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Local Authority Elections
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage more people to stand for election to their local authorities. [91299]
Mr. Meale: Our proposals for new rewarding roles for councillors and for addressing some of the potential disincentives to serve on councils, as set out in our White Paper: "Modern Local Government--In Touch with the People" (Cm 4014), will we believe encourage more people to stand for election to their local authorities.
Home Building
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will estimate how many new homes will be built in the United Kingdom by the year 2006 (a) in total, (b) on green-field sites and (c) on brown-field sites; [91318]
- (2) if he will estimate how many new homes will be built within Lancashire on (a) green-field and (b) brown-field sites over the next 10 years; [91317]
(3) if he will estimate how many new homes will be built on green-field sites over the next 10 years, broken down by region. [91316]
Mr. Raynsford: My Department does not estimate the number of new homes to be built. Estimates of housing requirements are derived in Regional Planning Guidance following public examination.
The Government's target is to provide 60 per cent. of new homes on previously developed land or by conversion of existing buildings. They have asked Regional Planning Bodies and local planning authorities to set their own recycling targets consistent with delivery of the national target. To assist in this process, my Department has established the first phase of the National Land Use Database to provide a comprehensive assessment of previously developed vacant and derelict land, and other developed land that may be available for recycling.
PPG3
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the new PPG3 will be fully operational. [91412]
Mr. Raynsford:
Over 600 responses have been received to the consultation draft of Planning Policy Guidance note 3 on Housing, which are now being analysed. I expect to issue the final version after the recess. In the meantime, the draft PPG3 can be cited as a material consideration in determining planning applications although it will have full effect only when the final version has been published.
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Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the development of Post Bus services under the proposals for the reform of the Post Office. [91506]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Post Bus services are principally an operational matter for the Post Office. We recognise, however, that such services can provide important transport links for people in rural areas, and the Countryside Agency provides grants from the Rural Transport Development Fund towards the costs of starting up new Post Bus services in rural areas of England.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received regarding extensions to the 42-day notice period for bus service variations; and if he will pay compensation to operators compelled to continue running uneconomic services; [91478]
(3) what representations he has received regarding compensation for bus operators excluded from routes or areas under a re-regulated Quality Contract. [91418]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
These are among the matters on which we have consulted widely with the bus industry, local authorities and other interested parties in our publication "From Workhorse to Thoroughbred--A Better Role for Bus Travel". Several hundred responses have been received in total, and they will be carefully considered as we develop firm proposals.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to set national criteria for determining the social necessity of uncommercial passenger bus services. [91408]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
None. We intend that decisions about subsidising local bus services should remain a matter for the judgment of individual local authorities in the context of their local transport plans.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of 1999 rural bus challenge funds were allocated to projects in the (a) North West, (b) North East, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) West Midlands, (e) East Midlands, (f) Eastern, (g) South West and (h) South East Government Office regions. [91411]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The invitation to local authorities to submit bids for the 1999 Rural Bus Challenge was issued on 2 July. The closing date is 1 October 1999 and we expect to announce decisions by early December.
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The breakdown of awards under last year's Rural Bus Challenge, as announced on 16 December 1998 are:
(2) what studies he has commissioned into the commercial effects of repealing section 92(1) of the Transport Act 1985 or otherwise relaxing local authorities' duty not to inhibit competition in bus services; [91417]
| Area | £ | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| (a) North West | 1,154,510 | 10 |
| (b) North East | 1,863,850 | 16 |
| (c) Yorkshire and the Humber | 572,200 | 5 |
| (d) West Midlands | 361,490 | 3 |
| (e) East Midlands | 3,485,190 | 31 |
| (f) Eastern | 1,646,850 | 14 |
| (g) South West | 1,265,604 | 11 |
| (h) South East | 1,069,000 | 9 |
| Total | 11,418,694 | 99(8) |
(8) Due to rounding
Urban and Rural White Paper
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish (1) the Urban White Paper; [91393]
- (2) the Rural White Paper. [91392]
Mr. Meale: My right hon. Friend will publish the Urban and Rural White Paper when work has been completed. We expect this will be within the next twelve months.
Pensioner Concessionary Travel
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total cost to local authorities of introducing half-fare bus travel for all pensioners. [91449]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Our estimate of the additional costs of introducing in England our proposed minimum standard for concessionary bus fares for pensioners is approximately £25 million a year.
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the half-fare concessions scheme for pensioners will apply to forms of local passenger transport other than buses. [91410]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Our proposal for a national minimum half-fare scheme for pensioners applies only to bus travel. It will remain open to local authorities to provide concessionary travel on other forms of local transport if they judge it right to do so in the light of their local policies and circumstances.
Bus Drivers
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on driver recruitment for bus operators; and what plans he has to introduce new bus driver instruction regulations. [91489]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Ensuring that they have sufficient drivers to provide their services is primarily a matter for individual bus companies. We recognise however that there have been driver recruitment and retention difficulties in some areas and are discussing the issues involved with the industry and the relevant agencies.
As stated in our policy document "From Workhorse to Thoroughbred: A Better Role for Bus Travel", we recognise the importance of driving standards and training. We intend to improve driving standards by
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specifying a training syllabus for drivers and by introducing a statutory register of bus and coach driving instructors. We are holding discussions with the industry and intend to publish detailed proposals later this year.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what criteria he will use to evaluate the performance of Quality Partnership; [91322]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
It will be for local authorities to decide whether to introduce Statutory Quality Partnerships, once the legislation is in place, and to evaluate their effectiveness. Our proposals relate only to local bus services as defined in the Transport Act 1985.
(2) if employer-provided bus services will be required to meet Quality Partnership standards before being permitted to use Quality Partnership facilities. [91505]
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