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Disability Access

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking in respect of the recommendation of the Disability Rights Task Force in "From Exclusion to Inclusion" that

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his Department should establish a statutory group on improving access to the built environment for disabled people. [128695]

Mr. Raynsford: I accept the thinking behind the Task Force's recommendation. I have therefore asked the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) to establish a working group to advise Government on improving access to the built environment for disabled people. DPTAC has agreed to do so. This new role for the Committee will be in addition to its statutory functions in respect of the transport needs of disabled people. There will be no immediate amendment to those statutory functions.

Easy access to buildings--and facilities within buildings--are basic civil rights which are sometimes denied to people with disabilities. I will be looking to the new group to tell me how Government and industry can make improvements in this area.

Outdoor Advertisement Control

Mr. White: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to proceed in the light of the response to the "Outdoor Advertisement Control" consultation paper published in July 1999. [128759]

Ms Beverley Hughes: I am pleased by the positive reaction to the proposals in this consultation paper. The proposals received widespread support and there were also a number of helpful suggestions for improving individual proposals which are reflected in our final conclusions. I am grateful to all those who took the trouble to comment. Their views have been given careful consideration in deciding how to proceed.

I am putting in the Library of the House a list of our proposals, showing the changes made following consultation. The Department is now preparing the necessary statutory instruments and guidance to implement the changes.

Crop Contamination

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library the information he provided to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment concerning the GM contamination of Advanta Seeds UK's Hyola Spring Oilseed when he requested their advice. [124324]

Mr. Meacher: I have today placed in the House Library a copy of the information about the Advanta seeds issue sent to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment by my Department in order to seek their advice on this potential risk to human health and the environment.

The original document contained, for members' information only, a brief summary of DETR's legal opinion at that time. This has been omitted in light of possible legal proceedings.

Fairground Inspectors

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what

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geographical area each fully-qualified and dedicated fairground inspector employed by the Health and Safety Executive is expected to cover; and how many fairs each inspector is responsible for. [127559]

Mr. Meacher: HSE inspectors work from 20 main offices of HSE and a number of outstationed offices throughout Great Britain. They are not solely concerned with fairground work. They will cover other industries such as food, drink and leisure activities. It is not possible to calculate how many fairs are covered by each inspector because there are wide regional variations of the number of fairs held.

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many dedicated and fully qualified fairground inspectors are employed by the Health and Safety Executive. [127565]

Mr. Meacher: Inspectors belonging to HSE's Consumer Services Groups are based in over 20 locations in Great Britain. They visit fairground dutyholders as well as dutyholders in other industries such as food, drink and leisure activities.

Inspectors undertaking health and safety inspections of fairgrounds are fully qualified HSE inspectors who receive specific guidance and training on fairground inspection.

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many inspections of fairgrounds were carried out by fully- qualified staff employed by the Health and Safety Executive in 1999; and how many of those inspections were (a) proactive and (b) reactive. [127566]

Mr. Meacher: Between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000, HSE inspectors made 2,200 contacts with fairground and amusement parks dutyholders. Of these contacts 1,503 were planned proactive contacts and 697 were specifically concerned with reactive contacts or visits.

Motorway Hard Shoulders

Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria his Department uses when allowing motorway hard shoulders to be used as traffic lanes. [127397]

Mr. Hill: Trunk road investment proposals are appraised against the criteria--environmental impact, safety, economy, accessibility and integration--as required by the New Approach To Appraisal.

To date, only a few short sections of hard shoulder have been converted to provide additional capacity at junctions. This technique is used when queueing traffic on the slip road extends back towards the main carriageway, compromises safety and/or disrupts throughput on the main carriageway.

Fuel Poverty

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the ways in which other EU member states tackle problems of fuel poverty. [127574]

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Mr. Meacher: Work by National Energy Action and others indicate that fuel poverty is not widely recognised in other member states of the European Union, with the exception of Ireland.

Fuel poverty is caused mainly by a combination of low income and poor energy efficiency in homes. The links between temperature and winter mortality is strong and typically 30,000 more people die in winter in the UK than would be expected given the average death rate for the year. Although this excess mortality is caused by both exposure to outdoor conditions as well as cold homes, it is much higher in the UK than in other areas, such as Scandinavia, where winter outdoor conditions are more severe but homes are more energy efficient.

The Government believe it is unacceptable for households, particularly those most vulnerable to cold-related ill health--the old, disabled and children--not to be able to afford the heat they need to keep warm. The Inter-ministerial Group on fuel poverty is currently developing a fuel poverty strategy for publication in the autumn, that sets out objectives and the policies and targets to achieve them. It is likely that the strategy will cover both measures to tackle low incomes as well as improvements in energy efficiency of homes.

Energy Efficiency

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make energy efficiency the priority in his policy on the environmental performance of refrigeration and air-conditioning technology; and if he will make a statement. [127699]

Mr. Meacher: We are consulting on proposals to amend the energy efficiency requirements of the Building Regulations. The proposed changes would introduce energy performance requirements for air conditioning equipment and include guidance to encourage the use of energy efficient components in well-designed systems. The consultation period ends on 29 September.

We are also concerned that HFC emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment are forecast to grow strongly in the near future. This trend is unsustainable and action needs to be taken to limit the projected growth. That is why we have given a clear signal to industry and users to look closely at alternative refrigerants and to select those that are more environmentally acceptable where they do exist. Safety, technical feasibility and cost effectiveness should be taken into account before investment decisions are taken. Where HFCs are used we intend to discuss with industry and users what measures could be taken to minimise emissions.

M27

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when a decision will be made on the resurfacing of the M27 with a quieter surface; and if he will make a statement. [127646]

Mr. Hill: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member.

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Letter from Peter Nutt to Sandra Gidley, dated 29 June 2000:

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has asked me to reply to your recent question about when a decision will be made on resurfacing the M27 with a quieter surface.

I am pleased to tell you that, within your constituency, resurfacing of both carriageways of the M27 between Junctions 2 and 4 will begin in spring 2001. The work will take approximately six months as there is a need for major reconstruction work, drainage repairs, safety fencing work and minor works to structures. I can confirm that the concrete surface will be replaced with a quieter thin surfacing which will reduce the road noise at nearby properties. In addition, Junctions 4 - 5 were resurfaced at the beginning of this year and also received a low noise surfacing treatment.

I will ensure that you are provided with more detailed information nearer the start date for the Junction 2 - 4 work.

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