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Trans-European Network

Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to develop the Trans-European Network roads in the UK up to 2010. [129467]

Mr. Hill: The development of Trans-European Network roads in the UK is considered as part of the motorway and trunk roads programme as a whole. Within that programme all new schemes are assessed by the same rigorous appraisal criteria and brought forward as and when resources permit. Further details of our current plans can be found in the following publications:




A formal review of road schemes has not been carried out in Northern Ireland. All new proposals there are considered on their own merits.

17 Jul 2000 : Column: 46W

Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what amounts of (a) European Union and (b) United Kingdom funds were spent on each section of Trans-European Network roads in the United Kingdom in each year since 1994. [129799]

Mr. Hill: The European Union has so far allocated 9.125 million euro from the TEN budget for expenditure on UK motorways and trunk roads.

Article 18 of the TEN Guidelines, adopted in July 1996, requires Member States to provide the European Commission with a biennial implementation report on national investment in the TEN. The first report--COM(1998)614--was published in October 1998. It covers investment in the years 1996 and 1997 and is available in the House Libraries. The next report, covering 1998 and 1999, is due to be published later this year.

Information on investment prior to 1996 is not required by the Commission and is not available.

Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the Trans- European Network roads in the United Kingdom. [129794]

Mr. Hill: The information requested is in the Official Journal of the European Communities, Volume 39, a copy of which is available in the House Library. The United Kingdom Trans-European Network roads are detailed on Map 2.14 in Section 2 of Annexe 1 of that document.

National Insurance

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the policy since 1989 on writing annually to those of his Department's staff who are paying reduced rates of National Insurance contributions, reminding them of the rules governing the payment of reduced rates, as recommended in the Inland Revenue guidance note on reduced rate National Insurance contributions for married women. [129488]

Ms Beverley Hughes: Neither the former Department of the Environment nor the former Department of Transport introduced such reminders. DETR has not sent any reminders to staff regarding NI contribution rules. Arrangements are being introduced to comply with the Inland Revenue guidance.

National Air Traffic Services

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the safety implications of the cost reductions in the operations of National Air Traffic Services recommended by the economic regulation group of the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement; [129760]

17 Jul 2000 : Column: 47W

Mr. Mullin: Under the proposed public-private partnership for National Air Traffic Services, NATS' charges will be regulated using an RPI-X formula. The Economic Regulation Group of the Civil Aviation Authority has the task of advising the Secretary of State about the initial value of X. The CAA is carrying out a consultation process designed to help it prepare that advice. The consultation paper issued by ERG on 26 April, and NATS' response of 26 May, are part of that process.

The figures in the consultation paper, to which these questions refer, were preliminary and we have made no assessment of them. We expect ERG's final advice in the next few weeks. Decisions on the regulatory benchmarks, including the value of X, will be taken by Ministers. We shall consider ERG's advice carefully when we receive it before taking that decision. In doing so, we shall consider the safety implications and take account of the views of the CAA's Safety Regulation Group.

We have seen NATS' response but have received no direct representations from NATS or IPMS on the ERG paper.

I am arranging for copies of the ERG paper and the NATS response to be placed in the Library shortly.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his forecast is of capital spending by NATS in the current year and each of the next five years; and what increases in capital spending are anticipated as a result of the proposed public-private partnership. [129762]

Mr. Mullin: The Government do not make forecasts for NATS' capital expenditure. NATS has recently produced its first 10-year investment plan and is currently consulting with its customers on this document. The form, timing and appropriateness of the plan will also be reviewed by the CAA. NATS' estimate is that capital expenditure over the next decade will be of the order of £1.4 billion (in current prices).

The Government believe that the Public-Private Partnership is the best way to deliver the investment needed, and will provide the additional management expertise to ensure that this capital programme is achieved on time and on budget for the benefit of NATS' customers and for the Government as shareholder.

Powershift Programme

Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many companies have benefited from grants under the Powershift programme so far in financial year 2000-01; [129819]

17 Jul 2000 : Column: 48W

Mr. Hill: Between 1 April and 30 June, grants totalling £2,619,984 were offered under the Powershift programme towards the cost of purchasing alternatively fuelled vehicles. These grant offers will be progressively taken up over the summer.

So far this financial year, 440 applications for grants have been made under the Powershift programme and grants have been offered to 235 different companies.

Environmental Change Programme

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the benefits which have accrued from the global environmental change programme supported by the ESRC; what successor programmes are planned; and what steps are being taken to ensure widespread knowledge of, and access to, the Gecko data base. [129971]

Mr. Meacher: My officials have been actively involved in the planning and management of the Programme since its inception and all its reports have been disseminated throughout the Department. The longer-term impact of the Programme will be reviewed by the Department's Chief Scientist and the Chief Executive of the ESRC in the autumn under our Concordat arrangement.

I understand from my noble Friend the Minister for Science that the Programme is being followed up by a number of activities including work at the new Joint Climate Change Centre and the Environmental Decision- Making Centre, and with a potential new Link Programme investment in Environmentally Sustainable Technologies. I also understand that the Gecko website is being maintained for 12 months while arrangements are being made for longer term curation of the database.

Fishguard Harbour

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what his policy is on the use of (a) pleasure craft and (b) other craft by anyone under the age of 16 years, in Fishguard Harbour. [130077]

Mr. Hill: The Government believe that pleasure craft should be used safely and are acting to improve safety on three fronts: the launch of a voluntary code of practice earlier this year, a continuing and enhanced coastguard education programme; and a Review of the Coastal Byelaws. The code of practice specified that for users of personal water craft (jet skis), persons between the ages of 12 to 16 should be directly supervised by an adult; persons under 12 should not be allowed to use them.

Regulation of the use of such craft in Fishguard Harbour by way of byelaws is a matter for the local harbour authority. Revised byelaws are currently being considered by the Secretary of State and a decision will be made in due course.

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