| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
PRIME MINISTER
Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what plans he has to review the application of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in respect of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee; [104112]
- (2) pursuant to his answer of 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 353W, concerning attendance at the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee on 13 December, what steps he plans to take in respect of persons disclosing information about attendance at Joint Cabinet Committees to the Press. [104117]
The Prime Minister: I have no such plans.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many breaches of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information have been identified in respect of the Joint Cabinet Consultative Committee since its inception. [104115]
The Prime Minister: None. The code would be breached only by a refusal to disclose information which should properly be made public.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
SRB (West Midlands)
15. Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of the Single Regeneration Budget in tackling disadvantage in the West Midlands. [103266]
11 Jan 2000 : Column: 111W
Ms Armstrong:
There has not been a central Government evaluation of the impact of the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) in the West Midlands. However, the national evaluation of the first two rounds of the SRB includes case studies on two West Midlands SRB partnerships--the West Midlands Industrial Club and Regenerating Wolverhampton.
16. Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to afford greater protection to sites of importance for nature conservation; and if he will make a statement. [103267]
Mr. Meacher:
In line with proposals in the Government's Framework for Action on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, officials have set up a Local Sites Review Group, comprising a wide range of interested bodies. This will consider the issues associated with the identification, protection and management of local sites and report its conclusions early this year.
17. Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has in respect of the upgrading of the east coast main line from Edinburgh to Aberdeen. [103268]
Mr. Hill:
There are no plans at present. However, we have asked the Franchising Director to replace passenger franchises that expire within the next three to four years in order to generate new investment and service improvements. Discussions for a new Great North Eastern Railways franchise, including future infrastructure and service requirements for the entire East Coast Main Line, will be starting soon with Seacontainers the current operator and Virgin Rail Group in conjunction with Stagecoach.
32. Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on what measures he proposes to take to upgrade the east coast main line service between Edinburgh and Aberdeen. [103284]
Mr. Hill:
There are no plans at present. However, we have asked the Franchising Director to replace passenger franchises that expire within the next three to four years in order to generate new investment and service improvements. Discussions for a new Great North Eastern Railways franchise, including future infrastructure and service requirements for the entire East Coast Main Line, will be starting soon with the current operator and any other interested parties.
18. Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on waste disposal, with particular reference to East Sussex. [103269]
Mr. Mullin:
The Government's policy for sustainable waste management, including waste disposal, is set out in the draft national waste strategy, "A Way With Waste". The final version will be published shortly and we expect local authorities throughout England to have regard to its
11 Jan 2000 : Column: 112W
goals in developing strategies for managing waste in their areas. I understand plans are being developed in East Sussex to meet the goals set out in "A Way With Waste", and I welcome this.
19. Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on how he intends to reduce the number of rough sleepers on the streets. [103271]
23. Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to ensure that people do not have to sleep rough on the streets. [103275]
Ms Armstrong:
On 15 December, we published the Government's strategy for reducing the numbers of rough sleepers in England by at least two thirds by 2002. Copies of the document "Coming in from the Cold" are available in the Library.
20. Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the latest estimated date for the finalisation of the Government's plans for London Underground. [103272]
Mr. Hill:
London Underground has made good progress in developing the public private partnership: bids for the deep-tube lines are due back in March; expressions of interest for the sub-surface lines are due later this month; (and those for the property partnership are due in February). We have consistently made clear that we will not be bound by specific dates for the completion of the PPP.
21. Ms Blears:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what support he is providing to encourage local people to take an active part in regeneration programmes. [103273]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
We are working with the relevant national, regional and local bodies to encourage local people to take an active part in the regeneration of their local communities. We are providing funding support, in particular for capacity building and community involvement, through our domestic regeneration programmes and European Structural Funds in eligible areas.
22. Mr. Todd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to regenerate former coalfield areas. [103274]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
On 1 December 1998 at the second Coalfields Conference in Peterlee, County Durham, the Deputy Prime Minister announced a 10 year programme to regenerate coalfield communities with an investment package of £354 million over three years. A fuller breakdown of this investment and further steps to
11 Jan 2000 : Column: 113W
be taken are set out in "Making the Difference--A new Start for England's Coalfield Communities: The Government's Response to the Coalfields Task Force Report".
The Deputy Prime Minister published a further report at the third Coalfields Conference in Wigan on 18 October 1999, in less than a year since Peterlee, setting out progress on delivery of the recommendations of the Coalfields Task Force. Copies of both these documents have been placed in the Library of the House.
24. Mrs. Ann Cryer:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the impact of the Single Regeneration Budget in combating disadvantage. [103276]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
Analysis from the interim national evaluation of the first two rounds of the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) has shown that the initiative is delivering a good mix of economic, social, community and environmental benefits in deprived areas. Taking into account the severity of the problems in SRB partnership areas, these benefits are being delivered cost effectively.
25. Dr. George Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from the Eastern Regional Development Agency. [103277]
Ms Armstrong:
The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has submitted its strategy for the East of England, "Moving Forward" and its Corporate Plan. It has also commented on draft Planning Policy Guidance 11 and on Round 6 of the Single Regeneration Budget.
26. Shona McIsaac:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his proposals to improve the Planning Inspectorate's service to the public. [103278]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The Planning Inspectorate strives continuously to improve its service to the public. They have dramatically improved handling times for deciding planning appeals and are well on the way to achieving the Public Service Agreement targets which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in March 1999. Improvements to the procedure for processing planning appeals will be implemented during 2000-01. A consultation paper on proposals to improve the processing of enforcement appeals was published last month. The Inspectorate are converting all of their guidance leaflets into Plain English and have been awarded seven crystal marks by the Plain English Campaign. The Inspectorate will continue to invest in new IT systems and will be relaunching their website shortly.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |