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Landfill Directive

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what criteria a decision on the implementation of the EC Directive 1999/31 on the landfill of waste will be based. [92278]

Angela Smith: The Landfill Directive contains two separate components—targets for reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) going to landfill and the introduction of detailed regulatory requirements in relation to the design, operation and aftercare of sites.

The decision on how the BMW targets will be achieved in NI will be based on the outcome of a consultation exercise which has just ended. An analysis of responses is underway to determine the preferred option for NI.

The implementation of the regulatory requirements of the Directive will be based on the detailed prescriptive criteria already contained in the Directive.

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated cost is of implementing EC Directive 1999/31 on the landfill of waste in Northern Ireland; how much of this cost will be borne by district councils; and if he will make a statement. [92275]

Angela Smith: The Landfill Directive contains two separate components—targets for reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) going to landfill and the introduction of detailed regulatory requirements in relation to the design, operation and aftercare of sites.

A consultation paper, published in October 2002, set out four options for achieving the BMW targets. The paper was accompanied by a partial regulatory impact assessment (RIA) which gave indicative costs relating to four options for dealing with the waste which has to be diverted from landfill. The consultation exercise has just ended and an analysis of responses is underway to determine the preferred option for NI. Actual costs will not be known until a full regulatory impact assessment has been undertaken on the preferred option.

The estimated cost of implementing the regulatory requirements of the Directive will not be known until a RIA has been undertaken. This is planned for later this year.

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David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the locations are of wind farm applications seeking planning approval in Northern Ireland; and what stage the current applications have reached. [92272]

Angela Smith: Planning Service is currently dealing with six planning applications for wind farms; these applications and their current status are as follows:

(i) Planning application J/2001/0291/F for a wind farm for Bin Mountain, in the district of Strabane, in the townlands of Bolaght, Lettercarn, Binnawooda, Drummahon, Castlecraig, Curraghmacall, Ally, Meenabog and Meenacloy, and Drumquin, Co. Tyrone. This application was presented to Strabane district council on 26 February 2002 with a recommendation to refuse. The reasons for refusal were that the proposal would:

be significantly detrimental to the visual amenity and character of the area;

have an adverse effect on nature conservation interests;

have an adverse effect on Lough Lee from construction activity and contamination.

The application was deferred by the council to allow a site meeting to take place. This meeting took place on 31 May 2002, and as a result the applicant indicated verbally that he will withdraw the application.

(ii) Planning application K/2001/048/F for a wind farm in the district of Omagh, in the townlands of Lough Hill, Castlecraig, Curraghmacall and Drummahon, Co. Tyrone. The access would be from the Meenacloy Road via an existing forestry road through the townlands of Meenacloy, Meenabog, Ally and Sloughan, and Drumquin, Co. Tyrone. Planning Service is awaiting further consultation responses and the proposal is still under consideration by the Department.

(iii) Planning application L/2001/1346/F for a wind farm in the district of Fermanagh, in the townlands of Garrane, Mullaghfad, Corraleek and Corragunt, and Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh. Planning Service is awaiting further consultation responses and the proposal is still under consideration by the Department.

(iv) Planning application L/2001/1514/F for a wind farm in the district of Fermanagh, in the townlands of Callagheen and Garrison, Co. Fermanagh. This proposal was presented to Fermanagh district council on 16 January 2003 with a recommendation to refuse. The reasons for the refusal were that the proposal would:

be detrimental to the visual amenity and character of the proposed area of outstanding natural beauty;

have an adverse impact on nature conservation.

The council deferred the application to allow for an office meeting, the date of which is to be arranged.

(v) Planning application L/2002/1042/F for a wind farm in the district of Fermanagh, in the townlands of Glenarn, Stranahone and Stranadarriff, Tappaghan Mountain and Lack, Co. Fermanagh. Planning Service is awaiting further consultation responses and the proposal is still under consideration by the Department.

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(vi) Planning application L/2002/1183/F for a wind farm in the district of Fermanagh, in the townlands of Caricknabrattoge, Carrowmaculla, Eshmeen and Tully, and Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh. Planning Service is awaiting further consultation responses and the proposal is still under consideration by the Department.

Planning Policy

Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will consult the public on the creation of a new offence of commencing development without the benefit of planning permission. [92782]

Angela Smith: The Government do not consider that a sufficient case has yet been made for the creation of a new criminal offence in Northern Ireland of commencing development without planning permission. To enable me to recommend the creation of a new offence, I would need to demonstrate:

that the impact of unauthorised development upon the planning system is so serious in Northern Ireland as to warrant a departure from policy elsewhere in the UK;


that there is factual evidence to support this;


that all the options for addressing the problem have been considered and this is the best option; and,


that a regulatory impact assessment of the potential options has been made and taken into account in recommending the best option.

I am not in a position to make such a case without further work, and this needs to be done before a consultation paper can be produced that will generate an informed public debate. I want to think about the issue very carefully, before deciding on the way forward.

Ulster Covenants

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Ulster Covenant records will be available online by March 2003; and if he will make a statement. [92936]

Angela Smith: The Ulster Covenant records are due to be available online by 28 March 2003.

US-Ireland Alliance

Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money has been provided from Government funds to the US-Ireland Alliance in each of the last three years; whether he has made representations to the US Government about the charitable status of the US-Ireland Alliance; whether a representative of the Unionist community in Northern Ireland sits on the honorary board of the US-Ireland Alliance; and what plans he has to review funding for the US-Ireland Alliance. [92304]

Jane Kennedy: The Department for Employment and Learning has committed financial support to the Mitchell Scholarship Programme, which is managed by the US-Ireland Alliance, for the period 2000–05; contributing £22,619 in the financial year 2000–01, £24,717 in 2001–02 and £23,900 in 2002–03. No representations have been made to the US Government on the charitable status of the US-Ireland Alliance. The Department is unaware of any representative membership of the honorary board from the Unionist

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community in Northern Ireland. The Department plans to review funding for the Mitchell Scholarship Programme in 2005.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

ADSL

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of UK households and businesses are able to receive ADSL telecommunication services in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland. [92724]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 23 January 2003]: Oftel statistics for 1 November 2002, available at www.oftel.gov.uk, show that 63 per cent. of UK households and businesses were able to receive ADSL services at that date. Research undertaken by Analysis for the Government shows that at the end of August 2002, 39 per cent. of households in Scotland were able to receive ADSL services. This rises to 53 per cent. of households in Scotland counting ADSL and cable modem together.

Broadband

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what help will be given to rural communities to enable them to access broadband. [93127]

Mr. Timms: In November 2002, the Government launched the UK Broadband Task Force, which has the aim of stimulating the take-up and roll-out of broadband across the UK, particularly in rural and remote areas. The Task Force's regional broadband co-ordinators, located in each of the English regions and the Devolved Administrations, will seek to address this issue in their particular regions or nations.

Also at a regional level, the Government have provided the Regional Development Agencies and the Devolved Administrations with the £30 million UK Broadband Fund, which was set up to help develop innovative schemes to extend broadband roll-out. Projects from this Fund are on-going and being monitored to identify examples of best practice that can be shared around the country.

In addition, the Government have pledged £1 billion over 2003–06 towards broadband connectivity in the public sector. It is anticipated that this will lead to broadband networks being extended more widely. The aggregation of public sector demand, which is a main focus of the UK Broadband Task Force, will help accelerate this roll-out and ensure its efficiency.

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