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Dog Identification
Mr. Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how often the Working Party on Dog Identification has met; what items were on its agenda when it met; who has given evidence or provided reports or submissions to it; what means of dog identification are being considered by it; what methods of enforcement of dog identification are being considered by it; and if it will receive and consider submissions from members of the public. [125874]
Mr. Hill: The Dog Identification Working Group (DIG) was set up to consider the issues surrounding the permanent identification of dogs in England. The Group will produce a report to reflect a consensus view on all the available options for dog identification and this is expected in the Summer. No decisions will be taken until I have fully considered the report.
The Working Group has met on eight occasions, the first meeting was held on 17 May 1999 and chaired by the then Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale). The Agenda items of these meetings have been wide ranging to cover all the issues surrounding dog identification. Among the issues the Group has discussed are existing voluntary schemes, different methods of enforcement, a Dog Registration Consultation Paper from the Pet Advisory Committee, International Experience of dog identification schemes, a public education and marketing strategy and the use of databases. The Group has considered a wide range of evidence relevant to its terms of reference--copies of this will be contained in annexes to the Group's report. All forms of identification are being considered including possible future developments in technology. Enforcement
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is a matter which will be covered by the Group's report. When I have received the Group's report, I will consider the recommendations and whether any further consultation is required.
Gas Safety
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the installation of excess gas flow valves in public sector housing. [124870]
Mr. Mullin [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission, is undertaking a fundamental review of the current health and safety regime for the installation and use of gas to determine whether, or how far changes are needed to the existing system of control. As part of the consultation process, HSE has received three representations from a UK supplier of excess gas flow valves about the safety case for fitting these valves in domestic premises generally, including public sector housing. I am also aware of a similar representation made recently to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which local authorities have fitted excess gas flow valves to their housing stock; and how many have been fitted. [124872]
Mr. Mullin [holding answer 12 June 2000]: I have been advised by the Health and Safety Executive that it is aware of 21 local authorities and three housing associations that have specified and are fitting excess gas flow valves, as set out in the list. I have no information about the numbers that have been fitted.
- Local authorities and housing associations known to be specifying and fitting excess gas flow valves
- Local Authorities
- Birmingham city council
- Bristol city council
- Bromsgrove district council
- Cheltenham district council
- Coventry city council
- Derby city council
- Dudley Metropolitan borough council
- Glasgow city council
- Halton Metropolitan borough council
- Hounslow London borough council
- Hillingdon London borough council
- Kingston upon Thames borough council
- Leicester city council
- Macclesfield borough council
- Newham borough council
- Nottingham city council
- Newcastle upon Tyne borough council
- Preston borough council
- Rotherham Metropolitan borough council
- Sandwell borough council
- Slough borough council
- Housing Associations
- Guinness Trust
- Orbit housing association
- Touchstone housing association
- Waterloo housing association
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Two-wheeled Vehicles
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government have pursued since 1 May 1997 (a) to promote the wider use of powered two-wheelers and (b) to improve their safety. [125453]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 12 June 2000]: "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" recognised that there are circumstances in which mopeds and motorcycles can have a role to play in integrated transport. We have thus:
- established an Advisory Group on Motorcycling;
- advised local authorities to take account of the contribution powered two wheelers are making in delivering integrated transport policies.
- making changes to the theory and practical driving tests--resulting better driving standards will benefit all vulnerable road users;
- announcing a package of measures for improving training and testing for riders of mopeds and motorcycles;
- since June 1999, requiring, along with EU partners, the design and construction of newly designed models of motorcycles to be approved and verified to appropriate safety and environmental standards;
- committing, in "Tomorrow's Roads: Safer for Everyone", to further measures that will improve the safety of motorcyclists over the next 10 years.
Telecommunications Masts
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to declare a moratorium on further planning applications for new telecommunications masts pending the outcome of the announced review of planning policy; and when he expects to complete this review. [125889]
Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 13 June 2000]: The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, set up at the instigation of the Government and chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE, has considered the possible health effects of the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters. The Group published its report on 11 May.
- the balance of evidence indicates that there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations on the basis that exposures are expected to be small fractions of guidelines. However, there can be indirect adverse effects on their well-being in some cases.
In its response to the report, also issued on 11 May and placed in the Libraries of both Houses, the Government said that they were minded to introduce a requirement for an application for full planning permission for all new telecommunications masts, but would need to consult
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widely before doing so, including on the principle and precise scope of any new arrangements. We aim to issue a consultation document in the summer, with a view to being able to introduce revised procedures and guidance by the end of the year.
The Group does not recommend a moratorium on further planning applications for new telecommunications masts pending the outcome of our review, or at all, and the Government have no plans to introduce such a moratorium.
Class 175 Trains
Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the new Class 175 trains will be brought into service on the North Wales Coast Route; and what the reasons are for the late delivery. [125796]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 13 June 2000]: The train operating company, First North Western, hopes to introduce the new trains into service late this year. Delay in their introduction is due to technical difficulties.
Neighbourhood Renewal
Mr. Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to monitor the effectiveness of cross-departmental initiatives aimed at neighbourhood renewal and urban regeneration. [124272]
Ms Armstrong: My Department commissions in-depth evaluations to assess the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at neighbourhood renewal and urban regeneration. These evaluations are concerned with effectiveness both in terms of process issues, such as delivery structures, and in terms of their impact on deprivation and exclusion. DETR is currently responsible for the following evaluations of cross-departmental initiatives:
- New Deal for Communities
- The monitoring and evaluation arrangements for the NDC programme comprise ongoing project and scheme monitoring, which is reported to Government at the mid-year and annual progress reviews, and individual project evaluation, and scheme evaluation at the three, six and end year stages of the schemes. The Government will also be undertaking a national evaluation of the programme, which will focus on the operation and achievements of the programme in its first three years.
- Single Regeneration Budget
- There is an on-going evaluation of rounds 1 and 2 of SRB and plans to commission an evaluation of more recent SRB activity this year.
- In addition, we are supporting the evaluation of the Local Government Association's New Commitment to Regeneration and have commissioned an action research study to develop more co-ordinated working between regeneration initiatives at the local level. Emerging evidence from these studies has already been used to support wider reviews of policy such as the Spending Review 2000 cross-cutting review of Government Intervention in Deprived Areas, the Social Exclusion Unit's National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal and the work of the Performance and Innovation Unit.
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