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an agreed management scheme provides otherwise. In most cases there will be no reason why the public should not have free access, as already applies in urban areas. In some cases, however, particularly where commons are important for conservation or where increased access would adversely affect other existing uses, the arrangements for access will need to safeguard those interests. In these cases this could best be achieved by extensions of the public rights of way system.We believe that in the great majority of cases it should be possible for all interests concerned to reach agreement locally on arrangements that will provide for better management and improved public access. In any case where a management association is unable to reach agreement, we propose that the matter should be referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment for decision ; in such cases existing arrangements would remain in force pending this decision.
I believe that these proposals, prepared after extensive consultations, will command widespread acceptance. I will now be embarking on detailed discussions with those most directly involved to work out how to deal with the practical problems that remain.
Minerals and Waste Disposal
Mr. Madel : To ask the secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about decisions by county councils on minerals and waste disposal planning applications.
Mr. Atkins : Following a study which the Department undertook jointly in 1988 with the Association of County Councils, statistics have been collected quarterly on the decisions taken by county planning authorities on minerals and waste disposal applications. In future, these statistics will be published alongside those reporting decisions taken by district councils, to provide a comprehensive picture on local authorities' development control performance. County matter decisions will also be published annually with other development control statistics.
I am concerned that there are increasing delays in giving decisions on county matter planning applications. My Department will consult on possible improvements to the system, notably the introduction of a standard planning application form for minerals proposals, and possible legislation to enable county matter applications to be made direct to county councils rather than via district councils. It will also commission research into the use made of section 52 agreements generally, including ways in which the conclusion of such agreements might be speeded up.
Both industry and county planning authorities can help in a number of ways. Industry should ensure that applications are accompanied at the outset by sufficient supporting information to enable the application to be determined. Also, operators are strongly urged to discuss their proposals informally with the planning authority at the earliest possible stage before the application is submitted. Similarly, early discussion with the appropriate statutory bodies is recommended to resolve any conflicts of interest and establish what information should accompany the full application.
I look to county councils to make every effort to improve their performance. In particular, they should target applications for consideration at an early meeting of
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the planning committee. They should also seek prompt responses to the consultations that they are obliged to carry out with other bodies.Pollution Control Appeals
Mr. Bellingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the appeals under section 10 of the Control of Pollution Act 1976 currently under consideration, showing the dates when they were first lodged ; how many decisions have been issued since 3 January ; and if he will make a statement on the time taken for these appeals to be determined.
Mr. Trippier : I will write to my hon. Friend.
Councillors
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implementation of sections 9, 13, and 15 to 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
Mr. Portillo : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be making an order commencing from 1 August 1990 for England and Wales, the provisions of sections 9, 13, and 15 to 17 of, and schedule 1 to, the 1989 Act. These deal with assistants to political groups, the voting rights of co-opted members of local authority committees, and the requirements for pro rata representation on committees and other bodies. He, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, will be laying the necessary regulations before Parliament, to come into effect on the same day. The necessary order under section 9 is also being made to come into force in due course. Separate regulations deaing with pro rata representation on sub-committees of county police committees will be laid in due course.
The Government are, however, still taking advice on certain aspects of the regulations to introduce the new system of councillors' allowances in England and Wales, and more time is needed to resolve these. A further announcement will be made as soon as possible.
Rented Housing (Code of Practice)
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has approved the draft code of practice in rented housing submitted to him by the Commission for Racial Equality.
Mr. Chris Patten : I have approved the draft code of practice and I am laying it before both Houses today.
Housing (Conservation Areas)
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses fall within (a) the designated conservation areas and (b) the designated areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : I will write to my hon. Friend.
Satellite Television
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has had to date to the consultation paper "Permitted Development Rights for Satellite Television Antennae" ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Atkins : I will write to my Friend.
