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Rail Signalling
Mr. O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure improved standards of signalling on the rail network; and if he will make a statement. [17870]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The maintenance, renewal and modernisation of signalling equipment are the responsibility of Railtrack. Details of the company's signalling strategy are in its current Network Management Statement. A recent modification to Railtrack's network licence means that future statements will contain more details of investment plans, including signalling improvements.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated effect on aggregate local authority costs, in a full year, of (a) a rise in interest rates from 6 per cent. to 7.25 per cent. and (b) a rise in inflation from 2 per cent. to 2.75 per cent. [17968]
Mr. Raynsford: I estimate that English local authorities currently hold about £5 billion in variable rate debt, on which additional interest payments of about £62 million would arise if interest rates rose by 1.25 per cent. generally.
Further, if authorities undertake new borrowing of £2 billion a year, broadly in line with the issue of new credit approvals, then a 1.25 per cent. rise in interest rates would increase interest payments on this new borrowing by £25 million.
Local authorities currently hold around £10 billion in bank deposits and other short term investments and might therefore earn additional interest of up to £125 million, if rates rose by 1.25 per cent.
The additional costs or income arising from the increase in interest rates will tend to be offset over time by compensating changes in Housing Revenue Account subsidy and Revenue Support Grant paid to local authorities by central government.
As far as the effect on local authority costs of a rise in inflation is concerned, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 24 November 1997, Official Report, columns 367-68.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what would be the average effect on band D council tax of a national increase in local authority costs of £300 million, assuming (a) that this cost is spent equally between authorities
28 Nov 1997 : Column: 690
according to the number of dwellings chargeable for council tax, (b) that there is no increase in central Government grant and (c) that the average gearing ratio applies in council spending; [17958]
Mr. Raynsford:
An increase of £300 million in the amount required from council taxes for England is equivalent to an increase in the average band D council tax of £18.37. I have today placed in the Library estimates of the effect on band D council taxes for each local authority area of an increase of £300 million in the amount required nationally from council taxes, assuming that this amount is spread equally between billing authorities according to the estimated number of chargeable dwellings in each area.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) amendments and (b) observations made by the Government on (i) county, (ii) district and (iii) unitary development plans since 1 May. [17970]
Mr. Raynsford:
When development plans are being prepared, altered or replaced the Secretary of State has powers to direct local authorities to modify their plans and may call all or part of a plan in for his own determination. A direction will indicate the nature of the change required to be made to the plan, but does not otherwise specify the amendment to be made. The Secretary of State can amend a plan he has called in for his own determination; but no plans have been called in since 1 May 1997. Government Offices, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, are in regular contact with local authorities commenting on draft and deposited plans and proposed modifications. Information on all observations made in that context could be made available only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has met in an official capacity the objectors to the planning appeal No. APP/X5990/A/96/274698 lodged by J. Sainsbury and Network Housing Association Ltd. which was called in for his determination on 28 May. [18292]
Mr. Prescott:
I have not met any of the objectors to discuss this case.
The two week inquiry into the appeals closed last week and we await the Inspector's report.
This case was automatically recovered for decision by Ministers rather than by the Inspector. The criteria for recovery of cases for Ministerial decision are precisely the same as those applied by this Department in which the hon. Member was a Minister before his resignation.
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Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list for each United Kingdom airport (a) its current terminal capacity and (b) its current runway capacity, together with the dates when the airport is expected to reach these capacity figures. [18176]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The assessment of the capacity of both terminals and runways is a complex matter, depending on factors such as the type and mix of traffic, the extent to which traffic is concentrated in peak times and the quality of service standards applied by each airport. It is for individual airport operators, in consultation with airport users, to monitor both the existing and expected future position, and in the light of that to bring forward investment proposals and take such other steps as may be necessary and desirable.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1997, Official Report, column 369, if he will publish the minutes of his meeting with Lord Sainsbury on 20 October. [18200]
Mr. Prescott:
In accordance with normal and longstanding practice observed by previous Governments as well as this, I do not intend to publish detailed records of my meetings. However, in my previous answer of 24 November 1997, Official Report, column 369, I gave a summary of the issues discussed at my meeting with Lord Sainsbury on 20 October.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met Lord MacLaurin in an official capacity; and what subjects were discussed. [18202]
Mr. Prescott:
I have not met Lord MacLaurin in my official capacity. However my hon. Friend the Minister for the Regions, Regeneration and Planning met Terry Leahy of Tesco on 31 July. He has also met several other leading retailers who have requested a meeting--in line with the practice of the previous Government.
Mr. Yeo:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met the Chairman of Safeway plc in an official capacity; and what subjects were discussed. [18201]
Mr. Prescott:
I have received no request from the Chairman of Safeway plc for a meeting and I have not therefore met him in my official capacity. Nor have I met him personally with any other major retailers, including the Chairman of Asda, the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Mr. Norman).
Mr. Stringer:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentages of bus passenger miles are provided by municipal bus companies in the public sector; and if he will list the relevant companies. [18181]
Ms. Glenda Jackson:
The most recent data available for bus miles operated and passenger journeys made on services provided by municipal bus companies in the
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public sector are for 1996-97. Approximately 5 per cent. of bus miles and 7 per cent. of passenger journeys were attributed to the services of municipal bus companies in Great Britain. The companies are listed below:
Mr. Stringer:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the public subsidy to local bus services (a) for London, (b) English metropolitan areas, (c) English shire counties and (d) England separately identifying the (i) concessionary fare subsidy and (ii) fuel duty rebate.[18182]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The figures requested, for the most recent year, 1996-97, are shown in the table below. These comprise public transport support, concessionary fare reimbursement and fuel duty rebate. Data on fuel duty rebate are recorded for London and England but a more detailed geographic breakdown by English metropolitan areas and English shire counties is not available.
(2) what would be the effect on band D council tax for each local authority in England of a national increase in local authority costs of £300 million in 1997-98, assuming (a) that this cost is spread equally between authorities according to the number of dwellings chargeable for council tax and (b) that there is no increase in central government grants. [17959]
Blackburn Borough Transport Ltd.
Blackpool Transport Services Ltd.
Bournemouth Transport Ltd.
Cardiff City Transport Services Ltd.
Chester City Transport Ltd.
Eastbourne Buses Ltd.
Halton Borough Transport Ltd.
Ipswich Buses Ltd.
Islwyn Borough Transport Ltd.
Lothian Regional Transport plc.
Newport Transport Ltd.
Nottingham City Transport Ltd.
Plymouth City Bus Ltd.
Reading Transport Ltd.
Rossendale Transport Ltd.
Thamesdown Transport Ltd.
Warrington Borough Transport Ltd.
| (£ million) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | London(1) | English metropolitan areas | English shire counties | England |
| Public transport support | 25 | 102 | 88 | 215 |
| Concessionary fare reimbursement | 106 | 177 | 102 | 385 |
| Fuel duty rebate | 29 | -- | -- | 161 |
| All support | 160 | -- | -- | 761 |
(1) Support in London was internally funded by London Transport with no direct revenue support from central government.
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