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Schools (New Deal)
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools which will receive the first grants under the New Deal for Schools. [19176]
Mr. Byers: More than 2,000 schools will be receiving grant from the first round of New Deal for Schools. I have placed a complete list of all the successful projects in the libraries of both Houses.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND
THE REGIONS
Overseas Travel
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team since 2 May, specifying in each case (a) the participating Minister or Ministers, (b) the destination of the trip, (c) the purpose of the trip and (d) the cost of the trip; and if he will make a statement. [15232]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 11 November 1997]: Details of the Ministerial trips and their associated costs made by my colleagues and myself and accompanying Departmental officials since 2 May are as follows:
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Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has in addition to PPG6 and Local Transport Note 1/87 to promote the benefits of pedestrianisation; and if he will make a statement. [18882]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The benefits which pedestrianisation can bring to a town and community are generally well established and appreciated by highway and planning authorities. The measures involved are set out in PPG6 "Town Centres and Retail Developments" and Local Transport Note 1/87 "Getting the Right Balance". Schemes should be individually tailored to meet local needs.
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Where full pedestrianisation is neither feasible nor desirable, there may be a case for giving greater priority to pedestrians and improving the pedestrian environment in town centres. It is for individual authorities, taking into account the needs and views of local people, to examine the merits of full or partial pedestrianisation of a town centre. As part of this process they should ensure reasonable access, particularly for disabled people. Authorities should also keep schemes under review and modify them if need be.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations his Department has received since 1 May on the effectiveness of the service provided by Railtrack; and if he will make a statement on its operation. [19224]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
For the seven-month period to 1 December 1997, my Department has received 179 representations about railway issues involving Railtrack. The recent modification to the company's network licence places Railtrack under a stronger duty to keep up to date with its programme of maintenance, renewal and improvement and gives the Rail Regulator enforcement powers if Railtrack fails to deliver its programme without good reason.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to ensure that Railtrack invests in track and signalling improvements. [19235]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
A recent modification to Railtrack's network licence establishes a new general duty in respect of maintenance, renewal and development of the rail network. It also places obligations on Railtrack to consult the train operating companies and to publish the criteria by which it will determine the priority and timing of different works. In addition, the licence now gives the Rail Regulator powers of investigation and enforcement to ensure that Railtrack's programme objectives have been met.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were (a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy in respect of making public ministerial announcements. [18891]
Angela Eagle
[holding answer 3 December 1997]: My Department aims, where it is appropriate and Parliament is sitting, to make all major policy announcements in the House.
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