Bottle Banks
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the proportion of bottle banks per head of population in each London borough.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 25 July 1990] : Information supplied by the British Glass Manufacturers Confederation shows the following situation at the end of March 1990 for bottle bank sites that are accessible to the public :
Borough |Population per bottle
|bank site
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Barking |16.400
Barnet |60,280
Bexley |18,370
Brent |42,870
Bromley |29,820
Camden |12,170
City of Westminster |5,660
Croydon |19,830
Ealing |21,240
Enfield |10,870
Greenwich |16.500
Hackney |26,990
Hammersmith and Fulham |9,350
Haringey |8,010
Harrow |12,320
Havering |14,730
Hillingdon |21,080
Hounslow |19,080
Islington |10,580
Kensington and Chelsea |13,960
Kingston upon Thames |16,810
Lambeth |18,420
Lewisham |9,540
Merton |11,720
Newham |20,700
Redbridge |14,430
Richmond upon Thames |8,460
Southwark |27,130
Sutton |10,510
Tower Hamlets |23,110
Waltham Forest |26,660
Wandsworth |32,140
There are no bottle banks in the City of London.
Motorway Service Areas
Mr. Snape : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, when he consults about proposed motorway service area applications made under circular 18/84 after he has received the inspector's report on an inquiry into a Department of Transport motorway service area proposal.
Mr. Atkins : The timing and extent of any consultations will depend on the circumstances of the case, but it is customary to notify the developing Department of the proposed decision.
Community Charge
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce regulations to remove the need for chargepayers to inform community charge registration offices of their new home address or a forwarding address whenever they move to a new charging authority area ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholls : There is no intention to remove the requirement for chargepayers to inform the CCRO for the
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area concerned of their new address. Individuals may volunteer a forwarding address to the CCRO for an area in which they no longer reside, so that they can receive confirmation that their original register entry in that area has been deleted, but they are under no obligation to do so.Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance is issued to local authorities about the collection of outstanding community charge from a deceased's estate ; and what guidance is issued with regard to the rating of a property rendered empty by the death of the occupier or owner.
Mr. Portillo : Guidance on the collection of outstanding community charge where the person who was subject to the charge has died is contained in community charge practice note No. 24.
A standard community charge may arise in respect of a property which was the sole or main residence of the owner and which becomes vacant on his or her death. The Government have provided that no charge is payable until three months after the grant of probate or letters of administration are made. Charging authorities have discretion to extend this period and to set a standard charge which is less than the maximum if they wish. Guidance on this is contained in practice note No. 13 and practice note No. 24. Copies have already been placed in the Library of the House.
We propose for next year an extension to six months after the grant of probate, or letters of administration are made, of the period before an unoccupied property can be charged at a multiplier of more than 0 on the death of the occupier. Details are contained in a consultation paper, "The Standard Community Charge and other Matters", published on 19 July, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
Sheltered Housing
Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether residents of Anchor housing and other sheltered housing schemes will be eligible for the further transitional relief under the provisions announced last week ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : We estimate that more than 4 million additional people will receive transitional relief next year as a result of our proposals. Whether an individual qualifies and by how much will depend on the assumed rates bill, the assumed for actual community charges and the number of chargepayers who were resident in the property on 31 March 1990. Those relatively few people in sheltered housing schemes who do not qualify for transitional relief may of course be entitled to community charge benefit.
TRANSPORT
Veteran Aircraft
Mr. Onslow : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the flying accidents involving veteran service aircraft in private ownership which have occurred during the past 15 years.
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Mr. McLoughlin : The following information is for the period 1 January 1976 to date and refers to notifiable accidents to United Kingdom- registered aircraft world-wide and foreign-registered aircraft in the United Kingdom. Types such as the Auster, Chipmunk, and Argosy, which have both civil and military certification, have been excluded.
