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Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he intends to publish the 1998–99 research for the report on provision of refuge and access to domestic violence services "Households experiencing domestic violence". [43072]

Ms Keeble: Our plans are to publish the research report, currently titled "The provision of accommodation and support for households experiencing domestic violence in England" in the summer, at the same time as we publish a "Supporting People" Guide to accommodation and support options for women experiencing domestic violence, and a "Supporting People" Handy Guide to domestic violence. Consequently at present we do not have a firm publication date.

Railway Fencing

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many

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miles of railway track is separated from roads by (a) wire fencing, (b) wooden fencing, (c) brick walls and (d) nothing. [42970]

Mr. Jamieson: My Department dose not hold such information.

Road Accident (Monmouth)

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement about the collision involving a Stagecoach 69 bus and a car in Monmouth on 7 March; how many passengers were (a) seated and (b) standing; and how many were (i) adults and (ii) pupils. [43531]

Mr. Jamieson: Officials from my Department have made inquiries about this incident which it transpires was of such a minor nature (there were no injuries to passengers or damage done to the bus) that it was not reported to either the police or the vehicle inspectorate. I therefore cannot comment on the number of seated and standing passengers.

Telecommunications Masts

Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take further measures to ensure that telecommunications companies comply with guidelines regarding pre- application discussion and consultation over the siting of telecommunications masts. [43622]

Ms Keeble: On 22 August 2001 we significantly strengthened the public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below and for masts on buildings and structures so that they are exactly the same as for applications for planning permission. This was underpinned by revised Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 "Telecommunications" (PPG8) which strongly encourages operators to discuss mast proposals with local planning authorities and to consult local people on them before applications for planning permission or prior approval are submitted.

The Department is currently drawing up, in partnership with representatives of the mobile phone operators and local government, a revised Code of Best Practice, which will include further advice and best practice on consultation.

In addition, the five mobile phone operators have made a series of commitments to deliver improved communication and consultation with local authorities and local communities. We expect these commitments to be followed in every case. My hon. and learned Friend, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Regeneration will be meeting the operators shortly to take stock of progress in delivering the commitments.

Roads (Somerset)

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have for road improvement in Somerset. [43400]

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Mr. Jamieson: The following Trunk Road schemes in Somerset were remitted to the London to the South West and South Wales Multi Modal (SWARMMS) Study:

(a) the A303 Sparkford to Ilchester improvement

(b) the A303 Ilminster By-pass widening to dual-carriageway

(c) the A303 Ilminster to Marsh improvement.

The Study findings are due to be reported to the Regional Assembly in early May 2002. It is up to the Regional Assembly to recommend to the Minister which schemes, if any, should be added to the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI).

Other Major Schemes being progressed by Somerset county council as part of their Local Transport Plan strategies but partly funded by central government are:

The Bridgwater Northern Distributor Road, which is nearing completion.


The North West Taunton Package—Silk Mills, which has provisional approval


The Taunton Inner Relief Road, which has received funding for 2002–03 to enable design to be progressed.

Marine Safety

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the findings of Associated British Ports recent individual risk assessment conducted by ERM Risk into its new pilotage scheme on the Humber. [43605]

Mr. Jamieson: It is for Associated British Ports to decide whether or not to publish assessments they have commissioned: they are not required to do so either statutorily or under the Port Marine Safety Code.

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will establish public authorities specific to the individual estuaries for the authorisation of pilots. [43606]

Mr. Jamieson: There are already public authorities—competent harbour authorities statutorily designated under the Pilotage Act—which are responsible for the authorisation of pilots in our ports. The Government has no intention of separating responsibility for pilotage from other port marine safety functions, since the Port Marine Safety Code requires them to be managed by means of an integrated safety system.

Areas of Outstanding National Beauty

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps have been taken since 1997 to strengthen the protection of areas of outstanding national beauty. [43355]

Ms Keeble [holding answer 14 March 2002]: In June 2000 we amended Planning Policy Guidance for the Countryside to make clear that areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) and National Parks should be given equivalent protection by the planning system. This means that proposals for major developments in AONBs should be demonstrated to be in the public interest before being allowed to proceed.

