House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 6 Jun 2000 (pt 10)

Newcastle Great Park Scheme

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the likelihood of storm flow and storm sewer overflow, into Jesmond Dene and Ouseburn, Newcastle; and what the likelihood will be if the Newcastle Great Park scheme in its present form is fully developed. [123852]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 25 May 2000]: I understand from the Environment Agency that improvement work has been carried out to intermittent discharges that can, under storm conditions, discharge diluted sewage to the Ouse Burn. These improvements are at Acomb Crescent on the Red House Farm Estate and Three Mile Inn at Gosforth. Further improvement works on the Lower Ouse Burn at Byker are at the design stage. Other sources of contamination include the de-icing run-off from Newcastle Airport which has affected the entire length of the Ouse Burn. The Agency has developed a scheme with the Airport and Northumbrian Water that now conveys the run-off to Howden sewage works for treatment, with notable water quality improvements.

Potential sources of pollution from Newcastle Great Park have been pre-empted by the Agency at the planning stage. The developers have been encouraged to incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs) into their proposals which will mean that water quality will be maintained or perhaps even improved if the

6 Jun 2000 : Column: 198W

development goes ahead. However, the Agency will not hesitate to take the appropriate enforcement action should pollution arise from any aspect of the development.

Welland Valley

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he intends to designate the Welland Valley up and down stream from Market Harborough an area of outstanding natural beauty; and if he will make a statement. [123904]

Mr. Mullin: Designation of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) is the responsibility of the Countryside Agency, subject to confirmation in each case by the Secretary of State. I am not aware of any plans by the Agency to designate the Welland Valley as an AONB.

Bilateral Aviation Agreements

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Government's policy on reciprocity in bilateral air service negotiations with the United States of America. [123931]

Mr. Mullin: Bilateral air services agreements are based on the principle of fair and equal opportunity, and this requires that rights are granted reciprocally. The UK-US negotiations are conducted in accordance with this same principle.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to remove distortions of competition as part of a bilateral airline agreement with the United States of America. [123932]

Mr. Mullin: We have consistently pressed the US Government for effective access to the US domestic market for UK airlines so that there can be fair competition on UK-US routes.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what methodology the Government are adopting in seeking to secure wet leasing rights for British airlines in the US market (a) as part of bilateral aviation negotiations and (b) through international agreements. [123933]

6 Jun 2000 : Column: 199W

Mr. Mullin: We take every opportunity to press the United States Government to relax the restrictions that they impose on the wet-leasing of UK-registered aircraft by US carriers.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the Government intend to achieve reciprocal access to the US aviation market for British charter passenger airlines and cargo carriers for whom alliances with scheduled US airlines are not an option. [123934]

Mr. Mullin: UK charter passenger airlines already have reciprocal rights under the Bermuda II arrangements, and dominate the UK-US charter market. We continue to press the US Government to open up their domestic market to UK cargo carriers.

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the consents under which the genetic transformation RT73 has been released in the UK. [123758]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 25 May 2000]: Genetic transformation event RT73 is associated with glyphosate tolerant oil seed rape. Consents which contain RT73 are

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listed as follows. Copies are available from the GMO Deliberate Release Public Register in DETR's offices at Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1.

Oil Seed Rape Consents Containing RT73:

94/R5/2

95/R5/6

95/R22/3

96/R22/6

97/R13/7

97/R19/16

97/R22/9

97/R24/1

97/R24/2

98/R20/2

98/R22/13

98/R24/3.

Southern Water

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many successful prosecutions the Environment Agency has undertaken against Southern Water; and what fines have been imposed. [123752]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 25 May 2000]: Listed are details of the successful prosecutions carried out against Southern Water by the Environment Agency since July 1990 and the fines imposed by various Magistrates and Crown courts:

6 Jun 2000 : Column: 199W

Date Court Offence Fine (£)

10 July 1990 Hailsham MC Causing sewage to enter a stream at Willingdon 1,200 and 1,070 costs

10 January 1992 Maidstone MC Causing sewage to enter a tributary of the River Beult at Headcorn 500 and 650 costs

22 January 1992 Maidstone CC Causing effluent to enter the River Stour 1,000 and 3,340 costs on appeal from Ashford MC

11 February 1992 Sevenoaks MC Causing sewage to enter a tributary of the River Medway at Penshurst 1,500 and 840 costs

13 February 1992 Margate MC Causing sewage to enter the sea off Margate 800 and 6,090 costs

16 November 1992 Gosport MC Causing pollution to enter the River Allver 2,000 and 850 costs

26 April 1993 New Forest MC For polluting the Lymington River, Brockenhurst on 15 June 1992 3,000 and 460 costs

23 June 1994 Fareham MC For causing pollution to enter Stoke Lake 4,000 and 610 costs

6 April 1995 Fareham MC Causing pollution to enter the Tanyard Stream 5,000 and 550 costs

12 April 1995 Tunbridge Wells MC For breach of consent at Tunbridge Wells STW resulting in pollution on 11 September 1994 Fined 3,000 and 750 costs

