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Housing (Lancashire)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the cost of bringing up to acceptable standard, the private sector housing stock in (a) Pendle, (b) Burnley and (c) East Lancashire as a whole. [1989]

Ms Keeble: We do not make estimates of costs to carry out repairs and improvements to private sector housing stock for individual districts or areas within regions. It is the responsibility of local housing authorities to assess any problems of private sector housing within their districts. Local authorities supply the Department with their estimates of the numbers of private sector unfit dwellings in their areas, they do not provide cost estimates although this will change in 2001. The latest local authority estimates for numbers of unfit dwellings are:

	Number
Pendle	5,600
Burnley	7,344
Remaining East Lancashire authorities	36,334

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Housing (Warsop)

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what timescale is foreseen on the use of a special purchase vehicle on private leased housing in Warsop and Warsop Vale. [2223]

Ms Keeble: The East Midlands Development Agency has been in discussion with the Meden Valley Partnership about this project and it is anticipated that decisions will be made later this year on the scale of funding that might be made available.

Planning (Listed Buildings and

Conservation Areas) Act

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers are available to him when a local authority fails to enforce the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 against owners who are in contravention of their obligations. [1930]

Ms Keeble: The Secretary of State has powers to issue listed building enforcement notices and conservation area enforcement notices. He can also take court action against those who carry out works to listed buildings or in conservation areas without the necessary consent, or in

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breach of a condition attached to a consent. The Secretary of State may also prosecute owners who deliberately damage listed buildings. It is the Secretary of State's policy to take enforcement action or to prosecute only in exceptional cases.

Aircraft Noise

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish his response to his consultation on the control of noise from civil aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [1969]

Mr. Jamieson: We will announce our conclusions later this year, after full and careful consideration of the arguments put forward by respondents.

Green Belts

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the status of green belts within planning guidance, with particular reference to those within key transport corridors. [1655]

Ms Keeble [holding answer 3 July 2001]: Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 2: Green Belts, issued in 1995, sets out the presumption against inappropriate development in green belts. That guidance was amended in March this year by Annexe E of PPG13: Transport which advised that, in certain limited circumstances, park and ride development in green belts was no longer inappropriate.

A30/A303

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which stretches of the (a) A30 and (b) A303 in Somerset have accident rates above the national average for A roads; and if he will make a statement. [1369]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 4 July 2001]: The average rate of accidents on non-built-up A roads of the three years 1997–99, published in "Road Accidents Great Britain: 1999 The Casualty Report", was 26 per 100 million vehicle kilometres (mvkm). Only one stretch of the A303 in Somerset had an accident rate above this national average; the stretch of road between the Eagle Tavern and the A358 had an average accident rate of 27.35 per 100 mvkm in 1997–99.

The A30 in Somerset is a local road so information on accident rates is not held centrally. Further information the hon. Member requires may be held by Somerset county council.

Mobile Homes and Parks

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation to regulate (a) the sale and (b) the running of mobile homes and parks; and if he will make a statement. [2482]

Ms Keeble: Changes to the statutory provisions on the sale of mobile homes and other proposals affecting residents of mobile homes and their site owners were

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included in the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party, published last year. We consulted on, and are considering, the working party's recommendations.

DEFENCE

Submarines

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which fleet submarines are operational. [965]

Mr. Ingram: HMS Triumph, HMS Tireless, HMS Superb and HMS Trafalgar are currently on operational duties.

Fertility Treatment

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding the availability of fertility treatment for service personnel and their families. [2327]

Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence receives a small number of letters each year from service personnel or their wives on this issue.

Pilot Strength

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the benefits of recruiting RNZAF combat pilots made redundant as a result of the New Zealand Defence Review to fill gaps in RAF combat pilot strength. [972]

Mr. Ingram: The RAF, like several NATO air forces, currently has a shortfall of experienced fast jet pilots. The opportunity to recruit former Royal New Zealand Air Force pilots (who become surplus to requirements as a result of the New Zealand Government's decision to reconfigure their armed forces to undertake peacekeeping duties) is therefore of interest to the RAF. Details of the personnel directly affected by the restructuring have yet to be released by the New Zealand Defence Staff. The RAF are closely monitoring the evolving situation and senior British officers have been in contact with their opposite numbers in Wellington to highlight employment opportunities in the RAF.

Sea Harriers

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea Harriers are held in attrition reserve. [960]

Mr. Ingram: These are currently 19 Sea Harrier FA2 aircraft in the sustainment fleet, available to sustain an operational fleet of 28 Sea Harrier FA2s. The sustainment fleet includes those aircraft formerly considered as the attribution reserve fleet.

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea Harrier airframes have been used for spare parts in order to ensure other aircraft are operational. [959]

Mr. Ingram: None.

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Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Sea Harrier conversions are currently under way; and how many more Sea Harriers will be converted to FA2 standard; [966]

(2) how many Sea Harrier FRS1s have been converted to FA2 standard. [961]

Mr. Ingram: All 33 Sea Harrier FRS1 aircraft operated by the Royal Navy at the time of the conversion programme were upgraded to FA2 standard. The programme was completed in 1999. No further upgrades to FA2 standard are planned. A further 18 new-build Sea Harrier FA2 aircraft were purchased from new.

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sea Harrier engines have been upgraded to 1161 standard. [969]

Mr. Ingram: None.

Warships

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each operational warship of the Royal Navy, together with its scheme of complement total, and the number of trained men on board each vessel. [962]

Mr. Ingram: There are currently 90 HM ships and submarines in the operational fleet. This includes all vessels on operational duties or engaged in preparing for service, trials or training. The precise manning level of ships available for operations is an indicator of the operational readiness of each individual ship and I am withholding the information under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The total number of trained personnel on board these vessels as at 25 June 2001, is 9,012 against a scheme of complement total of 9,510.

Mr. Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all Royal Navy warships put to sea with their full weapon outload; and if he will make a statement. [964]

Mr. Ingram: All Royal Navy ships are equipped with weapon outloads appropriate to their operational tasking.

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