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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 2 December 1999
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Target Setting
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many targets have been agreed between his Department and (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies apart from his own agencies and non-departmental bodies since May 1997. [99475]
Ms Beverley Hughes
[holding answer 24 November 1999]: The Department's Public Service Agreement (PSA) sets out the Department's own targets in respect of local government. Details of any targets agreed with local government are not held centrally, although the Secretary of State will specify performance indicators and targets covering the broad range of local government functions under the best value provisions set out in Part I of the Local Government Act 1999. These indicators and targets will be introduced by Order by the end of 1999, and will apply from April 2000.
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Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what information has been provided for local residents on the proposed reduction in rail services between Nunhead and Victoria. [99586]
Mr. Prescott:
The changes which will affect Victoria to Nunhead services from the start of the new year are currently shown in the timetable information available at stations, as these form part of the winter 1999-2000 timetable which came into effect on 26 September 1999. Since that timetable was agreed, Connex have reinstated the two trains per hour to Victoria, and will provide an hourly service from Victoria.
Mr. Peter Bottomley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) drivers, (b) riders, (c) passengers and (d) others have been killed in crashes where one or more driver or rider has exceeded the legal alcohol limit in each of the past five years, for (i) urban and (ii) rural areas; what the average figures were for 1981 to 1985; and if he will make a statement. [100041]
Mr. Hill:
The numbers of fatalities in road accidents where one or more driver or rider was over the legal alcohol limit are not available for urban and rural areas; however, estimates can be made by the speed limit of the road on which the accident occurred. The estimates in the table, shown rounded to the nearest 10, are for built-up roads with a speed limit of 40 mph or less and for non-built-up roads with a speed limit of more than 40 mph, for the last five years for which figures are available.
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| 1981-85 (1) | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (i) Built-up roads | ||||||
| Motor vehicle drivers | 170 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 110 | 100 |
| Two-wheel motor vehicle riders | 170 | 40 | 50 | 30 | 40 | 50 |
| Motor vehicle passengers | 140 | 60 | 50 | 70 | 80 | 60 |
| Others | 120 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 40 | 30 |
| (ii) Non-built-up roads | ||||||
| Motor vehicle drivers | 350 | 190 | 190 | 200 | 220 | 190 |
| Two-wheel motor vehicle riders | 100 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 30 | 30 |
| Motor vehicle passengers | 170 | 90 | 70 | 90 | 70 | 80 |
| Others | 40 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
(1) Average
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GM Crops
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will describe the nature of the unacceptable effects on the environment which he would consider sufficient to prevent commercial exploitation of GM crops. [99907]
Mr. Mullin:
Before any release of a GMO can take place, the regulatory authority must ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to avoid any adverse effects on human health and the environment which might arise. Assessment of adverse effects is carried out on a case-by-case basis, looking at such things as gene transfer to wild relatives, toxicity of gene products, allergenicity,
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invasiveness and persistence of the plant as a weed, etc. The statutory Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) has been set up to advise ministers on these issues and has published the guidance note "The Regulation and Control of the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms" on the risk assessment procedure.
In the case of the farm-scale evaluations of GM oil seed rape and fodder maize currently underway, ACRE has already advised on the risks to the environment of the GM plants themselves. In addition, the independent scientific steering committee will also be able to advise Government on the significance, and therefore the acceptability, of any impacts on farmland wildlife associated with the
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management of the crops as compared with equivalent non-GM crops, such as a reduction in invertebrate or weed numbers.
In the light of the results and the advice from the committees, decisions will be made on the commercialisation of the GM crops.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he is currently undertaking into the role that the cauliflower mosaic viral promoter may play in enhancing horizontal gene transfer. [100169]
Mr. Mullin:
The statutory Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) has recently been asked to consider this issue and will be advising shortly. ACRE's advice will be published, and if the committee considers it necessary, appropriate scientific research will be commissioned.
Ms Atherton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of Carn Brea Leisure Centre in Cornwall. [100231]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
It is for Kerrier District Council to explain its decision to close the sports hall and swimming pool at Carn Brea and to justify any alternative proposals in its Best Value Performance Plans, which must be completed by 31 March 2000. In the meantime, I would expect the Council to do everything it can to keep the facilities open.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the production of bio-diesel to help the UK achieve its target of 20 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases; and if he will make a statement. [100240]
Mr. Hill:
Many alternative road fuels have the potential to offer significant environmental benefits, and the Government are keen to encourage their wider use wherever it is cost-effective to do so. Bio-diesel has the potential to offer reduced CO 2 emissions compared with ordinary diesel. We will continue to keep under review bio-diesel's potential for cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from road transport.
Sir Brian Mawhinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the countries in which tolls have been imposed on road use on roads which had existed free of use, for at least five years prior to tolling. [99926]
Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 26 November 1999]: We are aware that charges have been applied to previously free roads in many parts of the world, for example in Singapore, Norway and the United States, and will shortly be introduced on roads in Rome and Melbourne. However, comprehensive information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Mr. Norman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to produce guidance for planning authorities on the handling of public health concerns that arise from proposals to site mobile phone base stations in residential areas; [100264]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The Government are aware of public concern about mobile phone systems and health and have set up an independent expert group to advise on possible risks to public health. The group, chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS, FRSE, is currently holding open meetings around the UK to take views.
My Department issued for consultation the draft of a joint circular with the Department of Health on land use planning and electro-magnetic fields (EMFs). The draft circular provides advice to local planning authorities in deciding applications for development giving rise to EMFs, such as telecommunications base stations. The guidance will be finalised as soon as practicable.
Mr. Norman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in the last six months regarding (a) the conduct of mobile phone companies, (b) their applications for new mast sites and (c) such applications by Orange PCS. [100266]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
My Department has received correspondence concerning the amenity and health aspects of the siting of telecommunications masts proposed by the different mobile phone operators, including Orange plc.
Mr. Norman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of mobile phone masts erected in the United Kingdom in the last 24 months have been shared by licence holders. [100263]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The Department's Circular 4/99, "Planning for Telecommunications", makes clear the Government's expectation that developers should provide the local planning authority (LPA) with clear evidence that they have fully considered the use of existing masts, buildings and other structures before seeking to erect any new mast. If this evidence is not considered satisfactory, the LPA may be justified in refusing approval of the mast's siting. The information on shared masts is not available in the form requested. However, the mobile operators have told us that one third of existing masts owned by them are shared.
(2) what plans he has to amend planning guidance for telecommunications permitted development in order to allow planning authorities to apply a precautionary principle in sensitive areas until the full non-thermal health effects of mobile phone radiation have been established. [100267]
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