| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions relating to Environment and the Regions |
| *1 |
Mr Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington): What proposals he has to regulate the use of wheelclamping on public land. |
| (54325) |
| *2 |
Mr Bill Michie (Sheffield, Heeley): What representations he has received from (a) local authorities and (b) other organisations in respect of future SSA levels. |
| (54326) |
| *3 |
Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes): What assessment he has made of the level of public support for the direct election of mayors in English towns. |
| (54327) |
| *4 |
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): What recent measures the Government has introduced to promote biodiversity. |
| (54328) |
| *5 |
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): What action his Department is proposing to mitigate the environmental nuisance caused by increased levels of railfreight movements through residential areas. |
| (54329) |
| *6 |
Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): What assessment he has made of the level of public support for the direct election of mayors in English cities. |
| (54330) |
| *7 |
Dr Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde): When he last met his colleagues from other member states of the European Union, to discuss matters relating to the occupational safety of fishermen. |
| (54331) |
| *8 |
Mr Bob Blizzard (Waveney): What plans he has to encourage sub-regional structures within regional development agencies. |
| (54332) |
| *9 |
Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton): When he last met representatives of the construction industry to discuss future housing developments; and if he will make a statement. |
| (54333) |
| *10 |
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): What proposals he has for giving regional assemblies an advisory role in regional development agencies. |
| (54335) |
| *11 |
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): If he will report on his progress towards removing capping from local authorities. |
| (54336) |
| *12 |
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome): What plans he has to reform the area cost adjustment. |
| (54337) |
| *13 |
Jackie Ballard (Taunton): What plans he has to give local authorities the power and responsibility to scrutinise non-departmental public bodies. |
| (54338) |
| *14 |
Mr Clive Soley (Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush): What plans he has to increase flexibility of tenure in the housing association and council housing sectors. |
| (54339) |
| *15 |
Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston): What plans he has to replace the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund with funding mechanisms which will facilitate the transfer of housing from local local authority control. |
| (54340) |
| *16 |
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): What representations he has received from representatives of the business community over his Department's plans to encourage sustainable development; and if he will make a statement. |
| (54341) |
| *17 |
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): What is his policy on the future of rural buffer zones. |
| (54342) |
| *18 |
Mr Andrew George (St Ives): What representations he has received about the appropriate level of council tax for second homes. |
| (54343) |
| *19 |
Mr Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): If he will make a statement on his preparations for the Buenos Aires conference on climate change. |
| (54344) |
| *20 |
Ms Margaret Moran (Luton South): What measures he intends to take to equalise rent levels between housing association and local authority housing. |
| (54346) |
| *21 |
Mr Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): What measures he plans to encourage energy efficiency in Government departments. |
| (54347) |
| *22 |
Mr Bill Rammell (Harlow): If he will make a statement on discussions he has had with the Local Government Association about local government finance. |
| (54348) |
| *23 |
Mr Tony McNulty (Harrow East): When he expects a best value regime to be implemented by local authorities. |
| (54349) |
| *24 |
Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): When he expects to respond to the consultation exercise on his document, Access to Open Countryside. |
| (54350) |
| *25 |
Mr Phil Hope (Corby): How many responses he has received to the Local Government White Paper; and if he will make a statement. |
| (54351) |
| *26 |
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): What representations he has received on the siting of wind turbines in the countryside. |
| (54352) |
| Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions relating to Transport |
| *1 |
Mrs Ann Winterton (Congleton): What representations he has received on his Department's proposals to reduce congestion on Britain's roads. |
| (54357) |
| *2 |
Mr David Heath (Somerton and Frome): What plans he has to reduce the level of heavy freight transport using unsuitable roads in rural areas. |
| (54358) |
| *3 |
Mr Howard Flight (Arundel and South Downs): If he will make a statement on the impact on motorists in rural areas of the proposals in the Transport White Paper. |
| (54359) |
| *4 |
Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South): What plans he has to introduce safer routes to school. |
| (54360) |
| *5 |
Mr Peter Bottomley (Worthing West): If his Department has specific targets in respect of road traffic reduction. |
| (54361) |
| *6 |
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): What discussion his Department has had with the local consortium promoting an east-west rail link. |
| (54362) |
| *7 |
Mr Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): What financial help his Department makes available to local authorities to encourage the use of cycles. |
| (54363) |
| *8 |
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West): If he will make a statement on the future of the NATS pension scheme. |
| (54364) |
| *9 |
Mr John M. Taylor (Solihull): If he will make a statement on progress on the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. |
| (54365) |
| *10 |
Norman Baker (Lewes): How many miles of railway track are presently in use for freight purposes only. |
| (54366) |
| *11 |
Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): When he expects construction of the Rainworth By-pass, Nottinghamshire, to commence. |
| (54367) |
| *12 |
Mr Ian Bruce (South Dorset): What factors led his Department to detrunk the A31/A35 trunk road in Dorset. |
| (54368) |
| *13 |
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): If he will make a statement about the funding of the Kingskerswell by-pass. |
| (54369) |
| *14 |
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): If he will make a statement on his plans for road pricing. |
| (54370) |
| *15 |
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): When he last met representatives from motoring organisations to discuss the integrated Transport White Paper. |
| (54371) |
| *16 |
Mr Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid Kent): What is his estimate of the cost per projected passenger journey of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. |
| (54372) |
| *17 |
Mr Andrew F. Bennett (Denton and Reddish): What progress is being made in encouraging children to walk to school. |
| (54373) |
| *18 |
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): What representations he has received in response to his proposals for detrunking trunk roads. |
| (54374) |
| *19 |
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): How he proposes to implement his proposals on road user pricing schemes. |
| (54375) |
| *20 |
Mr David Amess (Southend West): What recent representations he has received on the provisions in the White Paper on Integrated Transport relating to school transport. |
| (54376) |
| *21 |
Mr Peter L. Pike (Burnley): If he will estimate the percentage of railway stations which have adequate disabled access. |
| (54377) |
| *22 |
Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): What plans he has to ensure that the transport sector contributes to achieving the Kyoto targets. |
| (54378) |
| *23 |
Mr Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): What specific measures he intends to introduce to encourage people to travel by public transport. |
| (54379) |
|
| Main Business |
| + 2 |
GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGIC DEFENCE REVIEW: Adjourned Debate on Amendment to Question [19th October] [Until 10.00 p.m.] |
| | A Motion was made, and the Question being proposed, That this House approves the conclusions of the Government's Strategic Defence Review (Cm 3999).--(Mr Secretary Robertson); |
| | An Amendment was proposed, in line 1, to leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes those aspects of the Strategic Defence Review which build on Conservative policy and which take forward jointery and rapid reaction capability; but deplores the proposed cuts in money, men, ships and planes; notes that, far from being foreign policy led, there are no clear foreign policy objectives, that defence spending between 1996-97 and 2001-2 will fall by £2,166 million in real terms with inevitable consequences for capability, that the Territorial Army is to be cut by almost one third, that the RAF is to have fewer planes and the Royal Navy fewer submarines and surface ships; seriously doubts that the planned replacements for aircraft carriers will ever be built by a Labour Government; believes that the problems of over-stretch and morale have not been adequately addressed; and deplores the fact that the armed forces will be asked to do more in a dangerous world with fewer men and less equipment.'.--(Mr John Maples. )
