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Water Meters

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which water companies have informed their customers of their duty to install a free water meter; and what sanctions exist for those that have not. [147754]

Mr. Meacher: I understand that all companies include details of their free meter options within their Charges Schemes and associated leaflets which are available to customers. As part of its examination of companies' Charges Schemes for the year beginning 1 April 2001, Ofwat wrote to companies which it considered did not contain sufficient information. Most companies also promote the availability of the free meter option either on the bill or in accompanying literature.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what targets he has set for the take-up of free water meters. [147756]

Mr. Meacher: No targets have been set for the take-up of free water meters. The option is left to the free choice of customers.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from (a) water companies and (b) consumer groups about the provision of free water meters. [147755]

Mr. Meacher: Most water companies and several consumer groups made representations about various aspects of the free meter option in response to public consultation papers and at other times during our review of water charging in 1997 to 1998, during the passage of the Water Industry Act 1999 and during and since the introduction of regulations and guidance under the Act.

Cyclists

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of deaths and injuries to cyclists; and if he will make a statement. [147589]

Mr. Hill: The Government's Road Safety Strategy, "Tomorrow's Roads--Safer for Everyone", was launched by the Prime Minister on 1 March last year. It sets a new target to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads by 40 per cent. by the year 2010, a separate target of 50 per cent. for children, and a 10 per cent. reduction in the slight casualty rate.

Special measures for cyclists are detailed in chapters two and nine of the strategy, but measures described elsewhere, particularly our driver training, will be to their benefit.

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 22W

Copies of "Tomorrow's Roads--Safer for Everyone" are in the Library and the Vote Office.

Mobile Homes

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to introduce legislation to regulate the sale of park and mobile homes; and if he will make a statement. [147587]

Mr. Raynsford: Proposals to amend the provisions of the sale of park homes were included in the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party. We have consulted on, and are considering, the Working Party's recommendations.

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who is responsible for enforcing the provisions of (a) the Mobile Homes Act 1983, (b) the Energy Act 1983 and (c) the Electricity Act 1947. [147588]

Mr. Raynsford: The information requested is as follows:

(a) Residents or site owners of park homes who are in dispute about the operation of the Mobile Homes Act 1983 can ask a court or arbitrator to settle the issue.

(b) and (c) The Electricity Act 1947, and Part I and Schedules 1-3 of the Energy Act 1983, were repealed by the Electricity Act 1989. Responsibility for enforcing Parts II and III of the Energy Act 1983 rests with the Department of Trade and Industry.

Rural White Paper

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what additional money for the redevelopment of rural towns he expects to provide following the publication of the Rural White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [147586]

Mr. Meacher: We will be increasing funding by £37 million over three years to create a £100 million regeneration programme with partnership funds for 100 towns in or near the most deprived rural areas. The £37 million is pump-priming money which will help towns themselves start the process of regeneration and fund some new projects.

National Forest Company

Mr. Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to undertake a review of the National Forest Company. [147948]

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: My Department has today launched a review of the National Forest Company. The Company was established as a non-departmental public body in April 1995 and, in line with Cabinet Office guidelines for all such bodies, must be reviewed at least every five years.

The review will consider all the organisational options for the Company, but will concentrate on the effectiveness of its delivery mechanisms.

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 23W

The review will be led by DETR, but the Review Group will also include representatives from Forestry Commission and the Company itself. The Company's partners and other interested parties will be consulted.

The review is expected to be completed within four to five months.

Chester Street Insurance Holdings Ltd.

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what reports he has received from the Health and Safety Executive on the consequences of the collapse of Chester Street Insurance Holdings Ltd. for those suffering from asbestos-related diseases; and if he will make a statement. [147311]

Mr. Meacher: None. Neither the Health and Safety Executive nor the Health and Safety Commission has any direct responsibility in relation to the consequences mentioned. However, I feel sure that the Health and Safety Commission will share the Government's concern that such victims should receive what compensation they are due in a fair and speedy manner. I am in close touch with my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Threatened Species

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Government will implement fully the EU regulation 338/97 on certain threatened species. [147758]

Mr. Meacher: Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 sets out the requirements on member states to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United Kingdom already fully implements these Regulations, under which all commercial trade in critically endangered species is prohibited and trade in less endangered species is strictly regulated. In the United Kingdom the Regulations are enforced by means of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 (S. I. No. 1372).

Cellular Telephone Network

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to promote an improvement in the cellular telephone network coverage of the mainline rail network. [147530]

Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.

Government policy is to promote competition in the cellular radiocommunications market. The UK has licensed four cellular operators--BT Cellnet, Vodafone, One-2-One and Orange. The operators have coverage obligations in their licences to serve 90 per cent. of the UK population. Competitive pressure between the operators has resulted in coverage levels of 98-99 per cent. The Government have introduced further competition into the market by the award of a 3G licence to a new entrant--Hutchison 3G. This competition drives coverage and capacity improvements which will benefit travellers using the mainline rail network.

29 Jan 2001 : Column: 24W

Oftel is participating to produce quality of service measurements for mobile phone networks to assist customers in making an informed choice. Details are available on the Oftel website at www.oftel.gov.uk.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Depleted Uranium

Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if BNFL this year has disposed of any form of depleted uranium at the Clifton Marsh tip in Lancashire. [146709]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 22 January 2001]: BNFL is authorised by the Environment Agency (EA) to dispose of material at Clifton Marsh which has not more than 0.2 per cent. of the radioactivity of natural uranium by weight. Because small quantities of depleted uranium have been handled at BNFL's Springfields site, waste may also be contaminated with trace quantities of depleted uranium and this is allowed for in the disposal authorisation. EA have made clear that they have no reason to believe that BNFL has operated outside their authorisation regime.

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