| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Cycle Routes
Mr. Lock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he has issued for highways engineers on developing cycling facilities as part of trunk road schemes. [91292]
Ms Glenda Jackson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Lock, dated 20 July 1999:
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Glenda Jackson, has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question, about incorporating cycling facilities as part of trunk road schemes.
Guidance on developing cycling facilities as part of trunk road schemes is incorporated across the sixteen volumes of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. In addition, Local Transport Notes and Traffic Advisory Leaflets, designed for use on local roads, also provide valuable guidance for some trunk road schemes. All documents are available in the House of Commons Library. Highway engineers are aware of the need to provide for crossings of trunk roads by the National Cycle Network.
I hope this is helpful.
Abandoned Homes
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of homes in England that have been abandoned by their owners; and if he will make a statement. [91401]
Mr. Raynsford:
This information is not collected centrally; however, the Government are committed to sustainable home ownership. Everyone with a mortgage
20 Jul 1999 : Column: 480
or applying for a mortgage should consider carefully how they would cope if they experienced a drop in income. We are working with the mortgage lending and insurance industries to bring about better mortgage payment protection insurance, and encouraging lenders to provide more mortgages with flexible repayment arrangements.
We expect local authorities in their housing strategies, to take into account any problems of abandonment in their area, particularly in areas of low demand, where there may be a surplus of housing.
As part of the work of Social Exclusion Unit's report on neighbourhood renewal, a Policy Action Team was set up to look at the scale and spread of the problems of low demand and unpopular housing. Their work is being informed by a large scale research project commissioned by DETR in order to identify the causes and strategies for tackling low demand. The Policy Action Team will be reporting later this year.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 18 January 1999, Official Report, column 304, on private hire vehicles, what progress has been made in respect of restoring the position which existed prior to the decision in the case in the Queen's Bench Division between C. Benson and Copeland Borough Council concerning the personal use of a private hire vehicle by the spouse of the licence holder. [91295]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The representations on the consultation on options for broadening the eligibility to drive licensed private hire vehicles raised complex legal issues. Once they have been resolved, I will make an announcement.
Dr. Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research his Department has commissioned to assess the longer-term implications of home shopping for planning and transport services. [91447]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
As I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 13 April 1999, Official Report, column 54, we will commission research into the long-term implications of home shopping on our integrated transport policy in general and for planning and transport services in particular. The study will also cover environmental impacts and will be commissioned later this year.
Dr. Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what conclusions the Cleaner Vehicles Task Force has arrived at concerning ways of reducing the environmental impact of new vehicles and improving the emissions performance of vehicles in use. [91446]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Cleaner Vehicles Task Force is publishing its first report today.
The Task Force has developed recommendations that are both practical and cost-effective for reducing the
20 Jul 1999 : Column: 481
environmental impact of new vehicles and improving the emissions performance of vehicles in use. The recommendations aim to:
A copy of the Task Force's full report has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the funding arrangements for planned transport infrastructure improvements for Wembley Stadium. [91497]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We are awaiting Brent Council's borough interim transport plan submission due at the end of July. We expect this to include their transport proposals for Wembley Stadium and funding bids.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has decided to designate (a) Vauxhall Bridge Road and (b) Belgrave Road as red routes. [91504]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Both Vauxhall Bridge Road and Belgrave Road were designated as red routes in 1992 in the London Priority Route Order 1992 (SI 1992/1372).
Mr. Lock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) Government Departments and (b) agencies which have statutory responsibility for the safety of the public on public highways adjacent to the River Severn in the Wyre Forest District Council area against dangers that can arise from the river. [91580]
20 Jul 1999 : Column: 482
Mr. Meale:
The Environment Agency has powers to undertake flood defence works on designated main rivers, including the River Severn and is also responsible for flood warning dissemination in England and Wales. MAFF have policy responsibility for flood defence in England. The National Assembly for Wales has equivalent powers for Wales.
Mr. Lock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what advice (a) his Department and (b) agencies responsible to his Department have issued for promoting and ensuring the safety of the public using the River Severn in the Wyre Forest District Council area; [91578]
Mr. Meale:
Neither the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions or any of its agencies has statutory responsibilities for promoting and ensuring the safety of the public using the River Severn. The Environment Agency has, however, produced general leaflets on the dangers that rivers can present.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to investigate the safety issues relating to Kapton wiring in planes; and if he will make a statement. [91541]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Civil Aviation Authority has no evidence that the use of Kapton wiring in civil aircraft is a safety issue. There has been only one case recorded on the Authority's occurrence database since 1979 where investigations have shown that a breakdown of Kapton wiring may have contributed to an incident (which was not an accident), and that was subsequently found to be the result of a manufacturing fault.
Inform consumers through:
better information on fuel consumption, emissions and noise;
a clear vehicle label showing environmental information;
the promotion of improved maintenance and better driving styles;
encouraging regular emission testing at minimal cost in standard vehicle servicing;
increased low-cost emission testing facilities, and developing self-testing for emissions; and
effective on-board driver information systems to give data on emissions.
Improve enforcement by:
developing road-side emission testing to target the worst polluters effectively;
improving the MOT emissions test; and
developing low emission zones, to improve air quality in urban areas.
Promote technological solutions by:
encouraging retrofitting for existing vehicles;
promoting alternative fuels and the infrastructure to supply them; and
supporting research and development into alternative fuel sources, new power sources and other technologies.
Support fleet operators by:
developing a greener fleet certification scheme;
encouraging the adoption of voluntary targets; and
providing best practice guidance.
(2) which (a) Government Departments and (b) agencies have statutory responsibility for promoting and ensuring the safety of the public using the River Severn in the Wyre Forest District Council area. [91579]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |