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Sewage Sludge

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what guidelines and regulations are in place to regulate the disposal of sewage sludge; [102571]

(2) what advice he has given to water companies on the disposal of sewage sludge since the banning of such waste disposal at sea. [102572]

Mr. Mullin: Government guidance in "Raising the Quality", which was published in September 1998 as part of the Periodic Review of water industry price limits in England and Wales between 2000-05, stated that recovering value from sewage sludge through spreading on agricultural land is the best practicable environmental option for sludge in most circumstances.

It is for individual water companies to decide their strategy for sewage sludge recycling, recovery and disposal, taking account of the costs and environmental requirements and benefits, in discussion with the Department, the Environment Agency and the Director General of Water Services. The Director General's final determinations of water company prices for the period 2000-05, issued on 25 November 1999, take account of the environmental requirements agreed with the Government. The final determinations expect improvements in the disposal of sewage sludge, including the disposal of additional sludge due to the ban on disposal at sea in December 1998. This will cost a total of £800 million between 2000-05.

The following regulations and guidelines are in place in England and Wales to regulate the disposal of sewage sludge:

(i) the spreading of sewage sludge on agricultural land is regulated by the Environment Agency under the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, which are complemented by the "Code of Practice for Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge 1996." The Government support "The Safe Sludge Matrix" agreed in December 1998 by the water industry and major food

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retailers which introduces a range of precautionary changes in the requirements for the use of sewage sludge on agricultural land. Subject to consultation and Parliamentary approval, the Government intend to revise the Regulations and the associated Code of Practice during 2000 to place the provisions of the "Safe Sludge Matrix" on a statutory footing.

(ii) the disposal of sewage sludge to landfill and the recovery of sewage sludge for the ecological improvement of non-agricultural land is controlled under Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994.

(iii) the disposal of sewage sludge by incineration is regulated by the Environment Agency through the Integrated Pollution Control system under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Further guidance is contained in the "Chief Inspector's Integrated Pollution Control Guidance Notes 1996." The proposed EC Waste Incineration Directive, currently under negotiation, will apply to sewage sludge incinerators and is likely to be implemented through powers under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999, which will shortly supersede Part I of the 1990 Act.

Wild Birds

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to strengthen legislation protecting wild bird species (a) in general and (b) with particular reference to the species hard hit by the illegal trade to Malta; [102250]

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the illegal wild caught bird trade on British bird species; what steps are currently being taken to protect British species; and if he will make a statement. [102251]

Mr. Mullin: The UK's obligations to conserve wild birds under the EC Wild Birds Directive are fulfilled by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Section 1 of the Act makes it an offence to take birds from the wild and to possess a native species of bird unless it can be shown to be legally acquired. Furthermore, section 6 of the Act strengthens these controls making it an offence to sell, offer for sale, possess or transport for sale, any wild bird.

All illegal trade in wildlife is a matter of concern. The Countryside Amenity and Conservation Bill will give extra powers for the prosecution of all wildlife criminals and wildlife law enforcement will be boosted by tougher measures such as custodial sentences. In addition, we are actively discussing with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee what further measures might be appropriate to protect threatened species, including points arising from the review of the schedules affording protection to species under the Act.

The most recent information on levels of bird-related crime is the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' report "Birdcrime 1998". This report shows that incidents reported to the RSPB of illegal trapping, sale and possession of both bird of prey species and other bird species have declined in the last five years. Of the incidents concerning non-bird of prey species, the majority concerned finches.

In view of reports of illegal trade in wild birds, namely finches, to Malta the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which is responsible for providing export health certificates, has introduced new inspection procedures to help prevent future smuggling of "caught" wild birds.

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Aquatic Animals

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy for the forthcoming wildlife and countryside Bill to cover aquatic animals; and if he will make a statement. [102253]

Mr. Mullin: The Countryside Amenity and Conservation Bill will include provisions to protect Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and on Wildlife Enforcement, both of which will significantly improve species protection, although not aimed specifically at aquatic species. Wildlife crime, including crime relating to aquatic species, will be punishable by tougher measures such as custodial sentences.

In addition to these provisions we are actively discussing with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee what further measures might be appropriate to protect threatened species including aquatic species. Work is under way on proposals, including points arising from the review of the schedules affording protection to species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with a view to issuing a consultation document next year.

Small Cetaceans

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to assess the impact of small, fast, personal watercraft on the behaviour and welfare of small cetaceans; and if he will make a statement. [102254]

Mr. Mullin: The issue of the use of personal watercraft was covered in the report of the Inter-Departmental Working Party on the Review of Byelaw Powers for the Coast, published by DETR in October 1998. This discussion paper highlighted a number of gaps in the coverage of existing byelaw powers, most notably with regard to protecting the environment. The working party recommended that local authorities should be given a general power to regulate coastal recreation activities which are outside the responsibility of other relevant authorities, for the purpose of protecting the wider environment. In addition, harbour authorities are able to seek harbour revision orders for environmental purposes. We have given a long-term commitment to introduce legislation to take forward those recommendations in the review which require changes to the law.

