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Deregulation
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the rules and regulations he proposes to repeal or amend by means of a reference to the Deregulation Committee before the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [2914]
Sir Paul Beresford: My Department has recently consulted interested parties on the following proposal for use of the deregulation order-maker power:
Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1907: removal of need for local authority licences for pleasure boats on waters owned or managed by British Waterways or the Environment Agency.
In addition, we have recently laid draft regulations under section 37 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 to remove 16 pieces of redundant health and safety legislation.
Going for Green Initiative
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the going for green initiative over the last 12 months; and what its targets are for the next 12 months. [2965]
Mr. Clappison: Going for Green Ltd. is a private company limited by guarantee, with the aim of promoting sustainable development to the public and helping to change everyday behaviour in a more sustainable direction. Since becoming a private company on 1 April 1996, Going for Green has secured private sector sponsorship of £360,000 in cash and an estimated £950,000 in benefits in kind. Its programme of work has included national publicity campaigns, the publication of a green code, the establishment of sustainable communities pilot projects, a study of waste minimisation
7 Nov 1996 : Column: 601
and the development of ways of measuring the extent to which individuals' lifestyles are sustainable. This work is a fundamental part of the Government's strategy on sustainable development.
Targets for 1997-98 are currently under discussion with the Department in the context of the company's business plan for next year.
Sheffield Development Corporation
Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Sheffield development corporation will be wound up; and if he will make a statement. [3041]
Mr. Curry: Statutory orders will be laid before Parliament early next year to effect the wind up and dissolution of Sheffield development corporation. Subject to parliamentary approval, the corporation will cease to act from 1 April 1997, except for the purpose of preparing its final accounts and report and winding up its affairs. The corporation will be dissolved on 1 July 1997.
Urban development corporations were set up, with finite lifetimes, to regenerate their designated areas. Since designation on 30 June 1988 Sheffield development corporation has encouraged a grant-aided private sector development and undertaken substantial environmental and infrastructure improvements, which have helped to stimulate new jobs and new life in the city and to realise Sheffield's ambitions for a city airport.
By the end of its lifetime, the corporation expects to have reclaimed 259.2 hectares of land, created 521,100 sq m of commercial floorspace, built or improved 15 m of road, created 17,683 permanent jobs and attracted £695 million of private sector investment. The corporation has transformed the Lower Don valley area and Sheffield will continue to benefit well into the next century.
Mr. Simon Coombs:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends formally to issue the guidance to the Environment Agency required under section 4 of the Environment Act 1995. [3171]
Mr. Gummer:
A draft of the guidance which Ministers are required under section 4 of the Environment Act 1995 to give to the Environment Agency on its objectives, including the contribution it is to make towards the achievement of sustainable development, has been laid before the House for the required period of 40 sitting days. Together with my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, I am today formally issuing this guidance to the Environment Agency.
We are also formally issuing to the Environment Agency a management statement which summaries Ministers' aims and objectives for the agency, its duties, powers and responsibilities, and its relationship with Ministers, Government Departments and other bodies.
An explanatory document which restates the principles of sustainable development, provides non-statutory guidance on particular functions and offers a commentary on the agency's duty to take account of likely costs and benefits is also being provided to the agency.
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Copies of these documents have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Byers:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legal advice was received prior to the Single European Act 1986 as to the effect of the term "working environment, as regards the health and safety of workers" contained in article 118a; if a copy of the advice will be placed in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [2978]
Sir Paul Beresford:
By convention, any such legal advice to Government is treated as confidential and its substance is not normally disclosed.
Ms Church:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many information technology projects have been undertaken since 1992 and are planned for the coming year, in cost bands of £1,000,000. [1904]
Mr. Bowis:
The Department estimates that it will have undertaken or plans to undertake, a total of 181 information technology projects by the end of the year. In cost bands these are as follows:
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of unserviceable passenger rail coaches that have been taken out of service in each of the last five years. [2198]
Mr. Watts:
The information is no longer held by British Rail and is a matter for the rolling stock leasing companies.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations are planned to be (a) opened and (b) re-opened in the next two years by the franchise companies. [2040]
Mr. Watts:
There are a number of proposed new stations which were the initiative of local authorities in agreement with British Rail train operating companies. These proposals are being continued by the franchisees.
Franchisees have their own longer-term initiatives to open new stations. The LTS rail franchisee, Prism Rail, intends to open a new station at West Ham by the end of 1999. The midland main line franchisee, National Express Group, is undertaking a feasibility study for a new east midlands Parkway station with the aim of completing building and development of the station during 2001.
7 Nov 1996 : Column: 603
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the chairman of Railtrack the leaking of accident investigation reports before their agreed publication dates. [1874]
Mr. Watts:
I deplore the premature and unauthorised release of accident investigation reports, and the use which is made of such leaks. The reports of internal railway joint inquiries are not normally published. This is a matter for the railway parties involved.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will direct train operating companies to install and operate automatic train protection on all trains. [1870]
Mr. Watts:
No. Automatic train protection would require changes to infrastructure as well as trains. Railtrack and train operators are pursuing a range of alternative measures to reduce risks arising from signals passed at danger, overspeeding the buffer stop collisions. The independent Health and Safety Commission advised that the introduction of ATP, as piloted, on a network-wide basis was not reasonably practicable, and that there were alternative safety investments which would be likely to yield greater effectiveness in terms of lives saved, and better value for money.
Sir Irvine Patnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what income has been generated by Sheffield Supertram since it became operational; and what steps have been taken to increase this income. [2392]
Mr. Watts:
Management of South Yorkshire Supertram is a matter for the South Yorkshire passenger transport executive, which I understand has sought to increase what have hitherto been very disappointing levels of passenger carryings.
Some of these will have started in earlier years and some will last several years. So it is not possible to identify the actual costs for a specific year.
£0-£1 million--167, £1-£2 million--3, £2-£3 million--2, £3-£4 million--4, £4-£5 million--3, £11-£12 million--1. £13-£14 million--1.
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