HC Deb 10 April 2002 vol 383 cc94-5W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the Aggregates Levy on the demand for marine dredging. [45740]

Ms Keeble

The Regulatory Impact Assessment published with the proposal for an Aggregates Levy indicated thata best estimate of the impact of a £1.60 Levy on the demand for aggregates would be a reduction of around 10 per cent.

The Aggregates Levy is set at the same level—£1.60 per tonne—for rock and sand and gravel dug from the land and sand and gravel dredged from the sea. Any overall change in demand for aggregates is likely to affect both in a broadly similar way so no separate estimate has been made for the marine dredging sector.

Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which regulations limit noise, dirt and visual intrusion in aggregates quarrying; how many complaints about a possible breach of these regulations have been made in the last 12 months; and how many prosecutions have resulted from breaches of these regulations. [45741]

Ms Keeble

Noise, dirt and visual intrusion in aggregates quarrying are controlled through planning conditions imposed by the relevant Minerals Planning Authority (MPA). The MPA is responsible for enforcing such conditions and, together with Environmental Health Officers, is likely to receive any complaints from the public about the environmental performance of individual site operators. Statistics for complaints and enforcement actions resulting from breaches of planning conditions are not collected centrally.

Sir Robert Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to tighten the present regulations governing environmental standards in the quarry industry. [46405]

Ms Keeble

My Department has no current plans to tighten regulations governing environmental standards in the quarrying industry. Regulation in respect of environmental matters is essentially for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which is responsible for transposing the relevant European directives into UK law.

My Department would need to reflect any relevant changes to environmental standards in guidance for Minerals Planning Authorities in preparing development plans and appropriate planning conditions in respect of both reviews of existing permissions and new permissions.

Sir Robert Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the amount of aggregates waste that will be stockpiled in quarries as a result of the aggregates levy. [46404]

Ms Keeble

The additional amount of aggregates waste that will be stockpiled in quarries as a result of the aggregates levy will depend on the nature and circumstances of the local market for aggregates.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the projected lifespans are of the UK reserves of(a)sand, (b)gravel and (c)rock aggregates at the present rate of consumption. [46476]

Ms Keeble

Statistics on permitted reserves of aggregate minerals are available for England and Wales. However figures for sand and gravel are not available separately because both often occur in the same deposits. Comparison of these figures with recent annual sales statistics provides rough estimates of the theoretical period over which reserves would be completely depleted if demand remains at current levels.

Permitted mineral reserves compared with sales, England and Wales
Sand and gravel Rock Total
Permitted reserves in million tonnes1 921 6,353 7,274
Annual production in million tonnes2 65 109 174
Permitted reserves divided by annual production (years) 14.2 58.3 41.8

Notes:

1From DETR 2000 Collation of the 1997 aggregate minerals survey for England and Wales. British Geological Survey (Keyworth).

2From British Geological Survey 2001 UK Minerals Yearbook 2000. British Geological Survey (Keyworth).

Statistics for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Executive and the Northern Ireland Office respectively.