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Sustainable Communities (East London)
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will define the area East London as referred to in his plan for a new style urban development corporation in the Sustainable Communities Plan; and what discussions he has had in relation to the best approach for a new style urban development corporation in East London. [98617]
Mr. McNulty: The exact boundary of the East London Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will be the subject of consultation and confirmation by Parliament, but will focus on three broad locations in the London Thames Gateway: the Lower Lea Valley, Barking and Havering Riverside and Thamesmead, Belvedere and Erith. This focus has been agreed in principle with Thames Gateway London partners including the GLA, Thames Gateway London Partnership, the Mayor and the LDA.
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what basis the £446 million announced in the Sustainable Communities Plan will be allocated to the Thames Gateway area; and how local authorities and other organisations operating in the Thames Gateway will access the funding. [98614]
Mr. McNulty: Following the announcement of the Sustainable Communities Plan and the allocation of £446 million for the Thames Gateway area, we are
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currently working up the detailed arrangements for how this money will be accessed and on what basis it will be spent.
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce further details regarding the setting up of a new style urban development corporation for East London. [98616]
Mr. McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is consulting widely with our partners in the Thames Gateway in order to fully work up proposals for the setting up of an Urban Development Corporation in East London, as signalled in the Sustainable Communities Plan announcement. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be announcing further details soon.
Thames Gateway
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2003, Official Report, column 422W, on new developments in the Thames Gateway, if he will place the Environment Agency's constraint flood maps for each zone of change within the Thames Gateway in the Library. [97849]
Mr. McNulty: The most up-to-date map of the indicative flood plain within the Thames Gateway's zone of change is available on the Environment Agency's website.
Unfair Terms Regulations
Ms Bridget Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how council tenants and council leaseholders will be able to receive independent advice on the implications of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations for the consultation procedures involved in any housing stock transfer; [96566]
- (2) what advice has been given by his Department to local authorities and housing associations regarding the implications of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 for the housing stock transfer process. [96568]
Mr. McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects tenants and council leaseholders involved in a housing stock transfer to have access to independent advice through an Independent Tenant Adviser (ITA), whose role is to provide information and impartial advice on all the implications of the transfer, including the application of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations in respect of tenancy agreements.
A reference to the Regulations is included in the revised version of the Housing Transfer Manual which will be published shortly; and the Housing Corporation has issued a circular to registered social landlords about this matter.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Beef Assurance Scheme
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make an assessment of the viability of rearing an organic
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grass-fed herd of South Devon cattle under the Beef Assurance Scheme in the West Country; and if she will make a statement. [98358]
Mr. Meacher: It is for individuals to assess the viability of rearing organic South Devon cattle under the Beef Assurance Scheme in the circumstances particular to their enterprise. However, we are committed to a successful long-term future for organic farming in England. As announced in the Action Plan to develop organic food and farming in England published last July, this year we will be introducing additional financial support under the Organic Farming Scheme.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government are taking to ensure that they meet their pledge to reduce national carbon dioxide emissions to 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. [98825]
Mr. Meacher: The UK Climate Change Programme (CCP), published in November 2000, sets out the policies and measures that the Government and the devolved administrations have introduced, or are planning to introduce, to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to move towards the domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in the UK's emissions below 1990 levels by 2010.
Emissions reductions will come from a range of policies and measures, covering all sectors of the economy. Key policies introduced so far include the climate change levy package; the UK greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme; a target for the renewables obligation that 10 per cent. of sales from licensed electricity suppliers should be generated from renewable sources; the target to at least double the capacity of combined heat and power by 2010; European-level agreements with car manufacturers to improve the fuel efficiency of new cars; the 10-Year Plan for Transport; better energy efficiency in the residential sector; and, improving performance standards in the Building Regulations.
Coal Mine Methane
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of how many communities have suffered environmental damage or housing problems due to coal mine methane. [95441]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 6 February 2003]: In 1996 DOE published a report "Methane and other gases from disused coal mines: The Planning Response" which discussed the problems posed by gases, including methane, from disused coal mines, in the context of town and country planning. It provided factual information for those involved with land and property such as planners, developers, owners and insurers, and is relevant to both new and existing development. The report mentions that between 1945 and 1994 there were about 75 surface gas emissions recorded, of which 70 per cent. involved methane, and in 35 per cent. of these cases the gas ignited. Half (nine) involved residential property. A copy of the report is in the House Library.
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Since 1995 the Coal Authority (CA) has been recording incidents of water, gas and major collapses involving non-operational coal mines. The CA's Surface Hazard call-out system, which aims to attend a call within two hours and make safe within six hours, recorded 68 incidents of surface mine gas between 1995 and 2002 of which four were in the West Midlands. These incidents include both methane and other oxygen-deficient gases such as carbon-dioxide. Incidents are tackled urgently to avoid damage or other problems.
External Consultancy
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) her Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body spent on external consultancy in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned); and if she will make a statement. [92250]
Alun Michael: The information, which represents the cost of bought-in services, is as follows:
| 2001–02 | 2002–03 | |
|---|---|---|
| Core-Defra | 40,682 | 21,968 |
| Agencies: | ||
| Rural Payments Agency | 2,656 | 1,030 |
| Central Science Laboratory | 239 | 152 |
| Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science | 70 | 70 |
| Pesticides Safety Directorate | 127 | 137 |
| Veterinary Laboratories Agency | 637 | 725 |
| Veterinary Medicines Directorate | 136 | 147 |
| Non-Departmental Public Bodies: | ||
| Apple and Pear Research Council | 20 | 20 |
| Countryside Agency | 332 | 275 |
| English Nature | 237 | 305 |
| Environment Agency | 47,886 | 51,810 |
| Home-Grown Cereals Authority | 79 | 50 |
| Horticulture Research International | 134 | 72 |
| Joint Nature Conservation Committee | 65 | 42 |
| Meat and Livestock Commission | 2,510 | 1,610 |
| Milk Development Council | 2,000 | Not available |
| National Forest Company | 52 | 45 |
| Regional Flood Defence Committees | 0 | 0 |
| Royal Botanic Gardens | 66 | 389 |
| Wine Standards Board | 0 | 14 |
Equivalent information for 1995–96 to 2000–01 could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The figure for 2002–03 is an estimate.
Management Consultants
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on management consultants since its creation. [93678]
Alun Michael: The information requested, which represents the cost of bought-in services for the Department and its agencies, is as follows:
- 2001–02: £45 million
2002–03: £24 million (estimate)
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