HC Deb 30 July 1997 vol 299 cc401-3W
Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was(a) the number of route miles open to passenger traffic on rail and (b) the total number of route miles on rail in (i) each of the last five years, (ii) 1987, (iii) 1982 and (iv) 1977; what percentage was electrified; what was the number of route miles electrified since the previous year; and what are the estimated figures for the next two years. [11575]

Ms Glenda Jackson

The information requested is shown in the table. No estimates are available for the next two years.

Mr. Caborn

The amended environmental impact assessment directive must be implemented by 14 March 1999. The new directive clarifies and amplifies the existing provisions for environmental assessment. It provides a useful tool for the proper assessment of any significant environmental effects of development. It also gives the public greater access to environmental information about such significant projects, enhancing local democracy and ensuring that the decision-making process is open and understood.

I am pleased to announce today the start of the consultation exercise on the principles of implementing the new directive into the town and country planning and other consent systems in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our aim in implementing the directive is to ensure that the process is beneficial in both environmental and economic terms. We are making a number of specific proposals for implementation which will further this aim while still maintaining the flexibility of the current system.

Copies of the consultation paper have been sent to other Government Departments and to a wide range of business, government and environmental organisations. I have also placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses.

Comments on the Government's proposals should be made to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by 1 October 1997.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which Government projects have been subjected to an environmental impact assessment since 1 May. [10943]

Mr. Raynsford

Environmental impact assessment is a term used for various types of assessment under a wide range of regulatory regimes. For projects subject to environmental assessment under directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment—the EIA directive—since 1 May, no Government projects have come forward which require EA under three of the implementing regimes for which my Department is responsible: Highways (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations; Harbour Works (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations; and the Transport and Works (Applications and Objections Procedure) Rules. Information is not yet available for this period for planning applications under the Town and Country Planning (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations.