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Lorry and Bus Company Licences
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the offices at which work related to the licensing of lorry and bus companies (a) currently takes place and (b) took place prior to 1996. [67452]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
In respect to Wales prior to April 1996, administrative support for the Traffic Commissioner for South Wales, the licensing authority for operators of buses, coaches and heavy lorries, was provided by staff from the Department of Transport based in Cardiff. The northern counties of Wales are currently the responsibility of the Traffic Commissioner for the North Western Traffic Area, then supported by an office in Manchester. Administrative services are now provided by offices in Birmingham and Leeds respectively. My noble Friend the Minister for Roads and Road Safety has today announced that, subject to Parliamentary approval, a new traffic area for Wales will be established with effect from 1 April 1999. The new traffic area will be administered from Birmingham, although the Traffic Commissioner will continue to hold his public inquiries in Wales as appropriate.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amount has been spent to date on bridge strengthening to implement EU Directive 85/3/EEC; and how much he estimates will be spent to complete implementation, expressed in each case at November 1987 prices. [67595]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 26 January 1999]: On Highways Agency bridges, the estimated expenditure to 31 March 1999 on the current assessment and strengthening programme is £200m at November 1987 prices. The estimated cost to complete the work is £83m.
The Directive requires strengthening to take place only on routes of strategic importance for HGVs. We are not able to separate expenditure by local authorities for these purposes from more general expenditure on bridge works.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total costs to highway authorities as a result of bridge strengthening works undertaken to implement EU Directive 85/3/EEC, excluding moneys provided to highway authorities from central Government under TPP allocations. [67593]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 26 January 1999]: I refer to the previous answer, which provides details of Highways Agency costs to implement bridge strengthening in 1987 prices. We cannot identify local authorities expenditure required for implementation of Directive 85/3/EEC. Not all bridge strengthening work being undertaken by local authorities is a requirement of the Directive.
The assessment programme has provided for a review of the condition and load bearing capability of all local authority bridges in England. Although a proportion of the works planned by authorities are on routes of the greatest strategic importance for HGVs, other works have been identified which authorities wish to undertake to meet the need of their local communities. Authorities also have discretion within their annual capital settlement to adjust the funding given between that for bridge works and that structural maintenance of principal roads.
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Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of motorway were open at the end of (a) 1979 and (b) 1997. [68125]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The information that the hon. Gentleman seeks is available only for financial years, not calender years. On 1 April 1979, there were 1,339 miles of motorway open in England, and on 1 April 1997, the corresponding figure was 1,759 miles. The figures include both trunk road motorways and those for which the local highway authority is responsible.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the OSPAR meeting on radioactive emissions held in Dublin this month; and if he will place in the Library copies of the United Kingdom and other submissions made to the meeting. [67703]
Mr. Meale:
The OSPAR technical working group on radioactive substances met in Dublin from 19 to 22 January. It made progress on a range of issues related to radioactive substances in the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic. Copies of UK papers submitted to the meeting have been placed in the Library. It would be for other OSPAR Contracting Parties to make available copies of their papers. A summary record of the meeting will shortly be available from the OSPAR Secretariat, New Court, 48 Carey Street, London WC2A 2JQ.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with ministers of the German Government concerning the termination of contracts with BNFL for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; and if he will make a statement. [67705]
Mr. Meale:
My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment met Jurgen Trittin, the German Environment Minister, on 20 January to discuss the Environmental Council Programme during the German Presidency of the EU. There was no substantive discussion about the termination of reprocessing contracts between German Utilities and BNFL. Such discussions were held earlier that day between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and Herr Trittin. I refer to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 21 January 1999, Official Report, column 547.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to make a response to the Environment Agency's proposed decision on the BNFL Mixed Oxide Fuel Plant. [67707]
Mr. Meale:
I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 11 November 1998, Official Report, column 189.
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Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Crossrail project; [67973]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
In response to a written Parliamentary Question the then Secretary of State for Transport told the House on 2 April 1996, Official Report, columns 129-30, that he had invited the Chairman of Railtrack to consider the Crossrail project with his Board. Railtrack has not responded to this invitation.
The Government's priority is to upgrade the existing Underground: the Public Private partnership will achieve that. It will be for the Mayor to take decisions on the future of the project as part of his or her integrated transport strategy for London, in the light of his or her priorities and the funds available. Meanwhile, the Crossrail route remains safeguarded.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to expand membership of the West Midlands Regional Development Agency to include a representative from (a) Worcestershire and (b) the business community of the region; and if he will make a statement. [68109]
Mr. Meale:
We have in mind to appoint another member to the West Midlands RDA and hope to make an announcement shortly.
Ms Rosie Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all revenues raised from congestion charging or private non-residential parking charges will be ring-fenced and re-invested in transport. [66526]
Dr. Reid:
The Government's proposal, set out in its consultation document, "Breaking the Logjam" is that 100 per cent. of the net revenues in pilot charging schemes will be retained by local authorities for at least 10 years for spending only on transport-related projects. They will be obliged to set up ring-fenced accounts for this purpose. The Government will have to approve all pilot schemes and will ensure that the proposed spending of the revenues in each scheme represents value for money.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1998, Official Report, column 135, if he has commissioned an independent review of alternative proposals for regional Eurostar services; and if he will make a statement. [68573]
Mr. Prescott:
I have today announced a competition to seek a consultant to undertake a review of alternative proposals for regional Eurostar services. In addition to addressing itself in particular to the study completed by
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Inter-Capital and Regional Rail Ltd., and the alternative proposals put forward by the Virgin Group, the review will include a thorough examination of a broad range of key elements including the points to be served, infrastructure requirements in terms of both rolling stock and track, wider social and economic benefits to the regions of having such services, and the case for carrying domestic passengers. These terms of reference have been informed by the recent report of the Transport Sub-Committee, for which I am grateful. I have asked for a thorough report to be presented to Government as soon as practicable. It is likely to take some months.
(2) when his predecessor asked Railtrack to prepare a report on the Crossrail project; and when he expects to receive this report. [67974]
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