Date |Accident
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 December 1977 |Heinkel 111, Madrid, struck high ground
6 February 1978 |Spitfire, Coventry, wheels up landing
27 August 1978 |Avro 19, Andrewsfield, wheels collapsed on
| landing
24 June 1979 |Sea Fury, Munster, ran out of fuel
25 May 1980 |Invader, Manston, axle broke while taxying
21 September 1980 |Invader, Biggin Hill, crashed during display
2 August 1981 |Sea Fury, Waddington, engine failure
15 May 1982 |Me 109, Biggin Hill, swung on landing
22 June 1982 |Harvard, Malta, crashed during air race
18 September 1982 |Sopwith Pup, Hucknall, hard landing
21 August 1983 |Lysander, Chipping Norton, engine failure in
| flight
19 August 1984 |Varsity, Marchington, engine failure on take
| off
7 September 1985 |Harvard, Bourne, crashed during aerobatics
5 March 1986 |Spitfire, Southampton, wheels collapsed on
| landing
31 May 1986 |Catalina, Plymouth, float struck buoy
2 July 1986 |Sopwith Pup, Biggleswade, engine failure in
| flight
2 July 1986 |Sopwith Pup, Middle Wallop, wheels
| collapsed landing
10 August 1986 |Vampire, Cranfield, canopy separated on
| take off
21 June 1987 |Blenheim, Denham, crashed on golf course
28 July 1987 |Provost, Englefield, engine failure in flight
7 July 1988 |Mosquito, Hawarden, swung off runway on
| landing
2 November 1988 |Catalina, North Weald, wheel retracted on
| landing
15 June 1989 |Harvard, Gransden, swung off runway on
| landing
24 June 1989 |Argus, Lydd, engine failure in flight
25 June 1989 |Avro 504, Old Warden, engine failure in
| flight
1 July 1989 |Spitfire, Hartley Whitney, engine failure in
| flight
18 July 1989 |F100, Hurn, overran runway on landing
25 July 1989 |B17, Binbrook, crashed on take off
Empty Properties
Mr. Soley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the percentage of properties suitable for residential use and owned or administered by his Department (i) empty for more than six months, (ii) empty for more than one year (iii) the regional distribution of these properties, (iv) the number of these properties located in inner London boroughs and (v) the number of these properties located in outer London boroughs. Mr. Freeman : The information is not available in the form requested. At 31 March 1990 the Department owned 2,241 residential properties acquired in advance of requirements for the trunk road programme. The Department's policy is not to leave properties empty if they are to be retained for six months or more and a tenant can be found. The table sets out the information that is available.
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Analysis of empty property total
|Total |Repair/relet|Awaiting |Awaiting
|stock |Empty |Being sold |in progress |demolition |decision
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Eastern |218 |74 |26 |33 |0 |15
South Western |104 |27 |19 |6 |2 |0
West Midlands |127 |49 |9 |30 |4 |6
North Wesetrn |353 |49 |10 |15 |10 |14
Northern |29 |2 |0 |2 |0 |0
Yorkshire and Humberside |53 |15 |9 |4 |0 |2
East Midlands |47 |21 |19 |2 |0 |0
Eastern |348 |40 |10 |0 |28 |2
London |962 |81 |41 |20 |12 |8
Total |2,241 |358 |143 |112 |56 |47
Analysis of empty property total Total Repair/relet Awaiting Awaiting
stock Empty Being sold in progress demolition decision South Eastern 218 74 26 33 0 15
South Western 104 27 19 6 2 0
West Midlands 127 49 9 30 4 6
North Western 353 49 10 15 10 14
Northern 29 2 0 2 0 0
Yorkshire and Humberside 53 15 9 4 0 2
East Midlands 47 21 19 2 0 0
Eastern 348 40 10 0 28 2
London 962 81 41 20 12 8
Total 2,241 358 143 112 56 47
M3
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the report from Mott Macdonald and Kelsey Associates into the widening of the M3 between Bar End and Bassett was commissioned.
Mr. Chope : On 13 June and 27 June 1989 respectively.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the alternative tunnel schemes for the proposed route of the M3 around Winchester which he has at any time considered.
Mr. Chope : Since the announcement in September 1981 of the fresh study into the Bar End to Compton section of the proposed M3, the following alternative tunnel schemes have been considered. References in brackets identify options discussed at inquiries.
1982 Consultation
Various tunnel options under St. Catherine's Hill.
1985 Inquiry
Tunnel under Compton between Poles Lane and Place Lane (CI). Five tunnel alternatives under Twyford Down (L1, L2, J3, K3 and INVPS).
