To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the initiatives taken by the Government since 1 May in respect of environmental protection and sustainability. [2084]

We will fulfil our Manifesto commitment to put the environment at the heart of decision-making across Government and we are considering the mechanisms which will deliver this. The framework for this was outlined in the speech my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister gave on 5 June at UNED-UK. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will reinforce our international commitments when he addresses the special session of the United Nations General Assembly at its conference on sustainable development at the end of this month. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stressed the importance of the environment in his mission statement. The Department for International Development has announced a commitment to promoting sustainable development through its activities.In these first few weeks in Government it is right that we should build our policies carefully and coherently as well as imaginatively, and take time to consult widely about our future programme. But already we have begun to take steps to improve our environment. The appointment of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister as Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, demonstrates our commitment to tackle environmental issues and sustainability in a more integrated way. We are setting up machinery to enable Departments to adopt a consistent approach to assessing the environmental consequences of policies. We are about to embark on discussions with the House authorities on a powerful new parliamentary environmental audit committee to scrutinise the sustainable development implications of policies and action across Government as promised in our Manifesto.Already some significant action has been taken in specific fields. At our summit on water resources and supply last month we set out a 10 point plan to help secure reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable water supplies. This includes setting new mandatory leakage targets, doing more to help customers conserve water and reviews of the charging and abstraction systems. We have launched a fundamental transport policy review to deliver an integrated transport policy. We have set in hand work to analayse what carbon savings the main policy areas could contribute towards our Manifesto target of reducing CO, emissions by 20 per cent. by 2010. This is the beginning of our action to promote environmental protection and sustainability, delivered in just a few weeks. Much more is to follow.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for legislation to strengthen the protection given to sites of special scientific interest. [2081]

The Government are currently considering the options for strengthening the protection of wildlife and sites of special scientific interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many meetings of Green Ministers have taken place since 1 May; and what plans there are for further meetings. [2085]

In fulfilling our commitment to put the environment at the heart of Government we are currently reviewing all the existing and potential machinery for effective delivery of our goal, including the network of Green Ministers that was established by the previous Administration. Final decisions have not yet been taken but one of the outputs of that review will be to ensure that every Department plays its full part and that Ministers in every Department are fully involved in the process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will be in a position to decide on the inspector's recommendations relating to Merry Hill. [2162]

A decision will be issued shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many planning applications for new drift or deep mines have been submitted in England, Scotland and Wales in each of the past five years; which companies have submitted the applications; and what are the localities to which the applications relate. [2028]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: The number of planning applications for new deep mines in England in each of the past five years are as shown in the table. It is not possible to separate applications for deep and drift mines. Information concerning the companies who submitted the applications is not held centrally. The information relating to Scotland and Wales are matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received from council tax payers in Somerset complaining about the level of the council tax levied by Somerset county council for 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [2201]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish his decision on whether to allow Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to determine the planning application for a site at Catcliffe, South Yorkshire, to be called Waverley Leisure Park; and if he will make a statement. [2303]

I have discussed this case with ministerial colleagues; and, as a result of these discussions, we shall be seeking from the local planning authority further information. When we have this information, we will be able to decide whether the application should be called in or left to the authority to determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total cost of the cones hotline; how many calls were received; how many raised issues that resulted in remedial actions; and what was the cost of each of these calls as a percentage of the total costs. [1932]

The cones hotline operated from June 1992 until September 1995 when it was replaced by the Highways Agency information line. The cost of establishing and running the cones hotline prior to March 1994 is not available as, until then, calls were routed through the Department of Transport's general inquiry number. In the Financial year 1994–95, the cost of the dedicated service line was approximately £5,000. Staffing costs were met from within existing establishment and budgets. In the period April to September 1995 the cost of running the cones hotline is estimated at £20,000, including staff and call charges. The total number of calls received between June 1992 and September 1995 was 19,500. Approximately half the calls concerned traffic management (although only a small proportion were about traffic cones), and half were requests for information about road works or general queries about roads, planning policy and so on. Where appropriate, the Department took steps to alter the layout of road traffic cones, improve signposting at roadworks, review diversion routes, re-paint road markings and investigate road lighting at roadworks as a result of comments and complaints from hotline callers. The cost of each of these calls as a percentage of the total costs is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he requires the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to notify him of any instances where permission is given to train operators not to run services set out in the Passenger Services Requirement; and if he has been notified by OPRAF that such permission to withdraw services has been given to GNER in respect of the east coast main line franchise. [2428]

