29 Oct 2001 : Column: 475W
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 29 October 2001
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Rail Projects
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which schemes will be completed within the period of the 10-Year Plan for rail; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of funding of the programme. [8875]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government, through their 10-Year Plan, remain committed to delivering a better, safer and more reliable railway network for the 21st century, and are prepared to spend over £30 billion over the next 10 years to achieve substantial improvements.
We look to the Strategic Rail Authority's forthcoming strategic plan to prioritise investment projects that deliver the greatest value for money for both rail users and the taxpayer. Investment is continuing on the west coast route modernisation project, Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the installation of the train protection warning system, each of which is integral to the Government's objectives for rail.
A449
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the A449 in Worcestershire will cease to be a trunk road; and if he will make a statement. [8983]
Mr. Jamieson: The de-trunking of the A449, previously programmed by the Highway Authority for April 2004, is on hold pending the outcome of the west midlands area multi-modal study.
Electoral Pilot Schemes
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will publish a list of submissions by local authorities to participate in electoral pilot schemes in local elections or local by-elections in the forthcoming 12 months; [8957]
- (2) what steps his Department is taking to minimise electoral fraud in the pilot schemes for new electoral arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [8960]
Mr. Byers: Local authorities have been invited to submit details of proposed electoral pilot schemes for approval by the Secretary of State by 31 December 2001. We intend to publish a list of those applications as soon as possible after that date.
The invitation to local authorities indicates that the Secretary of State will approve only schemes which meet a number of criteria, one of which is that they must maintain or increase current levels of security.
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Car Safety
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the effects of implementing EEVC-WG17 on (a) child and (b) adult pedestrian casualties in absolute and in percentage terms. [9049]
Mr. Jamieson: The Transport Research Laboratory is currently examining this issue on our behalf, and as soon as figures are established we will make them available.
Belfast/London Air Services
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ensure that there is continuity of service throughout the day between Belfast International and London Heathrow; and if he will make a statement. [9340]
Mr. Spellar: This Government recognise the importance of air links between Belfast and London. There are 29 air services scheduled for each weekday between Belfast and London operating on a commercial basis.
Regional Air Services
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action has been taken by his Department to introduce Public Service Obligation protection for the slots used for services to and from the UK regions at Heathrow and Gatwick airports; and if he will make a statement. [9341]
Mr. Spellar: The use of Public Service Obligations is governed by EC Regulation 2408–92 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes. Any application for the imposition of a PSO from the relevant authorities will be carefully considered while taking the criteria set out in the regulation into account.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the White Paper for UK Aviation will include proposals for at least one new runway at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick and that such a runway be designed for and a significant proportion of the slots created by such an additional runway capacity be designated for UK regional air services; and if he will make a statement. [9346]
Mr. Spellar: The South East and East of England Study (SERAS) is examining a wide range of options at existing airports and new sites. We expect the study to be completed towards the end of this year, and to be followed by a full public consultation on the short-listed options early next year. Decisions made following the consultation will feed into an Air Transport White Paper which we aim to publish in the second half of next year.
Neighbourhood Renewal
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who the representative of the Scottish Executive is on the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal. [9013]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 19 October 2001]: Neighbourhood renewal is a devolved matter for Scotland. The National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal applies only to deprived areas in England.
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The Scottish Executive will be publishing a Neighbourhood Renewal Statement for Scotland—due at the end of the year—which will set out a programme of action to regenerate disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Scotland.
We shall be seeking to ensure close contact between the English and Scottish approaches to Neighbourhood Renewal.
Road Safety
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what evidence his Department has received concerning the link between speed cameras on roads and improved road safety; and if he will make a statement. [9051]
Mr. Jamieson: The results of the first year's operation of the speed camera funding scheme provide further evidence of the link between the presence of speed cameras and improved road safety. The number of people killed or seriously injured dropped by 18 per cent. across the eight pilot areas as a whole and by 47 per cent. at the camera sites compared with the average over the previous three years. On average the number of drivers speeding at camera sites dropped from 55 per cent. to 16 per cent.
National Air Traffic Services
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if it is his policy that National Air Traffic Services operated at Manchester will be moved to Atlantic House, Prestwick; [9440]
- (2) if he will list the options being considered by National Air Traffic Services to rationalise its functions throughout the United Kingdom; [9438]
(3) if the Civil Aviation Radar Installation Service will be moved from Prestwick to Gatwick Airport as part of the engineering review of National Air Traffic Services. [9439]
Mr. Jamieson: As part of its long term investment plan, NATS intends progressively to move to a two-centre strategy with modern facilities at Swanwick in Hampshire and Prestwick in Ayrshire. As part of that strategy, the existing area control centres at West Drayton and Manchester will close in the latter part of this decade. The current plan is that the majority of the task undertaken by Manchester will be moved to Prestwick, with the remainder moving to Swanwick. These plans are under detailed evaluation to find the optimum division of operational tasks between Swanwick and Prestwick.
Coastguard Service
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many representations the Government have received from (a) individuals in the coastguard service and (b) others calling for greater coastguard cover around south-east Scotland in the last 12 months. [9662]
Mr. Jamieson: Other than from the hon. Member on behalf of a constituent there have been no representations to the Government in the last 12 months for greater coastguard cover around south-east Scotland.
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John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government will take to maintain a comprehensive coastguard service for south-east Scotland. [9663]
Mr. Jamieson: There is already a comprehensive coastguard service available for south-east Scotland, which includes a 24 hour search and rescue capability, 17 rescue teams, and the provision of appropriate helicopters and lifeboats.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the latest estimate is of the cost of building the next phase of the channel tunnel rail link between Ebbsfleet and King's Cross. [8694]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 22 October 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Streatham (Keith Hill), to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 10 April 2001, Official Report, column 502W.
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