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Bradwell Power Station
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the Environment Agency to determine the application by BNFL at Bradwell Power Station in Essex for the use of incinerators to burn low level nuclear waste. [140739]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 28 November 2000]: The Environment Agency is currently considering responses made to the public consultation on the
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applications by BNFL for authorisation to dispose of radioactive waste from Bradwell Power Station, including an application for an authorisation to incinerate combustible low level radioactive waste. The Agency will not make any decisions on BNFL's applications until it has carefully considered and been informed by all the consultation responses. The Agency hopes to reach its decision early in the new year.
Rural Policy
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that the Government's rural policy enables young people to have the opportunity to live in rural areas. [139186]
Mr. Meacher: The White Paper "Our countryside: the future, A fair deal for rural England", which we published yesterday, sets out how our rural policies will improve access to affordable housing, lifelong learning and jobs, and provide for a range of new and improved travel services in rural areas. These measures will improve the opportunities available to young people to live and work in rural areas.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department is taking to co-ordinate Government policy for rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the Rural White Paper. [139200]
Mr. Meacher: The Cabinet Committee on Rural Affairs already has the remit of co-ordinating the Government's policies affecting rural areas. Its tasks include looking at the policies of all Departments so as to ensure that they take account of their impact on rural areas and that they work as effectively as they can together to support rural life. The White Paper "Our countryside: the future, A fair deal for rural England", published yesterday, sets out the measures we are taking to underpin the work of the Cabinet Committee to ensure effective implementation of the Government's policies for rural areas.
Advertisements
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce his decision on the future of areas of special control of advertisements; and if he will make a statement. [140874]
Ms Beverley Hughes: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 28 November 2000, Official Report, columns 554-55W.
London Underground
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 November 2000, Official Report, column 652W, on London Underground, if he will provide the figures for the performance targets for the year April 1998 to March 1999. [140427]
Mr. Hill: The performance targets set for London Underground in respect of the year 1998-99 were announced on 12 November 1998, Official Report, columns 278-80W.
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| 1998-99 | |
|---|---|
| Targets | |
| Excess journey time (minutes) | 6.25 |
| Escalators: percentage of scheduled service hours operated | 91.4 |
| Lifts: percentage of scheduled service hours operated | 93.8 |
| Reliability of service: percentage kilometres operated | 96.9 |
| Customer satisfaction ratings | |
| Train and station cleanliness | 69 |
| Security and safety | 83 |
| Staff helpfulness and availability | 70 |
| Train and station information | 75 |
| Train service | 77 |
| Financial targets | |
| Operating cost per train kilometre | £10.28 |
| LUL gross margin | £310 million |
Urban Regeneration
Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made on interdepartmental co-ordination on initiatives aimed at urban regeneration. [139185]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The Deputy Prime Minister announced the White Paper "Our Towns and Cities: The Future Delivering an Urban Renaissance" on 16 November. We are creating a new focus for urban issues at the centre of Government by setting up a Cabinet Committee on Urban Affairs to co-ordinate the Government's policies affecting urban areas and to oversee follow-up to the White Paper. It will consist of all Departments that have an interest in urban issues. The Committee will prepare for an Urban Summit, to consider progress, in 2002. We will also publish a new "State of the Cities Report" in 2005. These will all assist interdepartmental co-ordination of urban issues.
Small Fishing Vessels
Mrs. Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached a decision on the content of the code of practice for small fishing vessels and its implementation. [141020]
Mr. Hill: Taking account of the responses to consultation and of points raised in the course of the Adjournment Debate on 16 November, it has been agreed that the requirements of the Code of Practice for small fishing vessels will comprise of:
- the carriage of safety equipment appropriate to the length and type of vessel;
- the completion of a risk assessment (as required by the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997;
- annual self-certification by the owner that the vessel complies with the Code; and
- presentation of the vessel for inspection by the MCA.
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The safety equipment requirements for vessels less than 7 metres registered length will also be modified to ease the cost of compliance for these very small vessels.
We intend to introduce the regulations which will give the Code statutory force before the end of this year and to publish the Code within the same timescale. Thereafter, we will work with industry to implement the Code from April 2001.
