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Road Accidents
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria are used by his Department in determining the cost of a road accident for a (a) fatality, (b) serious injury and (c) slight injury; and in each case what is the current figure. [90822]
Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 12 July 1999]: The values for the prevention of road casualties take account of the following criteria: medical costs, lost production, human costs based on willingness to pay, the cost of police and courts, insurance administration, and property damage. The values attributed to the prevention of death and injury in a road accident in 1997 prices were (a) fatal £902,500; (b) serious accident £102,880; and (c) slight accident £7,970. The value of the prevention of an accident is slightly higher in each case, because there may be more than one casualty. Detailed figures are published in Highways Economic Note 1, copies of which are in the Library of the House.
Packaging Regulations
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the results of the consultation process on the Packaging Regulations. [90971]
Mr. Meale: On the consultation carried out in 1998, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 28 January 1999, Official Report, columns 335-37. A further consultation on proposed changes to the percentage activity obligations and other issues will be published very soon. The consultation period is expected to last about six weeks.
Maritime Hijacks
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will give the locations of each attempted maritime hijack which occurred for the last year for which figures are available, giving in each case (a) the flag flown, (b) the location of the incident, (c) the material carried and (d) the outcome of the hijacking attempt. [90727]
Ms Glenda Jackson: According to the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau statistics, there were six recorded incidents of hijack for the period 1 May 1998 to 30 April 1999, as follows:
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18 May 1998--A Malaysian flagged fishing boat was hijacked in the Malacca Strait. A ransom was paid for release of crew;
5 August 1998--A Belize flagged general cargo vessel was hijacked off Indonesia; it is still missing with some crew;
27 September 1999--A general cargo vessel, flag unknown, was hijacked off Somalia; it is still missing with some crew;
16 November 1998--A Panamanian flagged cargo of furnace slag was hijacked in the South China Sea; all 23 crew were shot dead and the seven pirates responsible subsequently arrested;
December 1998--An oil tanker, flag unknown, was hijacked off Indonesia; the ship was arrested by authorities and prosecutions are expected;
12 March 1999--A Belize flagged general cargo vessel was hijacked off Somalia; the vessel was taken to a Somali port by the hijackers. Nothing further is known.
Departmental Travel
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many kilometres have been travelled on departmental business in each of the last three years broken down by (a) foot, (b) bike, (c) bus, (d) train, (e) tram, (f) light-rail, (g) plane, (h) motorbike, (i) car, (j) taxi, (k) river-taxi and (l) other modes of transport; what plans and targets his Department has to reduce the kilometres travelled by private transport by departmental employees; and if he will make a statement. [91015]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The information on business travel is not collected in the form requested and therefore cannot be provided. As published in the Integrated Transport White Paper in July 1998, the Government have set a target that all Government Department headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by Executive Agencies and Government Offices for the Regions should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000.
We have completed green transport plans covering all our headquarters and main buildings and we are developing plans for all other key buildings in line with the targets set out in the White Paper. These plans include a range of measures intended to reduce the environmental and transport impact of DETR operations, including future reductions in business mileage. The plan for our headquarters buildings includes a target to achieve a reduction of 10 per cent. of business travel miles by car over three years, i.e. by March 2000.
Air Passenger Service Charges
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence between the Office of Fair Trading and the International Air Transport Association about the description of passenger service charges as taxes; and if he will make a statement. [89574]
Ms Glenda Jackson: I am concerned about the practice of some airlines of displaying PSC as a tax. My officials have recently discussed the issue of PSC with representatives of the airlines, and are considering their proposals for ensuring that passengers cease to be misled. The Local Authority Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards believes that such airlines may be in breach of the Consumer Protection Act 1987, the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988, and has recently issued guidance to this effect to local authority trading standards officers.
The Office of Fair Trading has written to the International Air Transport Association raising complaints that IATA have misrepresented the PSC as a tax, and IATA have responded.
I have placed copies of this correspondence in the Library.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) on how many occasions in the last year he has discussed the issue of
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slots at Heathrow with representatives of (a) British Airways, (b) Virgin Atlantic and (c) other airlines; [91222]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Ministers in this Department are in regular contact with representatives of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic on aviation matters, including, among other things, slots at Heathrow and the British Airways-American Airlines alliance. It is not the normal practice of government to give details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what indication he has received from British Airways or American Airlines that their proposed alliance is not to proceed. [91224]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We have received no communication from American Airlines about the alliance. British Airways position continues to be that the progress of the deal as presently structured will depend on satisfactory competition remedies.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much timber was recycled in each of the last five years. [90716]
Mr. Meale:
The information requested is not available.
The Department is working with representatives of the construction industry to develop a strategy to help the industry contribute to the aims of sustainable development. When published later this year, the strategy will address issues such as reducing waste and making more use of recycled materials. In its own operations, the Department follows the advice published in the "Green guide for managers on the government estate" which refers to the importance of using recycled materials in construction and ensuring future recyclability in obtaining best value.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the possible implications for local authorities responsible for street lighting of the introduction of the climate change levy. [90714]
Mr. Meale:
The impact of the climate change levy on local authorities will depend on the rates of the climate change levy. The final rates of climate change levy will not be set until Finance Bill 2000. It is therefore not possible to give definitive figures about the impact of the climate change levy on local authorities.
It is proposed that the revenue from the climate change levy will be recycled principally through a 0.5 per cent. cut in employers' National Insurance Contributions. Like other employers, local authorities will benefit from this reduction.
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(2) if he will list each occasion since he took office when he has met (a) British Airways and (b) Virgin Atlantic to discuss the proposed British Airways-American Airlines alliance. [91220]
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