§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the Housing Bill were considered in environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department; [19544]
(2) if the Housing Bill has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by his Department; [19543]
(3) how the Housing Bill was modified by the results of environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department; [19545]
(4) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the Housing Bill. [19546]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe Housing Bill, introduced into Parliament on 18 January, implements policies set out in the White Paper, "Our Future Homes", published in June 1995. Referring to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration to the hon. Lady on Wednesday 22 November 1995,Official Report column 114, environmental considerations were taken into account in the preparation of this White Paper, and a specific chapter on "Housing and the Environment" set out the Government's aim of meeting demand for housing in an environmentally sustainable way.
The specific provisions in the Bill do not have significant environmental implications. The environmental and sustainable development implications of housing policy more generally will, however, continue to be kept under review, in accordance with the Department's guidance.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by his Department on the forthcoming proposals to revise the outdoor advertisement control regime. [19579]
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§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe consultation paper entitled "Outdoor Advertisement Control: Areas of Special Control of Advertisements" is intended to contribute to the policy appraisal process. The paper and the accompanying research consultants' report outline the environmental consequences of possible changes to the areas of special advertisement control regime. The responses to consultation will help to complete the appraisal process before my right hon. Friend's decision is taken.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by his Department on the forthcoming guidance to the Environment Agency. [19578]
§ Mr. ClappisonAn environmental appraisal conducted according to "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" was not appropriate for the forthcoming guidance to the Environment Agency. The guidance was concerned not with identifying and judging policy options but rather with advising the agency on its objectives and the contribution it should make towards achieving sustainable development.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how the Housing Contracts, Construction and Development Bill was modified by the results of environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department; [19541]
(2) if the Housing Contracts, Construction and Development Bill has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by his Department; [19539]
(3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the Housing Contracts, Construction and Development Bill; [19542]
(4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the Housing Contracts, Construction and Development Bill were considered in environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department. [19540]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe housing provisions within the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill implements policies set out in the White Paper, "Our Future Homes", published in June 1995. Referring to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration to the hon. Lady on Wednesday 22 November 1995,Official Report, column 114, environmental considerations were taken into account in the preparation of this White Paper, and a specific chapter on "Housing and the Environment" set out the Government's aim of meeting demand for housing in an environmentally sustainable way.
Of the other provisions, the Bill will enable a wider range of energy saving measures to become eligible for grants made in connection with the home energy efficiency scheme. The proposed powers for financial assistance under the single regeneration budget will support activities that help to create an attractive and safe environment. The other provisions within the Bill have little or no environmental impact.
419WIn implementing the policies and provisions within this Bill, environmental and sustainable development considerations will be assessed in accordance with the Department's guidance as it relates to each policy area. For example, successful schemes under the single regeneration budget challenge fund will be monitored to ensure that the intended outputs, including improvements to land and buildings, waste management, recycling schemes, etcetera, are achieved.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "Policy Guidelines for the Coast"; [19526]
(2) "Policy Guidelines for the Coast" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [19523]
(3) What alternative courses of action from those detailed in "Policy Guidelines for the Coast" were considered in the environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department; [19524]
(4) how "Policy Guidelines for the Coast" was modified by the results of environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department. [19525]
§ Mr. ClappisonAn environmental appraisal conducted according to "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" was not appropriate for the recent DOE publication "Policy Guidelines for the Coast" as this set out—in summary form—existing policies on the various issues described.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the draft circular "Local Government Change and the planning system" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by his Department; [19531]
(2) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the draft circular "Local Government Change and the Planning System" were considered in environmental appraisals undertaken by his Department; [19532]
(3) how the draft circular "Local Government Change and the Planning System" was modified by the results of any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [19533]
(4) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the draft circular "Local Government Change and the Planning System". [19534]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordAn environmental appraisal conducted according to "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" was not appropriate for the consultation draft circular "Local Government Change and the Planning System". The draft circular is not concerned with identifying and judging new planning policies; its purpose is to explain how development plan functions and procedures will be affected by changes made following the Local Government Commission's review of local government structure, and how transitional regulations will enable work in progress on development plans to continue after those changes come into effect.
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§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if the consultation paper, "Planning Obligations"—draft revised DOE circular 16/91—has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" produced by his Department; [19535]
(2) how the consultation paper "Planning Obligations"—draft revised DOE circular 16/91— was modified by the results of environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [19537]
(3) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in the consultation paper "Planning Obligations"—draft revised DOE circular 16/91—were considered in environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [19536]
(4) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the consultation paper "Planning Obligations"—draft revised DOE circular 16/91. [19538]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordAn environmental appraisal conducted according to "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" was not appropriate for the consultation draft circular "Planning Obligations"—proposed as a replacement for DOE circular 16/91. The draft revised circular is not concerned with identifying and judging new planning policies; its purpose is rather to reaffirm the advice contained in circular 16/91 in the light of recent legal decisions and to clarify existing guidance on detailed matters.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the results of the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by his Department on the forthcoming consultation paper on draft hedgerow regulations. [19577]
§ Mr. ClappisonThe Government expressed their commitment to the protection of key hedgerows in the 1990 White Paper "This Common Inheritance". This commitment was renewed in 1994 when the results of a survey into hedgerow changes between 1990 and 1993 were published. The report showed that, although the rate of hedgerow removal has slowed and was now broadly balanced by that for new planting, hedgerows of key importance were still at risk. Consideration of the environmental impacts that would result if action was not taken to address this trend has therefore been a major factor throughout the development of our policy, and will inform the forthcoming consultation paper on hedgerow protection regulations. The regulations themselves will be introduced only after careful consideration of all responses received.