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Census Returns
Mr. Austin: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice he has received from the Advisory Council on Public Records since its October 1998 meeting about the confidentiality period for decennial census returns; and if he will make a statement. [83396]
Mr. Hoon: I have received no such advice.
Green Transport Plans
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82831]
Mr. Hoon: My Department has introduced green transport plans at each of the three headquarters buildings of the Department and its main agencies. We are developing plans for our 53 other key buildings in line with the March 2000 target set in the Integrated Transport White Paper.
Public Record Office
Helen Jones:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the final outcome of the Quinquennial Agency Review of the Public Record Office. [83947]
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Mr. Hoon:
The Review concluded that the Public Record Office had greatly benefited from agency status and that it continued to perform an essential function of government. It recommended that the Public Record Office remain a Government Department and an executive agency. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Lord Chancellor have accepted these conclusions.
The Review also recommended a fresh look at some elements of the Public Record Office's work and the exploration of further opportunities for private sector involvement. These recommendations were, where appropriate, carried forward within the Public Record Office's Comprehensive Spending Review and implemented.
The Public Record Office is now well placed to lead essential changes in the introduction of electronic record keeping in government and the provision of on-line services for the public. It is also leading on improving records management and storage across government. Its education programme is being expanded, particularly in the direction of internet services to benefit schools and lifelong learners nationally.
In the light of the Review recommendations and of the Comprehensive Spending Review, a new framework document has now been prepared to cover the next five years. This concludes the final stage of the Office's Quinquennial Review.
Copies of the Quinquennial Review evaluation report and of the revised framework document have been placed in the Library of both Houses.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the introduction of a green transport plan for his Department. [82842]
Mr. Macdonald:
My right hon. Friend is finalising a green transport plan for Victoria Quay, Edinburgh for discussion with staff representatives. This plan will cover around 1,400 civil servants, almost 40 per cent. of the total Scottish Office core staff. Further site-specific plans will be developed for the remainder of Scottish Officer headquarters buildings.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Prime Minister how many applications for information he received under the Open Government: Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last Parliamentary Session and how many of these applications were granted. [83104]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 10 May 1999]: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office.
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13. Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the consultation on the document "Rural England". [82793]
28. Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the responses to the consultation on "Rural England"; and if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the proposals in the document. [82808]
Mr. Meacher:
We have had a very encouraging response to the consultation document "Rural England", with close to 700 written submissions. We will be taking the views and ideas expressed into account as we proceed with work on the Rural White Paper.
14. Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the public-private partnership proposals for London Underground. [82794]
Dr. Reid:
London Transport have continued to progress the public-private partnership proposals, as set out in the progress report LT published in March. We anticipate bidders being invited to pre-qualify for the PPP competition shortly.
24. Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his latest estimate of the date when the public-private partnership for London Underground will become operational. [82804]
Dr. Reid:
We have made it clear that we are not going to set a fixed timetable for completing the PPP--our overriding aim is to secure best value.
16. Ms Dari Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the most recent assessment of future requirements for housing in the north-east. [82796]
Ms Armstrong:
The latest regional household projections were set out in my Department's press release of 29 March. These projections indicate that the number of households in the north-east at 2021 could total around 1.2 million.
26. Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he plans to take to ensure that the planning system assists the creation of affordable housing in the countryside. [82806]
Mr. Caborn:
Our policy is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing, a revised draft of which has recently been issued for consultation, and in Circular 6/98. These provide for village infill and extension to help secure mixed and balanced rural communities and a rural "exceptions" policy where there is a demonstrable lack of affordable housing to meet local need.
11 May 1999 : Column: 103
36. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will adopt a target for two-thirds of new housing development to be built on brown-field sites; and if he will make a statement. [82816]
Mr. Caborn:
The Government's target is for 60 per cent. of additional housing to be built on previously developed land. The draft Planning Policy Guidance note 3, Housing, recently issued for consultation, reaffirms our commitment to that target.
17. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress being made towards establishing the new Greater London Authority. [82797]
Mr. Raynsford:
A great deal of work is going on across a number of fronts. We have, for example, made recent announcements about the permanent home for the GLA and the appointment of Dr. Robert Chilton to lead a team managing the transition arrangements for the Authority. Last week the GLA Bill successfully completed its passage through the Commons.
18. Mr. Cawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the safety implications of the use of flags of convenience by ship owners. [82798]
Dr. Reid:
Sub-standard shipping endangers the lives of passengers and crew and poses an increased risk to the marine environment. The UK Government are determined to tackle this problem by continued international efforts. Many, but not all, of the worst ships are flagged with open registers, and those registers with a poor safety record will continue to be targeted for inspection under Port State Control.
19. Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to reform the planning system. [82799]
Mr. Caborn:
'Modernising Planning: A Progress Report' was published on 12 April. It provides an audit of the large number of initiatives in hand to improve the operation of the planning system at the national, regional and local levels.
21. Mr. Gordon Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action the Government have taken to assist local authorities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the local planning process in the north-west. [82801]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Government are undertaking a number of initiatives under their "Modernising Planning" programme to assist local authorities in improving the local planning process in the north-west. My Department is committed to delivering a quality planning service which is fast and efficient and my officials will continue to work closely in partnership with north-west local authorities to achieve this.
11 May 1999 : Column: 104
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