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Residential Leasehold Property
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans has he to introduce legislation on residential leasehold property; and if he will make a statement. [113428]
Mr. Mullin: As was announced in the Gracious Speech on 17 November 1999, Official Report, columns 04-07, we intend to publish a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill for consultation during this session. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Construction announced on 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 345W, the publication of a summary of the main leasehold measures we intend to include in the draft Bill. Copies were placed in the Library. Following consultation on the draft Bill, we intend to bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Solar Radiation
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision he has made for the monitoring of the effects of increase solar radiation on satellite and mobile communications systems that are required for the safety of airlines and ships at sea; and if he will make a statement. [113109]
Mr. Mullin
[holding answer 6 March 2000]: The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is conducting research into the effects of solar radiation on satellite and other
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communications equipment. It also issues warnings when it is predicted that solar flares and other solar events are likely to affect communications equipment.
Neither the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) nor the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is specifically monitoring the effects of increases in solar radiation on radio communications. However, any incidents which affect the safety of any aircraft in UK airspace or a UK registered aircraft will be reported to the CAA. This would include incidents caused by solar radiation interfering with radio communications.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many special advisers are employed in his Department; and how many were employed on 1 May 1997. [113107]
Mr. Hill
[holding answer 6 March 2000]: The Department currently employs five special advisers; three are full-time and two part-time. On 1 February 1997 the Department of the Environment employed four special advisers, two full-time and two part-time. The Department of Transport employed one full-time special adviser on this date.
By 1 May 1997 two special advisers had resigned leaving the Department of the Environment with three special advisers, one full-time and two part-time and none in the Department of Transport.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2000, Official Report, column 282W, concerning MTBE, what contribution has been made by oil companies to the Environment Agency's research project on the incidence of MTBE in England and Wales; if he will publish the results when available; and what assessment he has made of the possible carcinogenicity of MTBE. [113543]
Mr. Mullin:
The current Environment Agency project on MTBE incidence in England and Wales has received valuable financial and other assistance from major oil companies through the Institute of Petroleum. The results of the research, which forms part of a wider investigation into the fate and transport of chemicals in the sub-surface, will be made available by the Environment Agency. US work suggests that the carcinogenicity risk of MTBE is very small at the levels currently found. The toxicity and carcinogenicity of fuel ethers is, however, currently the subject of a major review by the Finnish Environment Agency on behalf of the European Environment Agency. A draft report is expected this spring.
Mr. Colman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the result of the review of the London Borough of Wandsworth's planning application approval for the
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development of the site of the Old Wandsworth Secondary School, Sutherland Grove, London SW15, for educational and residential purposes. [113450]
Mr. Raynsford:
The conservation area consent decision will be announced very soon.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what claims there have been for compensation from motor dealers as a result of difficulties in issuing registration documents for new motor vehicles at DVLA. [113525]
Mr. Hill:
There have been no claims for compensation from motor dealers related to the issuing of registration documents for the DVLA.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what difficulties were experienced with DVLA systems in relation to the registration of V registration vehicles; what the (a) cause and (b) effects were of such problems; what measures were taken to rectify them; and at what cost. [113524]
Mr. Hill:
'V' registration marks were introduced on 1 September 1999 and were superseded by 'W' marks on 1 March 2000.
Over 50 per cent. of vehicles are now registered through the Automated First Registration and the Licensing facility (AFRL) which allows motor dealers to register and first license vehicles electronically. All other vehicles are registered through the established network of Vehicle Registration Offices (VROs).
In recent years the DVLA has consistently met or bettered its published target of issuing registration documents to customers within 12 working days. No significant difficulties have been experienced.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he will take to improve the safety of drivers who make journeys by motor vehicles on behalf of their employers. [113528]
Mr. Hill:
Measures to improve work-related road safety are set out in the Government's road safety strategy--"Tomorrow's roads: safer for everyone", published on 1 March.
We want to ensure that worker/drivers and vulnerable road users are not exposed to unnecessary risks. An inter-agency task group is therefore being established under an independent chair--Richard Dykes, Group Managing Director of the Post Office. The group will make recommendations for action on strategies for improving the management of work-related road safety.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for prime time advertising on television to support the objective of his road safety strategy. [113521]
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Mr. Hill:
Well researched advertising on television will play a key role in supporting the objectives of our road safety strategy. The Department is currently considering options for a high profile campaign led by television advertising to be launched soon with the aim of bringing home to all the importance of safer road behaviour and the part that everyone can play in reducing deaths and injuries.
The Department has a long history of using television advertising as the focus of powerful and effective campaigns, well founded on research into what will work and thoroughly and independently monitored as to effectiveness.
Television will provide us in the coming year with the opportunity to raise the profile of road safety as an issue and to get across specific messages about child road safety, speed, drink driving, seat belt wearing and the range of other issues outlined in the indicative programme published in the strategy paper, "Tomorrow's roads: safer for everyone".
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to set casualty reduction targets for (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists and (c) motorcyclists; [113519]
Mr. Hill:
The Government's new Road Safety Strategy, "Tomorrow's roads: safer for everyone", was launched by the Prime Minister on 1 March. It sets a new target to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads by 40 per cent. by the year 2010, a separate target of 50 per cent. for children, and a 10 per cent. reduction in the slight casualty rate. No targets have been set for specific groups but paragraph 9.13 commits us to considering with the Road Safety Advisory Board, rate based targets for cyclists and walkers.
Special measures for these groups are detailed in chapters eight and nine of the strategy, but measures described elsewhere, particularly our driver training, will be to their benefit.
Copies of "Tomorrow's roads: safer for everyone" are in the Library and the Vote Office.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total cost was of the launch event for the Government's road safety strategy; and what was the breakdown of the costs, including the cost of the (i) videos and films, (ii) stage backdrop, (iii) hire of the premises, (iv) expenses provided for the schoolchildren who participated in the event, (v) sound systems, (vi) issue of invitations, (vii) hospitality and (viii) other costs. [113526]
Mr. Hill:
The total cost of the event to launch the road safety strategy on 1 March is estimated at £16,800 including VAT where applicable (some minor costs are not yet known).
(2) what special measures he proposes to reduce accidents among (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists and (c) motorcyclists. [113520]
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