London Rail Projects
Mr. Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the proposals for London rail projects set out in the Department's 10-year plan for transport will be taken forward. [141097]
Mr. Hill: The Government's 10-Year Plan for Transport provides a vision and framework for significant improvements to rail transport in and around London. These can only be accomplished if all parties involved work closely together, with an agreed view of priorities, roles and funding. In particular, the Mayor and the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority need to co-operate closely to ensure coherence between the Mayor's emerging Transport Strategy and the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan. The Government also have an important role because a significant level of public funding will be required for all rail schemes in London. We have therefore established high-level arrangements between my Department, the Government Office for London, the SSRA and the Mayor to co-ordinate the development and taking forward of rail schemes in London.
Groundwork Federation
Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about his Department's review of the groundwork federation. [141102]
Ms Beverley Hughes: My Department has today issued the final report of the Financial Management and Policy Review of the Groundwork Federation. This review assessed Groundwork's services and the organisation's operation and management.
The review recognises Groundwork's ability to deliver environmental action alongside social and economic improvements and makes recommendations for improving effectiveness in specific areas. We welcome the contribution Groundwork has made to delivering our regeneration priorities, and we want to see this contribution continue.
I have placed copies of the report in the House Library.
Local Government Finance
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will announce the national non-domestic rates multiplier for
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2001-02 and set out the basis of the calculation of the distributable amount of non-domestic rates for 2001-02. [141135]
Ms Armstrong: The non-domestic rate poundage (multiplier) will be 43 pence. The amount of non-domestic rates in England for 2001-02 to be redistributed to local authorities will be £15,137 million, although estimated payments into the pool in 2001-02 will be £14,959 million. The Distributable Amount includes an allowance of £262 million for an Exchequer payment to the Non-domestic Rates pool, to compensate for the shortfall which would otherwise occur as a result of the regulations under section 58 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the transitional relief scheme, announced on 25 November 1999, Official Report, columns 769-85W.
The calculations for 2001-02, and the prior-year figures, on which this is based, are set out in the tables.
| £ million | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-01(5) | 2001-02(6) | ||
| 1. Income from Local lists | |||
| Multiplier (p) | 41.6 | 43.0 | |
| Gross Rate Yield | 15,868 | 16,521 | |
| (i) Reliefs | |||
| (a) Net Transitional Relief | -990 | -608 | |
| (b) Empty properties | -953 | -1,020 | |
| (c) Charitable | -537 | -573 | |
| (d) Rural Shops and Post Offices | -2 | -2 | |
| (e) Discretionary | -33 | -35 | |
| Net Yield after reliefs | 13,352 | 14,283 | |
| (ii) Collection costs/reductions to contributions | |||
| (a) Costs of collection | -85 | -84 | |
| (b) Losses on collection | -143 | -167 | |
| (c) City of London offset | -7 | -7 | |
| Total contribution in respect of year | 13,119 | 14,026 | |
| (iii) Repayments/interest payments | |||
| Total adjustments | -366 | -203 | |
| Net Local Yield | 12,753 | 13,822 | |
| 2. Income from Central list | |||
| Net Central List Yield | 1,137 | 1,137 | |
| 3. Income from Crown | |||
| Contributions in Aid | |||
| Net Crown Yield | 0 | 0 | |
| Total NDR Yield | 13,890 | 14,959 | |
| 4. Exchequer Contributions | |||
| Total Exchequer contributions | 415 | 262 | |
| Total NNDR pool payments | |||
| (1+2+3+4) | 14,305 | 15,221 | |
| 5. Adjustments | |||
| Surplus brought forward | 1,013 | -84 | |
| Combined total | 15,318 | 15,137 | |
| Distributable amount | 15,402 | 15,137 | |
| Surplus carried forward | -84 | 0 | |
(5) Provisional Outturn
(6) Estimated in-year contribution
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| £ million | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1998-99(7) | 1999-2000(7) | |
