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Occupational Pensions Survey

Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the Government Actuary will publish the full results of the 11th occupational pensions survey 2000; [95262]

(2) when the Government Actuary expects to publish the full results of the 11th occupational pensions survey 2000. [95539]

Ruth Kelly: The Government Actuary plans to publish full results of the 11th occupational pension schemes survey 2000 in spring 2003.

Public Service Agreement

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the money allocated to Departments by HM Treasury is directly dependent upon Departments achieving the targets set in their public service agreements. [94428]

Mr. Boateng: The money the Government allocates to Departments is determined by a range of factors including performance against public service agreements.

Revenue Qualifying Regime

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he has made to observations from the Association of Friendly Societies on the effect on the savings of those on low incomes of the Government's proposed abolition of the Inland Revenue's qualifying regime. [95015]

Ruth Kelly: The Sandler review of the market for medium and long-term retail savings, which was published last July, recommended two changes to the regime for taxing life insurance products. These changes are the abolition of qualifying policies and the replacement of the so-called 5 per cent. tax-deferral rule which applies to withdrawals.

As we announced in the pre-Budget report, the Government are considering these proposals as part of the Budget process and is discussing their implications with the insurance industry and friendly society movement. I understand that the Association of Friendly Societies has been in frequent contact with Treasury and Inland Revenue officials. These discussions include considering how the Sandier recommendation to abolish the qualifying policy regime for new policies would effect the savings of those on low incomes.

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Service Delivery Agreement

Tony Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when (a) HM Customs and Excise's, (b) the Inland Revenue's, (c) the Office for National Statistics', (d) the Office of Government Commerce's and (e) the Government Actuary's Department's service delivery agreements for 2003 to 2006 will be published. [94106]

Ruth Kelly: The Office of Government Commerce does not have a separate service delivery agreement; PSA10 in the Treasury's service delivery agreement, published in December 2002, relates to the OGC.

Service Delivery Agreements for HM Custom's and Excise, The Inland Revenue and the Office of National Statistics will be published by the end of February 2003.

The Government Actuary's Department's SDA targets are published within GAD's annual departmental report which is planned to be published in April 2003.

Westminster Census

Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exercise his power to ensure a local census is undertaken in the City of Westminster in order to provide a more accurate figure than the 2001 count. [94835]

Ruth Kelly: The Government are confident that the 2001 Census provides the most accurate estimate of the population nationally and for each of the 376 local authorities in England and Wales. The Office for National Statistics continues to work closely with representatives from a relatively small number of local authorities, including Westminster, which have raised issues about the Census count in their area. However, to date the Registrar General has seen no evidence to justify conducting a local census in Westminster or in any other local authority area in England and Wales.

TRANSPORT

Airport Policing

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that there is parity of treatment between police forces and airports on the charges forces make to airport operators for providing policing; and if he will make a statement. [94476]

Mr. Jamieson: Part III of the Aviation Security Act 1982 provides for the designation of airports, where the Secretary of State considers that their policing should be undertaken by constables, and requires airports so designated to make payments to the police authority in respect of their policing, as agreed between the two parties. There are currently nine such designated airports.

In his recent review of the policing of airports Sir John Wheeler recommended that a new process of designation should be developed, founded on national criteria and agreed local multi-agency risk assessments. This recommendation has been accepted in principle, and Home Office and Department for Transport officials are taking this work forward in concert with the police, industry and other stakeholders.

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Light Dues

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received concerning light dues; and if he will make a statement. [94618]

Mr. Jamieson: We have received some 150 responses to our consultation on light dues, expressing a wide range of views.

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent assessment he has made of the impact of light dues on (a) the UK economy, (b) the UK maritime industry and (c) UK ports. [94619]

(2) if he will make a statement on the assessment he has made of the alternatives to light dues used in other EU member states; and what impact that has had on (a) their individual economies, (b) their maritime industries and (c) their ports. [94620]

Mr. Jamieson: We are considering these issues in the light of responses to our Consultation Paper 'Light Dues Review: Meeting the Costs of Marine Aids to Navigation, issued last Summer, on which we plan to make a statement soon.

A14

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the change in freight usage of the A14, by reason of the proposed expansion of the container port at Felixstowe; [95209]

(2) what plans he has to improve road capacity on the A14, following the announcement of the proposed expansion of capacity at Felixstowe port. [95223]

Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency is aware of the proposed expansion plans for Felixstowe port and the potential the development may have for an increase in freight on the A14. The developer, Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd., is currently consulting with the Agency on the key transport issues that will need to be considered in the development of the proposal. Until such times as the developer has formally submitted an application to the relevant authority to develop the port, and there has been an opportunity to scrutinise the proposal, I cannot offer any comment on the future capacity needs of the A14.

