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Mobile Phone Base Stations
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the results of the consultation on mobile phone base stations. [141073]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The consultation exercise seeking views on possible changes to the planning laws relating to mobile phone masts and associated guidance ended on 31 October 2000. The Department is currently analysing the responses. We shall announce our conclusions as soon as practicable.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of mobile phone base stations that have been relocated because of concerns about their proximity to (a) schools and (b) dwellings. [141074]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The Department has made no such estimate.
Recycled Materials
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total amount of (a) glass, (b) paper, (c) aluminium and (d) plastic recycled in the United Kingdom in each of the last 20 years. [141142]
Mr. Mullin: We do not hold the total amounts of recycling carried out in each of these materials over the last 20 years and the information can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. However, information on previous years' recycling for these materials can be found in the Digest of Environmental Statistics Number 20, copies of which are available in the House Library.
Mercury
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much mercury he estimates has been released into the atmosphere from crematoria in the United Kingdom in each of the past 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [141192]
Mr. Hill: The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory estimates the figures for mercury emissions from crematoria since 1978 as follows:
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My Department is currently reviewing the existing statutory guidance which addresses air pollution from all sectors regulated by local authorities under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including that for crematoria.
Blue Green Algae
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) lakes, (b) rivers and (c) waterways have been affected by blue-green algae in each of the past 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [141190]
Mr. Mullin: Data are only available since 1991, and the Environment Agency does not collate information in the format requested. The following table shows for each of the last nine years the total number of water bodies in England and Wales which the Environment Agency is aware have suffered from blue-green algae, either through
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the Agency's own regular monitoring programme or through investigating reports received from members of the public.
| Year | Number of water bodies where blue-green algae confirmed |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 269 |
| 1992 | 248 |
| 1993 | 195 |
| 1994 | 245 |
| 1995 | 271 |
| 1996 | 220 |
| 1997 | 249 |
| 1998 | 211 |
| 1999 | 172 |
Water (Disconnections)
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) customers, (b) business customers and (c) private customers have been disconnected by water companies in the United Kingdom in each of the past 20 years; and what proportion of households is represented by customers in (c). [141208]
Mr. Mullin: Under the Water Industry Act 1999, the Government have ended water companies' right to disconnect household customers for non-payment of bills.
The Office of Water Services have the following figures for disconnection in England and Wales. Regulation of the water industry in Scotland and in Northern Ireland is fully devolved.
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| (a) Total disconnections | (b) Non-households | (c) Households | Percentage of households | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-90 | n/a | n/a | 8,426 | (20)0.042 |
| 1990-91 | n/a | n/a | 7,673 | (20)0.038 |
| 1991-92 | n/a | n/a | 21,282 | (20)0.105 |
| 1992-93 | 21,735 | 3,099 | 18,636 | (20)0.092 |
| 1993-94 | 15,088 | 2,636 | 12,452 | (20)0.062 |
| 1994-95 | 12,832 | 2,785 | 10,047 | (20)0.050 |
| 1995-96 | 7,822 | 1,996 | 5,826 | (20)0.029 |
| 1996-97 | 4,691 | 1,543 | 3,148 | 0.016 |
| 1997-98 | 3,681 | 1,774 | 1,907 | 0.009 |
| 1998-99 | 2,877 | 1,748 | 1,129 | 0.005 |
| 1999-2000 | 3,582 | 3,455 | (21)127 | 0.001 |
n/a = Not available
(20) Totals numbers of households before 1 April 1996 are estimated
(21) Number to 30 June 1999, when household disconnections for non-payment were made unlawful by the Water Industry Act 1999
Notes:
Information has not been kept in the form above for 1980-89 (before privatisation)
No figures are available of disconnections caused by cut-off valves in pre-payment units
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Sewage Works
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many sewage works have breached United Kingdom pollution limits, ranked by the responsible water company in descending order, for each of the past 20 years. [141212]
Mr. Mullin: I will write to my hon. Friend with the available data and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.
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Domestic Air Fares
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to set limits on domestic air fares; and if he will make a statement. [141171]
Mr. Mullin: Domestic air fares in the UK are subject to Council Regulation 2409/92 on fares and rates for air services, which provides for Community air carriers to set fares at the levels they wish and to enter the markets they wish without restriction. The Regulation allows member states to withdraw a basic fare which is considered, in the
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light of all relevant factors, to be excessively high in relation to the costs of providing the service, and to take action against predatory pricing.
These provisions do not apply to fares established by public service obligation in accordance with Council Regulation 2408/92 on access by Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes. Member states may impose a public service obligation in respect of scheduled air services to an airport serving peripheral or development regions within its territory, or on a thin route to any regional airport, such route being considered vital for the economic development of the region, to the extent necessary to ensure the adequate provision of services satisfying fixed standards of continuity, regularity, capacity and pricing, which standards air carriers would not assume if they were solely considering their commercial interest, and may reimburse carriers for meeting these standards. A public service obligation may therefore include a tariff obligation limiting fare levels or requiring concessionary fares for certain categories of passenger.
Pesticides
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to encourage a reduced use of pesticides. [141027]
Mr. Mullin: The Department (together with MAFF's Pesticides Safety Directorate) provides the secretariat for the Pesticides Forum which brings together organisations with an interest in the use of pesticides and their impact. The Forum's primary purpose is to advise on and promote responsible pesticide use. The Government have been exploring with the agrochemical industry whether the objective of minimising the adverse environmental impact of pesticide use could be achieved through a partnership approach. The industry has proposed a package of voluntary measures, but the Government believe these still fail to meet a number of concerns raised in the recent consultation exercise. The Government would like to see further improvements and will be holding discussions with the Crop Protection Association on developing a more substantial package in the run up to Budget 2001.
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