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GCE A-level Syllabus

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the introduction of key skills to the GCE A-Level syllabus from autumn 2000, with particular reference to difficulties encountered in individual subject areas. [110281]

Mr. Wicks [holding answer 17 February 2000]: The new key skills qualification is designed to be taken alongside A-levels and other post-16 qualifications. It is not mandatory. To assist teachers, opportunities to develop key skills have been signposted in each of the new A-level specifications. In addition, specifications for the new qualification have been available from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority since January 1999. Examples of test questions will be available shortly. A Government funded programme is providing teachers with a wide range of training and materials, including packs on how to teach key skills alongside particular A-levels.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Rural Bus Services

Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of rural parishes have (a) no bus service and (b) no daily bus service. [109811]

Mr. Hill: My Department does not collect information in this form.

However, I understand that results from a 1997 survey of rural parishes in England carried out for the Rural Development Commission (RDC) show significant variation according to parish size, and were as follows:

Parish population size (persons)	No bus service(7)(%)	No daily bus service(8) (%)
0-99	60	93
100-199	34	92
200-299	21	89
300-499	17	84
500-999	13	77
1,000-2,999	9	57
3,000-9,999	8	31
All under 10,000	22	75

(7)No bus stop in the parish

(8)A service that runs 7 days per week

Results from the Department's own National Travel Survey for the period 1996-98 show that 85 per cent. of rural households are within 13 minutes walk of a bus service which runs at least every weekday.

21 Feb 2000 : Column: 704W

In its first year following introduction, the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant provided for over 1,800 new or improved services in 1998-99 in rural England. These services are not reflected in the data.

A49 Dorrington Bypass

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will reinstate the A49 Dorrington Bypass scheme; and if he will make a statement. [110126]

Mr. Hill: As explained in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England" our policy is to integrate trunk road planning within the wider transport network through regional planning guidance. The priorities for improvement of the trunk road network in Shropshire now fall to be considered in the first instance by the Regional Planning Conference in revising the regional planning guidance for the West Midlands. Revision of the guidance is expected to begin in the spring.

Traffic Noise

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much public money (a) has been spent and (b) is budgeted to be spent as compensation for traffic noise levels for residents living adjacent to the M25 between Junctions 8 and 10 following the road's widening. [110233]

Mr. Hill: We have received 2,832 claims so far and paid £10,114,641 in respect of 822 claims. This figure includes interest and agents' costs.

A further 925 have now been agreed and compensation on those will be £3,456,445 exclusive of interest as this is calculated at date of payment. These claims should be paid within the next few months. The remaining claims are currently with the Agency's Valuer under negotiation. The estimate for the outstanding cases (and any others we might receive) is of the order of £6.5 million. The total compensation bill is therefore estimated at around £20 million.

We have an obligation to pay compensation under Part 1 of the Lands Compensation Act 1973 in respect of depreciation in value of properties caused by physical factors--including noise--arising from the use of the M25 widening between junctions 8-10.

Harris Bus Company

Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with London Transport regarding the Harris Bus company; and if he will make a statement. [110324]

Mr. Hill [holding answer 15 February 2000]: The provision of bus services is a matter for London Transport Buses (LTB), although my officials have been kept informed. I understand that LTB is in discussion with the Administrator of Harris Bus with a view to taking over direct management of Harris's route contracts.

A number of approvals remain to be granted, notably that of an Operators' Licence, and there are still some commercial negotiations to be completed before LTB can confirm its final intentions. In the meantime, I understand that LTB managers and supervisors are assisting the

21 Feb 2000 : Column: 705W

Administrator to deliver the best possible service in the circumstances. LTB has also developed contingency plans in the event that discussions are unsuccessful.

Correspondence

Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to reply to the letter of 10 February from the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead regarding the Harris Bus company and bus services in South East London; and if he will place a copy of his reply in the Library. [110325]

Mr. Hill [holding answer 15 February 2000]: I replied to my hon. Friend on 18 February and have placed a copy of the letter in the Library.

Abandoned Vehicles

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent research his Department has commissioned into the (a) number of abandoned vehicles on public highways and private property and (b) cost of the removal of such abandoned vehicles by local authorities. [110416]

Mr. Mullin: My Department has commissioned no recent research into either (a) the number of abandoned vehicles on public highways and private property or (b) the cost of the removal of such abandoned vehicles by local authorities.

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to meet representatives of the Local Government Association to discuss the abandoning of vehicles on public highways and private property. [110410]

Mr. Mullin: My Department has regular meetings with representatives of the Local Government Association to discuss a range of waste management issues.

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to reduce the number of cars abandoned with no known owner; and if he will make a statement. [111125]

Mr. Hill: A number of measures to improve the accuracy of the DVLA vehicle record have either recently been put into operation or are planned. They include changes to the way in which notification is made when vehicles are sold, increased involvement by the police in enforcing registration procedures and a pilot scheme to enforce registration offences direct from the DVLA record. The Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team's five year strategy document "Tackling Vehicle Crime" recommends a number of further measures intended to improve the accuracy of the DVLA record.

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many cars were abandoned with no known owner in 1999. [111126]

Mr. Hill: No information is available on the total number of vehicles that are abandoned. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) records only vehicles notified by the police and local authorities. In 1999, there were 34,860 notifications. It is not possible to discover the

21 Feb 2000 : Column: 706W

number of cars abandoned with no known keeper without running a prohibitively expensive search of the DVLA database.

Used Cars

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the DVLA's V5 registrations system for used cars; and if he will make a statement. [111130]

Mr. Hill: Changes to the vehicle registration system are being considered in relation to the Government's commitment to reduce vehicle crime. Tighter vehicle registration procedures have been suggested by the Vehicle Crime Reduction Action Team and are set out in "Tackling Vehicle Crime--A Five Year Strategy". Comments have been invited on these recommendations and will be taken into account in framing new procedures.

Thameslink

Mr. Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the quality of Thameslink services from St. Albans to central London. [110363]

Mr. Hill: Overcrowding on Thameslink services has been eased by the loan of four class 317 units from WAGN and two class 319 units from Connex, resulting in an extra 3,900 seats per week, and an extra train path from 26 September 1999. The shadow Strategic Rail Authority are currently looking at proposals for additional capacity on the Bedford to London section of the route. The long term capacity solution lies within the Thameslink 2000 project, which will improve services for passengers between London and St. Albans.

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