| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Social Housing
11. Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to review the guidance to local authorities on developing the expansion of social housing through planning gain. [49404]
Ms Keeble: We have consulted on proposals to replace the present system of negotiated planning obligations with an approach based upon the application of a more transparent tariff-based approach applicable to commercial as well as residential developments.
Wealden Line
12. Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received regarding the time scale for the electrification of the Wealden line. [49405]
Mr. Spellar: We have received correspondence from Members of Parliament and others about the "Wealden" line between Lewes and Tunbridge Wells. In addition I have met the Wealden Line Group, who made a useful presentation.
Partly, representations have been in relation to possible electrification of the line between Uckfield and Eridge, but mainly in relation to possible reinstatement of the lines between Lewes and Uckfield and between Eridge and Tunbridge Wells.
Bedfordshire County Council
13. Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he plans to visit Bedfordshire to discuss local government funding with the county council. [49406]
Dr. Whitehead: There are currently no plans for Ministers to visit Bedfordshire county council to discuss local government funding.
Local Authority Housing
14. Mr. Rammell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans for changes to the level of local authority housing investment. [49407]
Ms Keeble: The level of Government support for local authority housing investment is being considered as part of the spending review. Since 1997–98 this Government has increased support for local authority housing investment by more than two and a half times. The spending review is considering what further increases should be made.
23 Apr 2002 : Column 174W
Network Rail
15. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guarantees he is providing for loan finance raised by Network Rail; and what discussions he has had with the European Commission about support for the company. [49408]
Mr. Spellar: The Network Rail bid, if successful, would involve a subordinated standby credit facility from the SRA.
This would enable Network Rail to raise the bridging finance required to release Railtrack from administration as soon as possible; and provide a longer term, last resort, loan facility.
The process of explaining the possible financial arrangements to the commission has now started with a view to obtaining any necessary state aid clearances.
Disabled Access
16. David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what good practice his Department has recently recognised in respect of councils promoting better physical access and mobility within their areas. [49409]
Ms Keeble: Earlier this month we announced that Telford and Wrekin Council, Nottingham County Council, and the London borough of Lewisham had been awarded beacon status for their good practice on access and mobility. Aided by increased local transport plan funding, and the sharing of good practices, authorities can help to make our society more inclusive by improving access to work, healthcare, education, and other key services and facilities.
Road Traffic Reduction
17. Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent to which local authorities are meeting their obligations under the Road Traffic Reduction Acts 1997 and 1998. [49410]
Ms Keeble: It is only the 1997 Act that places an obligation on local authorities. Local authorities in England (outside London) submitted road traffic reduction reports as part of their full local transport plans in July 2000. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. In the Government's view the majority of the reports met local authorities' obligations under the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 in full.
Grant Distribution System
18. Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish details of the grant distribution system intended for 2003–04. [49411]
Dr. Whitehead: We are currently working with local government to develop options for the new grant distribution system. As we recently announced in the local government White Paper implementation plan, we will consult over the summer. We will then implement our decisions in time for the 2003–04 local government finance settlement.
23 Apr 2002 : Column 175W
Multi-modal Studies
19. Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what funding his Department has provided to implement the recommendations of the Midman multi-modal study. [49412]
Mr. Jamieson: The 10-year plan provides the funding for transport investment up to 2010, including schemes which are approved following a multi-modal study.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what the estimated tax revenues are that would be generated if the road charging proposals in the DTLR Multi-Modal Study Infrastructure charging seminar summary papers were introduced; [49465]
- (2) at what time the Multi-Modal Study Infrastructure charging seminar summary papers were published on the DTLR website on 9 April; [49461]
(3) what factors underlay the decision to publish the Multi-Modal Study Infrastructure charging seminar summary papers on 9 April; [49463]
(4) if he will deposit in the Library the complete versions of the DTLR Multi-Modal Study Infrastructure charging seminar papers. [49466]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 15 April 2002]: The papers are already available on the Department's website. However, I have arranged for them to be placed in the Libraries of the House. The papers do not reflect Government policy.
The papers were produced for an internal seminar. Although under no obligation to publish publicly a request for the papers was received from Transport 2000. It was agreed to provide them with the papers and to make them more widely available by posting them on the Department's website.
The website team were to post the documents in the week commencing 8 April. They tried to post the documents on Monday 8 April but were prevented by technical difficulties faced by our external contractors.
Further technical problems faced by the Internet Service Provider meant a delay of approximately two hours between website staff processing the documents for posting at 10.30 on 9 April and when they actually appeared on the website.
At no stage were Ministers involved in deciding any aspect of the timing of the posting of the papers on the website.
The Government has made no estimate of the tax revenues that might be generated.
Council Tax
20. Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the average percentage increase in band D council tax this year across England. [49413]
Dr. Whitehead: The average Band D increase across England for 2002–03 is 8.2 per cent.
23 Apr 2002 : Column 176W
Dartford Bridge
21. Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Dartford bridge. [49414]
Mr. Jamieson: Following a public consultation the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions announced on 4 April 2002 that we intend to introduce a road user charging scheme at the Dartford Crossing using powers in the Transport Act 2000 when the powers to toll expire. It is expected that the charging scheme will commence on 1 April 2003.
Local Government Review
22. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for a further local government review. [49415]
Dr. Whitehead: The recently published Local Government White Paper, "Strong Local Leadership, Quality Public Services", sets out the future of local government in England. The forthcoming Regional Governance White Paper will set out our proposals for elected regional assemblies for England, including the implications for local government.
Rail Links (Scotland)
23. Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made in modernising the railway lines to Scotland. [49416]
Mr. Jamieson: Modernisation of the West Coast Main Line is under way, and proposals for upgrading the East Coast Main Line are under development.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |