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London Transport
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) directors and (b) employees of London Transport receive company cars as a part of their remuneration. [124407]
Mr. Hill: London Transport have advised that 22 Directors and 231 employees receive company cars as part of their remuneration.
Local Authority Funding
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the funds which are available to local authorities on application, indicating those for which the Torbay Unitary Authority has successfully applied in each of the last two years. [124195]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Local authorities may apply to this Department for the discretionary grants listed in the table provided they meet the criteria for the particular scheme. Those grants for which Torbay Unitary Authority has successfully applied for funding since April 1998 are indicated in the second column. The table does not include borrowing approvals for capital expenditure, funding that may be available through private finance initiatives or joint ventures with the private sector, or grants from non-departmental public bodies which are funded by this Department or other minor miscellaneous grants. The Department also administers the European Regional
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Development Fund, for which Torbay Council has received approval for funding in both 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
| Successful application by Torbay unitary authority | ||
|---|---|---|
| Discretionary grant available to local authorities | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 |
| Disabled Facilities Grant | Yes | Yes |
| Housing Investment Programme (Private Sector Renewal Grant) | Yes | Yes |
| Home Improvement Agencies (funding for running costs) | ||
| Beacon Councils Special Grant | ||
| Bellwin Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance | ||
| Invest to Save Special Grant | ||
| Rural Bus Challenge Grant(9) | ||
| Rural Transport Partnership Grant | ||
| Public Transport Facilities Grant | ||
| Industrial Development Act 1982 Grant | ||
| Transport Supplementary Grant | ||
| Freight Grant scheme | ||
(9) Torbay Council will receive funding in 2000-01 under Rural Bus Challenge Grant.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions since 31 March 1999 (a) departmental and (b) non-departmental special advisers have travelled abroad in an official capacity. [124112]
Ms Beverley Hughes: During the period 1 April to the end of March 2000, Special Advisers in this department travelled overseas on seven occasions.
New Deal for Communities
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how people from all minority groups will be encouraged to play an active role in the New Deal for Communities; [124383]
- (2) how the New Deal for Communities is affecting (a) Irish, (b) Jewish and (c) traveller communities. [124382]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Our guidance for the New Deal for Communities (NDC) places a particular emphasis on involving all elements of the local community from the outset.
We have issued specific guidance on race equality to NDC partnerships, which highlights the needs of 'White' minority groups such as gypsies (and other travellers), Jewish communities and others. It underlines the importance of including groups within a local community which are seen as different; and offers practical advice on how to ensure inclusion and celebrate diversity.
We assess proposals from NDC partnerships for evidence of capacity to work with, and involve, ethnic minority and other minority groups in the neighbourhood renewal process. For the early stages of Round 2 of the NDC programme, we have appointed 'community
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mentors'--independent organisations whose role is to ensure a wide range of community involvement in the process from the start, and allocated funding to support that role. We also encourage partnerships to adopt approaches which build the capacity of different groups within the community to participate actively in the programme. Throughout the lifetime of the NDC, we will offer partnerships a range of support and advice, including help on maintaining the partnership of all sections of the local community.
Planning Applications
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list the planning applications for development on land classified as agricultural by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food referred to his Department since 1 May 1997; and if he will give for each one the nature of the application and the outcome of the referral; [124139]
- (2) if he will list the planning applications for conversion of farm buildings referred to his Department since 1 May 1997; and if he will give for each one the nature of the application and the outcome of the referral. [124138]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Hackney Carriages
Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps must be taken by a proprietor in dispute with a hackney carriage driver for whom he holds a duplicate licence; [124559]
- (2) if he will issue guidance to magistrates on the conduct of disputes between hackney carriage drivers and proprietors; [124651]
(3) if he will issue guidance to magistrates on the steps to be taken by a hackney carriage driver to secure the return of his duplicate licence which has been deposited at a magistrates court by a proprietor. [124558]
Mr. Hill: The statutory procedure governing disputes between hackney carriage drivers and proprietors about drivers' duplicate licences is set out in the London Hackney Carriages Act 1843.
There are no plans to issue guidance on this issue since the interpretation of legislation is a matter for justices in exercise of their judicial discretion.
Social Exclusion Unit
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Social Exclusion Unit will publish the guide to the ethnic minority aspects of the work it has done which was referred to in its National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal framework document. [124772]
Ms Armstrong: Tomorrow the Social Exclusion Unit will publish a report that summarises the work it has led to date on minority ethnic social exclusion issues.
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The Social Exclusion Unit has looked at minority ethnic issues as an integral part of each of the projects that it has done so far, and the 18 Policy Action Teams it commissioned to look at various aspects of deprived neighbourhoods have also done so. The summary brings together the results of mainstreaming those issues. It analyses various aspects of minority ethnic social exclusion; illustrates what the Government are already doing to tackle them and summarises the ideas for further action that are under consideration in the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal and follow-up to the Policy Action Team reports.
Copies of the report will be available in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office.
Private Hire Vehicles
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions following the case in the Queen's Bench Division between L. Benson and Copeland Borough Council, what plans he has to seek to restore the previous position whereby the spouse of a licence holder could use a private hire vehicle for any purpose other than for hire; when the case was heard; and if he will make a statement. [123875]
Mr. Hill: I hope to make an announcement soon.
TREASURY
Job Creation (Lancashire)
Mr. Pike: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in (a) Lancashire and (b) Burnley in the past year. [123525]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Peter L. Pike, dated 5 June 2000:
- The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your recent question on employment changes in Lancashire and Burnley (123525). I am replying in the Director's absence.
- Information is not available for job gains or losses. However the net change in the number of employee jobs in the latest year for which figures are available is as follows.
| Net change | |
|---|---|
| Lancashire | +2.3 |
| Burnley | +1.0 |
Source:
Annual Employment Survey (AES), ONS
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