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Anthrax (King's Cross Station)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the presence of anthrax spores in King's Cross station, with particular reference to the implications for the proposed redevelopment of the building as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [38444]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Anthrax spores were found in the loft spaces over certain office buildings at King's Cross station in 1992. Railtrack undertake biannual airborne sampling tests at the station to monitor the situation and have introduced suitable safety procedures for contractors working in those areas affected. The latest tests in March 1998 found no anthrax spores present at the station. There is no planned redevelopment of King's Cross station as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project.
Recycling
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to encourage the growth of United Kingdom recycling industries. [37936]
Angela Eagle: There is already a national recycling industry, based around 100 Material Recycling Facilities and a large number of reprocessors for glass, metal, plastics and paper.
The Government are committed to an increased level of recycling and are therefore keen to see an expansion of this industry.
We have introduced a number of measures to achieve this.
We have initiated discussions with representatives of local authorities, the waste management industry, reprocessors, manufacturers and trade associations to ascertain what further measures can be taken by both industry and Government to increase recycling.
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We and colleagues in the DTI are examining the progress of the Producer Responsibility initiatives in end of life vehicles, newspapers, electrical and electronic goods, tyres, and batteries and the extent to which this initiative might be extended. Most of these sectors are also the subject of proposed EC legislation.
We shall review the waste strategy for England and Wales. A consultation paper is to be issued shortly. One of the main elements for the new strategy will be an examination of how we can improve our national performance on recycling.
Other drives will have a positive effect on the recycling industry in the longer term. As well as the continuing effect of the packaging legislation, these include: further guidance my Department will be issuing to local authorities on good practice later this year, and consideration by local authorities of joint municipal waste strategies with neighbouring authorities.
Mr. Charles Kennedy:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the assistance to public transport in rural areas announced in the Budget will be allocated to (a) the providers of bus services and (b) the operators of rail services. [38563]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Budget included provision for an additional £50 million a year across the UK for rural public transport. There is no specific provision for the operators of rail services. £45 million will be used to support additional bus services in rural areas. The rest will be made available for community-based transport schemes. Criteria will be developed to ensure a fair and comparable distribution process, and to make sure the money gets to where it is most needed.
Mr. Charles Kennedy:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken (a) to preserve existing rights of way which are suitable for use by the disabled and (b) to increase the number of rights of way accessible to the disabled. [38565]
Angela Eagle:
My Department, through the Countryside Commission, supports the valuable work of the Fieldfare Trust in promoting access to the countryside. The rights of way network is one means by which everyone can enjoy the countryside. We commend the recently published BT Countryside for All Good Practice Guide which contains standards and guidelines on access to the countryside which take disabled people's needs into account. Local authorities, which have statutory responsibilities for rights of way, should make themselves aware of the Guide. They should also be aware of their duties and responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Mr. Llwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safety regulations are enforced by borough councils to protect council workers working underground, in (a) sewers (b) and other confined spaces. [38450]
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Angela Eagle:
The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 are enforced by the Health and Safety Executive to protect council workers in these workplaces.
Mr. McGrady:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for a re-evaluation of the risk calculations that underpin the current discharge authorisations at Sellafield. [38427]
Angela Eagle:
The Environment Agency are currently considering an application to vary the discharge authorisations at Sellafield. The Agency will carry out an evaluation of risk as part of their consideration of the application.
Mr. Todd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he intends to take on the application for new discharge authorisations from Sellafield. [38582]
Angela Eagle:
A number of requests have been made for the Secretary of State to call this application in for his own determination. These requests are under consideration.
Mr. Mullin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the outcome of the public inquiry held in early 1997 regarding proposed multi-screen cinema developments in Sunderland. [38584]
Mr. Raynsford:
Progress is being made in considering the Inspector's report. However, some of the issues are complex and there has been a significant amount of post-inquiry correspondence which needs careful examination. A decision will be issued as soon as this process is completed.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ask the Audit Commission to make access to polling stations for the disabled a local authority performance indicator. [38343]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Government are discussing with the Audit Commission how local authority performance indicators might be developed. We shall ensure that access for disabled persons to polling stations is included in those discussions. As required under the Local Government Act 1992, the Commission will consult widely on its proposals in the summer.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions for destruction of limestone pavement there have been in each of the past five years. [38394]
Angela Eagle:
I am not aware of any prosecutions.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by location the number of limestone pavement orders. [38392]
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Angela Eagle:
I will write to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to strengthen protection of limestone pavements. [38393]
Angela Eagle:
We are presently considering ways of improving the protection and management of our special sites. There is likely to be consultation later this year.
Mr. Kemp:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to assess the possible effects upon users of continued exposure to (a) ozone emissions and (b) hazardous chemicals and pollutants produced by office (i) photocopiers and (ii) laser printers; and if he will commission research into the effects of long-term exposure to photocopiers and laser printers. [38567]
Angela Eagle:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently reviewed in detail the scientific evidence on potential health effects of occupational exposure to ozone. The evidence was presented to the Working group on the Assessment of Toxic Chemicals (WATCH) committee, a tripartite committee of experts in occupational health, in 1995.
WATCH agreed that the lead health effect of ozone is irritation of the upper respiratory tract. Based on the results of studies in human volunteers, WATCH recommended that an Occupational Exposure Standard (OES) of 0.2 ppm (15-minute reference period) should be established in the UK for ozone. This recommendation was endorsed by ACTS (Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances). Thus, within the UK there is now an OES for ozone of 0.2 ppm (15-min reference period).
In relation to exposure to ozone from photocopier machines, short-term (i.e transient) exposures of far below 0.1 ppm occur in normal circumstances. At these levels there is no risk of development of any health effects in office workers in the vicinity of photocopier machines. However, if there is inadequate general ventilation, it has been estimated that exposures up to 0.5 ppm can occur. As long as photocopiers are situated in locations which have adequate general ventilation, ozone concentrations will remain far below the level at which there might be any risk of irritation in office workers.
HSE has issued guidance on ozone (EH38 revised, published 1996), which indicates that working with photocopy and laser printer machines is a low risk activity. As long as there is adequate general ventilation, there will be no risks to health from emissions of substances from these machines.
Photocopy toners are fine powders which have a faint plastic odour. There is an extensive body of experimental research results from studies conducted at a number of laboratories throughout the world, into the potential health effects of a range of 16 different commercial photocopy toners. This research has been evaluated within HSE. This evaluation indicates that photocopy toner dusts are lacking in any specific toxic properties.
Occupational exposure to photocopy toner dusts has been assessed by HSE. This report indicated that even under worst-case scenario conditions (a print-shop operator working continuously for 8-hours and carrying
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out two maintenance procedures during that time), the total exposure to respirable photocopy toner dust would only be 0.0014 mg/m3 (the term "respirable" indicates the airborne fraction which is capable of reaching the lungs).
Overall, it can be concluded that working in close proximity to photocopy machines including carrying out maintenance procedures involving changing toner cartridges etc, will carry no risks of lung damage or other effects on human health in relation to the inhalation of toner dust.
an increase in the higher rate of landfill tax from £7 per tonne to £10 per tonne from April 1999;
a review of the Packaging Regulations, to ensure that they meet their objective of doubling the recycling and recovery of packaging waste by 2001;
publication of guidance to local authorities on revising and updating their recycling plans.
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