3 May 1995 West Malling MC Causing sewage to enter the River Bourne on 29 October 1994 1,500 and 710 costs

11 January 1996 Fareham MC For causing pollution to enter a tributary of the River Wallington at Denmead 5,000 and 690 costs

20 February 1996 Lewes MC For causing pollution to enter the Framfield Stream, Uckfield, Sussex on 12 September 1995 3,500 and 630 costs

14 March 1996 Fareham MC For causing sewage to enter an unnamed stream at Fareham, Hants on 1 November 1995 4,000 and 530 costs

19 March 1996 Lewes MC Causing sewage to enter the Eridge Stream, near Crowborough, Sussex on 20 August 1995 3,500 and 590 costs

19 June 1996 Southampton MC Fined for causing water containing chalk residues to enter a boating lake at Southampton on 30 October 1995 1,000 and 450 costs

19 June 1996 Southampton MC For causing sewage sludge to enter the Itchen Estuary at Woolston, Hants on 22 November 1995 7,000 and 390 costs

31 July 1996 Eastleigh MC For causing sewage to enter the Monks Brook Stream, Chandlers Ford 2,000 and 580 costs

1 August 1996 Redhill MC For breaching consent conditions on quality and circumstances of a discharge at Lingfield STW on 12 November 1995 Fined 3,500 and 830 costs

26 March 1997 Mid-Sussex MC For causing sewage to enter the Herrings Stream on 6 May 1996 5,000 and 580 costs

9 September 1997 Hastings MC For causing sodium hypochlorite to enter the River Brede on 24 October 1996 4,000 and 680 costs

15 September 1997 Sevenoaks MC For causing sewage to escape at Hadlow Stair, Tonbridge on 20 August 1996 Fined 2,500 and 580 costs

17 October 1997 Maidstone Crown court For causing sewage to enter the River Bourne at Plaxtol on 16 August 1996 with like offence on 25 May 1997 taken into consideration Fined 3,000 and 580 costs on appeal from West Malling MC

27 November 1998 Eastleigh MC For causing sewage to escape from an inspection chamber into the Tanners Brook at Springford Gardens, Southampton on 29 January 1998 Fined 2,000 and 630 costs

5 February 1999 Portsmouth Crown court For causing sewage to enter the River Wallington at Fareham on 29 December 1997 Fined 4,000 and 630 costs on appeal from South Hampshire MC

12 February 1999 Canterbury MC For breach of lookup table in that there were 19 failures of consent when the tables allowed a maximum of three for the range of 17 to 28 samples taken during the year ending 7 November 1997 Fined 10,000 and 660 costs

17 March 1999 Lewes MC For causing pollution to escape from Coopers Green Pumping Station, Uckfield into adjoining unnamed tributary of the River Uck on 23 December 1997 Fined 5,000 and 360 costs

8 July 1999 Canterbury MC For causing screened sewage to enter the Swalecliffe Brook at Whitstable, Kent from Brook Road Pumping Station on 5 July 1998 Fined 1,500 and 580 costs

10 August 1999 Fareham MC For causing sewage to discharge from inspection chamber into unnamed tributary of River Hamble near Sarisbury, Hants on 16 August 1998 Fined 2,500 and 670 costs

25 August 1999 New Forest MC For breaching the terms of a consent to discharge by discharging from Barton on Sea works into the Beckton Bunny on 26 October 1998 at a time when there were not storm conditions Fined 5,000 and 706 costs

15 November 1999 Medway MC For causing sewage to enter Janes Creek, Strood due to blockage in sewer and consequent backing up into surface water system on 10 March 1999 Fined 1,000 and 620 costs

4 January 2000 Maidstone MC For causing diluted sewage to enter an unnamed stream at Bearsted, Maidstone due to failure of pump systems at Ware Street Pumping Station on 6 June 1999 Fined 4,500 and 600 costs

10 February 2000 Southampton MC For causing sewage to enter the Sholing Common Stream, Southampton due to blockage in sewer system on 5 November 1999 Fined 2,500 and 640 costs

28 February 2000 Canterbury MC For breach of consent at May Street STW, Herne Bay on 20 and 21 December 1998 Fined 6,000 (3,000 on each of two charges) and 660 costs

20 March 2000 Horsham MC For causing pollution to enter the Brockhurst Brook, Billingshurst, Sussex on 19 October 1998 Fined 7,500 and 660 costs

