You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

Railways (Consultants)

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the external (a) consultants and (b) advisers which the Government have used in the last year on railway matters. [16374]

Mr. Spellar: My Department has, over the last year, used the following consultants and advisers on national railway matters:


Aviation Industry

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had since 11 September with the European Commission on state aid to airlines to compensate for (a) the four day closure of United States' air space and (b) insurance cover premiums. [15805]

Mr. Jamieson: The European Commission set out guidelines on emergency aid measures in its Communication on the repercussions of the terrorist attacks in the United States on the air transport industry, which was endorsed by the EU Transport Council on 16 October. The Government are considering whether to provide compensation to UK airlines for the four days closure of US airspace, and will notify the Commission if any such aid is forthcoming. In relation to insurance premiums, we have informed the Commission of the arrangements made to provide temporary third party war risk insurance cover for UK airlines and ground service providers. We introduced our scheme on 24 September, for 30 days in the first instance. On 22 October HM Treasury announced that the scheme would continue for a further 30 days until midnight on 24 November. A further announcement will be made

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 393W

shortly on the future operation of the scheme. We are also participating in the Commission's Ad Hoc Insurance Group that has been established to discuss a common approach to resolving the present difficulties in the light of the Council Conclusions on state aid agreed on 16 October.

Evergreen Hedges

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what action the Government proposes to take in response to the final report of the Building Research Establishment and Tree Advice Trust on evergreen hedges; and if he will make a statement; [16413]

Ms Keeble: The Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Tree Advice Trust were commissioned by my Department to develop an objective method for assessing whether high evergreen hedges block too much daylight and sunlight to adjoining properties, and to provide guidance on hedge heights to alleviate these problems.

We expect to publish the final report of their work shortly and will ensure that copies are then placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

We will also be considering what is the best way of presenting this information to the public, so that people are encouraged to apply the formula to their problem hedge and to use the results to try to settle matters with their neighbours amicably.

Health and Safety Laboratory

Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Health and Safety Laboratory intends to publish its annual report and accounts for 2000–01. [17389]

Dr. Whitehead: The Health and Safety Laboratory has published the 2000–01 annual report and accounts, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Birmingham Northern Relief Road will be opened to the public; and what toll charges will be made for its use. [16823]

Mr. Jamieson: The Birmingham Northern Relief Road is expected to be open to traffic in January 2004. The level of tolls to be charged for the use of the road is a matter for the concessionaire, Midland Expressway Ltd. I understand that they have yet to decide on the toll levels but expect to do so closer to the opening date.

Local and Regional Airports (Security)

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional security measures have been (a) implemented at and (b) recommended to local and regional airports since 11 September. [17126]

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 394W

Mr. Jamieson: My Department lays down the security requirements for the operators of public transport aircraft, both passenger-carrying and all-cargo, and the managers of the aerodromes they operate from. Following the attacks of September 11 these requirements have increased and their scope extended to general aviation. To divulge details of them would undermine their effectiveness. DTLR inspectors monitor compliance.

Dibden Bay

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many representations have been made to his Department (a) in favour of and (b) in opposition to the building of a container port at Dibden Bay. [17097R]

Mr. Jamieson: In response to the advertisements placed by Associated British Ports Ltd. in respect of their proposal, the Secretary of State received 175 representations in favour of the proposal and 6,189 opposed.

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action his Department intends to take in respect of the petition to Parliament from residents of the New Forest, East constituency concerning the Dibden Bay Public Inquiry venue. [17098R]

Mr. Jamieson: We will respond to the petition in due course.

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposal to hold the public inquiry into the application for permission to build a container port at Dibden Bay (a) in premises owned by the applicant company and (b) outside the area which would primarily be affected by the building of such a port. [17095R]

Mr. Jamieson: In the circumstances following the withdrawal of the original venue for the inquiry we considered all the representations made to us about a new venue and accepted the offer from Associated British Ports of the use of the Ferry Terminal Building at Southampton Port. Alternative venues considered were either unsuitable for staging an inquiry of the size and length that the Dibden inquiry is likely to be or would result in too long a delay in getting an inquiry under way.

We have recognised the concerns of local residents about the choice of venue and have asked the inquiry Secretariat to hold the first week's session in Hythe and to arrange for some further sessions to be held in the local area provided suitable locations can be found.

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will require the public inquiry into the application for permission to build a container port at Dibden Bay to be held on premises within the area which would primarily be affected by the building of such a port. [17096R]

Mr. Jamieson: The Dibden Bay public inquiry will be held at the Ferry Terminal at Southampton Port. The first week's proceedings will be held at the Appledore Centre, Hythe and the inquiry Secretariat have been asked to arrange some other sessions at venues in the local area, provided suitable venues can be found.

22 Nov 2001 : Column: 395W

Gas Explosion (Newton Heath)

Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on the promptness of the response of the Health and Safety Executive following the gas explosion in Newton Heath, Manchester on Saturday 17 November; and if he will make a statement. [17148]

Dr. Whitehead: None.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Consignia

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of Consignia's profits will be paid to the Government this financial year. [13732]

Mr. Alexander: No decision has been taken.

Nuclear Industry

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much BNFL paid the UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary for the police it provided to protect the MOX fuel exported to Japan. [15852]

Mr. Wilson: The costs of security arrangements associated with transporting MOX, including the costs associated with the role of the UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary, are a commercial matter for the companies involved.

Next Section Index Home Page