---

Train Protection and Warning System

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to page 49 of his Department's Ten-Year Plan, what the completion date is for the installation of TPWS across the rail network. [133494]

Mr. Hill: The Railway Safety Regulations 1999 require that train protection be operational on all trains and across the network by the end of 2003 at the latest.

Railtrack announced at the second Rail Safety Summit on 30 November 1999 that it will aim to complete fitting the train protection and warning system (TPWS) on its infrastructure by the end of 2002, a year earlier than required. The 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.

Thameslink 2000 Scheme

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the completion date is for construction works on the Thameslink 2000 scheme cited on page 47 of his Department's Ten-Year Plan. [133493]

28 Jul 2000 : Column: 932W

Mr. Hill: Subject to the outcome of the Transport and Works Act 1992 public inquiry, and co-ordination of construction work with CTRL Stage 2, Thameslink 2000 construction would could be completed in 2006.

Transport Funding

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the total contribution from public funds is for transport in each year of the 10-year transport plan, and what the equivalent amounts were in each of the preceding 10 years, broken down into (a) roads, (b) rail, (c) light rail and (d) other; [133462]

(2) what the annual amount is of capital investment in transport infrastructure assumed in the ten-year transport plan; and what the equivalent amounts were in each of the preceding 10 years, broken down into (a) road, (b) rail, (c) light rail and (d) other; and what is the amount of expenditure in each year of the 10-year transport plan. [133461]

Mr. Hill: Table A3 in Annex 1 of "Transport 2010--The 10 Year Plan" gives a breakdown of the historic and planned public expenditure and private investment for rail over the period 199-92 to 2010-11. I will write to the

28 Jul 2000 : Column: 933W

hon. Member with a breakdown of the available roads and light rail figures in due course, and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Light Rail Lines

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the start-date for construction work of each of the new light rail lines referred to in his Department's 10-Year Plan. [133502]

Mr. Hill: Of those new light rail lines listed in "Transport 2010--The 10-Year Plan" as having been approved for funding, construction start dates are:

Tyne and Wear Metro extension to Sunderland--February 2000;

Nottingham Express Transit--June 2000;

Docklands Light Railway extension to London City Airport--late 2001 or early 2002 subject to the outcome of an application for Transport and Works Act 1992 powers; Manchester Metrolink extensions--early 2002 subject to the outcome of applications for Transport and Works Act powers.

Other proposed new light rail lines mentioned in the Plan are subject to satisfactory completion of economic appraisals and Transport and Works Act 1992 procedures.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the start date is for construction works on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Part 2 cited on pages 44 and 47 of his Department's Ten-Year Plan announced on 27 July 2000. [133505]

Mr. Hill: Some construction work on Phase 2 has already started and the Government has already approved £300 million for preliminary Phase 2 work. London and Continental Railways (LCR)'s current expectation is that the main construction will commence in July 2001 and Phase 2 will be opened in 2007.

East Coast Main Line

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the completion date is for construction works on the upgrade of the East Coast Main Line cited on page 47 of his Department's 10-Year Plan. [133504]

Mr. Hill: On current proposals, the expected completion date for the East Coast Main Line upgrade works is 2009-10.

Learner Motorcyclists

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to amend the rule providing for a one-year ban on learner motorcyclists if the motorcycle test is not passed within two years of commencement of learner-driving; and if he will make a statement. [133463]

Mr. Hill: As announced in March in our road safety strategy "Tomorrow's roads--Safer for Everyone", we propose to abolish that rule in the context of improved training arrangements. Learner riders will have to hold a training certificate, and these certificates will have a two year validity period after issue.

28 Jul 2000 : Column: 934W

Most learner riders pass their test within six months, and we want to encourage learner riders to reach test standard within a reasonable period. But we think a further training requirement for anybody who has not passed a test within two years is preferable to a one year disqualification, during which riding skills are likely to decline rather than improve. We hope to bring these new arrangements into force around the end of the year.

Green Belt (Stevenage)

Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whether Government Office for the East has sought legal advice about the impact of PPG3 on the plans to build houses in the Green Belt west of Stevenage. [133295]

Ms Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions has various powers of intervention in the planning process and for this reason it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of any particular case.

Planning Policy Guidance Note 3

Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whether Ministers took legal advice on the impact of PPG3 on local development plans before writing to the right hon. Member for Hitchen and Harpenden on 16 May. [133294]

Ms Beverley Hughes: Prior to publication of PPG3 in March, full consideration, including taking legal advice, was given to the implications for development plans of the new approach to planning for housing it sets out.

