House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Jul 1999 (pt 3)

A6 Bus Lane, Loughborough

Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect the A6 bus lane at Loughborough has had on journey times for (a) buses and (b) other road traffic in its first three months. [90502]

Ms Glenda Jackson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Andrew Reed, dated 19 July 1999:

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Glenda Jackson, has asked me to reply to your recent question about the effect the A6 bus lane in Loughborough has had on journey times for buses and other road traffic in its first three months of operation.

The bus lane between Quorn and Loughborough opened on 1st March. It operates during peak hours between 7.30 and 9.30am and 3.30 and 6.00pm on Mondays to Saturdays. Before and after surveys have been undertaken to measure queue lengths, traffic flows and delays. A full analysis of the changes is still awaited from our managing agent for the A6, but general trends can already be identified.

Bus journey time reliability has increased by 50% on most journeys in the morning peak and the journey time between Quorn and Loughborough has been reduced by up to 7 minutes on a 15 minutes minimum journey.

The effects on journey times for other traffic are less clear and data is still being assessed but initial indications are that overall journey times have not increased. In addition, there appears to have been an improvement in general traffic flow into Loughborough during the morning peak; a 20% increase in vehicle throughout has been achieved between 8am and 9am. It is considered that this is due to the more ordered nature of the queue towards the A6/Shelthorpe Road traffic signals.

A full report on the A6 Quorn to Loughborough bus lane is being prepared and will be available shortly and I will ensure that you receive a copy. In the meantime, if you wish to discuss any aspect further, the Highways Agency's Route Manager for this A6 scheme is Peter Adams. He can be contacted at our office at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL, or by telephone on 0121 678 8215.

Data Series

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what new data series separated by gender, race, disability and age have been commissioned by his Department since June 1997. [90829]

Mr. Meale: In September 1998 the central core of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions commissioned diversity consultants Pearn Kandola to conduct an independent evaluation of the Performance Management and Appraisal System. This work involved an analysis of performance and promotion markings of grades below the Senior Civil Service by gender; ethnic origin; disability, and part-time/full-time status. A copy of the report is available in the Library.

In the Department's Executive Agencies the following specific projects have been commissioned:

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) commissioned Dr. Marie Stewart of Taylor Stewart Associates to review the application of their equal opportunities policies in two offices in the Agency's Local Office Network. This work

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commenced in early 1999 and included a review of statistical information by gender, race, disability and part-time working patterns.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) have undertaken two internal surveys of their staff during 1999 on ethnicity and disability.

During 1997, the Highways Agency audited its previous appraisal system to ensure that it was fair regardless of gender, ethnicity and disability. In 1998 the Institute of Employment Studies were commissioned to produce a report as a result of the review on the introduction of the new appraisal system. Analysis included distribution of performance markings by gender and ethnicity. In the same year, the pay and reward team conducted an audit of performance pay and bonuses which included data on gender, ethnicity and disability.

The Planning Inspectorate conducted a staff attitude survey which was categorized by gender and disability.

DETR(C) and the Department's Executive Agencies continue to use their own management information systems to produce statistics by gender, ethnicity, disability and part-time/full-time status on an annual basis.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many parliamentary questions were tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day between May 1997 and 14 April 1999; and what percentage of them received a substantive response on that named day. [91064]

Mr. Meale: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 15 April 1999, Official Report, column 301.

Green Ministers Committee

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what matters were discussed, what decisions were made and which departments were represented by officials at the meeting of Green Ministers on 6 July; and if he will make a statement. [91249]

Mr. Meacher: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Burgon) on 16 July 1999, Official Report, column 341. The first annual report of the Green Ministers Committee, due to be published later this month, will set out the achievements and future plans of the Committee.

Leasehold Reform

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many officials in his Department are working on leasehold reform proposals. [91260]

Mr. Raynsford: Currently, two officials work purely on leasehold reform and a further seven devote a significant proportion of their time to this area of work. We plan to expand this team further.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of leasehold properties as a percentage of the total. [91261]

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Mr. Raynsford: The most recent estimates from the Survey of English Housing are that there were approximately 1.78 million owner-occupiers in England in 1997-98 who were leaseholders, representing 12.8 per cent. of all owner-occupiers.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on his leasehold reform proposals. [91259]

Mr. Raynsford: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Syms) on 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 139.

Lead Shot

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the respondents to the recent consultation paper on the use of lead shot over wetlands. [91274]

Mr. Meale: My Department received 270 representations from members of the public in addition to those organisations that are listed in the table.

A and C Sporting Services

Amber Valley Shooting Club

Ancholme Internal Drainage Board

Anglian Wildfowlers Association

Ashman Brothers Pest Control

Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland

Association of European Manufacturers of Sporting Ammunition

Audley Gun Club

Bantham Shoot

Baxter Farms Ltd.

Beccles Wildfowlers Club

Black Isle and Mid Ross Wildfowlers Club

Blairs Shooting Syndicate

Blakeney Parish Council

Bournemouth International Airport

British Association for Shooting and Conservation

Butterfly Conservation, Norfolk Branch

Caerlaverock and District Wildfowlers

Carmarthenshire Wildfowlers Association

Carter Jonas

Chichester Harbour Wildfowlers Association

Church Farm Shoot

Council of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Country Landowners Association

Countryside Alliance

Countryside Council for Wales

CSC Forest Products

Dacre, Son and Hartley

Defence Estates, Estates Directorate

Derwent Valley Shooting Club

Devon Wildfowlers Association

Didwells Property Consultants

Dorset Wildfowlers Association

East Grinstead Guns Ltd.