And the Question being proposed, That the Amendment be made:-- |
| | As Amendments to Mr Secretary Robertson's proposed Motion (Government's Strategic Defence Review): |
| | Mr Tony Benn
Line 1 , leave out from `House' to end and add `regrets that, in its Strategic Defence Review, Her Majesty's Government has decided to maintain a higher level of defence expenditure than Britain requires, or can afford, at the expense of programmes urgently needed to reduce poverty in Britain and world-wide; to continue supplying arms and military equipment to countries where human rights are denied; to maintain the illusion that Britain has an independent deterrent, when, in fact, the Trident is acquired from the United States, cannot operate without the use of the US global satellite guidance system, and, in return Britain is obliged to accept US military bases and permit the supervision of British Intelligence Services by the US; and, for these reasons, cannot support many of the policies set out in the Strategic Defence Review and invites the Government to develop, announce and pursue policies that are compatible with the Charter of the United Nations, and are designed to meet the real challenges that will face Britain and the world, in the next century.'. |
| | Mr Paddy Ashdown
Mr A. J. Beith
Mr Menzies Campbell
Mr Mike Hancock
Mr David Heath
Dr Jenny Tonge |
| | Line 1 , leave out from `House' to end and add `welcomes the Strategic Defence Review insofar as it addresses the need for change in the structure and doctrine of UK armed forces; supports the commitment to Eurofighter and the emphasis on joint operations and rapid reaction; but regrets the lack of either vision or practical proposals for greater European co-operation in defence; believes that this is incompatible with the Government's stated desire for a leading role in Europe; is concerned that this omission is compounded by a lack of preparedness for forthcoming changes to NATO's strategic doctrine; believes that Trident warhead numbers could be further reduced without jeopardising the security of the UK; is concerned by the effects that cuts to personnel and equipment, in particular those relating to the Territorial Army, will have on morale, recruitment and effectiveness; and calls upon the Government to establish clearer foreign policy objectives with which to guide the development and operation of the armed forces.'.
The following Reports from the Defence Committee of Session 1997-98 are relevant:
Fifth Report, on the Reserves Call-Out Order 1998, Etc. (HC 868);
Sixth Report, on the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (HC 621);
Seventh Report (also the Eighth Report from the Trade and Industry Committee), on Aspects of Defence Procurement and Industrial Policy
(HC 675); and
Eighth Report, on the Strategic Defence Review (HC 138-I).
|
| Debate may continue until 10.00 p.m. |
| COMMITTEE MEETINGS |
| SELECT COMMITTEES |
| 1 |
Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs: Environment Sub-Committee |
9.45 a.m. |
Room 7 (private) |
| 2 |
Culture, Media and Sport |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 15 (public) |
| Subject: Report and Accounts of the BBC for 1997-98. |
| Witnesses: Sir Christopher Bland, Chairman, and Sir John Birt, Director General, BBC, and Mr Rupert Gavin, Chief Executive, BBC Worldwide. |
| 3 |
International Development |
10.00 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 8 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Conflict Prevention and Post-Conflict Reconstruction. |
| Witnesses: Mr Mikael Barfod, Head of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis, EC Humanitarian Office (ECHO); Mr Robert Davies, Chief Executive, Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, and Dr Chris Gibson-Smith, Managing Director (Policies and Regions), British Petroleum plc (at 11.30 a.m.). |
| 4 |
Public Administration |
10.00 a.m. |
Room 5 (private) |
| 5 |
Home Affairs |
10.15 a.m.
10.30 a.m. |
Room 6 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: The Work of the Home Office. |
| Witness: The Rt Hon Jack Straw, MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department. |
| 6 |
Finance and Services |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 13 (private) |
| 7 |
Foreign Affairs |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 16 (private) |
| 8 |
Welsh Affairs |
10.30 a.m. |
Room 17 (private) |
| 9 |
Education and Employment |
3.45 p.m.