| 1. Income from Local lists | ||
| Multiplier (p) | 47.4 | 48.9 |
| Gross Rate Yield | 13,850 | 14,158 |
| (i) Reliefs | ||
| (a) Net Transitional Relief | -485 | -460 |
| (b) Empty properties | -928 | -930 |
| (c) Charitable | -504 | -517 |
| (d) Rural Shops and Post Offices | -2 | -2 |
| (e) Discretionary | -18 | -24 |
| Net Yield after reliefs | 11,912 | 12,225 |
| (ii) Collection costs/reductions to contributions | ||
| (a) Costs of collection | -79 | -83 |
| (b) Losses on collection | -109 | -121 |
| (c) City of London offset | -7 | -7 |
| Total contribution in respect of year | 11,718 | 12,014 |
| (iii) Repayments/interest payments | ||
| Total adjustments | -526 | -270 |
| Net Local Yield | 11,192 | 11,744 |
| 2. Income from Central list | ||
| Net Central List Yield | 1,273 | 1,319 |
| 3. Income from Crown | ||
| Contributions in Aid | ||
| Net Crown Yield | 440 | 332 |
| Total NDR Yield | 12,905 | 13,395 |
| 4. Exchequer Contributions | ||
| Total Exchequer contributions | 360 | 310 |
| Total NNDR pool payments | ||
| (1+2+3+4) | 13,265 | 13,705 |
| 5. Adjustments | ||
| Surplus brought forward | 178 | 919 |
| Combined total | 13,443 | 14,625 |
| Distributable amount | 12,524 | 13,612 |
| Surplus carried forward | 919 | 1,013 |
(7) Provisional Outturn
Notes:
For 1998-99 and 1999-2000 the amounts shown are those recorded in the post end-year (NNDR3) returns. For 2000-01 the amounts shown are the estimated outturn for the year based mainly upon authorities' provisional contributions to the non-domestic rating pool. For 2001-02 the estimates are based on:
1. Item 1: The gross calculated rate yield represents the total value of non-domestic hereditaments on local rating lists times the multiplier.
2. Item 1(i)(a): The Transitional decrease adjustment includes the estimated amount of rates that will not be recouped from local list ratepayers under the transitional arrangements made by regulations under section 58 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the transitional relief scheme, announced by written PQ on 25 November 1999, Official Report, column 770W.
3. Item 1(i)(b): The empty property relief adjustments include voids and partially occupied hereditaments. The 2001-02 figure includes an allowance for the increase in the gross rate yield.
4. Item 1(i)(c): Charitable rate relief. The 2001-02 figure includes an allowance for the increase in the gross rate yield.
5. Item 1(i)(d): Rural Shops and Post Office relief. Figures for 1998-99 onwards include mandatory relief for village shops and post offices under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. The 2001-02 figure includes an allowance for the increase in the gross rate yield.
6. Item 1(i)(e): Discretionary relief granted to charities, non-profit making organisations and for other reasons including, for 1998-99 onwards, discretionary relief for village shops and post offices under the Local Government and Rating Act 1997. The 2001-02 figure includes an allowance for the increase in the gross rate yield.
7. Item 1(ii)(a) and (b): The allowances for the costs and losses incurred by authorities in collecting non-domestic rates from ratepayers.
8. Item 1(ii)(c): City Offset--the amount which the City of London will not be required to pay into the non-domestic rating pool. It is the amount which will be retained by the City to meet its own expenditure.
9. Item 1(iii): net adjustment in respect of appeals and other amendments to the rating list affecting liability for previous years rates settled in that year.
10. Item 2: the rateable value of non-domestic hereditaments on the central rating list times the multiplier, less the net effect of transitional arrangements, and adjusted for appeals and other changes in respect of previous years.
11. Item 3: the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 figures for Crown properties include an allowance for the effect of transitional arrangements. For 2000-01 and 2001-02, properties included in the Crown list in previous years are included in the local list figures at item 1
12. Item 4: the contribution from Central Government to offset the amount of the Secretary of State's estimate of income forgone as a result of transitional arrangements established by regulations under section 58 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the transitional relief scheme, announced by written PQ on 25 November 1999, Official Report, column 770W.
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