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Integrated Transport Strategy
28. Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to proceed with his plans for an integrated transport strategy; and if he will make a statement. [99038]
Mr. Hill: Our integrated transport strategy is already delivering results, including 1,800 new or enhanced rural bus services in England, and significant growth in the number of people travelling by train. Our Transport Bill will contain measures that will enable us to build on these achievements, providing more choice and improving everyone's quality of life.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest
29. Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the Government plan to strengthen the protection of sites of special scientific interest. [99039]
Mr. Mullin: The Government issued "A Framework for Action" in August, setting out proposals for improving the protection of SSSIs.
It was announced in the Queen's Speech on 17 November 1999, Official Report, columns 4-7 that the Countryside Amenity and Conservation Bill would be included in the legislative programme for this Session.
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31. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he is taking to encourage the refurbishment of rail stations. [99041]
Mr. Hill:
Railtrack is committed to completing its nationwide station regeneration programme by 2001. Station operators also have obligations under their franchise agreement to meet a number of basic standards, such as cleanliness and lighting, within 18 months of taking over the franchise; and within three years, further obligations in respect of public communications systems and waiting accommodation.
32. Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to prevent the dumping in rural areas of worn-out tractors and other agricultural vehicles. [99042]
Mr. Mullin:
The Secretary of State has no such powers.
33. Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the operation of London Underground's current safety regime. [99043]
Mr. Hill:
Safety is, and remains, the top priority for London Underground Ltd. (LUL). The Railway (Safety Case) Regulations 1994 require London Underground to prepare a safety case setting out its approach to safety management.
The most recent version of this safety case was accepted by HM railway inspectorate on 14 September 1999 and LUL's performance against it will be subject to HMRI monitoring and review.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what central Government support the Tube will continue to receive in 2000-01 and 2001-02; and what continuing support he estimates will be required in subsequent years. [99571]
Mr. Hill
[holding answer 24 November 1999]: London Transport (LT) have been allocated Government support of £248.7 million for 2000-01. This figure does not include money earmarked for residual expenditure on the Jubilee Line Extension.
Some of this funding will be transferred to the Mayor in July next year, when Transport for London (TFL) assumes responsibility for LT activities other than the Underground.
Levels of Government support for the Underground in 2001-02 and thereafter have not yet been determined. They will depend on whether and on what terms Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contracts are let; decisions on the level of Government funding to be taken following the 2000 spending review; and decisions on funding and fares made by the Mayor for London.
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what performance targets have been set arising from projected
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expenditure of £1,190 million on the Piccadilly line and (b) £900 million on the Victoria line of the London Underground over the next 15 years; and if he will make a statement. [99638]
Mr. Hill:
The figures quoted were London Underground's indicative estimates of the likely cost of achieving the performance specification to be set out in the PPP contracts. In fact, it will be the responsibility of the Underground's private sector partners to determine the actual level of investment required to deliver the improved performance we want.
Details of the performance targets have yet to be finalised, but they will require improvements in capability, availability, ambience and asset condition. This will enable London Underground to provide passengers with faster, more reliable and more comfortable journeys.
35. Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the New Deal for Communities in Sheffield. [99045]
Ms Armstrong:
I am delighted that Sheffield is one of the 22 areas eligible to put forward proposals for the transformation of a deprived neighbourhood under the second round of the New Deal for Communities. I will ensure that local people, businesses and organisations get the support they need to deliver real equality of opportunity and choice in that neighbourhood.
Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made by the Peat Working Group. [100993]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Peat Working Group, which has been reviewing the adequacy of existing planning policies and guidance on the extraction and use of peat since 1997, has published a report of its work today.
I am grateful to the Peat Working Group for providing this factual assessment of the complex and wide-ranging issues surrounding peat extraction and the use of growing media in horticulture and gardening.
This Government are committed to ensuring that there is adequate protection for our habitats and wildlife. We are already looking very carefully at the risk of damage caused by peat extraction to sites of national and international importance.
The group considers that existing Government policy is sufficient to safeguard areas of existing conservation or archaeological value from future proposals for peat working sites. But a number of active sites granted planning permission before their conservation value was recognised continue to be worked, despite their designation or identification as sites of national or international importance.
We are currently looking at options for bringing forward reviews of consents on Natura 2000 sites. In addition, we have also asked English Nature to look closely at the effects of all planning permissions, not just those affecting peat bogs, on sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs).
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However, it is clear from the group's work that despite continuing improvements in the quality and marketing of alternatives, there continues to be a strong demand for peat as a growing medium, particularly by the amateur gardener and the professional horticulture sector. I welcome the suggestions made by the working group about how sales of alternative materials for growing plants could be increased, and we shall now be considering how to take this forward.
A copy of the report has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Michael J. Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide financial assistance to Worcester City Council under the Bellwin scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding in the area between 27 October and 3 November 1998. [101102]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified in the case of Worcester City Council given the exceptional nature of the floods and the damage caused. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant has generally been paid to authorities at a rate of 85 per cent. of their eligible expenditure above a threshold. However, a Bellwin scheme was activated for Worcester as a result of the 1998 Easter floods. Since Worcester have already spent over their threshold for 1998-99 in dealing with that emergency, it seems reasonable that they should not have to do so in dealing with a second incident in the same financial year. I therefore propose to waive the threshold.
Mrs. Organ:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will provide financial assistance to Herefordshire District Council under the Bellwin scheme for costs incurred following the severe flooding in the area on three occasions during 1998-99. [101103]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
I am satisfied that financial assistance under the Bellwin scheme is justified in the case of Herefordshire District Council given the exceptional nature of the floods and the damage caused. A scheme will, therefore, be established under section 155 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Grant will be paid to the authority to cover 85 per cent. of the eligible costs above a threshold which have been incurred by the authority in dealing with the flooding.
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