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Nuclear Material (Trains)

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what appraisal he has made of safety factors in relation to the carriage of nuclear waste by train in the United Kingdom. [47467]

Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 25 June 1998]: The safety standards for the transport of nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel are already extremely high. They are based upon the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency and are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that the excellent safety record is maintained. The Government are active in, and will continue to support, the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the other international bodies that regulate the carriage of radioactive material, including the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the level of radiation emitted from trains carrying nuclear material. [47432]

Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 25 June 1998]: The radiation level from trains carrying nuclear material during normal operations is limited by Regulation to a maximum of 2 milliSievert/h at any point on the wagon outer surfaces, or the vertical planes projected from the outer edges of open wagons and to 0.1 milliSievert/h at a distance of 2 metres from those surfaces.

In a major study of road and rail transport (Radiation Exposure from the Normal Transport of Radioactive Materials within the United Kingdom, 1991 Review, by R. Gelder, National Radiological Protection Board Report NRPB-R255, ISBN 0 85951 351 3) the scenario of a householder living 100 metres from a marshalling yard where fuel flasks may be held for several hours, was assessed to give rise to a maximum annual dose of 6 microSievert. The maximum dose to persons living closer (50 metres) to a railway line with passing traffic (where exposure times would be very much shorter) was assessed to be very much lower. For comparison, the average annual dose in the UK due to natural background radiation is about 2000 microSievert.

29 Jun 1998 : Column: 86

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list, for each of the last five years, the number of accidents involving trains carrying nuclear material, within a five mile radius of Warrington. [47430]

Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 25 June 1998]: During the last five years there have been no accidents involving trains whilst carrying nuclear material in the Warrington area. There have, however, been three incidents involving trains transporting empty irradiated nuclear fuel flasks from Sellafield to UK nuclear power stations:

1. December 1994

A flatrol carrying an empty flask was derailed at Walton Old Junction.

2. December 1995

Electrical arcing was observed from a wagon attached to a nuclear flask train (but not itself carrying a flask) whilst in Arpley sidings.

3. March 1998

A buffer wagon (not a flatrol carrying a flask) was derailed following a low speed collision at Arpley sidings.

In no case was there any release of radioactive materials.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average number of trains per week carrying nuclear waste which pass through Warrington. [47431]

Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 25 June 1998]: Nuclear waste as such is not generally transported by train through Warrington. However, flasks carrying irradiated nuclear fuel regularly pass along the west coast main line through Warrington. There has never been a radiological incident involving the release of radioactivity from these trains.

An average of 2 trains per week, carrying between them an average of 9 flasks per week, pass through Warrington carrying irradiated nuclear fuel from UK nuclear power stations to Sellafield. A similar number of empty flasks is also transported through Warrington in the return direction.

29 Jun 1998 : Column: 87

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate how many rail journeys are undertaken each year in the United Kingdom in which radioactive material is carried from (a) Sellafield, (b) Dounreay, (c) Hartlepool, (d) Dungeness and (e) Hinkley Point. [47745]

Ms Glenda Jackson: For the calendar year 1997, the number of such journeys are estimated as follows:

(a) Sellafield: 133

(b) Dounreay: Nil

(c) Hartlepool: 25

(d) Dungeness: 85

(e) Hinkley Point: 72.

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent measurements he has evaluated in respect of the level of radioactivity found on the outside of rail wagons used for the transport of radioactive material. [47715]

Ms Glenda Jackson: Measurements of non-fixed contamination on the outside of rail wagons used to transport irradiated fuel flasks by UK operators have shown no instances of contamination exceeding the regulatory limit of 4 Becquerels/cm ² during the period January 1997 to the end of the first quarter of 1998.

Energy Efficiency

Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government's consultation document on energy efficiency will be issued. [47800]

Angela Eagle: The Government plan to issue a consultation paper later this summer on policy options for meeting the UK's climate change targets. This will focus on the Government's legally binding target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012, and also look at measures which could deliver the Government's aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. on 1990 levels by 2010. The scope for greater energy efficiency in business, the public sector and households will be an important feature of this paper.

Air Traffic

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated change in air traffic into and out of the United Kingdom over each of the next five years. [47586]

Ms Glenda Jackson: The Civil Aviation Authority's latest base case air traffic forecasts for commercial flights within UK airspace for the next five years are shown in the following table:

Year	Number of Commercial Flights (000s)
1998-99	1,734.0
1999-2000	1,758.8
2000-2001	1,813.3
2001-2002	1,891.8
2002-2003	1,973.0

29 Jun 1998 : Column: 88

Council Ward Boundaries

Mr. Rammell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions each year since 1983 the Local Government Commission for England has conducted an interim (non-periodic) review of council ward boundaries; for which councils; and for what reasons. [47682]

Mr. Raynsford: Since 1992, when the Local Government Commission was established, it has undertaken no non-periodic reviews of council ward boundaries, other than those associated with local government structure reviews.

Greenwich Peninsula (Cable Car)

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contracts have been signed in relation to the proposed cable car across the Thames at Greenwich peninsula. [47784]

Ms Glenda Jackson: The proposed cable car across the Thames at the Greenwich peninsula is a private-sector project. The company promoting it, Meridian Cable Cars Limited, has already obtained planning consent and is in discussions with the New Millennium Experience Company in regard to a lease for the area where it would 'land' close to the Dome. Whether the project goes ahead depends very much on the promoter's ability to raise the necessary funds.

Jubilee Line Extension

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the operating capacity of the Jubilee Line extension will be on 1 January 2000 in (a) trains and (b) passengers per hour. [47788]

Ms Glenda Jackson: By 1 January 2000, LT plan to be able to run 24 6-car trains per hour in each direction on the Jubilee Line Extension. This will provide a capacity of well over 24,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the Jubilee Line extension. [47789]

Ms Glenda Jackson: Tunnelling and tracklaying for the Jubilee Line Extension are complete. The new trains are in service on the existing Jubilee Line. Work on station fit-out and electrical and mechanical equipment is well under way. On-site testing of the signalling and communications software has begun. LT have undertaken a thorough review of the programme and plan to open the entire line in spring 1999.

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