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Waste Management
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria his Department uses to evaluate the environmental and waste management activity of local authorities. [52822]
Mr. Meacher: My Department does not systematically evaluate the waste management performance of individual local authorities. Different waste management choices will make environmental sense in different local authority areas, depending on geography and local markets.
Information and statistics on local authority waste management are available in "Municipal Waste Management 1995-96", published by my Department last year; data on 1996-97 are due to be published shortly.
The consultation paper "Less waste: more value" explains our view that there is a case for individual local authorities or regions to be given an indication of the contribution towards national targets that the Government expect from them, taking into account their geographical circumstances. We are also considering what performance indicators on waste management should be prescribed under the new Best Value regime for local authority services, to support local accountability.
29 Jul 1998 : Column: 240
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what changes he is considering which will expedite the planning permission system for developers who wish to build on brownfield sites. [52825]
Mr. Raynsford:
Current planning policy guidance already encourages the re-use of previously developed (or brown field) sites. The Government are currently revising Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (Housing) to reflect the higher target for building new homes on previously-developed land announced in Planning for the Communities of the Future, published in February. We hope to issue a draft PPG3 for consultation later this year.
The Government are also helping local authorities and developers through their preparation of a national land use database which will for the first time produce a comprehensive picture of previously-developed land. The Government have also set up the Urban Task Force which will provide guidance on how local authorities can make better and more innovative use of such land. In addition, the Government are currently considering what role economic instruments might play in helping to bring forward more previously used land for development.
Mr. Anthony D. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he supports the US proposal for establishing mandatory ship reporting systems to reduce ship strikes on endangered large whales; and if he will make a statement. [52826]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The United States proposals were discussed at the International Maritime Organisation's 44th session of its Safety of Navigation Sub-Committee (NAV 44) from 20-24 July, where they received the full backing of the United Kingdom Delegation. We believe that the proposed mandatory ship-reporting systems off the eastern coast of the United States will make a positive contribution to reducing the number of ship strikes on right whales. We will support the formal adoption of the systems at the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee in December.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the appeal decisions for each of the last two years where the local planning authority has refused planning permission for a change of use of shop unit into a public house and the inspector has upheld the refusal. [52280]
Mr. Raynsford:
I have asked the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Chris Shepley to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 29 July 1998:
29 Jul 1998 : Column: 241
Mrs. Anne Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce further measures to allow licensed taxi drivers to exclude passengers who wish to smoke from their vehicles. [53581]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
When Parliamentary time permits, we intend to propose a change in the law to enable licensed taxi drivers to designate their vehicles as "no-smoking cabs", thereby relieving them of the obligation to carry passengers who insist on smoking.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have had with (i) the Secretary of State for Health, (ii) health ministers and (iii) officials from the Department of Health, concerning the possible carcinogenic effects of overhead power lines. [53136]
Mr. Meacher:
The Secretaries of State and Ministers of both Departments are aware of public interest in this area through correspondence and questions raised in the House. Officials from DETR and other Government Departments with a direct interest meet regularly with the national Radiological Protection Board to review information and consider developments regarding non-ionising radiation, including the alleged carcinogenic effects of overhead power lines.
An investigation into electromagnetic fields and childhood cancer is being funded by the Department of Health and forms part of the United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study. When the results of this study are published, the Secretary of State for Health will consult colleagues as appropriate.
The current consensus view is that in normal domestic circumstances there is no quantifiable risk to health from electromagnetic field from power lines or sub-stations.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue planning guidance notes to local authorities to advise against building homes underneath overhead power cables and next to pylons; and if he will make a statement. [53135]
Mr. Raynsford:
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 June 1998, Official Report, column 331, which explained that the Government intend, later this year, to issue a draft circular for consultation on development in proximity to electromagnetic fields. This would include the health and safety aspects of overhead power lines.
Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list
29 Jul 1998 : Column: 242
the cost of all research undertaken by his Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green papers and other public consultation documents drafted by his officials; and if he will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52693]
Mr. Raynsford:
The provision for DETR research spend in 1997/98 and the planned spend for 1998/99 were published in March in 'DETR Opportunities for Research and Development', which is available on the DETR Website. A summary is given in the table. Records on all research contractors are not currently kept centrally. This information is now being collected with a view to publishing it in the next edition of 'DETR Opportunities for Research and Development'. I will arrange for this information to be sent to the hon. Gentleman when it is ready.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about appeal decisions where the local planning authority has refused planning permission for a change of use of a shop unit into a public house and the Inspector has upheld the refusal.
I enclose details of 17 planning appeals which were dismissed in 1996-97, and 38 which were dismissed in 1997-98. I believe this is an exhaustive list. The list includes all cases of a change of use
to a public house, not only those from a shop unit. It may also contain some appeals against the failure of the local planning authority to determine the application within the time limit.
Should you require copies of the Inspector's decision letters for any appeal, please contact Colin Stevens (Room 1208 at the above address) directly and he will arrange for them to be sent to you. From these you will be able to see whether the Inspector agreed or disagreed with any reasons for refusal by the local authority.
| Research area | Provision 1997-1998 | Plan 1998-1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | 9.7 | 9.7 |
| Global Atmosphere | 13.56 | 13.56 |
| Radioactive Substances | 0.88 | 0.88 |
| Water and Contaminated Land | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Chemicals and Biotechnology | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Noise | 0.45 | 0.45 |
| Environmental Policy Analysis | 0.45 | 0.45 |
| Waste Policy | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Planning and Minerals | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Countryside | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| Darwin Initiative | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Local Government | 0.82 | 0.8 |
| Housing and Regeneration | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Construction | 22.9 | 22.0 |
| Environment Technology ETBPP and ETIS | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Land Transport | 18.1 | 18.8 |
| Road Safety | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| Vehicle Standards and Engineering | 5.9 | 6.2 |
| Urban and Local Transport | 4.8 | 4.8 |
| National Roads Policy | 1.2 | 1.3 |
| Cross-cutting central programmes | 1.9 | 2.0 |
| Civil Aviation Services | 0.7 | 0.4 |
| Transport Security | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Highways Agency | 12.8 | 13.2 |
| Total Research and Development | 103.56 | 103.54 |
| Technology Transfer | ||
| Construction | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Environment Technology EEBPP and ETIS | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Energy Efficiency | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Total Science and Technology | 121.56 | 121.54 |
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