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Political Parties (Policy Development Grants)
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will estimate the amount of state funding the Labour Party will receive from the policy development grant in the next four years; [37852]
- (2) how much each political party in receipt of policy development grant is projected to receive in the forthcoming year. [37850]
Dr. Whitehead: The calculation of the amount of policy development grant to be allocated in any one year to eligible parties, including the Labour Party, as provided for by the Scheme set out in the Schedule to The Elections (Policy Development Grants Scheme) Order 2002, is a matter for the Electoral Commission.
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many press notices his Department has issued mentioning policy development grant since his Department received responsibility for electoral and political party regulation. [37853]
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Transport Multi-Modal Studies
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what transport multi-modal studies are (a) completed, (b) in progress and
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(c) planned; what their (i) expected publication date and (ii) location is; and which he has (1) accepted and (2) rejected. [37868]
Mr. Jamieson: The multi-modal studies that have reported are as follows:
| Multi-modal study and location | Reported |
|---|---|
| Access to Hastings | Reported December 2000. Decision announced in July 2001 |
| Cambridge to Huntingdon (A14) | Reported 20 August 2001. Decision announced in December 2001 |
| South east Manchester (Stockport, Manchester airport link west, Poynton) | Reported September 2001 |
| West midlands area (M5/M6 and M42 between M40 and M6) | Reported October 2001 |
The following multi-modal studies are currently in progress:
| Multi-modal study and location | Recommendations/report to RPB |
|---|---|
| West midlands to north west (M6) | January 2002—recommendations to RPB. Final report due March 2002 |
| Hull (east/west) corridor (A63 and A1033 to port of Hull) | End April 2002 |
| London to south west and south Wales (A303, M4) | May 2002 |
| A1 (north of Newcastle) | May 2002 |
| Tyneside area (A1/A19) | May 2002 |
| South and west Yorkshire motorway box (M1 J30 to A1 west Yorkshire/M18/M62 and A1(M) | June 2002 |
| A453 (M1 to J24 (Nottingham) | April 2002 |
| North/south movements in the east midlands (M1 junctions 21 to 30) | March 2002 |
| South coast (Southampton to Folkestone coastal corridor)—(M27, A27 and A259) | Spring/summer 2002 |
| Thames valley (London to Reading—M4) | Summer/autumn 2002 |
| M60 junction 12–18 (west to north Manchester) | Summer 2002 |
| ORBIT—Transport Solutions Around London (M25) | Autumn 2002 |
| London to Ipswich (A12) | July 2002 |
| London to south midlands (A1, M1, M11, A5 and A421) | December 2002 |
| Norwich to Peterborough (A47) | February 2003 |
| West midlands to east midlands (A42/M42 to M6 corridor and M69 and A38) | April 2003 |
The final two multi-modal studies have yet to commence. Dates have yet to be confirmed although we would expect these to report by end of 2003/early 2004:
- Multi-modal study and location
A52 (Clifton bridge to Bingham, Nottinghamshire)
A34 (North from Southampton).
Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England)
Regulations
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason he used his powers under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government Act 1992 to introduce the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001; and whether the regulations could have been enacted under the powers granted to him by the Local Government Act 2000. [37854]
Dr. Whitehead: The Secretary of State used the powers in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government Act 1992 to make the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) Regulations 2001 (the 2001 Regulations) because they were specific powers that enabled him to achieve what was needed. The powers in the Local Government Act 2000 are more general powers but they are not wide enough to enable the making of all the provisions which are included in the 2001 Regulations.
KCC Speed Interactive
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1111W, on KCC speed interactive signs, if he will indicate when later in the year might be. [37308]
Mr. Jamieson: We cannot say when until the analysis has been completed and conclusions drawn.
Road Traffic Accidents (Mud)
Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance is issued by his Department to farmers and landowners regarding their duty of care relating to mud on road surfaces; what plans he has to publish a code of practice for farmers and landowners clarifying their liability in road traffic accidents where mud is cited as a contributory factor to the hazardous road condition; and if he will make a statement. [37918]
Mr. Jamieson: The National Farmers Union already issues guidance to farmers and landowners about preventing the dropping of mud onto the road surface which they are currently in the process of updating. I have no plans for my Department to duplicate this guidance.
There are specific regulations aimed against mud being dropped onto the highway. Sections 148 and 161(1) of the Highways Act 1980 make it an offence to deposit anything, including mud and manure, on roads. Section 149 of the Highways Act 1980 enables highway authorities to take action against anyone who deposits anything on the highway that constitutes a nuisance or danger. Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 makes it
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an offence to cause anything to be left on the road if it would be obvious to a reasonable person that to do so would be dangerous.
High Hedges
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 884W, on high hedges, when he estimates there will be space in the parliamentary timetable for such legislation. [37855]
Ms Keeble: The Government's legislative programme is set out in each successive Queen's Speech. I cannot therefore anticipate the timing of Government legislation on high hedges.
Business Tenancies (Reform)
Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will announce his conclusions on his Department's consultation paper on the reform of business tenancies in England and Wales. [38634]
Ms Keeble: I have placed a paper setting out our conclusions on the consultation exercise in the Library of the House. We are also making it available on my Department's website.
We are still considering issues raised from the separate consultation of section 57 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, and will make a further announcement in due course.
Emergency Planning
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions since 11 September 2001, what assessments have taken place on the capability of regional and city disaster plans and the engagement of the (a) emergency planning committees, (b) police service, (c) fire brigade, (d) ambulance service, (e) hospitals and NHS trusts, (f) St. John Ambulance, (g) British Red Cross, (h) Territorial Army, (i) armed forces and (j) local authorities in these plans. [36721]
Mr. Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
As the Prime Minister told the House on 8 October, since the terrible events of 11 September every one or our arrangements has been under scrutiny. For security reasons the Government do not publish contingency plans or the operational and procedural matters relating to them.
Local authorities have a power to plan and work together with other local agencies to formulate locally based, multi-agency emergency planning arrangements. Mutual aid arrangements will draw resources from further afield if necessary. Although the process started before 11 September, the Government are reviewing the Future of Emergency Planning in England and Wales. A summary of the responses to this consultation has been placed in the Library and on the Cabinet Office website (www.ukresilience).
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The Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office maintains regular contact with local authority representatives, the emergency services, emergency planning officers and others involved in handling civil emergencies.
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