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Cleaner Vehicles Task Force

Mr. Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force will publish its final report. [124520]

Mr. Hill: The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force, which was set up by my Department in 1997 to look at practical ways of reducing vehicle emissions, is publishing its final report, "The way forward--the final report of the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force", today. The report covers five main areas:

Transforming the market and achieving lower environmental impacts from vehicles in use through Government incentives, development of technology, and through better public awareness;

The role of fleets in improving environmental performance of current and new vehicles;

Cleaner fuels and technologies--both conventional and alternative fuels and technologies;

The role for low emission zones; and

Making sure everyone plays their part--the importance of enforcement in maintaining improvements.

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There has already been progress on the Task Force's interim recommendations, published in the 1999 report "Driving the Agenda". For instance, we announced in March that we would be spending £6 million this year on a Cleaner Vehicles Programme to take forward the Task Force's recommendations on retrofitting. Industry has acted too, with the motor industry adopting a label providing information about emissions on all new cars. We look forward to seeing rapid progress on the recommendations contained in this report.

Copies of the final report, along with a background paper published by the Task Force on the environmental impacts of vehicle production and disposal and the reports of the Technology and Testing and Alternative Fuels sub-group, are available in the House Library.

Air Services

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the decision-making process outlined in the Appraisal

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Framework for Airports in the South-East will allow for public consultation on the options examined during the sifting process. [124628]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 5 June 2000]: We shall ensure that the process of sifting will be open to public scrutiny during public consultation on the shortlisted options following completion of the study.

A very large number of options will be considered during the sifting process, which is designed to reduce the options to a manageable number, so that those can be appraised in sufficient detail to support a meaningful public consultation.

To attempt earlier consultations would greatly expand the work required and the length of the overall process; and would result in substantial and prolonged blight, uncertainty and anxiety.

The approach adopted in this study is entirely consistent with my Department's Code of Practice on the Dissemination of Information during Major Infrastructure Developments.

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the timetable is for decisions to be taken after completion of the South-East and East of England Regional Air Services Study in April 2001. [124627]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 5 June 2000]: It is expected that the South-East and East of England Regional Air Services Study will be completed by spring or summer 2001. This will be followed by a public consultation on the options arising from it.

The results will feed into an Air Transport White Paper, which will also take account of the Government's decisions in response to the Inspector's report on the Heathrow Terminal 5 Inquiry.

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the South East and East of England Regional Air Services Study will examine the effects of an increase in employment in the South East on (a) local businesses and (b) the environment. [124629]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Yes--the study will examine and appraise the effects of airport development options on local employment markets and other urbanisation impacts.

Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of the construction of a new southern-aligned runway at Gatwick Airport on people within the 57 LEQ noise contour, and of the number of people within that contour who would be affected. [124630]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 5 June 2000]: As I made clear in my answer to the hon. Member of 30 March 2000, Official Report, column 228W, it is premature to comment on what options are being considered in the South-East and East of England Regional Air Services study.

I can confirm the draft appraisal framework for airports in the South-East and Eastern Regions of England makes provision, during full assessment, for the calculation of

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population within the 57 LEQ noise contour (16 hour day, average mode) as well as night noise. A simpler assessment will be used in the earlier stages of this study.

Rents

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the average increase in (a) council, (b) housing association and (c) private rents in each year since 1990-91. [123982]

Mr. Prescott [holding answer 5 June 2000]: Estimated average annual rent increases from 1991 to 2000 are as follows:

Annual percentage change in average rents

	Housing association rents	Local authority rents	Private sector rents
1991-92	n/a	15.3	n/a
1992-93	15.1	11.8	n/a
1993-94	10.5	9.3	n/a
1994-95	8.1	6.2	4.8
1995-96	7.6	7.3	7.7
1996-97	7.0	4.6	8.6
1997-98	6.2	2.5	3.9
1998-99	4.0	2.8	5.1
1999-2000	n/a	3.8	n/a

Sources:

Private rents: Survey of English Housing (SEH)

Housing Association (RSL) rents: Annual Regulatory and Statistical Return/Housing Corporation

Local authority rents: DETR Subsidy Claim Forms (SCF) and annual Government Office survey

Water Meters

Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of water meters in higher rateable value properties on charges for customers in lower rateable value properties. [124650]

Mr. Mullin: This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services. He has set out his position on the balance between measured and unmeasured water charges in "Tariff structure and charges: 2000-01 report", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current estimated cost of installing water meters in all domestic properties. [124647]

Mr. Mullin: There are no plans to meter all domestic properties, so no estimate has been made of the cost of doing so. Under the Water Industry Act 1999, companies in England and Wales must install a meter in any home when requested by the consumer, free of initial charge. The number of meters installed will depend on consumer choices. In his determination of water company price limits, the Director General of Water Services has allowed for £202 million capital and £53 million operating expenditure for the costs of installing optional meters in 2000-05.

Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of domestic properties are (a) fitted with water meters and (b) pay by volume. [124646]

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Mr. Mullin: The Director General of Water Services publishes an annual report on "Tariff structure and charges", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This report gives details of the percentage of domestic properties who pay for water supplies according to volume. The figure for 2000-01 is estimated to be 19.6 per cent., based on forecast data provided by water companies. The equivalent figure for 1999-2000 was 17.1 per cent.

In some instances a property may be fitted with a meter, but be charged on an unmetered basis. The Director General of Water Services collects only information relating to the number of meters that are installed and used as the basis for charging.

Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the implications of water metering for low-income households where there are (a) children, (b) elderly and (c) people with disabilities and illnesses that require them to take frequent baths. [124649]

Mr. Mullin: The Government published "Water Industry Act 1999: Consultation on Regulations" on 12 October 1999, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Fifty-three responses were received relating to the proposals for assisting low-income households who pay by meter.

Following that consultation, the Government laid the Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) Regulations 1999 on 22 December 1999, and made minor clarificatory amendments in the Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) (Amendment) Regulations 2000, which were laid on 3 March 2000. Both came into force on 1 April 2000.

The Regulations offer assistance to low-income households with water meters, who might face hardship as a result of high water use for basic household purposes. To qualify for assistance, a member of the household must be entitled to received income related benefits or tax credits; and either

be responsible for three or more children under the age of 16;

have (or have a child with) a qualifying medical condition which requires significant extra use.

The response to consultation is contained in "Water Industry Act 1999: Delivering the Government's Objectives" which was published on 3 February 2000. This also included a copy of the main Regulations. A copy is in the Library of the House.

Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many properties in each of the council tax bands are fitted with a water meter. [124648]

Mr. Mullin: No information is available on the proportion of properties in each of the council tax bands fitted with a water meter.

Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what options he is considering to replace rateable values for calculating water charges. [124645]

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Mr. Mullin: Under the Water Industry Act 1999, companies must produce charges schemes, which include details of the basis on which they wish to charge for water and sewerage services to homes. Schemes are subject to approval by the Director General of Water Services.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued guidance to the Director General on the approval of schemes for companies operating wholly or mainly in England. In considering whether or not to approve a new basis of unmeasured charging, key factors are the transitional effects of any change, any proposals for managing such effects and the impact of the new basis of charging on different groups, particularly vulnerable customers. Because of the potential social impacts on customers, the Director should not approve the widespread introduction of new unmeasured charging arrangements, without full consultation with the Secretary of State. The Government will continue to consider any proposals that come forward provided that they address the key factors.

The Secretary of State's guidance under the 1999 Act and other background on water charging policy is set out in "Water Industry Act 1999--Delivering the Government's Objectives" published on 3 February, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

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