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Traffic Speed (Central London)
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish his Department's estimates of traffic speed in central London for each of the past 10 years; and if he will give the estimate for the current year so far. [13989]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Published estimates of average traffic speeds (mph) in central London since 1968 are as follows:
| Morning peak | Daytime off-peak | Evening peak | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 12.7 | 12.1 | 11.8 |
| 1971 | 12.9 | 12.6 | 12.7 |
| 1974 | 14.2 | 12.9 | 13.2 |
| 1977 | 12.3 | 12.6 | 11.9 |
| 1980 | 12.1 | 11.6 | 12.2 |
| 1983 | 11.8 | 11.9 | 11.5 |
| 1986 | 11.5 | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| 1990 | 10.3 | 10.6 | 10.3 |
| 1994 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 10.8 |
Morning peak: 7.45 am-9.15 am
Daytime off-peak: 10.00 am-4.00 pm
Evening peak: 4.45 pm-6.15 pm
Speed surveys in central, inner and outer London are conducted on a rotating basis, with each of these areas surveyed every three to four years. Data from the recently completed 1997 central survey are currently being validated and the survey results will be available later this year.
Correspondence
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average time taken by his Department to give full answers to letters received from hon. Members. [13949]
Angela Eagle:
My Department seeks to answer letters from all hon. Members within 15 working days. As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North, (Mr. Winnick) on 3 November, Official Report, column 5, it has been customary for the Government to publish
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annual statistics showing Departments' and agencies' performance against their targets for reply to ministerial correspondence. The 1996 figures were published on 17 June 1997, Official Report, columns 107-12.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will support the stance of Austria and Luxembourg on GM maize at the article 21 Committee meeting on 5 November; and if he will make a statement. [13689]
Angela Eagle:
I am considering the UK's position and I will write to the hon. Gentleman once we have reached a conclusion.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the result of the inquiry into the proposed White Rock Business Park, Paignton. [13245]
Mr. Caborn:
As the hon. Member will now be aware, my letter of 29 October 1997 announced the Secretary of State's decision to refuse consent for a planning application by Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd for a business park at White Rock, Paignton.
Mr. Alan Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has issued concerning the erection of telecommunications masts. [14543]
Mr. Caborn:
Current planning policy guidance on telecommunication development is set out in planning policy guidance note 8 (PPG8 revised December 1992). That guidance reflects the importance attached to keeping to a minimum the number of telecommunications masts, and of sites for such installations. At paragraph 27, the PPG states that the sharing of masts will help to achieve this aim, where such sharing is practicable, as will the use of existing buildings to site new antennas. Telecommunications operators, licensed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under the Telecommunications Act 1984, are required by their licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to investigate the possibility of mast sharing. We already advise local planning authorities in the PPG that they may reasonably expect applicants for planning permission for large masts to show evidence that they have explored the possibility of erecting antennas on an existing building, mast or other structure.
It will henceforth be our policy to extend this guidance to the development of smaller masts, particularly those which are permitted under Part 24 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Where an operator seeks a prior approval determination for a mast under that Order, clear evidence should be presented to the local planning authority that the operator has investigated carefully the siting of antennas on existing buildings or other structures, including masts. This is a further factor to consider alongside the sitting factors set out in appendix E to Department of the Environment circular 9/95. If the evidence regarding the consideration of such alternative
4 Nov 1997 : Column: 153
sites is not considered satisfactory, the planning authority, or the Secretary of State on appeal, may be justified in refusing approval to the mast's siting.
Operators will be assisted in exploring alternatives to new mast development by the register of mast sites maintained by the Radiocommunications Agency. Operators and local planning authorities can now access that information which should help in the consideration of alternative sites that have already been cleared for radio transmission purposes.
12. Mr. David Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State what discussions he has had with the Greater Glasgow health board and other bodies in Glasgow on healthy living initiatives. [12049]
Mr. Galbraith:
My right hon. friend has had no discussions with the Greater Glasgow Health Board or other bodies in Glasgow in healthy living initiatives. However, within the context of the Glasgow Healthy Cities Partnership, which provides a focus for community-based health promotion action within the East End of Glasgow, he is aware of a number of initiatives such as the Possil Stress Centre and I have myself visited the Centre for Women's Health and Eastbank Health Promotion Centre. These are all initiatives which I commend.
The hon. Member's record of campaigning against drugs is well known and he is to be commended for it. I was pleased to receive a proposal from COSLA to provide funding for two years for the appointment of a drug misuse co-ordinator. I am pleased to announce that the Government supports this proposal and I have asked officials to discuss the arrangements with COSLA in order to bring it about.
13. Mr. Mullin:
To ask the Secretary of State when he expects to establish a criminal cases review authority; and if he will make a statement. [12051]
Mr. McLeish:
My right hon. Friend is aiming to have the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission in operation by 1 April 1999.
14. Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State when he last met European Fisheries Ministers to discuss the problem of quota hopping in Scottish waters. [12052]
Mr. Chisholm:
My noble Friend, the Minister for Fisheries at The Scottish Office attended a meeting of the Council of European Fisheries Ministers on 30 October. Quota hopping was not on the agenda and was not discussed. Fisheries Departments are continuing to develop proposals to tackle this issue, in consultation with industry and the Commission, following the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the Commission President in June.
4 Nov 1997 : Column: 154
15. Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the additional costs to public funds which would stem from the devolution proposals. [12053]
Mr. McLeish:
The costs of the devolution proposals will be met from within existing public expenditure provision.
16. Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many submissions he received in response to his Department's consultation on the Dearing and Garrick reports. [12054]
Mr. Wilson:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 46 submissions in response to his Department's consultation on the Dearing and Garrick reports.
17. Mr. Alasdair Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the Scotch Whisky Association to discuss the future development of the industry in Scotland. [12055]
Mr. Wilson:
I and my right hon. Friend are in regular informal contact with The Scotch Whisky Association. In addition my right hon. Friend is due to meet the Association on 21 November.
18. Miss Begg
: To ask the Secretary of State when he next plans to meet the chairmen of the health boards in Scotland to discuss the reduction of bureaucracy. [12056]
Mr. Galbraith:
I meet Chairmen of Health Boards regularly to discuss matters of current interest including the reduction of bureaucracy.
19. Mr. Clifton-Brown
: To ask the Secretary of State what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about the use of the private finance initiative to finance new prisons. [12057]
Mr. McLeish:
Discussions on this issue are still taking place between officials, including whether the use of private finance would offer value for money where custodial services were provided by the public sector. It is as yet too early to predict the outcome of this work.
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