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Colchester Garrison
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the Colchester Garrison PFI project. [95211]
Mr. Spellar: I am delighted to announce that, following a thorough evaluation of detailed proposals from three short listed bidders, we have now selected RMPA Services, a consortia comprising Sir Robert McAlpine, Primary Management and W.S. Atkins, as the preferred bidder for the redevelopment of Colchester Garrison.
Detailed contract negotiations will now commence with RMPA Services with the aim of achieving contract signature towards the end of next year.
The benefits which we see flowing from this deal are the replacement of an estate which is mainly old and substandard, poorly laid out and significantly underscale, with one which will provide high quality barracks and facilities which conform to the appropriate accommodation scales, are flexible to use and are capable of further development. Furthermore this will be achieved very much more quickly under the PFI route than would be possible using our own internal procedures. For example, once the contract is signed we expect the redevelopment to be complete within four years compared to the 15 years it could have taken using a conventional, staged approach. It will also free up land for redevelopment close to Colchester town centre and therefore be of benefit to the local community.
Finally, this is a good deal for the taxpayer. As a result of the competitive bids received, we believe that from RMPA Services will offer the MOD excellent value for money resulting from design efficiencies, economies of scale in development and a more cost effective delivery of the support services.
Mr. Linton:
To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee if he will make a statement on arrangements for the introduction of a new e-mail system in the House. [94818]
Mr. Allan:
As part of the Parliament-wide Information Technology Convergence Programme, which has been endorsed by the Information Committee, all personal computers linked to the PDVN are being converted to a new e-mail system, Microsoft Exchange and Outlook 98. Some older computers linked to the PDVN will need to be upgraded or replaced if they are to continue to use the parliamentary e-mail system. The old e-mail system, Groupwise, will be closed down on 16 November 1999, prior to the beginning of the next Session on 17 November.
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The Parliamentary Communications Directorate (PCD) has sent to all Members and their staff information about the computer specifications required to run the new e-mail system and can advise Members and their staff about new central purchasing arrangements through which Members may purchase new equipment which meets those specifications. Members whose staff are linked to the PDVN from their constituencies are being sent a disc and information about remote conversion to use Outlook. Members and their staff based in the parliamentary precincts whose computers have not yet been converted to Outlook can arrange a date for their conversion and for a short training course by contacting PCD on extension 0899. Courses are being arranged for each weekday in October and November.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what assessments he has made of the adequacy of the arrangements for breast-feeding in the buildings for which her Committee is responsible; and if she will make a statement. [94798]
Mrs. Roe:
There are no designated facilities for breast-feeding on the Parliamentary Estate. However, I understand that individual hon. Members have made arrangements, through the Serjeant at Arms, for appropriate facilities to be made available as required.
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will consult on the proposal for a Holocaust Remembrance Day. [95213]
Mr. Straw:
We issued a consultation paper on 18 October. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Urban Renaissance
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the development of an urban renaissance in the north-west. [94510]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The Government intend to respond to the urban renaissance recommendations by early summer next year. Already in the north-west, an urban regeneration company (URC), Liverpool Vision, has been set up in direct response to one of the recommendations in the Roger's Report and is actively pursuing the regeneration of the city centre. It is likely the URC for east Manchester will be announced shortly.
Vacant Properties
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many local government properties are currently unoccupied; [93672]
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Mr. Mullin:
The latest available information shows that there were 753,200 dwellings in England vacant on 1 April 1998 of which 81,700 were local authority-owned. A level of vacancy is a usual feature of the stock,
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reflecting turnover and movement within the stock. However, recent analysis of local authorities reporting problems with unpopular housing contained in the PAT 7 "Unpopular Housing" report shows that low demand neighbourhoods tend to have vacancies at three times the national level.
A breakdown by length of time vacant is not collected centrally for all tenures. The available information is as follows:
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(2) how many houses were unoccupied at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many had been unoccupied for more than (a) six months and (b) 12 months. [93677]
| Total vacant | Vacant more than 6 months and less than 12 months | More than 12 months | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Authority | 81,700 | 10,600 | 16,000 |
| Registered Social Landlords | 29,300 | 4,100 | 4,800 |
| Other Public Sector | 19,000 | not available | not available |
| Other Private Sector | 623,200 | not available | 220,100 |
| Total Dwellings (all tenures) | 753,200 | not available | not available |
Source:
DETR Housing Investment Programme returns
Housing Corporation RSR forms
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Litter Offences (Chelmsford)
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in each of the last five years for which figures are available, how many (a) warnings and (b) fines were issued for litter offences in the Chelmsford local authority area under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. [94779]
Mr. Hill: The local authority does not collect information on the number of warnings issued for litter offences. No fines have been issued for litter offences in the Chelmsford local authority area under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in the last five years.
Alandia Stream
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the investigations to establish why the master of the Alandia Stream which broke down in the Fair Isle channel on 26 June delayed notifying the coastguard of his ship's condition. [94602]
Mr. Hill: The vessel when adrift, was never within six miles of the coast or within the designated six mile "area to be avoided" navigational zone around Fair Isle. The vessel fully complied with the MCA requirement to accept a tug and the Anglian Prince was despatched to the scene. A tow was accepted and the vessel taken to Sullom Voe, Shetland as a port of refuge, keeping outside of the "area to be avoided" as per MCA instructions.
Following the Port State Control Inspection of the vessel at Sullom Voe, MCA investigated why six hours had elapsed before the tanker reported to the Coastguard that she was in difficulty.
The Master's response was that he wished to check the problem to see if it could be fixed without assistance. He maintained that the vessel's drift was monitored carefully to ensure that the ship remained outside the area to be avoided.
The MCA advised the Master that the UK Government expect to be immediately informed of any incident that affected the safety of vessels or possible endangerment to
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the environment even when assistance was not required. The MCA formed the opinion that the Finnish Master well understood the concerns of the UK authorities and would be more willing to keep the Coastguard informed of any future incidents.
The MCA also contacted the Bahamas, the Flag State Administration, notifying them that we would have expected an earlier notification from the Master to the UK Coastguard. The Bahamas have agreed to follow this up with the Finnish owners of the vessel.
Shona McIsaac:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the key targets for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for 1999-2000. [94881]
Mr. Hill:
I have today placed in the House Library a copy of the agency's business plan which includes its key targets for 1999-2000. The issue of the plan was delayed pending the publication of the Government's response to the Transport Select Committee's report on the Maritime and Coastguard Agency which recommended de-merger. That response was published on 12 August.
The key targets for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are:
To complete: (a) at least 95 per cent. of the agreed programme of inspections, and (b) at least 90 per cent. of agreed key tasks.
To decide on the search and rescue (SAR) response to accidents and life-threatening situations, and to initiate action if necessary, within 5 minutes of being alerted in at least 95 per cent. of cases.
To follow up at least 95 per cent. of significant breaches of safety and environmental aspects of Merchant Shipping legislation to determine whether prosecution is appropriate.
To implement the outcomes of the review of the organisation, operations and functions of MCA to be operational by 31 December 1999.
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