A21 Bypass

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what on-site investigations have been undertaken by the Highways Agency in surveying the geology of the proposed route for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green, with specific reference to the proposed tunnel at Silver Hill; [93815]

(2) what representations (a) his Department and (b) the Highways Agency have received concerning proposed plans for the building of an A21 bypass at Hurst Green; [93812]

(3) what account was taken of previous route proposals for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green during the planning of the current proposed route for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green; [93811]

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(4) what previous route proposals there have been for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green; and for what reasons these schemes were withdrawn; [93810]

(5) what (a) the cost is of and (b) the reasons are for the junction improvements and roundabout installation on the A21 at John's Cross; [93820]

(6) what investigations have been undertaken by the Highways Agency to deduce the levels of (a) noise and (b) air pollution that would affect residents living between the current A21 and the proposed bypass route at Hurst Green; [93814]

(7) how many accidents were recorded on the A21 between (a) Flimwell and Hurst Green, (b) Hurst Green and Robertsbridge and (c) south of Robertsbridge in each year since 1997; [93809]

(8) what on-site investigations have been undertaken by the Highways Agency in planning and plotting the proposed route for an A21 bypass at Hurst Green. [93813]

Mr. Jamieson: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Tim Matthews to Gregory Barker, dated 3 February 2003:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about issues relating to the A21 and the proposed strategy for the improvement of the length south of Pembury to Hastings.

The investigations undertaken for the proposed strategy have so far been limited to the assembly of existing data such as geological maps and environmental constraints for a desktop assessment. Route alignment has been based on this information, which is the normal level of study for a scheme at this early stage of development. Particular emphasis has been placed on environmental constraints and consequently, in developing the alignment, we have sought to reduce the impact on the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and designated areas of ancient woodland. At the same time we have assessed future traffic patterns and the safety and economic benefits of the proposals.

No specific ground investigation, air pollution or noise surveys have been undertaken to date, but if a decision is taken to proceed with further development of the route proposals, a comprehensive programme of surveys will be undertaken. The results of the surveys will be taken into account when preparing the Environmental Statement for the scheme which would be published with the draft Orders under the Highways Act.

Studies for improvement of the A21 at Hurst Green were undertaken in the late 1980s and were concluded in 1993 without any proposals being formally published. The area of the studies extended from just north of Coopers Corner to a point midway between Hurst Green and Silver Hill, which limited the opportunities for a line significantly away from the village. At the same time a scheme for a climbing lane at Silver Hill was being investigated and a public consultation was held in the early 1990s. This scheme was cancelled in 1993 due to constraints on funding.

During 1996–97 a DBFO package was put forward for the Weald and Downland area which included the A21. There were no major improvements of the A21 proposed south of Lamberhurst Bypass, only minor improvements. This DBFO project was cancelled in 1997 as part of the Government's review of the road programme.

The current study has examined the whole of the A21 against future needs and modern engineering and environmental standards and therefore supersedes previous studies and proposals. The purpose of the current consultation is to hear the views of all who are interested in the proposals. Where members

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of the public suggest an alternative alignment we will undertake a review of these to establish whether they have merit. The outcome of these reviews will be included in our submission to Ministers.

Public consultation on the strategy started on 19 November last year and the last date for submitting comments is 14 February. Public exhibitions were held between December 5 and December 10 at a variety of locations along the A21 with additional venues added on 13 and 17 December at the request of Hastings borough and Hurst Green parish councils. Around 1,500 people attended these exhibitions. To date over 800 prepaid questionnaires, 100 letters and emails have been received by the Agency whilst a further six letters to the Department for Transport have been passed onto us for the comments to be considered. These do not include letters sent directly to you and copied to the Agency. We are examining all these responses in detail before preparing our submission to Ministers.

The cost of the roundabout installation and junction improvements on the A21 at Johns Cross is £1.5 million. As part of the scheme a new signal controlled pedestrian crossing will be installed to provide a safer means of access to the local school and an improved footpath at New Cut.

The existing junction layout, together with nearby accesses, is complicated and can be confusing to road users. The accidents recorded on the length affected by the roundabout scheme total 14 injury accidents in five years (2.8 per year). This figure is higher than the national average for accidents at rural junctions of this type (1.11 per year). The installation of a roundabout will reduce traffic speeds and is expected to save one injury accident per year.

The accident statistics recorded on the A21 between Flimwell and Hurst Green, Hurst Green and Robertsbridge and south of Robertsbridge in each year since 1997 are as follows:

Flimwell to Hurst Green—accidents

	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
1997	0	4	5	9
1998	0	4	10	14
1999	1	2	7	10
2000	3	1	4	8
2001	0	4	10	14
Total	4	15	36	55

Hurst Green to Robertsbridge—accidents

	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
1997	1	3	6	10
1998	0	1	5	6
1999	0	3	12	15
2000	1	0	2	3
2001	0	3	9	12
Total	2	10	34	46

Robertsbridge to Hastings (Baldslow Junction)—accidents

	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
1997	1	11	23	35
1998	0	6	28	34
1999	0	8	17	25
2000	1	2	8	11
2001	0	10	25	35
Total	2	37	101	140

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