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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 10 July 2003
TRANSPORT
Taxis
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the means by which (a) black cab drivers and (b) private hire taxi drivers can prevent passengers from smoking in their vehicles; [124827]
- (2) if he will bring forward legislation to enable taxi drivers to enforce a no smoking policy on passengers in their vehicles; [124829]
(3) what research he has commissioned into the health impact on taxi drivers of secondary smoke inhalation from passengers who smoke in their vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [124828]
Mr. McNulty: We consulted nationally on smoking in taxis in 1999–2000. In March 2001, we announced that while we recognised the merits of banning smoking in taxis, we did not consider that the case was sufficiently strong to make a commitment to legislate when parliamentary time permitted. This was because we were satisfied that the present voluntary approach whereby taxi or private hire vehicle drivers have the choice of asking passengers not to smoke for the most part worked satisfactorily.
Air Traffic Control
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he gives to the Civil Aviation Authority regarding air traffic control delays. [124336]
Mr. McNulty: None. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) exercises its role as the independent regulator for National Air Traffic Services Ltd. through the licence issued to that company; one of the conditions of which is a delay term. The CAA sets this delay term taking into account consultation with interested parties and its duties and objectives under the Transport Act 2000.
Airports Consultation
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to assess the research submitted by BAA on air quality as part of the consultation into the future of air transport in the UK south-east. [124411]
Mr. McNulty: Research undertaken by BAA will be assessed rigorously by the Government as part of the overall analysis of consultation responses.
Congestion Charge
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the impact of the London congestion charge. [124485]
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Mr. McNulty: The London congestion charging scheme is the responsibility of the Mayor, not the Government. However, Ministers have regular meetings with the Mayor at which a wide range of transport matters are discussed.
Connex South Eastern
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the removal of the rail franchise from Connex South Eastern. [124484]
Mr. McNulty: On 26 June 2003, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) served notice to terminate the Connex franchise on 31 December 2003. They did so because they were not satisfied that Connex had introduced agreed changes to their financial monitoring and reporting arrangements designed to ensure that the substantial public subsidy they had received was being properly used. The SRA will run the service under their 'operator of last resort' powers, but have emphasised that they will do so for only as long as is necessary to appoint a new private sector operator. In the meantime, the SRA expect it to be business as usual for passengers and for the great majority of Connex staff.
Consultation Documents
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the consultation documents issued by his Department in each of the last four years; what the cost was of producing each of these; how many documents were issued in each consultation; and how many responses were received in each consultation. [124572]
Mr. McNulty: The Government recommend that policy development should be done in close consultation with stakeholders. Formal consultation documents are only one part of this process, which includes:
- stakeholder meetings;
listening events/public meetings;
web forums;
public surveys;
focus groups;
regional events;
free-phone and freepost surveys and events;
targeted leaflet campaigns; and
road shows and exhibitions.
The Department for Transport was established in May 2002. A full list of consultations on transport issues that have taken place from May 2002 (as DfT) and before (as DTLR) can be found on the Department's website (www.dft.gov.uk).
DfT consultation documents are available on the relevant policy website links:
- aviation (www.aviation.dft.gov.uk/conmdex.htm)
local transport (www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
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Mobility and Inclusion Unit (www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
railways (www.railways.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
roads, Vehicles and road safety (www.roads.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
shipping (www.shipping.dft.gov.uk/conindex.htm)
Heathrow Airport
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of residents in London who would be affected by increased noise levels if a third runway was constructed at Heathrow airport. [124408]
Mr. McNulty: The "Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom—South East" consultation document (Table 7.3) does not give estimates for London alone. In the consultation document it is estimated that in 2030 the population living within the 57dBA Leq noise contour would be 332,000 if a third runway were constructed (which would include parts of Berkshire, London, South Bucks and Surrey), compared with 278,000 if no runway were built. The 332,000 figure includes people living in areas that would be affected by air traffic using the third runway who would experience increased noise levels compared with today, as well as people in other areas affected by traffic using the existing runways (also within the 57dBA Leq noise contour) who would experience reduced noise levels. For comparison, the figure for the resident population living in the same noise contour in 2000 given in the consultation document was 307,000. This had fallen to 258,300 by 2002.
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects new areas of Hammersmith and Fulham to be affected by the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport. [124409]
Mr. McNulty: The modelling of noise impacts that is reported in the consultation document "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom—South East" suggests that noise generated by aircraft using the new runway would not exceed 57 dBA Leq in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. However, the purpose of the assessment was to allow comparison of different options at a variety of locations; it does not purport to be a precise prediction of the noise effects at specific locations.
Pendle
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what policies (a) initiated and (b) managed by his Department since 2001 have had an impact on Pendle; and if he will make a statement. [124090]
Mr. McNulty: The Department for Transport has carried forward the policies that were initiated by predecessor departments.
Pendle benefits from policies managed by Lancashire county council. Lancashire received a total of £12.051 million in December 2002 for integrated transport measures as part of the 2003–04-transport settlement. This funding is being used by Lancashire to
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progress their Local Transport Plan, including a range of measures to tackle congestion, improve safety and enhance public transport provision throughout the county. It is for Lancashire to spend the allocation in accordance with local priorities.
Ports Police
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the conclusions are of his review of the arrangements for ports police in England and Wales. [124630]
Mr. Jamieson: Officials are currently completing the draft report for approval by Ministers which we hope to be able to issue shortly. A copy of the report will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Rail Safety
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being taken to ensure that private contractors meet safety standards on rail maintenance. [124487]
Mr. McNulty: Network Rail's Railway Safety Case, which is accepted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), includes Network Rail's Safety Management System to manage its contractors. This also requires Network Rail's contractors to demonstrate their ability to safely deliver the contract. Network Rail's Contractor Assurance System requires that each of its contractors have a Contractor Assurance Case that is monitored and reviewed by Network Rail. These cases are designed to ensure that contractors deliver a safe, effective and efficient railway.
Network Rail is fundamentally changing the way it manages rail maintenance. Its New Maintenance Programme ensures that Network Rail decides what work is completed and when. Network Rail is also taking direct control of three maintenance contract areas. This will give Network Rail clearer control of the works being completed.
Network Rail is also subject to regulation and enforcement by the HSE's Railway Inspectorate (HMRI). HMRI plans to monitor Network Rail's management of contractors, including its arrangement for managing maintenance contracts in-house.
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