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Public Safety Zone Policy
Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what further decisions he has reached on Public Safety Zone Policy and administration since the announcement on 31 July 1998. [87251]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Since my announcement we have been developing our proposals on two fronts, relating to the definition of new Public Safety Zone boundaries and to the preparation of guidance to local planning authorities for use in considering planning applications. Work is well in hand on the redefinition of the existing Public Safety Zones. We shall notify the local planning authorities and airports concerned of the grid co-ordinates of the new Zones during the next couple of months, and we shall follow this up by providing the data to them in map form. We shall also define Public Safety Zones for Teesside and Sheffield City airports, which were mentioned in the December 1997 consultation document.
Meanwhile we are today issuing for consultation a draft of a circular to local planning authorities in Great Britain containing guidance for use in considering applications for development within Public Safety Zones. This recommends that new housing development, and most types of non-housing development, should not be approved within Public Safety Zones. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Subject to the progress of this consultation we hope to bring the new arrangements into effect later this year in relation to the airports which already have Public Safety Zones, and to Teesside and Sheffield City. At that stage the residual work of the Civil Aviation Authority in administering the Public Safety Zone policy will be transferred to the Department. We hope by next spring to have established Public Safety Zones at the other airports for which modelling work suggests that this would be justified.
Ann Keen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy on land-use planning and renewable energy in England. [87315]
15 Jun 1999 : Column: 87
Mr. Caborn:
The Government's policy is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 22, published in February 1993. This makes clear that in formulating the policies and proposals in their development plans, and in making decisions on applications for specific renewable energy developments, local planning authorities need to consider both the immediate impact on the local environment and the wider contribution to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. They need to take account of the Government's policy for renewable energy sources along with policies for Green Belts, conservation areas and industrial and commercial development, for example.
In October 1998, the Department published a good practice guide on "Planning for Sustainable Development" and sent copies to all local planning authorities. The guide includes advice on renewable energy. It underlines the importance of renewable energy, developing a strategy at regional and local levels for the provision of renewable energy development and having clear policies and criteria in plans to help decide individual applications. The Department has held a series of seminars for local planning authorities and others to disseminate the messages of the guide.
On 30 March 1999, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Industry published a consultation document, "New and Renewable Energy: Prospects for the 21 Century". This confirmed that the Government are working towards a target of renewable energy providing 10 per cent. of UK electricity supplies as soon as possible and that they hope to achieve this by 2010. It also underlined the important role of renewables in enabling the UK to meet its legally binding target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. (compared to 1990) by 2008-12 and its goal of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 per cent. by 2010.
The consultation document indicated that the Government are reviewing the contribution which the planning system has to make to delivering their target for renewable energy and noted that widespread adoption of renewable of energy will not be possible unless the public is prepared to accept projects in their locality. The consultation document also acknowledged that concerns have sometimes been expressed that the current Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) scheme does not address, e.g. environmental aspects, sufficiently effectively and that future support mechanisms or obligations will need to deliver good quality schemes.
The planning system has an important role in helping to deliver the Government's targets and goals for renewable energy and climate change. It is clear that we need a positive strategic approach to planning for renewable energy from regional level downwards, with appropriate provision made for development in authorities' plans. There needs to be an open and constructive dialogue between prospective operators, local planning authorities and local people about identifying suitable sites with sensitivity and care. We shall build on these themes in considering what further practical steps may be needed to ensure that the planning system enables renewable energy provision to contribute to the UK's sustainable energy needs while continuing to protect the countryside.
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Mr. Fallon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 142, on the BBC, (1) if he will set out the internal and external audit requirements for BBC Worldwide and BBC Resources Ltd; [86270]
(2) what are the agreed borrowing limits for BBC Worldwide and BBC Resources Ltd.; and what is the security for such borrowing; [86268]
(3) if the agreed borrowing limits for BBC Worldwide and BBC Resources Ltd. count as part of the public sector borrowing requirement. [86269]
Janet Anderson:
BBC Worldwide and BBC Resources are audited under the BBC's group internal audit plan. Both companies are required to have an external audit because they are limited companies that exceed the threshold size for audits.
BBC Worldwide has a loan agreement with the BBC which allows maximum borrowings of £150 million, subject to the constraints of three financial covenants: net assets, free cash flow and interest cover. BBC Resources has a £70 million term loan facility and a £30 million revolving loan facility which reduce to zero by August 2005. As with BBC Worldwide, borrowing is restricted by various financial and non-financial covenants within a loan agreement with the BBC. The covenants in both cases ensure, among other things, that licence fee money is not placed at risk.
Only the BBC's external borrowings form part of the public sector borrowing requirement, so the borrowing limits for BBC Worldwide and BBC Resources would only impact on the public sector borrowing requirement if they were to lead to an increase in the BBC's own borrowing from the market.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his contribution to the EU meetings at Weimar on cultural and audiovisual issues, in respect of (i) European identity and history, (ii) self-regulation of the media, (iii) the Culture 2000 programme and (iv) the Commission Green Paper on Convergence. [86364]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
This was an informal meeting of EU Culture Ministers, with no formal agenda or conclusions. There was a wide-ranging exchange of views on these and other subjects. On the Culture 2000 programme, I indicated the UK's desire to agree a Common Position at the formal Culture/Audiovisual Council on 28 June. That Council will also consider draft conclusions on convergence and self-regulation in the media. I drew attention to a number of features which are common to both, noting in particular that self-regulation can be expected to make an important and complementary contribution to state regulation in the light of future digital media developments. The discussion on European identity and history focused on a presentation from the Spanish writer and former Minister of Culture, Jorge Semprun.
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Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to publish the report of the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education; and if he will make a statement. [86934]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 14 June 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Coleman) on 14 May 1999, Official Report, column 226. Printed copies of the report will be available from the Department for Education and Employment's Publication Centre from 14 June 1999.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the current estimate of the amount of money to be given to the good causes under the present National Lottery licence arrangements. [86688]
Mr. Chris Smith:
Our latest forecast is that the income (including interest) to good causes from the National Lottery over the seven years of the current licence will be at least £10.85 billion, £1.85 billion more than originally anticipated when the Lottery was launched in 1994.
Cultural Education
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