---

Combined Heat and Power

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action the Government are taking to meet its target of 10,000 megawatts of CHP by 2010. [152638]

Mr. Meacher: We have introduced a range of incentives to stimulate CHP growth, including exemption of Good Quality CHP from the Climate Change Levy, subject to EU clearance and eligibility for enhanced capital allowances. Electricity generating plant and machinery will also be exempted from business rating from 1 April 2001. A comprehensive strategy will be

8 Mar 2001 : Column: 273W

launched in the coming months to ensure that our 2010 target is achieved with the help of the measures already announced and other new measures designed to stimulate CHP growth further.

Construction Industry (Health and Safety)

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) fatal accidents and (b) accidents requiring an overnight stay in hospital there were on construction sites in each Government region in the last three years. [152640]

8 Mar 2001 : Column: 274W

Mr. Meacher: The following table displays, for each of the past three years ¹ , reported fatal and major injuries to workers and fatal and non-fatal injuries to members of the public in the construction industry.

The statistics are compiled from reports by employers and others under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases, and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Major and non-fatal injuries are defined as major injuries to workers (e.g. amputations, fractures and injuries which lead to 24 hours stay in hospital) and to members of the public, which lead to immediate transfer to hospital. Overnight stays in hospital are not reported.

¹ Data covers period 1 April to 31 March.

8 Mar 2001 : Column: 273W

	1997-98		1998-99		1999-2000(1)
Region	Fatal	Major/Non-fatal	Fatal	Major/non-fatal	Fatal	Major/Non-fatal
North	5	282	0	287	2	311
North West	15	576	12	546	9	559
Yorkshire and Humberside	7	430	5	484	8	426
West Midlands	7	331	7	365	3	378
East Midlands	4	347	3	336	5	284
East Anglia	0	142	4	188	3	164
South West	5	365	4	380	10	419
South East	12	761	11	799	13	824
Greater London	12	635	9	744	15	815
Wales	7	285	6	261	3	273
Scotland	12	511	7	644	14	587
Total	86	4,665	68	5,034	85	5,040

⁽¹⁾ The figures for 1999-2000 are provisional.

8 Mar 2001 : Column: 273W

Average Mortgage Payments

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average mortgage payment was in London (a) in 1996 and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [152192]

Mr. Raynsford: Based on data from the Family Resources Survey, the estimated average mortgage payment for owner occupiers in London with an outstanding mortgage was:

	£ per week
1996-97	64
1999-2000	82

Notes:

1. These figures are a combination of interest payments only, for those with interest-only mortgages, and interest payments plus capital repayments for those with repayment mortgages. It is not possible to separate the two.

2. Any insurance payments (eg endowment, mortgage protection or buildings insurance) are excluded.

3. The estimates are rounded to the nearest pound.

4. The period covered, in each case, is 1 April to 31 March.

Source:

Family Resources Survey (Department of Social Security)

Greater London Authority

Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what level of grant he will set for the Greater London Authority for 2001. [153069]

8 Mar 2001 : Column: 274W

Mr. Hill: GLA Transport grant is determined annually after consultation with the Mayor of London under section 101 of the GLA Act 1999. The Secretary of State has today determined the level of grant for 2001-02 at £707,088,000.

Transport for London

Ms Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what major land assets were transferred to Transport for London on 3 July 2000. [153068]

Mr. Hill: I have today placed a list in the Libraries of both Houses, which details all the major land assets that TfL inherited on 3 July 2000.

Heathrow

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the inspector's report on the inquiry into the fifth terminal at Heathrow will be published. [152660]

Ms Beverley Hughes: The Secretary of State plans to publish the Inspector's Report when he issues the decision on Terminal 5. This is in accordance with the usual practice for planning decisions.

Regional Planning Guidance

Mr. Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish his response to the recommendations of the

8 Mar 2001 : Column: 275W

panel that conducted the public examination of draft regional planning guidance for Yorkshire and the Humber; and if he will make a statement. [153125]

Mr. Raynsford: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is today publishing for public consultation Proposed Changes to the Draft Regional Planning Guidance (RPG12) for Yorkshire and the Humber. They are largely based on the recommendations of the independent Panel that held a public examination into draft RPG last summer.

In October 2000, my right hon. Friend published new guidance on regional planning in Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note 11. This followed the announcement of a new approach to planning for housing provision last March which was taken forward in more detail in the revised Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note 3. Important issues for the region to take forward are contained in the Urban and Rural White Papers, issued last November. The Proposed Changes to the draft RPG for Yorkshire and the Humber reflect the principles and priorities set out in these statements. They aim to achieve urban and rural renaissance, support economic growth and regeneration, while at the same time protecting and enhancing the region's environment.

Draft RPG was prepared by the Regional Assembly for Yorkshire and Humberside. Its overall spatial strategy aims to create a more sustainable region and achieve urban and rural renaissance by focusing development on the region's main towns and cities and making best use of previously-developed land. We support this, and, as recommended by the Panel, we are proposing changes to ensure that the strategy is more clearly expressed and so that its implications for development plans and other programmes are clearer to make a real difference on the ground.

A key issue for the region is to encourage economic growth and regeneration in a sustainable way. To achieve this we are proposing changes which set out priority areas for regeneration, a clear strategic framework for choosing where future industrial and business development will take place, and a sub-regional growth study covering West Yorkshire and Barnsley.

We are proposing that the first priority for regeneration in the region be South Yorkshire and the Coalfields, particularly the Dearne Valley. This reflects South Yorkshire's Objective 1 status and the importance of regenerating the Yorkshire Coalfields. The strategy also aims to build on the success of the Leeds economy and spread the benefits further afield. To help this process, it is proposed that the Regional Assembly leads a growth study involving the local authorities, Yorkshire Forward and other stakeholders. The study would look to examine the potential for plan-led growth, and determine the distribution of additional housing land. It offers the opportunity to take a more strategic and collaborative approach than in the past and will provide a valuable input to an early review of RPG.

We are proposing a modest increase in the amount of additional housing in the region as recommended by the Panel in order to reflect the region's aims of economic regeneration and growth. The new proposal is for 14,650 additional dwellings per year, compared with the 13,980 previously proposed by the region's local

8 Mar 2001 : Column: 276W

authorities. We agree with the Panel's recommendation that 60 per cent. of this should be provided on previously- developed land and by re-using existing buildings.

We are proposing some changes to the distribution of the housing provision as recommended by the Panel in order to ensure that it is concentrated on the region's main towns and cities, avoids unnecessary development in the countryside, and helps to create a better balance between where people live and work.

There will now be a twelve week consultation period on the Proposed Changes, ending on Friday 1 June 2001. Copies of the relevant documents have been placed in the House Library and provided to all of the region's MPs.

---