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British Bus

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to investigate the activities of British Bus. [10937]

Mr. Norris: None, other than the normal monitoring of bus companies' operations by the Traffic Commissioners.

Bicycles (Light Emitting Diode Lights)

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ban the use of LED lights on bicycles. [11052]

22 Jan 1996 : Column: 35

Mr. Norris: We have no plans to ban the use of LED lights on bicycles. A recent public consultation exercise was carried out asking for views on prohibiting the use of non-approved lights on bicycles. We are currently analysing the responses.

Heathrow Flight Paths

Mr. Sims: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what factors led to the change in the main easterly departure flight path from Heathrow via Dover in the early 1990s [10827]

(2) what inquiries about the main routing of Heathrow air traffic to the east were received by the Civil Aviation Authority prior to the change in the main easterly departure flight path from Heathrow towards Dover; [10829]

(3) what is his responsibility in respect of setting flight paths from Heathrow; [10826]

(4) if he will restore the main easterly departure flight path from Heathrow via Dover to its former line; and whether he will make a statement; [10830]

(5) what efforts were made to consult affected local communities about the change made in the early 1990s in the main easterly departure flight path from Heathrow towards Dover. [10828]

Mr. Norris: The main easterly departure route from Heathrow towards Dover has remained unchanged for over 25 years, apart from minor but essential adjustments from time to time to compensate for movement in the position of magnetic north. At the present time, the position of magnetic north is decreasing by about 7.2 minutes a year in relation to true north and points in south-east England. This departure route has used a track of 287 deg. to the relevant navigational beacon since 19 August 1993, when it was adjusted from a track of 288 deg. to compensate for magnetic drift since the previous such adjustment made in 1986.

The Secretary of State has taken responsibility for the routes taken by departing aircraft from Heathrow up to an altitude of 4000ft. Aircraft using this particular route must attain this altitude before reaching the area of Norbury in south London, but in practice most do so much nearer the airport. Once an aircraft has reached 4,000ft. it may be vectored off the route by air traffic control on to a more direct heading to its destination. This long standing practice is essential for the efficient management of air space.

Car Ownership (Greater Manchester)

Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the projected increase in car ownership in the Greater Manchester area over the next five years. [11037]

Mr. Norris: Car ownership in Greater Manchester is predicted to increase by between 6.5 per cent. and 10.5 per cent. over the next five years, depending mainly on the growth in the local economy. This represents an additional 56,000 to 96,000 cars owned. The forecast is based on census data. The 1991 census showed that households in Greater Manchester owned 814,000 cars.

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Central Railways plc

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral statement of 15 January, Official Report, column 403, what plans he has to ensure that, in the event of a proposal from Central Railways plc to re-develop the central railway being deemed of national significance, Parliament will be adequately informed of the relevant national issues. [10048]

Mr. Watts: The documents to be deposited with Parliament in this event include a briefing note by the Department. We would expect to deal with relevant national issues in that note and in opening the debate.

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that before any application from Central Railways plc to re-develop the central railway under the Transport and Works Act 1992 is submitted to Parliament (a) the application fully complies with the Act in relation to the funding of blight and (b) that Central Railways plc produces conclusive and irrefutable evidence that it can fully fund the inquiry process. [10049]

Mr. Watts: The Transport and Works Act rules require applicants to provide concise details of their proposals for funding the cost of acquiring blighted land within the meaning of section 149 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. If Central Railway plc were unable to meet its statutory obligations to acquire such land, the application would fail. Similarly, if it were unable to finance the inquiry it would be forced to withdraw the application.

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy that any application made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 in regard to the central railway submitted by Central Railways plc complies with all the requirements of the Act with particular reference to the submission of adequate information including maps of the proposed route at a scale of not less than 1:2500 before the application may be placed before Parliament and that local authorities affected will be consulted in this process. [10046]

Mr. Watts: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering applications by Central Railway plc for partial, conditional or absolute waivers from compliance with certain application requirements under the Transport and Works Act rules. If we judge that local authorities should be consulted before reaching a decision, we will do so.

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from local authorities along the route of the proposed central railway about the likely compliance of the proposals to be made by Central Railways plc with the requirements of the Transport and Works Act 1992. [10045]

Mr. Watts: We have received a number of representations. These will be taken into account in considering the applications by Central Railway plc for waivers from compliance with certain requirements of the Transport and Works Act rules.

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Transport and Works Act 1992

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions of the Transport and Works Act 1992 require the submission of a statement to justify a proposal made under the Act in relation to national planning or transport policy or economic or technical considerations. [10047]

Mr. Watts: There is no requirement for a statement in relation to national planning or transport policy, but Parliament has the opportunity to consider the case in principle for any application judged to be of national significance. Any applicant for a works order involving compulsory land acquisition would need to be able to demonstrate that the project is technically feasible and financially viable, and that the public benefits of the proposals outweigh any private disbenefits before the order is approved.

European Directives

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in (a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated; [10055]

(2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10065]

Mr. Watts: My Department's policy is not to gold plate EC directives by the addition of unnecessary burdens when implementing them in the UK. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

Bull Bars

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new proposals he has to ban the use of bull bars; and if he will make a statement. [11064]

Mr. Norris: I recently met Neil Kinnock of the European Commission. It was agreed that the best way forward was for the Commission to bring forward a proposal for an amendment to the existing external projections directive. This would specifically address bull bars and help remove obstacles to effective national action. The initiative now rests with the Commission and we will be urging them to announce their plans as soon as possible.

Waste

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his letter G/PSO/26593/95 of 15 December, what response he has made to summary point 8 of the report by Dr. Martin Angel of Southampton in respect of the expedition of the provision and funding of waste facilities in ports. [8413]

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Mr. Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 1 November 1995, Official Report, column 309.

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