| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Channel Tunnel (Safety)
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the classes of material banned from passage through the channel tunnel for reasons of public safety. [9206]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, on the advice of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, has approved a carriage list of dangerous goods allowed through the channel tunnel. Three classes of dangerous goods are excluded from the list: class 4.2--substances liable to spontaneous combustion; class 4.3--substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases; class 5.2--organic peroxides.
Minister for Roads
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on which occasions the Minister for Roads has met (a) Mr. Des Wilson of BAA and (b) other representatives of BAA, since her appointment. [9208]
Thames Gateway
Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make an announcement on the Government's overall transport priorities for the Thames gateway area. [9946]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Our manifesto recognised the need for modern transport links to enhance accessibility and support regeneration within the Thames gateway. We are reviewing options and priorities and hope to report our conclusion later in the year.
Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the proposed high-tech bus link between Greenwich and Thamesmead. [9947]
Ms Jackson:
None. I understand that London Transport has made a preliminary study of the Thamesmead-Greenwich area following a review of the
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 422
potential for new forms of public transport in outer London. London Transport is working with local authorities to develop proposals.
Mr. Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will provide financial support for the proposed Thames gateway metro; [9911]
(3) what assessment he has made of the regeneration potential of the proposed Thames gateway metro. [9945]
Ms Jackson:
A study of the Woolwich rail tunnel, the potential for Thames gateway metro services and the regeneration benefits these may offer is being undertaken for my Department as part of a study of potential new east Thames river crossings. I expect this to be completed by the autumn. Consideration of these proposals will be made in the light of the study's findings and our fundamental review of transport policy. Regeneration benefits of the Thames gateway metro will be examined using the appraisal framework my Department is developing.
Mr. Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what environmental assessment he has made of the proposed east London river crossing. [9948]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Revocation orders for the east London river crossing were published on 26 March. At the same time, an alignment was safeguarded for a multi-modal crossing between Beckton and Thamesmead, which is being promoted by London Docklands development corporation and Thamesmead Town Ltd. They have undertaken an initial appraisal of the new crossing's environmental impacts; further assessment is planned using an appraisal framework that is being developed by my Department.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 423
is taking to ensure that children are not carried in the United Kingdom on coaches that do not have seat belts fitted. [9793]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Children who are taken on organised trips in newer coaches in Britain already have to be provided with a seat belt. From 10 February next year, seat belts will also have to be provided for children in older coaches first used before 1 October 1988. Similar arrangements will apply in Northern Ireland from 1 September this year. Enforcement of these regulations is a matter for the police.
Mr. Todd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated cost to date of providing a footbridge, new vehicular access and associated works across and adjacent to the A564 Derby southern bypass to serve Tynefield court and mews, Etwell; and what is the budget for these works. [9147]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The estimated cost is £385,000--the same as the budget.
Ms Kingham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which railway operating companies do not permit disabled people's trikes to be carried on their trains; and when each introduced that prohibition. [9466]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
This information is not held by the Department. We understand, however, that a ban on the carriage of scooters and larger powered wheelchairs is applied by the majority of train operating companies. A similar ban was operated pre-privatisation by British Rail.
The Department's statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, has examined the ban on a number of occasions. It shares the industry's concerns about the stability and manoeuvrability of scooters and has supported the train operating companies' ban. The committee recognises that larger powered vehicles that are designed to give local outdoor mobility are simply too large to be accommodated on public transport.
The regulations we will be making under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will ensure that wheelchairs constructed to international standard dimensions can be accommodated on new trains. In the meantime, we have been holding discussions with wheelchair manufacturers with the aim of establishing a marking protocol which would indicate to disabled people the suitability of manual and powered wheelchairs for use on public transport to help them make informed choices.
Mr. Wyatt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what piloting experience on the River Thames the Chief Harbour Master of the Port of London authority possesses. [9293]
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 424
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Chief Harbour Master of the Port of London authority is appointed by the board and his qualifications and experience are a matter for them. The Port of London Act 1968 requires that one member of the board appointed by the Secretary of State
Mr. Wyatt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the safety implications of reductions in the number of pilots in service in the Port of London authority. [9292]
Ms Jackson:
I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Pond), on 1 July, Official Report, column 102.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government plan to exercise the voting rights pertaining to their residual shareholding at the forthcoming annual general meeting of Railtrack. [8892]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 15 July 1997]: No. The Government hold only 0.8 per cent. of Railtrack's shares. Our most effective way of influencing the company is through improved regulation of the rail industry, on which we are currently reviewing the options.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the regions what representations he has had concerning the provision of water access zones for urban trees; and if he will make a statement. [8490]
Angela Eagle:
My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment has received a letter from the Permaculture Association (Britain), which is concerned about the impact on urban trees of action to reduce the amount of drinking water lost through leakage.
Events over the past few summers have shown that water conservation is an issue that must be taken seriously. Against this background, average losses of nearly 30 per cent. through leakage from the mains system are intolerable. As part of the Government's 10-point plan for a better water industry, tough mandatory targets are to be put in place to secure a substantial reduction in leakage over the next five years.
Existing leakages may artificially increase the availability of water to trees in the immediate vicinity. However, not all trees in towns will be situated near leaking pipes and so be serviced in this way. In addition, as the naturally dry condition of recent years have demonstrated, most trees are able to adapt to changing conditions above and below ground and to adjust their water demand accordingly. Action taken to reduce leakage is, therefore, unlikely on its own to result in major losses of trees from our towns.
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 425
(2) what assessment he has made of the proposed new tunnelled rail crossing linking the North London line in the royal docks with the North Kent line at Woolwich Arsenal; and if he will make a statement; [9910]
"shall be a person with wide experience of navigation (including the command of sea-going ships, pilotage and navigational aids)".
osition is currently filled by a former deputy master and chairman of Trinity House.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |