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Aviation Industry
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase support for the airline industry; and if he will make a statement. [15666]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government have underwritten, on a temporary basis, third party war risk insurance for UK airlines and service providers to the aviation industry and are considering further support for UK airlines, consistent with European Commission guidelines.
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to give financial aid to compensate (a) airlines and (b) airports for the four day period after 11 September when US airspace was closed. [18454]
Mr. Byers: The Government have underwritten, on a temporary basis, third party war risk insurance for UK airlines and service providers to the aviation industry and are considering whether further support should be made available within European Commission guidelines. The Commission guidelines permit financial aid to be made available only to airlines.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how much Government (a) expenditure and (b) investment there has been on (i) research for and (ii) building urban re-development projects associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (A) in total and (B) in each year since the project was first proposed; [15743]
- (2) how much Government (a) expenditure and (b) investment there has been on (i) research for and (ii) building the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (A) in total and (B) in each year since the project was first proposed; [15742]
(3) how much Government (a) expenditure and (b) investment there has been on (i) research for and (ii) building development projects associated with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (A) in total and (B) in each year since the project was first proposed. [15744]
Mr. Jamieson: The following information is as much as can be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
3 Dec 2001 : Column: 16W
Government expenditure on building the Channel Tunnel Rail Link:
| Year | £000 |
|---|---|
| Building | |
| 1995–96 | 0 |
| 1996–97 | 0 |
| 1997–98 | 0 |
| 1998–99 | 0 |
| 1999–2000 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | 8,550 |
| 2001–02 | (6)112,562 |
| Total | 121,112 |
| Research | |
| 1995–96 | 28 |
| 1996–97 | 10 |
| 1997–98 | 0 |
| 1998–99 | 128 |
| 1999–2000 | 554 |
| 2000–01 | 22 |
| 2001–02 | (6)104 |
| Total | 846 |
| Building development projects | |
| 1996–2000 | 3,180 |
| 2000–01 | 14,680 |
| 2001–02 | (6)19,947 |
| Total | 37,807 |
(6) To date
Correspondence
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many letters his Department received from right hon. and hon. Members between 20 June and 20 July. [18559]
Dr. Whitehead: Information on the volume of correspondence from Members of Parliament received by Ministers, agency chief executives, Departments and agencies, and performance in handling them is published annually by the Cabinet Office. The most recent report, covering 2000, was announced by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 April 2001, Official Report, column 325W.
Between 20 June and 20 July, this Department received 839 letters from right hon. and hon. Members.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many and what proportion of letters received by his Department between 20 June and 20 July were replied to (a) in under 15, (b) in under 20, (c) in under 30, (d) in under 40 and (e) in over 40 working days. [18579]
Dr. Whitehead: The information is not available in the form requested. The information we have is as follows:
(7) 20 June to 20 July
3 Dec 2001 : Column: 17W
| Number | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|
| Cases received | 186,689 | — |
| Answered within 15 days | 178,661 | 96 |
(8) July to September
(9) This figure represents the total volume of non-ministerial correspondence received by the Department between 1 July and 30 September. The centre of the Department collects this data on a quarterly basis to monitor performance against our Service First target of replying to correspondence within 15 working days
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) when he will reply to the letter to him dated 20 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. James Hamlett; [20366]
- (2) when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 20 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. James Hamlett. [16246]
Mr. Spellar: I replied to my right hon. Friend's letter on Thursday 29 November.
Rail Regulator
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) when he last met the Rail Regulator since 5 October; and if he will make a statement; [17115]
- (2) when he last met the Rail Regulator. [18943]
Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State last met Tom Winsor on 5 October.
London-Norwich Rail Line
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what rail improvement projects are included in the Railtrack Network Management Statement on the London to Norwich line; and by when they will be completed. [18423]
Mr. Jamieson: The 2001 Network Management Statement includes the installation on this route of the Train Protection Warning System as part of the national programme. I understand that planned work on signal fitments is due to be completed by 31 March 2003.
Vehicle Design Standards
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to limit vehicle performance by the introduction of mandatory design standards for vehicles. [18853]
3 Dec 2001 : Column: 18W
Mr. Jamieson: There is already a requirement in Great Britain to limit the performance of the heavier goods and passenger vehicles by fitting top-speed limiters. This requirement applies to vehicles having a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes. The relevant legislation is contained in Regulations 36A and 36B of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The Government are currently arguing the United Kingdom's corner with our European partners on a European Commission proposal to extend the requirement for top-speed limiters to goods vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes in maximum gross weight, and to vehicles used for the carriage of passengers comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver.
RenewCo
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what advice the ONS gave his Department on the treatment of RenewCo in the national accounts. [18773]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 27 November 2001]: The Office for National Statistics informed the Treasury that the RenewCo proposals would be classified as public sector borrowing.
Rent Restructuring
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what further plans he has to consult tenants regarding the introduction of rent restructuring from April 2002; and if he will make a statement. [19040]
Ms Keeble: A number of tenants organisations responded to the consultation on the Housing Green Paper last year, and to the consultation this year on proposals to change Housing Revenue Account subsidy to take account of rent restructuring. We are pressing ahead with rent restructuring from April 2002. We will monitor the impact and maintain a dialogue with all interested parties, including tenants groups, about the issues arising on the implementation of the policy as it develops. It would be for local authorities and registered social landlords to consult their tenants about the rents they propose to set from April 2002.
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