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Debt Payment
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9531]
Angela Eagle:
All departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice,
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whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97 in the autumn.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the protection afforded to the site of special scientific interest at Offham Marshes, near Lewes. [9519]
Angela Eagle:
Under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 SSSIs are protected from damaging operations by requiring owners and occupiers to notify English Nature if they wish to carry out any listed operation that might damage the special interest of the site. Notification allows for a period of negotiations. In respect of Offham Marshes there is a management agreement in place which protects the special interest for which the site was notified.
Mr. Cawsey:
To ask Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he will take on the planning application in Roxby from Rochfort Healthcare approved by North Lincolnshire Council (96/2067). [9594]
Mr. Raynsford:
The local planning authority, North Lincolnshire UA, granted planning permission for this development on 30 May 1997. Once planning permission has been granted, the Secretary of State has no power to call in the associated application.
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Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the relevant responsibilities, in respect of the interests of cyclists, of (a) the Rail Regulator and (b) the Franchising Director. [9099]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Franchising Director's Objectives, Instructions and Guidance require him to take into account all relevant Government policies, including the Government's support for the aims of the National Cycling Strategy. The Franchising Director has included in all franchise agreements a provision requiring facilities to be made available, as far as practicable, for the carriage of cycles on trains.
The Rail Regulator has no specific responsibilities in relation to the interests of cyclist. However, he has a general duty to protect the interests of railway users and to promote the use of the railway network.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are undertaking to protect the Atlantic Frontier region from the effects of increased oil tanker traffic following Lord Donaldson's recommendations of 1993. [8987]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government is committed to protecting all of the UK coastline and all UK waters from the harmful effects of shipping. We have introduced several measures which go beyond the recommendations
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of Lord Donaldson's Inquiry. We are pressing for the designation of all waters around the UK as a special area for discharges of oil from ships. This will prohibit all discharges from oil tankers. We will shortly increase the maximum fine which magistrates may impose for illegal discharges of oil five-fold to £250,000. Several internationally agreed routeing and reporting measures have been introduced to enhance the safety of navigation around the UK coast. The effectiveness and scope of these measures are kept under review.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what conclusions he has reached following his accelerated review of the proposed Salisbury bypass and associated roadworks in the Wessex Link design, build, finance and operate project; and if he will make a statement. [9309]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
An announcement on the accelerated review will be made shortly.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends that work will commence on lane separation projects on the London section of the A40. [9326]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Schemes to separate the main and side roads at the junctions on the London section of the A40 are included in the A40 Western Approach DBFO project. This is one of the projects in the Accelerated Roads Review. An announcement on this will be made shortly.