4.15 p.m. |
Room 18 (private)
(public) |
| Subject: Opportunities for Disabled People. |
| Witnesses: The Mental Health Foundation, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR). |
| 10 |
Statutory Instruments |
Immediately after the meeting
of the Joint
Committee on
Statutory Instruments |
Room 7 (private) |
| JOINT COMMITTEE |
| 11 |
Statutory Instruments |
4.15 p.m. |
Room 7 (private) |
| [The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.] |
|
| Written Questions tabled on Monday 19th October for answer today++ |
1
| Ms Beverley Hughes (Stretford and Urmston): To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if a date has been set for the introduction of the first phase of the civil justice reforms. |
| (55732) |
2
| Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the application of the amendment to the Basel Convention as laid down in Decision IV/9 of the Parties to the Convention. |
| (55733) |
3
| Mr Andrew Reed (Loughborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he will report on the National Forest Company's progress in creating the National Forest in the East Midlands. |
| (55734) |
4
| Mr Bill Olner (Nuneaton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the Logistic Information Systems Agency 1998-99. |
| (55735) |
5
| Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will provide financial assistance to Warwickshire County Council, Stratford on Avon District Council, Worcester City Council and Northampton Borough Council under the Bellwin scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding on the weekend of 9th to 12th April. |
| (55736) |
6
| Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton South East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if he will make a statement on Remploy's achievements against the targets set in their 1997-98 Annual Performance Agreement. |
| (55737) |
7
| Mr Chris Pond (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he plans to publish the 1997-98 Annual Report of the Director of Transport Security. |
| (55738) |
8
| Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how the Government intends to take forward its policies for towns and cities. |
| (55739) |
9
| Mr Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what was the outcome of the recent consultation on a scheme for the impounding of illegally operated heavy goods vehicles. |
| (55774) |
10
| Mr Colin Pickthall (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what targets he has set for the Royal Parks Agency. |
| (55775) |
11
| Mr Ivor Caplin (Hove): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government has, in addition to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, designated additional competent authorities with direct access to the Customs Information System (C.I.S.) as referred to in Article 29(2) of EC Regulation 515/97 on mutual administrative assistance. |
| (55776) |
12
| Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Brussels on 24th September. |
| (55923) |
13
| Mr Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the outcome of his review of the powers of controllers at contracted out prisons which he announced on 19th June 1997. |
| (55924) |
14
| Miss Melanie Johnson (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he will publish the results of his consultation exercise about the Government's proposal to establish the Forensic Science Service as a trading fund; and what conclusions he has come to about the future financial regime for the operations of the service. |
| (55925) |
15
| Mr Alan Keen (Feltham and Heston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Transport Council held in Luxembourg on 1st October. |
| (55926) |
16
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 28th September. |
| (55927) |
17
| Mrs Linda Gilroy (Plymouth, Sutton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to implement the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997; and if he will make a statement. |
| (55928) |
18
| Mr Eric Clarke (Midlothian): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will publish an updated list of Ministerial Committees of the Cabinet. |
| (55929) |
19
| Ms Jackie Lawrence (Preseli Pembrokeshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on progress in the review of personal pensions mis-selling. |
| (55930) |
20
| Mr Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what progress has been made at the British Cattle Movement Service since the launch of the computerised Cattle Tracing System for Great Britain. |
| (55987) |
21
| Rachel Squire (Dunfermline West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when he expects to announce his proposals for a public/private partnership for National Air Traffic Services Ltd; and if he will make a statement. |
| (55988) |
22
| Mr Paul Clark (Gillingham): To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what action the Government is taking to help companies to redenominate share capital to prepare for the euro. |
| (55989) |
23
| Mr Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate): To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement about the appointment of the next Director General of Gas Supply. |
| (55990) |
24
| Mr Phil Sawford (Kettering): To ask the President of the Board of Trade, what topics were discussed at the EU Ministerial Council on the Internal Market on 24th September; and what matters were voted upon. |
| (55991) |
25
| Helen Jones (Warrington North): To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement on the extension of ECGD's Amber Zone Budget beyond 31st March 1999. |
| (55992) |
26
| Mr James Plaskitt (Warwick and Leamington): To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Research Council on 13th October. |
| (55993) |
27
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if the Intervention Board intends to publish a revised corporate plan, as set out in its Policy and Resources Framework Document. |
| (56009) |
28
| Mr Christopher Leslie (Shipley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the current review of the National Air Quality Strategy will be completed. |
| (56010) |
29
| Mr Marsha Singh (Bradford West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 6th October. |
| (56011) |
|