No. The Franchising Director is responsible for ensuring compliance with franchise agreements, including the conditions of Passenger Service Requirements. I understand that, in the case of GNER, no permission has been given to withdraw services specified in the PSR. I understand that the hon. Gentleman has written to the Franchising Director who will no doubt provide him with a full explanation of the position.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will issue guidelines for the improvement of rail services on Sundays. [2455]

The Government want to see improvements to rail services generally, and is particularly keen to see enhancements made to off peak services including Sunday services. The Franchising Director is currently developing Criteria for the Appraisal of Support for Passenger Rail Services which will be used to assess, among other things, proposals for new subsidised services. The criteria will assist those bringing forward initiatives to enhance services. A number of franchisees—for example, Connex Rail and M40 Trains—have introduced new Sunday services as they committed to do in their franchise plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is Government Policy concerning up-grading the Felixstowe-Liverpool-Holyhead rail link. [2178]

I understand that Railtrack, in consultation with Freightliner, is considering options for investment which would permit greater utilisation of the cross-country route between Felixstowe and the west coast main line, primarily for the transport of container freight traffic. The Government have made it clear that they expect higher levels of investment in the railway network and is considering whether the current regulatory regime is strong enough to secure that.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the long term for emergency towing vessels in Falmouth. [2176]

I have asked the Coastguard Agency to carry out an assessment of the trials of Emergency Towing Vessels over the last three winters. These results are expected by the end of July 1997. Meanwhile, the Coastguard Agency has extended the present contracts for all three Emergency Towing Vessels to provide cover during the coming winter in the Dover Strait, North West Scotland and the Western Approaches from October 1997 to March 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the present regulations regarding bicycle bells; what representations he has received on the subject; and if he will make a statement. [2288]

At present there are no requirements for bells on bicycles.As part of a public consultation exercise on proposals to update the Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations, general views were requested on the fitment of bells on pedal cycles. Strong support was shown for the mandatory fitment of bells on pedal cycles at the point of sale, and as stated in a reply to a question in another place—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the start dates for Eurostar services north of London. [2177]

I understand form Eurostar (UK) Ltd. that it plans to start running regional Eurostar services later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on plans for improvements to railway signalling and tracks; and what plans he has to meet officials of Railtrack to discuss these issues. [2454]

Plans for improvements to track and signalling are a matter for Railtrack. We have made it clear that we expect higher levels of investment in the network and are considering whether the current regulatory regime is strong enough to secure that. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has met the chairman of Railtrack to discuss a range of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he plans to take to promote leisure travel by public transport. [2456]

On 5 June my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions announced a fundamental review of transport policy—Official Report, column 226. The review will include measures to reduce car dependency and promote the use of public transport for all types of journey.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the funds available within his budget for the promotion of light rail schemes. [2405]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: Bids for funding light rail systems will be considered, on their merits, as part of the allocation of resources for funding transport capital expenditure by local authorities.But, as my right hon. Friend The Deputy Prime Minister said recently, there needs to be a co-ordinated approach to transport infrastructure. Light rail will not work in isolation but needs to be part of an integrated package of measures to achieve our overall objectives including the reduction of car dependency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last held meetings with representatives of Railtrack plc; and if he will make a statement. [2697]

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister met the chairman of Railtrack on 21 May. The Government have made it clear that we expect higher levels of investment in the network. We are considering whether the current regulatory regime is strong enough to secure that.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the Rail Regulator to complete his report into impartial ticket sales; and whether this report will be published. [2661]

The Rail Regulator is still considering how and when to publish the results of his "mystery shopping" surveys on rail ticket outlets.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has imposed a moratorium on the letting of new road contracts. [2298]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: No, but no new starts on national schemes are planned for this financial year. We are committed to a review of the roads programme, the details and scope of which will be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he will take to improve the monitoring and regulation of shipping movements in the Bristol channel. [2638]

The marine Safety Agency will continue to keep under review the need for additional routeing measures around the United Kingdom coast through its programme of maritime traffic surveys. however, the Bristol channel was not an area of concern in Lord Donaldson's report "Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas" and there are no immediate plans for a traffic survey.A comprehensive database—the COAST Ship Traffic Database—indicates an average of 22 merchant shipping movements daily through the Bristol channel comprising four tankers, 17 other cargo ships and one ferry. This is a low density compared to the 440 daily shipping movements in the busy Dover strait.Ships in the Bristol channel, as elsewhere, must navigate in accordance with the detailed Rules of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

To ask the President of the Council on which previous occasion or occasions a Bill of constitutional significance has been made subject to a timetable motion before the commencement of the Committee stage. [2153]

The Scotland Bill and the Wales Bill were the subject of allocation of time orders made on 16 November 1997, having been given a Second Reading on 14 and 15 November respectively.

