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Planning Applications

Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the planning applications he has called in for each of the last three years, together with the eventual decision he has taken following review. [140714]

Mr. Raynsford: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Railway Deaths (Defective Doors)

Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many passenger deaths on British railways due to defective doors there were in each of the last 20 years. [140480]

Mr. Hill [holding answer 27 November 2000]: Records are not kept on the number of passenger deaths resulting from defective doors. Figures are, however, kept on the number of passenger deaths resulting from falling from train doors. The table shows this information in the last 20 years. The numbers have reduced over recent years from a high of 26 in 1987 to two recorded during 1999-2000. It is not possible to say how many of these would have been as a result of defective doors.

Passenger fatalities falling from train doors 1980 to 1999-2000⁽¹⁴⁾

Year	Number
1980	14
1981	16
1982	11
1983	13
1984	14
1985	16
1986	12
1987	26
1988	19
1989	19
1990	19
1991-92	19
1992-93	9
1993-94	8
1994-95	6
1995-96	3
1996-97	2
1997-98	2
1998-99	5
1999-2000	2

⁽¹⁴⁾ 28 November 2000

Note:

In 1993 the HSE Slam Door Report was published

28 Nov 2000 : Column: 553W

River Mersey

Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the companies that have been prosecuted for illegally discharging sewage and industrial waste into the River Mersey in each of the last 20 years and the number of times each such company has been prosecuted. [140481]

Mr. Mullin [holding answer 27 November 2000]: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

London Underground

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what channels for appeal are open to the general public in respect of complaints against London Underground Ltd. [140359]

Mr. Hill [holding answer 27 November 2000]: Members of the public who wish to complain or appeal against the services or facilities provided by London Underground Ltd. (LUL) can make representations to the London Transport Users Committee set up under statute to consider such representations, and make recommendations on matters relating to transport services in London.

Appeals against penalty fares on the underground are considered by LUL. Members of the public have 21 days to appeal in writing. This is a non-statutory procedure.

Accident Prevention

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was spent by his Department on (a) research into the prevention of (i) transport related accidents, (ii) accidents in the home and (iii) occupational injuries and (b) public awareness campaigns on the prevention of road accidents through road safety training in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [140660]

Mr. Mullin: For the financial year 1998-1999:

My Department spent a total of £8.33 million (excluding VAT) on research into the prevention of transport accidents--this covers research on improved vehicle safety (£1.03 million), road safety (£3.86 million), road engineering measures (£1.62 million) and shipping (£0.81 million), as well as research funded by the Health and Safety Executive on railways safety (£1.01 million) for which they have the policy lead. (The total figure does not include research carried out by the CAA, which is responsible for air safety regulation.)

The figure for spend on research into the prevention of occupational injuries will take more time to collate. When available, the information will be posted in the House of Commons Library.

DETR(C) does not sponsor research aimed directly at the prevention of accidents in the home. Nevertheless, we are interested in research findings on the incidence of accidents from various sources as part of the evidential base for assessing housing health and safety, and draw on relevant research carried out by those departments who have the policy lead in this area. The Health and Safety

28 Nov 2000 : Column: 554W

Executive spent £0.18 million (excluding VAT), mainly on carbon monoxide emission from gas fires in domestic premises.

The figures for public awareness campaigns on the prevention of road accidents through road safety training are not available. The Department does spend approximately £12 million per annum on the THINK! Road Safety publicity campaign, but not necessarily through training.

In addition the Marine and Coastguard Agency spend £0.43 million on publicity campaigns and events promoting maritime safety.

Private Hire Vehicles

Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the system of licensing provided for in the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 will be implemented. [140884]

Mr. Hill: I have today laid before the House the Private Hire Vehicles (London) (Operators' Licences) Regulations 2000 and associated commencement orders. These regulations will provide for the Public Carriage Office to start processing applications for minicab operator licences from 22 January next year and will oblige operators to comply with statutory requirements by 22 October next year.

The licensing of minicab operators in London will bring important benefits to London's travelling public. The operators are the hub of the minicab trade; they fulfil a key role in influencing the overall standard of service, and I am sure that they will use their licensed status to ensure that passengers in London receive a safe and efficient service.

The licensing of drivers and vehicles will follow as soon as practicable. Transport for London will be responsible for making the necessary regulations.

Advertisement Control

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has reached a final decision on the future of areas of special control of advertisements; and if he will make a statement. [140885]

Ms Beverley Hughes: The Consultation Paper 'Outdoor Advertisement Control' highlighted the problems associated with the current operation of the ASCA regime. In particular, because local planning authorities have not undertaken systematically the five yearly reviews of these areas, the status of some areas has changed over time to the extent that they may no longer meet the criteria for designation. This is clearly an unsatisfactory state of affairs which needs to be addressed.

The announcement of 29 June 2000, Official Report, column 600W, proposed to address the problem by limiting the geographic scope of ASCAs, requiring all advertising hoardings in areas of the countryside not within an ASCA to obtain express consent, and giving local authorities responsibility for determining those applications.

28 Nov 2000 : Column: 555W

We have considered further the responses received since that announcement. As a result, we are proposing an alternative means of addressing the problem by seeking instead to clarify and update the current position regarding designated areas.

The Department is therefore writing to all local planning authorities asking them to undertake a review of ASCAs in their areas in order to satisfy themselves that their extent remains appropriate and necessary. The current legislative scope of the ASCA regime will thus remain unchanged.

Eurocontrol Treaty

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects (a) the EU to become a signatory of the Eurocontrol Treaty and (b) the proposals for the EU single sky to come into force; and if he will make a statement. [140737]

Mr. Mullin: The Government fully support Community accession to Eurocontrol, but are unable at present to give a date when this will take place.

There is no formal date when any proposals arising from the single sky initiative will come into force, but it is expected that the process should be completed by 2005.

HEALTH

Tobacco Control

Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on employment in the UK of adoption of the European Directive concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products; [133825]

(2) what assessment he has made of the impact on UK exports of the European Directive concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products; [133830]

(3) if he will conduct an economic impact assessment of the proposal for a European Directive on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement. [133834]

Yvette Cooper: We have consulted with potentially affected parties regarding the costs and benefits of implementing this proposal, including the impact on exports and employment, and are satisfied that the estimated costs are outweighed by the benefits of enhanced regulation of tobacco products and thereby increased protection for public health. We strongly support the proposed Directive.

A further consultation will take place with interested parties once the Directive has been adopted and the United Kingdom Government come under an obligation to implement it.

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