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Incinerators
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with building contractors about the future construction of incinerators in the United Kingdom. [123485]
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Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 23 May 2000]: The Government have not held discussions with building contractors about the future construction of incinerators. The development and construction of energy from waste and incineration plant is a matter for local authorities and the waste management industry.
Registration Numbers
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on displaying registration numbers on plates marked with the European Union sign and GB; and if he will make a statement. [123726]
Mr. Hill: Following two consultation papers, the Government announced on 30 March that motorists could, if they wished, display the insignia of the European Union together with the letters GB on their number plates, in
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which case vehicles would no longer have to display the "GB sticker" when travelling in Europe. Regulations to bring this into effect from 1 March 2001 will be laid shortly.
Social Housing (Colchester)
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been invested in social housing in the Colchester constituency in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how much will be provided for the current financial year; and if he will make a statement. [123656]
Mr. Mullin: Details of the capital allocations for housing investment in Colchester Borough Council area in the current and previous five years are set out in the table. The allocations are additional to any housing investment financed from the authorities own resources.
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| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01(5) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allocations to Colchester Borough Council | ||||||
| Total | 3.921 | 3.559 | 2.604 | 3.107 | 3.250 | 4.449 |
| Housing annual capital guideline | 2.839 | 2.575 | 1.377 | 1.087 | 1.176 | 4.189 |
| Private sector renewal grants(3) | 1.082 | 0.984 | 0.558 | 0.516 | 0.508 | -- |
| Disabled facilities grants(3) | 0.252 | 0.238 | 0.235 | 0.260 | ||
| Capital receipts initiative | -- | -- | 0.417 | 1.266 | 1.331 | -- |
| Allocations to registered special landlords | ||||||
| Approved development programme(4) | 2.634 | 2.743 | 1.150 | 1.731 | 1.257 | 1.398 |
(3) Support for private sector renewal and disabled facilities grants was provided through a combined single allocation in 1995-96 and 1996-97.
(4) The figures up to 1999-00 are for grants paid; the 2000-01 figures is for schemes approved.
(5) Allocations for the Capital Receipts Initiative and support for private sector renewal grants are included within the housing Annual Capital Guideline allocation for 2000-01.
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CITES-listed Animals
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make representations to other EU member states on recording seizures of CITES-listed animals and their products by weight and number; and if he will make a statement. [124049]
Mr. Mullin: Following the CITES Adjournment debate on 21 March 2000 in Westminster Hall, when I was asked to examine whether ivory seizures should be recorded by weight as well as number, I wrote to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela Smith) to let her know that the Government would ensure that future seizures were so recorded. I also informed her that Her Majesty's Customs and Excise had already taken steps, in response to other requests, to ensure that seizures of other high profile endangered species goods such as coral or caviar are also recorded by weight.
Although the CITES Convention is implemented within the European Community by way of EU Regulation, the specific method employed to record CITES seizures is a matter for Member States to determine individually. However, since it certainly makes sense for the European Union to employ uniform, or at least similar, reporting regimes, we will raise this issue at the next meeting of the EU's CITES Enforcement Working Group in September.
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Hydrocarbon Gases
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safety standards are in place to regulate the use of hydrocarbon gases in refrigeration systems; when they were introduced; and what the safety record has been since their introduction. [122858]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 25 May 2000]: There is no safety legislation that applies exclusively to the safety of hydrocarbon gases in refrigeration systems. Employers using such a system would have duties under general legislation, such as the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 (HSWA), the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 to ensure the health and safety of anyone who may be affected by their undertaking. In addition, employers and others may have duties specifically in respect of risks from equipment or dangerous substances in other legislation including:
- the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992
- the Pressure Equipment Regulations 1999
- the Pressure Systems (Safety) Regulations 2000
- the Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972
- the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999
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British Standard BS EN60335-2-24 "Safety of household and similar electrical appliances" published in November 1999 covers all safety aspects of refrigerators, freezers and certain ice-makers intended for use in domestic and similar applications, including camping, touring caravans and boats for leisure purposes.
Statistical information is not sufficiently detailed to determine whether any reported incidents in the home or at work involved hydrocarbon gases in refrigeration systems.
Byker Heat Station
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the sites at which toxic ash from Byker Heat and Transfer Station, Newcastle, was spread in contravention of the operating licence; when this contravention was first reported to the Environmental Agency and when action was taken to correct it; and if the remedial action has been completed at all locations; [123748]
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- (2) what investigations have been made, and what conclusions have been reached, by the Environment Agency about soil, plant and animal contamination at Byker City Farm, Newcastle; what caused those investigations to be made; and when they started. [123851]
Mr. Mullin [holding answer 25 May 2000]: The Byker Reclamation Plant is the subject of two Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) authorisations issued by the Environment Agency under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. While the IPC authorisation for the Heat Station provides that landfill is the preferred waste disposal option for ash from the plant, disposal by another means is not in contravention of the authorisation. This is because the disposal of waste is subject to the duty of care and the waste management licensing provisions of Part II of the 1990 Act, and section 28 of the Act provides that no condition shall be attached to an IPC authorisation to regulate the final disposal of waste.
The possibility that ash from the plant might have been used for the construction of footpaths and other purposes was first raised by a local resident during discussions with the Environment Agency on another mater in August 1999. At a public meeting organised by Newcastle City Council on 19 January 2000, it was confirmed by the City Council that sampling would be undertaken to establish the composition of the ash. The Environment Agency then wrote to the City Council's direct works contractor, "Cityworks", on 2 February to request details of the dates, locations and quantities of ash used for the construction of footpaths etc. The sites which have identified as receiving ash from the Heat Plant, and the estimated tonnages, are as follows:
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(6) Not known
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Newcastle City Council has undertaken the removal of the ash from these sites and its disposal is being supervised by the Environment Agency. I have been informed that the removal of the ash from all of these sites has now been completed but that further investigations will be carried out by the City Council to ascertain whether any further remedial action is required.
The Environment Agency is conducting an investigation to establish whether the waste management controls of Part II of the 1990 Act have been contravened and, if there is evidence of contravention, action will be taken in line with the Agency's published Enforcement Policy.
To date, no investigations have been carried out by the Environment Agency into possible contamination at Byker City Farm.
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