To ask the President of the Council what plans she has to establish a review of parliamentary privilege. [3046]

The Government believe that, in the context of their initiative to modernize Parliament, the time is now ripe for a general review of parliamentary privilege. Various aspects of the relationship between Parliament and the courts have given rise to difficulties in recent years, and the boundaries between them have been redrawn without any fundamental reappraisal of the kind of legal immunities which Parliament and its Members ought to enjoy at the end of the twentieth century.The need for a review has become more pressing with today's announcement by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary of proposals for taking forward a general reform of the corruption statutes, which will include clarifying the law relating to bribery of Members of Parliament, as recommended by the Nolan Committee. The implications for parliamentary privilege, which would clearly be considerable, would need to be considered carefully in advance of the introduction of legislation.Since this is a matter for Parliament and one which affects both Houses the Government believes that such a review could be undertaken most appropriately by a Joint Committee. Consultations are taking place about setting up the committee and about the terms of reference it might have.The Government hope that it might be possible to complete this review by early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure the enforcement of existing legislation to outlaw the illegal employment of school age children. [1540]

We are considering how the existing system for protecting children who work might be improved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list (a) the name, (b) the salary, (c) the previous occupation and salary and (d) the terms and conditions of each political and special adviser in his Department; and what was the selection process used to appoint these persons. [2423]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: My Department employs 2 Special Advisers, Miss Wendy Alexander and Mr. Murray Elder. Immediately prior to appointment Miss Alexander was employed as a Senior Associate with Booz, Allen and Hamilton, International (UK) Ltd. and Mr. Elder already worked with me in an advisory capacity.The terms and conditions of each appointment are set out in the draft model contract, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total annual budget for Scottish Screen; and if he will provide a breakdown of the categories within that budget and the money allocated to each category. [2192]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: The cash limit for Scottish Screen in 1997–98 is £1,975,000. Scottish Screen forecasts that it will receive additional income of £711,000 making a total budget of £2.7 million. Budgets for the 8 departments have been prepared for Board approval.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the names and designations of the persons within Scottish Screen with authority to make expenditure commitments on its behalf. [2193]

[holding answer 9 June 1997]: The expenditure of Scottish Screen is the responsibility of the Chief Executive, Mr. John Archer. He delegates as appropriate to the heads of the departments of Scottish Screen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings have been held by the Board of Scottish Screen since it inception. [2194]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: One: the first meeting of the Board of Scottish Screen was held on 5 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how may times per year the Board of Scottish Screen is expected to meet; and how many times it is scheduled to meet in 1997. [2195]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: The Board of Scottish Screen will decide how frequently it will meet. Three further meetings are planned for 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were (a) the total number of people and (b) the names of the people sent to the Cannes Film Festival at the expense of Scottish Screen; and what was the expenditure incurred by Scottish Screen in respect of representation at that festival. [2197]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: Nine persons attended. Mr. John Archer, Ms Celia Stevenson, Mr. Eddie Dick, Ms Catherine Aitken, Mr. Oscar Van Heek, Ms Lesley Anderson, Ms Judy Anderson, Ms Emma Valentine and Ms Maxine Baker. The total includes four who were committed to attend the Festival by the organisation which employed them before April 1997. The expenditure incurred, including the launch of Scottish Screen at the Scottish film day, was approximately £20,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions took place between the Government and the Opposition with regard to the appointment of the chairman of Scottish Screen. [2199]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: No consultation took place between the previous Administration and the then Opposition about this appointment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure commitments made by Scottish Screen since its inception, listing the categories within the overall budget from which those commitments have been made. [2200]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: Scottish Screen has made the following commitments since its inception:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current status of the Scottish Arts Council inquiry into the productions assisted by the Scottish Film Production Fund, with which the chairman of Scottish Screen was associated. [2209]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: The Scottish Arts Council is satisfied that all Lottery film awards have met the requirements of public accountability.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangement the Scottish Office has put in place (a) to monitor the performance of Scottish Screen and (b) to make publicly available reports on the performance of Scottish Screen. [2208]

