§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total sale prices were of the British Rail infrastructure companies at the time of privatisation; and how many staff were employed by them. [143766]
§ Mr. HillThe table lists the gross proceeds received from sales of each of the British Rail infrastructure companies and the number of staff employed by each company at the end of the last complete British Railways Board 4-weekly reporting period before sale.
Mercury is a toxic substance. The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory estimate is that, while total national mercury emissions have reduced from 47 tonnes in 1970 to 12.6 tonnes in 1997, crematoriums now account for 11 per cent. of total emissions. It has not been established that there is a level at which there is no toxicological effect.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what financial assistance is available to(a) private and (b) local authority crematoriums which experience difficulty in financing the purchase and installation of new equipment required by legislation. [144728]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 15 January 2001]: In line with the polluter pays principle, there is no specific funding to secure compliance with environmental protection legislation. The operators of crematoriums are expected to meet any such costs themselves, such as through the cremation fees they charge.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the number of British crematoriums which do not conform to standards on emission of heavy metals laid down by existing international agreements; [145011]
(2) if he will list the international agreements concerning the emission of heavy metals to which British crematoriums must conform; [145010]
189W(3) if he will estimate the costs of modifying British crematoriums to ensure that they conform to international obligations concerning the emission of heavy metals. [145012]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 15 January 2001]: There are no international agreements which specifically require the setting of emission limits for heavy metals from crematoriums or the making of modifications to crematoriums. But without specifying the sources from which emissions reduction must be secured, commitments to reduce heavy metals are or may be included in the hazardous substances strategy of the Oslo and Paris Commission, the Heavy Metals Protocol to the UN Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, and in the work being undertaken to draw up daughter directives to set limit values for concentrations of various pollutants in ambient air under the EU Air Quality Framework Directive.
If it is decided domestically to propose heavy metals emission limits in the statutory guidance for crematoriums, we will include cost and benefit information when consulting relevant interests.
§ Mr. PatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to issue new guidelines to British crematoriums in respect of emissions of heavy metals. [145013]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 15 January 2001]: We are currently undertaking a second periodic review of all the statutory guidance for processes regulated by local authorities under Part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in consultation with interested organisations. The review of the crematoriums guidance is addressing emissions of heavy metals among other issues. It is intended to issue revised guidance when the review is complete.