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Fishing Communities Regeneration Initiative
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list, by region, the communities that have received funds under the Fishing Communities Regeneration Initiative and the purposes for which each community used its funds. [18269]
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Ms Keeble: I have written to the relevant Regional Development Agencies that operate the Fishing Communities Regeneration Initiative asking for this information. When the information has been assembled in the Department I shall write to my hon. Friend. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Braer
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he has received the new evidence gained from re-examination of the Braer's surviving logbooks by two independent marine engineers; and if he will make a statement; [18727]
- (2) if he will order the Marine Accidents Investigation Board to re-open the inquiry to establish the facts concerning the loss of the Braer; [18722]
(3) if he will make a statement on the recent decision of the Marine Accidents Investigation Board not to re-open the inquiry into the loss of the Braer; [18725]
(4) if he will order a public inquiry to establish responsibility for the loss of the Braer. [18723]
Mr. Jamieson: The Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No. 2567) state that
- "The Chief Inspector (of Marine Accidents) may cause any investigation to be reopened either generally or as to any part thereof, and he shall do so
(a) if after the completion of the investigation in his opinion new and important evidence has been discovered, or
(b) if for any other reason there is in his opinion ground for suspecting that a miscarriage of justice has occurred."
The decision not to reopen the MAIB investigation into the loss of the Braer is entirely for the Chief Inspector and I am satisfied he has considered the matter fully.
I consider there are no grounds for ordering a public inquiry.
Dangerous Items (Airport Sales)
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he has taken to ban the sale of dangerous items in airside shops at airports; and how these restrictions are monitored. [18637]
Mr. Jamieson: DTLR issued Heightened Security Measures by legal direction on 26 September 2001. This lists articles which, as potential weapons, must not be taken into the restricted zone of an aerodrome or into the cabin of an aircraft either by passengers or as goods for retail or supply to passengers. DTLR aviation security inspectors monitor compliance.
London Underground
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what
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effect the credit rating of Transport for London will have on the future cost of the public-private partnership for the London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [18389]
Mr. Jamieson: Transport for London's credit rating is one of the many factors that financiers will take into account when bidders raise private sector finance for the tube modernisation plans.
Transport (Arundel and South Downs)
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of (a) rail services and (b) bus services between Arundel and South Downs and London. [18326]
Mr. Jamieson: No formal assessment of rail or coach services has been made.
On rail travel, the Strategic Rail Authority is negotiating a new South Central franchise with GoVia, who have recently assumed ownership of the existing franchise. The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan, which will be published in the near future, will set out its priorities for enhancement of the network.
While we recognise the value of long-distance coach services, decisions on what services to provide are a matter for commercial operators responding to passenger demand.
Traffic Schemes
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the number of traffic schemes in London approved by him in each of the last three years relating to the provision of (a) road humps and (b) pinch-points; what the cost of the schemes was; and what effect these developments have had on (i) traffic flows and (ii) road safety. [18397]
Mr. Jamieson: Over the last three years, London local authorities have been free to install traffic calming features complying with regulations, and no information is held centrally on such features. The Secretary of State's authorisation was required for "non-complying" features up to April 1999, when this requirement was replaced in London only by a requirement to notify the Secretary of State of such features. No applications for authorisation were received from London local authorities in the two years to April 1999, and no notifications have been received since.
National Air Traffic Services
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what representations he has received from the Airline Group for financial assistance to support its operation of the National Air Traffic Services; [18742]
- (2) what recent communications have taken place between his Department's officials and representatives of the Airline Group with regard to the funding of the National Air Traffic Services; [18743]
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(3) if he will make a statement on the future viability of the public private partnership arrangements for the management of the National Air Traffic Services following the recent downturn in demand for air passenger traffic. [18741]
Mr. Jamieson: NATS is reviewing its financial position, following the downturn in demand for air travel, and is finalising its business plan, for submission to the Government shortly. The Government have had discussions with NATS and the Airline Group about the implications of revised traffic forecasts on the company's long term viability, but have received no request for financial assistance as a result.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many jobs within the National Air Traffic Control Services he expects to be shed over the next three years. [18745]
Mr. Jamieson: Information on staffing levels within National Air Traffic Services should be sought from the Chief Executive's Office, NATS, One Kemble Street, London WC2B 4AP.
Housing (West Wiltshire)
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of changes in the supply of low-cost homes on the housing situation in West Wiltshire. [18420]
Ms Keeble: The Department requires local authorities to carry out robust assessments of local housing need in their areas and to develop housing strategies that address the identified need for affordable housing and also to make effective use of their powers under the planning system to secure an element of affordable housing within new housing developments.
West Wiltshire district council granted planning permission for 51 units of affordable housing in the 2000–01 financial year. These homes will be available for renting through Registered Social Landlords.
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of (a) the number of new households in West Wiltshire for each of the years from 1995 to 2001 and (b) the number of new households in these years unable to (i) rent and (ii) buy in West Wiltshire. [18421]
Ms Keeble: The estimated net increase in the number of households in West Wiltshire in the five years to 1999, the latest date for which data are available, is 1,400 giving an average increase of around 300 households per year. Mid year household estimates for England at local authority level are published annually. Data for 2000 will be published on 29 November and a copy placed in the Library of the House. Uncertainties in these estimates increase with geographical detail and mid year estimates are only published to the nearest thousand.
No information is available on the number of new households in these years unable to buy or rent in West Wiltshire.
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Empty Homes
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what measures he is taking to ensure that authorities in England publish empty homes strategies. [18419]
Ms Keeble: We have no plans to require local authorities to publish empty homes strategies. The guidance provided to local authorities on housing strategies makes clear that we expect them to consider the role that effective action to tackle empty homes can play in addressing housing problems in their area. All authorities are required to report their performance in doing so through the Best Value in Housing programme.
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