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Local Authority Publicity

Mr. Pond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend legislation regarding the code of practice on local authority publicity so that local authorities must not only have regard to this code but actively enforce it. [88075]

Mr. Meale: We have no plans to amend the legislation on the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. In the paper "Local Leadership, Local Choice", laid before the House on 24 March 1999 (Cm 4298), we have made proposals, including a draft Bill, for a new framework to deliver high standards in all aspects of conduct throughout local government.

Highways Agency Estate

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the surplus properties held by the Highways Agency are held for road schemes that have been cancelled. [88088]

Mrs. Liddell: The Highways Agency currently holds 563 surplus properties on cancelled schemes. The Agency sells all its surplus property through a phased disposals programme which is designed to ensure the greatest return to the public purse, while not flooding any local property market. Existing tenancies are honoured and in some cases it will be necessary to complete statutory procedures, such as the making of revocation orders, before property can be sold.

Road Schemes

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which road schemes are (a) currently in progress and (b) planned for the next two years on motorways and trunk roads. [88112]

Mrs. Liddell: The major new schemes currently under construction are listed. Those we plan to start in the next two financial years are listed. In addition we plan this year to spend £765 million on maintenance and £187 million on making better use of the existing motorway and trunk road network.

28 Jun 1999 : Column: 23

Major new road schemes currently under construction:
A12 Hackney--M11 Contract 1
A12 Hackney--M11 Contract 3
A12 Hackney--M11 Contract 4
A564 Derby Southern Bypass Contract B
A13 West of Heathway--Thames Avenue
London Primary Route Signing South West Contract
Manchester Outer Ring Road Re-signing Contract 2
London Primary Route Signing East Contract
M5 J18-19 (Bridge Strengthening)
M60 Denton--Middleton Contract 1
M60 Denton--Middleton Contract 3
A30 Honiton to Exeter Imp (Part of A30/A35 Exeter--Bere Regis). This scheme is being built under a Design Build Finance and Operate contract (DBFO)
Major new road schemes planned for next two years:
1999-2000
A2/M2 Cobham--Junction 4
A1 Tempsford Junction Improvements
London Primary Route Signing North West Contract
A13 Ironbridge--Canning Town ¹
A13/A117 Woolwich Manor Way ¹
A13 Movers Lane ¹
A13/A112 Prince Regent Lane (contingent scheme subject to satisfactory completion of statutory procedures) ¹
2000-01
A1 Willowburn--Denwick
A6 Great Glen Bypass
A27 Polegate Bypass
A41 Aston Clinton Bypass
A43 Silverstone Bypass
A43 Whitfield Turn--Brackley Hatch Improvement
A1033 Hedon Road, Hull Improvement
¹ These schemes are part of the A13 Thames Gateway DBFO Project for which a contract will be awarded this year. The actual start of works dates will be determined by the DBFO Company.

Motor Vehicle Tax Rises

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the effect has been on the annual costs of his Department of the changes in fuel duty and vehicle licence fees since May 1997. [88089]

Mrs. Liddell: This information is not available. Records are not kept centrally.

Ministerial Transport

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) on how many days over the last six months he has used (a) a car, (b) a bus and (c) a train for his official duties; [88101]

(2) on how many occasions in the last six months he has travelled to work at his office by (a) car and (b) public transport. [88097]

Mr. Prescott: I travel by car and by public transport on a regular basis on my official visits and journeys to my office.

28 Jun 1999 : Column: 24

Ministers are required under the Ministerial Code to always make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

London Underground

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are (a) the cost to date and (b) the anticipated future cost of legal, financial and other professional advice in respect of the Public-Private Partnership for the London Underground. [88102]

Mrs. Liddell: I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 12 May 1999, Official Report, columns 154-55. We have made a commitment to provide the House with updated figures at six monthly intervals. London Transport will not know the overall requirements or costs for external advice until the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) transaction has been completed, but the Government are working together with LT to ensure that we receive the best advice while minimising the overall costs of implementing the PPP.

Public Sector Housing

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many public sector houses for rent are currently empty. [88098]

Ms Armstrong: On 1 April 1998 there were an estimated 95,300 vacant public sector properties in England.

Urban Development Corporation

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when each of the urban development corporations was wound up; and what residual costs fall to be paid in 1999-2000. [88065]

Mr. Caborn: The following urban development corporations ceased operations on 31 March 1998 and were dissolved on 1 July 1998:

Birmingham Heartlands

Black Country

London Docklands

Merseyside

Plymouth

Teesside

Trafford Park

Tyne and Wear.

Residual property, rights and liabilities were transferred to the Commission for the New Towns, now part of English Partnerships (EP). Its budget for unavoidable liability costs in 1999-2000 amounts to £24.2 million.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if additional money beyond the £300 million so far allocated to the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme will be required to provide the average grant to the number of homes given in his answer of 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 88, and to make grants at equivalent levels in Scotland and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [88151]

28 Jun 1999 : Column: 25

Mr. Meale: The estimated average grants under the proposed New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) are based on the use of seven year operating leases to fund the installation of central heating systems under New HEES Plus. They include the full cost of the lease over the term.

The resources allocated to this area cover the estimated number of properties improved through New HEES and also the separate programmes in Scotland and Wales in 2000-01 and 2001-02, including the operating lease charges during these years.

The nature of the separate programmes in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Parliament and the Assembly respectively.

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999, Official Report, columns 88-89, what obligation will there be under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme to target the most vulnerable households. [88154]

Mr. Meale: The objective of the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme is to target the most vulnerable households, and this will be carried through the operation of the scheme and the specification for work set for scheme managers.

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999, Official Report, columns 88-89, if the figures for average value of grant-assisted work given there included administrative costs. [88150]

Mr. Meale: They do not include administrative costs incurred by scheme managers but include those incurred by installers.

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 87, what value of grant-assisted work was assumed in his model to calculate the reduced heating costs for an average three bedroom semi-detached house. [88155]

Mr. Meale: Under the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), the value of the work on each individual property will be up to £700 in the case of New HEES, and up to £1,800 with New HEES Plus, depending on the energy efficiency of the property prior to improvement.

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999, Official Report, column 87, what is the basis for his statement that New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme and New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Plus will substantially move households out of fuel poverty. [88157]

Mr. Meale: Our view that the New Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) and New HEES Plus will substantially move households out of fuel poverty is based on a careful assessment of the fuel cost savings which householders will derive from the comprehensive packages of assistance provided.

Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the expenditure required (i) per household and (ii) for all households in England, to achieve a minimum

28 Jun 1999 : Column: 26

SAP rating of 30, and a minimum SAP increase in houses included for treatment of 10 points, in all homes with a current SAP rating of (a) less than 10, (b) less than 20, and (c) less than 30. [88156]

Mr. Meale: Estimates of the expenditure required were published in the English House Condition Survey 1991, Energy Report, SO 1996. (Page 225, Table 19.4). A similar analysis using data from the 1996 English House Condition Survey is planned.

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