One tunnel option under Plague Pits Valley (K2).
1987-88 Inquiry
Eleven tunnel or part tunnel options under Twyford Downs (JAG 2, 3 and 3A, TPC1, AL1 and 2, JK1, CC2, EJV1, a land bridge and Base Case option).
Two tunnels at Compton (AEB1 and 2).
Post 1987 Inquiry
Dual four lane tunnel under Twyford Down.
Egremont Bypass
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the start date of the Egremont bypass ; what slippage has occurred in the commencement of the work ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope : Work is expected to start in the spring next year. We have had to postpone the planned start to prepare a compulsory purchase order on a factory which has been built recently, without planning permission, on the line of the road.
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what errors have occurred concerning compulsory purchase orders issued in connection with the Egremont bypass ; and what delays have resulted.
Mr. Chope : No delays have resulted from errors in the compulsory purchase orders.
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Greater Manchester Relief Road
Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) with which organisations his Department has had consultations regarding the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road sections M56 to M62 and M62 to M66 ;
(2) when the consultant's report on the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road between (a) the M56 and the M62 and (b) the M62 and the M66 will be published ;
(3) when he will seek the views of the public on possible routes for the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road between (a) the M56 and the M62 and (b) the M62 and M66 ;
(4) if he will arrange for the hon. Member for Worsley to be given copies of the consultant's reports on the Greater Manchester western and northern relief road which are currently being considered by interested local authorities and others.
Mr. Chope : The Department has consulted 33 organisations on an informal and in confidence basis. I am sending a list to the hon. Member. This consultation is part of the fact-finding process leading to the preparation of a technical appraisal report by our consultants. The consultants' report will not be released to those organisations and it is not our policy to publish such reports. Publication could lead to widespread and unnecessary blight on routes which, after consideration of the report, the Department decides are not viable. We shall, however, after consideration of the consultants' report publish our conclusions in the form of a document for public consultation. This will present information and seek comments on routes which we believe are viable and explain why we have rejected other options. Our current programme envisages a public consultation early next year. I shall ensure that the hon. Member receives the public consultation documents.
Road System Management
Mr. Snape : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report the new units, regional offices and divisions created for the management of the road system ; and if he will list their addresses, telephone numbers, directors, and deputy directors where appointed, and the last prior professional appointments of those directors.
Mr. Chope : Management of the national road system of motorways and trunk roads in England is the
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responsibility of the Department of Transport. I have today written to the hon. Member with the information he has requested.Airports (Review)
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the procedure for the Monopolies and Mergers Commission quinquennial reviews of airports in Britain ; which airport companies are to be reviewed ; what is the time scale for the review ; and if he will make a statement on competition in airport services.
Mr. McLoughlin : Airports designated under section 40 of the Airports Act 1986 have imposed on their permissions to levy airport charges conditions regulating the maximum amounts which may be levied during a five -year period. At the end of that period the Civil Aviation Authority may modify those conditions, having first made a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. The Airports Act lays down that provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 and Competition Act 1980 shall apply in relation to such references. The commission's report on the reference must be completed within six months of the reference being made.
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports have been designated under section 40, as has Manchester airport. The conditions imposed in respect of the BAA plc airports expire at the end of March 1992, and the CAA proposes to make a reference to the MMC towards the end of this year. The conditions imposed in respect of Manchester airport expire at the end of March 1993.
Designation under section 40 is only one element of the machinery for the economic regulation of airports established under the 1986 Act, which elsewhere empowers the CAA to act against exploitative, discriminatory or predatory pricing by any sizeable airport, including the four owned by BAA in Scotland. I am satisfied that the Act provides a properly rigorous regulatory regime.
Road Schemes (Reports)
Mr. Snape : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what stage inspectors' reports on road schemes promoted by his Department are seen by the road programme management division or any regional office responsible to it. Mr. Chope : Inspectors' reports are first sent to the planning inspectorate, which passes on the report to the regional office and the headquarter organisation of the road programme directorate. Bus Companies Mr. Dover : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the early privatisation of Merseybus and GM Buses together with the current financial support provided to these organisations by the passenger transport authorities. Mr. Freeman : We support the early privatisation of all local authority bus companies. I therefore welcome the progress made towards a sale of Merseyside Transport Ltd. to its employees, and have made it clear to the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority that we would also consider sympathetically a sale of Greater Manchester
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Buses Ltd. Passenger transport authorities have no powers to provide financial assistance to their bus companies, except in exceptional cicumstances and with the Secretary of State's consent. No applications for such consent have been received in respect of these companies. Mr. Ken Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet decided whether to use his powers under section 61 of the Transport Act 1985 to require the division of Greater Manchester Buses into smaller units ; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Freeman : I am asking independent consultants to advise on the implications which different forms of splitting would have both for the financial position of the company and for competition in the area. I shall take a further decision in the light of their report.Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available the prices paid for individual subsidiaries of the National Bus Company ; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Freeman : Individual sale prices will be published in the forthcoming report by the Comptroller and Auditor General to the Public Accounts Committee. Driving Tests Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the minimum period required to elapse between successive driving examinations ; and if he will make a statement. Mr. Chope : For the "L" test the minimum period prescribed in regulations is one month. There is no corresponding minimum period for HGV or PSV tests. M40 Mr. Andrew Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department had given approval for the northbound carriageway of the M40 motorway, south of junction 5, to be reduced to one lane on 20 July, without prior publicity or warning being given to traffic before entering sliproads to join the motorway ; and whether his Department will publish details of any future roadworks on the M40 over the holiday period. Mr. Chope : The lane reductions on the westbound carriageway of the M40 near junction 5 between 18 and 22 June were to enable the Department's agents--Buckinghamshire county council--to carry out safety fence maintenance.
The restrictions were during the off-peak period only, and setting up advance signing would not have been practicable. It is not the Department's policy to divert or encourage motorway traffic on to unsuitable local roads.
The M40 is presently being widened between junctions 4 and 5. This work will continue until autumn 1991. Extensive publicity has been given to this contract. The motorway may be restricted to single-lane running in each direction from 10.00 to 16.00 and 20.00 to 06.00 Monday to Thursday and 10.00 to 15.00 on Fridays. Two-lane running is maintained between 10.00 and 15.00 on Saturdays and Sundays. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the publicity leaflet.
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Aviation
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will formalise the agreement with the United States Government giving additional flights between the United Kingdom and the United States of Amercia ; when he expects to announce the two new routes between United Kingdom regional airports and United States airports arising from this agreement ; and how many routes now exist between the United States and United Kingdom airports, broken down by United Kingdom airports.
Mr. McLoughlin : Administrative arrangements are expected to be completed within the next few days to bring the new agreement into immediate effect. Formal processes will be concluded at a convenient time thereafter. One of the new route opportunities created for the United States will be used to provide cover for the existing service by American Airlines between Chicago and Manchester, which at present operates informally. The two other new route opportunities available to the United States and the two new opportunities for the United Kingdom will be allocated by the authorities of the two countries following applications by interested carriers. This process depends upon decisions initially to be made by carriers according to their commercial judgment. No timetable therefore applies.
Existing routes between the United Kingdom and the continental United States are as follows. Services are not operated on all routes.
Between London and Prestwick/Glasgow and
Anchorage, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle, Cincinnati, Washington/Baltimore, Charlotte, Tampa, San Diego and Orlando.
Between Manchester and
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington/Baltimore, Tampa, San Diego, Newark and Orlando.
The new agreement will allow two services by the United States, in addition to the existing Chicago--Manchester service, and two by the United Kingdom using any regional airport, including Manchester.
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has received from the embassy in Washington concerning the anti- competitive nature of hub and spoke operations by airlines in the United States of America.
Mr. McLoughlin : My Department regularly receives from the British embassy in Washington material concerning airline operations in the United States.
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contacts his officials have had with United States Department of Justice officials investigating hub and spoke operations by airlines in the United States of America.
Road Closures
Mr. Andrew Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department will publish a list of all major motorway and trunk road lane closures in
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