| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
A400M
Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason he has allowed the final production line for the A400M to be located in Spain. [157720]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 24 April 2001]: The location of the final assembly line for the A400M is primarily a matter for Airbus Military Company. The company will be contracted to deliver aircraft on the basis of a "commercial approach" which makes maximum use of existing supply chains and centres of excellence. Just as Airbus UK is the centre of excellence for wing design and will be leading the wing design for the A400M, so European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company of Spain is the centre of excellence for military transport aircraft assembly and this thus influences the choice of Spain to host the final assembly line.
Holy Loch
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Tayside (Mr. Swinney) of 29 March 2001, Official Report, column 733W, on the cost of the clean-up operation of Holy Loch, what proportion of the cost has been met by the US Defense Department; and if he will make a statement. [158600]
Dr. Moonie: The US Defense Department are not contributing to the cost of the clearance nor are they legally obliged to do so.
Departmental Pay
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision he is making for his Department's staff who wish to continue to be paid on a weekly basis. [158541]
Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence's industrial staff will transfer from weekly to monthly pay during April and May this year as part of the process of harmonising their pay and grading arrangements with those of non-industrial staff, who are paid monthly. The change to monthly pay was negotiated with the industrial trade unions and supported by a majority of industrial staff who voted in favour by ballot. As is normal practice, the
25 Apr 2001 : Column: 273W
change will apply to all industrial staff covered by the negotiations and consequently there is no provision for staff to continue to be paid weekly.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Lord Birt
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Solicitor-General how many reports Lord Birt has submitted to the Attorney-General in his capacity as an adviser on crime; and if he will make a statement. [158235]
The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General and I received a briefing from Lord Birt setting out his emerging findings, prior to our meeting with him. Aside from that, the work undertaken by Lord Birt was considered alongside that undertaken by the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and Her Majesty's Treasury in preparing the Government's strategy document "Criminal Justice: the Way Ahead".
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Solicitor-General on how many occasions, and on what dates, (a) he and (b) the Attorney-General have met Lord Birt in his capacity as an adviser on crime since his appointment; and if he will make a statement about the contribution of Lord Birt to his Department's policies. [158228]
The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General and I have had one substantive meeting with Lord Birt. The work undertaken by Lord Birt was considered alongside that undertaken by the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and Her Majesty's Treasury in preparing the Government's strategy document "Criminal Justice: the Way Ahead".
PRIME MINISTER
East Midlands Airport
Q13. Mr. David Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit East Midlands airport. [157684]
The Prime Minister: I have no immediate plans to do so.
KFOR
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Bush the role of the American element in KFOR in Macedonia and at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [157576]
The Prime Minister: KFOR's mandate does not include operations in Macedonia. As is the case for other KFOR contributors, including the UK, the US has a logistical unit based in Macedonia in support of their KFOR contingent based at Camp Bondsteel.
The US forces based at Camp Bondsteel are an integral part of KFOR, and make an invaluable contribution to its performance, and its ability to achieve its objectives.
I have no plans at present to discuss the role of the American element in KFOR with President Bush. But I and Ministers in my Government discuss Balkan-related
25 Apr 2001 : Column: 274W
issues with the US on a regular basis. President Bush and I underlined our joint commitment to promote peace and stability in the Balkans on 23 February at Camp David.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Newcastle Airport
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the safety of passenger aircraft approaching Newcastle Airport, following the AAIB report on an incident involving civilian and military aircraft on 20 March 2000; and if he will make a statement. [158411]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: The AAIB report made two recommendations to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), both of which the Authority has partially accepted. In its published response to the recommendations, the CAA said that the Directorate of Airspace Policy had conducted a study of operations by scheduled public transport services in all Class G airspace, including those in the vicinity of Newcastle Airport. The study confirmed that provided a Radar Advisory Service or Radar Information Service is used, safety levels in such airspace meet the internationally agreed standard.
It is clear from this incident, however, that not all traffic is availing itself of such air traffic services. Consequently the CAA is working closely with airspace users and Newcastle Airport, as a matter of urgency, on a wide range of initiatives aimed at preventing such conflicts in the future.
Motorcycle Excise Duty
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) emissions reduction and (b) congestion reduction of the decision to raise motorcycle excise duty by £5. [158406]
Mr. Hill: Vehicle Excise Duty for motorcycles over 250cc increased by £5 to £65 from 1 March 2001. My Department has not carried out any formal analysis of the effect of this change on levels or patterns of motorcycle use and hence on congestion and levels of emissions. However, we believe that any such effects are likely to be negligible.
Housing Developments
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many housing developments were approved in London during each of the past three years; and what proportion of the development was for affordable rented housing and for social housing. [158583]
Mr. Robert Ainsworth [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The estimated number of planning applications, for which planning permission was granted, relating to housing developments in London is as follows:
- 1998--4,000
- 1999--3,600
25 Apr 2001 : Column: 275W
Fare Concessions
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with rail companies on the introduction of further fare concessions for retired people. [158385]
Mr. Hill: There have been no discussions. The franchise agreement under which rail services are provided require train operating companies to participate in mandatory railcard schemes, including one for senior citizens, based on the railcards offered by British Rail. Participation in these schemes will be a requirement in any new franchise negotiated under the Strategic Rail Authority's replacement programme. Any further concession would be a matter for the Association of Train Operating Companies to consider.
Londonwide Cycle Lane Network
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with London local authorities to encourage the development of a Londonwide cycle lane network; and if he will make a statement. [158475]
Mr. Hill: None. This is a matter for the Mayor of London, Transport for London and the other local highway authorities in London. The Mayor's draft transport strategy shows that Transport for London is taking a proactive approach to encouraging cycling.
Noise Pollution
Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps have been taken since May 1997 to equip local authorities with greater powers to regulate noise pollution. [158701]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 23 April 2001]: The provisions in the Noise Act 1996 relating to the new night noise offence and associated powers of seizure came into force on 23 July 1997. We have issued a consultation paper, following a review of the Noise Act, setting out further options for local authorities to use in tackling noise nuisance. The closing date for comments was 31 March. I will announce the outcome of the consultation to the House. Copies of the report and consultation paper are available in the House Library.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |