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Social Housing
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reasons the stock of social housing in England has changed since 1997. [20120]
Ms Keeble: The stock of social housing in England since 1997, based on figures from local authorities and the Housing Corporation are in the table:
| Year | Social stock (million) |
|---|---|
| 1 April 1997 | 4.390 |
| 1 April 1998 | 4.358 |
| 1 April 1999 | 4.340 |
| 1 April 2000 | 4.290 |
The main reason for the decrease in the social housing over the period from 1 April 1997 to 1 April 2000 was that more dwellings were being sold under Right-to-Buy legislation than were being added to the stock by new building and other acquisitions of dwellings. As well as buying dwellings in good condition, other acquisitions include refurbishment and conversions of existing dwellings or other buildings such as offices.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many new social housing properties have been built in England in each of the past 10 years. [20121]
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Ms Keeble: The number of new social dwellings, both for registered social landlords and local authorities, built in England in each of the past 10 years is in the table:
| Year | New social build (thousand) |
|---|---|
| 1991–92 | 23.1 |
| 1992–93 | 26.5 |
| 1993–94 | 31.7 |
| 1994–95 | 32.2 |
| 1995–96 | 31.0 |
| 1996–97 | 25.0 |
| 1997–98 | 21.7 |
| 1998–99 | 19.1 |
| 1999–2000 | 17.5 |
| 2000–01 | 18.0 |
As well as building new dwellings, registered social landlords increase their stock by buying existing dwellings, converting and rehabilitating existing dwellings and other buildings such as offices.
Railways
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the regulations which apply to the gap between the door of a train and the platform. [20119]
Mr. Jamieson: The Railways and Other Transport Systems (Approval of Works, Plant and Equipment) Regulations 1994, require approval from the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) before any new or altered railway works plant and equipment, including station platforms, can be brought into use on the railway network.
As a guide to these regulations HMRI's Railway Safety Principles and Guidance recommends maximum stepping distances of 250mm vertically, 275mm horizontally or 350mm diagonally for new or altered works. If these dimensions cannot be achieved, dispensation may be given and warning signs such as "mind the gap" along the platform edges, together with public address announcements are also required.
Speed Restrictions
Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 683W, on speed restrictions, what form the assessment framework will take; what progress has been made; when the assessment will be completed; and when revised guidance will be issued to highways authorities. [20101]
Mr. Jamieson: The assessment framework is under development by DTLR as part of a package of work to implement our Road Safety strategy commitments. It was referred to in my answer of 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 943W, and is envisaged as a tool to assist highway authorities in the setting of speed limits on rural roads, rather than as a survey or definitive assessment of all roads. This and the related elements, also referred to, required to deliver the Road Safety strategy commitments on speed management are expected to take about a year to complete. The resulting guidance will follow that, probably during 2003.
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Private Landlords
Mr. Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce a licensing scheme for private landlords. [19939]
Ms Keeble: My right hon. Friend published on 20 October a consultation paper on selective licensing of private landlords. This seeks views on proposals to introduce powers for local authorities to license all private landlords in all, or part of, their area, subject to the Secretary of State's consent. This would normally be granted only for areas of low housing demand facing severe problems, though consideration would also be given to any special cases outside such areas if compelling reasons were advanced. New primary legislation would be required to introduce such powers. The proposals are in addition to the Government's proposals to introduce mandatory licensing for houses in multiple occupation.
Pollutants
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research he has undertaken into the pollutants emitted from (a) petrol and (b) diesel engines; and if he will make a statement. [19788]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 30 November 2001]: In the past two years the Department has conducted nine main research projects on pollutant emissions from road vehicles, some of which are still ongoing.
Completed projects for which reports will shortly be deposited in the House Libraries are;
- Detection of Vehicles Burning Lubricating Oil—AEA Technology (Petrol)
DETR/SMMT/CONCAWE Particulate Research Programme—Ricardo (Petrol and Diesel)
Low Emissions Diesel Research, Phase 1—AEA Technology (Diesel)
Monitoring of Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Control Systems For The Detection of Off-Cycle Strategies—Lotus Engineering (Diesel).
- In-Service Exhaust Emissions Testing For SI Petrol Engines—AEA Technology (Petrol)
Ethanol Emissions Testing—AEA Technology (Petrol)
Emissions Factors—TRL (Petrol and Diesel)
In-car Pollution Levels—AEA Technology (Petrol and Diesel)
Remote Sensing and Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance Programmes—TRL (Petrol).
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Radioactive Material
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which (a) ports and (b) airports are permitted to handle radioactive material; and what checks are in place to ensure the appropriate level of security applies to cargoes carried. [20174]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 3 December 2001]: All ports and airports can handle radioactive materials subject to the provisions of the relevant regulations.
The security of radioactive material in transport is ensured through a range of measures and checks appropriate to the nature of material and the mode of transport.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the Government's policy is on allowing an unlimited number of movements of radioactive material by (a) ship, (b) rail and (c) air provided safety standards are met. [20173]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 3 December 2001]: Transport of radioactive material is permitted subject to regulations based on the standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the appropriate modal authorities. These standards are reviewed on a regular basis and set in order to ensure an adequate level of safety. By doing so appropriate limits are placed on the transport of radioactive material
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is on allowing movement of radioactive material (a) through the channel tunnel and (b) on passenger ferries; and if he will make a statement. [20172]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 3 December 2001]: Transport of radioactive material is permitted subject to regulations based on the standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the appropriate modal authorities.
(a) The transport of radioactive materials through the channel tunnel is only authorised through Eurotunnel Freight after agreement between the manufacturer/ producer of the radioactive material and Eurotunnel.
(b) The carriage of radioactive materials on passenger ships is regulated by the provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) of the International Maritime Organization.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many aeroplane flights in UK airspace carried (a) high-level, (b) intermediate level and (c) low level radioactive material in the most recent year for which figures are available. [20175]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 3 December 2001]: This Department does not hold statistical information of this nature.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it his policy to seek to reduce the number of movements of radioactive material; and what review he has made of the movements of radioactive material since 11 September. [20168]
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Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 3 December 2001]: The transport of radioactive material, in support of justified practices, is subject to regulations based on the standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the appropriate modal authorities. These standards are reviewed on a regular basis in order to ensure adequate levels of safety are maintained.
The implications of the events of 11 September on the nuclear industry are under consideration by Government and industry. Transport is included in this exercise.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) flights and (b) shipments were made in the latest year for which figures are available where (a) spent nuclear fuel, (b) nuclear waste, (c) other high level and (d) other intermediate radioactive material was transported between the UK and a foreign country. [20171]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 3 December 2001]: This Department does not hold statistical information of this nature.
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