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31 Mar 2003 : Column 514W—continued
TRANSPORT
Air Travel (Environmental Taxation)
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact he estimates a reduction in passenger demand for air travel as a result of the introduction of proposals to introduce environmental taxation on air travel, outlined in Aviation and the Environment, would have on Government estimates of passenger demand cited in 'The Future Development of Air Transport in the South East'. [105240]
Mr. Jamieson: There would be no material difference as this has already been taken into account. Demand forecasts in 'The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom' consultation document took into account aviation's contribution to climate change, by far the most significant environmental cost. They did so by assuming a CO2 tax in place by 2015 to internalise aviation's climate change costs.
The recent discussion paper 'Aviation and the Environment: Using Economic Instruments' cites a figure of £1.4 billion as the estimated annual cost of aviation's contribution to climate change. The costs are similar to the value of the CO2 tax, which was assumed in the demand forecasts.
Brighton West Pier
Mr. Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from English Heritage in respect of the proposed Brighton West Pier Harbour Revision Order. [105381]
Mr. Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce a decision on the proposed Harbour Revision Order for the Brighton West Pier. [105382]
Mr. Jamieson: There is one outstanding objection to this application and the Harbours Act 1964 requires that when this is the case, an inquiry must be held. If the applicants apply for an inquiry now, a decision on the Harbour Revision Order could be made within five to six months.
Mr. Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the need for repair to and restoration of the Brighton West Pier in considering the Harbour Revision Order; [105408]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the decision of Brighton and Hove City Council's Planning Applications Sub-Committee of 26 February 2003, in relation to the Brighton West Pier and the subsequent decision of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the West Pier Planning Application in considering the proposed West Pier Harbour Revision Order. [105407]
Mr. Jamieson: None. The Secretary of State will receive advice on all relevant issues from the Inspector after a public inquiry into the Order, if and when an inquiry is held.
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Central Railway
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has asked the Strategic Rail Authority to amend any aspect of its report delivered in autumn 2002 on the Central Railway proposal. [105550]
Civil Contingency Planning
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his Department's (a) responsibilities and (b) assets with regard to civil contingency planning; what funds are committed; what action he is taking within his Department to improve such planning; and what action he is taking in collaboration with other departments. [102623]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 21 March 2003 Official Report, columns 957–58. Following a recent internal review the Department has increased its capacity for handling civil contingency planning by establishing a dedicated team within its Defence and Civil Contingency Planning Division. The overall resource for the current year is around £850,000 and will increase by £150,000 for 2003–04 mainly to reflect the increased work on civil contingency planning.
The Civil Contingency Planning team is reviewing the Department's role with the transport sector's own contingency planning. It is also working closely with Whitehall committees, Government Departments and Government Offices on developing civil contingency issues and responses to such events, as demonstrated by the co-operation during the current fire fighters dispute and recent exercises. The team is also working closely on the improvement of the department's own contingency plan. The Department will also continue to play an active role in Government exercises.
Civil Service Travel
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what grades in the Civil Service in his Department are allowed to travel by air (a) first class and (b) business class at public expense when on official duties. [104965]
Mr. Jamieson: Staff in my Department must use the most efficient and economic means of travel commensurate with meeting operational needs.
Staff may only use first class air travel where it is unavoidable, for instance:
- (a) it is necessary to travel in the company of someone else who is travelling first class
(b) there is an urgent business at short notice where no other class of ticket is available.
- (a) they are a member of the Senior Civil Service at pay band 2 or higher
(b) no tickets are available in economy class and the business need is urgent.
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Overseas flights
(a) the duration of the flight is more than 2½ hours
(b) strict application of the rules might not be cost effective and can be justified by a saving in time or subsistence.
- (a) the facilities provided in economy class do not meet their needs in that they are pregnant, suffering from a temporary or permanent disability or because of their physical stature.
(b) it is necessary to travel in the company of someone else who is travelling business class.
(c) they are a member of the Senior Civil Service who transferred to my Department from the Treasury Solicitor's Department and have reserved rights.
Communications Masts
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many communications masts will be required for the new GSM-R digital network. [105416]
Mr. Jamieson: I understand that Network Rail is upgrading its analogue radio systems network of around 1,400 telecommunications masts to a national digital network of approximately 2,000 masts. The increased number arises from the extended coverage of the new system across the entire rail network, including all tunnels and cuttings.
Departmental Conferences
Mr. John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) conferences, (b) seminars, (c) workshops, (d) exhibitions and (e) press conferences which have been sponsored by his Department and which took place on non-departmental premises in the last 12 months, broken down by title, purpose, date and cost. [104275]
Mr. Jamieson: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
External Reports
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) the title and subject, (b) the total cost to his Department and (c) the commissioned author or organisation of each external report commissioned by his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997. [103725]
Mr. Spellar: Information on publications and reports produced by the Department is not broken down to this level of detail. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions' annual report in 2001 lists all white and green papers and major policy documents issued by the Department between April 1997 and March 2001.
A list of the titles published by and for the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997 is available in the Libraries of the House.
M5
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on maintaining the M5 in Somerset in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [105520]
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Mr. Jamieson: The total works and supervision cost spent on maintaining the M5 in Somerset for (a) 2001–02 was £1,649,416 and for (b) 2002–03 (to date) £4,178,450.
Spend in 2002–03 is higher because a major road renewal scheme to replace a section of concrete carriageway was carried out south of Junction 26.
Network Rail
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Network Rail pays (a) corporation tax, (b) income tax and (c) stamp duty; and what the VAT status of Network Rail is. [105118]
Mr. Jamieson: Network Rail is treated in the same manner as any other private sector company in relation to these matters.
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