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Non-UK Driving Licences
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the rules and restrictions governing the use of non-UK driving licences in the United Kingdom. [93338]
Ms Glenda Jackson: Licences issued by members of the European Economic Area (the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), other than those restricted to use within the member state issuing them, are subject to indefinite mutual recognition. The holder may use such a licence in the UK subject to the driving licence regulations but otherwise without restriction. There is no requirement to exchange the licence, except where there is a material change in entitlement.
Licences to drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (cars and small vans) issued by the countries or territories which have been designated by order for recognition may be used for up to one year. After that the holder must exchange the licence for a British equivalent in order to continue driving. Countries designated for this purpose are: Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Singapore, Republic of South Africa, Switzerland, Zimbabwe.
Holders of licences to drive larger vehicles from designated countries may only use such licences to drive vehicles which have been temporarily imported, but they must pass a British driving test for the category of licence if they wish to drive such vehicles permanently in the UK. This restriction on the driving of larger vehicles (whether lorry or passenger carrying) also applies to licences issued by non-designated countries.
Licences to drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes issued by non-designated countries may be used in the UK for up to one year continuously. The holder of such a licence who has been driving in the UK continuously for one year must obtain a British licence by taking a driving test in order to continue driving beyond that period.
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Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce his decisions on implementing the recommendations contained in the Urban Task Force report; and if he will make a statement. [93300]
Mr. Meale:
The Urban Task Force's recommendations, set out in its report "Towards an Urban Renaissance", published on 29 June 1999, are currently being considered by Government. The Urban White Paper will provide the main vehicle for the Government's response.
It may be appropriate to address some individual recommendations on a different timescale. On 30 June 1999, Liverpool Vision was launched as a pilot for the Task Force's recommendation on the creation of Urban Regeneration Companies. East Manchester have been invited to submit a proposal to be a further pilot for the recommendation.
Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of capital receipts have been spent on (a) building new properties and (b) renovating existing properties since the capital receipts initiative was introduced. [93299]
Mr. Raynsford:
The latest information is for 1997-98 and in that year local authorities spent 7.2 per cent. of their allocation of the Capital Receipts Initiative on building new dwellings and 92.1 per cent. on renovating or repairing existing dwellings. The small balance of expenditure was spent on non-housing items.
Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish White Papers on urban and rural policy; and if he will make a statement. [93306]
Mr. Meale:
My right hon. Friend will publish the Urban and Rural White Papers when work has been completed. We expect this will be within the next 12 months.
Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the Green Paper on housing policy announced in the last Budget; and if he will make a statement. [93307]
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the Green Paper on Housing Policy; and if he will make a statement. [93546]
Mr. Raynsford:
We intend to publish a Housing Policy Green Paper later this year. The Green Paper will set out our policy options for delivering our objectives in housing to ensure that everyone is offered the opportunity of a decent home and to promote social cohesion, well-being and self-dependence.
Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many responses he has received to the consultation paper, "Licensing Houses in Multiple Occupation-England";
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when he expects to announce his decisions on the proposed new licensing scheme; whether those decisions will be included in the Green Paper on housing policy; when he plans to consult on the standards applicable to the licensing scheme; and if he will make a statement. [93305]
Mr. Raynsford:
475 consultation responses have been received to date. We are carefully analysing them and will announce our conclusions as soon as we are able to do so. The Government are currently considering the issues which should be included for consultation in the Green Paper. I cannot yet say when we will be in a position to consult on HMO standards.
Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much has been spent from the Single Regeneration Budget on (a) building new social housing, (b) renovating existing social housing and (c) private sector renovation schemes; and how much matching funding from other sources has been put into SRB schemes to be spent on (i) building new social housing, (ii) renovating existing social housing and (iii) private sector renovation schemes in each Regional Development Agency area for each year since the SRB was introduced. [93298]
Mr. Meale:
The Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) currently funds over 500 (Rounds 1-4) regeneration schemes managed by local partnerships. A large number of these are likely to have multiple objectives, and cover a wide range of activities depending on local regeneration needs and priorities. It is not possible to break down expenditure to say how much has benefited one objective, therefore no information is available on the amount spent on building new social housing or on renovating social or private sector housing.
There is no specific matching funding requirement for SRB bids but partnerships are encouraged to maximise the leverage of private sector investment and funding from other public spending programmes. In the four Rounds to 31 March 1999, it is estimated that the total lifetime SRB allocation of £3.4 billion will lever in around £7.6 million of private sector investment over the same period.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what meetings he has had with elected representatives, council officials and community groups from within the Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority area on the future management of the Sussex Downs. [93252]
Mr. Meacher:
Ministers in this Department have met with a number of individuals and groups about the future management of the Sussex Downs. Those we have met include my hon. Friends the Members for Brighton, Kemptown (Dr. Turner) and for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Lepper); the Leader and Chief Whip of Brighton and Hove Council; and groups which are members of the South Downs Campaign, such as Friends of the Earth, which have a presence in Brighton and Hove.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors underlie the delay in announcing proposals for the future of the Sussex Downs Conservation Board. [93256]
27 Jul 1999 : Column: 350
Mr. Meacher:
Ministers are considering as a whole the various issues dealt with in the former Countryside Commission's advice on the future management of our areas of protected countryside. There are a number of considerations, including those relating to the planning system, financial provision, local government responsibilities and the possibility of legislation. We want to ensure the right solutions for the South Downs, for the New Forest and for AONBs generally.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will be in a position to make a firm announcement on the future of the Sussex Downs Conservation Board. [93251]
Mr. Meacher:
I expect an announcement to be made later this year, as part of the Government's response to the advice on the future management of protected countryside which was produced by the former Countryside Commission. In the meantime, the Sussex Downs Conservation Board has a clear commitment of Government funding until March 2001.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions following the inauguration of the South Eastern Development Agency, what the role of the Government Office of the South East will be. [93253]
Mr. Meale:
In common with the other regional Government Offices, GOSE manages programmes on behalf of DFEE, DTI and DETR, supports and facilitates effective linkages between partners and programmes, and informs the development of Departments' policies from a regional perspective. GOSE will work closely with SEEDA, as it does with other regional partners.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people are currently employed by the Government Office of the South East; and how many were employed in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1997. [93255]
Mr. Meale:
There are currently 247.1 full-time equivalent funded posts in the Government Office for the South East. In 1998 there were 235.1 full-time equivalent funded posts, and in 1997 there were 227 full-time equivalent funded posts.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the estimated out-turn is of the Government Office of the South East for the current financial year. [93254]
Mr. Meale:
At this stage of the Financial Year there is no reason to believe that the out-turn will not be the same as the budget of £501,861,000.
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