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French Lorry Drivers' Dispute
Miss Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all claims relating to the French lorry drivers' dispute in 1997 have been settled. [119740]
Mr. Hill: We are not aware of any claims in respect of disputes in 1997. We understand, however, that all claims in respect of the lengthy blockade in November 1996 have now been processed by the French authorities, and payment agreed in the case of all eligible claims. This has been achieved after sustained effort over many months by staff in the Department and in the British Embassy in Paris.
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Nuclear Waste
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish the consultation paper on the management and disposal of nuclear waste referred to in the Government's response of October 1999 to the Lords Science and Technology Committee report on Management of Nuclear Waste (HL 41, 1998-99); and if he will make a statement. [119727]
Mr. Meacher: We aim to publish the consultation paper on the management of radioactive waste when it is ready.
The consultation paper will set out the procedures the Government intend to follow in order to choose and implement its radioactive waste management policy. It will not endorse deep disposal or any other management option.
Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
Local Deprivation Index
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the representations he has received from local authorities which were in favour of the new proposals on the index of local deprivation were from (a) district councils, (b) county councils and (c) metropolitan authorities; and if he will make a statement. [120030]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The responses which were in favour of the new proposals were from the following: 24 district councils; 20 county councils; 12 metropolitan authorities outside London; five London boroughs; eight unitary authorities and 20 'others' including several development partnerships.
Road Accidents (Greater London)
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road (a) fatalities and (b) personal injury accidents took place in Greater London during 1999. [119809]
Mr. Hill: The information requested on personal injury accidents is not available. However, provisional estimates of road casualties for the first nine months of 1999 are given in the table.
| Severity of casualty | Number (provisional) |
|---|---|
| Fatal | 196 |
| Seriously injured | 4,224 |
| Slightly injured | 29,056 |
| Total | 33,476 |
Source:
London Accident Analysis Unit
Concessionary Travel Passes
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the use of concessionary travel passes for retired people which can be used throughout the UK; and if he will make a statement. [119810]
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Mr. Hill: Both the train operating companies and the National Express coach company already offer commercial discount cards for nation-wide travel by senior citizens. I would be interested in similar proposals from the bus industry.
The Transport Bill at present before Parliament contains provisions to guarantee that all elderly people will be entitled to at least half-price travel on local buses; the associated bus pass will be free of charge. These measures will bring benefit to many pensioners and will be particularly welcome in areas where at present the local authority offers a less generous concessionary fare scheme, or none at all.
At present schemes often cover only the area of the issuing local authority, but it will remain possible for local authorities to arrange travel outside their own area, as many do.
Leasehold Reform
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress with leasehold reform. [119805]
Mr. Mullin: As was announced in the Gracious Speech given on 17 November 1999, Official Report, columns 4-7, we intend to publish a draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill for consultation during this session. My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning announced the publication of a summary of the main leasehold measures we intend to include in the draft Bill on 20 December 1999, Official Report, column 345W. Copies were placed in the Library. Following consultation on the draft Bill, we intend to bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Telecommunications Masts
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to ensure that mobile phone companies and local authorities undertake adequate public consultation before the erection of mobile phone masts. [119463]
Ms Beverley Hughes: It is important that the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposed installation of telecommunications masts. Where it is proposed to erect a mast subject to a planning application, the statutory requirement for a local authority to publicise any planning application will apply. In respect of mast development carried out under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO), under the 42 day prior approval procedure, the operator is required to erect a site notice to publicise the development proposed, in order to provide the public with a clear opportunity to comment to the local planning authority on the siting and appearance of the proposed mast.
The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, set up at the instigation of the Government and chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE, is currently considering the possible health effects of the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters and is conducting a comprehensive assessment of existing research. The Group
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is expected to finalise its report shortly. The Government will consider the Group's recommendations and issue a response.
Rail Services
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of Railtrack's figure for the investment needed to improve rail services and safety in Britain. [119458]
Mr. Hill: The Government have made clear that substantial sums will have to be invested in railway infrastructure to deliver the increased rail capacity and quality needed for the future. We will be publishing in the summer our 10-year plan for transport, which will set out indicative plans for transport expenditure, building on the advice of the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, and responses of the Rail Regulator and others to Railtrack's 2000 Network Management Statement.
The process of reviewing the 2000 Network Management Statement is carried out by the Rail Regulator. He announced on 30 March 2000 that he would be consulting with the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, PTEs and train operators, to determine in particular whether the plans meet their needs and aspirations.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with Railtrack regarding future levels of investment in railways, with particular reference to the West Coast Main Line and railways in the North-west. [119459]
Mr. Hill: A group consisting of officials from the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (sSRA), the Office of the Rail Regulator, Railtrack and the train operators involved in the West Coast Main Line, both passenger and freight, has been established and meets regularly. The sSRA reports to Ministers as necessary. Railtrack has confirmed that it is on course to meet its contractual commitments to Virgin in 2002 and 2005. The Rail Regulator has published a draft final order he proposes to make, which would require Railtrack to produce robust plans which demonstrate that it can in fact do so, and that it can meet the reasonable requirements of other train operators and funders including the sSRA. The sSRA has input into all development plans for the railways via consultation with Railtrack, both on a formal and, on an informal basis.
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussion he has had with Railtrack since the Paddington disaster with regard to reducing the possibility of signals 109 Ladbroke Grove, S862 Swinton Manchester, MP503 Ordsall Lane Manchester, MP324 Ardwick Junction Manchester Piccadilly, MP332 Ardwick Junction, North Manchester and MP64 Lonsight Manchester being passed at danger; and what action has been taken. [119460]
Mr. Hill: After the accident at Ladbroke Grove, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued one prohibition notice and two improvement notices to Railtrack requiring them to reduce the risk of the signals listed being passed at danger. Since then, the HSE has been in detailed discussion with Railtrack about these signals. As a result, Railtrack has been given until 22 May 2000 to implement an action plan for reducing the risk of these signals being passed at danger.
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In addition, one of the measures agreed at the Deputy Prime Minister's Rail Safety Summit last November was a common standard for reporting and investigating signals passed at danger (SPADs) which has been in operation since December 1999. It was also announced that Railtrack will aim to complete the fitting of the train protection and warning system (TPWS) on its infrastructure (12,000 sites) by the end of 2002, a year earlier than planned, beginning with the highest risk locations. Train operators have committed to fit 33 per cent. of trains with TPWS by the end of 2001, 75 per cent. of trains by the end of 2002 and all trains by the end of 2003.
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