| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Jubilee Line
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the whole of the Jubilee Line extension will be open and fully operational before 31 December; and if he will make a statement. [93731]
19 Oct 1999 : Column: 497
Mr. Hill:
The first two phases of the Jubilee Line Extension are now open, operating from Stratford to Waterloo. One phase 2 station, Southwark, is not yet operating, but will open within the next few weeks.
Phase 3 will include joining the existing Jubilee Line and will offer full through-running services from Stanmore to Stratford. It will also involve moving on to 7-day per week services (the Extension currently closes on weekends). Phase 3 is due to open in late autumn. The last new station, Westminster, will open a little later. I can therefore confirm that we expect the whole Extension to be fully operational by 31 December.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what progress has been made in implementing Best Value in Sefton Metropolitan Authority; [94495]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
It is the responsibility of each local authority to implement best value in its own area. However, I am aware that Sefton, like many other authorities around the country, is making progress. Each Department has drawn up proposals for a five-year fundamental review of all its services. In addition, Sefton is undertaking five pilot reviews. As part of this exercise, I understand the housing department will be reviewing services for the homeless. Under the best value regime, the performance of local authorities will be subject to independent scrutiny through the audit and inspection of all services, including housing.
Mrs. Gilroy:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to ensure that the principles of sustainable development are built into Best Value. [93915]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
Once the duty of Best Value comes into force on 1 April 2000, local authorities will be required to secure continuous improvement in the exercise of their functions with regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. We have made clear in the recently published 'Implementing Best Value--A Consultation Paper on Draft Guidance' that Best Value Reviews will need to give effect to the principles of sustainable development.
It is for local authorities to determine how to give such principles practical effect through the setting of consistent performance targets, following consultation with their community and in the light of progress with their Local Agenda 21 strategies.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make the carrying of driving licences compulsory while individuals are driving. [94506]
Mr. Hill:
This is being considered by the Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team (VCRAT), formed by the Government last year to develop a strategy to reduce vehicle crime by 30 per cent. by March 2004. VCRAT concluded that the case for requiring drivers to carry their
19 Oct 1999 : Column: 498
licences has not yet been made, but my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary indicated within the foreword to the VCRAT Strategy report that he will want to look at that issue again in the light of developing technology and further assessment of the potential wider crime reduction benefits. A copy of the report, published on 22 September 1999, is in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to publicise the (a) risk and (b) consequences of committing road traffic offences. [94505]
Mr. Hill:
The Department's ongoing programme of publicity campaigns draws attention to the risk and consequences of committing road traffic offences. Our high profile advertising campaigns currently address speeding, drinking and driving, and the non wearing of rear seat belts, which are key factors in more than half of all road deaths. These campaigns focus on the potential risk of causing death or serious injury and the consequences to the perpetrator and others affected. Annex 5 of the Highway Code indicates some of the main offences and penalties.
We intend to publish soon a new strategy for improving road safety which will inform the development of future campaigns.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the state of (a) the construction industry and (b) the housing construction market between January and June 1997. [94596]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The volume of construction output in Great Britain increased by 1.0 per cent. from £13,700 million in the quarter beginning January 1997 to £13,834 million in the quarter ending June 1997. During this period new construction output fell by 0.3 per cent., whereas repair and maintenance grew by 2.3 per cent.
The volume of housing construction increased by 0.6 per cent. from £5,517 million in the quarter beginning January 1997 to £5,548 million in the quarter ending June 1997. During this period new housing construction remained unchanged and repair and maintenance grew by 0.8 per cent.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will make a statement on his initiatives to improve skills in the construction industry; [94597]
(3) if he will make a statement on his initiatives to encourage family friendly policies within the construction sector. [94598]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
It is vital for the construction industry to be able to attract and retain people with the right skills--women as well as men, and from all ethnic communities.
19 Oct 1999 : Column: 499
We are driving forward the "Movement for Innovation" which is seeking to implement the recommendations in Sir John Egan's report "Rethinking Construction". A key item on the agenda is "respect for people" which covers training, equal opportunities, health and safety and site conditions.
We will shortly respond to the Report on Combating Cowboy Builders, which includes a proposal to introduce a Quality Mark scheme for builders in the domestic sector. One of the requirements of the scheme will be that a firm has operatives with the appropriate skills.
The "New Deal in Construction", launched last year in collaboration with the construction industry, is designed to make it easier for the industry to recruit young unemployed people and as a way of reducing skills gaps in the industry.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what tests he has carried out on the ICCS ADAS 2000 equipment; where such tests were executed and under what circumstances; and what training staff have received on this equipment. [94645]
Mr. Hill:
Testing carried out on ADAS 2000 covered:
As to training, a team of people drawn from Coastguard Operations Staff accompanied the installation team to each Co-ordination Centre and instructed Coastguard operators in the use of the new software and the difference between it and the previous version.
ICCS is a separate major project where the current VHF and MF Radio Control Equipment in HM Coastguard will be replaced.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he is ensuring that private landlords fulfil their responsibilities to maintain the standard of rented accommodation. [94494]
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to ensure that private landlords fulfil their responsibilities to maintain the standard of rented accommodation. [94532]
Mr. Mullin:
Local authorities are responsible for enforcing standards of fitness in privately rented properties. We intend to reform the housing fitness
19 Oct 1999 : Column: 500
standard by introducing a hazard based rating system which will enable local authorities to assess the fitness of privately rented housing more effectively. The introduction of mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation will place duties on landlords of this type of accommodation to maintain their properties to decent minimum standards and ensure the health and safety of their tenants.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for raising the quality of private rented accommodation. [94493]
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have for raising the quality of private rented accommodation. [94534]
Mr. Mullin:
We are committed to introducing mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation where the worst conditions are often found. This will place duties on landlords of this type of accommodation to maintain their properties to decent minimum standards and ensure the health and safety of their tenants. We also intend to reform the housing fitness standard by introducing a hazard-based rating system which will enable local authorities to assess the fitness of privately rented housing more effectively. In addition, we support the development of voluntary initiatives to raise standards in the private rented sector such as good practice codes and landlord accreditation schemes.
(2) what progress has been made in implementing Best Value in the housing department in Sefton Metropolitan Authority. [94496]
(2) if he will make a statement on his initiatives to encourage young people to enter the construction industry; [94599]
Testing and pre-roll out checks of the hardware itself;
Full functional acceptance testing of the software;
Test of the system's ability to cope with the year 2000 itself, and with the following leap year date;
Performance testing by a number of users;
On-site trials at a Coastguard Co-ordination Centre.
All of these tests were done according to a pre-designed plan drawn up before delivery of the software by the supplier. They were performed on a test system set up using examples of the target hardware at both the client and server ends. Users were fully involved in both the planning and testing processes.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |