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Tilbury Town Station

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Health and Safety Executive last visited Tilbury Town station; and when they next plan to visit it. [140107]

Mr. Hill: The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate (RI) last visited and inspected Tilbury Town station on 28 August 1997.

There are no specific proposals to visit Tilbury Town station in the near future as it does not form part of the priority inspection programme. However, action would be taken, as necessary, if significant concerns arise.

Rail Travel Vouchers

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what obligations are placed on rail operators to provide for the purchase of (a) tickets and (b) permits to travel by passengers at each station; and if he will make a statement. [140106]

Mr. Hill: All train operating companies (TOCs) are party to the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, overseen by the Rail Regulator, which includes obligations covering the range of products that must be offered for sale and the hours during which ticket offices must be open.

There is no requirement to provide a permit to travel machine at any given station. However, where a TOC operates a penalty fares scheme, the Rail Regulator requires the TOC to provide adequate ticket facilities at all stations included within the scheme.

Substandard Housing

Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many substandard houses there were in England in each year between 1980 and 2000. [140541]

Mr. Mullin: The term substandard housing is a non-technical term which is open to a number of different interpretations. Therefore there is no national data source that collects data using the substandard definition.

In England, the Fitness Standard (as amended by section 604 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989) operates, which deems whether a dwelling is fit for human habitation. The most rigorous national data source on whether dwellings in England meet the Fitness Standard is the English House Condition Survey (EHCS). The survey is currently carried out every five years; the most recent survey was carried out in 1996 and the next is scheduled for 2001. The survey shows that in 1996 around 1,522,000 dwellings (including occupied and unoccupied) were unfit, representing 7.5 per cent. of the stock. This compares to 1,498,000 dwellings (7.6 per cent.) of the stock in 1991. It is not appropriate to make simple comparisons with earlier surveys because of changes to the Fitness Standard through section 604.

27 Nov 2000 : Column: 377W

Fur Products

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what factors underlie his policy on the import of fur products sourced from farms and traps in other countries. [140203]

Mr. Mullin: Under the EC Leghold Trap Regulation (EC 3254/91), the European Community allows the import of certain furs only from those countries that have taken steps to end the use of leghold traps, or those that have reached bilateral agreements with it on trapping. Countries exporting furs to the Community also have to comply with any requirements under the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Ports

Mr. Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's ports policy. [140763]

Mr. Hill: A ports policy paper, "Modern Ports", has been published today and a copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House. It is the first comprehensive statement of policy for many years on a wide range of issues relating to the UK ports industry. Ports are vital to our economy and international trade. They have an important role in integrated transport policy. The Government seek to build on the many sound and well-established working relationships they already have with the industry. The paper identifies a number of specific initiatives we hope to pursue. A lot of Departments make regulatory demands on the industry and we will ensure that different regulators co-ordinate their overall demands. We will promote agreed national standards and good practice for port management and port operations alike. We will also promote training and the recognition of skills for those who work in the ports industry at all levels. The paper sets out a balanced policy on development which aims to makes the best use of existing and former operational land, secures high environmental standards, but supports sustainable projects for which there is a clear need.

Some of the matters covered by the paper are devolved. I am pleased to say that "Modern Ports" represents a UK policy, agreed with the devolved Administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

PRIME MINISTER

Ministerial Appointments

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister what account he takes in making ministerial appointments of membership by the persons concerned of organisations whose purposes are contrary to the policies of the relevant Department. [136253]

The Prime Minister: Section 9 of the Ministerial Code provides guidance to Ministers on handling their private interests, including membership or association with non-public organisations.

Joint Military Action (EU)

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will indicate in respect of the planning of joint military action

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by member states, what person, other than the Prime Minister, or his representative sitting in the European Council, will be responsible for committing military forces of the United Kingdom to armed action. [139058]

The Prime Minister: The European Council at Helsinki decided that all member states would be entitled to participate fully, and on an equal footing, in all decisions and deliberations of the Council and Council bodies on EU-led crisis management operations. The Council also decided that commitment of national assets by member states to such operations will be a sovereign decision. In the United Kingdom, the Government will continue to be answerable to Parliament for the deployment of British troops.

Common EU Foreign and Defence Policy

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from (a) the NATO Secretary-General and (b) the Chief of Defence Staff in respect of the formation of (i) a common EU foreign policy, (ii) a common EU defence policy and (iii) a common EU armed force. [140134]

The Prime Minister: It is established practice under section II, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, not to disclose such information.

Secretary General of NATO (Discussions)

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister on what date since 1 January he has had discussions with the Secretary-General of NATO. [140133]

The Prime Minister: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Harefield Hospital

Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Prime Minister how many communications he has received this year about the proposed future of Harefield Hospital, Middlesex. [139822]

The Prime Minister: Approximately 550 items of correspondence and two petitions about Harefield Hospital have been received by my Office since 1 January this year.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

London Institute of Sport Network Centre

Mr. Faber: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 17 April 2000, Official Report, column 322W, if he will make a statement about the selection of a venue for the London Institute of Sport Network Centre. [134287]

Kate Hoey [holding answer 25 October 2000]: No final decision has yet been taken on the venue for the site. Discussions on this are continuing with the relevant parties.

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Downhill Skiing

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support he is giving to British downhill skiers in preparation for the next Winter Olympics. [138662]

Kate Hoey: The Sports Councils are committed to supporting winter sport athletes who are genuine medal prospects for the Winter Olympics. UK Sport's support for British downhill skiers in preparation for Salt Lake City 2002 is currently provided within its exchequer grant to the British Ski and Snowboarding Federation (BSSF). In the year August 1999 to July 2000, the BSSF received a grant of £186,000 of which £90,000 was apportioned to support the alpine downhill programme. UK Sport has also put Lottery funding aside which will enable it to respond quickly to the sudden emergence of a medal prospect in a summer or winter Olympic sport. This would be in the form of an enhanced package of Lottery support to individual athletes. Therefore, if a British downhill skier emerges and has realistic prospects of doing well in Salt Lake City, UK Sport would be able to respond at short notice to that opportunity.

Sportscotland provides funds for downhill skiers through its Talented Athlete Lottery programme. Over £112,000 was committed from this programme in 1999-2000 while a further £80,837 has been awarded to date in this financial year. In addition, Sport England has committed a World Class Adviser to the BSSF to support them in developing a World Class Potential Plan for Skiing and Snowboarding. The Potential programme is designed to assist governing bodies with the development of talented young performers with the potential to win medals in major international competitions.

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding was given from the National Lottery for downhill skiing in each year since its creation. [138661]

Kate Hoey: National Lottery support for sport is provided through UK Sport and the four home country Sports Councils. Sportscotland and Sport England have made the following awards to British Skiers through their Talented Athlete and World Class Lottery programmes:

Year	£
1995-96	180,700
1996-97	423,545
1997-98	283,008
1998-99	87,617
1999-2000	112,034

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