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Airbags
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research he has carried out in the last five years regarding the effects of airbags in reducing casualties and fatalities in car accidents; and if he will make a statement. [96933]
Mr. Hill: Between 1993 and 1996, the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) investigated airbag effectiveness at the Department's request. This included a review of published research on airbag testing and performance in the field. By necessity, this was based mainly on the experience in the US, where airbags have been in use for a number of years. TRL also looked at a sample of accidents in the UK, but the number available for examination was small and there was insufficient evidence to reach a conclusion on the efficacy of airbags in cars in the UK.
The Department, in collaboration with the motor industry, is actively involved in the Co-operative Crash Injury Study (CCIS), which collects detailed information on many aspects of crash protection from a sample of UK road accidents. CCIS is an ongoing study managed by the TRL and involving teams from Birmingham University, Loughborough University and the Vehicle Inspectorate. A study of available CCIS data by Loughborough University published in 1998 concluded that, of all the injured drivers they looked at, those in airbag equipped vehicles had less head injuries, but more arm injuries, than those in vehicles without airbags.
The relatively low number of cases involving airbag deployment is still a constraint in assessing the effectiveness of airbags. However, we anticipate that a clearer picture will begin to emerge as the number of CCIS investigations involving airbag equipped vehicles increases.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from supermarket companies on PPG6. [96967]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The Secretary of State has received a number of representations from the retail sector. All have been sympathetic to the Government's objective for PPG6 which is to sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of town centres.
4 Nov 1999 : Column: 267
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to amend Planning Policy Guidance Note 6. [96974]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
We have no plans to amend PPG6.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received following the announcement of his intention to turn the South Downs into a national park. [96934]
Mr. Mullin:
Since my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 29 September that he was asking the Countryside Agency to consider designation of the South Downs as a National Park, Ministers have received a small number of written representations. Those from members of the public have generally been supportive of a National Park. On 12 October I met a delegation of MPs and local authority representatives from East and West Sussex and Hampshire. I took the opportunity to reassure them that the Countryside Agency and the Government would listen to local interests and take into account all the special factors in the South Downs in considering possible models for a National Park.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he expects to respond to the report of the Joint Committee on the draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill; [96963]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill was published earlier this year as part of a consultation exercise to seek the views of local authorities and interested members of the public and to provide the opportunity for pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of Members of both Houses of Parliament. The Joint Committee published its report at the beginning of August.
We have no intention to publish a further version of the draft Bill; the next stage would be for the Government to introduce primary legislation to Parliament. A response to the Joint Committee report would accompany the introduction of the legislation. My Department hopes to bring forward the legislation at an early opportunity.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if Birmingham City Council has complied with his circular 62/68 in respect of building safety. [96961]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
For new building work compliance with the Building Regulations 1991 is mandatory, and any new buildings such as those addressed by Circular 62-68 would be sufficiently robust
4 Nov 1999 : Column: 268
to resist disproportionate collapse. The guidance in the Circular is not mandatory, although it impressed most strongly on local authorities the need to put any necessary work in hand urgently. However, while strongly endorsing the guidance in this Circular and in Circular 71-68 which followed it, the Department does not monitor the performance of local authorities with regard to advice in Circulars.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list each location on the motorway and trunk road network in England where (a) there is currently a weight restriction below the normal permitted maximum and (b) where the Highways Agency is undertaking monitoring because of concerns about the strength of a structure. [97070]
Mr. Hill
[holding answer 2 November 1999]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Bernard Jenkin, dated 4 November 1999:
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct the inspector at the public inquiry on the future policy of waste disposal in Essex, currently being held at Chelmsford, immediately to make the written submissions to that inquiry available to the press and interested local parties. [97130]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
I see no need to. Copies of written submissions made to public inquiries on Waste Local Plans are deposited with those plans as a matter of standard practice so that others may see them, both before and during an inquiry.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy towards publishing written submissions by interested parties prior to the holding of a public inquiry into local waste disposal projects. [97131]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
It is standard practice for the written submissions of interested parties to be deposited with Waste Local Plans so that others may see them, during reasonable hours, both before and during a public inquiry.
4 Nov 1999 : Column: 269
Mr. Burgon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision has been made for the co-ordination of Government-funded research in the UK on endocrine disruption. [97535]
Mr. Meacher:
Government-funded research in the UK on endocrine disruption is co-ordinated by an interdepartmental group comprising representatives from Government Departments, the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales, the environment agencies, Research Councils and the Health and Safety Executive. I am pleased to announce the publication of the Group's first report on its activities since its inception in 1995 and I will place copies in the House Library.
Mr. Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the sources of funding available to (a) local authorities and (b) voluntary organisations to support the planting of trees. [97033]
(Organisation and Standards) Bill
(2) when he expects to publish the latest version of the Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill. [96962]
You recently asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for information concerning weight restrictions and monitoring of structures on the motorway and trunk road network.
There are no weight restrictions currently in force on the main carriageways of motorways and major trunk roads. However, there are a small number of structures, primarily supporting slip roads and interchanges, which have some form of weight restriction pending repairs or strengthening. The numbers and restrictions can vary as repairs and strengthening takes place but I am preparing an up to date list for you.
You also ask for a list of where the Highways Agency is undertaking monitoring because of concerns about the strength of a structure. Special monitoring of structures is being undertaken for a number of reasons on a number of bridges. This can vary from week to week and the details are not held centrally. I am assembling the information you request and shall write to you shortly listing those structures subject to weight restriction as well as those where special monitoring is being undertaken because of concerns about strength.
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