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Cliffe Airport

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of take-offs under the Cliffe Airport option proposed by the Government would head east and then turn north over Essex; and over which Essex communities these would fly and at what height. [74930]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 21 October 2002]: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) analysis has not attempted to identify the distribution of aircraft to this level of detail.

Anti-speed Campaigns

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) UK-wide anti-speed campaigns and (b) Arrive Alive in North Wales; and if he will make a statement. [75878]

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Mr. Jamieson: Warning of the dangers of speeding is an integral part of the Department's publicity strategy. An integrated communications campaign incorporating TV, radio, press and poster advertising has run since 1991 supported by local road safety officers. An ongoing monthly tracking study has shown that this publicity has helped create and sustain a high level support for road safety measures which encourage people to slow down. In this time the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads has reduced significantly.

All netting off partnerships, of which North Wales is one, must ensure information on safety camera deployment is properly explained and accurate. Partnerships are formally monitored to assess their effectiveness and local communications forms a part of this monitoring.

Local activity undertaken by the Safety Camera Partnerships, such as Arrive Alive in North Wales and other local policy initiatives, contribute to a concerted and comprehensive approach to tackling speed.

A21 (Accidents)

Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents occurred between January and June on the A21 (a) Lamberhurst to Flimwell and (b) Tonbridge to Pembury. [76665]

Mr. Jamieson: The data requested for 2002 are not yet available.

For the number of accidents in 2001, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 15 October 2002 Official Report, column 715W.

Traveline

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been conducted into the effectiveness of (a) the Traveline phone service and (b) the traveline.org.uk website; and if he will places copies of related correspondence in the Library. [76475]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department for Transport has funded on behalf of traveline three waves of Mystery Shopping. The report from the third wave of Mystery Shopping indicated that the traveline service has significantly improved in all regions since the first wave of mystery shopping was carried out 12 months ago. The time taken to answer calls and the customer service elements of the calls were generally satisfactory or good. Overall 95 per cent. (Wave 2 result 93 per cent., Wave 1 result 88 per cent.) of the answers given were completely accurate and reflects an improvement across the regions but particularly for some of the long distance call types. Twelve call centres in wave 3 scored 100 per cent. on accuracy (5 in wave 2).

There will be no current assessment on the effectiveness of the traveline website, as not all regions have been added. The traveline site at present is based around best principles as established through other transport planning web services.

Copies of the final reports from the three waves of Mystery Shopping will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business Start Ups

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects the estimates for 2001 (final) and 2002 (provisional) figures from the Office for National Statistics for the number of high growth business start-ups to be available; and if she will make a statement. [75120]

Nigel Griffiths: The Office for National Statistics have agreed to provide estimates of the number of high growth business start ups for 2001 (final 1997 start ups) and 2002 (provisional 1998 start ups) by the end of November 2002.

The Small Business Service will conduct data quality checks in December 2002, with a view to providing the estimates by the end of the year.

Regional Development Agencies

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes have been compulsorily purchased by regional development agencies since 1999. [75968]

Alan Johnson: Seven residential properties have been compulsorily purchased by regional development agencies since 1999.

Smart South West

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the contract between the South West Regional Development Agency and Smart South West. [74938]

Alan Johnson [holding answer 22 October 2002]: The South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) has two contracts with Smart South West.

#60k from SWRDA to fund for a year the IT Sector Advisor within Smart South West, which finished this summer but is currently continuing on a 3 monthly basis until the post holder leaves.

#56k from the DTI to manage the SWRDA led ''Outreach'' project under the Broadband Fund.

Defence Exports

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the approved defence exports to (a) India and (b) Pakistan in each of the last three years. [76335]

Nigel Griffiths: Details of all relevant export licences that have been approved to end users in India and Pakistan, in each of the last three years, are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls. Copies of the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Annual Reports are available from the Libraries of the House.

Development Fund for Rural Renewal

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses applied for

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assistance through the Development Fund for Rural Renewal in November 2001; and what the total value is of funds that have been allocated. [76836]

Nigel Griffiths: A total of 67 applications to the Development Fund for Rural Renewal were received from a variety of organisations throughout England. The total value of funds allocated is #3,017,197.

Food Supplement Directives

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will assess the impact on research and development of the European Food Supplement Directive and the proposed European Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products; and if she will make a statement. [75814]

Ms Blears: I have been asked to reply

The EU Food Supplements Directive requires that the safety of concentrated sources of vitamins and minerals used as ingredients in food supplements be approved by the European Union scientific committee on food before use. Consequently, the Directive is likely to have the effect of encouraging research into the safety of these ingredients.

The possible impact of the proposed Directive on traditional herbal medicinal products on research and development is difficult to predict. Under the current regime in the United Kingdom for unlicensed herbal remedies it will not normally be clear to the purchaser of a remedy whether that remedy is brought to the market on the basis of evidence of efficacy of the product, of traditional usage, or some other factor. The proposed Directive should, over time, bring greater clarity to the market on this issue, which may be beneficial to the prospects for research and development.

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will assess the impact on the retail sector of the European Food Supplement Directive and the proposed European Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products; and if she will make a statement. [75813]

Ms Blears: I have been asked to reply

In the short-term the EU Food Supplements Directive is unlikely to have any effect upon the retail sector. In the longer-term, the impact of the Directive will depend upon progress in adding vitamin and minerals and their sources to the lists of permitted nutrients in the Directive and upon developments in the setting of maximum limits for vitamins and minerals in food supplements. The Food Standards Agency is arguing the case for these maximum limits to be based on thorough scientific risk assessments so that there is no unnecessary restriction on the range of products that can be marketed.

The proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products could have positive consequences for employment in the retail sector. The proposals would require traditional herbal remedies to meet standards as to quality, safety and product information,

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areas in which the current regime for unlicensed herbal remedies has significant weaknesses. More effective regulation, which would follow if there is a successful outcome to the negotiations, potentially could enhance the status and recognition of traditional herbal remedies. This in turn could help to maintain and increase public confidence and ultimately lead to an expansion in the sector. Our aim in the continuing negotiations, and in the implementation of the Directive if it is agreed, will be to ensure that the regulation is proportionate.

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