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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 19 June 2000
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Football Banning Orders
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Solicitor-General what guidance has been issued to Crown prosecutors about securing international football banning orders in respect of persons convicted of violence associated with football matches. [126869]
The Solicitor-General: Detailed internal guidance on the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999, which widened the circumstances in which the courts can prevent those convicted of football-related offences from attending matches abroad, was issued to all Crown Prosecutors on 14 September 1999. This guidance stressed the importance of the legislation in relation to the Euro 2000 tournament, and advised prosecutors that the courts should be reminded of their duty to impose international football banning orders, whenever appropriate.
Further guidance was circulated on 16 June 2000 informing all Crown Prosecutors of two statutory instruments which now allow criminal offences committed by English and Welsh football supporters in Belgium and the Netherlands to be used as the subject of international football banning orders imposed in our domestic courts.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
GM Crops
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the dates on which the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has met to discuss the contamination by GMOs of rape seed. [123833]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 25 May 2000]: Advanta were unable to give sufficient information at the meeting with officials on 17 April for ACRE to be consulted at that stage. Advanta were initially unable to state for certain what type of GMs were found, the level of GM presence (and how reliable the information was) or which seed batches were involved.
When this information was available the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment were consulted through correspondence with the DETR on 10 May. This is normal procedure for seeking their views on issues outside their normal meeting schedule. The advice was clear on 17 May, prior to the Government's announcement, and ratified at their meeting on 25 May.
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ACRE's advice is that there is no risk to human health or the environment.
Local Authority Grants
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the percentage changes in grants to local authorities, including revenue support grant, in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) London boroughs, (b) Metropolitan councils, (c) counties, (d) unitary authorities and (e) shire districts. [124989]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The table sets out the percentage change in the amounts of grants made by my Department to local authorities in each of the last three financial years. It has not been possible to provide the requested breakdown by local authority class, because information is not held in that form for all the grants concerned. In addition, local government reorganisation during this period means that any data provided on a local authority class basis would not be comparable year on year.
(1) One-off payment made to Burnley Council in 1999-2000.
(2) New funds for public transport in rural areas in the form of Rural Bus Subsidy and Rural Bus Challenge Grants announced in 1998 Budget and first paid in 1998-99.
(3) Since 1997-98 MRPS Grant has supported railway services in metropolitan areas outside London.
(4) Schemes wound up. Last payments made in 1998-1999.
(5) Figures take into account the special grant paid in 1996-97 and 1997-98 to local authorities affected by the Docklands and Manchester terrorist attacks in 1996.
(6) Grant first paid in 1998-99.
(7) Grant first paid in 1999-2000.
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Single Regeneration Budget
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the value of grants made through the single regeneration budget in (a) Kensington and Chelsea and (b) Westminster boroughs for (i) 1999-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000; what is his estimate for 2000-01. [125420]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The following grants were paid in respect of single regeneration budget schemes in the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster:
| Kensington and Chelsea | Westminster | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 435,718 | 9,000,000 |
| 1998-99 | 1,411,816 | 5,900,000 |
| 1999-2000 | 1,522,352 | 2,843,933 |
| 2000-01 (estimate) | 1,376,500 | 5,894,267 |
Low Bridges
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many strikes have been recorded on low bridges (a) over and (b) supporting railway lines from 1998-99 to 1999-2000. [125589]
Mr. Hill: The numbers of bridge strike incidents over and under railway lines are as follows:
| Year | Overbridge | Underbridge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 96 | 1,332 | 1,428 |
| 1999-2000 | 104 | 1,533 | 1,637 |
Note:
The figures for 1999-2000 are provisional.
Asthma
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he plans to take to make schools safer for children with asthma. [125390]
Mr. Hill: The policies we are pursuing generally to improve air quality are set out in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that
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we published in January. The Strategy sets objectives for driving down levels of the most common air pollutants. This is an important step in protecting health, particularly of those most vulnerable to air pollution, such as children with asthma.
My Department set up the School Travel Advisory Group in 1998 with colleagues in DfEE and DH, to advise on work to reduce car use, improve air quality and develop safer journeys to school.
In addition in October 1999 colleagues in DH and DfEE launched a National Healthy School Standard as part of the Government's Healthy Schools Programme. Many activities related to this programme will help make the school environment safer for children with asthma.
Diabetic Drivers
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research has recently been undertaken by his Department on the relationship between driving and diabetes; and if he will make the research available to the public. [125709]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 12 June 2000]: No research has recently been undertaken by the Department. Projects will be initiated during this financial year. The specifications for the projects are currently being developed and they will address issues raised by The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report on Diabetes and Driving. Tendering for this work is expected to take place in the early autumn.
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funding he is making available for research into the relationship between driving and diabetes. [125710]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 12 June 2000]: The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, in its report on Diabetes and Driving, recommended that the scope and depth of the fitness to drive research programme be enhanced and adequately funded. Provision has been made for £160,000 to cover the cost of the research projects on diabetes and driving which are being set up during this financial year.
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