14 Dec 1999 : Column: 93W
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 14 December 1999
DEFENCE
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy in respect of the storage on private land of nuclear weapons by companies involved in their manufacture. [102524]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 December 1999, Official Report, column 457W. Nuclear weapons are constructed on Ministry of Defence land and remain in the ownership of the Ministry of Defence at all times.
Mr. Tony Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what briefing the United Kingdom Government have received from the US Government on their sub-critical nuclear test programme. [102128]
Mr. Hoon: Under the auspices of the 1958 UK/US Mutual Defence Agreement the UK and the US have regular exchanges on aspects of nuclear warhead stockpile stewardship. These have included briefings on the scope and outcome of US sub-critical experiments carried out at the nevada Test Site. Precise details of these exchanges are being withheld under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Apache Helicopter
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects (a) the first Apache helicopter to be flying in the United Kingdom and (b) the first squadron to be available for deployment on operations. [101861]
Mr. Kilfoyle [holding answer 13 December 1999]: The first WAH-64 Apache helicopter flew in the UK on 26 August 1999. Several trial flights have been conducted since. The nine aircraft required to equip the first squadron are expected to be delivered by December 2000. There will then follow a period of training after which the squadron will be ready for deployment.
Kosovo
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which NATO multiple-role aircraft took part in both combat air patrols and ground attack missions over Kosovo. [102248]
Mr. Hoon: No Royal Navy or Royal Air Force aircraft were dual-roled for combat air patrols and ground attack missions during the Kosovo air campaign.
Although I can confirm that a number of NATO aircraft committed to Op Allied Force did have a multi-role capability, given the size and complexity of the operation it is not possible to provide details of which NATO multiple role aircraft took part in both combat air patrols and ground attack missions over Kosovo.
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Leisure and Tourism (River Thames)
Mr. Darvill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what qualifications or experience each of the senior managers of London River Services have relating to the provision of leisure and tourism services on the River Thames; [102117]
- (2) what independent economic studies have been undertaken to assess the impact on the leisure and tourism industry of the reintroduction of river bus services on the River Thames. [102120]
Mr. Hill: The promotion of the River Thames for tourism and leisure purposes is an important part of our objective of improving and enhancing the use of the river. London Transport's subsidiary, London River Services Ltd. (LRS), has done excellent work in taking forward this objective and I am confident that it fully shares our appreciation of the role of the importance of continuing to provide high quality services for tourists. In this context my hon. Friend may wish to note that LRS is now seeking membership of the London Tourist Board in its own right.
The management team of LRS has extensive experience and expertise in the tourism and leisure markets and LRS is also able to draw on London Transport's experience and specialist staff.
It is for LRS to decide whether it needs independent advice on the implications of individual licence applications for new services. However, I understand that it has in place measures to evaluate the impact on existing operations before new licences are awarded.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will publish the Housing Green Paper. [102030]
Mr. Mullin:
We intend to publish a Housing Policy Green Paper in due course. The Green Paper will build on our achievements in housing to ensure that everyone is offered the opportunity of a decent home and so promote social cohesion, well-being and self-dependence.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by (a) name, (b) local authority and (c) political party those local council leaders who have been (i) charged with and (ii) convicted of criminal offences since 1997. [101966]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
This information is not held centrally. We have introduced in the other place a Bill to set up a new tough ethical regime, complimenting the criminal justice system, which will ensure the highest standards of conduct in local government in England and Wales.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what
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(a) ministerial and (b) official visits to Ghana have been undertaken by his Department in each of the last five years. [101973]
Ms Beverley Hughes
[holding answer 9 December 1999]: There have been four such visits:
In May 1995, two officials visited Ghana for Air Services Talks;
In 1996, one official undertook a visit to assess how the host state was assisting UK carriers in meeting their security obligations;
In May 1997, two officials visited Ghana for Air Services Talks;
In September 1999 the Minister for the Environment and two officials attended the North-South Environment Ministers meeting at Elmina.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of houses constructed in the last five years which contain solar heating panels; and if he will make a statement. [102353]
Mr. Mullin:
Detailed information of this kind is not held centrally. We understand that, in total, around 2,000 solar heating systems per year are typically being installed throughout the UK. My Department's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme, in encouraging good building design, advocates the incorporation of solar heating in appropriate cases. And the Department of Trade and Industry is working closely with the Solar Trade Association and others to promote good practice, to disseminate well-informed advice about solar heating and to support appropriate training.
Mr. Sanders:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he has to require bus companies to run services on public holidays; and if he will make a statement. [102178]
Mr. Hill:
The Secretary of State has no such powers. The majority of bus services outside London are operated commercially by private bus operators. Levels of service are partly a matter for operators, subject to the requirement that local bus services must be registered in advance with the Traffic Commissioner; he can take action against any operators who fail to run their services as registered. However, local authorities have the powers to let subsidy contracts for the provision of services which are not being provided commercially (on public holidays or otherwise) but which they judge to be socially necessary.
Mr. David Atkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the reason is for the length of time taken to respond to Singapore Airlines' request for fifth freedom rights from London Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement. [102686]
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Mr. Mullin:
At the bilateral negotiations which took place in February 1999 my officials confirmed that we would review Singapore's request for transatlantic fifth freedom rights either when we had liberalised the air services arrangements between the UK and the United States or in January 2000, whichever was the sooner. Bilateral negotiations concerning air services are scheduled to take place with Singapore next month when their request for transatlantic fifth freedom rights will be discussed.
Mr. Tony Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will introduce legislation to restrict the height to which (a) leylandii trees and (b) hedges will be allowed to grow next to the boundaries of properties. [102705]
Mr. Mullin:
We are currently consulting on possible solutions to the problems caused by leylandii and other high hedges. These include both voluntary and statutory action. We hope as many people as possible will let us have their views, to help us decide whether more should be done to relieve this source of long-running and distressing neighbourhood disputes.
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