House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 Oct 2003 (pt 30)

14 Oct 2003 : Column 116W—continued

Sri Lanka

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many (a) casualties and (b) injuries were recorded in Sri Lanka due to (i) mines and (ii) de-mining operations in each month since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [131790]

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Mr. Gareth Thomas: The recorded number of fatalities and injuries caused by land mines in Sri Lanka since 1997 are as follows:

Fatalities Injuries

1997 12 105

1998 3 70

1999 7 77

2000 18 148

2001 22 179

2002 27 116

2003 11 40

Total 100 735

	Fatalities	Injuries
1997	12	105
1998	3	70
1999	7	77
2000	18	148
2001	22	179
2002	27	116
2003	11	40
Total	100	735

Since 1997 there has been one recorded casualty resulting from de-mining activities. The significant decrease in injuries and deaths from mines in 2003 is extremely welcome.

DFID has provided support for de-mining operations since the ceasefire between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka came into effect last year. DFID has a two-year agreement with UNDP until the end of 2004 for support to de-mining operations. Under this, £697,000 from the allocated £2.6 million for quick impact activities in the North and East of Sri Lanka will be used to fund the early part of UNDP's 2003–06 mine action programme. This funding was approved in 2002. Further needs assessments are under way and we stand ready to make further commitments if necessary. DFID does not directly run any de-mining projects in Sri Lanka and has therefore not sought technical advice from the Ministry of Defence. However, DFID liaises closely with the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on our development programme to Sri Lanka.

Tanzania

Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will monitor aid given to Tanzania to ensure that the Singida region receives assistance in alleviating famine in that area. [131414]

Hilary Benn: DFID has made £60 million available as direct budget support (DBS) to the Government of Tanzania (GoT) in 2003–04 to support its Poverty Reduction Strategy, which includes action on food security. The first tranche of DBS has been released. We have received reports that the GoT has released food from its strategic grain reserve and is starting distribution to drought affected areas on the basis of its vulnerability assessment.

Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether a representative of the Department attended a meeting called by the Prime Minister of Tanzania on 14 August to request assistance to alleviate food shortages; and what response the Department has made to his request. [131417]

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Hilary Benn: The Head of DFID Tanzania and one of her staff attended the meeting called by the Prime Minister of Tanzania on 14 August. The Prime Minister asked the World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organisation to co-ordinate the detailed appeal to donors. WFP is currently finalising the formal appeal for food assistance, which we will consider when we receive it. FAO issued an appeal for assistance for seed and fertilisers on 17 September which we are currently considering.

ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

EU Chemicals Policy

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the costs of the European Commission's REACH policy to small and medium-sized enterprises. [131844]

Alun Michael: In May 2001, the Government prepared a preliminary partial regulatory impact assessment of the proposals in the European Commission's White Paper. A revised partial Assessment will be required when proposals for the European Commission's legislation are available and my Department is working closely with other interested Departments, the Devolved Administrations and concerned stakeholders to develop its scope and content. As set out in the guidance on conducting such an Assessment, consideration of the impacts on small to medium sized businesses will form a key part of this.

As well as considering the benefits and costs of the proposals, the Assessment will include an analysis of the implications of the proposed legislation for the international competitiveness of the UK chemicals industry and other manufacturing sectors that use chemicals in their processes and products. In addition the Government will consider what further analysis may be needed, particularly for small to medium sized businesses to meet the demands of any new legislation. We have noted the results of other work undertaken for instance by the Commission and the Federation of German Industry (BDI) and this will be taken into account when carrying out our assessment. Getting these aspects right is a key element to achieve the Government's first objective for the new EU chemicals strategy of a fast, efficient and workable process.

Urban Commons

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers are available to local authorities compulsorily to purchase land designated as an urban common under the Law of Property Act 1925 to ensure continued access to and use of the land by the general public for leisure and recreation and the protection of wildlife. [131671]

Alun Michael: Powers are available under various enactments that may enable public authorities compulsorily to purchase common land to secure continued public access. Such powers are contained in, for example, section 76 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, section 164 of the Public Health Act 1875 and section 19 of the Local

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Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. It is for the local authority concerned to determine which powers might apply in the particular circumstances and, if so, whether it would be appropriate to use them.

Under the provisions of section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925, the public already has a statutory right of access for air and exercise to any common which was wholly or partly in a borough or urban district prior to 1 April 1974. Section 194 of this Act enables a county or district council, or any other person with a legal interest in the land, to make an application to the county court for the removal of works unlawfully carried out on common land that prevent or impede access, and the restoration of the land to its previous condition. This might be an alternative to compulsory purchase.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department has taken to encourage local councils to fulfil their obligation to clear rights of way. [131449]

Alun Michael: Section 63 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 introduced new powers that will enable members of the public to oblige local highway authorities to secure the removal of certain types of obstruction, unless it can show that there are good reasons for not doing so. Defra aims to make regulations implementing these powers later this year. In addition, the introduction of 'Best Value' from 1 April 2000, requires local authorities to seek continuous improvement in the way they carry out their functions. The Best Value performance indicator for rights of way includes a specific measure for ease of use of rights of way.

Air/Light Pollution

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to reduce light pollution; and if she will include light pollution in the proposed indicators of countryside quality. [131509]

Mr. Bradshaw: Defra considered the control of nuisance caused by lighting in its recent consultation "Living Places: Powers, Rights, Responsibilities". The paper sought opinions as to whether the Government should introduce new regulations for the positioning of external lighting (excluding street lights); and whether the remit of the statutory nuisance regime should be extended to include such lighting. The consultation period closed on 14 February. Copies of the summary report of the responses received have been placed in both Houses, and it is also available at: www. defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/pubspace/index.htm

The House of Commons' Select Committee on Science and Technology recently held an inquiry into light pollution and astronomy. This focused on the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce the impact of light pollution on astronomy and considered what further steps, if any, are required. The outcome of the inquiry will be published in due course and will be made available on the House of Commons' website.

The Government will consider their future course of action taking into account any recommendations and conclusions emerging from the Select Committee's inquiry and from Defra's recent consultation exercise.

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We are currently appraising, in conjunction with the Countryside Agency, the selection of indicators to be monitored as measures of 'countryside quality'. Light pollution is under consideration, but no decision has yet been taken. It is expected that the agreed list of indicators will be published next year.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which chemicals are included in the measurement of air pollution. [131570]

Mr. Bradshaw: Defra measures approximately 180 air pollutants in the national networks, including benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, PMio particulate matter, PIVb.s particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, black smoke, 26 volatile organic compounds, 17 metals and trace elements (for example, lead, arsenic and chromium), 52 transboundary pollutants (for example, ammonium nitrate and sulphate), 42 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (for example, benzo[a]pyrene), 17 of the most toxic dioxins including tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) and 7 polychlorobiphenyls. The number of sites measuring each pollutant and their sampling frequency varies from just a few sites sampling on a weekly or monthly basis (for example, dioxins) to dozens of sites monitoring continuously (for example, nitrogen dioxide) depending on the characteristics of each pollutant. Monitoring data for each air pollutant can be found on the National Air Quality Information Archive (www.airqualitv.co.uk).

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