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Statistics (Gender Breakdown)
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to collect statistics broken down by gender where relevant. [17680]
Sir Paul Beresford:
All relevant statistical information about employees of my Department is collected by reference to gender.
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In addition, a gender breakdown of the employees of local authorities is collected quarterly by the Central Statistical Office in its "Work Force in Employment" series.
A recent survey sponsored by my Department also collected gender information about occupations in the construction industry.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inspectors are currently employed by the Planning Inspectorate. [17066]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The Planning Inspectorate currently employs 209 salaried planning inspectors, 10 of whom work part time.
A further 209 fee-paid inspectors are engaged either on short-term contracts or on a case-by-case basis, to undertake appeals and similar work.
Mrs. Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he commissioned consultants Wardell Armstrong to undertake an inquiry into the dangers of mine or stythe gas in the Gateshead area; and what were the circumstances which led him to commission the study. [17974]
Sir Paul Beresford:
Wardell Armstrong was commissioned to undertake a study of methane and other gases from disused coal mines in the autumn of 1993. The research has included consideration of Gateshead as a demonstration area and of stythe, among other gases. The main aims were, however, to examine the extent to which such emissions should be taken into account in planning of land use and the appropriate means of doing so. The focus, therefore, has been national rather than local.
My Department had previously commissioned a series of general reviews of land instability and related geological issues in order to determine whether there was a need to take more account of these in planning. One of these, a review of naturally occurring contaminants, was undertaken by the British Geological Survey. The report indicated that gas problems associated with old mines were sufficiently widespread to merit more detailed consideration. This led directly to the commissioning of the work being undertaken by Wardell Armstrong.
Mrs. Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Wardell Armstrong report on the dangers of mine gas was received by his Department; and if he will publish it. [17975]
Sir Paul Beresford:
The final draft of a report by Wardell Armstrong entitled "Methane and other gas emissions from disused coal mines--the planning response" is currently awaited by my Department. It is expected that the report will be published in the summer of 1996.
Mr. Michael Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce his decision in respect of calling in the application to build a supermarket in Barton-upon-Humber. [18480]
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Sir Paul Beresford:
The application to which my hon. Friend refers was called in on Tuesday 27 February for determination by the Secretary of State. The application and objections to it will now be examined at a local public inquiry by an independent inspector, who will submit his report to the Secretary of State.
Mr. Sumberg:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how Ministers propose to use the powers contained in clause 128 of the Housing Bill to prescribe the criteria to be used in housing allocation schemes; and if he will make a statement. [18764]
Mr. Curry:
Our proposals on the allocation criteria to be used are set out in the consultation paper "Allocation of Housing Accommodation by Local Authorities", published earlier this year. Once the consultation has ended and the Government have considered their response, we intend to bring forward, on Report, amendments to set the main allocation criteria in primary legislation. There would be provision to alter them subsequently only by an order subject to affirmative resolution procedure.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings his officials have held with Mr. Tommy Morrison of Leicestershire county council to discuss the A46-A47 link road; and what were the dates of those meetings. [17050]
Mr. Norris:
I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Mr. Tommy Thompson, CS of LCC. During the year my officials have held regular meetings with officers of Leicestershire county council to discuss progress of all road and rail schemes within the county's transport policies and programme. There have been no meetings held solely to discuss the A46-47 link road.
Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations have taken place between Central Railway and the railway inspectorate. [18057]
Mr. Watts:
I understand that Her Majesty's railway inspectorate met Central Railway plc last year and has commented on the company's outline design specification.
Ms Eagle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those contracts his Department currently holds with EDS, indicating for each the (a) date of inception, (b) value and (c) duration. [17455]
| (a) Date of Inception | (c) Duration to |
|---|---|
| 17 December 1993 | 31 March 1999 |
| 17 December 1993 | 30 June 1999 |
| 17 December 1993 | 31 December 1998 |
| 17 December 1993 | 30 June 1998 |
| 14 March 1994 | 13 March 1996 |
(b) The value of the contracts is classified commercial in confidence information.
29 Feb 1996 : Column: 638
London, Tilbury and Southend Line
Dr. Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the inquiry into ticketing irregularities on the London, Tilbury and Southend line; when and how he intends to publish the inquiry results; and if he will make a statement. [18222]
Mr. Watts: The inquiry into ticketing irregularities on LTS Rail is being undertaken by the independent Rail Regulator, using his powers under section 58 of the Railways Act 1993. It is for him to decide whether and how the results of the inquiry might be made public. The Rail Regulator has said that he will make a statement once the investigation has been completed.
Eurostar Services
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the European passenger service from Doncaster to Waterloo is adequately publicised and connects promptly with Eurostar services. [17952]
Mr. Watts: The marketing and timetabling of these services are a matter for the operators, European Passenger Services. I understand that the main marketing thrust will come when the direct Eurostar services from the regions north of London to Paris and Brussels are introduced later this year.
Ministerial Pedestrian Journeys
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the journeys he made on foot in an official capacity in the week beginning 19 February. [18182]
Sir George Young: I often walk between my Department, meetings in Whitehall and the House.
Sea Empress
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date and time the salvage tug contracted to the Coastguard agency in Stornoway was offered to the salvors of the Sea Empress; what was their response; and when it was made; [18121]
- (2) what part of the marine pollution control unit played in the decision to introduce compressed air into the cargo holds of the Sea Empress prior to its refloating on Wednesday 21 February; [18119]
(3) what estimate he had made of the cargo on board the Sea Empress (a) prior to the grounding on Thursday 15 February, (b) prior to the grounding on the evening of Monday 19 February, (c) at 0900 Tuesday 20 February, (d) at 0900 Wednesday 21 February and (e) immediately prior to the refloating on the night of Wednesday 21 February; [18118]
29 Feb 1996 : Column: 639
(4) what offers were made by French sources to assist in the Sea Empress incident; when they were made; and of what nature they were. [18120]
Mr. Norris: These matters will be covered by the inquiry being carried out by the marine accident investigation branch, which includes the planning and execution of the salvage operation. I do not wish to prejudge the inquiry's findings.
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the names and positions of officials from his Department, the Coastguard agency and the marine pollution control Unit who were present in the operation control room of the Milford Haven coastguard marine rescue centre between 1600 and 1730 hours on Saturday 17 February; [18125]
- (2) what are the names and positions of the officials in (a) his Department, (b) the marine pollution control unit and (c) the Coastguard Agency who were present in the operation control room at the Milford Haven coastguard marine rescue centre on the morning of Friday 16 February; [18123]
(3) what was the name of the marine pollution control unit official on the bridge of the Sea Empress between 1600 and 1730 on Saturday 17 February; and what was his position within the MPCU. [18122]
(4) if he will list the individuals from his Department, the Coastguard agency and the marine pollution control unit who travelled to Milford Haven as a result of the Sea Empress incident. [18124]
Mr. Norris: It is the Government's policy not to publish the names of officials engaged in particular tasks unless there are exceptional reasons for doing so. The MAIB investigation will examine all the issues of the salvage operation.
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