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25 Feb 1998 : Column: 219

Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 25 February 1998

MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

Millennium Experience

Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much money has been confirmed in commercial sponsorship for the Millennium Experience. [31247]

Mr. Mandelson [holding answer 24 February 1998]: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) yesterday.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Judges' Lodgings (Furniture)

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance exists for the purchase of furniture for judges' lodgings; whether price ranges are included; and whether there is specific advice on the purchase of beds. [30234]

Mr. Hoon: No central guidance exists for either furniture standards or prices and there is no specific advice on the purchase of beds. Generally furniture requirement for judges' lodgings are identified and purchased locally. The furniture is usually provided to match the existing style and decor of the building.

Queen's Counsel

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 1998, Official Report, column 300, on Queen's Counsel, what steps he plans to take to ensure that all consultees reply. [30394]

Mr. Hoon: My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has no plans to take steps to ensure that all consultees reply. In making his decisions on silk applicants, he relies only on the views of those consultees who know the applicants well enough to make the necessary assessment of their abilities.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Countryside Access

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will publish their consultation paper on Access to the Open Countryside. [31325]

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Mr. Meacher: I am pleased to announce that the Government are issuing today their consultation paper setting out proposals for giving people greater access to the open countryside in England and Wales. Copies have been placed in the Library of both Houses.

The consultation paper reflects the Government's determination to fulfil their manifesto commitment to give greater freedom for people to explore our open countryside.

Our proposals have the potential to benefit the millions of people who already enjoy, or who will in future enjoy, walking in the countryside. Current arrangements for access to areas of open countryside, rather than rights of way, have not been used extensively and are not generally well understood. In many cases, people are understandably confused about the areas of land on which they are entitled to walk or the circumstances under which they may do so. We need to secure more and better quality access with greater clarity and certainty for all concerned.

Our proposals are about giving greater access to open countryside, not to developed or cultivated land. Our first priority is to increase access to mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land. In total, these cover no more than 12 per cent. of the land in England and Wales. We also wish to see more access to other areas of open country such as woodland, cliffs and foreshore, and will introduce measures to encourage this if necessary.

In developing our proposals, we intend to ensure that a proper balance is struck between the rights and responsibilities of those who will benefit from greater access and of others affected by it. We are determined that those who will enjoy greater access should be responsible: the countryside and people's property and livelihoods must continue to be respected and properly protected. The Government recognise the need for sensible restrictions on the freedom of access to take account of the genuine needs of owners and other users of the land. Similarly, we recognise that access to some areas or at some times needs to be limited for reasons of health or safety, nature conservation, or archaeology.

We are prepared to consider all options, including voluntary arrangements, for achieving our objective of substantially greater access, and will consider carefully all responses to the consultation paper before reaching a decision on the best way forward. Assessment of the costs and benefits of different options will be a key part of our consideration. Costs to Government (central and local), to owners and occupiers, and to the relevant statutory agencies will certainly be taken into account in considering how best to proceed. We do not expect that management of greater access will have major financial implications as, in most places, no changes will need to be made to accommodate walkers. We shall be making an environmental assessment and regulatory appraisal of our proposals, as necessary.

We are keen to ensure that the consultation process provides a genuine opportunity for all those interested to put forward their own ideas and views. We shall be allowing three months for consultation, ending on Friday 5 June. As well as considering written responses to the paper, we plan to hold meetings with organisations representing walkers, farmers and other owners and

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occupiers, and others with an interest. We shall also be drawing on the experience and expertise of the relevant statutory agencies and local authorities in firming up our ideas, and may need to consult further on some issues before announcing our conclusions, which we hope to do later this year.

Official Cars

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 January 1998, Official Report, column 15, what was the make, model and cost of the new official car acquired since 1 May; and for which Minister it has been acquired. [27702]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The car is a Jaguar 4.0i LWB, which has been provided for the use of the Deputy Prime Minister. The capital cost of the car was met by the Cabinet Office.

Sewerage System (Fats)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to reduce the amount of fats from catering outlets entering the sewerage system. [30468]

Mr. Meacher: Under the Water Industry Act 1991, the water companies are responsible for management of their sewerage systems and discharges to them. It is an offence under the Act to interfere with the free flow of a sewer.

I understand that water companies undertake a number of initiatives to control the amount of fats entering the sewerage system. These range from educational initiatives to prevent careless disposal of fats, encouragement of installation of fat traps to prevent entry into the sewerage system and development of technology to break down fats once they have entered the system.

A49

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the feasibility studies undertaken to improve the A49 between Shrewsbury and Ludlow. [30784]

Ms Glenda Jackson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 25 February 1998:

The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson has asked me to reply to your recent question about feasibility studies undertaken to improve the A49 between Shrewsbury and Ludlow.

In 1994 a study of accidents was carried out on the A49 south of Shrewsbury. This identified the need for a number of safety improvements which were subsequently put in place.

Currently we have two feasibility studies under way in your constituency, one examining options for traffic calming at Leebotwood and the other into the possible provision of a pedestrian crossing at Dorrington. Reports on both of these studies are expected next month.

We are also carrying out feasibility studies at Craven Arms, Church Stretton and Ashford Bowdler. Reports on all of these studies are expected by the end of March.

If you would like more details on any of these proposals Tom Barry, the Area Manager for the A49, would be pleased to provide them. Tom can be contacted on 0121-678-8366.

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Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) road traffic accidents, (b) resultant fatalities and (c) resultant injuries were recorded on the A49 between Shrewsbury and Ludlow for each year since 1977. [30783]

Ms Glenda Jackson: The information requested is available from 1979 and is shown in the table.

Accidents and casualties on the A49 between Shrewsbury and Ludlow: 1979-1996

		Severity of casualty
	All accidents	Fatal	Injured	All casualties
1979	96	4	129	133
1980	73	11	103	114
1981	57	4	82	86
1982	62	2	83	85
1983	50	1	87	88
1984	66	1	99	100
1985	76	11	111	122
1986	61	3	80	83
1987	69	4	100	104
1988	73	0	126	126
1989	73	3	101	104
1990	90	6	136	142
1991	54	2	73	75
1992	65	7	101	108
1993	48	4	72	76
1994	53	8	84	92
1995	44	3	91	94
1996	45	3	58	61
Total	1,155	77	1,716	1,793

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