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Train Protection and Warning System
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated cost is of the implementation of the new train protection warning system on Scotland's rail network; and what percentage this cost represents of the total costs of the implementation of the Strategic Rail Authority's plan in Scotland. [58093]
Mr. Jamieson: Information provided by Railtrack indicates the estimated cost of installing the train protection and warning system on Scotland's rail network is in the region of £50 million. The Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan does not allocate costs by region.
Housing Repairs
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the backlog of disrepair of (a) local authority, (b) RSL, (c) private rented and (d) owner occupied housing in (i) Greater London and (ii) Enfield. [57922]
Ms Keeble: Through the 2001 Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, London authorities have reported the following numbers of unfit dwellings on 1 April 2001:
| All London | Total stock | Unfit dwellings |
|---|---|---|
| Local authority | 526,739 | 29,490 |
| RSL | 284,240 | 9,038 |
| Other public sector | 13,917 | 870 |
| Owner occupied | 1,741,428 | 95,602 |
| Other private sector | 560,034 | 84,769 |
Enfield have not given a full breakdown of their unfit stock, but the figures available are as follows:
23 May 2002 : Column 504W
| Enfield | Total stock | Unfit dwellings |
|---|---|---|
| Local authority | 13,183 | 166 |
| RSL | 5,778 | - |
| Other public sector | 521 | - |
| Total private sector | 94,619 | 4,506 |
We do not have up to date information on expenditure required across tenures in London and Enfield. All London local authorities say they need to spend £5,380 million on capital investment at 1 April 2001 on their own stock. Enfield estimates that its current backlog of repairs on its own stock is about £50 million, of which about £8 million is required to bring its housing up to the Decent Homes standard. (All figures are from the 2001 Business Plan Statistical Appendix).
All local authorities are working towards providing numbers of non-decent homes within their own stock in July in their 2002 Housing Revenue Account Business Plans.
Commercial Aircraft
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the criteria are for determining the lowest permissible altitude of commercial aircraft operations around international airports; and which authority is responsible for them. [57543]
Mr. Jamieson: Provisions relating to the lowest height at which aircraft may fly are contained in the Rules of the Air Regulations 1996 (Statutory Instrument 1996 No. 1393). These are made under the Air Navigation Order and reflect internationally agreed safety standards and recommended practices. The Rules apply to all flights.
Rule 5 of the Rules of the Air Regulations is the low flying rule, and aircraft flying under Instrument Flight Rules must also comply with Rule 29 (minimum height).
The responsible authority for the rules of the air is the Civil Aviation Authority, the Government's safety regulator.
In addition some airports apply their own local restrictions within the immediate vicinity of the airport (normally within the local traffic circuit) for noise abatement purposes. These restrictions require aircraft to fly at heights greater than those specified in the low flying rules.
Unpaid Advisers
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 85W, what the (a) names and (b) responsibilities are of unpaid advisers who have assisted the work of his Department since June 1997 but are not included in the Cabinet Office's annual report "Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews 2000–01". [57034]
23 May 2002 : Column 505W
Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 21 May 2002]: As my answer of 10 April made clear, Ministers in this Department have not appointed any unpaid advisers other than those accounted for in the list of Task Forces, Reviews and other ad hoc Advisory Groups.
"The New Humber Pilotage Service"
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions from which sources his Department derived its information in preparing the document "The New Humber Pilotage Service". [58350]
Mr. Jamieson: The sources are given in the document.
Potters Bar Derailment
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to publish the report from the formal investigation into the Potters Bar rail derailment by the Health and Safety Executive. [58655]
Dr. Whitehead: The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) will publish their formal report once the British Transport Police (BTP) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have completed their investigations.
Safety lessons learnt from the BTP/HSE investigations will be transmitted without delay to industry dutyholders.
Fire Service
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the major orders (a) won and (b) lost this year by the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh; what arrangements he is making for consultation on proposed changes to the Framework Document; and what the timescale is. [58735]
Dr. Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 22 May 2002, Official Report, column 341W.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent research the Government have commissioned under the Pathfinder studies into fire brigades; what the conclusions were; and what action the Government proposes to take to meet the recommendations. [58713]
Dr. Whitehead: Some 50 separate studies have been commissioned the Fire Cover Task Group of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council (CFBAC). The scope of the studies is too wide to summarise here. However, copies of the reports of all (48) currently completed studies can be found on my Department's website at "http://www.safety.dtlr.gov.uk/fire/fepd/fcr/fcrhome.htm".
It is the responsibility of the Task Group to make recommendations to the CFBAC on the research they have commissioned and the overall outcome of the Pathfinder trials. Their report is expected in the late summer.
When this is available it will be considered initially by the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council, following which I expect to consult widely, since I expect the review to provide the fundamental basis of planning delivery of service by fire brigades in the future.
23 May 2002 : Column 506W
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what investigations he has commissioned in the current year into aspects of the (a) financial and (b) other forms of management of the Fire Service College, Moreton- in-Marsh; and what consequent reports he has received. [58733]
Dr. Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 May 2002, Official Report, columns 341-42W.
Regional Airports
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to support and facilitate the expansion of regional airports. [58581]
Mr. Jamieson: A New Deal for Transport (1998) said that the Government would
- "encourage the growth of regional airports to meet local demand for air travel where consistent with sustainable development principles"
in order to
"maximise the contribution they make to national and regional economies; relieve pressure on congested airports in the south east of England; and reduce the need for long surface journeys (particularly by road) to south east airports."
Tourism
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what importance he attaches to the needs of tourism in his plans to improve England's road network. [58579]
Mr. Jamieson: Individual road improvement schemes are subject to the New Approach to Appraisal (NATA), introduced in 1998. NATA takes account of the expected impact of a proposed scheme on the environment, safety, the economy, accessibility and integration. The assessment includes an appraisal of the extent to which a proposed scheme may help the regeneration of an area. The time savings and reductions in vehicle operating costs for tourists (including coaches) are included in the overall appraisal of the benefits of a proposed road scheme.
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