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10 Oct 2005 : Column 144W—continued
Household Waste
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the total UK household waste in each year between 1997 and 2005; what percentage was (a) discarded packaging material waste and (b) other waste; and if she will make a statement. [16571]
Mr. Bradshaw: Results from the DEFRA Municipal Waste Management Survey, are listed as follows:
| Tonnes (Thousand) | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 22,549 |
| 1997–98 | 23,333 |
| 1998–99 | 23,531 |
| 1999–2000 | 24,760 |
| 2000–01 | 25,079 |
| 2001–02 | 25,524 |
| 2002–03 | 25,832 |
| 2003–04 | 25,443 |
Information on the amount of packaging waste discarded by households each year is not available. However, analysis in from the PackFlow report recently published by Valpak estimated packaging waste in the household waste stream to be 4.54 million tonnes in England, equivalent in 2003–04 to about 18 per cent. of household waste arisings. The remaining 'other' household waste will amount to 82 per cent.
Continued progress with various recycling schemes has resulted a steady increase in household recycling rates, from 7.5 per cent. in 1996–97 to 17.7 per cent. in 2003–04. An increase in recycling of specific materials such as glass, paper and card, cans and plastics, from household sources, has been recorded over this period. Household packaging waste, although not specifically identified, would have been part of this increase.
Litter
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department provides to local councils on the implementation of the Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 about litter. [15931]
Mr. Bradshaw:
Guidance has already been provided to local authorities on the measures in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which came into force in June. Further guidance will be issued
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shortly on measures that are planned to come into force in October. We plan to commence most of the measures in the Act in April next year, and in October will be publishing a consultation document seeking the views of local authorities and others on draft regulations and guidance, with a view to finalising them in the new year.
We will also be providing advice and support to local councils and other land managers through a series of events and seminars on the Act .
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the annual tonnage of litter collected in England in 2004–05. [15932]
Mr. Bradshaw: Government does not collect statistics on the annual tonnage of litter collected in England. However, the impact of litter on the local environment is monitored through the Annual Local Environmental Quality Survey of England (LEQSE), conducted by ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns) on behalf of Defra. Since the first survey in 2001–02 the proportion of unsatisfactory sites for litter and detritus has fallen from 28 per cent. to 22 per cent. Local authorities are also now required to provide information on litter levels through the introduction of the street cleansing best value performance indicator, BV199, which is based on the LEQSE methodology.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of removal of litter by local authorities in England in 2004–05. [15933]
Mr. Bradshaw: Data are collected by Government on the total expenditure of local authorities in England on street cleansing not chargeable to highways. The latest figure available is £538 million for 2003–04.
Olympic Games
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the former nuclear reactor site at the proposed 2012 Olympic Park last received an environmental assessment; and if she will make a statement. [15518]
Mr. Morley: I understand from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that there was a nuclear reactor site at Queen Mary College, East London. Following the reactor's being taken out of use, an independent radiological survey was carried out under the auspices of HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in August 1983. As a result of this survey and an earlier one carried out by the college, waste was removed from the site and decontamination carried out. The site was then delicensed by HSE. In doing so, HSE were required, under the terms of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, to be satisfied that there was no longer any residual danger from ionising radiation at the site. Queen Mary College's period of responsibility under the 1965 Act ended on 25 November 1983.
In 2003, environmental consultants for the London Development Agency undertook a major environmental assessment of the whole of the proposed Olympic Park site as part of the planning process. They assessed that the reactor's former presence do not and
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will not pose a risk to the Olympic Development. In particular this assessment was made as the facility is no longer in existence and has been safely decommissioned.
Petrol Vapour
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of vapour recovery systems in petrol stations. [15409]
Mr. Bradshaw: There are two types of petrol vapour recovery systems which can be fitted at petrol stations. Petrol Vapour Recovery stage I controls (PVR I) reduce emissions of petrol vapour during the delivery of petrol from road tankers to petrol stations; and stage II controls (PVR II) which reduce emissions of petrol vapour during the refuelling of vehicles.
PVR I is required at all UK petrol stations with sales above 500 cubic metres of petrol a year. The PVR I controls should prevent all petrol vapour from this source escaping to the atmosphere. Statutory guidance reflects the mandatory requirements relating to the technical standards systems must meet when installed. The guidance also specifies the maintenance regime which must be carried out to ensure PVR I systems continue to operate effectively. Local authorities carry out periodic inspections of petrol stations to ensure compliance with the requirements.
Research has shown that PVR II systems under laboratory conditions can reduce emissions of petrol vapour to air by around 85 per cent. We are considering whether to require some petrol stations to install PVR II equipment.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 242–43W, on the private finance initiative, what total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is recorded on the Government balance sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally-accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards. [15958]
Jim Knight: Further to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 242–43W, additional information is as follows:
(a) The PFI project undertaken by the core Department is to provide office facilities at Brooklands Avenue in Cambridge. No assets and liabilities for this project are recognised in the core Department's balance sheet. The accounting treatment is in line with the UK GAAP and IFRS requirements and is confirmed by the National Audit Office, the external auditor to the core Department. The notes to the accounts in the core Department's financial statements reflect the costs incurred and future commitments on the project.
(b) For the Broadland Norfolk Flood Defence and Pevensey Bay Sea Defences PFI schemes—shown against Environment Agency—no assets and liabilities
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for these projects are recognised in the Environment Agency balance sheet. The accounting treatment accords with UK GAAP and IFRS requirements and is confirmed by the National Audit Office, external auditor to the Environment Agency. The notes to the accounts in the Environment Agency's financial statements reflect the costs incurred and future commitments on each scheme.
(c) No assets or liabilities in respect of the PFI project—SPIRIT IT System—shown against the Countryside Agency are recognised in the Agency's balance sheet. The accounting treatment accords with UK GAAP and IFRS requirements and is confirmed by the National Audit Office, external auditor to the Environment Agency. The notes to the accounts in theCountryside Agency's financial statements reflect the costs incurred and future commitments on the project.
(d) The four PPP schemes listed against British Waterways are classified by the Office for National Statistics as falling within the definition of a private sector company and as such fall outside British Waterways' balance sheet and hence Government's. Under these accounting arrangements, there are no liabilities and no recourse to Government Only the value of British Waterways' investment in each venture is accounted for in its balance sheet. The amounts currently invested are:
The accounting treatment is in accordance with UK GAAP and is reviewed annually by PricewaterhouseCoopers, British Waterways' auditors.
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