---

Biocidal Products Directive

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the extent to which toilet soaps will be included within the terms of reference of the regulations relating to the Biocidal Products Directive. [146307]

Mr. Meacher: Generally, toilet soaps are controlled under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996. However, some manufacturers make specific biocidal claims on their soap products.

The forthcoming Biocidal Product Regulations will exclude cosmetic products from scope. Cosmetics are defined as products which "exclusively or mainly" perform certain functions among which is cleaning the skin. Where a cosmetic product has a minor use as a biocide, it will be excluded from the forthcoming Biocidal Products Regulations.

The Environment Directorate of the European Commission (DG Env) has produced a discussion paper revisiting the interface between the Biocidal Products and Cosmetic Products Directives, and suggesting a different view from the current UK position. If DG Env's position gains wide support among member states it could ultimately lead to the need to amend the Biocidal Products Regulations.

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for consultation with representatives of soap and detergent manufacturers on the forthcoming regulations relating to the Biocidal Products Directive. [146308]

Mr. Meacher: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has led for the Government on implementing the Biocidal Products Directive in Great Britain. A full public consultation on implementing Regulations was carried out in the second half of 1999. During the last five years HSE officials have regularly met with trade associations representing the biocides industry, including the Soap and Detergent Industry Association. They and the Department

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 15W

of Trade and Industry continue to have informal discussions with representatives of the soap and detergent manufacturers.

St. Leonard's Hospital, Dorset

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what date his Department received the planning appeal in respect of St. Leonard's hospital, Dorset, Ref. 3/99/0861; on what date he expects it to be determined; and if he will make a statement. [147819]

Ms Beverley Hughes: The Planning appeal by the Secretary of State for Health was received on 1 June 2000. The Planning Inspectorate are currently waiting for the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) from the appellant. As soon as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been received, arrangements will be made for a public inquiry. It is anticipated the appeal will be determined by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in the autumn.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many (a) telephone calls and (b) letters have been received by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency from keepers of vehicles inquiring about the implementation of the new excise duty rates for vehicles of 1500 cc and less announced in the pre-Budget report; and what the estimated cost to public funds is of responding to them. [147822]

Mr. Hill: In the period 9 November 2000-19 January 2001, DVLA staff handled (a) some 9,100 telephone and (b) some 600 written (including E-mail) inquiries concerning the 1500 cc proposal. In addition some 32,000 inquiries covering both the 1200 cc and 1500 cc schemes, were handled by the agency's automated VOICE system.

These volumes represent a small proportion of the inquiry work handled by the agency, and no additional resources were needed to deal with them.

Circulatory Disorders

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent research he has commissioned into the level of risk to (a) passengers and (b) aircrew of circulatory disorders associated with commercial flying; and if he will make a statement. [147193]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: When giving evidence to the recent House of Lords Inquiry into Air Travel and Health, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, South (Mr. Mullin) announced that we would be launching a study to identify those health issues related to air travel which are of most concern. This study will take into consideration the level of risk to both passengers and aircrew and will assess the existing research into circulatory disorders and other health issues that might be associated with air travel. In the light of the findings of this study, which should be published early in the summer, we will commission substantive research to fill any gaps in our knowledge which are revealed.

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 16W

I am also aware that the CAA has funded some research, on behalf of the Joint Aviation Authorities, to consider the relationship between aircraft seat dimensions and passenger sizes. This research should be published shortly.

Road Fatalities

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many children have been killed in road accidents in each year since 1992-93. [147501]

Mr. Hill: The following table shows the number of children killed in road accidents for all available years since 1992.

Accident year	Number of deaths
1992	310
1993	306
1994	299
1995	270
1996	270
1997	255
1998	206
1999	221

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the largest number of people killed in a single road accident was in each year since 1992-93. [147498]

Mr. Hill: The highest numbers of fatalities recorded in a single road accident each year are shown in the table. However, some accidents involving numerous vehicles may be reported by the police to DETR as a series of individual accidents. Hence, in some instances, the figures shown might represent an underestimate.

Fatalities: Great Britain 1992-99

	Number
1992	6
1993	13
1994	5
1995	13
1996	6
1997	5
1998	5
1999	5

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many public inquiries have been held into road accidents in each year since 1992-93. [147499]

Mr. Hill: None; other than regular Coroners' Inquiries (or Fatal Accident inquiries in Scotland).

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the average number of people killed at weekends in road accidents in each year since 1992-93. [147494]

Mr. Hill: The information requested is shown in the table.

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 17W

Average weekend fatalities: Great Britain 1992-99

	Average number
1992	24
1993	20
1994	21
1995	22
1996	21
1997	22
1998	21
1999	20

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the largest number of people killed in road accidents was in a single day in each year since 1992-93. [147495]

Mr. Hill: The information requested is shown in the table:

Fatalities in a single day: Great Britain 1992-99

Year	Fatalities
1992	34
1993	23
1994	24
1995	22
1996	27
1997	22
1998	21
1999	23

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many child pedestrians have been killed in road accidents in each year since 1992-93. [147500]

Mr. Hill: The following table shows the number of child pedestrians killed in road accidents for all available years since 1992.

Accident year	Number of deaths
1992	180
1993	165
1994	160
1995	132
1996	131
1997	138
1998	103
1999	107

Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the daily average number of people killed in road accidents in each year since 1992-93. [147493]

Mr. Hill: The following table shows the daily average number of people killed in road accidents for all available years since 1992.

Accident year	Daily average number of deaths
1992	12
1993	10
1994	10
1995	10
1996	10
1997	10
1998	9
1999	9

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 18W

---