Government Loans (House Purchase)

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list those key workers in the private and public sectors who will qualify for interest-free Government loans to help them buy houses; and on what terms the loans will be provided. [133572]

Mr. Mullin: The hon. Gentleman is referring to the Starter Home Initiative set out in the Government's Housing Green Paper--"Quality and Choice: A Decent Home for All".

The Green Paper seeks proposals on how the initiative could be operated most successfully and cost effectively. During the autumn the Government will announce details of the initiative, including the points raised by the hon. Gentleman, in the light of responses to the Green Paper. The consultation period closes at the end of July.

Housing Developments

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average density of new housing developments, in units per hectare, was on (a) greenfield sites and (b) brownfield sites in (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99 and (iii) 1999-2000. [133460]

Ms Beverley Hughes: The information is available only so far for the period 1994 to 1998 as the data are not robust enough to be presented on an annual basis. In England, over this period the average density of new

28 Jul 2000 : Column: 935W

dwellings built on previously developed land was 28 dwellings per hectare and on land that had not been previously developed was 22 dwellings per hectare.

Homelessness

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many homeless applicants were (a) rehoused by the local authority directly without spending time in temporary accommodation and (b) placed in temporary accommodation under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996 in each of the last three years; [133484]

(2) how many homeless applicants were considered to have a priority need under section 189 (1) (c) of the Housing Act 1996 due to (a) domestic violence and (b) racial harassment and violence in each of the last three years; [133485]

(3) how many applicants were accepted as homeless by local authorities under section 175 (3) of the Housing Act 1996 due to racial harassment or violence, in each of the last three years. [133486]

Mr. Mullin: Data are not collected centrally in the precise form requested. Available information on households accommodated under statutory homelessness provisions in England is published in a quarterly Information Bulletin, "Statistics of local authority activities under the homelessness legislation: England". Table 3 of the Bulletin presents a summary of those households accepted as unintentionally homeless and in priority need under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts, identifying which category was most crucial in determining priority need. Cases where domestic violence was the exclusive reason are identified separately, but further cases may also exist where, for example, the presence of dependent children was the crucial determining factor. Table 4 further summarises acceptances by reason for loss of the household's last settled home and the category "Violent breakdown of relationship" will include all instances where domestic violence was the cause of homelessness. In both tables, cases involving racial harassment or violence are not separately distinguished, but would be reported under "Other".

Tables 5 and 6 show the number of accepted households in accommodation arranged by the local authority, as at the end of each quarter. Information on the number of households directly rehoused by authorities, without first going into accommodation secured for the minimum two-year period, is not collected.

Copies of the Bulletin are held in the Library and the latest edition, published on 16 June, presents statistics up to and including the first quarter of 2000.

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2000, Official Report, columns 312-13W, (1) what plans he has to introduce arrangements to monitor reviews of homelessness decisions made by local authorities under sections 202 and 203 of the Housing Act 1996; and if he will make a statement; [133464]

28 Jul 2000 : Column: 936W

(2) what proposals he has to require local authorities to make available written information on procedures for reviewing homelessness decisions under sections 202 and 203 of the Housing Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [133487]

Mr. Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 7 July 2000, Official Report, columns 312-13W. The Housing Green Paper, "Quality and Choice; A decent home for all", sets out the Government's proposals for reform of homelessness legislation. As part of these proposals we will consider the introduction of arrangements to monitor reviews of homelessness decisions made by local authorities, and will consider responses to the Green Paper before deciding whether to develop this further. We would wish to discuss any such proposals with representatives of local government, Shelter and others before taking them forward.

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which local authorities have had regard to the provisions of the code of guidance on parts VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 in relation to finding the following groups to be vulnerable and in priority need under section 189 (1)(c) of the Housing Act 1996 (a) victims of violence and abuse and racial harassment and violence, (b) people with mental health problems, (c) 16 and 17-year-olds and (d) people leaving care; [133481]

(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which local authorities have had regard to the provisions of the Code of Guidance on Parts VI and VII of the Housing Act 1996 in relation to whether it is reasonable for victims of violence and racial abuse and racial harassment to continue to occupy accommodation under sections 175 and 177 of the Housing Act 1996. [133483]

Mr. Mullin: In exercising their functions under Parts VI and Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, local authorities must have regard to the guidance issued by the Secretary of State under sections 169 and 182 of the 1996 Act.

The Department has commissioned research on local authority policy and practice on allocations, transfers and homelessness. The research will provide information on how local authorities apply the homelessness legislation, and look at definitions of the vulnerability dimension of priority need. This will include victims of violence and abuse; racial harassment; people with mental health problems; 16 and 17-year-olds and people leaving care. The research will also look at outcomes of allocation schemes for different groups such as homeless acceptances.

---