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Brownfield Sites
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will investigate (a) the time taken by the Environment Agency to approve remedial strategies for the clean-up of brownfield sites and (b) the effect of delays upon the use of brownfield sites in preference to greenbelt land; and if she will make a statement. [119109]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 16 June 2003]: The Environment Agency has a formal role in relation to land determined as contaminated land and designated as a special site, under the provisions of Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. In such cases, it may agree a remediation statement which sets out work which has been, is being, or will be carried out on particular land by the person responsible. This provides an alternative to the service of a remediation notice. Part 2A is designed to support Government policy on urban regeneration, both by encouraging voluntary action to deal with contamination, and by providing a framework for taking the necessary decisions about remediation. The Agency has no formal role outside this regime in approving proposals for dealing with land affected by contamination, other than when consulted in relation to planning applications on such land. It provides advice on a non-statutory basis in other cases, as resources allow. English Partnerships is currently developing a Brownfield Strategy for the Government, which is likely to address obstacles to brownfield regeneration, including contamination and regulatory issues, and the Environment Agency is actively assisting in its preparation.
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Clinical Waste
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the weight of (a) tampons, (b) sanitary towels, (c) panty liners, (d) light use continence pads, (e) heavy use continence pads and (f) condoms disposed of by (i) entering into the sewerage system, (ii) landfill, (iii) incineration and (iv) other means in the last year for which figures are available. [119070]
Mr. Morley: Data is not collected in the format requested.
Commission on Radioactive Waste Management
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) who the (a) Chairman and (b) members are of the Commission on Radioactive Waste Management; and when it will start work; [116123]
- (2) when the Commission on Radioactive Waste Management will undertake a review of the options for the long-term management of radioactive waste to provide recommendations to Government on the best approach; what organisations and communities they will consult; and what the anticipated date is for the completion of this review; [116121]
(3) what the terms of reference are of the Commission on Radioactive Waste Management: and if she will make a statement. [116120]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 3 June 2003]: The deadline for applications for the Chair and Members of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management was 2 May, and appointments will be made by the Secretary of State and her colleagues in the devolved Administrations later this year. We shall make an announcement about the Committee and its work at that stage.
It will be up to the Committee, once they have been appointed, to decide their work programme including their proposals for public and stakeholder engagement. This must be agreed by Ministers. We shall be asking CoRWM to deliver its final recommendations by around the end of 2006.
I have arranged for a copy of the terms of reference, which we published in March, to be placed in the Library. These explain the work for which the Committee will be responsible.
Contaminated Land
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial support she has given to (a) local authorities and (b) the Environment Agency to meet capital costs of site investigation and associated clean up of contaminated land in each year since 1997. [117540]
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Mr. Morley: The information requested is as follows.
| England | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support given | ||||||
| to LAs | 13.7 | 11.2 | 10.4 | 11.3 | 9.9 | (14)— |
| to EA | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.5 |
(14) Not yet available
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many sites of contaminated land have been (a) investigated and (b) cleaned up under the auspices of (i) local authorities and (ii) the Environment Agency in each year since 1997. [117541]
Mr. Morley: Informatation is provided in the following tables. Table A shows data collected in respect of regulatory activity under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (contaminated land) which came into force in England on 1 April 2000.
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Table B shows the numbers of projects for which my Department has offered or provided capital support in each financial year from 1997–98.
| LA determinations(16) | Special sites(17) | Remediation statements(18) | Special site inspections(19) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 33 | 0 | 8 | 31 |
| 2002–03 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 30 |
| 2003–04 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
(15) investigation and remediation of land affected by contamination also takes place as part of redevelopment and regeneration, outside Part IIA
(16) sites determined as "contaminated land" under Part IIA, following detailed investigation
(17)"contaminated land" for which the Environment Agency, not the LA, is the enforcing authority
(18)"contaminated land" for which appropriate remediation has been formally secured by the LA or the Agency under Part IIA, without a remediation notice
(19) cases where the Environment Agency has agreed to inspect on behalf of the LA, with a view to possible determination of the site as "contaminated land" and designation as a special site
| 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA investigations | 72 | 84 | 73 | 76 | 38 | 92 |
| LA remediation | 106 | 92 | 94 | 86 | 87 | 57 |
| EA investigations | 10 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 20 |
| EA remediation | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
(20) Projects may relate to the same site, or more than one site. Some projects may appear in more than one year. Figures are for successful bids.
Energy Efficiency
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made by her Department of the cost and potential savings at different initial levels of energy efficiency of property of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; what assessment has been made by her Department of the cost effectiveness of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in reducing fuel poverty amongst owner-occupiers and private sector tenants; what (a) assessment she has made, (b) discussions she has had or plans to have and (c) representations she has received in relation to the research conducted by the Institute of Fiscal Studies on the cost-effectiveness of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme; and what assessment (i) has been made and (ii) is planned of the effects of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme on reducing fuel poverty (A) to date and (B) under the fuel poverty strategy. [109067]
Mr. Morley [holding answer 14 April 2003]: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) is now marketed as The Warm Front Team, and is the Government's main programme for tackling fuel poverty in the private sector in England. The Scheme was launched in June 2000. Warm Front provides insulation and heating measures depending upon the needs of the householder and the property type.
You ask what assessments we have made of the Warm Front and its impact on reducing fuel poverty. Warm Front has now been in existence for over two and a half years and we are currently carrying out a review to look what it has delivered, the issues faced, solutions found, examples of best practice and future priorities. This review has included discussions with key stakeholders to assess progress and to help the debate on progress to achieving our overall goal of an end to fuel poverty.
Our Warm Front review is looking at the scope and targeting of the scheme, the measures offered—including their cost effectiveness—and practical issues surrounding delivery. The review is also looking at issues around SAP improvements to properties under the scheme. Overall, we are looking both to identify the impact on properties once measures have been installed and potential savings for householders.
We are also funding a piece of research to look specifically at the adverse health impact that can be impacted by fuel poverty, and the effect of assistance under Warm Front. The study was launched during 2002 with investigations being run over two winters. The findings of both these pieces of work will be published once completed.
The Department is aware of the report undertaken by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IPS), although we have received no representations on it. The report highlights a number of interesting issues surrounding the targeting and impact of Warm Front and is a helpful contribution to the debate.
Government's first annual report on progress since the launch of the UK Fuel Poverty Strategy was published on 4 March. This provides an update on the number of households in fuel poverty, taking account of initial findings from the English House Condition Survey 2001. It also provides an update on programmes undertaken to help alleviate fuel poverty.
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