11 Sept 2003 : Column 407W
Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 11 September 2003
PRIME MINISTER
Intelligence and Security Committee
Dr. Palmer: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to lay the Intelligence and Security Committee's Report on Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction—Intelligence and Assessments before Parliament. [130290]
The Prime Minister: I am grateful to the Intelligence and Security Committee for their Report on Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction—Intelligence and Assessments. I have today laid the Report before the House. The Government will respond formally to it in due course. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Jonathan Powell
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will rescind the powers given to Mr. Jonathan Powell to direct civil servants. [129278]
The Prime Minister: I have no plans to do so.
Peter Mandelson
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister under what circumstances he has sought advice on presentational matters from the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson). [129279]
The Prime Minister: I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others on a wide range of subjects and will continue to do so. As with previous Administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of confidential discussions, under exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
11 Sept 2003 : Column 408W
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Carbon Trust
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much public funding the Carbon Trust has received since it was established. [128034]
Mr. Morley: The Carbon Trust was allocated £26.5 million in 2001–02 by my Department, and a total of £49.6 million for 2002–03 (including £17.1 million from the Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme). The Carbon Trust has been allocated £50.6 million for 2003–04 (including £17.1 million from the Energy Efficiency Best Practice programme).
The devolved Administrations have separate funding relationships with the Carbon Trust.
Waste Management
Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce waste minimisation targets. [126715]
Mr. Morley: The Government recognise that progress must be made to reduce waste. However, before considering setting waste reduction targets for local authorities, the Government will consider the levers local authorities have for reducing waste and whether a reduction target would be an effective means of encouraging waste reduction.
Water Companies
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the water companies supplying domestic industries, indicating the nationality of the individuals and organisations with a controlling interest. [128297]
Mr. Morley: The following table shows the information for water and sewerage and water only undertakers. The table shows in brackets the country where the ultimate holding company's head office is located.
11 Sept 2003 : Column 409W
TRANSPORT
Civil Contingencies
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the major civil emergency exercise postponed from 23 March 2003 will take place in London. [128656]
Mr. McNulty: An exercise to test specific elements of the emergency services' response to a chemical attack on the London Underground, postponed from 23 March 2003, took place on 7 September 2003. This was one of a regular series of exercises being held in London and throughout the UK.
Radioactive Materials
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to ensure the safe transport of radioactive materials; and what recent discussions have taken place with the nuclear industry regarding the safe disposal of its radioactive waste. [128109]
Mr. Jamieson: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) publishes internationally agreed standards for the transport of radioactive material. These are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they reflect current safety standards and reflect current transport practices. These IAEA standards form the basis for various modal standards, which in turn, become the basis of legislation in the UK. There is a continuous cycle of reviewing IAEA standards and implementing them nationally.
Legislation in the United Kingdom is brought into line with the currently applicable version of these IAEA technical requirements on a regular basis, the latest amendment being SI 2003 No. 1867, The Radioactive Material (Road Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2003.
Policy for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity radioactive waste is currently under review as part of the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely" programme. Industry had the opportunity to input its views in respect to the original September 2001 consultation document. There will be further opportunities for input of views as the programme proceeds under the oversight of the new Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM). Ownership of the UK's low level waste disposal facility at Drigg will pass to the proposed new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) when this is established. The July 2002 "Managing the Nuclear
11 Sept 2003 : Column 410W
Legacy" White Paper offered opportunity for industry to comment on the proposed arrangements. There is on-going discussion with industry as the NDA is being set up, however, this is currently at a preliminary stage.
Airports
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to make an announcement regarding airport expansion. [R] [129633]
Mr. McNulty: The Government intend to publish their conclusions on 'The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom' consultation in a White Paper later this year.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |