---

Cycling

Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many responses to his consultation document on developing an integrated transport system made reference to cycling. [18845]

Ms Glenda Jackson: The closing date for responses to the consultation on an integrated transport policy was 14 November. We have received a large number of responses which we are in the process of analysing. It is too early to give details of representations on individual subject areas although a number of respondents have mentioned cycling.

Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his timetable for developing a national cycling strategy. [18846]

Ms Glenda Jackson: The National Cycling Strategy was launched in July 1996. It aims to double the number of trips by bicycle by 2002, and double them again by 2012. My Department, along with many other partner organisations, is supporting the Strategy. Work to implement it is being co-ordinated by the National Cycling Forum, which I chair. A first annual report on progress will be published before Christmas.

4 Dec 1997 : Column: 283

Rental Housing

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the building of properties within the Greater London Authority area for low cost rent. [18587]

Mr. Raynsford: The Government recognise that the building of properties for low cost rent within London raises particular issues because of the scarcity of land for new social housing developments and the high cost of acquisition in what is a global property market. The Revised Strategic Planning Guidance for London Planning Authorities (RPG3) and the proposed revisions to circular 13/96 which details how the delivery of affordable housing may be assisted through negotiations with developers, both send out a clear message that the Government wish to ensure greater allocation of land for low cost rent properties in the capital than has been provided in recent years.

The main mechanism for the delivery of affordable housing is through the Housing Corporation of Local Authority Social Housing Grants. In 1997/98. some £161 million representing 65 per cent. of the Housing Corporation's London Region programme, is being directed to new build housing for rent.

Our early action to release capital receipts from council; house sales has injected an additional £53 Million into London's housing in 1997-98. Allocations for 1998-99 will be announced shortly. A significant proportion of this will be used by the London Authorities in enabling the provision of new or rehabilitated social housing partnership with registered social landlords.

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the gross cost to public funds of a reduction in housing association rents of (a) 10 per cent., (b) nine per cent., (c) eight per cent., (d) seven per cent., (e) six per cent., (f) five per cent., (g) four per cent., (h) three per cent., (i) two per cent. and (j) one per cent.; and what would be the cost net of savings in (i) housing benefits and (ii) public expenditure linked to the RPI. [18595]

Mr. Raynsford: There are no powers under which the Government could impose a general reduction in housing association rents. The calculations below are on the hypothetical assumption that the cuts in rent could be achieved and that housing associations would be fully compensated for their loss of revenue. The estimated gross cost and the cost net of savings in Housing Benefit are as shown. The figures represent the annual costs calculated on the basis of average housing association rents in 1996-97. The Department does not have a model for calculating the RPI-related savings in public expenditure arising from reductions in housing association rents.

Reduction in rents	Cost of compensating HA revenue loss	Net cost after savings in Housing Benefit
per cent.	£ million per annum	£ million per annum
10	298	86
9	269	77
8	239	68
7	209	60
6	179	51
5	149	42
4	119	34
3	90	25
2	60	17
1	30	9

4 Dec 1997 : Column: 284

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the gross cost to public funds of a reduction in local authority rents of (a) 20 per cent., (b) 19 per cent., (c) 18 per cent., (d) 17 per cent., (e) 16 per cent., (f) 15 per cent., (g) 14 per cent., (h) 13 per cent., (i) 12 per cent. and (j) 11 per cent.: and what would be the cost net of savings in (i) housing benefits and (ii) public expenditure linked to the RPI. [18596]

Mr. Raynsford: A reduction in Guideline Rent in 1998-99 for Housing Revenue Account local authorities in England would have the following estimated effects: Present value (discounting to 1996-97) of effects from 1998-99 to 2027/28 1996-97 prices discounting to 1996-97

Guideline Rent reduction in 1998-99 (per cent.)	Loss of gross rental income, (£ million)	Saving in rent rebates, (£ million)	Saving in public expenditure linked to the RPI, (£ million)	Net public expenditure cost, (£ million)
11	6,402	4,816	1,476	110
12	6,984	5,244	1,610	130
13	7,565	5,675	1,744	146
14	8,147	6,104	1,878	165
15	8,729	6,527	2,012	190
16	9,311	6,954	2,146	211
17	9,893	7,379	2,280	234
18	10,475	7,799	2,415	261
19	11,057	8,222	2,549	286
20	11,639	8,643	2,683	313

Figures in the table have been rounded to the nearest £1 million. The calculations are derived from LAMOD, the Department's model for estimating the public expenditure effects of a change in Guideline Rent policy for local authorities. The results from LAMOD are sensitive to assumptions which are kept under continuous review.

Social Housing

Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates his Department has produced of the need for social housing in each (a) region and (b) county. [18609]

Mr. Raynsford: My Department has not in the past produced estimates of the need for social housing for either (a) counties or (b) regions. We are considering the scope for more detailed regional analysis of housing requirements including social housing needs.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Compensation)

Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to notify households likely to be eligible for the exceptional compensation payable as a result of Channel Tunnel Rail Link blight on their properties; and if he will make a statement. [18625]

4 Dec 1997 : Column: 285

Ms Glenda Jackson: The arrangements for the Scheme of Redress for Exceptional Hardship were advertised in a range of local newspapers selected to cover the various route options. In addition, details were sent to Members of Parliament, local authorities and Citizens Advice Bureaux for the areas concerned. As a reminder prominent newspaper advertisements have recently been re-published. Furthermore, the initial announcement of the Scheme attracted wide coverage including on local television news.

Thorne and Hatfield Moors

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received concerning the proposed de-notification of SSSI status on Thorne and Hatfield Moors, indicating how many were (a) supportive of the proposal and (b) opposed to the proposal. [18597]

Angela Eagle: The Secretary of State has received 725 representations against English Nature's proposals to de-notify parts of Thorne and Hatfield Moors Sites of Special Scientific Interest. There have been no letters of support to date. On 2 December English Nature's Council decided not to proceed with the de-notification.

Rail Operators (Fines)

Mr. Opik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much rail operators have been fined for failing to deliver an adequate service in the last 12 months. [18709]

Ms Glenda Jackson: The Rail Regulator has imposed financial penalties totalling £350,000 on rail operators for failing to meet his standards for the National Rail Enquiry Service (NRES).

The Franchising Director has imposed financial penalties totalling £141,000 on two train operating companies for trains being run with fewer seats than required under the franchise agreements. The Franchising Director has also operated financial incentive regimes under franchise agreements which reward or penalise operators according to performance compared with historical benchmarks. Details of these appear in the Franchising Director's quarterly bulletins and in his Annual Report which are in the Library of the House.

---