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Protection of AONB's will be strengthened under the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 through the requirement of a management plan for all and the option of a Conservation Board for those where local authorities think one would be suitable.

Broadspring Wood

Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will publish correspondence exchanged between the Highways Agency and the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club, since August 2001; [43782]

(2) what plans his Department has to (a) sell Broadspring Wood and (b) transfer it to a charitable trust for its long term conservation with public access; [43779]

(3) what price was included in the contract for sale of Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire, to the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club; and how many hectares of land were to be included in the sale; [43780]

(4) if he will set out the terms of the licence allowing the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club to use Broadspring Wood, Denham, Buckinghamshire, for multiple shot shotguns for the practical shotgun discipline; and if the licence is different to that referred to in his answer of 14 February, Official Report, column 546W. [43826]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 15 March 2002]: The substance of the correspondence between the Highways Agency and the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club was set out in my letters of 25 February and 11 March to the hon. Member.

The terms of the contract for sale of Broadspring Wood are still being finalised. If and when the sale is completed, details of the price and the area of land sold will be in the public domain at the Lands Registry.

As I noted in my answer of 1 March 2002, Official Report, column 1588W, this whole matter is currently under review by the Highways Agency who will write to the hon. Member when the outcome is known.

The licence between the Highways Agency and the Uxbridge and District Rifle Club permits the use of multiple shot shotguns especially adapted for the 'practical shotgun discipline'. Clause 2(k) states "not to use or permit to be used any gun other than a shotgun which shall not exceed 12 bore in calibre or a rifle and in particular not to use or permit to be used without the Owners' written consent first obtained any weapon requiring a Firearms Certificate under Section 1 of the Firearms Act provided that this shall not preclude the use of multiple shot shotguns specially adapted for the 'practical shotgun discipline'". This licence is that referred to in my answer of 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 546W.

Asbestos

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1177W, on what pathological basis he states it is not possible to confirm the source of asbestos trading to individual cases of asbestos related disease. [43830]

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Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 15 March 2002]: Individual cases of mesothelioma or of lung cancer caused by asbestos are not pathologically or clinically distinguishable from those due to other causes. The link between asbestos exposure and the occurrence of these diseases is established scientifically by the observation that the "rates" of these diseases are consistently higher in population groups with asbestos exposure than in comparable non-exposed groups. Now this link is established, a judgment can be made for individual cases as to whether their conditions are likely to have been due to asbestos exposure if the extent of the individual case's exposure to asbestos is known or can be estimated. However, such judgments are always a question of a balance of probabilities, and can never be totally certain. Since every member of the population has been exposed to asbestos from multiple sources, the definitive linkage of individual cases to a particular source is not possible.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1177W, on asbestos, if the cases of mesothelioma and lung cancer have been attributed by (a) estimates and (b) clinical pathology; and what the basis is of that methodology. [43792]

Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 15 March 2002]: The attribution of mesothelioma and lung cancer cases to asbestos exposure by doctors participating in the Surveillance of Work-related and Occupational Disease, known as SWORD, scheme reflects the reporting doctor's best judgment based on their knowledge of the case's exposure history. The attribution is not based on clinical pathology.

The statement that almost all mesothelioma cases recorded on the mesothelioma register are due to asbestos is an estimate based on the strongly established links between asbestos and mesothelioma, and the fact that the growth in the numbers of mesothelioma deaths over the last 30 years (and the more recent decline in deaths at ages below 50) corresponds to the earlier growth and decline in national asbestos imports.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1177W, what assessment he has made of the independent reports of Poolety, Davies, Hoskins, Browne, Gibbs Meldrum and Donnigan. [43848]

Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 15 March 2002]: It is not possible to give a reply to the hon. Member without further details. If he would care to write to me with full information on the specific reports and their authors I will ensure he receives a full reply.

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