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West Sussex Coastal Strip
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the economic status of the West Sussex coastal strip. [112088]
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Ms Beverley Hughes:
The Public Examination of the Draft RPG, held last year by an independent Panel, considered representations and evidence from a range of organisations and individuals. It included discussion specifically about the economic situation along the Sussex Coast.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what grounds the West Sussex coastal strip is no longer to be accorded priority status for special economic support. [112252]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
SERPLAN (the London and South-East Regional Planning Conference) proposed a number of Priority Areas for Economic Regeneration in Draft Regional Planning Guidance for the South-East (Draft RPG9). The strategy and proposals in Draft RPG9 were the subject of a Public Examination last year. The independent Panel who held that Public Examination recommended that a more targeted area of the Sussex coastal area be identified as a Priority Area for Economic Regeneration. The Secretary of State is considering both SERPLAN's proposal and the recommendation of the Panel and will shortly be publishing "Proposed Changes to Draft RPG" for public consultation.
Mr. McCabe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the compatibility between the condition of carriage arrangements employed by Virgin Trains in respect of loss or damage resulting from delays, and the customer service requirements placed on Virgin Trains under their franchise or by the Rail Regulator; and if he will ask the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to examine this matter. [112016]
Mr. Hill:
The National Conditions of Carriage, overseen by the Rail Regulator, govern all rail journeys regardless of the train operator involved. In addition, train operators are required by their franchise agreements to publish a Passenger's Charter, which provides compensation for passengers whose journeys are delayed for reasons within the control of the industry. The arrangements for compensation must be no less favourable than they were under British Rail.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the increases in (a) cash and (b) real terms in the uniform business rate income (i) from and (ii) that is given to (1) each local authority in England and (2) in England as a whole for the years (x) 1997-98 to 1998-99, (y) 1998-99 to 1999-2000 and (z) 1999-2000 to 2000-01. [111926]
Ms Armstrong:
I have placed the information in the Library. The tables contain information in respect of the amount given to authorities for all years listed in the question. Information on amounts paid in by authorities is so far available only up to 1999-2000.
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Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the estimated council tax increase for each local authority in England in 2000-01. [111925]
Ms Armstrong:
It is for local authorities to set their own council taxes. I have made no estimates of increases.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 710W, what percentage of the compost used in his Department's estate gardens is peat; when use of peat compost will be phased out on his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement. [111950]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The Department does not keep central records on the use of peat or organic wastes within its buildings or gardens. However, as I indicated in my answer on 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 710W, the Department's Greening Operations Policy statement applies to all parts of the Department including its Executive Agencies and Government Offices for which DETR has property management responsibility. I can confirm that peat use has already been phased out within the three headquarters buildings.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities designated or part designated for (a) Objective 1 and (b) Objective 2 status, indicating how each of them ranks on the Index of Local Deprivation. [111791]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will implement the recommendations in the Friends of the Earth report on the Erica oil spill relating to transportation of maritime cargoes; [111922]
(3) if he will discuss with other EU member states changes to strengthen MARPOL regulations by including stricter regulations for older vessels, and regulation of flags of convenience; and if he will make a statement. [111924]
Mr. Hill:
Transport of maritime cargoes is an internationally regulated business and accordingly my Department is already in discussion with counterparts in the relevant international and European organisations to determine a practical programme for enhanced protection against maritime pollution. The Friends of the Earth report on the Erika oil spill is being taken into account in that consideration, as is the potential benefit of improved collective enforcement of the MARPOL Convention and
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other relevant regulations. The case for additional international regulations is also being assessed by the Government and neighbouring administrations.
Mr. Pound:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to continue the rural bus subsidy grant beyond 2000-01. [112405]
Mr. Hill:
The Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, which was first introduced in 1998-99, has been of significant benefit to people in rural areas. In its first year it provided for over 1,800 new or improved rural services. I am therefore very pleased to announce our decision to continue the grant for English local authorities for a further three years beyond the initial period which ends in March 2001. The grant will be continued at least at its current level.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2000, Official Report, column 754W, on how many occasions since May 1997 he has notified research contractors in writing that their project has been identified as being sensitive as provided for in clause 15.3 of his Department's standard research contract, indicating the subject in each case. [111652]
Ms Quin:
No central records of the use of such notifications are kept. However, given the nature of most of the Department's research, the numbers will have been very small. The standard contract does not give the Department powers to prevent public statements by contractors unless such a statement would jeopardise the commercial exploitation of intellectual property. As is made clear in clause 15.5, the purpose of clause 15.3 is to ensure that the Minister has prior knowledge of a statement being made on a potentially sensitive matter relating to research which he is funding.
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(2) if he will review Government policies on the transportation of maritime cargoes to take account of the Erica oil spill of 12 December; and if he will make a statement; [111921]
Extract from Standard MAFF Research Contract
15. Publication and disclosure
15.1 Subject to the provisions of conditions 15.3, 15.4 and 15.6, the Contractor shall endeavour to make information about, and results from the Project generally available, and may do so provided he acknowledges in any public statement the financial support of the Minister and of the Co-funders.
15.2 Subject to condition, 6.5, the Minister shall have the right to disclose, copy or otherwise distribute to the public or use in any way any information arising out of the Project or comprised in any work relating to the Project, as he sees fit.
15.3 Where the Project, or any matter related to it, has been identified as being sensitive by:
15.3.1 the Contractor or the Co-funders, or
15.3.2 the Minister, as notified in writing to the Contractor or the Co-funders, the contractor or the Co-funders shall give written notice to be received by the Minister at least 10 working days before any planned public statement or other disclosure relating to the Project, providing details of the information proposed to be disclosed, the reason, and the medium of disclosure.
15.4 The Contractor or Co-funders shall notify the Minster immediately if approached by the media about the Project. The Contractor or Co-funders shall notify the Minister immediately if approached by anyone about a matter related to the Project which is considered sensitive by the Contractor or Co-funders in accordance with condition 15.3.
15.5 For the avoidance of doubt, the notifications required by conditions 15.3 and 15.4 are for the purposes of informing the Minister or the Contractor or Co-funders (as the case may be) and are not designed to interfere with the issue of any public statement.
15.6 Where the carrying out of the Project results in, or materially contributes to the creation of Intellectual Property which the Contractor or the Minister considers may be suitable for commercial exploitation, no disclosure of information may be made by the Contractor or the Co-funders which would jeopardise such exploitation.
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