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Herald Way Marsh
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many species of plants and animals are indigenous to the Herald Way marsh in Coventry; and of those, how many are classified as endangered. [50120]
Angela Eagle: Over 1,142 species of plant and animal have been recorded at Herald Way marsh. The figure breaks down as follows:
- 250 species of plant
- 848 species of invertebrate
- 4 species of amphibian and reptile
- over 40 species of bird
- a range of common mammals.
The site supports an important assemblage of invertebrates, including 3 species that are classified as Rare or Vulnerable nationally, and 79 species classified as notable (considered scarce on a national scale).
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many species of animals, plants and insects there are (a) in Herald Way marsh and (b) on average in other sites of special scientific interest in England. [50122]
Angela Eagle:
1,142 species of animal, plant and invertebrate have been recorded at Herald Way marsh. For a breakdown of the figures I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the previous question.
Species lists for all 3,995 SSSIs in England are not held and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of water quality in Herald Way marsh; and what proportion of the impurities found comes from (a) industrial and (b) agricultural sources. [50123]
Angela Eagle:
The Environment Agency, which is responsible for monitoring water quality, is not aware of any direct industrial or agricultural sources of pollution of the Herald Way marsh. The land beneath the marsh is, however, contaminated by longstanding deposits of colliery waste. Leachability tests have indicated that the contaminants are relatively immobile and therefore pose a negligible risk to the environment if left in-situ. Since construction activity could disturb the contaminants, the Agency has asked the local planning authority to request detailed assessment of the environmental implications of all proposed developments in the area.
14 Jul 1998 : Column: 121
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the mechanisms currently used to prevent activities that damage sites of special scientific interest; what duties are placed on public bodies to protect sites of special scientific interest; and what powers agencies have to monitor sites of special scientific interest. [50124]
Angela Eagle:
There are a variety of consultation mechanisms, both between the conservation agency and landowners and between the agencies and other bodies, which serve to highlight potential problems and enable the conservation agencies to take action to remedy them, and prevent damage.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many sites of special scientific interest are located in industrial or urban areas of (a) England and (b) the United Kingdom. [50119]
Angela Eagle:
This information is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are taking to restore sites of special scientific interest that have been damaged by long-term pollution. [50121]
Angela Eagle:
It is not the Government's responsibility to restore sites damaged by long-term pollution. In most cases, the owner is expected to take responsibility for the restoration of a site. However, several statutory regimes exist providing measures for the remediation of damage caused by long-term pollution, including damage in SSSIs. Section 161 of the Water Resources Act 1991, and section 161A when implemented, give considerable powers to the Environment Agency to deal with pollution of controlled waters. Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, when implemented, will give enforcing authorities new powers to secure remediation of contaminated land, as defined. SSSIs are proposed to be specifically included amongst the receptors to be considered when determining whether land meets the definition.
Judy Mallaber:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the eighth Annual report of the Drinking Water Inspectorate will be published. [50748]
Mr. Leslie:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the eighth annual report of the Drinking Water Inspectorate will be published. [50813]
Mr. Meacher:
The Drinking Water Inspectorate has published its eighth Annual Report today.
14 Jul 1998 : Column: 122
The Inspectorate will also publish leaflets for consumers. One will summarise the main points of the Report and the others will give brief details of the quality of drinking water supplied by each water company.
Copies of the Report and leaflets will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department's research on the impact of urban development corporations will be published. [50752]
Mr. Caborn:
The results of two evaluations of Urban Development Corporations (UDCs) were published today, one examining the "Performance and Good Practice Lessons of UDCs" and the other the "Impact of UDCs in Leeds, Bristol and Central Manchester". Copies of each report and summary of findings have been placed in the Library of the House. The Department's evaluation of the LDDC, "Regenerating London Docklands" was published in June. These reports, taken together, represent a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of UDCs and set out good practice lessons for future regeneration agencies.
Mr. Rooney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implications for local authority rents of the figures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer today for expenditure on housing revenue account subsidy included in the total of annually managed expenditure. [50864]
Ms Armstrong:
The provision for Housing Revenue Account Subsidy allows for a real increase in local authority rents of 1 per cent. next year and of 2 per cent. in each of the following two years. The consequent increase in rental income net of increased rent rebates will be available for increased revenue expenditure on maintaining the stock. The detailed proposals for the determination of HRA subsidy for 1999-2000 and subsequent years will be subject to consultation in the usual way. Rent policy for the longer term remains under consideration within the Welfare Reform process.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the proposed Junction 8 of the M62 is included in the Roads Review. [50197]
Dr. Strang:
No. The Commission for the New Towns have agreed to fund this scheme. Schemes like this which are to be funded by developers are excluded from the Review as explained in my Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. Whitehead) on 19 June 1997, Official Report, columns 278-79. This answer corrects the one given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State on 12 May 1998, Official Report, column 62.
14 Jul 1998 : Column: 123
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on the implications of the recent proposal for widening the M25 for growth in (a) traffic and (b) carbon dioxide emissions; [47988]
(3) if he will make a statement on the cost of the recent proposal for widening the M25. [47986]
Dr. Strang:
I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Tom Brake, dated 14 July 1998:
14 Jul 1998 : Column: 124
(2) if he will make a statement on the environmental impact of the recent proposal for widening the M25; [47987]
The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the M25.
There are three sets of proposals to widen the M25 between Junctions 12-15, Junctions 15-16 and Junctions 16-19. All three are being considered in the Government's review of the role that trunk roads should play in an integrated transport system.
The schemes are described broadly in Vol 2 of the roads review consultation document--a copy of the relevant page is attached--but until we know the outcome of the review, we cannot say what form the proposals will take if indeed Ministers decide to take the schemes forward. I am afraid I cannot therefore provide the information you seek. The Government hopes to announce the results of the roads review this summer.
We are also considering proposals to improve safety on the eastbound approach to M25 J6, but these proposals are at too early a stage for us to be able to provide the information you ask for.
M25 J12-15 widening
Standard D5/D6
Scheme cost £93.8 million
Length 10.9km
Next Stage OM
Widening of the M25 in Surrey between Junction 12 (the junction with the M3) and Junction 15 (the junction with the M4). The scheme is to widen within the highway boundary from dual 4 lane to dual 5 lane between Junctions 12 and 14 and from dual 4 lane to dual 6 lane between Junction 14 and 15. This section of the M25 connects with the M3, M4, A30 and provides access via A3113 to Heathrow Airport. The M25 is part of the Trans European Road Network.
M25 J15-16 widening
Standard D5
Scheme cost £43.1 million
Length 7.5km
Next Stage OP
Widening of the M25 between Junction 15 (M4) and Junction 16 (M40) from dual 4 lane to dual 5 lane standard largely within the existing highway boundary. The M25 is part of the Trans European Road Network. The scheme's objective is to provide additional capacity.
M25 J16-19 widening
Standard D4
Scheme cost £94.4 million
Length 16.0km
Next Stage OM
Widening of the M25 between Junction 16 (M40) and Junction 19 (the Watford Spur) from D3 to D4 standard within the existing highway boundary. The scheme's objective is to provide
additional traffic capacity. The scheme has been identified for review to establish whether a smaller scale solution could be adopted.
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