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Solar Power

Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that solar power is fully utilised in his home energy efficiency proposals. [136287]

Mr. Meacher: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

GM Crops

Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what importance is given to the proximity of organic farms when deciding upon the location of farm-scale evaluations of GM crops; and if he will make a statement. [137069]

Mr. Meacher: The Government recognise the concerns of organic farmers in relation to the proximity of their farms to the Farm Scale Evaluations of GM crops. The evaluations are being conducted in accordance with guidelines drawn up by SCIMAC (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops--a grouping of industry organisations representing farmers, plant breeders, the seed trade and biotechnology companies). The guidelines recognise minimum separation distances between organic and GM crops.

SCIMAC have always made it clear that these guidelines will be reviewed in the light of experience. The National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) reported to Government on separation distances in August. The Government are considering the implications of the NIAB report, as part of their current wider review of separation distances.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which GM genetic use restriction technologies (a) have been authorised for field testing in Great Britain to date and (b) are awaiting approval. [138846]

Mr. Meacher: Authorisation for the field testing of any genetically modified organism (GMO) in Great Britain is considered on a case-by-case basis. Following the assessment of appropriate scientific data by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment, the Secretary of State issued a consent on 1 June 2000 for a small scale release of an experimental gene use restriction technology (GURT) system in a genetically modified potato. No other

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releases of genetically modified organisms incorporating GURT systems have been approved or are awaiting approval in Great Britain.

Flood Plains (Housebuilding)

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate he has made of the area of land on flood plains on which planning permission for house-building has been granted, but on which building has not yet started; [137398]

(2) what plans he has to revoke planning permission for houses on land in danger of flooding; and if he will make a statement. [137397]

Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 9 November 2000]: Parliament has given the principal responsibility for allocating land for development, and for granting planning permission for housing and other purposes, to local planning authorities. Information on the number of unimplemented permissions granted in flood risk areas and the area the permissions cover is not held centrally. Revocation of planning consents is also a matter for local planning authorities.

Mitigation measures may adequately protect much proposed development in flood risk areas from risk and from adding to flood risk downstream.

In considering whether to grant planning permissions in flood risk areas, local planning authorities are expected to act in accordance with national guidance. Circular 30/92 ("Development and Flood Risk") requires that where flood defence considerations arise they should always be taken into account in determining planning applications, and local authorities should use their planning powers to guide development away from areas that may be affected by flooding. PPG3 ("Housing") provides that authorities should assess the suitability of sites for development against physical and environmental constraints, including flood risk. Local authorities are also expected to consult the Environment Agency and take its views into account before deciding planning applications for development in flood risk areas.

A draft of new planning guidance, PPG25 "Development and Flood Risk", which will revise and strengthen Circular 30/92, was issued for consultation in April this year. It will be finalised shortly.

Waste Recycling

Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the amount of waste which is required to be recycled; and if he will impose a higher requirement for recycling on local authorities. [138187]

Mr. Meacher: Waste Strategy 2000 sets tough new statutory targets that will require local authorities to recycle or compost, on average, 17 per cent. of household waste by 2003 and 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005. We have also set a target of at least 30 per cent. household recycling and composting by 2010 and this will be reviewed and increased if greater benefits might be achieved cost-effectively.

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Labour Party Conference

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what applications for leave were received from press officers in his Department for the week of the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, and which ones were received before the start of that conference. [138203]

Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 13 November 2000]: A number of press officers applied for and took leave during the week beginning 25 September

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2000, Official Report, column 131W, what grades of press officers from his Department attended the Labour Party Conference in Brighton. [138202]

Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 13 November 2000]: None.

Climate Change

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of (a) United Kingdom submissions and (b) submissions by other countries and international organisations relevant to United Kingdom policy to the Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Climate Change (COP-6) in The Hague. [138985]

Mr. Meacher: The Government's objectives for the Sixth Conference of the Parties (COP6) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change were set out in the Deputy Prime Minister's reply of 14 November 2000 to the hon. Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) on 14 November 2000, Official Report, column 587W. The European Community and its member states adopt common negotiating positions for the purposes of UN FCCC meetings. The EU's position for COP6 was set out in Council Conclusions adopted on 8 November in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aydesdale (Mr. Hood) of 15 November 2000, Official Report, column 659W. Many submissions on specific issues have been made by the EU, other countries and international organisations. Copies of key submissions are posted on the UN FCCC Secretariat's website (www.unfccc.de).

Sellafield

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made since he was informed of the MOX data falsification of the BNFL's business prospects for the Sellafield MOX plant. [139288]

Mr. Meacher: The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Secretary of State for Health will decide whether to allow the full operation of the Sellafield mixed oxides (MOX) plant when they have considered all the evidence before them, including the responses to last year's consultation exercise as well as the implications of the data falsification incident at the Sellafield MOX Demonstration Facility. The eventual decision document will explain their reasons in full and I shall ensure that a copy is sent to my hon. Friend.

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Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his estimate is of the extra number of qualified engineers required (a) nationally and (b) in North Staffordshire to implement the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme. [139669]

Mr. Meacher: The national shortage of qualified heating engineers has severely affected the rate at which central heating systems are being repaired or installed under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.

To reduce the delays being experienced, we estimate than an additional 300 to 400 heating engineers are required nationally over the next six months, with a further 300 thereafter to allow for the planned expansion of the scheme. Within the Birmingham-Staffordshire area, some 80 additional engineers are required.

The scheme managers are currently recruiting additional contractors. They are also funding the training of an additional 200 to 400 engineers over the next six months in conjunction with the Gas Industry Training Organisation. They are also encouraging existing installers to move engineers from areas with low demand to those with the highest such as Birmingham-Staffordshire.

Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much financial support has been given to home energy efficiency schemes in each year since the introduction of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation. [139939]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 27 November 2000]: The new Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), was launched on 1 June 2000 and is available in England only. The previous scheme covered Great Britain only. Northern Ireland has always had its own separate scheme. Until 1999, the scheme shared administration and delivery costs and there was no separate allocations for England, Scotland and Wales. During 1999-2000, the scheme was devolved to Scotland with a set budget with Wales following on from 1 April 2000. The total allocation for each year from 1990-91 to date is shown in the table together with the approximate proportion spent in Scotland and Wales.

Financial year	Total allocation £ million	Of which approximately allocated to Scotland Percentage	Of which approximately allocated to Wales Percentage
1990-91(1)	1.5	n/a	n/a
1991-92	26.1	9	4
1992-93	33.6	8	3
1993-94	41.5	8	4
1994-95	83	8	5
1995-96	107.2	8	5
1996-97	76.1	8	5
1997-98	76.1	8	4
1998-99	76.2	7	6
1999-2000	74.9	(2)--	5
2000-01	122	(3)--

⁽¹⁾ Expenditure in 1990-91 was for three months only.

⁽²⁾ From 1 July 1999, Scotland set up its own separate scheme "Warm Deal". The total amount transferred to Scotland for the whole year (including expenditure during 1 April to 30 June) was £5.9 million. This figure does not include any additional moneys allocated by the Scottish Executive to the programme.

⁽³⁾ From this financial year England, Scotland and Wales have their own individually funded scheme.

Note:

n/a = Not available

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