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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 6 March 2000
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Child Pedestrians (Accidents)
Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many child pedestrians were (a) killed and (b) injured by motor vehicles in the City of Leeds in each year since 1990. [112045]
Mr. Hill: The information requested is shown in the table.
| Year | Killed | Injured | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5 | 354 | 359 |
| 1991 | 4 | 298 | 302 |
| 1992 | 1 | 335 | 336 |
| 1993 | 1 | 293 | 294 |
| 1994 | 2 | 306 | 308 |
| 1995 | 0 | 282 | 282 |
| 1996 | 2 | 307 | 309 |
| 1997 | 5 | 283 | 288 |
| 1998 | 2 | 273 | 275 |
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if local planning authorities are required to give areas of outstanding natural beauty an equal level of protection to national parks. [112466]
Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 2 March 2000]: The then Countryside Commission presented its advice to Government on the future care of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in 1998. This included recommendations on planning policy guidance regarding AONBs. We announced our response on National Parks on 29 September 1999 and we will announce our proposals for a package of measures for AONBs when we have finalised our detailed consideration.
Water Company Pensions
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in respect of the application of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment etc.) Regulations to staff affected by the termination by water companies of Sewerage Agency arrangements; and what response he will make. [113344]
Ms Armstrong:
The Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment etc.) Regulations 1999 are intended to provide private sector employers, bidding for Local
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Authority contracts under Best Value, with an option of access to the Local Government Pension Scheme so that transferring employees can retain their membership of that scheme while they are engaged delivering outsourced local authority services. I have so far received some 24 representations about the future pension status of employees in local authorities who work on the delivery of privatised water company services through agency agreements established under the terms of the relevant Water Acts. The scale of these agreements, and the alternative pension arrangements available to those employed under them, are being established with the co-operation of the United Kingdom Steering Committee on local government pensions. In the light of that exercise, I will consider carefully the appropriate next steps.
Mr. Terry Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the signalling system involved in the Ladbroke Grove rail accident was designed and engineered on the assumption that all trains using the system would be equipped with automatic train protection. [112550]
Mr. Hill
[holding answer 3 March 2000]: The Health and Safety Executive has informed me that it was not designed and engineered on this assumption.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2000, Official Report, column 13W, on peat compost, if he will list the locations of the gardens of his Department including executive agencies and Government offices for the regions. [113347]
Mr. Hill:
The Department does not keep central records of the locations of gardens on our estate. The information requested is however being obtained from each of our property centres and will be forwarded to my hon. Friend later this month.
Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about the proposed increases in charges by the Environment Agency; and if he will make a statement. [113289]
Mr. Meacher:
The Environment Agency received 42 responses to its recent consultation exercise on its charging proposals for 2000-01. The Agency's consultation papers stated that it would forward copies of these responses to the DETR. These have now been received and the Agency's proposals are being considered.
Mrs. Heal:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to change the rating of plant and machinery in combined heat and power schemes; and if he will make a statement. [113426]
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Ms Armstrong:
Last year we published draft regulations which determine which items of plant and machinery are assessed for business rates. The regulations reflect the recommendations of the second Wood Committee. In particular, generating plant and machinery belonging to the power industry will benefit from a "tools of the trade" exemption although such items which are in the nature of a building or structure will continue to be rateable.
We have now decided that plant and machinery used to generate electricity (such as turbines and engines) in all Good Quality Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes, including those used in wider industry, should benefit from this exemption.
De-rating such plant and machinery in CHP installations will ensure that those items are treated equally across all sectors. It also illustrates our continued support for the increased take up of CHP technology which can bring considerable environmental and economic benefits.
We will introduce the exemption from 1 April 2001 when the CHP Quality Assurance programme for assessing the quality of all types of CHP will be fully operational. The programme will determine the eligibility of CHP schemes for a range of benefits including exemption from the Climate Change Levy. The rating exemption for CHP plant and machinery will require a change in secondary legislation which we will publish in draft later in the year.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the recent RAC survey on the relative costs to families of using their car and using public transport; and if he will make a statement. [113118]
Mr. Hill:
My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Transport was pleased to have provided the foreword to the RAC Report on Motoring 2000 which offered a useful insight into what motorists think are the relative costs of car and public transport. As the report showed there was considerable uncertainty among motorists about the full cost of their travel by car, and of the real costs of public transport. A more accurate picture of actual costs for households is given in table 1.15 "Household expenditure on transport: UK 1987-1997 in Transport statistics in Great Britain; 1999 Edition". We are currently undertaking research to probe what impact costs, both actual and perceived, have on people's travel decisions.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when work will begin on the (a) A2/A282 Dartford Improvement, (b) A2 Bean to Tolgate widening, (c) Tolgate to Cobham widening and (d) M60, junctions 5 to 8 widening. [113104]
Mr. Hill:
The A2 Bean to Tolgate Widening, A2 Tolgate to Cobham Widening and A2/A282 Dartford
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Improvement schemes have yet to complete their statutory procedures. The start of works dates will therefore depend on the satisfactory completion of these procedures.