Date	Court	Offence	Fine (£)
10 July 1990	Hailsham MC	Causing sewage to enter a stream at Willingdon	1,200 and 1,070 costs
10 January 1992	Maidstone MC	Causing sewage to enter a tributary of the River Beult at Headcorn	500 and 650 costs
22 January 1992	Maidstone CC	Causing effluent to enter the River Stour	1,000 and 3,340 costs on appeal from Ashford MC
11 February 1992	Sevenoaks MC	Causing sewage to enter a tributary of the River Medway at Penshurst	1,500 and 840 costs
13 February 1992	Margate MC	Causing sewage to enter the sea off Margate	800 and 6,090 costs
16 November 1992	Gosport MC	Causing pollution to enter the River Allver	2,000 and 850 costs
26 April 1993	New Forest MC	For polluting the Lymington River, Brockenhurst on 15 June 1992	3,000 and 460 costs
23 June 1994	Fareham MC	For causing pollution to enter Stoke Lake	4,000 and 610 costs
6 April 1995	Fareham MC	Causing pollution to enter the Tanyard Stream	5,000 and 550 costs
12 April 1995	Tunbridge Wells MC	For breach of consent at Tunbridge Wells STW resulting in pollution on 11 September 1994	Fined 3,000 and 750 costs
3 May 1995	West Malling MC	Causing sewage to enter the River Bourne on 29 October 1994	1,500 and 710 costs
11 January 1996	Fareham MC	For causing pollution to enter a tributary of the River Wallington at Denmead	5,000 and 690 costs
20 February 1996	Lewes MC	For causing pollution to enter the Framfield Stream, Uckfield, Sussex on 12 September 1995	3,500 and 630 costs
14 March 1996	Fareham MC	For causing sewage to enter an unnamed stream at Fareham, Hants on 1 November 1995	4,000 and 530 costs
19 March 1996	Lewes MC	Causing sewage to enter the Eridge Stream, near Crowborough, Sussex on 20 August 1995	3,500 and 590 costs
19 June 1996	Southampton MC	Fined for causing water containing chalk residues to enter a boating lake at Southampton on 30 October 1995	1,000 and 450 costs
19 June 1996	Southampton MC	For causing sewage sludge to enter the Itchen Estuary at Woolston, Hants on 22 November 1995	7,000 and 390 costs
31 July 1996	Eastleigh MC	For causing sewage to enter the Monks Brook Stream, Chandlers Ford	2,000 and 580 costs
1 August 1996	Redhill MC	For breaching consent conditions on quality and circumstances of a discharge at Lingfield STW on 12 November 1995	Fined 3,500 and 830 costs
26 March 1997	Mid-Sussex MC	For causing sewage to enter the Herrings Stream on 6 May 1996	5,000 and 580 costs
9 September 1997	Hastings MC	For causing sodium hypochlorite to enter the River Brede on 24 October 1996	4,000 and 680 costs
15 September 1997	Sevenoaks MC	For causing sewage to escape at Hadlow Stair, Tonbridge on 20 August 1996	Fined 2,500 and 580 costs
17 October 1997	Maidstone Crown court	For causing sewage to enter the River Bourne at Plaxtol on 16 August 1996 with like offence on 25 May 1997 taken into consideration	Fined 3,000 and 580 costs on appeal from West Malling MC
27 November 1998	Eastleigh MC	For causing sewage to escape from an inspection chamber into the Tanners Brook at Springford Gardens, Southampton on 29 January 1998	Fined 2,000 and 630 costs
5 February 1999	Portsmouth Crown court	For causing sewage to enter the River Wallington at Fareham on 29 December 1997	Fined 4,000 and 630 costs on appeal from South Hampshire MC
12 February 1999	Canterbury MC	For breach of lookup table in that there were 19 failures of consent when the tables allowed a maximum of three for the range of 17 to 28 samples taken during the year ending 7 November 1997	Fined 10,000 and 660 costs
17 March 1999	Lewes MC	For causing pollution to escape from Coopers Green Pumping Station, Uckfield into adjoining unnamed tributary of the River Uck on 23 December 1997	Fined 5,000 and 360 costs
8 July 1999	Canterbury MC	For causing screened sewage to enter the Swalecliffe Brook at Whitstable, Kent from Brook Road Pumping Station on 5 July 1998	Fined 1,500 and 580 costs
10 August 1999	Fareham MC	For causing sewage to discharge from inspection chamber into unnamed tributary of River Hamble near Sarisbury, Hants on 16 August 1998	Fined 2,500 and 670 costs
25 August 1999	New Forest MC	For breaching the terms of a consent to discharge by discharging from Barton on Sea works into the Beckton Bunny on 26 October 1998 at a time when there were not storm conditions	Fined 5,000 and 706 costs
15 November 1999	Medway MC	For causing sewage to enter Janes Creek, Strood due to blockage in sewer and consequent backing up into surface water system on 10 March 1999	Fined 1,000 and 620 costs
4 January 2000	Maidstone MC	For causing diluted sewage to enter an unnamed stream at Bearsted, Maidstone due to failure of pump systems at Ware Street Pumping Station on 6 June 1999	Fined 4,500 and 600 costs
10 February 2000	Southampton MC	For causing sewage to enter the Sholing Common Stream, Southampton due to blockage in sewer system on 5 November 1999	Fined 2,500 and 640 costs
28 February 2000	Canterbury MC	For breach of consent at May Street STW, Herne Bay on 20 and 21 December 1998	Fined 6,000 (3,000 on each of two charges) and 660 costs
20 March 2000	Horsham MC	For causing pollution to enter the Brockhurst Brook, Billingshurst, Sussex on 19 October 1998	Fined 7,500 and 660 costs

6 Jun 2000 : Column: 201W

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