of 2006.

The newspaper publishers have said that it is their firm intention to achieve these targets but the Government recognise that there may be factors beyond their control. Progress towards these targets will, therefore, be continually monitored by the Newspaper Recycling Working Group with formal in-depth reviews carried out at each target stage. At these reviews, the following factors will be taken into account:

the availability of additional reprocessing capacity, which is dependent on whether a decision to increase investment is reached this year;


the growth in consumption of newsprint, which is currently about 2.5 per cent. per annum;


the quality of the recycled newsprint available and, in particular, whether this hindered the production process significantly and damaged the product;


any uncompetitive pricing of recycled newsprint by newsprint suppliers.

The reviews will be on the basis of an understanding that the objective of the agreement is to achieve high and rising recycled content of UK newspapers; and the newspaper publishers have reaffirmed their commitment to continue to achieve the most stringent targets compatible with such newly arising factors which may be beyond the control of industry.

Environmental Pollution

Mr. Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the findings of the Financial Management and Policy Review of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. [120298]

Mr. Meacher: The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution advises Ministers on dangers to the environment, environmental issues and priorities, and ways of integrating environmental concerns and objectives with other, economic and social, objectives in order to

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achieve sustainable development. As a non-departmental public body, the Commission is subject to a financial management and policy review every five years and my Department appointed in-house consultants last January to undertake this work. The Review, which comprised two stages, is now complete. Stage 1 found that there is a continuing need for the Royal Commission to advise Government on environmental policy and sustainable development and that the Commission provided the most efficient and cost-effective means of delivering this.

The second stage of the Review considered the performance of the Commission in greater depth, making recommendations on the Commission's relationship with Government; its strategic planning arrangements, including processes for reviewing performance and auditing impact; internal organisation and working methods, financial management, staffing and the role of the secretariat; and membership arrangements, including appointments. The overall conclusion of the Review is very positive and, though a number of recommendations are intended to enhance effectiveness, the Review commends the Commission for action which it has already taken to update and improve its working methods.

We accept all the findings of the Review and are developing an implementation strategy for future action taking up its Recommendations. The Review is available on my Department's website www.detr.gov.uk and copies are being placed in the Library of the House. A detailed Implementation Strategy is being prepared, which will also be available on the DETR website.

London Luton Airport

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he plans to consider the application by EasyJet Airline Ltd. for an order under section 40 of the Airports Act 1986 designating London Luton Airport as an airport at which a cap would be imposed on the maximum amount to be levied by the airport operators by way of airport charges. [120340]

Mr. Mullin: As provided for in section 16 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, I have asked the Civil Aviation Authority for assistance and advice in this matter. The Authority will take representations from EasyJet and London Luton Airport Operations Ltd., and seek views from other interested parties as it sees fit. I have asked the Authority to report to me, with a recommendation, by the end of July.

Plutonium

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what policies are in place to cover the management of separated plutonium and plutonium contaminated wastes in the United Kingdom. [119133]

Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 13 April 2000]: I have been asked to reply.

The Government's policies on these materials are set out in United Kingdom Civil Nuclear Policy Including Plutonium, which was presented to the House in January 1998, and Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy Final Conclusions, Cm 2919 of July 1995, respectively.

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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Communications Reform White Paper

Mr. Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on consultation on the Communications Reform White Paper. [120179]

Mr. Chris Smith: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I encourage anyone with ideas or thoughts on the substance of the White Paper to submit them to us, either in writing or via our e-mail address, [e-mail], by 23 June 2000.

Unless contributors make it clear that they do not want their contributions to be published, we intend to place most of the material submitted to us on our website. We hope that this will generate further comment and debate as we prepare the main messages of the White Paper.

Websites

Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's policy is on (a) advertising and (b) acknowledging company sponsorship on the websites of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies; which companies (i) have placed advertisements and (ii) are acknowledged as sponsors on those websites; how much revenue has been received for each financial year since 1997 from such advertisements and sponsorship; and if that revenue has been retained within the budget of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [119553]

Mr. Chris Smith: My Department's policy on website advertising is in accordance with that set out in the Framework policy and guidelines for the use, management and design of public sector websites, which forms part of the e-government strategy.

My Department's policy on website sponsorship is the same as that which applies to any other form of Departmental publication.

No advertisements have appeared on the Departmental or agency websites in the period mentioned. Nor have any website sponsorship arrangements been entered into.

Information on the non-departmental public body sites could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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