16 Feb 1999 : Column: 599
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 16 February 1999
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Whipps Cross-Redbridge Relief Road
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 27 January 1999, Official Report, column 252, if he will require from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency an explanation for the cause of the delays and cost arrears in respect of the Whipps Cross-Redbridge Relief Road; and if he will publish this explanation. [70070]
Ms Glenda Jackson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Kerman to Mr. David Amess, dated 11 February 1999:
The Minister for Transport in London has asked Lawrie Haynes, the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about Contract 4 of the A12 Hackney to M11 Link Road. I am replying in his absence from the office.
The start on this contract was initially delayed by protest action and, as I said in my last letter, the procurement and installation of additional specialist mechanical and electrical equipment has proved difficult.
The increase in costs is due to protester action and increases in statutory undertakers costs. The additional mechanical and electrical works required for the safe operation of the George Green tunnel also cost more than originally anticipated.
Regional Planning Guidance
Mr. Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will publish its new draft guidance on preparing regional planning guidance. [71422]
Mr. Caborn: Draft Planning Policy Guidance Note 11 on "Regional Planning" will be published on Monday 15 February.
Copies will be placed in the Library and made available in the Vote Office.
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the total cost of accommodation and internal travel for the Minister for the Environment and those who accompanied him to the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica. [67977]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 28 January 1999]: Travel costs from New Zealand to Antarctica and return, internal travel and accommodation costs in Antarctica were paid for by the New Zealand Government.
16 Feb 1999 : Column: 600
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many (a) civil servants and (b) political advisers accompanied the Minister for the Environment to the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica; and what was the total cost of their airfares; [67978]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 28 January 1999]: I attended an informal meeting of Ministers and senior Government officials from Antarctic Treaty Nations at the invitation of the New Zealand Government. Some 24 countries were represented. The main focus of the meeting was to look at the way the continent has been affected by environmental changes from climate change to ozone depletion. I was accompanied by one civil servant. No political adviser accompanied me.
The cost of the two return business class flights to New Zealand was £8,709. Flight costs from New Zealand to Antarctica were paid by the New Zealand Government.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what use the Minister for the Environment made of RAF aircraft to travel to and from the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica. [67980]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 28 January 1999]: None.
Mrs. Shephard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 1999, Official Report, column 335, if he will list (a) the departure and arrival points for the RAF plane and helicopter flights on (i) 3 May 1997, (ii) 23 July 1997, (iii) 22 January 1998, (iv) 23 March 1998 and (v) 26 September 1998 and (b) the RAF units to which the planes or helicopters were attached. [69098]
Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 4 February 1999]: The information requested is in the table.
(2) what was the cost of the flights for the Minister for the Environment to attend the Antarctica Treaty meeting in Antarctica; and in what class he travelled. [67979]
| Departure point | Arrival point | RAF Unit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 May 1997 | Wembley | Kensington Palace | N.32 Squadron |
| 23 July 1997 | Northolt | Manchester Airport | N.32 Squadron |
| 2 January 1998 | Northolt | Riga | N.32 Squadron |
| 23 March 1998 | Humberside Airport Brussels | Brussels Northolt | N.32 Squadron |
| 26 September 1998 | Stanstead | Blackpool | N.32 Squadron |
Ministers are required under the Ministerial Code to always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.
In 1997-98 this Government spent £6.1 million on Ministers' visits overseas. The spend on overseas visits between April and December 1998 is £4 million. This compares to £7.8 million and £6.9 million for the last two years of the previous administration.
16 Feb 1999 : Column: 601
Mrs. Brinton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many applications by operators to surrender waste management licences in each of the last three years have been (a) made and (b) granted. [70211]
Mr. Meale:
The figures for applications made to the Environment Agency under section 39 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 are as follows:
| 1996-97(1) | 1997-98(1) | 1998-99(1)(3) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications made under section 39 of the 1990 Act | (2)-- | 201 | 247 |
| Applications accepted under section 39 of the 1990 Act | (2)-- | 128 | 109 |
| Applications rejected under section 39 of the 1990 Act | (2)-- | 10 | 2 |
(1) 1 April-31 March
(2) No reliable figures are available for 1996-97. Following the transfer of responsibility from waste regulation authorities the central collection of statistics by the Environment Agency commenced in 1997-98.
(3) For the first 9 months of the year
Goods Vehicles
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that British haulage operators do not face unfair competition as a result of tax increases proposed on vehicles running at an 11.5 tonne drive axle weight on roads in Britain. [70103]
Ms Glenda Jackson: As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his pre-Budget statement on 3 November 1998, Official Report, columns 681-702, vehicle excise duty rates for goods vehicles with 11.5 tonne axle weights will be set to discourage strongly the use of such vehicles, in view of the additional road damage that they cause. The Integrated Transport White Paper stated that the Government would seek to encourage the use of goods vehicles with a maximum weight of 41 tonnes on 6 axles, which have the same payload as 40 tonnes on 5 axles but cause significantly less road wear.
The Government firmly believe that the best way to help industry, including hauliers, is to create a climate of sustainable economic growth and long-term investment in business. The last Budget included a number of general measures from which hauliers could benefit: main corporation tax will be reduced to 30 per cent. from 1 April 1999, and small companies' corporation tax rate will be cut to 20 per cent. from 1 April 1999.
Local Government Reform
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the encouragement his Department is giving to local authorities to consult with the public in connection with the White Paper on local government reform. [70377]
Mr. Raynsford:
Our local government White Paper makes it clear that the Government attach the highest importance to councils consulting local people as they take forward their plans to modernise. We shall shortly
16 Feb 1999 : Column: 602
publish for consultation a draft Bill to transform the political management and ethical framework of councils. We expect all councils to lead a full local debate on these issues in their area.
Mr. Kemp:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the expenditure was on press, radio and television awareness advertising to warn of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning for the last five and the current financial years. [70366]
Mr. Meale:
Estimated figures for the Government's spend on press, radio, TV and other forms of Carbon Monoxide awareness material for the last five and current financial years are given in the table.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Financial Year | Expenditure |
| 1993-94 | 10k |
| 1994-95 | 1m |
| 1995-96 | 600k |
| 1996-97 | 1.25m |
| 1997-98 | 238k |
| 1998-99 | 270k |
The peaks in expenditure in 1994-95 and 1996-97 are explained by the major TV, film and national press advertising campaigns mounted in those years. Total spending for the period is approaching £3.5 million pounds. In addition the gas supply industry has assisted in this awareness-raising effort by including advice with gas bills mailed to consumers.
Mr. Kemp:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many deaths occurred as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in houses of multi-occupation in the period 1993 to 1998. [70368]
Mr. Raynsford:
There are no specific records available for deaths from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
However, I can advise my hon. Friend that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) record all gas-related deaths from CO poisoning, and whether they occur in rented or owner-occupied housing.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |