House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 Feb 1999 (pt 6)

Special Advisers

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations he has received regarding the work undertaken by special advisers; and if he will make a statement. [68671]

Dr. Jack Cunningham: I receive occasional representations on the role of Special Advisers. The most recent representations from hon. Members were put to me in a debate on 13 January 1999, Official Report, columns 311-68, on Government Information.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Road User Charging

Mr. Cann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the first road user charging schemes to be introduced. [69390]

Ms Glenda Jackson: Implementation will be subject to the necessary legislation, which we will introduce when Parliamentary time permits. The preparatory work is underway and we have offered help to local authorities outside London who wish to make early progress. Implementation in London will depend on decisions by the Major following the GLA election in May 2000.

A3 (Hindhead)

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to visit Hindhead to examine the transport problems on the A3. [69731]

Dr. Reid: I have no plans currently to visit Hindhead to examine the transport problems on the A3. We already recognise that there is a serious congestion problem and in December last year announced our intention that an A3 study would form part of a group of road-based studies.

Revenue Support Grant

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the (a) RSG and (b) RSG per head in (i) Waverley and (ii) Sedgefield for (1) 1999-2000, (2) 1994-95 and (3) 1989-90. [69730]

Mr. Prescott: The information requested is as follows:

£ million £ per head

Waverley Sedgefield Waverley Sedgefield

Revenue Support Grant

1999-2000 0.864 3.570 8 40

1994-95 2.114 3.571 18 39

Block Grant (2)

1989-90 0 3.009 0 34

	£ million	£ per head
	Waverley	Sedgefield	Waverley	Sedgefield
	Revenue Support Grant
1999-2000	0.864	3.570	8	40
1994-95	2.114	3.571	18	39

Block Grant (2)
1989-90	0	3.009	0	34

(2) Calculated under the Rate Support Grant Report 1989-90

10 Feb 1999 : Column: 235

Repossessions

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement concerning the case of Ropaighealach v. Barclays Bank (The Times, 6 January) and the right of a mortgagor to enter a property and dispossess its owner without a court order. [69693]

Mr. Raynsford: In the case of Ropaigealach v Barclays Bank plc (Times Law Report, January 6 1999) the Court of Appeal held that a mortgage lender was entitled to exercise its common law right to take possession of a mortgaged dwelling house without first obtaining a court order. The protection provided to the borrower by section 36 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970 applied only where the lender had brought an action for possession.

There are restrictions on the exercise of a mortgage lender's common law right to take possession of a mortgaged dwelling. The right must be exercised peaceably. Use of violence would be an offence under the Criminal Law Act 1977, and the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 provides protection for tenants occupying the property.

Portsmouth Rail-head

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what discussions he has had with (a) Portsmouth City Council and (b) Portsmouth Ferry Port concerning the development of a freight rail-head in Portsmouth; [69673]

(a)

(b)

Ms Glenda Jackson: I understand that a feasibility study for a sea-rail link at Portsmouth is benefiting from a grant of 18,000 ecu from the European Commission under the Trans-European Network ("TENS") scheme. I met a delegation representing Portsmouth Commercial Port and Portsmouth City Council on 11 January to discuss general investment in the Port. However, the issue of rail links was not raised.

Local Government Finance

Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) individuals and (b) organisations that have made representations requesting that council tax Band G be split into two new bands with consequential increases in the proportion of tax due for both the new band and the current Band H in order to reflect better the differential in value between lower bands; and if he will make a statement. [69998]