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Unseaworthy Vessels
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many prosecutions of companies owning unseaworthy vessels took place in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000. [114523]
Mr. Hill:
There have been no prosecutions of companies owning unseaworthy vessel in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000
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However the owner and operator, as individuals, were convicted in 1999 of unsafe operation of a ship of the Belize registered ROYAL 1.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will take steps to introduce higher penalties for the evasion of safety regulations on (a) United Kingdom ships and (b) foreign ships using United Kingdom ports; [114522]
Mr. Hill:
It is Government policy to follow up all significant breaches of the safety aspects of Merchant Shipping legislation to determine the appropriate action in particular cases, up to and including prosecution. There is no evidence that the available sanctions, which include detention of ships, fines and, in one recent case, imprisonment, are inappropriate.
Mr. Kaufman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will direct London Underground to conduct an inquiry into continuing delays on the Jubilee Line, the operation and use of doors on the westbound platform at Westminster station, the operation of doors on the eastbound platform at Westminster station on the evening of 7 March and the delay to a southbound train at Baker Street station on the morning of 8 March. [114324]
Mr. Hill
[holding answer 13 March 2000]: I note my right hon. Friend's request for an inquiry. However, problems are not unusual when bedding in a new railway, and LUL have informed me that they are doing all they can to identify and resolve recurring faults.
The incidents referred to are operational matters for London Underground Ltd. Platform edge doors are new technology for London Underground and, despite driver training, there were some initial problems, not only at Westminster, with operating procedures. This situation has improved as drivers have become more expert at handling the new equipment. There are however occasional faults. I understand that on 7 March the doors on the eastbound train failed to close at Westminster station. The train was taken out of passenger service and replaced. The initial delay was 18 minutes and the whole of the Jubilee Line was delayed as a consequence. A number of trains were cancelled as a result of the delay. New software to eliminate faults is currently under test.
I am advised that on 8 March southbound delays resulted from traction current problems between Baker Street and Finchley Road.
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of local authorities which will not be in a position to introduce a tenant participation compact by 1 April; what action is being taken to ensure that authorities enter into a compact at the earliest opportunity; and if he will make a statement. [114699]
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Mr. Mullin:
Research commissioned by my Department between April and September 1999 showed that, one year ahead of implementing best value and tenant participation compacts, 10 per cent. of authorities were proactive in preparing for implementation, 70 per cent. were planning for implementation but not at an advanced stage, and the remaining 20 per cent. were reluctant to implement. We expect preparations to have progressed since then and will be looking at whether local authorities have introduced compacts through this year's annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) process.
Local authority performance on tenant participation will continue to feed into the HIP assessment process through which Government allocate housing capital resources. Under Best Value, local authority delivery of what is agreed in compacts will also be subject to scrutiny by the new Housing Inspectorate.
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to encourage the rehabilitation of run-down property by registered social landlords; and if he will make a statement. [114695]
Mr. Mullin:
Each year the Housing Corporation invites registered social landlords to bid for grants to build new properties and to rehabilitate existing ones. 25.3 per cent. of the 2000-01 programme for rent, amounting to £147.48 million, has been allocated for the rehabilitation of properties.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce measures to allow properties that have received home improvement grants over 25 years ago to receive grants for updating those improvements; if he will make funds available to local authorities for such purposes; and if he will make a statement. [114766]
Mr. Mullin:
Local authorities have broad discretion over how they give grants for home improvement, for which funding is made available each year by my Department. There are no restrictions on how often they give grants for any one property.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what grants are available from central Government for home improvements in owner occupier and private rented accommodation. [115013]
Mr. Mullin:
My Department provides a specific grant, Private Sector Renewal Grant, in support of local authorities to assist home owners with the renovation of their properties. From 1 April 2000 Exchequer support for private sector renewal will be through the single capital allocation for housing.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to enforce the wearing of seat belts by motorists and their passengers. [114950]
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Mr. Hill:
Enforcement of road traffic regulations is a matter for the police. In 1997, the latest year for which figures are available, 175,334 fixed penalty notices and 14,300 written warnings were issued in seat belt cases. The magistrates courts also dealt with 8,180 cases, of which 6,411 were found guilty.
We are concerned about the number of rear seat passengers, in particular adults, who do not wear seat belts. The latest, unpublished, biannual survey, carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) on the Department's behalf in October 1999, showed that 76 per cent. of all rear seat passengers, 54 per cent. of adults, in all cars were wearing seat belts. The "Julie" rear seat belt television campaign was repeated during February.
The Government's forward plans for seat belt fitting and wearing are set out in pages 57 and 58 of "Tomorrow's roads--safer for everyone", the Government's road safety strategy, which was launched on 1 March. Copies of the strategy are available in the Library of the House.
The Department's leaflet "Seat Belts and Child Restraints" which provides advice on the law is widely available. Copies of the leaflet are also in the Library of the House.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will assess the impact his statement of 7 March 2000 on housebuilding will have on the Chelmsford Local Authority area; and, as a result of his statement, how many houses will have to be built in Chelmsford, (a) over the next five years and (b) over the next 16 years. [114782]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning gave on 13 March 2000, Official Report, column 35W. On 20 March we will be publishing the full details of our proposed changes to regional planning guidance in the South East. These will include an illustrative breakdown of housing within the region to county level, including an annual rate of provision for Essex. We will be seeking the views of the local authorities in the region, through SERPLAN, and those of other interested parties on that distribution.
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many genetically modified crop trials are currently taking place in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [114424]
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the current progress of genetically modified crop trials in the United Kingdom. [113387]
Mr. Meacher:
I will release details of this year's Farm Scale Evaluations programme tomorrow morning. This will include information about all the proposed locations of sites already notified to my Department. Details will be placed in the Library of the House.
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(2) if he will take steps to introduce higher penalties for the evasion of safety regulations on (a) UK ships and (b) foreign ships using UK ports. [114701]
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