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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Assisted Suicide

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the action taken by his Department concerning British nationals seeking assisted suicide overseas, with special reference to the practice in European jurisdictions. [82245]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Government policy is that British nationals seeking assisted suicide overseas, in European jurisdictions or otherwise, are not given advice by this Department which might help achieve that outcome.

EU Membership

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Danish proposals to alter the financial terms for the countries applying for EU membership in 2004. [85058]

Mr. MacShane: The Danish Presidency has tabled final proposals to EU candidates including increases in some agricultural quotas and in financing. The Government remains determined to conclude the enlargement negotiations at the Copenhagen European Council (12–13 December). The final agreement must be fair and respect the agreement reached at the Berlin European Council in 1999 on financing enlargement.

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Referendums Protocol

Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he gives (a) ambassadors and (b) other embassy staff on making statements in (i) written and (ii) broadcast media; what particular instructions he gives about public comment on political matters when referendums are to be held in a country; and how he decides when the rules relating to comment on referendum campaigns should take effect. [84661]

Mr. Straw: FCO officials who deal with the press are governed by the Civil Service Code and are guided by Cabinet Office advice to government information and communication officers (Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service), both of which can be found on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk). British diplomats are under instruction not to engage in any activity that might be interpreted as party political.

TRANSPORT

Air Transport

Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the consultation period on the future development of air transport in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [84831]

Mr. Jamieson: A statement was made by the Secretary of State on Thursday 28 November in which he confirmed that the consultation would be extended.

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many aircraft orders each United Kingdom airline placed, in the last 12 months. [85614]

Mr. Jamieson: Fleet planning decisions are a commercial matter for the airlines concerned. The Government does not maintain statistical data on the aircraft orders placed by the 150 air carriers licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account he has taken of (a) aircraft orders placed and (b) passenger growth in determining the criteria for the future development of air transport in the UK. [85616]

Mr. Jamieson: As described in the national aviation consultation documents, forecasts of unconstrained passenger demand out to 2030 are the starting point for assessing demand for airport capacity. However, this is not a 'predict and provide' approach: the forecasts only identify what additional capacity would be needed if demand were to be met, either fully or partially, so that the positive and negative aspects of that additional capacity can be appraised so as to reach a view on what, if any, degree of airport expansion is appropriate. The passenger forecasts are long term forecasts, anddepend on key factors influencing demand such as GDP and fares; they do not use aircraft orders to assess supply over shorter periods ahead since the availability of aircraft is not assumed to be a constraint.

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Airports (Slot Allocation)

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the ownership of take-off and landing slots at (i) Gatwick and (ii) Heathrow airport. [84869]

Mr. Jamieson: The ownership of slots will be considered as part of the consultants' study now being carried out for the commission on the possible use of market-based solutions for the allocation of slots at congested airports.

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to submit proposals to the European Commission on the revision of Article 14 of Council Regulations (EEC) 95/93 on slot allocations at community airports; what timetable has been established for such proposals to be submitted; and what nature of consultation he envisages; [84865]

(2) what his Department's policy is on the (a) sale and (b) swapping of take-off and landing slots at (i) Gatwick and (ii) Heathrow by airlines. [84870]

Mr. Jamieson: We believe that the auctioning of new slots, and the trading of existing slots, would help maximise the efficiency of use of slots at congested airports. My officials will be consulting interested parties, including the Scottish Executive, about proposals for amendments to the Commission's proposals for amending Regulation 95/93, and for amending Regulation 2408/92 on Public Services

Obligations. The aim is to submit proposals to the Commission in early 2003.

Carriageway Closure (M1)

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway near junction 34 has been closed; what steps have been taken to reduce traffic congestion and delays; and when all three lanes on both north and southbound carriageways in this area will be fully operational. [84609]

Mr. Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the right hon. Member.

Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Greg Knight, dated 4 December 2002:

I have been asked by the Minister for Transport, John Spellar, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the closure of the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway at junction 34.

The Highways Agency is currently carrying out major strengthening of the Tinsley Viaduct which carries the M1 Motorway across the Don Valley. The works cannot be completed without some limited carriageway closures. These take place overnight when traffic levels are low. The northbound carriageway was closed for each night between Monday 18 and Saturday 23 November. Alternative routes had been agreed with local authorities and were signed and publicised in advance.

The contractor has been carrying out welding work overnight and this has necessitated closures. Following work on the night of Saturday 23 November, cracking developed in the structure which, if untreated, would have deteriorated. Work could only be

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carried out with a complete closure of the road. No work could be undertaken on Sunday night because fog made it impossible to install traffic management safely. On Monday the position, which had been kept under review, began to deteriorate further. Taking into account the fact that delay would prolong the closure the decision was taken to close the carriageway that afternoon. This was done and the carriageway remained closed from 4 pm on Monday to 6.45 am on Wednesday. It closed again briefly later that night to allow clearance of the remaining traffic management.

In taking the decision the Agency took into account the severe congestion that the closure could cause in the area. Local authorities and the Police were informed of the closure as soon as the decision was taken. They assisted with traffic management using the Urban Traffic Control systems to adjust timings on traffic signals in the area. Local and long distance diversion routes were put in place and the closure was publicised through press, radio and the Agency's own website and information line. The information was updated throughout the time the carriageway was closed. Further works on the northbound carriageway will involve a series of closures starting mid February as part of the strengthening works.

The Viaduct is expected to re-open fully to three running lanes plus hardshoulder in each direction following completion of the strengthening contract in early 2005.

If you would like any further information on the works being carried out to the viaduct please contact Simon Diggle, the Project Manager for the works, on 0113 283 5309 or e mail [e-mail]

International Hub Airports

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the (i) economic, (ii) social and (iii) environmental costs and benefits which (A) have been obtained and (B) could potentially be obtained from changes in the number of international passengers passing through international hub airports in the United Kingdom; and if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library. [81405]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 20 November 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 20 November 2002, Official Report, column 181W.

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