English Nature

Essex and Suffolk Water

Essex Joint Council of Wildfowling Clubs

Farmers Union of Wales

Farming News, Miller Freeman UK Ltd.

Fenland Wildfowlers Association

Finlayson Hughes Chartered Surveyors

Forest Enterprise

Forestry Commission

Furness Wildfowlers Association

Fylde Borough Council

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Gamebore Cartridge Company Ltd.

Garnffoi Shooting and Conservation Club

Gillingham Estate and Farms

Gunners Pigeon Shooting Club

Hendry, Ramsat and Wilcox

Highbridge, Huntspill and Burnham District Wildfowlers' Club

Holderness and Humber Wildfowlers Association

Holland and Holland Ltd.

Humber Wildfowlers

Ilchester Estates

Isle of Anglesey Wildfowling Club

ITRI Ltd.

Joint Nature Conservation Council

Keadby Wildfowling and Conservation Society

Kent Wildfowling and Conservation Association

King's Lynn Consortium of Internal Drainage Boards

Little Oakley and District Wildfowlers Association

Lleweni Shoot Syndicate

Longfield Service Station

Lyddington Shoot

Lymington and Keyhaven Wildfowlers Association

Meltham Shooting Club

Merevale and Blyth Estates

Montrose and District Wildfowlers Association

Morston Wildfowlers

National Farmers' Union

National Farmers' Union of Scotland

Netley Shoot

Newark and District Wildfowlers Association

Newton-le-Willows Wildfowlers and Clay Pigeon Association

Norfolk Wildlife Trust

North Yorkshire County Council

Northumberland and Durham Wildfowlers

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

Owlpen Estate Shoot

Pagham and West Sussex Wildfowling and Conservation Association

Paslow Hall Shoot

Payne's Boatyard

Pearce Waterscapes

Perth and Kinross Council

R. Tilney and Son

Rainford Shooting Association

Reaseheath (PAS) Sporting Shooting Club

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Scottish Association for Country Sports

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Scottish Landowners' Federation

Scottish Natural Heritage

Shooting Sports Trust Ltd.

Shropshire and Border Rough Shooting Club

Shropshire County Council

Smiths Gore Chartered Surveyors

Somerset Wildlife Trust

Scottish Countryside Alliance

South Essex Wildfowlers' Club

South Hams District Council

South Hetton Wildfowl and Gun Club

South Lincs Nature Reserves Ltd.

Southport and District Wildfowlers Association

Spalding and District Wildfowlers Association

Stanford Training Area Shooting Association

Stoneham Wildfowlers

Strutt and Parker Chartered Surveyors

Tamar Valley Association for Shooting and Conservation

Tayport Wildfowling and Clay Pigeon Gun Club

Technical Marine Services

The British Shooting Sports Council

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The Broads Authority

The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association Ltd.

The Cumbria Wildlife Trust

The Engie Hundred Wildfowling Club

The Durrington Shoot

The Game Conservancy Trust

The Grove Shooting Club

The Gun Trade Association

The Hartlepool and District Wildfowlers Association

The Moorland Association

The Moreton Shoot

The National Gamekeepers' Organisation

The National Trust for Scotland

The Roche Abbey Syndicate

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association

The Weld Estate

The Welsh Assembly

Tillingham Wildfowlers Association

Tornashean Sporting Syndicate

Treloweth Shoot

UCW Aberystwyth SC, Mawddach and District

Union of Country Sports Workers

Welsh Local Government Associations

West Baldridge Shooting Syndicate

West Country Guns

Whitemoor Estate

Whittlesey Wildfowlers and Conservationists

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what evidence his Department has assessed linking mortality of wildfowl and the ingestion of lead shot. [91262]

Mr. Meale: The toxic effects of ingested lead on birds have been known for over a century, and reported from many sources around the world. It would not be possible to list all the published research, but a selection of key papers is listed.

The reference texts are:

Bellrose, F. C. 1959. Lead poisoning as a mortality factor in waterfowl populations. Illinois Nat. Hist. Surv. Bull. 27, 235-288

Fawcett D. & van Vessem J. 1995. Lead poisoning in waterfowl: international update report 1995. JNCC Report No. 252., Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

Goode, D. A. 1981. Lead poisoning and swans. Report of the Nature Conservancy Council's Working Group. Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough.

HMSO 1983. Lead in the environment. Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution: Ninth Report. HMSO, London.

Locke, L. N. & Friend, M. 1992. Lead poisoning of avian species other than waterfowl. In: Pain 1992.

Mudge, G. P. 1983. The incidence and significance of ingested lead pellet poisoning in British wildfowl. Biological Conservation, 27, 333-372.

Olney, P. J. S. 1968. The food and feeding habits of pochard. Biological Conservation, 1, 71-76.

Olney, P. J. S. 1960. Lead poisoning in wildfowl. Wildfowl Trust Annual Report, 11, 123-134, cited in Thomas 1975.

Pain, D. J. 1992a. Lead poisoning in waterfowl: a review. In: Pain 1992.

Pain, D. J. 1992b. Lead poisoning in waterfowl: summary of national reports: In: Pain 1992.

Pain, D. J.1992c (ed). Lead poisoning of waterfowl: Proc. of IWRB workshop 1991. IWRB Special Publication No. 16, International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau, Slimbridge.