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SCOTLAND
Euro
Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the results of a future referendum on British membership of the euro will allow identification of votes cast for and against according to (a) parliamentary constituency, (b) local authority area and (c) Scotland. [25870]
Mrs. Liddell: The conduct of referendums has, since 16 February 2001, been the responsibility of the Electoral Commission, following the coming into force of provisions in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Computer Crime
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft her Department recorded in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001; and on how many occasions in those years computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (A) within and (B) outside her Department. [13132]
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Mrs. Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999. During the specified period, there were no cases of computer fraud, no incidents of computer hacking, and no systems were illegally accessed; neither were there any cases of computer theft reported by the Scotland Office.
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Waste Policy
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much additional money will be available for local authority recycling and composting in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03, (c) 2003–04 and (d) 2004–05, as a result of the increases in SSA for environmental, cultural and protective services after allowing for (i) cost increases in landfill and incineration and (ii) inflation. [22323]
Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 17 December 2001]: SR2000 provided real terms increases for the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of the Standard Spending Assessment which includes these services. By the third year the EPCS will have risen by £1.1 billion. Landfill and incineration costs will be affected by factors such as the volume of waste, pressure on landfill gate fees and the landfill tax, which is currently £12 per tonne for active waste and will be increased by £1 per year through to 2004–05. Their effect on local authority costs will also depend on how much waste is recycled or composted. It is for each local authority to decide how much of the revenue support grant it receives, and its other resources including the amount raised through council tax, should be directed towards any particular service.
Vehicle Lights
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact that the introduction of mandatory day-time running lights on all vehicles will have on the number of road-related (a) accidents and (b) fatalities. [24294]
Mr. Jamieson: The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to carry out a review of the methodology used by the SWOV Institute in the Netherlands for their report on the safety effects of daytime running lights. This report, carried out on behalf of the European Commission, which combined the results of 24 published studies, suggested that the universal use of daytime running lights in the United Kingdom in 1995 would have saved 648 lives. This would represent a 17 per cent. reduction in fatal accidents. The hypothetical overall casualty reduction would be 29 per cent.
The Transport Research Laboratory's review concluded that the claims for potential accident savings appeared exaggerated because daytime running lights can only be effective in preventing a limited type of accident.
The Department is proposing to carry out further research into the effectiveness of daytime running lamps.
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John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made towards the fitting of daytime running lights on all new vehicles. [24293]
Mr. Jamieson: A commitment to fit daytime running lamps was included in the European Commission's proposals to introduce pedestrian protection features in new cars by a negotiated agreement with car manufacturers.
This element of the proposals has been deferred for further consideration.
Transport Projects
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which transport infrastructure projects given formal approval since 1997 will affect the Buckingham constituency; and if he will indicate the cost of each project. [24843]
Mr. Jamieson: There are a number of significant infrastructure schemes, either within the Buckingham constituency or nearby, which will affect the constituency. Further information is given in the table.
| Scheme | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | |
| A43 Towcester—M40 dualling(2),(4) | 56,600 |
| 2000–01 | |
| Stoke Hammond and Linslade Western Bypass(3) | 32,400 |
| M40 Handy Cross improvement measures | 3,000 |
| A41 Aston Clinton Bypass(4) | 21,000 |
| 2001–02 | |
| Berryfields—new right turn lane(4) | 250 |
| A5 Old Stratford Roundabout signalisation(4) | 250 |
| 2002–03 | |
| Complementary works for M40 Handy Cross junction | 400 |
| M1 J14 minor improvements(4) | 100 |
| Total | 114,000 |
(2) Scheme confirmed in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England" published in July 1998
(3) Provisionally accepted local authority major scheme
(4) Highways Agency Scheme
Railtrack
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the relationship is between the Strategic Rail Authority and Partnerships UK with respect to the proposed bid to take over Railtrack plc by a not for profit company. [24871]
Mr. Byers: The Strategic Rail Authority is now the sponsor of the bid by the proposed company limited by guarantee (CLG) which will put forward a proposal to the administrator to take over the assets and liabilities of Railtrack plc and its role as network operator. It is for the CLG bid team and the SRA to decide what further assistance they may require.
Affordable Housing
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many affordable
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housing units there were; and what was the proportion occupied in rural areas by (a) constituency, and (b) local authority for each year since 1990. [24895]
Ms Keeble: Information is not available in the form requested.
New affordable homes in rural settlements in England with a population of 3,000 or less are funded by the Housing Corporation and by local authorities, or through the planning system without public subsidy.
From 1 April 1991 to 31 March 1992 and each of the following years up to and including 1 April to 30 November 2001 the following affordable homes in rural settlements in England with a population of 3,000 or less were completed and funded, by the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme and Local Authority Social Housing Grant.
| Year | Total |
|---|---|
| 1991–92 | 803 |
| 1992–93 | 2,268 |
| 1993–94 | 1,567 |
| 1994–95 | 1,341 |
| 1995–96 | 1,811 |
| 1996–97 | 1,678 |
| 1997–98 | 2,020 |
| 1998–99 | 1,792 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,533 |
| 2000–01 | 1,278 |
| 2001–02 | 463 |
The number of affordable housing units completed through the planning system is not collected centrally. I will write to the hon. Member with a breakdown by local authority of the affordable housing completions shown above.
London Underground
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answers of 10 December 2001, Official Report, column 560W, on London Underground, what were the comparable figures for 2000. [25163]
Mr. Jamieson: These are operational matters for London Underground who inform me that there were:
- (a) 85 signal failures causing delays to services on the District line between Earl's Court and Wimbledon during 2000; and
- (b) 38 train delays of over 15 minutes and 155 peak time cancellations of District line trains because of train defects during 2000.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 December 2001, Official Report, column 15W, on London Underground, if the terms of reference referred to were the final terms of reference agreed with Ernst & Young; and if he will make a statement. [25862]
Mr. Jamieson: The precise timing of the Ernst & Young report is under review as it depends on London Underground's progress with its evaluation of bids. Otherwise, the terms of reference referred to are final. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made clear that he will publish Ernst & Young's report before any decisions are taken on whether to sign contracts.
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