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Uniform Business Rate
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has for consultation concerning changes to the uniform business rate. [8470]
Mr. Raynsford: No changes will be made until we have fully consulted with all interested parties including business and local authorities. We are considering how to take this forward.
Rate Capping
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his decision on the final caps for the three local authorities which challenged their cap; and if he will make a statement. [8895]
Mr. Prescott: I have today laid before the House the draft Council Tax Limitation (England) (Maximum Amounts) Order 1997, under section 57 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, setting out our decisions on the final caps for Oxfordshire, Somerset and Warwickshire County Councils.
We have considered very carefully all the available relevant information, including the case made by the authorities in support of a higher cap, before taking our decisions. We have decided to confirm the caps proposed for Oxfordshire and Somerset, but Warwickshire will be permitted to budget at the level it has proposed to reflect the pressures it is facing following capital investment in its schools programme.
The caps are, in our view, reasonable and achievable in all the circumstances of the authorities concerned. These decisions will reduce public expenditure and the burden on council taxpayers in the areas concerned by £9.4 million in 1997-98. This will result in a council tax reduction (at Band D) of almost £28 in Oxfordshire, and £20 in Somerset.
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 15
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many aeroplane flights occurred in 1995 in UK airspace in which (a) high-level, (b) intermediate-level and (c) low-level radioactive material was carried; and what was the total number of aeroplane flights in 1995 in UK airspace in which radioactive material was carried. [7599]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Department does not hold information of the kind requested. However, it is estimated that of the order of 10,000 flights carrying packages of radioactive material currently occur each year, the vast majority of which contain limited quantities for medical or industrial use in excepted or Type A packages.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which (a) airports and (b) ports (i) are permitted to handle radioactive material and (ii) were used in 1995 for the shipment of radioactive material. [7600]
Ms Jackson:
The information is as follows:
Ms Jackson:
The movement by radioactive material by air, in common with all dangerous goods, is regulated by The Air Navigation (No 2) Order 1995 and The Air Navigation (Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1994 as amended 1996. These place no limit on the number of such movements.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government plans to introduce the revised regulations set out in the 1996 edition of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Regulations for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Materials. [7602]
Ms Jackson:
I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones), Official Report, 16 June 1997, column 42.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many crashes have occurred in each year since 1967 in which aircraft carrying consignments of radioactive material within UK airspace have been involved; and what (a) volume and (b) level of radioactivity was involved in each case. [7604]
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 16
Ms Jackson:
We are aware of two such accidents, one in 1968 and the other in 1987. In each case 1.1 Giga-Becquerels of radioactivity were being carried in a single Type A package. In neither case was any radioactivity released from the packages.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government permits the transportation of radioactive materials (a) via the channel tunnel and (b) on passenger ferries. [7605]
Ms Jackson:
Such transport is permitted subject to (a) the rules and restrictions of Eurotunnel, as approved by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority of the UK/France Intergovernmental Commission and (b) compliance with The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1990 and Merchant Shipping Notice No. M. 1432, "The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants in ships, the 'Blue Book' and the IMDG Code".
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many flights have taken place since 1990 in which spent nuclear fuel was carried within United Kingdom airspace; what were the places of origin and destination in each case; and what was the volume carried in each case. [7607]
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy in respect of shadow tolls. [8468]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government has conducted a review of PFI and we are taking measures to reinvigorate it. Our policy on shadow tolling is that bids for projects which we decide to pursue with remuneration on this basis will be considered on their merits. A key issue will be the value for money offered by bids compared with conventional procurement.
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and Regions if he will review the compliance by London Buses Ltd. with citizens' charter principles. [8340]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
New quality of service targets have recently been set for London Transport Buses, and performance against the London Bus Passenger's Charter is kept constantly under review.
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the tendering procedures of London Buses Ltd. meet every requirement of EU procurement directives. [8341]
Ms Jackson:
Yes.
14 Jul 1997 : Column: 17
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will meet the chairman of London Regional Transport to discuss improvements in customer services standards and the handling of complaints by members of the public. [8342]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I plan to have regular meetings with the Chairman of London Transport at which we expect to discuss a range of issues including customer service standards and complaints handling.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what (a) financial and (b) other assistance was given by the Government and Government agencies in the past five years to road safety and environmental improvement works to Colchester High Street; and what plans he has to support further road safety and environmental improvement works. [7654]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Over the last five years £16.01 million (an average of £3.2 million per year) has been awarded to Essex County Council through the local transport settlement for local safety schemes and minor works. It is for the County Council to determine the most appropriate use for their allocations, but we expect them to target their most pressing accident sites. Over the last two years we have also awarded an additional £1.2 million to the County Council towards their package of transport proposals for Colchester. Allocations for 1998-99 have not yet been determined. In addition to this financial support, officials from the Department have provided technical advice on environmental measures for the High Street, including a 20 miles per hour zone, special traffic signals and a restricted parking zone.
Mr. Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received in the past five years from hon. Members, organisations or individuals, concerning road safety and environmental improvement works to Colchester High Street; and how many were objections to the works. [7653]
Ms Jackson:
My right hon. Friend has had no representations about Colchester High Street from hon. Members. There have been several representations from other sources in support of the package of transport measures for Colchester which Essex County Council have promoted through their Transport Policies and Programme bids for 1996-97 and 1997-98.
(i) Radioactive material may be moved through any port or airport.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is the Government's policy to allow an unlimited number of movements of radioactive material by air provided International Atomic Energy Agency standards are met.[7601]
(ii) The Department does not hold information of the kind requested.
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