---

Legislation

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many items of legislation relating to his Department have been repealed since January 1994; how many statutory instruments were introduced during the same period; and how many of the latter were (a) deregulatory and (b) fee orders. [9370]

Mr. Bowis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.

Road Vehicles (Pollution)

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the feasibility of reducing the environmental disbenefits of current models of motor car. [9214]

Mr. Bowis: My Department has commissioned a number of research projects aimed at assessing and controlling the environmental impact of current models of cars. These are listed in the table and further details are available on the Department's internet web site at http://www.open.gov.uk/dot/rvs/rv-res00.htm. On completion, all projects will be evaluated for cost effectiveness, practicality and, if appropriate, their wider application in an EU context.

Reference	Project title
S010E/VB	In-service emissions from current fleet
S010K/VB	In-service emissions testing of catalyst-equipped vehicles
S360D/VB	Detection of vehicles burning lubricating oil
S031J/VB	Road and tyre noise: collaboration to reduce tyre noise
S030L/VB	In-service noise testing
S026F/VB	Diesel smoke test procedures and meter specifications
S260F/VB	Vehicle fuel consumption and emissions forecasts
S360B/VB	Remote measurement of vehicle emissions
S260H/VB	Petrol and diesel emissions factors measurement
S140A/VB	Vehicle particulate emissions measurement

Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) feasibility and (b) desirability of encouraging industrial innovation to reduce the environmental disbenefits of current models of bus; and if he will make a statement. [9215]

Mr. Watts: There is no doubt that industrial innovation can help to reduce the environmental disbenefits of buses. This has already been demonstrated by the technological advances that are now being applied to new diesel engines in order to meet the tighter emission standards for heavy vehicles, including buses, that came into force on

17 Dec 1996 : Column: 519

1 October this year. My Department works closely with both our European partners and the European Commission to develop progressively tighter emissions standards, a strategy which is providing extremely successful in encouraging industrial innovation and results in significant reductions in emissions from all categories of vehicle.

Coastguard Towing Vessels

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library HM Coastguard's report on the winter trials of the emergency towing vessels stationed in Dover and Stornoway. [9224]

Mr. Bowis: HM Coastguard's report on winter trials of the emergency towing vessels stationed in Dover and Stornoway will be published very shortly, and a copy will then be placed in the Library.

Lorry Drivers (Delays Abroad)

Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made to the Greek Government in respect of providing (a) protection, (b) freedom of movement and (c) compensation to British drivers. [9423]

Mr. Watts: The British ambassador in Athens saw the Greek Minister of the Interior on 11 December when he asked that British drivers be given all support and protection. The following day my noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping spoke in Brussels to the Greek Transport Minister about the position of trapped British drivers and compensation. I am pleased to say that almost all the British drivers known to have been detained in Greece are now clear of the blockades.

Mr. Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions have taken place at the Council of Ministers regarding the issue of compensation claims from British lorry drivers who were delayed by the French lorry drivers' dispute; [9421]

(2) what discussions have taken place at the Council of Ministers regarding the issue of British lorry drivers currently delayed in Greece. [9422]

Mr. Watts: The blockades of lorries in both France and Greece were discussed at the Transport Council last week. The French and Greek Transport Ministers both responded positively. The French Minister repeated the assurances she had previously given to my right hon. Friend that claims for compensation will be considered as quickly as possible.

BEST Pension Fund

Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence which has passed between the trustees of the BEST pension fund and his Department. [9390]

Mr. Watts: A copy of the letter which my right hon. Friend wrote to NBC Pension Trustees Ltd. on 27 November has already been placed in the Library. Because of the possibility of legal proceedings, I do not believe that it would be appropriate to place other correspondence in the Library.

17 Dec 1996 : Column: 520

Public Transport (Assaults)

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many attacks on (a) passengers and (b) staff have been (i) reported (ii) resulted in prosecutions and (iii) resulted in convictions in each of the last five years broken down by (1) gender and (2) age bands of 10 years on (x) London Underground, (y) each of the bus companies operating in London and (z) each of the railway companies; and if he will make a statement. [9608]

Mr. Bowis: The information is not available in the form requested.

West London Line

Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the British Railways Board on the funding of the noise mitigation scheme on the West London line; and if he will make a statement. [8742]

Mr. Watts [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Following discussions with the British Railways Board, the Government have taken steps to ensure that the board is able to meet its commitment to part-fund noise mitigation works on the West London line. It is now up to the board to take this forward with the local authorities concerned.

Policies and Programme

Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the 1997-98 settlement for the transport policies and programme will be announced; and in what format the details will be published. [9159]

Mr. Watts [holding answer 16 December 1996]: Details of the settlement were released on 16 December. Copies of the press release containing a full analysis of data were placed in the Library of the House. They were also placed in Members' mail boxes in the Members' post office counter.

Bus Employees Superannuation Trust

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the correspondence between himself and his predecessor and the trustee of the bus employees superannuation trust over the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [9177]

Mr. Watts [holding answer 16 December 1996]: A copy of the letter that my right hon. Friend wrote to the NBC Pension Trustees Ltd. on 27 November has already been placed in the Library. He and his predecessor have written no other letters to the company.

DEFENCE

Aviation Repairs

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for privatisation in the field of defence aviation repair; and if he will make a statement; [8828]

(2) what consultations his Department plan in respect of the possible formation of a Defence Aviation Repair Agency; and if he will make a statement; [8825]

17 Dec 1996 : Column: 521

(3) what plans he has to establish a Defence Aviation Repair Agency; and if he will make a statement. [8827]

Mr. Arbuthnot: The armed forces requirements for deep aviation repair are currently the subject of a prior options review to determine the optimum means of providing this service. The team conducting this review has consulted widely with establishments concerned, including trades union representatives. They have also consulted industrial companies who undertake deep aviation repair. This review is expected to be completed in the new year.

Gulf War Syndrome

Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if Doctor Wisley's epidemiological study in relation to illnesses arising from the Gulf war and other operations is complementary to those announced by the Minister of State in his statement of 10 December, Official Report, columns 119-23; and if he will make a statement. [9172]

Mr. Soames [holding answer 16 December 1996]: In commissioning the two studies that I recently announced my Department sought to complement rather than duplicate federally-funded US research. To this end, the Medical Research Council was briefed about Dr. Wessely's study before the council made its recommendations to the MOD. The three projects will be carefully co-ordinated to ensure that they complement each other.

---