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Best Value
25. Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the steps taken by local authorities to provide best value in their services. [112197]
Ms Armstrong: An interim evaluation of the 40 best value pilot authorities, carried out by the Warwick University Business School, was published on 22 November 1999. All the authorities found the best value framework worked, but was more challenging than they had expected. However, after only 12 months work, there were real examples of improved services and cost savings and real engagement with local people.
33. Mrs. Fiona Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the Best Value pilot schemes in the east midlands. [112205]
Ms Armstrong:
An interim evaluation of all the best value pilot authorities, including those in the east midlands, was carried out by Warwick University Business School and published on 22 November 1999. All the authorities found the best value framework worked, but was more challenging than they had expected.
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However, after only 12 months of work, there were real examples of improved services and cost savings and real engagement with local people.
27. Mr. Ennis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many foreign HGVs his Department inspected in each of the last three years. [112199]
Mr. Hill:
Inspections of vehicles are carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate in accordance with targets set for them by the Secretary of State.
The Vehicle Inspectorate undertook roadworthiness checks on 3,498 foreign vehicles in 1998-99 and 5,343 checks in 1997-98. Roadworthiness check statistics for 1996-97 are not available.
In addition the Vehicle Inspectorate completed traffic enforcement checks on 13,037 foreign vehicles in 1998-99 and in the preceding two years 13,288 and 12,821 checks respectively.
28. Mr. Geraint Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's actions to promote urban renewal. [112200]
Ms Armstrong:
The Government are committed to a comprehensive programme of urban renewal. We are currently preparing the first White Paper on urban policy for 20 years, which we aim to publish later this year. This will set out a comprehensive set of policies to achieve an urban renaissance.
29. Mr. Pollard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to improve access for disabled people to transport services. [112201]
Mr. Hill:
The Government are committed to comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. Accessible public transport, within the framework of an integrated transport policy, is fundamentally important to delivering that commitment.
We have already brought forward regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act setting detailed technical access standards for all new trains. This year we will be bringing forward similar regulations applying to buses and coaches and we will be consulting on proposed regulations applying to buses and coaches and we will be consulting on proposed regulations for taxis. These regulations cover facilities for wheelchair users and for people with a wide range of other disabilities.
Through the Local Transport Plans we are also ensuring that local authorities give due weight to the needs of disabled people across the whole spectrum of their responsibilities, including pedestrian facilities, transport infrastructure and voluntary and community transport services.
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30. Mr. Ian Stewart:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on light rail services. [112202]
Mr. Hill:
Light rail, and similar rapid transit systems, can have an important role to play in delivering integrated transport in major conurbations. Experience from existing light rail schemes has shown that they can be effective in providing a high quality public transport option in densely used transport corridors and in encouraging motorists to switch from their cars. However, the capital costs of light rail schemes are high compared with bus priority measures and guided bus schemes, which may offer a more cost-effective alternative. Central Government support can be provided to local authorities to fund light rail systems where these bring net benefits which are greater than those offered by the available alternatives; cannot be entirely funded from local sources or by the private sector; provide good value for money and are essential to the achievement of the objectives of the relevant authority's local transport plan.
31. Mr. Watts:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's review of the local government standard spending assessment system. [112203]
Ms Armstrong:
Central and local Government officials have been discussing a wide range of options for improving the method of revenue grant distribution. Their joint report of the issues raised in the review will be put to the Central Local Partnership later this month and published on the internet.
Decisions about the merits of the various options for reform will be made when we have responses to a consultation paper that we expect to publish in the summer.
32. Mr. Alan W. Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the role of emissions trading in limiting global carbon dioxide emissions. [112204]
Mr. Meacher:
The Kyoto agreement was an historic achievement--setting legally binding emission targets for developed countries for the first time. The agreement also provides for international emissions trading to help countries meet these challenging targets. I believe that this system will help countries meet their commitments cost-effectively, with real environmental benefits. Since June last year, the Government have been working with business to develop a trading scheme in the UK, as part of our strategy for meeting our climate change commitments.
34. Mr. Salter:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on measures taken to improve rail safety following the Paddington rail crash in October 1999. [112206]
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Mr. Hill:
I refer my hon. Friend to the Deputy Prime Minister's statement in the House on 22 February 2000, Official Report, columns 1373-84.
39. Mr. Blunt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last had a meeting with Railtrack to discuss safety on the railways. [112211]
Mr. Hill:
Ministers and officials meet Railtrack regularly to discuss a number of railway issues including railway safety.
35. Mr. Nigel Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in his policies to encourage recycling. [112207]
Mr. Meacher:
The Government are committed to increasing recycling substantially from the current low levels. We set ambitious goals in the draft waste strategy, "A Way with Waste", including to recycle 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005. The final version of the strategy, to be published soon, will put in place a range of instruments for delivering these goals.
In Wales and Scotland recycling policy is a matter for the National Assembly or Scottish Parliament respectively.
36. Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the accountability of quangos based in Yorkshire and Humberside to the people of that region. [112208]
Ms Armstrong:
The Government regularly review the accountability of Non-Departmental Public Bodies to the Public through the Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office.
37. Mr. Ruffley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding the level of business rates for small businesses. [112209]
Ms Armstrong:
I have received representations from small businesses welcoming the transitional relief scheme announced on 25 November and calling for a rate relief scheme for small businesses.
The transitional relief scheme, which favours small businesses, will phase in significant changes in rate bills resulting from the revaluation on 1 April. In addition many small businesses will benefit from the revaluation itself and the reduction in the multiplier to 41.6p for every £1 of rateable value.
We set out a possible rate relief scheme for small businesses in our White Paper, "Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People" (1998). We have discussed this scheme with representatives of small businesses, and we aim next to hold a public consultation exercise on the details of the scheme.
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