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National Cycle Network
Mr. Charles Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all trunk road crossings required by the National Cycle Network will be completed by 2000. [22671]
Ms Glenda Jackson: I will write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Contaminated Land
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his Department's letter (reference EE/PSO/17203/97), what analytical results he has received from the Environment Agency about the use of earthworms on contaminated sites; and if he will make a statement. [22732]
Angela Eagle: The Environment Agency has completed the field work part of this study and the process of identifying and quantifying the results has begun. A report on the findings will be published in due course and will be available to the public.
Air Traffic (Heathrow)
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) time of arrival, (b) aircraft type and (c) owning company of aeroplanes that landed at Heathrow Airport before 7 am on (i) 25 December 1997 and (ii) 1 January 1998. [22729]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The information from Heathrow Airport Ltd. is as follows:
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Of these landings, between midnight and 0600 all of the flights except for the Citation (a small business jet) counted against the movements limit and against the noise quota, in accordance with the night flying restrictions.
Sewerage
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made towards the adoption of a European standard for the manufacture and installation of plastic sewerage pipes. [22763]
Angela Eagle: Progress toward the adoption of a European standard for different types of plastic sewerage pipes is being made as follows:
- Proposals for a European standard for PVC-U ) Poly-Vinyl Chloride--Unplasticised) piping systems for non pressure underground drainage and sewerage (Part 1. Pipes and Fittings) have passed the formal vote stage in Europe and are awaiting publication as European standard EN 1401-1.
- Proposals for a European Standard for PP (Polypropylene) piping systems for non pressure underground drainage and sewerage (Part 1. Pipes and Fittings) have passed the formal vote stage in Europe and are awaiting publication as European standard EN 1852-1.
- Proposals for a European standard for PE (Polyethylene) piping systems for non pressure underground drainage and sewerage (Part 1. Pipes and Fittings) have recently been through the CEN enquiry process as prEN 12666-1. Comments are now being considered by the appropriate CEN Working Group.
- Proposals for a European standard for plastics piping systems for structured wall non pressure underground drainage and sewerage (Part 1. Pipes and Fittings), PVC-U, PP and PE are about to be submitted for CEN enquiry.
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what standards for the unblocking of sewage pipes by high pressure water jet are presently in force. [22762]
Angela Eagle: A Code of Practice for removing blockages, which limits the pressure of the cleaning jet when blockages occur in plastic pipes, is currently in force. This can be used as a condition of contract for jetting contractors. I understand a new design of jet has been developed from which it is claimed that thin walled pipes cannot sustain damage.
Street Lighting
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to ensure that street lights (a) are properly maintained and (b) do not present a safety risk to the public. [22816]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
It is the responsibility of the relevant highway authority to ensure that street lights are properly maintained and safe.
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On the Department's roads, where the Highways Agency is the responsible authority, the inspection and maintenance requirements are set out within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. Additional advice was issued by the Highways Agency in 1995 on the routine and detailed inspection of lighting columns and is available for other authorities to use.
Mr. Etherington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made to assess the impact of increasing raptor numbers on game bird and racing pigeon interests; and what future projects his Department plans. [23101]
Angela Eagle:
In 1995 my Department set up a Raptor Working Group to investigate the effects of the recovery in populations of birds of prey and their impact on game bird management and racing pigeons. The Working Group is chaired jointly by DETR and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). Membership comprises scientific, conservation, game bird, landowning and racing pigeon interests. This Working Group has made significant progress in analysing the factors causing conflict and recently detailed its planned work for 1998 in a report to a forum of interested parties.
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