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Weapons of Mass Destruction

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a timetable has been established for the completion of the WMD response initiatives suggested by the US on the 6 to 7 June meeting of the NATO Defence Ministers; what the estimated cost is of the initiatives; and if he will make a statement. [69071]

Mr. Hoon: Following the Defence Ministers' meeting, the NATO military authorities are conducting detailed work to develop and finalise the NBC Defence Initiatives

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for endorsement at NATO's forthcoming summit meeting in Prague in November. It is therefore too soon to estimate any costs. However, it is intended to implement all of the initiatives by 2004.

The United Kingdom strongly supports these initiatives, which will enhance Alliance capability in this important area. We shall be taking a full part in the detailed development work.

Missile Defence

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to meet the official US delegation that is visiting NATO capitals next month with the aim of launching a round of discussions on co-operation in the US Missile Defence Programme; [68669]

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he plans with the missile defence delegation from the US shortly to visit the UK. [68772]

Mr. Hoon: An inter-agency delegation of United States officials is visiting London later this month for discussions with British officials on missile defence. This is one leg of a tour of a number of NATO capitals as part of the United States' continuing dialogue with allies on ballistic missile defence. I have no plans to meet the delegation.

Joint Rapid Reaction Force

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the full capability of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force has been established; and if he will make a statement. [69095]

Mr. Hoon [holding answer 11 July 2002]: The full capability of the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces is due to be established by 2005. Initial capability was achieved, as planned, in 1999 and elements of the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces have already been successfully deployed on a number of operations and exercises.

HMS Bridport

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational status of HMS Bridport is; and when the vessel entered service. [69520]

Mr. Ingram: HMS Bridport is currently held at Extended Readiness at her base port, Faslane. She was first commissioned in 1993.

HMS Nottingham

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the repair of HMS Nottingham; and for how long he anticipates the ship will be out of service. [69519]

Mr. Ingram: Repair options for HMS Nottingham are being considered. It is too early to say how long she will remain out of service.

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ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Communication Masts

Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she will take in relation to the planned erection of masts in areas of outstanding natural beauty by each of the emergency services. [68120]

Alun Michael: The Airwave service which is currently being rolled out for the Police is being provided by the operator mmO2. Other emergency services are also being invited to join the network. The network has no special planning status and mm02 will need to seek planning permission for the base stations and associated masts in the normal way.

Although my Department does not have a role in the planning process for the masts, my officials have held a meeting with officials From the Home Office and the Department for Trade and Industry to discuss co-ordination of masts policy. They plan to hold a further meeting with officials from the Office of The Deputy Prime Minister to discuss the need for sensitive sighting of masts in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural beauty.

Energy Efficiency Programmes

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the advertising budget for her Department's energy efficiency programmes for each of the (a) past five years and (b) next two years. [64349]

Mr. Meacher: DEFRA does not have a specific advertising budget for energy efficiency programmes. Instead we provide funding to a number of organisations to provide a range of energy efficiency activities/ programmes. These organisations use funding in a number of ways to promote energy efficiency, including advertising schemes, events, marketing and awards. These activities and their funding tend to be very inter-related with other energy measures, rather than stand alone. The main organisations which manage programmes to promote energy efficiency are:

The Energy Saving Trust (DEFRA funding of about £22 million pa) encourages the sustainable use of energy in the domestic and small business sectors. Work includes an Energy Efficiency Campaign to encourage domestic consumers to take up energy efficiency measures.

The Carbon Trust (DEFRA funding of about £26 million pa) aims to enable UK business and public sectors to move towards a sustainable, low carbon economy whilst maintaining business competitiveness.

The Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme (DEFRA funding of about £17 million pa) provides energy efficiency information and advice to the public and business sectors. The programme has now been transferred to the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust.

The Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in England is the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, (DEFRA funding of over £600 million for the

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period 2000–2004) now marketed as the Warm Front Team. It is operated and marketed on the Department's behalf by scheme managers

In addition energy efficiency has formed an element of my Department's Are You Doing Your Bit programme.

Landfill

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the likely date for the introduction co-disposal practices under the landfill directive; what change to (a) guidance from her Department and (b) legislation (i) has taken place and (ii) is planned as a result; and if she will make a statement. [65627]

Mr. Meacher: The Landfill Directive bans the co-disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste at existing landfill sites from 16 July 2004. This requirement has been transposed into domestic legislation through the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 which came into effect on 15 June.

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will list the addresses of landfill sites that have successfully complied with Landfill Directive 99/31/EC in order to operate beyond 16 July; [65538]

(2) what proportion of existing landfills have demonstrated that they can comply with the Landfill Directive 99/31/EC in order to operate beyond 16 July. [65539]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 1 July 2002]: This information is not yet available. Operators of landfill sites who wish to continue to accept waste for disposal beyond 16 July 2002 must submit a site conditioning plan to the Environment agency by that date setting out how that site will meet the requirements of the Landfill Directive. On the basis of the information contained in the plans the Agency will make a decision on whether the site can or cannot meet those requirements. Sites which cannot meet the requirements will be closed. Sites which the Agency judge should be able to meet the requirements will be given a date by which they must submit an application for a Pollution Prevention and Control permit as part of the phased re-permitting of all landfill sites which will be complete by 2007.

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what training programmes she has run for operators and staff at existing landfills to ensure that they are technically competent to manage the site and have the financial provisions to cover the maintenance and aftercare requirements of the site according to Landfill Directive 99/31/EC; how many staff have been made available; and if she will make a statement. [65540]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 1 July 2002]: The department does not run training courses for landfill operators and staff. Technical competence is assessed through the system of Certificates of Technical Competence awarded by the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board. The Environment agency cannot issue a permit for a landfill unless they are satisfied that the management of the site is in the hands of a technically

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competent person and that final provision adequate to discharge the obligations arising from the permit has been made.

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what change to (a) guidance from her Department and (b) legislation (i) has taken place and (ii) is planned as a result of changes required under the EU Landfill Directive; and if she will make a statement. [65628]

Mr. Meacher: The Department has issued an amended version of 'Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control—A Practical Guide' to reflect the requirements of the Landfill Directive and is currently preparing guidance to accompany the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002. In addition, the Environment agency has published a wide range of guidance on the regulatory and technical requirements of the Directive.

The regulatory and technical requirements of the Landfill Directive have been implemented through the Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 which came into effect on 15 June. We will bring forward primary legislation to introduce a Tradable Allowance scheme that will assist Local Authorities in meeting their targets for the diversion of biodegradable waste from landfill, as set out in the Directive, as soon as parliamentary time allows.

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