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Witnesses
Mr. Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proposed timetable for the implementation of (a) the recommendations relating to vulnerable and intimidated witnesses contained in the report, "Speaking Up For Justice", and (b) the measures designed to help witnesses give evidence in Part II of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. [98817]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Government are determined that action should be taken to implement the recommendations in "Speaking Up For Justice" as soon as possible while ensuring that all the necessary equipment and underpinning guidance is in place. I have today published an implementation plan, "Action For Justice", which explains how the agencies working in the criminal justice system are responding to the report. It includes a timetable for implementation, including those witness measures contained in the 1999 Act. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Immigration
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to strengthen immigration legislation to tackle abuse of the United Kingdom's immigration control. [98818]
Mrs. Roche: The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that those who seek to migrate to the United Kingdom, but have no grounds for doing so under the Immigration Rules, are prevented from coming here.
From the first moment of Friday 19 November, we will require nationals of the Republic of Croatia to obtain visas to come to the United Kingdom. Croatian nationals will also have to obtain a Direct Airside Transit Visa when they intend to remain airside while in transit through the United Kingdom.
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Rent Assessment Panels
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made on the Financial Management and Policy Review of Rent Assessment Panels in England. [98437]
Mr. Mullin: I have today published a consultation paper on a review of Rent Assessment Panels in England, setting out options for improving their organisation and management.
Rent Assessment Panels and their committees and tribunals drawn from them, have an important role to play in dealing with fair rent appeals and in resolving disputes between leaseholders and landlords. It is essential they provide an effective service and that it is responsive to the needs of the people who use them.
The consultation paper sets out a range of options aimed at simplifying the process for all parties and reducing the time taken for disputes to be resolved by the tribunals.
Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House.
Ms Kelly:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the preparations of the international aviation industry towards achieving millennium compliance. [98438]
Mr. Hill:
The aviation industry in this country--airlines, airports and air traffic control--has been independently assessed and been declared by the Civil Aviation Authority to be millennium compliant.
Internationally, the aviation industry has adopted a comprehensive approach towards the Y2k problem. The major international aviation organisations--the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) representing the world airlines, and other organisations covering the world's airports and air traffic control systems--have all conducted detailed surveys. Compliance programmes are in the final stages of completion. Current information shows that the international aviation industry is on track for compliance and that airlines will be able to operate services as normal over the Millennium period, should they wish to do so.
As regards foreign aircraft operating to the UK, permits are only granted to airlines if they comply with international safety standards. The Government have advised foreign airlines that permits may be suspended over the Millennium if they are not satisfied there are no Y2k safety related risks.
The Government will not, for Y2k reasons, try to prevent any UK airlines from operating to particular destinations or flying over particular regions. IATA's worldwide project on behalf of its member airlines has
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produced an exhaustive database to provide its member airlines with an authoritative basis upon which to make informed decisions about the services they provide.
The industry is also engaged on the preparation of national and global contingency plans to deal with any unexpected Y2k problems over the Millennium. On the night of 31 December, special procedures will be in place across the world to monitor the situation and provide for rapid and effective communications between government and industry. Although traffic levels over the period are expected to be considerably reduced compared with previous years, the industry is formulating contingency plans to provide capacity as if air traffic was operating at peak levels, even though it is likely to be one twentieth of this volume. Key facilities such as air traffic control centres will be staffed at higher levels than normal to deal with any unexpected problems.
Ms Oona King:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the Orange Badge scheme of parking concessions for disabled people following the report produced by his statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. [98572]
Mr. Hill:
I have given very careful consideration to DPTAC's report and to the further information which we sought from local authorities about the administration of the Scheme. I have also taken the opportunity to consult my colleagues in the devolved administrations and in Northern Ireland.
We have concluded that a review of the Scheme is necessary to ensure it continues to serve its fundamental purpose: to enable severely disabled people to park close to their destinations. Without the badge the mobility of those who are most disabled would be greatly restricted. We will be starting the process in the New Year and will be reporting further progress to the House at that time. For now, I can confirm that the review will look at the eligibility criteria, as well as the administration and enforcement of the Scheme.
Although the Scheme in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the devolved administrations, and in Northern Ireland for the DOE Northern Ireland, I have agreed with my colleagues that the review will be carried out on a UK-wide basis. That arrangement will not, however, prevent changes being introduced on a devolved basis.
Mr. Efford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will be in a position to respond to the report he has received on progress with the Greenwich Millennium Village. [98606]
Mr. Prescott:
I have today placed in the House Libraries copies of the report provided by English Partnerships which was produced by Gardiner and Theobald.
I have discussed the report with those leading the project and have agreed that the development may proceed. I have authorised English Partnerships to release the first parcel of land to the developers, so that work can start before Christmas.
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I am satisfied that Greenwich Millennium Village is now broadly on course to deliver the original aspirations of the project. The architect, Ralph Erskine, is content that the present scheme proposals are consistent with his original masterplan. I have received personal assurances from Alan Cherry, the Chairman of Countryside Properties PLC, and Bob Hawley, the Chairman of Taylor Woodrow PLC, that the Village will, as planned, set the high standards of innovation and sustainability which are needed for such an important mixed use scheme for the 21st Century.
Mr. Michael Jabez Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to improve the arrangements for processing planning enforcement appeals in England. [98607]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
I have today issued a consultation paper with proposals to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of processing planning enforcement appeals in England. Comments are invited by 18 February 2000.
The improvements are proposed as part of the Government's continuing drive to modernise and streamline the planning system. The proposals are intended to improve the Planning Inspectorate's service to its customers. They aim to increase the efficiency of the enforcement appeals process in the interests of all involved by reducing the time taken to determine appeals and standardise procedures between enforcement appeals and ordinary planning appeals wherever practicable.
Mr. White:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he has received from the Health and Safety Executive the first of the monthly reports which he requested on signals passed at danger; and if he will make a statement. [98608]
Mr. Prescott:
Following the train crash at Ladbroke Grove on 5 October, a number of urgent actions were put in hand to achieve a more open, more responsive and more rigorous culture of safety across the rail industry. As part of these, I asked the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to let me have regular reports for publication monthly, on all signals passed at danger (SPADs). I received the first of those reports on Tuesday and have now placed a copy in the House Library. I will ensure that future reports are also placed in the Library.
This first report includes some background information on SPADs and how they are dealt with by the industry and HSE's Railways Inspectorate. It gives statistics for SPADs for the last 10 years and splits the figures by month. The annual figures show that the totals have been falling gradually since 1993-94 until the 8 per cent. rise in 1998-99, which prompted HSE to demand improvements from the industry on how they responded to SPADs. The monthly figures demonstrate the cyclical nature of the problem, with SPADs tending to peak in October/November, when damp conditions and falling leaves can lead to poor braking performance.
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