[holding answer 6 June 1997]: The performance of Scottish Screen will be measured against the objectives set in its Corporate Plan which will be approved by Ministers each year. Scottish Screen's Annual Reports will reflect the extent to which the objectives set have been achieved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to reconstitute the Registers of Scotland Customer Advisory Group. [2877]

My right hon. Friend has decided that the Customer Advisory Group is not the best way of meeting the need for a forum in which customers can seek to influence the Agency's activities, or for a body to provide independent advice on the Agency's strategic direction and has decided to discontinue it. Registers of Scotland now has a variety of ways of ensuring that customers of the Agency are fully consulted about its services and can seek to influence its activities. As regards a body to advise on the Agency's overall direction, my right hon. Friend proposes to set up a Registers of Scotland Strategic Advisory Group (ROSSAG) with the following remit:

• "to advise the Secretary of State on the Agency's:
• strategic and corporate planning;
• its Annual Report and Accounts;
• its major business developments.
• and to provide advice to the Keeper on his forward planning".

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what communications he has received from the Harthill Armadale Blackridge Against Opencast in relation to proposed development near the M8 motorway; and what response he has sent. [1971]

My right hon. Friend has received two letters form Harthill Armadale Blackridge Against Opencast expressing concern about proposals for opencast coal mining near Harthill. Both correspondents received replies from The Scottish Office indicating that, if North Lanarkshire Council were minded to grant planning permission for the proposed development, the planning application would require to be notified to my right hon. Friend in order that he might decide whether or not he would determine the issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has in respect of the legal costs incurred by local authorities that reject planning applications by those who wish to develop opencast sites. [1972]

It is for local authorities out of the resources available to them to make provision for any legal costs that may be incurred in the exercise of their statutory planning responsibilities. There are no proposals to make an exception to this long established practice in relation to opencast developments.

to ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to the European Commission in relation to the review of Objective 1 and Objective 5b structural funds. [2558]

In relation to the interim period re-assessments of the current 6 year Objective 1 and 5b programmes, the consultants' reports on the Scottish areas have all been received. They are being discussed by the Partnerships, who will produce any initial proposals for review of the programmes. I expect to put forward proposals to the European Commission late this Summer or in early Autumn.The Government has not put forward detailed submissions to the Commission at this early stage of the Reform of the Structural Funds. We expect to put forward some proposals after the completion of the Inter-Governmental Conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will extend the time scale for submissions on the programme for partnership area monitoring and evaluation guidance notes issued by the Scottish Office; and if he will make a statement. [2682]

I have no plans to do so. It is important for partnerships to put in place effective monitoring and evaluation systems as soon as possible, and they have accordingly been asked to submit monitoring and evaluation plans, together with annual reports, by the end of this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to meet the Association of Chief Police Officers to discuss youth-led urban disturbances. [934]

Both my right hon. Friend and myself have met the Association of Chief Police Officers since taking office and have discussed offending by young people with several chief officers. My right hon. Friend has made plans to discuss youth-led urban disturbances with ACPO in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce changes to the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [936]

We are reviewing the Act's provisions and will consider the options for change that best meet our Manifesto commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the OECD countries in which there has been a rise in violent crime equivalent to that in England and Wales in the last 10 years. [937]

The latest information available shows that over the period 1987–95 the number of violent crimes recorded by the police rose by 60 per cent. in England and Wales, of the 13 OECD countries for which information is available only France (71 per cent.) and New Zealand (80 per cent.) had a higher percentage increase while the lowest increase was Italy at 4 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law. [935]

We will introduce a Bill for this purpose in this Session of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to deal with drink-related crime. [938]

We plan to take early action to tackle drink-related crime including placing a new duty on local authorities and the police together to develop local community safety programmes. Our plans include introducing a tougher licensing regime, encouraging firmer measures to deal with offenders and promoting greater use of programmes aimed at preventing alcohol-related crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to prevent children turning to crime; and if he will make a statement. [939]