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Compulsory Purchase Orders
Mr. Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish his Department's response to the consultation regarding compulsory purchase orders. [139936]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Consideration is currently being given to the recommendations of the advisory group which conducted a review of the laws and procedures relating to compulsory purchase and compensation, published on 27 July, and comments received on that report. The Urban White Paper (Cmnd 4911), published on 16 November, sets out on pages 58 and 59 the action we propose to take in the short term. We hope to make a policy statement setting out the Government's proposals for longer-term reform, in response to the recommendations made in the review and comments on them, including proposals for legislation, early next year.
Empty Homes Strategy
Mr. Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list
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those district and unitary authorities in South East England that do not have a published empty homes strategy. [139937]
Mr. Mullin: The information is not collected as it is not a statutory duty for district and unitary authorities to publish an empty homes strategy.
Heathrow
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 November 2000, Official Report, column 658W, on Heathrow, when he will publish the environmental impact assessment which was carried out as part of the Heathrow Terminal 5 inquiry. [139753]
Mr. Mullin: The Environmental Statement on Heathrow Terminal 5 and a number of other reports on environmental aspects of the Terminal 5 proposal are publicly available as part of the evidence submitted to the Terminal 5 inquiry.
Aircraft Detritus
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to discuss foreign airlines' compliance with CAA guidelines on toilet compartment leaks with the CAA; [139754]
- (2) what plans he has to impose penalties on foreign airline operators who fail to meet CAA guidelines about toilet compartment leaks. [139755]
Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 495W.
The Secretary of State does not currently have plans to discuss the issue of toilet compartment leaks from foreign registered aircraft with the CAA. CAA guidance on checking aircraft water systems applies only to UK operators and aircraft. Responsibility for the safety of foreign aircraft rests with the respective State of Registry.
It is an offence under the Air Navigation Order to cause or permit any aircraft, regardless of nationality, to endanger the safety of persons or property. The penalties for this offence are a fine not exceeding £5,000 on summary conviction or a fine or term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both on conviction on indictment. The CAA will investigate any incidents reported to them with enough detail but it is difficult to prove, for prosecution purposes, that a particular aircraft was responsible for an icefall. However, where there is sufficient information to suggest that a foreign aircraft may have been responsible, the CAA will refer the matter to the State of Registry of the aircraft for appropriate remedial action to be taken.
Foreign registered aircraft may only operate into the UK if they comply with internationally agreed minimum safety standards of airworthiness. If we have reason to suspect an aircraft is not complying with international standards we will arrange for it to be inspected by the CAA. Evidence of water leaks found during an inspection will be drawn to the attention of the authorities responsible for the safety of the aircraft and, where appropriate, remedial action may be required before the aircraft is allowed to operate.
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Regional Planning Guidance (East Anglia)
Ms Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the Regional Planning Guidance for East Anglia; and if he will make a statement. [140322]
Mr. Raynsford: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has today published the Regional Planning Guidance for East Anglia. It is the first RPG to be completed under the new regionally based procedures with testing of the draft RPG at a public examination under an independent panel. It provides a clear strategy for the sustainable development of the region which will support economic growth and regeneration, meet the housing needs of all sectors of the community, and protect the environment. It provides a long-term planning framework for the East of England Development Agency's Regional Strategy.
The RPG strategy reflects the Government's priorities in the Urban White Paper and policy guidance on planning for housing. It stresses urban renaissance and indicates that new development should be concentrated in the region's cities and larger towns. It proposes an initial target of 50 per cent. of new housing on previously developed land and buildings. This is below the national target of 60 per cent. but, given East Anglia's character, it will be challenging. It endorses the housing target proposed by the Standing Conference of East Anglian Local Authorities--SCEALA--of some 9,900 additional dwellings a year as the starting point for the plan, monitor, manage approach to housing provision. It also recognises the importance of an active rural economy and of the region's many market towns. These themes will be further developed in the Rural White Paper.
The RPG reflects our emphasis on the integration of transport and development. It confirms that the A47 Thorney Bypass and the two remaining schemes to complete the dualling of the A11 to Norwich, have been added to the targeted programme of Trunk Road improvements. As set out in Transport 2010, the Government's 10-year plan for transport, DETR will be looking to speed up scheme preparation significantly.
The Cambridge Sub-Region is central to the guidance. It meets the needs for a more sustainable approach to accommodating development to support the growth of the research and technology-based economy. It proposes a sequential approach looking first at the capacity of Cambridge, then possible urban extensions, then a new settlement, then at the area's market towns, always considering brownfield land first. It accepts the panel's recommendation for a review of the Cambridge Green Belt. This work is currently being carried out by the local authorities.
The East Anglia RPG shows how the new arrangements for RPG are working to deliver regionally based strategies which will meet development needs and contribute to achieving sustainable development. It is for the local authorities to reflect the policies of the RPG in their development plans and to work with the private sector and other agencies to see those policies implemented.
We have placed the relevant documents in the House Libraries and made copies available to MPs from the region.
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Radioactive Discharges
Mr. Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the draft statutory Guidance to the Environment Agency on the regulation of radioactive discharges into the environment from nuclear licensed sites, referred to in the UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges consultation document, will be issued for public consultation; and what its contents are. [140495]
Mr. Meacher: The Government have today published a consultation paper setting out our proposals for Statutory Guidance to the Environment Agency. It brings together and publicises, for the first time, the factors that we require the Environment Agency to consider when setting discharge levels.
The draft guidance reinforces the Government's commitment progressively to cut discharges and discharge limits. It will help deliver the commitment the UK has given to its OSPAR partners to ensure that by 2020, discharges are reduced to levels where the additional concentrations in the marine environment above historic levels, resulting from such discharges, are close to zero.
The guidance will help ensure that discharge authorisations are consistent with the UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges 2001-20, which is now being finalised following public consultation earlier this year.
Central to the guidance is the need to ensure the protection of the public, not only within the UK but beyond our borders. For example, the guidance proposes that, in general, discharge levels are set so that Community Food Intervention Levels are not exceeded, even though there is no requirement to do so under law.
Equally, none of the measures taken to protect the environment should compromise the safety of workers, and this is also covered in the guidance, in terms of both routine exposures and risks of accidents.
Keeping radioactive waste to a minimum must be the key to reducing discharges. While the industry works to achieve this, we are asking the Agency to evaluate alternative ways of making allowable discharges so that the best practicable environmental option can be chosen.
Each case will be considered on its merits but the presumption now will be that discharges should be minimised by requiring radioactivity to be trapped and immobilised for subsequent storage or treatment, rather than discharged into the environment.
The guidance will encourage operators to keep their discharges to a minimum by setting strict limits on how much they can discharge. These limits will be subject to regular review. We also propose that there should be a "cap" on discharges from new plant.
The guidance recognises that it is not necessary to apply a specific limit to every radionuclide which is discharged, but effective control over all discharges is essential. The Agency is therefore given guidance on which radionuclides, as a minimum, it should control.
New technology will play a vital role in reducing discharges. With this in mind the draft guidance requires the Agency to set timescales for research and development to be carried out into new technological developments.
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Copies of the consultation have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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