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Single Currency
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the subject areas within his Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73662]
Mr. Prescott: Any plans by the Government to issue information during a referendum campaign on whether or not the UK should join the single currency would be made in the light of the Government's response to the recommendations when my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publishes a White Paper and draft bill before the Summer Recess.
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to issue information from his Department to help the public make an informed decision when they vote on the single currency. [73592]
Mr. Prescott: The Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter Eight of the Treasury's Outline National Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the plan are available in the House Library.
British Waterways Board
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the future of the British Waterways Board. [73683]
Mr. Meacher: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 18 February the Government's decision on the future status and direction for British Waterways. The full package of measures is set out in the booklet "Unlocking the Potential A New Future for British Waterways", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. The key elements of the package are:
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The package demonstrates the Government's commitment to a successful future for British Waterways. The additional investment, together with the public and private partnerships, offer exciting opportunities for British Waterways to unlock the potential, modernise its network and provide a system of historic waterways worthy of the new millennium.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates he has made of the number of public rights of way that are (a) blocked and (b) otherwise difficult to negotiate because of crops or encroaching vegetation. [73569]
Mr. Meacher:
A national rights of way condition survey carried out in 1994 by the Countryside Commission found that on average 26 per cent. of rights of way were blocked or difficult to use, 2 per cent. were blocked and 4 per cent. were difficult to use because of crops or other cultivated surface, and 3 per cent. were blocked and 4 per cent. difficult to use because of overgrown or overhanging natural vegetation.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he will take to ensure that all EU countries implement the Joint Aviation Authorities' Requirements on Flight Crew Licensing by 1 July 1999, with particular reference to pilots in the age group 60 to 65 years. [73487]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
This Government take very seriously the implementation of the Joint Aviation Requirements on Flight Crew Licensing (JAR-FCL,) in order to harmonise the standards for licensing pilots in the 29 member states of the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). The requirements will enable pilots to operate aircraft up to the age of 65 years either as Pilot-in-Command or Co-Pilot, provided that only one pilot in the crew is 60 or over.
It will be for individual states to decide how to implement JAR-FCL with respect to their airspace, but we have urged JAA states to apply it consistently.
We understand that the European Commission aims to bring forward, this year, proposals to incorporate the JAR-FCL provisions into EU legislation.
Dr. George Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure equity in distribution of Government funding to the English regional development agencies. [73612]
Mr. Meale:
Over 90 per cent. of the funding for Regional Development Agencies in 1999-2000 will be in respect of the regeneration programmes which they will inherit from the Government Offices for the Regions, English Partnerships and the Rural Development Commission. The distribution of those resources is determined largely by statistical indicators of need.
For later years, resources will be allocated to RDAs in response to the corporate plans which they submit to the Secretary of State. Allocations will take account of the needs of the regions, the soundness of the RDAs' plans for tackling those needs and their performance in implementing their programmes.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the UK Red Squirrel Group has taken to protect red squirrels in Cumbria. [73690]
Mr. Meacher:
Red Squirrel conservation in Cumbria is undertaken by the Red Squirrel Conservation Partnership, NPI Red Alert Northwest. The UK Red Squirrel Group actively supports the work of NPI Red Alert Northwest in Cumbria through the provision of technical advice to local staff, support in the production of the Regional Action Plan, assisting in organising the NPI Red Alert Northwest forum, and the provision of a practitioners newsletter. The Secretariat of the UK Red Squirrel Group has been based with Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of (a) footpaths and (b) bridleways in England and Wales are not fully open or easily negotiable according to Countryside Commission criteria. [73967]
Mr. Meacher:
In a national rights of way condition survey carried out in England in 1994 by the Countryside Commission, walkers found that 25 per cent. of footpaths
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and 18 per cent. of bridleways were poor or unusable at some point on their length. Horse riders and cyclists found that 25 per cent. of bridleways were difficult to use. 25 per cent. of footpaths equates to about 20,500 miles, and 25 per cent. of bridleways represents about 4,600 miles.
Wales has a total of 24,850 miles of rights of way. Between 1992 and 1998, 7,215 miles were surveyed and it was found that 23 per cent. of footpaths were blocked or difficult to use. This equates to 5,716 miles of the total. No comparable figures are available for bridleways due to the statistically small proportion surveyed.
Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how non- fuel-poor households are defined in figure D of his Department's Background Paper on Fuel Poverty and Current Government Programmes; and if he will make a statement. [73774]
Mr. Meale:
The paper uses the standard definition applied by academics and organisations active in the sector, of non-fuel, poor households being those needing to spend 10 per cent. or less of household income to achieve a satisfactory indoor heating regime (21oC in the living room and 18oC in the other occupied rooms).
British Waterways will remain in the public sector as a public corporation, charged with the stewardship of an important national asset;
Improved funding. An extra £8 million per annum, to enable British Waterways to eliminate the serious maintenance backlog over a timescale of seven years and subject to the achievement of challenging performance targets;
Phasing out debt and increased flexibility in cash flow management. British Waterways will be relieved of the burden of refinancing old loans as they mature and will benefit from new financial flexibility at the end of each financial year.
Three proposed partnerships with the private sector (property, water transfer and maintenance), which are currently being worked up with the Treasury Private Finance Taskforce;
Partnerships with the public sector. British Waterways will build on and broaden its partnerships with local authorities and other public sector organisations, including the new Regional Development Agencies;
A membership scheme: to get British Waterways closer to all people who use its waterways. There are a number of options for a membership scheme and these will be the subject of a consultation exercise by British Waterways. The consultation will include the suggestion that a seat on the British Waterways Board might eventually be offered to the membership;
A Framework Document setting new objectives for British Waterways, clarifying its relationship with the Department, and confirming British Waterways' contribution to sustainable development and to Government policies on transport (including freight), regeneration, heritage, conservation and leisure; and
Improved openness and accountability. British Waterways will build on last year's publication of a forward plan at a public meeting by publishing more detailed information about its activities and plans.
I have also placed in the Library copies of the Framework Document and a paper setting out the facts and analysis relevant to the Government's announcement.
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