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7 Apr 2005 : Column 1669W—continued
Traffic Regulation Orders
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the expected issue date for advice on the pre-emptive use of traffic regulation orders, as set out in paragraph 12 of the document Use of mechanically propelled vehicles on rights of way: The Government's framework for action". [224763]
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Alun Michael: Advice and practical examples on the use of pre-emptive traffic regulation orders for local authorities will be included in both the revision to the departmental publication Making the Best of Byways" and new enforcement guidance. These publications will be available shortly and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
Travel Costs
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total travel costs to her Department have been for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials for each year since 1997. [203774]
Margaret Beckett: In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
The Department has published rules for official travel in its staff handbook and ministerial travel is governed by the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
It is not possible to break-down travel costs further in the way requested without incurring disproportionate cost.
Waste
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with local authorities concerning Schedule 2 of the Statutory Controlled Waste Regulations 1992; and what guidance she has issued to local authorities on that schedule. [224897]
Mr. Morley: Guidance was issued (Circular 14/92) 1 at the time of the publication of the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992. Defra has more recently (October 2004) 2 issued further guidance to local authorities on the management of asbestos waste from domestic property, a waste type specified within Schedule 2 of the Controlled Waste Regulations 1992.
I am not aware that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has held any discussions with local authorities concerning Schedule 2.
1 Circular 14/92 (Department of the Environment) The Environmental Protection Act 1990—Parts II and IV The Controlled Waste Regulations 1992.
2 Correspondence to the chief executive of all waste collection authorities, waste disposal authorities and joint waste disposal authorities in England on the management of asbestos waste from domestic property also available on the Defra website at http://defraweb/environment/waste/localauth/pdf/asbestos-domestic. pdf
Waste Management Licensing Regulations
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the timetable for alteration of paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. [224854]
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Mr. Morley: The Waste Management Licensing (England & Wales) (Amendment and Related Provisions) Regulations 2005 (SI number 883) were laid before Parliament on the 23 March 2005. These regulations will come into force on 1 July 2005. Amendments to paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 are included in these regulations.
Waste Recycling
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of waste collected in City of York has been recycled in each year since 1996–97; what financial assistance has been provided by the Government to York for recycling in that period; and what policies the Government has adopted to encourage local authorities to increase recycling rates. [224641]
Mr. Morley: The proportion 1 of household waste sent for recycling or composting for City of York in each year since 1996–67 is presented in the following table:
| Percentage of household waste sent for recycling or composting for City of York | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 4 |
| 1998–99 | 6 |
| 1999–2000 | 10 |
| 2000–01 | 9 |
| 2001–02 | 10 |
| 2002–03 | 12 |
| 2003–04 | (18)15 |
(18)MWMS Data for 2003–04 are not yet available. Best Value Performance Indicator data (for the percentage of household waste sent for recycling or composting) are usually a good indicator for Defra's MWMS and are included here.
Source:
Defra's Municipal Waste Management Survey (MWMS)
The City of York was allocated £350,000 in 2004–05 from Defra's Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund for the relocation and upgrading of a Recycling and Reuse Centre and £145,789.54 in 2005–06 from Defra's Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant. This supplements Revenue Support Grants through the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services block.
To increase recycling, the Government has set each local authority in England Statutory Performance Standards for recycling and composting of household waste for 2003–04 and 2005–06 and requires waste collection authorities, subject to certain exemptions, to provide a kerbside collection service of at least two recyclable materials by 2010.
The new Landfill Tax escalator and the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme, both introduced on 1 April 2005 will also encourage local authorities to divert biodegradable municipal waste from landfill.
The UK Packaging Regulations requiring producers to recover and recycle rising target levels of packaging waste each year will also increasingly encourage recycling of household packaging waste.
Government is currently reviewing the existing local authority recycling and composting targets including consideration of the potential for further targets to be set in future.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Diabetes (Public Service Recruits)
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been put in place by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to medically assess people with diabetes who apply to join the service. [220532]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I regret that it has not been possible to answer this question before Prorogation. However, I will respond to the hon. Gentleman in writing. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Births (Londonderry)
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children living in East Londonderry constituency have been born since 1 September 2002. [215786]
Mr. Pearson: The numbers of births registered between 1 September 2002 and 31 December 2004 to mothers resident in East Londonderry parliamentary constituency are given in the table.
These figures do not take into account population migration or deaths of young children. Detailed 2004 population estimates for the East Londonderry parliamentary constituency will be published later in the year.
Business Support
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent in each of the last four years in Government grants to support business in Northern Ireland. [217672]
Mr. Gardiner: The hon. Gentleman will receive a response to this question as soon as possible. However, I apologise that it has not been possible to provide this information before Prorogation. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
CAP Payments
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 100 largest payments made through the common agricultural policy to farms or enterprises in Northern Ireland for 2003–04, broken down by (a) recipients and (b) amounts received. [224668]
Mr. Pearson:
It has not been possible to provide the information requested by the hon. Gentleman before Prorogation.
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