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Pilot Projects
Yvette Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the pilot projects instigated by his Department since 1 May 1997, indicating the area in which each pilot took, or is taking, place. [72634]
Mr. Meale:
A table setting out the pilot projects which have been instigated by my Department and its Executive Agencies since 1 May 1997 has been placed in the Library.
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Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with London borough councils as to the number of empty council properties within their boroughs and the period of time that such properties are empty; and if he will make a statement. [72629]
Mr. Raynsford:
I have had no such discussions. However, officials of the Government Office for London regularly discuss with Borough officials, as part of the annual Housing Investment Programme determination, many aspects of the Borough's housing strategy and of its performance as a housing authority. Empty council properties are one aspect of that discussion. The Government regularly mention the number of empty houses in each local authority area, and encourage all local authorities to implement strategies to minimise the number of empty houses in their area.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of the United Kingdom land area he has designated as special areas of conservation; and what the percentage is for other EU member states. [72775]
Mr. Meale:
A total of 333 UK sites have been submitted to the European Commission as candidate SACs covering over 1,687,000 hectares. This accounts for 3.4 per cent. of the UK land surface. A similar additional area is covered by marine sites below mean low water. The Department does not have official information about other Member States, which is a matter for them and the European Commission.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the designation of new special areas of conservation; and what was his evaluation of each suggestion. [72647]
Mr. Meale:
333 UK candidate Special Areas of Conservation have been submitted to the European Commission following consideration of all representations made as a result of consultation. Many representations related to specific proposed sites; others, mainly from environmental organisations, suggested additions to the list. Where these suggestions were judged, on the advice of the nature conservation agencies through the JNCC, to be consistent with the Habitats Directive's criteria and requirements, they have been adopted. The JNCC publications, The Habitats Directive: selection of Special Areas of Conservation in the UK (Report No. 270), sets out the rationale that has been applied. It was published in October 1997 and placed in the Library of the House at the time.
Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will lay a specific duty on Transport for London to provide services at their existing levels on those parts of the Underground network outwith Greater London. [72653]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
We do not intend to place such a duty on Transport for London. TfL will be directly accountable to the Mayor who, subject to the passage of the Greater London Authority Bill, will be responsible for arranging for the setting of the general level of services provided or secured by Transport for London. More widely, the Mayor will be under a duty to develop and implement policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within Greater London. This duty therefore encompasses services to be provided by Transport for London outside the Greater London boundary.
The Mayor will also have a duty to draw up an integrated transport strategy for London, while taking account of national policy including the Government's integrated transport strategy. The Government have made it clear that their policy is to promote and encourage integrated public transport and the Mayor will need to bear that in mind when making decisions about the level of services provided or secured by Transport for London outside the Greater London boundary.
Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he proposes that representatives of those areas served by Transport for London railways outside Greater London will be consulted on the development of the services. [72654]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Subject to the passage of the Greater London Authority Bill, the Mayor will be under a duty to prepare a transport strategy document. It will be open to the Mayor to consult any body or person he or she thinks it appropriate to consult about the preparation of his or her transport strategy.
In addition, we will establish a new body to represent the interests of users of all modes of transport in London, including all services and facilities provided or secured by Transport for London. The new body will be known as the London Transport Users' Committee (LTUC). We envisage that LTUC will have regular contacts with Transport for London.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he plans to give to London's Mayor over the former British Rail network within Greater London. [73171]
Dr. Reid:
Our proposals were set out in our White Paper "A Mayor and Assembly for London" (Cm 3897). Paragraph 5.27 of the White Paper indicates that the Mayor will be able to:
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rail, Underground and bus services in terms of Travelcard fares and ticketing, marketing and passenger information. Transport for London will also have the power to oppose rail schemes which it thinks are contrary to the Mayor's transport strategy or other policies, or to the interests of Londoners.
Clauses 163 to 166 of the Greater London Authority Bill currently set out the draft provisions which will give effect to our proposals. Those clauses were debated in Standing Committee on 23 February 1999, Official Report, Standing Committee A, columns 723-49.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current estimate for the start date of the construction of the Thameslink 2000 rail scheme. [73092]
Dr. Reid:
The start of construction work on the Thameslink 2000 rail project is dependent on two factors:
Firstly, the project requires construction powers to be granted under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA). Railtrack submitted an application for a TWA Order for Thameslink 2000 in November 1997. Following consideration of representations made in respect of that application, and changes resulting from a review of the project, Railtrack is currently preparing a supplementary TWA Order application. A decision on when any public inquiry into the proposed scheme might be held has therefore been deferred until December 1999. The earliest an Inquiry could realistically be expected to commence is Spring of 2000. The timing of the Secretary of State's decision on whether to grant powers following the Inquiry Inspector's report, and--if powers are granted--the start of construction work, would depend on a number of factors, including the length of the Inquiry and the Inspector's findings.
Secondly, the Thameslink 2000 project is dependent on Stage 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) for the provision of certain works at St. Pancras. Railtrack has said that it intends to proceed with the exercise of its option to construct Stage 2 of CTRL, but believes that it would be inappropriate to make such a commitment until after the outcome is known of the Rail Regulator's review of access charges. If this option were exercised in 2001, construction of Thameslink 2000 would start in early 2002 and the service could be operational in 2006.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he plans to take to provide future funding security for, and protection of, existing service levels on the Robin Hood line between Nottingham and Mansfield. [73095]
Dr. Reid:
The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF) is in discussion with the local authorities and Central Trains about the future arrangements for the funding and provision of services on the Robin Hood line. For the current financial year (1998-99), OPRAF is providing a contribution of £350,000 to Central Trains in respect of Robin Hood Line services.
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issue guidance to OPRAF regarding franchisees in London;
secure the provision of new passenger services to be operated in London;
promote or fund new network improvements, as well as investment in new stations or improvements to existing ones;
require operators to participate in new multi-modal ticketing arrangements or concessionary travel schemes; and
ensure Transport for London is consulted on timetable decisions to ensure that bus, rail and tube services can be planned to complement each other.
The White Paper made it clear that OPRAF would not be bound to accept the Mayor's guidance if it would have an adverse impact beyond London or would result in additional financial liability to the taxpayer. Transport for London will also be able to exercise powers inherited from London Transport to ensure consistency between
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