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Channel Tunnel (Leeds Service)
37. Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimated time scale for the introduction of a direct channel tunnel service from Leeds. [9386]
Ms Glenda Jackson: I understand that Eurostar (UK) Ltd. has no plans to introduce a direct international service from Leeds. However, a service between Glasgow and Paris should start later this year, and passengers from Leeds will be able to join that service at Doncaster.
Passenger Comfort Standards
38. Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will require public transport operators to improve standards of passenger comfort; and if he will make a statement. [9387]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The fundamental review of transport policy will consider measures to raise the quality of public transport. As my right hon. Friend said in answering an earlier question, encouraging greater use of public transport is a key objective and passenger comfort is an aspect of this.
Liquid Petroleum Gas
39. Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his policy towards the use of liquid petroleum gas in cars.[9389]
Dr. Strang:
The Government recognise the potential of road fuel gases for significantly lowering emissions, as was demonstrated by the Chancellor's recent announcement of a freeze on duty on road gas fuels and
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his undertaking at least to maintain the current duty differential versus diesel for the lifetime of the current Parliament.
40. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures his Department is taking to implement the Government's plans for the future of the national air traffic control service. [9390]
Dr. Strang:
We are reviewing the options for the future of the National Air Traffic Services. We shall make an announcement of our intentions in due course.
41. Mrs. Anne Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the viability of traffic-free city centres. [9391]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government believe that properly designed vehicle restricted areas can improve the local environment while sustaining or enhancing economic vitality. Decisions on whether to exclude traffic from town centres are a matter for the judgment of the local authority.
42. Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to encourage the transportation of goods by rail as opposed to road. [9392]
48. Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to increase the proportion of freight carried by rail. [9398]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government want to see a greater proportion of freight go by rail rather than by road. Our White Paper on integrated transport policy, to be published next spring, will consider ways of achieving this objective.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list in percentage terms the movement of freight within the United Kingdom by (a) road, (b) rail and (c) water for each year from 1970 to 1996. [11117]
Ms Jackson:
The information requested is given in the following table; full 1996 data are not yet available.
(22) The percentages in the table do not add to 100 because of freight movements by other modes, notably pipeline.
(23) All goods vehicles, including those under 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight.
(24) Figures from 1972 onwards are not comparable with earlier years. From 1972, water includes all UK coastwise and one-port freight movements by sea and inland waterway traffic. Earlier years include only GB coastwise traffic and internal traffic on British Waterways Board waterways.
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Car Dependency
43. Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to take measures to reduce car dependency. [9393]
Dr. Strang: Government planning and transport guidance sets local authorities the objective of developing policies that encourage less reliance on the private car.
A3 (Hindhead)
44. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about the necessity of improving the A3 at Hindhead. [9394]
Dr. Strang: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations both supporting and opposing an improvement of the A3 at Hindhead since preparatory work on that scheme stopped in November 1995. The scheme is included in the trunk road programme which is the subject of a fundamental review approved on 19 June.
Mrs. Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if she will make a statement on measures taken to relieve traffic congestion on the A3 at Hindhead. [10294]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Preparation work on proposals to improve the A3 at Hindhead was stopped in November 1995. The scheme will be included in the trunk roads
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review announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport on 19 June. The aim is to announce a decision next year on the outcome of the review.
45. Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that small boat safety is improved. [9395]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Coastguard agency actively promotes the safe use of recreational craft through national campaigns and local publicity. A national education campaign, sea smart, which was launched on 21 July, is aimed at primary and secondary school children in a co-ordinated campaign along the south coast. A series of local coastguard initiatives will concentrate on the sea and shoreline safety problems in particular areas. The agency has invited comments from organisations in this field on a consultative document about measures to improve the safety of non-regulated pleasure vessels without legislation. The sea safety liaison group, set up by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and including the Coastguard and the Marine Safety Agency, also promotes this work. The group has produced a range of leaflets targeted at small boat safety and further literature and advertising campaigns are planned.
46. Mr. Hanson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he next expects to meet officials of Railtrack to discuss improvements to west coast services. [9396]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I met Richard Branson of the Virgin Rail Group on 10 July and will be meeting the chief executive of Railtrack on 12 August. The Virgin Rail Group has committed to service improvements on the west coast main line through its franchise agreement with the franchising director, including improved reliability and increased capacity on the line from 2002. These depend to a great extent on the upgrading of the line on which the franchising director concluded an agreement with Railtrack in 1996. I understand that the Virgin Rail Group is currently discussing further upgrading options with Railtrack.
47. Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received on the standard of service on the Fenchurch Street line. [9397]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Neither my Department nor the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising have received any representations about London, Tilbury, Southend Rail, the operators of the Fenchurch Street line, since this Government took office.
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