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Housing (Repairs)
Mr. McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of changes in the regulations governing the major repairs allowance for local authorities on the ability of local authorities to provide accommodation through housing associations. [152047]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: Council housing is a major public asset which needs to be maintained and modernised. The introduction of the Major Repairs Allowance will provide local authorities with the resources they need to meet the on-going capital costs of maintaining their housing stock. This and the virtual tripling of resources
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provided to authorities for housing investment between May 1997 and 2003-04, are central to delivering our commitment to bring all social housing up to a decent standard by 2010.
The provision of additional affordable housing in areas of high demand is also a priority. Within the same period, we are nearly doubling resources for the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme.
Housing Health and Safety Rating System
Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will consult on his proposals to replace the housing fitness standard with the new rating system. [152676]
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Mr. Raynsford: My Department has today published a consultation paper setting out a framework of legislation and guidance within which local authorities would use the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) as the basis for action against unacceptable housing conditions.
We published a report on the development of the rating system in July. The system will bring a modern, risk-based approach to health and safety in the home and will underpin our commitment to improving the housing conditions of the most vulnerable people.
The HHSRS illustrates our recognition of the close relationship between housing and health. Considerable steps have already been taken to familiarise local authorities with the new system and we now want to hear their views, as well as those of landlords' and tenants' organisations, on the enforcement proposals. The system will also underpin our licensing scheme proposals for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Legislation to allow authorities to use the rating system as a basis for their enforcement decisions will be introduced as soon as the opportunity arises.
Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House.
Habitats Directive
Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with his counterparts in European Union maritime member states to establish the scientific basis on which these states have excluded navigational channels and working port areas from designation under the European Union habitats directive. [151998]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: Most member states have yet to complete the assessment and selection of possible sites to be designated. All should be using the same guidance offered by the European Commission's Interpretation Manual. Opportunity for collective consideration of the outcomes will occur at the next moderation meeting for the Atlantic biogeographic region, scheduled for September in Amsterdam.
Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to ensure that English Nature has acted under the terms of the European Union habitats directive regarding the protection of estuarial features under the terms of the European Union habitats directive where their action leads to the designation of an entire estuary; and if he will make a statement. [151989]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: English Nature were asked by Government to identify sites hosting habitats listed in Annex I of the habitats directive; estuaries are one of the listed habitats. In considering such sites English Nature has used the European Commission's own Interpretation Manual for guidance. The nature conservation agencies' advice is that estuaries are complex ecosystems containing many interdependent components within which other Annex I listed habitats are represented. Consequently,
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boundaries have been drawn to protect the form and function of the entire estuarine ecosystem necessary for its long-term maintenance.
Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met the chairman and chief executive of English Nature to discuss its interpretation of its designation requirements under the European Union habitats directive and that of other member states; what steps he is taking to ensure that there is consistency of interpretation of the habitats directive across all member states; and if he will make a statement. [151997]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: No meeting has taken place. English Nature is following the European Commission's own guidelines pertaining to the interpretation of the habitats directive. It is for the European Commission and member states collectively to ensure that there has been a consistent scientific approach adopted by all member states in the selection and designation of Natura 2000 sites. Opportunity to do so will occur at the next moderation meeting for the Atlantic biogeographic region, scheduled for September in Amsterdam. The UK will question any instances where there appears to have been inconsistency of approach.
Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria have been applied by English Nature in evaluating those sites which it has recommended for designation as special areas of conservation under the European Union habitats directive programme; what steps he takes to ensure that its evaluations are scientific; and if he will make a statement. [151987]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: In advising Government, the statutory nature conservation agencies, including English Nature, must apply the criteria set out in Article 4 and Annex III of the habitats directive, and that given additionally at EU moderation meetings. In this process they may only use relevant scientific information to identify sites eligible for selection as Special Areas of Conservation. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) acts with the other statutory nature conservation agencies in collating information, moderating and providing quality assurance on recommended sites before providing formal advice to Government.
Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make available the list of European Union member states that have complied with the requirements of the European Union habitats directive in designating navigational channels and working port areas as being outside environmental designations. [151901]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: Member states are still in the process of revising and submitting new designated sites. No lists have yet to be circulated and there has not, therefore, been any opportunity to examine final designations. Site details proposed by member states in the Atlantic Biogeographical Region will be circulated by the European Commission in advance of the next moderation meeting for that region, scheduled for September in Amsterdam.
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Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps English Nature has been asked to take to ensure that the basis of their scientific evaluation of sites for designation under the European Union's Natura 2000 programme is consistent with the evaluations of other member states; and if he will make a statement. [151988]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: It is for the European Commission and member states collectively to ensure that there has been a consistent scientific approach adopted by all member states in the selection and designation of Natura 2000 sites under the Habitats Directive. English Nature's role, through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, is to advise Government on the scientific merits of sites in England they consider meet the criteria in Article 4 and Annexe III of the Habitats Directive.
Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recommendations of English Nature concerning the designation of sites as special areas of conservation under the European Union's Natura 2000 programme is consistent with the Government's sustainable development guidelines; and if he will make a statement. [151990]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: In May 1999 the Government published "A better quality of life; a strategy for sustainable development for the UK". One of the four main objectives that together underpin the Government's view of sustainable development is
- "effective protection of the environment".
Planning (Sites and Monuments)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to require planning authorities to include data from their sites and monuments record to be incorporated into their development plans. [151866]
Ms Beverley Hughes: We advise local planning authorities in Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 "Archaeology and Planning" to incorporate in their development plans policies for the protection, enhancement and preservation of sites of archaeological interest and of their settings. The proposals map should define the areas and sites to which the development plan policies and
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proposals apply. It is for individual authorities to determine the extent to which they draw upon their sites and monuments records in preparing their development plan policies.
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