| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Air Pollution
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons aviation emissions are not covered by international agreements on limiting greenhouse gases. [61897]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 2 December 1998]: Aviation emissions of greenhouse gases are indeed covered by the Climate Change Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. Emissions from domestic flights are covered by UK commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. Emissions from international flights are not "allocated" to individual countries at present but are the subject of separate requirements to take preventive action, particularly through the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Bus Fuel Rebate Scheme
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will rebate the tax paid on fuel by Ring and Ride (Greater Manchester Accessible Transport Ltd.) on the same basis as that which applies to commercial bus operators. [62101]
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 266
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt) on 2 November 1998, Official Report, column 307.
Judy Mallaber:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to receive the report commissioned by his Department on community transport. [62110]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The national review of voluntary and community transport has now been completed and a summary of its main findings has been presented this week to delegates at the annual Community Transport conference for their views and comments. The final report will be available early in the New Year.
Mr. Snape:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the environmental protection measures proposed for the second phase of the channel tunnel rail link between Ebbsfleet and St. Pancras are a specific requirement of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Act 1996. [62107]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Additional tunnelling in the approach to St. Pancras and at Barking and revised alignment of the track at Thurrock and Rainham were provided partly for environmental reasons and are required by the 1996 Act. Other environmental protection measures may arise from the detailed planning approval granted under the provisions of the 1996 Act by the local planning authorities.
Mr. Snape:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the value for money of the environmental protection measures included in design for the second phase of the Channel Tunnel Rail Line between Ebbsfleet and St. Pancras; and if he will make a statement. [62108]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We have not sought to make such an estimate, partly because few CTRL works in section two are exclusively for environmental protection, but primarily because there is no reliable means of apportioning costs between environmentally protective and other works.
Mr. Snape:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received since 8 May 1997 from residents near the railway line between the channel tunnel and London concerning noise from Eurostar trains. [62109]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We have received a number of representations from residents near the railway line between the channel tunnel and London concerning noise from the horns of Eurostar trains. I understand from Eurostar that the levels of these horns comply with the rules governing international railway operations and are required by railway safety regulations.
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 267
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the Government have decided not to issue an approved code of practice, covering issues raised in Circular 12/92 entitled "Guidance to Local Housing Authorities on Standards of Fitness" under section 352 of the Housing Act 1985; and if he will make a statement. [62122]
Mr. Raynsford:
We have decided against introducing an Approved Code of Practice for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) as we consider that our existing powers do not enable us to produce an effective and workable code that would deliver the standards we want HMOs to achieve in the longer term.
We will be consulting on proposed standards for the licensing scheme we are committed to introduce for HMOs. Once these standards have been agreed we will publish them and issue guidance to authorities on how they might begin to apply them prior to the introduction of licensing.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals the Government have to provide a statutory definition of multiple occupation houses following the Barnes v. Sheffield City Council case; and if he will make a statement. [62123]
Mr. Raynsford:
We hope to issue a consultation document on our proposals for a licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) early in the New Year. The consultation document will address the issue of HMO definition, with the objective of clarifying the uncertainty that surrounds it following cases such as Barnes v. Sheffield City Council.
Mr. Rammell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the housing developments of over 10,000 homes which his Department has approved for planning purposes since 1985 indicating (a) the date of approval and (b) the local planning authority. [62070]
Mr. Raynsford:
This information is not readily available.
Mr. Geraint Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to make an announcement on funding for the Nottingham Express Transit light rail scheme; and if he will make a statement. [62530]
Dr. Reid:
I am delighted to announce today that the Nottingham Express Transit (NET) is to go ahead.
The Government are to provide £167 million of revenue support to Nottingham City Council so it can fund its side of the deal. The NET is an early local authority Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project.
The project is the culmination of years of hard work and is an excellent example of central and local Government working together to bring real benefits to the local community. This is illustrated by our support for this
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 268
project. Over the next few years the NET will take up a large part of my Department's allocation of resources for local authority PFI projects. We will not be in a position to support similar light rail schemes in this way for the foreseeable future.
As we set out in "New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone", the transport White Paper published in July, we aim to give local authorities greater input into providing tailored transport solutions. This is reflected in the recently issued draft guidance to help Local Authorities to formulate local transport plans which are a core part of our proposals to deliver integrated transport strategies at the local level.
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the need for a national strategy to deal with the disruption caused to local communities when companies seek to lay water, gas, electricity and telecommunication services along essential transport routes. [61313]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
As the White Paper "New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone" makes clear, we intend to consult on options for an incentive system, with penalties, to minimise disruption to all road users, and to encourage improved co-ordination of road works. I expect to begin this process in the New Year.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future of the Sussex Downs Conservation Board after 31 March 2001. [62121]
Mr. Meacher:
We are still giving detailed consideration to the Countryside Commission's formal advice on protecting our finest countryside including the future arrangements for the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is a great deal to consider but we hope to announce some conclusions soon. The future of the Board will depend upon the decisions taken.
Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effects of the uniform business rate on small businesses. [61305]
Mr. Raynsford:
In 1995 my Department published a research report "The Impact of Rates on businesses" which indicated that rates were a significantly greater burden for small businesses--those with turnovers of under £100,000--than for larger businesses. As stated in our White Paper "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People", we are discussing with business representatives the details of a possible scheme to reduce this burden on small businesses.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |