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29 Jan 2008 : Column 236W—continued
Please note that the amount of formula grant that each authority receives is not directly comparable year-on-year due to changes in funding and functions over this period.
Local Government: Standards
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 11 December 2007, Official Report, column 552W, on local government: standards, what additional information local authorities will need to report to support national policy development. [182906]
John Healey: We are working with other Government Departments to identify those data collections which are to be discontinued, in line with the commitment made in the Local Government White Paper, to limit data collection to that which is necessary for reasons such as financial management and policy development, and the 30 per cent. target for reduction in data burdens announced on 9 October 2007 as part of the comprehensive spending review.
Non-domestic Rates: Tax Allowances
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the existing system of business rate reliefs and exemptions will apply to the supplementary business rate. [182580]
John Healey: “Business rate supplements: A White Paper” makes clear that, with the exception of transitional relief, existing business rates reliefs and exemptions will apply to supplements in addition to a mandatory exemption in respect of properties with a rateable value of £50,000 or less.
Rural Areas: Sustainable Development
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if she will meet the Leader and Chief Executive of Lichfield district council and the hon. Member for Lichfield to discuss plans for an eco-village near Fradley; [169170]
(2) what consultations she has had with (a) district and county councils and (b) regional assemblies on the location of the proposed new eco-towns and villages. [169171]
Caroline Flint: We are consulting with local authorities in the relevant areas covered by proposed eco-towns in January 2008 as part of an initial assessment of bids and will also consult the regional assemblies. We expect to publish proposals shortly. There will be considerable opportunity for consultation and engagement involving hon. Members, local authorities and the public before the process is completed.
Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what decision-making powers the draft Marine Bill will give to the Marine Management Organisation on major infrastructure planning in the marine environment. [181606]
Jonathan Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
The proposed Marine Management Organisation (MMO) would make development consent decisions, where the UK Government have responsibility, for all development activities in the marine area with the exceptions only of:
(i) operations that relate to oil and gas exploration and exploitation, and operations relating to the construction, maintenance, protection or removal of submarine pipelines, both of which will continue to be determined under the current regimes;
(ii) offshore renewable energy projects capable of generating more than 100 megawatts of power and major port developments, which will be determined by the proposed Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC). In these cases, the MMO will be a key adviser to the IPC, including on appropriate conditions on development consents.
The MMO will also decide on the appropriate monitoring and enforcement regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects as well as those it consents itself, and take enforcement action when necessary.
The MMO will be set up to be able to take on new functions in the future if that were the best way of achieving sustainable development in the marine area.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Aggregates: Recycling
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of production of recycled aggregate in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [181513]
Joan Ruddock: Communities and Local Government carry out a biennial survey on the 'Arisings and Use of Alternatives to Primary Aggregates in England'. The estimated production of recycled aggregates in England was 36.47 million tonnes in 2001, 39.60 million tonnes in 2003 and 42.07 million tonnes in 2005. No more recent figures are available.
Air Pollution: EU Law
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he or his officials have made representations to the European Commission in relation to the EU air quality framework directive on derogations for time limits on meeting pollution levels covered by the directive; and if he will make a statement. [181718]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 24 January 2008]: The UK has not made any request for derogations under the current EU air quality framework directive.
The new EU directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe is expected to be adopted later this year. It provides for member states to seek approval from the European Commission for plans to meet existing limit values for particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide by extended deadlines. Any decision by the Government to apply for the extended deadlines would be subject to a full public consultation.
Air Pollution: Urban Areas
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which cities did not meet their air quality targets in the latest year for which figures are available. [181463]
Jonathan Shaw: The UK is required to report breaches of EU air quality limit values/long-term objectives to the European Commission on an annual basis. The following table provides a list of all agglomerations (urban areas with a population greater than 250,000) in which breaches occurred in 2006—this is the latest year for which fully validated data is available. The data can also be accessed via the European Environment Agency’s website.
In interpreting the data, it is important to note that, in nearly all cases, the breaches occurred alongside the busiest roads in built up urban areas, such as Marylebone road in central London, and were not widespread.
The UK’s recently revised Air Quality Strategy sets out a way forward for work and planning on improving air quality throughout the UK.
| 2006 breaches of EU limit values/long-term objectives in UK agglomerations | |||||
| Nitrogen dioxide | Particulate matter (PM 16 ) | Ozone | |||
| 1 hour mean limit value | Annual mean limit value | Daily mean limit value | Annual mean limit value | Long term objective | |
| — indicates no breach; y indicates a monitored breach; m indicates a modelled breach. | |||||
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