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Buses
22. Jacqui Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has for increasing public use of buses. [78837]
Dr. Reid: In addition to increasing financial support for buses, we have put forward a package of policy measures aimed at improving bus travel and increasing bus use. They are set out in our policy document published on 23 March, "From Workhorse to Thoroughbred--A Better Role for Bus Travel".
Road Haulage Industry
23. Mr. Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of the road haulage industry to discuss prospects for the industry; and if he will make a statement. [78838]
Dr. Reid: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Mrs. Butler). We had a very constructive first meeting of the Road Haulage Forum on Thursday 8 March.
Mrs. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of the road haulage industry; and if he will make a statement. [78921]
Dr. Reid: I chaired a very constructive, long and in-depth first meeting of the Road Haulage Forum on Thursday 8 April. Together with my noble Friend the Under-Secretary and my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, I met representatives of the Freight Transport association, the Road Haulage Association and the Transport and General Workers Union.
We are going to jointly examine, in the shortest period of time, the state of the competitiveness of the haulage industry and take external independent views where necessary to inform our discussions. We will take into account the influencing factors, with a view to looking at potential solutions.
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In addition, we will look at a range of other issues, for example, offering special assistance to small haulage businesses.
I hope that all hauliers will now agree that dialogue, not disruption, is the way forward.
24. Ms Kingham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement concerning access for disabled people to public transport. [78839]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government are committed to comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. Accessible public transport, within the framework of our integrated transport policy, is fundamentally important to delivering that commitment.
We are using powers in Part V of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to make "accessibility regulations" to require new trains, trams, buses, coaches and taxis to be accessible to disabled people, including those who travel in a wheelchair.
25. Mr. Sutcliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail. [78840]
Mr. Prescott:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Khabra) today, Official Report, column 4.
26. Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the further studies on improving the A47 east of Norwich will be completed. [78841]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State announced on 23 March 1999, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 150-52, that a study of the A47 between Norwich and Great Yarmouth was programmed to begin in 2000-01. The duration of the study will depend on the complexity of the issues identified, but it is anticipated it will take at least a year to complete.
The Highways Agency is taking forward a separate, smaller-scale study for a safety scheme on the Blofield to Acle section of the A47. That study is due for completion this year. The Agency plans to implement other minor safety improvements on this section during Autumn 1999.
27. Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes to excise duty on freight vehicles on pollution emission targets. [78842]
Dr. Reid:
Vehicle excise duty (VED) for heavy goods vehicles was frozen for all but the new classes of vehicles with 11.5 tonne axle weights. Rates for these classes were set in the Budget with the aim of discouraging their use,
13 Apr 1999 : Column: 53
in view of the significant additional road damage they cause. In the 1998 Budget, the Chancellor announced a general review of VED for goods vehicles, with the intention of ensuring that VED rates more accurately reflect these vehicles' environmental impact; this work is proceeding.
The 1999 Budget also doubled the maximum VED concession for reduced pollution lorries and buses to £1,000. We expect this to act as a further incentive to operators to adapt their vehicles to meet stringent particulate emission standards.
28. Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures the Government are taking to raise ethical standards in local government; and if he will make a statement. [78843]
Ms Armstrong:
On 24 March my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister published a consultation paper, "Local Leadership Local Choice", copies of which were placed in the Vote Office and the House Library. The paper sets out the Government's proposals and draft legislation for new forms of local governance and a new ethical framework for local government.
29. Mr. Randall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure the protection of natural habitats in the implementation of his policy on access to the countryside. [78844]
Mr. Meacher:
In implementing its plans for a statutory right of access to open countryside, the Government will provide for the countryside agencies and national park authorities to be able to close land or otherwise restrict access to protect the interests of conservation of wildlife.
30. Mr. Borrow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the regional Chamber in the north-west will be officially established. [78845]
Mr. Caborn:
We are currently considering proposals from the North West Regional Assembly for designation as the regional chamber for the North West under the RDA Act 1998, and I hope to make an announcement shortly.
31. Dr. George Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with European Commissioners on the future development of the United Kingdom road and rail network within the trans-European network. [78846]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Neither my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport nor I have had any recent discussions with European Commissioners on the future development of the United Kingdom road and rail network within the Trans-European Network (TEN). But
13 Apr 1999 : Column: 54
our officials have had discussions with officials of the Commission in the context of the 1999 TEN funding round.
32. Dr. Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what appraisal he has made of the environmental consequences of the development of home delivery and home ordering of retail household goods. [78847]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
In our document "Sustainable Distribution: A Strategy", published on 2 March 1999, we stated that we would commission research into the long term implications of home shopping and its variants on our integrated transport policy in general and for planning and transport services in particular. This would cover environmental impacts.
33. Mr. Robathan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received requesting a directly elected assembly for the east midlands. [78848]
Mr. Caborn:
We have not received any representations for a directly elected assembly for the East Midlands.
34. Mr. Clifton-Brown:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many train journeys were (a) cancelled and (b) seriously delayed in 1998. [78849]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
In 1998 it is estimated that 70,000 train journeys were cancelled and 580,000 were delayed beyond the Charter targets.
35. Mr. White:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress is being made on improving road maintenance; and if he will make a statement. [78850]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government have made road maintenance a top priority and we are committed to restore the cuts in local road maintenance funding. New techniques are being introduced to minimise the need for maintenance and reduce the impact of maintenance works on the motorist.
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