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Emergency Landing (Newcastle Airport)

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Air Accidents Investigation Branch's report into the emergency landing at Newcastle Airport on 3 February involving the Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan police will be published; and what the cause of the delay is. [24085]

Mr. Jamieson: The AAIB report on the circumstances of the emergency landing at Newcastle airport on 3 February 2001 involving the Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan police will be published on 7 February 2002. The emergency landing was caused by the incorrect assembly of the nose landing gear retraction mechanism on the American manufactured Piper PA 34 aircraft. The sequence of events had occurred before on other aircraft of the type and the examination of the maintenance standards issues raised by this emergency landing has led to the delay in publishing the report.

Seaside Resorts

Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) which officials in his Department he has nominated as resort champions; [24147]

Ms Keeble: The Government have welcomed the publication of the English Tourism Council's "Sea Changes" report. The report contains a number of

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recommendations, some of which are relevant to DTLR, including one that Government Departments should nominate a senior official as a resort champion. It also explains that to take its recommendations forward with relevant key partners, the ETC intends to broker individual meetings with them to discuss plans for implementation.

Although my Department has not yet been approached by the ETC for a meeting, it is already actively supporting the regeneration of resorts through various programmes, including the single regeneration budget. In addition, Regional Development Agencies have been asked to explain in their 2002–04 Corporate Plans how they will be involved with developing regional tourism strategies, including the promotion of coastal resort regeneration.

Party Affiliation

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to vacate the seats of Members who have changed party affiliation. [23947]

Dr. Whitehead: The basis of elections to this House is that the electorate is invited to vote for candidates and not the political party they may represent. We have no plans to seek amending legislation to require Members who change their political affiliation to vacate their seats. It is for the representative to determine whether they wish to test the strength of their position by vacating their seat and re-submitting themselves for election.

Rail Safety

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action has been taken on implementing the recommendations arising from Part 1 of Lord Cullen's public inquiry report; and when the Health and Safety Commission plans to publish the six month progress report which Lord Cullen recommended. [25155]

Mr. Jamieson: Lord Cullen's final recommendation was


Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many safety visits were conducted by the senior management of Railtrack in each month from January 2000 to November 2001. [21034]

Mr. Jamieson: Railtrack have advised that in April 2000 the company initiated an internal programme of visits for senior managers to assist the promotion of safety tours across the business. Railtrack report that good progress has been made since initiation although monthly figures are not readily available.

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Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason he amended the Cullen Declaration on rail safety; and if he will make a statement. [23613]

Mr. Jamieson: The declaration by the Paddington Survivors Group was agreed in advance by all parties before signing.

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the administrator is running Railtrack to ensure that (a) routine signal, track and other maintenance is carried out and (b) the safety standards previously required of Railtrack are maintained. [23986]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 18 December 2001]: During the period of administration, the Government will continue to provide the administrator with sufficient funding to ensure the operation of the network. The terms of Railtrack's licence require it to ensure the safe operation of the network. The Health and Safety Executive is working closely with both Railtrack plc and the administrator to ensure that safety is maintained.

Planning

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions further to the European Commission Regional Policy Directorate- General's proposals on spatial planning in the EU, if he will make a statement on the involvement of the European Union in local, regional and national planning matters. [12575]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The European Union is not directly involved in local, regional and national planning in the UK. However, account is taken of jointly agreed policy objectives in the preparation of land-use plans in the UK.

Bob Kiley

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library the document about Mr. Kiley which had been shown to journalists referred to by Sir Richard Wilson on 1 November. [13268]

Mr. Jamieson: I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Rents

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what he estimates will be the average (a) council and (b) registered social landlord rent in (i) each region in England and (ii) each London borough in 2011–12 in constant prices, after adjusting for the effects of the Government's rent restructuring proposals. [19817]

Ms Keeble: Individual councils and registered social landlords (RSLs) retain responsibility for rent-setting. Rents in 2011–12 are therefore a matter for individual social landlords. The rate of increase of actual council and RSL rents over the next 10 years will depend, among

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other things, on the outcome of future Spending Reviews (for council rents) and periodic reviews by the Housing Corporation (for RSL rents).

Train Delays/Cancellations

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many trains of each train operating company arrived late by (a) more than five minutes and (b) more than 10 minutes in each month from January 2000 to November 2001; in each case, what proportion of these delays were due to (i) train breakdowns, (ii) signal failures, (iii) track/points failures, (iv) leaves on the line, (v) staff shortages, (vi) adverse weather conditions and (vii) other factors; and what were the same figures for peak hours; [21032]

Mr. Jamieson: The information on causes of delay by period is not readily available. The information distinguishing between peak and off-peak is available only for London commuter train operating companies. The latest information available on delays and cancellations which goes up until 16 September 2001 is being placed in the Libraries of the House.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on changes to the number of cancellations on the railways between September and December. [23128]

Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority maintain performance records by four week period, not by calendar month. The figures represent the percentage of trains which either did not run or did not operate for more than half their scheduled mileage shown in the timetable.


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