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Green Glass Waste
Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the potential for re-using green glass waste; what recent discussions he has had with the importers of green glass bottles on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [116298]
Mr. Mullin: We are in close touch with British Glass and other materials organisations and we are planning a seminar on this issue later this year.
Wembley Stadium
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made by the Wembley Task Force towards improving the road and rail links to Wembley Stadium. [114856]
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Mr. Hill:
The Wembley Task Force are in close consultation with London Underground Ltd. A scheme to improve the capacity and quality of Wembley Park station is well advanced and will shortly be put to the LUL Board for approval. Parallel discussions are in hand with rail operators on potential enhancements to Wembley Stadium and Wembley Central station.
An appraisal of local road improvements necessary to serve the Stadium and the Wembley Estate has been undertaken. Detailed proposals are now being developed in discussion with Wembley National Stadium Ltd. and the Highway Authorities.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish guidance for local authorities on the preparation of full local transport plans. [116684]
Mr. Hill:
I am today issuing "Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans", which contains advice for local authorities on the preparations of their local transport plans for 2001-02 to 2005-06.
Local transport plans are at the heart of our new deal for integrated transport, central to giving people improved travel choices, safer roads and better transport services. We are giving authorities more resources and more freedom to produce the best possible plans. We will be spending more than £750 million in the coming financial year, and more than £1 billion the following year. This reflects our commitment to supporting local solutions and initiatives.
This summer the Government will publish their 10-year transport plan, a framework for investment over the next decade. Local authorities will play an important role in delivering that plan, and in the guidance issued today we are asking them for additional investment proposals for an integrated transport strategy over the next 10-years.
Mr. John Cryer:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many workers in the construction industry are employed on a PAYE basis; [115051]
Dawn Primarolo:
I have been asked to reply.
Whether an individual is employed or self-employed for tax and national insurance purposes depends upon the terms of the contract under which they are engaged.
The Inland Revenue does not have information relating to the numbers of workers in the construction industry who are engaged on an employed or self-employed basis.
A CIS4 registration card is no proof of self-employment and therefore there should be no workers in the construction industry who are treated as self-employed purely on that basis. The Inland Revenue, together with the former Contributions Agency published
27 Mar 2000 : Column: 25W
leaflet IR148/CA69 specifically to assist contractors in the industry on tackling the question of the status of their workers.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates Lord Levy has had meetings with (a) Ministers and (b) senior officials in his Department since 1 May 1997, giving in each case the purpose of the meetings; and if he will make a statement. [113503]
Mr. Hoon
[holding answer 7 March 2000]: Lord Levy had an office call with the Secretary of State for Defence on Thursday 28 October 1999.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has met Lord Levy on four occasions. On 25 March 1999 Lord Levy made an office call on CDS in the Ministry of Defence for general discussion on the Middle East. During the period 3-7 September 1999, Lord Levy assisted CDS during his representational visit to Israel, and on 20 October 1999 he came to the Ministry of Defence to discuss the Middle East. On 22 February this year, CDS called on Lord Levy at the House of Lords to discuss the Middle East prior to Lord Levy's visits there, and CDS' visit to Bahrain.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence had a short informal meeting with Lord Levy on 25 March 1999. At his request, Lord Levy was briefed on the situation in Syria prior to a visit to the area.
Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he is making to commemorate the 50 anniversary of the Korean War in the United Kingdom. [116459]
Dr. Moonie:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Member for North Dorset (Mr. Walter) on 21 March 2000, Official Report, column 480W. A comprehensive programme of commemorative events is planned over the next three years in the Republic of Korea, involving that country and those whose forces constituted the United Nations Command. As the United Kingdom's participation in the war as a contributor to the United Nations Command in defence of the Republic of Korea, it is appropriate that our commemoration should be as part of that programme, and we will be represented at a number of events at the appropriate level. The Ministry of Defence has no plans for additional commemoration of the anniversary.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department issued instructions that Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force cadets must not travel in four-tonne trucks or other military vehicles without seatbelts; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this ruling on (a) cadet training and (b) cadet financing. [116346]
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Mr. Spellar:
Instructions on the carriage of cadets in military vehicles were first issued on 20 March 1998, in response to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/163). These instructions stated that the use of Troop Carrying Vehicles (TCVs) which were not fitted with passenger restraint was not appropriate for the routine movement of cadets. The use of TCVs for the carriage of cadets was therefore restricted to training areas and their immediate vicinity.
The use of military vehicles during training is permitted, but only under a rigorous control regime. This requires Commanding Officers to consider whether it enhances training, whether it might be more appropriate to use civilian vehicles, the nature of the training and the terrain to be covered. This is aimed at ensuring that the proposed training is reasonable and that any risks are controllable.
Following the Strategic Defence Review, additional funding of £500,000 per year was allocated to Headquarters Land Command for additional provision for routine travel for Army Cadet Force units and Army sections of the Combined Cadet Force, and additional facilities at detachment level. Of this, £200,000 per year has been allocated to TAVRAs for cadet travel. This is in addition to the usual process through which TAVRAs receive funding, including provision for a cadet travel vote. This additional funding has meant that the impact of the ruling with respect to the requirement for seatbelts in TCVs on Army Cadet Force training and financing has been minimal.
Naval Cadet Forces seldom used four-tonne trucks for passenger carrying purposes, and therefore the ruling with respect to the requirement for seatbelts in these vehicles has had no impact either on cadet training or financing. Naval Cadet Forces use either loan vehicles from motor transport pools or hire vehicles, all of which are fitted with seat belts.
Air Cadets do not travel in four-tonne trucks at any time. They may occasionally travel in Land Rovers, which are sometimes used at gliding schools. The ruling has had no impact on their training or financing.
Mr. Cummings:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter of 5 July 1999 and the fax of 24 August 1999 from the hon. Member for Easington concerning Mr. A. Jones of Seaham. [114942]
Dr. Moonie:
I assume my hon. Friend is referring to correspondence concerning Mr. A. Lanes of Seaham. This has been transferred to the Department of Social Security for reply.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of upgrading his Department's stock of Paveway II laser guided bombs to have a Global Positioning System/Inertial Measurement Unit capability; what safeguards would be taken to prevent the jamming of such a system; and if he will make a statement. [115750]
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Dr. Moonie:
We are currently considering lessons learned from Kosovo, including the need to bomb with precision in all weather conditions. However, no decisions have yet been made. Upgrading the Ministry of Defence's stock of Paveway II laser guided bombs to have a Global Positioning System/Inertial Measurement Unit capability is one of the options which are being considered. The disclosure of the estimate of the cost of any such upgrade could disadvantage the MOD in commercial negotiations and I am therefore withholding this information under Exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. If a decision were made to upgrade the weapons, we would consider what safeguards might be put in place to prevent jamming of the system.
(2) how many workers in the construction industry are self-employed on the basis of holding a C154 registration card. [115052]
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