We currently plan to award the construction contract for the M60 Junction 5 to 8 Widening in 2003-04. The precise timing of the start of work will be a matter for the contractor.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors underlay the decision not to include (a) the widening of the M25 between junctions 12 and 15, (b) the A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford road scheme, (c) the A46 Newark to Lincoln improvement and (d) the A63 Selby bypass in the list of road schemes planned to start in 2001-02. [113100]
Mr. Hill:
Owing to the time needed to complete the necessary contract procedures, construction of the M25 Junctions 12 and 15 Widening scheme could not take place any earlier than 2002-03.
The A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford road scheme is to be constructed as part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract. The amount of work needed to prepare the contract documents and undertake the subsequent procurement process means that the contract cannot be awarded before 2002-03.
The contracts for the A46 Newark to Lincoln Improvement scheme and the A63 Selby Bypass are programmed to be awarded in the financial year 2001-02.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what impact the road schemes announced in the recent local transport settlement will have on the Government's objective of reducing traffic growth; and if he will make a statement. [113098]
Mr. Hill:
In order to tackle congestion and pollution, the Government want to see a reduction in road traffic growth, and an absolute reduction in road traffic where its damage is greatest. The schemes will, on their own, have a very small impact on total traffic growth. However, the local bypasses will help relieve communities of inappropriate traffic and all of the schemes form part of wider local strategies to improve choice and provide better alternatives to the car, thereby reducing traffic growth.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the start dates and completion dates of the 37 schemes on the Government's list of targeted trunk road and motorway improvements. [113117]
Mr. Hill:
Of the 37 schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements, 26 have completed their statutory procedures. I have listed the financial years in which we currently plan to award construction contracts for these schemes.
Because Design and Build contracts will be used, the precise timing of the start of works will be a matter for the contractor. The construction periods will depend on individual contracts.
The start dates for the other 11 schemes will depend on the outcome of the remaining statutory procedures.
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| Scheme | |
|---|---|
| 2000-01 | |
| A1 | Willowburn-Denwick |
| A6 | Great Glen Bypass |
| A27 | Polegate Bypass |
| A41 | Aston Clinton Bypass |
| A43 | Silverstone Bypass |
| A43 | Whitfield Turn-Brackley Hatch Improvement |
| A1033 | Hedon Road, Hull Improvement |
| A6 | Clapham Bypass |
| A11 | Roudham Heath to Attleborough |
| A43 | M40-B4031 Improvement |
| A66 | Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass |
| A500 | Basford/Hough/Shavington Bypass |
| A650 | Bingley Relief Road |
| 2001-02 | |
| A5 | Nesscliffe Bypass |
| A6 | Rothwell-Desborough Bypass |
| A6 | Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass |
| A10 | Wadesmill-Colliers End Bypass |
| A21 | Lamberhurst Bypass |
| A23 | Coulsdon Relief Road |
| A46 | Newark-Lincoln Improvement |
| A63 | Selby Bypass |
| A120 | Stansted-Braintree |
| 2002-03 | |
| M25 | J 12-15 Widening |
| 2003-04 | |
| M60 | J 5-8 Widening |
We propose to take forward A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor and A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford under Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contracts, which we currently expect to award in 2002-03.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when work will begin on the (a) A249 Iwade-Queenborough Improvement, (b) A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford road scheme, (c) A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor road scheme, (d) M25, junction 12 to junction 15 widening, (e) A23 Coulsdon relief road scheme and (f) A21 Lamberhurst bypass. [113105]
Mr. Hill:
The A249 Iwade-Queenborough went to Public Inquiry last September and the start of works date will depend on the outcome of the statutory procedures.
We propose to take forward A1(M) Wetherby to Walshford and the A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor schemes under Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contracts which we currently expect to award in 2002-03.
We currently plan to award construction contracts for both the A23 Coulsdon Inner Relief Road and A21 Lamberhurst Bypass in 2001-02. The precise timing of the start of works will depend on the Contractor.
The M25 J12-15 Widening scheme is due to start in 2002-03. The precise date will depend on the outcome of the necessary procurement processes.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors underlay the decision not to include (a) the M60, junctions 5 to 8 widening and (b) the A1 Ferrybridge to Hook Moor road scheme in the list of road schemes planned to start in 2001-02. [113099]
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Mr. Hill:
Construction of the M60 Junction 5-8 widening could not be finished in time to avoid affecting the transport arrangements for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. It was therefore agreed that the start of construction would be delayed until the Games had finished. Construction will start in 2003-04.
The A1 Ferrybridge to Hook Moor road scheme is to be constructed as part of a Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contract. The amount of work needed to prepare the contract documents and undertake the subsequent procurement process means that the contract cannot be awarded before 2002-03.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations his Department carried out before the approval of the trunk road schemes planned to start in 2000-01. [113101]
Mr. Hill:
Shortly after being elected the Government undertook a year-long strategic review of the roads programme in fulfilment of our manifesto promise. This review, unlike previous roads reviews, included extensive consultation at regional and national level. Around 14,000 responses were received to the consultation document. The results of the Review were announced on 31 July 1998.
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