§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [10605]
(2) if the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in his Department's document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [10603]
(3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the final draft minerals 201W planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System"; [10606]
(4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the final draft minerals planning guidance note 1 "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [10604]
§ Mr. Robert B. Jones"Policy Appraisal and the Environment" sets out an approach whereby environmental effects can be taken into account in policy development, while recognising that this will vary from case to case depending on the complexity and significance of the impacts. Minerals planning guidance note 1, general considerations and the development plan system, sets out the Government's policy on various issues concerning planning for minerals in England, including how policies for mineral extraction can be more consistent with the principles of sustainable development. This is being revised and developed following widespread consultation on a draft. It seeks to strike a balance between the aim of ensuring a supply of minerals and the need to protect the environment and conserve minerals as far as possible.
The final draft consultation document includes many modifications to the first draft reflecting the views expressed by environmental organisations and others. I do not intend to publish a separate environmental appraisal in addition to the draft advice already published and the final guidance when completed. The Government will monitor the effectiveness of the policy guidance through regular liaison with minerals planning authorities and other bodies and the Deparment's research programme.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if(a) the forthcoming housing discussion paper, (b) draft planning policy guidance note "Countryside and the Rural Economy", (c) the forthcoming annual review of the United Kingdom sustainable development strategy and (d) the forthcoming draft planning policy guidance note 1 "General Policy and Principles" will be subject to an environmental appraisal in accordance with the guidance contained in his document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will make a statement. [10617]
§ Mr. Clappison(a) No. The housing discussion paper is a consultation document. (b) and (d) environmental impacts are being fully considered during the revision of PPG7, "The Countryside and the Rural Economy", and PPG1, "General Policy and Principles". (c) No. "This Common Inheritance: UK annual report 1996" will not itself set new policies. I fully endorse the need for environmental impacts to be taken into account in the development of new policy.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the White Paper "Making Waste Work" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in his Department's document "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [10599]
(2) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the White Paper "Making Waste Work"; [10602]
202W(3) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the White Paper "Making Waste Work" were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [10600]
(4) how the White Paper "Making Waste Work" was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [10601]
§ Mr. ClappisonIt would not have been appropriate to undertake an environmental appraisal, using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", in relation to the White Paper "Making Waste Work". The White Paper sets out our strategy for achieving more sustainable waste management and includes a range of waste management practices. It emphasises that the choice of a waste management method for a particular waste stream will be guided by the principle of using the best practicable environmental option which would take into account both the environmental and economic costs and benefits of different methods of waste management.
Indeed, such an appraisal could be undertaken only on the basis of reliable statistical information which is equally true of monitoring environmental impacts. The White Paper acknowledges that much of the necessary information is not readily available or is available with insufficient precision to enable reliable estimates to be made. An important part of the waste strategy is, therefore, to ensure that better information relating to waste is available and the White Paper sets out how this will be achieved.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the forthcoming rural White Paper, annual review, will be subject to an environmental appraisal in accordance with the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", published by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the environmental appraisal. [10616]
§ Mr. ClappisonA progress report on the commitments contained within the rural White Paper, "Rural England: A Nation Committed to a Living Countryside", will be produced later this year. Environmental impacts will be taken into account in following up the commitments contained within the White Paper.