House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 6 Nov 2001 (pt 4)

Armed Forces Memorial

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations with ex-servicemen's organisations have taken place about the site and form of the memorial to members of the armed forces killed in conflicts since 1945; and if he will make a statement. [12637]

Dr. Moonie: A project office was appointed in January this year to consult the Services and ex-Service organisations on the criteria for inclusion on and siting of the proposed memorial to Service personnel killed since the end of the Second World War. Consultation is continuing with the Confederation of British Service and ex-Service Organisations (COBSECO) before a final decision is made.

Afghanistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on confining military action against terrorism to targets in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [11648]

Mr. Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.

Coalition military action is focused on Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda network and their Taliban allies in Afghanistan.

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The military action is necessary, but it cannot be seen in isolation. It is part of a wider global campaign against terror, which includes diplomatic, intelligence, financial, humanitarian and political elements.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Poverty

Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made in the Government's target to reduce the number of people worldwide living in extreme poverty by 2015. [12420]

Clare Short: The goal of reducing by half the population of people living on less than $1 a day was recently endorsed by 147 heads of state at the UN Millennium summit, and the UN have stated a commitment to monitoring progress towards this, and the other Millennium development goals, on a regular basis.

The most recent published figures from the World bank show that in 1990 29.0 per cent. of the population of developing countries lived on less than $1 a day. By 1999 this had fallen to 22.7 per cent. World bank projections indicate that by 2015 the proportion living on less than $1 a day will fall further to 12.3 per cent. meaning that the 2015 target will be achieved overall but will be missed in some countries and some regions.

Afghanistan

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what action she plans to take in order for the volume of food aid reaching Afghanistan to increase substantially; [12682]

Clare Short: In October, the World Food Programme reported that it managed to despatch over 27,000 metric tonnes of food into the country. This was less than their target but tonnage has improved and over 10,600 metric tonnes were despatched last week. WFP and other humanitarian agencies are working to maximise opportunities to get more food into the country as winter approaches. We are working with the international community to open up new land convoy routes into Afghanistan. As I announced in the House on 1 November 2001, Official Report columns 769-70W we have agreed to contribute £600,000 to Russian EMERCOM for a new convoy operation to deliver 9,000 metric tonnes of food from Tajikistan to northern Afghanistan.

WFP is buying 17,000 metric tonnes of wheat from the Iranian Government, which will be transported by rail to Turkmenistan, and from there to north and west Afghanistan. WFP is also looking at the airdropping of food to vulnerable people living in remote mountainous regions of Afghanistan which are likely to be cut off by winter snows.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on international plans to deliver food aid to refugees in Afghanistan this winter. [12153]

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Clare Short: As I said in my statement to the House of Commons on 24 October 2001, Official Report, columns 283-85, humanitarian agencies, especially the World Food Programme, are working under extremely difficult circumstances and continuing to get food and other relief items into Afghanistan. In October, WFP reports that it managed to despatch over 27,000 metric tonnes of food into the country. WFP and other humanitarian agencies will continue to maximise opportunities to get more food into the country as winter approaches. DFID has been assessing ways of maximising other routes of food delivery into Afghanistan, and as I announced in the House on 1 November, we have agreed to contribute £600,000 to Russian Emergency Ministry (EMERCOM) for a new convoy operation to deliver 9,000 metric tonnes of food from Tajikistan to northern Afghanistan over the next two months.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND

THE REGIONS

Working Time Directive

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of the working time directive proposals to increase night-time working restrictions will have on distribution and deliveries of basic goods to rural areas. [9659]

Mr. Jamieson: From our regular meetings with industry, we are fully aware of the problems that will result from an eight-hour limit for night workers. That is why the Government support the ten-hour figure included in the Council's common position.

Parking Revenue (London)

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list income and expenditure under the parking places revenue accounts of each local authority in London for the years (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01. [10720]

Mr. Jamieson: The information requested for the periods (a) to (d) has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The figures for period (e) are a matter for the Mayor of London.

Stingray

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which areas of Scotland will be covered by the Stingray system. [11233]

Mr. Jamieson: The new mobile system will operate throughout Scotland.

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Manchester Airport Eastern Link Road

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when construction will begin of the Manchester Airport eastern link road (western section). [11078]

Mr. Jamieson: The South East Manchester Multi Modal Study covers the Manchester Airport eastern link road (western section). The Secretary of State is awaiting the recommendations of the North West Regional Assembly on the Study and will announce his findings shortly.

Railtrack

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on conditions under which the new Railtrack company will be able to draw down the Government loan facility. [11266]

Mr. Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 195W and to the right hon. Member himself on 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 671W.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of (a) the gross assets to be transferred to the new Railtrack company and (b) the debt to be set against those assets. [11092]

Mr. Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 671W.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will make a statement on the amount of Government money available for (a) Railtrack in administration and (b) the successor Railtrack company for the next three years. [11265]

Mr. Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Lawrie Quinn) on 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1230W.

The successor company to Railtrack would be entitled to receive network grants to the profile and amounts set out in the Rail Regulator's October 2000 Periodic Review and the 2 April agreement between Railtrack and Government.

The Government propose that a company limited by guarantee be established to succeed Railtrack. We would expect to put in place an arrangement by which the company could access a standby, subordinated loan facility. For details on this loan facility, I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston (Mr. Hendrick) on 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 195W.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions his Department held with the Treasury

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regarding the financial situation at Railtrack and his plans for the company prior to the announcement of the administration order. [12151]

Mr. Jamieson: There were regular discussions between my Department and the Treasury prior to the announcement.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which officials were involved in planning the press announcement by his Department of the Railtrack administration. [12150]

Mr. Jamieson: The announcement was prepared by my Department following normal procedures.

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what criteria he will use to assess proposals put to him by the administrators to resolve the future of Railtrack plc; [11801]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 1 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 31 October 2001, Official Report, columns 669–71W.

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision to place Railtrack into administration for (a) all services between (i) London Euston and Wolverhampton, (ii) Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury and (iii) Shrewsbury and Chester and (b) the proposed sale of the Oswestry branch line from Gobowen to Llanymywech to the Cambrian Railways Trust. [12608]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government will ensure that the administrator has the funds to finance Railtrack's activities, including the full operation of the network.

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