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Television Services
Mr. Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what the terms of reference are for the review of planning regulations relating to satellite dish installations referred to in the Government's Broadband Strategy; when the review began; and when it will report; [49963]
- (2) what assessment has been made of the impact of the inconsistency between planning regulations for satellite dishes and planning regulations for terrestrial television aerials on the availability of digital satellite television and broadband satellite services in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) areas where digital terrestrial television services are unavailable; [49965]
(3) what input the review of planning regulations relating to satellite dish installations will seek from (a) devolved institutions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and (b) regional development agencies. [49964]
Ms Keeble: The Government gave a commitment in the UK Online Annual report 2001 to review the planning regulations for satellite terminals to determine how current rules restricting a residential property to a single antenna could be relaxed, while continuing to minimise the environmental/visual impact of residential satellite terminals. The Digital Television Action Plan endorsed by Government and by the digital television stakeholders also promises a review of the impact of planning regulations on the deployment of aerials and dishes, with an initial report due by June 2002. My officials are currently discussing the issues with those of other Government Departments prior to discussions with relevant external stakeholders and then a wider public consultation on possible changes to the planning regulations that apply to England. Planning arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved administrations but we shall keep them in touch with discussions in England.
Equipment Leasing
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2002, Official Report, column 84W, regarding equipment leasing arrangements, what the total cost has been of equipment leasing arrangements entered into by his Department in the last four years. [50328]
Dr. Whitehead: This answer can only be given at a disproportionate cost, as it is not held centrally by the Department.
Overtime Payments
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is on overtime payments for staff in his Department. [49129]
Dr. Whitehead: Overtime payments are allowable only when there is exceptional pressure of work and alternative members of staff cannot be utilised for the tasks or where business needs dictate.
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Air Traffic Control
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on plans to integrate the Air Traffic Control systems of EU countries. [49688]
Mr. Spellar: Negotiations on the European Commission's Single Sky proposals are under way. This project is designed to enhance Europe's airspace capacity, improve safety and achieve a greater degree of interoperability between the various suppliers of air traffic services in EU states. It does not require the integration of service providers, but focuses on more collective management of the European air traffic management system.
In the long-term, closer integration between Europe's air traffic service providers seems likely, particularly given the need to enhance efficiency so that future air traffic levels can be accommodated safely.
Ports
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the financial impact of state funding and subsidies for European ports on the competitive position of UK ports and port operators. [49836]
Mr. Jamieson: We have not made specific estimates, but the European Commission included a report on public financing and charging in European ports in its Communication on Ports, published in February 2001. In discussions on its proposed Directive on Market Access to Port Services, we have urged the Commission to take a further look at these issues.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposals for European port services. [49819]
Mr. Jamieson: The UK supports the broad principles of liberalisation and competition in port services underpinning the proposed Directive on Market Access to Port Services but we are very keen that it should be realistic and proportionate. It must recognise the diversity of the industry and the competition that already exists. A Transport Council working group is considering the Commission's proposed Directive. We are engaging fully in these negotiations in a constructive manner.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 26 March, Official Report, column 946W, on European Union ports, what response he has had from the Commission to these representations. [49835]
Mr. Jamieson: We are awaiting a response from the Commission.
Humber Pilotage Service
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the new Humber pilotage service. [50670]
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Mr. Jamieson: A new pilotage service was introduced on the Humber on 12 December 2001 when the former pilots went on strike. My Department has closely monitored the new arrangements and I am placing in the Library a copy of a detailed report of that work. A copy will also be placed as soon as practicable on the Department's website.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the cost of publicity and educational material published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02. [49068]
Mr. Jamieson: The cost of publicity and educational material published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02 is:
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 621,293.03 |
| 2001–02 | 1,000,006.15 |
These figures include the cost of exhibition stands and publicity trailers as well as publications and promotional items.
Traffic Calming
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will carry out an evaluation of the respective effectiveness and net cost of (a) road humps and (b) speed cameras as a means of reducing traffic speed levels. [49261]
Mr. Jamieson: A review of traffic calming schemes in 20 mph zones undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory in 1996 (TRL Report 215, "Review of Traffic Calming Schemes in 20 mph zones") showed an average vehicle speed reduction of 9.3 mph in the zones. A cost benefit analysis of speed and traffic light cameras, also published in 1996, showed that speeds were reduced by an average of 4.2 mph at camera sites.
Monitoring of the first year of a trial of the netting off funding system for safety cameras has shown average speeds at camera sites reducing by 5.6 mph. In the case of road humps they are usually incorporated with other measures in traffic calming schemes, so their net costs have not been separately evaluated. However, the value of the benefits exceed the costs by a factor of five to one in the case of speed safety cameras.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of levels of pollution and difference in noise levels as a result of road humps and traffic-calming measures which involve narrowing of the highway and the construction of an uneven road surface. [49260]
Mr. Jamieson: A number of assessments have carried out examining changes in noise resulting from traffic calming measures, particularly resulting from different types of road hump. Results from these were published in Traffic Advisory Leaflets 6/96 "Traffic Calming: Traffic and Vehicle Noise" and 10/00 "Road humps: discomfort, noise and ground-borne vibration". Changes in vehicle
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emissions and air quality relating to traffic calming measures have also been the subject of departmental research (see Traffic Advisory Leaflet 4/96 "Traffic Management and Emissions"), some of which is still on-going.
Lorries
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated number of lorries on the roads was in each of the last five years. [49700]
Mr. Byers: The latest available figures for 1996 to 2000, based on DVLA records of the number of heavy goods vehicles registered, are:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 430,000 |
| 1997 | 426,000 |
| 1998 | 427,000 |
| 1999 | 424,000 |
| 2000 | 422,000 |
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