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Habitats Directive
Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to increase the number of special areas of conservation designated under the Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement. [96106]
Mr. Mullin: None at this time. The UK is currently participating with eight other countries in Atlantic biogeographic region moderation meetings to consider the lists of sites put forward. Following this moderation process the Commission will indicate to member states where modifications to lists are required.
National Walking Strategy
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to implement the National Walking Strategy. [96194]
Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he proposes to implement the National Walking Strategy; and if he will make a statement. [96555]
Mr. Hill: The Government are keen to make it safer and easier for people who choose to walk. A strategy will be published in due course.
"Rights of Way"
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the recommendations contained in the Royal National Institute for the Blind's report, "Rights of Way". [96201]
Mr. Hill:
This Report provides a useful overview of the transport needs of visually impaired people. My Department has been working with blind and partially sighted people over many years to improve their independent mobility. It is clear that we are already tackling many of the issues which the Report highlights.
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For example, the regulations we are introducing under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requiring access for disabled people to buses, trains and taxis, will include features to meet the needs of visually impaired people. The regulations covering access to trains were introduced from the beginning of this year and in the last few days we concluded the consultation on the draft accessibility regulations for buses and coaches.
We will continue to work with visually impaired people and their organisations to ensure that these improvements, together with greater emphasis on driver training and information, enable blind and partially sighted people to travel with confidence.
Mr. Win Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to extend the proposed National Minimum Concessionary Fares Scheme for pensioners to blind and partially sighted people. [96199]
Mr. Hill:
We have no plans at present to extend the scope of the proposed national minimum standard scheme for people of pensionable age. Local authorities already have powers to provide concessionary travel for people who are blind and partially sighted and many do so. The decision on whether to allow concessionary travel for that group of people will remain a matter for individual local authorities.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what (a) evidence he assessed and (b) advice he received which underlay his statement that he was minded to relieve Railtrack of its Safety and Standards Directorate. [95939]
Mr. Hill
[holding answer 27 October 1999]: The report from the Health & Safety Commission reviewing SSD, dated 30 September 1999, a copy of which is now in the House Library. Unanimous advice was received from the Transport Select Committee.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what central records are kept by (i) his Department and (ii) the CAA of (a) Air Accident Investigation Bureau recommendations and (b) the resultant actions; and if he will make a statement; [96322]
Mr. Mullin:
Under the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations any undertaking or authority to which a safety recommendation is addressed is required to take the recommendation into consideration without delay and, where appropriate, act upon it. They are also required to provide the Secretary of State with full details of how they intend to implement the recommendation or a full explanation of why they do not intend to implement it. The recommendations referred
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to were addressed to the US Federal Aviation Administration as the State of Design for the aircraft type in question and we await their response.
Both the Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Accident Investigation Branch keep a record of all recommendations. The AAIB also keeps details of all responses to safety recommendations. In addition, the CAA publishes an annual progress report on recommendations addressed to both the CAA and the Department. It has now been agreed that this progress report will be expanded to include action on all AAIB recommendations.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects the public-private partnership for London Underground to be signed for each of the separate groupings of underground lines; and if he will make a statement. [96315]
Mr. Hill:
The PPP contracts for London Underground will be signed when they are ready. We have learned the lessons of rail privatisation and will not impose a politically driven timetable at the expense of ensuring that the resulting deal is right.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what immediate action is planned to combat congestion on London Underground trains and in station corridors. [96686]
Mr. Hill
[holding answer 1 November 1999]: This is an operational matter for London Underground. However, London Underground carefully considers customer safety and discomfort from overcrowding in its assessment of investment priorities. Much investment and management effort is focused on reducing delays and improving reliability of the service, which helps reduce congestion both on trains and through stations and provides a safer, more comfortable environment. Examples of investment projects that will combat congestion are: the Jubilee Line Extension; increasing services on the Central and Northern lines; projects at Knightsbridge, Leicester Square, Brixton and Russell Square. In addition, London Underground is focusing on reducing station congestion through better signing and passenger flow management at the busiest stations.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who is responsible for enforcing London Underground safety rules to combat congestion in trains and corridors. [96688]
Mr. Hill
[holding answer 1 November 1999]: Responsibility for managing congestion on London Underground rests with London Underground Ltd. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Railways is informed of any breakdown of congestion management, investigates incidents of serious congestion and monitors general performance in this area.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what safety rules are in operation to prevent overcrowding of (a) trains on the London Underground and (b) London Underground station corridors. [96687]
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Mr. Hill
[holding answer 1 November 1999]: This is an operational matter for London Underground. However, I understand that as part of London Underground's safety management system, comprehensive crowd control plans and measures to implement them are regularly used by London Underground staff when the level of passengers using the system exceeds the system's capacity to deal with them. These safety risk controls are exercised by line controllers and station supervisors. They work in co-operation with each other to ensure that levels of crowding do not exceed safe levels. Staff involved in the implementation of these controls are fully trained. Safety plans are updated annually and regular emergency exercises are held to test the effectiveness of the arrangements.
Mr. Green:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) by how much the area covered by the National Forest has expanded since 1 May 1997; [96559]
Mr. Mullin:
There has been no change to the designated area of the National Forest since it was established in 1995; 777 hectares of trees have been planted since 1 May 1997. As at 30 September total tree cover in the National Forest amounted to some 5,128 hectares.
Mr. Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many refusals to grant planning consent for large out of town supermarkets during the past 18 months which were the subject of an appeal have had the refusal upheld. [96314]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The provision of information on planning appeals is the responsibility of the Planning Inspectorate. I have asked the Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Shepley, to write to the hon. Member.
(2) who is responsible for ensuring that the follow-up action recommended in the CAA flight safety report CAA Occurrence Number 98/04954, (Operator Brintel, AAIB report Bulletin 5/99, CAA factor number F18/99), is implemented. [96321]
(2) what area was covered by the National Forest on 30 September. [96560]
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