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Railway Stations
Miss Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the public funding available to improve the condition of run down railway stations. [95762]
Mr. Hill: Investment in station facilities may be eligible for funding under the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme, set up to help provide new or enhanced local and regional rail services which contribute to the Government's wider objectives for rail. The shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SSRA) has issued guidance on bidding for funds for this purpose and is evaluating proposals already received.
A decision on the first group of bids for Rail Passenger Partnership funding is likely to be announced by the SSRA towards the end of 1999 or early in the new year.
Radio Frequency Field Exposure
Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects that the study into occupational exposure to radio frequency fields will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [95717]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 26 October 1999]: The Institute of Occupational Health at the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with the National Radiological Protection Board, is undertaking the study of occupational exposure to radio frequency fields. I am advised the current intention is that the study, which is funded by the industry together with a contribution from the Ministry of Defence, will be completed by the end of 2001.
Negative Housing Subsidy Regime
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the impact of his changes to the negative housing subsidy regime. [95976]
Mr. Mullin: I met a delegation of representatives from the "Negative Subsidy" authorities on 14 September to discuss the potential impact on local authorities of our proposals to change the accounting arrangements for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).
I have since written to the leader of that delegation indicating that the Government are prepared to agree in principle to provide some form of transitional measures when Rent Rebates are removed from the HRA. These will be primarily for those authorities where the transfer represents a significant proportion of their General Fund expenditure, and is long standing. The transitional measures will allow time for "Negative Subsidy" authorities to make necessary financial and procedural adjustments in preparation for the new arrangements. It is too early to say what form these transitional arrangements
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might take since there are many factors which may potentially affect the level of transfers before the new arrangements are implemented.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish weekly and monthly material available to the Rail Regulator on the numbers of cancelled train services, broken down by rail operator. [96038]
Mr. Hill:
Cancellation data, broken down by rail operator and also, in some cases further sub-divided by route group, are published in the Franchising Director's quarterly Bulletin (Copies are in the House Library). There are no immediate plans to publish this data on a more frequent basis. The recent "Instructions and Guidance to the Franchising Director" (copies are in the House Library) would allow him to change the present quarterly interval between Bulletins subject to consultation with Ministers.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his Department's policy will be in the negotiations at the EU in relation to commercial growing of (a) GM beet produced by Monsanto and (b) GM oil seed rape produced by AgrEvo. [96231]
Mr. Meacher:
The UK vote at the EU negotiations will be based solely on the scientific assessment of the information provided in the applications by Monsanto and AgrEvo. In order to vote in favour of granting consents, we would need to be satisfied that the information provided by the companies was accurate and complete. We would also need to be confident that the information showed clearly that there were no significant risks to the environment from the products covered in the consents. This assessment of the risk would be in accordance with the requirements of the Directive at the time the applications were made. However, since the applications were made I, and my colleagues in other Member States, have decided that future applications must include an assessment of a wider range of risks to the environment, including indirect effects and impacts on bio-diversity. We are seeking assurances and commitments from industry that they will provide such assessments through post-market monitoring before any general cultivation in the UK is permitted. Our vote will therefore also be conditional on receiving these commitments.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the earliest date by which biotechnology companies could proceed to commercial planting of any GM crops in the UK. [96230]
Mr. Meacher:
Before any genetically modified (GM) crop can proceed to commercial planting in the UK, up to four statutory approvals are required. These are: Part C (marketing) consent under European Directive 90/220/EEC, food safety approval under EU Novel Foods and Novel Food Ingredients Regulation (258/97), National List of approved seeds, and pesticide approval to cover, where necessary, the use of a pesticide in different circumstances on the new GM crops.
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The crops nearest to gaining all the necessary approvals for commercial planting in the UK are GM herbicide tolerant oilseed rape and GM herbicide tolerant maize. These crops are currently being assessed in the Government's programme of farm-scale evaluations to determine whether or not commercial cultivation would harm farmland bio-diversity. These evaluations are due to be completed in 2003.
Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress his Department has made regarding measures to control the planting of leylandii trees around boundaries. [96210]
Mr. Mullin:
The voluntary code of practice on the information to be provided on the sale of hedging plants, drawn up by the Leylandii Working Group, was launched to the horticultural and landscape industry on 15 June. Otherwise, the position remains as set out in the reply given to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell) on 17 November 1998, Official Report, column 473.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for the creation of high-occupancy vehicle lanes on the approaches to the Blackwall Tunnel. [96000]
Mr. Hill:
No final decision has been made on whether to proceed with a trial scheme for a high occupancy vehicle (car sharing) lane on the approaches to the Blackwall Tunnel. We will consider the traffic effects of the extensions to the Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway before deciding on whether to introduce a scheme.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the London Underground line closures and service reductions planned for (a) October 1999 to March 2000 and (b) April to September 2000. [96001]
Mr. Hill:
This is an operational matter for London Transport. However, I understand that the following line closures and service reductions are planned:
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These works are still provisional as London Transport is finalising the details of its work programme and of specific projects. In doing this they will seek to minimise disruption to passengers.
Angela Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish revised planning guidance for on-shore oil, gas and coalbed methane development. [96523]
Mr. Raynsford:
We have today issued draft guidance on on-shore oil, gas and coalbed methane development for public consultation. The consultation period will run until 7 January 2000. While the guidance on oil and gas updates that previously contained in Circular 2/85, the proposed guidance on coalbed methane is the first that has been prepared in respect of this potentially important new energy source. Copies of the consultation draft are available in the Library.
(a) Between October 1999 and March 2000:
Date
23-31 October
Location
Queen's Park--Harrow and Wealdstone (Bakerloo Line)
Purpose
Railtrack track replacement works on Silverlink and Bakerloo shared lines
(b) Between April 2000 and September 2000:
Date
April 2000 (provisional)
Location
Victoria--Brixton (Victoria Line)
Purpose
Track works to replace life-expired cross-over at Brixton
Date
May--August 2000 (provisional)
Location
High St Kensington--Earl's Court (District Line)
Possible re-routing of Wimbledon-Edgware Rd service via Gloucester Rd, and no Olympia service.
Purpose
Strengthening covered way.
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