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Railway Industry
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 791W, on the railway industry, up to what total amount the Government will guarantee these loan facilities. [39423]
Mr. Jamieson: The guarantee will be sufficient, within the limits of the state aid clearance, to cover principal, interest and other fees and expenses under the facility.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2002, Official Report, column 589W, on railway policy, what non-public consultation took place on the change of structure in his Department. [40271]
Mr. Jamieson: This was an internal management matter of re-allocation of resources in response to changes in demand. No other consultations took place.
Shoreham Port Authority
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the occasions on which he has declined to reappoint members of the board of Shoreham port authority or declined to confirm candidates nominated. [39241]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 28 February 2002]: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Airport Security
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many people were employed in the UK to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports in each year since 1990; [40260]
- (2) what investigations are made into the background of potential staff employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports; [40263]
(3) what recent assessment the Government have made of the pay levels for people employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports; [40259]
(4) what recent discussions he has had with companies in the air transport industry regarding the pay associated with those employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports; [40264]
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(5) what recent estimate the Government have made of (a) the turnover of staff employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports; and (b) the impact this has on the security of airport baggage; [40261]
(6) what training is required for staff employed to oversee the security of baggage at UK airports. [40262]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department is responsible for prescribing the security measures required at UK airports and for monitoring compliance. Our measures are implemented by the aviation industry, under the requirements of legally binding directions.
Directions have been issued to all UK airports and airlines operating in the UK relating to, among other things, the recruitment and training of staff involved in specified security duties. The specified duties include the screening of baggage. In respect of recruitment, the criteria for security staff require a five year employment record check and a counter terrorist check. Our training directions require staff to undergo appropriate training modules applicable to the security functions they will be undertaking. These requirements apply regardless of whether the airports/airlines use directly employed security staff, or those of private security companies who they have engaged as agents.
Airports, airlines, and security firms are private companies and staffing matters, including pay issues, numbers of staff engaged, and staff turnover, are entirely management issues for those companies. We therefore do not collate figures on total staff numbers or turnover.
Motor Vehicles
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February, 2002 Official Report, column 871W, on motor vehicles, why data have not been included for the (a) Craigleith, (b) Moredun and (c) Newington wards. [40023]
Mr. Jamieson: The answer of 25 February said that the vehicle data were available for analysis only by pre-1996 definitions of Scottish wards. Edinburgh constituencies did not include Craigleith, Moredun or Newington wards under this definition.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many motor vehicles are licensed for use on Britain's roads. [40210]
Mr. Jamieson: The number of motor vehicles licensed in Great Britain in September 2001, the latest data available, was 29,676,258.
Pilots
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the (a) years and (b) pilotage areas of serious pilotage errors since 1980; and how many inquiries have been (a) instituted, (b) completed and (c) published. [40200]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Airports
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which consultants have been commissioned in the SERAS study of the economic and environmental impacts of airport expansion; and which studies have been commissioned that are independent of the aviation industry and the Government. [40074]
Mr. Jamieson: At various stages of the SERAS technical work the following consultants have been commissioned to support the core economic and environmental appraisal of a wide range of options:
Halcrow Group Ltd (also acting as the managing consultants of the SERAS study), Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Co Ltd, CAA Environmental Research and Consultancy Department, AEA Technology Environment and Qinetiq (formerly DERA).
The SERAS study has been undertaken for the Government alone, advised by a reference group comprising a wide range of external representatives, including regional and local government, environmental organisations and airport consultative committees, as well as aviation industry interests.
I am unaware of the details of other independent studies.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how the SERAS study of the environmental impact of airport expansion reflects criticisms of Leq as a noise measure by the Terminal Five Inquiry report; and how the study will incorporate noise disturbance above the World Health Organisation target level (50dB Leq) but below the primary measure of 57dB Leq. [40071]
Mr. Jamieson: The SERAS study uses Leq as the primary measure for daytime aircraft noise as, on the basis of available evidence, it is the most appropriate single index of the overall noise climate. The study will include information about noise impacts down to the 54 Leq level, as stated in the appraisal framework published in November 2000.
Further research has been commissioned to reassess attitudes to aircraft noise. This was announced in May last year and underlines the Government's commitment to underpin our policy on aircraft noise by substantial research.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what account is being taken in the SERAS study of the environmental impact of airport expansion of (a) ozone emissions, (b) sulphur dioxide emissions and (c) carbon dioxide. [40072]
Mr. Jamieson: The Appraisal Framework for Airports in the South East and Eastern Regions of England published in November 2000 following widespread consultation, sets out the indicators used for assessing impacts of airport development options in the SERAS study.
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The study has included an assessment of the impact on carbon dioxide emissions under a range of future scenarios. Ozone and sulphur dioxide emissions were not assessed.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what methodology is being employed in the SERAS study of the employment effects of airport expansion to capture the impact of (a) labour scarcity, (b) housing scarcity in the South East of England and (c) employment in the regions. [40073]
Mr. Jamieson: An appraisal of the employment impacts arising from a wide range of airport development options has been undertaken in SERAS. The objective has been to identify demands on the local labour and housing markets and to assess any resulting urbanisation pressures. The broad appraisal methodology is set down in The Appraisal Framework for Airports in the South East and Eastern Regions of England published in November 2000. The regional airport studies have assessed the effects on employment in the regions of a range of scenarios relating to airport capacity in the South East.
Departmental Expenditure Limits
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to amend his departmental expenditure Limits and running cost limits for 2001–02. [40185]
Dr. Whitehead: Departmental expenditure limits and the administration costs limit are amended throughout the year according to need and the parliamentary timetable for Supplementary Estimates. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions announced changes for 2001–02 in written answers on 22 June 2001, Official Report, columns 12–13W, 28 November 2001, Official Report, columns 948–52W and 13 February 2002, Official Report, columns 398–401W. There are no plans for further changes until the end of the financial year.
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