Since 1990 the UK has funded the UK Cetaceans Strandings Investigation Project, under which post mortems are carried out on stranded cetaceans to determine cause of death. There is no indication that collision with personal watercraft is a significant cause of death of cetaceans. However the Government are aware that recreational activities, including the use of personal watercraft, has the potential for disturbing cetaceans. As a result of this the Government published in March 1999 the guidelines "Minimising disturbance to cetaceans from recreation at sea". As highlighted in the species action plans for the harbour porpoise and for small dolphins, these guidelines are scheduled for review next year, and account will be taken of the increased use of personal watercraft.

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Standard Spending Assessments

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the changes made each year in determining Standard Spending Assessments for shire district councils since their inception, including changes made in the weighting given to different factors; [102426]

(2) if he will list the changes made each year in determining Standard Spending Assessments for shire counties since their inception, including changes made in the weighting given to different factors. [102427]

Ms Beverley Hughes: Changes in the method of determining Standard Spending Assessments are summarised in the relevant editions of the "Standard Spending Assessments Handbook", "Standard Spending Assessments Authority by Authority", and "Standard Spending Assessments Guide to Methodology", copies of which are in the Library. For the most recent years, the information is contained in circular letters to local authorities, dated 2 December 1997, 2 December 1998 and 25 November 1999, copies of which are in the Library. For convenience, copies of the relevant extracts have been placed in the Library. The Standard Spending Assessments formulae, including the weightings given to the factors, are set out in the relevant "Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England)" or "The Local Government Finance Report (England)".

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the Standard Spending Assessment per head of population in (a) the local authority area containing the constituency of North-East Derbyshire and (b) the City of Westminster; and what are the estimated figures for 2000-01. [102431]

Ms Beverley Hughes: (a) The Standard Spending Assessment per head of population figures for authorities which fall partly or wholly within the constituency of North-East Derbyshire are as follows:

		£
	1999-2000	Provisional 2000-01
Chesterfield	95	99
North East Derbyshire	76	79
Derbyshire CC	640	673
Derbyshire Police	53	54

It is not possible to calculate an area figure for any parliamentary constituency unless its boundary corresponds exactly with a local authority district boundary.

(b) The standard spending assessment per head of population figures for Westminster are as follows:

£

	Westminster
1999-2000	1,153
Provisional 2000-01	1,162

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the percentage changes in (a) standard spending

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assessments and (b) revenue support grant for (i) shire counties and (ii) shire districts between the settlement for 1999-2000 and his proposed settlement for 2000-01, ranked and numbered in descending order; [102428]

(2) if he will list for 2000-01 the value per head of population of the proposed (a) revenue support grant and (b) standard spending assessments for (i) shire district councils and (ii) shire counties, ranked and numbered in descending order. [102429]

Ms Beverley Hughes: Tables showing these figures have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the revenue support grant per head of population in (a) the local authority area containing the constituency of North East Derbyshire and (b) the City of Westminster; and what are the estimated figures for 2000-01. [102430]

Ms Beverley Hughes: (a) The revenue support grant per head of population figures for authorities which fall partly or wholly within the constituency of North East Derbyshire are as follows:

		£
	1999-2000	2000-01 (1)
Chesterfield	35	34
North East Derbyshire	15	13
Derbyshire CC	247	241
Derbyshire Police	16	14

(1) Provisional

It is not possible to calculate an area figure for any parliamentary constituency unless its boundary corresponds exactly with a local authority district boundary.

(b) The revenue support grant per head of population figures for Westminster are as follows:

		£
	1999-2000	2000-01 (2)
Westminster	601	575

(2) Provisional

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes will be made to the standard spending assessments of each shire district council in 2000-01 as a result of their enhanced population figures; and if he will rank and number the changes in descending order. [102387]

Ms Beverley Hughes: The information requested will be calculated and placed in the Library of the House shortly.

Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the standard spending assessment for 2000-01 for each shire county local education authority divided by the number of pupils and ranked and numbered in descending order. [102721]

Ms Beverley Hughes: The following table shows the ranked education standard spending assessment per pupil figures for shire counties.

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Provisional 2000-01 Education Standard Spending Assessmentper pupil--shire counties (in descending order)

Local authority	Education SSA (£/pupil)	Ranking
Hertfordshire	2,864	1
East Sussex	2,848	2
Essex	2,831	3
Kent	2,831	4
Surrey	2,810	5
Oxfordshire	2,794	6
Buckinghamshire	2,787	7
Durham	2,778	8
Bedfordshire	2,768	9
Cornwall	2,758	10
Norfolk	2,746	11
West Sussex	2,740	12
Lancashire	2,730	13
Lincolnshire	2,724	14
Cumbria	2,715	15
Devon	2,714	16
Northumberland	2,713	17
North Yorkshire	2,683	18
Nottinghamshire	2,680	19
Suffolk	2,676	20
Shropshire	2,665	21
Hampshire	2,664	22
Northamptonshire	2,657	23
Somerset	2,646	24
Cambridgeshire	2,644	25
Dorset	2,642	26
Wiltshire	2,634	27
Gloucestershire	2,631	28
Derbyshire	2,613	29
Warwickshire	2,610	30
Cheshire	2,602	31
Worcestershire	2,599	32
Staffordshire	2,580	33
Leicestershire	2,556	34

Pupils are the sum of Pupils aged 4, 5-10, 11-15, and 16+ as defined in the Draft Local Government Finance Report.

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