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Water Industry Safety
Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what account Ofwat took of minimum staffing levels required in respect of safety when setting its revised price controls for the water industry; and if he will make a statement. [114131]
Mr. Mullin: The Director General of Water Services has a statutory duty to ensure that companies can finance the proper carrying out of their functions. These functions include obligations enforced by the Health and Safety Executive. The handling of the price review is a matter for the Director. His report "Final Determinations: Future water and sewerage charges 2000-05" includes a full account of the price review process.
Heathland Habitats (Dorset)
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2000, Official Report, column 670W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued by English Nature to its local teams in September 1999. [114321]
Mr. Mullin: A copy of the Guidance will be placed in the Library within the next ten days.
Roads (Nottinghamshire)
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made with the studies of improvements to the A453 between Kegworth and Clifton; when the results will be published; and if he will make a statement on the future of road links between the M1 motorway and the city of Nottingham. [114323]
Mr. Hill: The current study of the A453 corridor is part of the national programme of multi-modal studies to consider movements by all modes within specific corridors. In the East Midlands, consultants have been appointed for two studies (one on the A453 and the second on the M1 corridor, including routes into Kegworth). Work began in December 1999. The conclusions of both studies will be presented to the East Midlands Regional Planning Forum next year. The Secretary of State will then consider the Planning Forum's recommendations in the light of the studies' results.
The A453 is one of the three trunk road links between the M1 and the City of Nottingham. All fall within the remit of the studies. I cannot anticipate the study outcomes but, in accordance with the Government's integrated transport policies, they will relate to transport by all modes.
Bristol Road, Stonehouse
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps in conjunction with the British Railways Board and the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to ensure that the land at Bristol Road, Stonehouse, is withdrawn from the next round of land sales. [112991]
13 Mar 2000 : Column: 30W
Mr. Hill:
The property at Stonehouse was included in the 60-day minimum Notice of Intention to market the site that was issued on 10 November 1999. BRB/sSRA will, in accordance with the marketing process announced by the Department in September 1999, take account of the representations made in response to that Notice when deciding how to sell the site.
Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many fishing vessels were prohibited from putting to sea following safety inspections by officials of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [112766]
Mr. Hill:
The numbers of fishing vessels prohibited from putting to sea following safety inspections by officials of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each of the past five years are as follows:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 26 |
| 1995-96 | 48 |
| 1996-97 | 55 |
| 1997-98 | 46 |
| 1998-99 | 49 |
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the range of penalties that can be imposed on the owners of fishing vessels for (a) the failure to maintain vessels in a seaworthy condition and (b) neglect of safety equipment; and if he will make a statement. [112767]
Mr. Hill: Owners of fishing vessels can be prosecuted for offences under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
The owner of a dangerously unsafe fishing vessel can be fined a maximum of £50,000 by magistrates and face an unlimited fine and/or two years in prison if convicted in the Crown court.
The owner of a fishing vessel is also liable for the unsafe operation of the vessel and faces the same penalties.
In addition the owner of a fishing vessel faces a maximum fine of £5,000 before magistrates and an unlimited fine in the Crown court if his vessel contravenes any of the fishing vessel construction rules which include maintaining rules on safety equipment.
Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many officials are employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to carry out inspections of fishing vessels in relation to (a) their seaworthiness and (b) the adequacy and maintenance of their safety equipment; and if he will make a statement. [112768]
Mr. Hill:
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency currently employs 16 marine surveyors to carry out safety inspections of fishing vessels. A further 41 coastguard officers are qualified to carry out basic safety checks on the under 12 metre fleet, and a further 17 are undergoing or awaiting training.
13 Mar 2000 : Column: 31W
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action his Department is taking to combat violence against public transport personnel. [112606]
Mr. Meacher:
I am very concerned about all work-related violence. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a range of guidance on violence at work and I have asked the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) to consider options for further action which would make a significant impact on preventing assaults, verbal threats and abuse in the workplace, particularly for higher-risk occupations.
In relation to the public transport sector, my Department has published guidance on how bus operators can reduce the risk of violence on their bus services, including the fitting of alarms and two-way radios on vehicles. The guidance has been widely circulated and well received throughout the industry.
The HSC's Railway Industry Advisory Committee (RIAC) held a conference on violence at work in the railway sector on 8 July 1999. As a result, RIAC are developing a national co-ordinated plan in partnership with industry to reduce assaults.
More generally, our programme of measures to improve personal security in the public transport system--including, for example, the Secure Stations Scheme launched in 1998--emphasises the need for transport operators to improve the personal security of both staff and passengers.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the Government's total spending on housing in each of the years (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95, (c) 1995-96, (d) 1996-97, (e) 1997-98 and (f) 1998-99; and what it will be in (x) 1999-2000 and (y) 2000-01. [114416]
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 7,742.0 |
| 1994-95 | 7,166.3 |
| 1995-96 | 6,631.9 |
| 1996-97 | 5,418.5 |
| 1997-98 | 5,814.4 |
| 1998-99 | 5,577.8 |
| 1999-2000 | 5,898.3 |
| 2000-01 | 6,579.4 |
Housebuilding Statistics
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the housebuilding figures announced on 7 March broken down by county. [114413]
13 Mar 2000 : Column: 32W
Mr. Raynsford:
On 20 March we will be publishing for consultation full details of proposed changes to the Regional Planning Guidance for the South-East. The consultation will include an illustrative distribution of housing provision to county level.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many new (a) private houses and (b) social houses have been built in each of the years (i) 1993-94, (ii) 1994-95, (iii) 1995-96, (iv) 1996-97, (v) 1997-98 and (vi) 1998-99; and how many are planned for (x) 1999-2000 and (y) 2000-01. [114394]
Mr. Raynsford:
The number of permanent dwellings completed in England are as follows:
| Calendar year | Private houses | Social houses |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 116,700 | 31,200 |
| 1994 | 122,700 | 32,000 |
| 1995 | 125,500 | 31,700 |
| 1996 | 121,600 | 27,600 |
| 1997 | 128,000 | 21,200 |
| 1998 | 121,200 | 20,200 |
| 1999 (provisional) | 122,300 | 17,600 |
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