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TRANSPORT

British Transport Police

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officers have been employed by the British Transport Police in each year since 1997. [171899]

Mr. McNulty: The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on officers employed by the BTP since 1997.
 
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	Number of BTP officers
1997	2,132
1998	2,095
1999	2,113
2000	2,091
2001	2,109
2002	2,123
2003	2,206
2004	2,280

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Transport Police officers patrol on board trains after 11 p.m. on (a) weekdays and (b) weekends. [171901]

Mr. McNulty: The British Transport Police (BTP) do not record this information at such a specific level. Officers actively patrol railway property including stations and trains.

East Midlands Airport

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research his Department has conducted into the (a) levels and (b) effects of (i) noise and (ii) air pollution on the residents of (A) Harborough District, (B) Oadby and Wigston Borough, (C) Melton Borough, (D) Charnwood District, (E) Loughborough and (F) North West Leicestershire District arising from increases in day and night flights into and out of Nottingham East Midlands Airport by (1) 5,000, (2) 10,000, (3) 20,000, (4) 30,000, (5) 40,000, (6) 50,000, (7) 60,000, (8) 70,000 and (9) 80,000 aircraft movements per year over the next decade; and what assessment has been made of the effects in each case of such increases between 10 pm and 6 am each day; [173011]

(2) what research his Department has conducted into the (a) levels and (b) effects of (i) noise and (ii) air pollution on the residents of (A) Harborough District, (B) Oadby and Wigston Borough, (C) Melton Borough, (D) Charnwood District, (E) Loughborough and (F)   North West Leicestershire District arising from increases in day and night flights into and out of Nottingham East Midlands Airport by (1) 5,000, (2) 10,000, (3) 20,000, (4) 30,000, (5) 40,000, (6) 50,000, (7) 60,000, (8) 70,000 and (9) 80,000 aircraft movements per year over the next decade (x) using the eastern and south-eastern approach and departure flight paths only and (y) where approaching aircraft have to circle in stacks before receiving clearance to land. [173015]

Mr. McNulty: Environmental controls at Nottingham East Midlands Airport are a matter for local control by the airport.

It is not envisaged that air pollution from these levels of movements would result in exceedence of any air quality standards. Under the system of local air quality management (LAQM), local authorities have a duty to review and assess the current, and likely future, air quality in their areas against the national objectives set out in the "Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland" and prescribed in the Air Quality Regulations 2000.

The Department is engaged in a major research study looking into attitudes to aircraft noise, "Attitudes to Noise from Aviation Sources in England" (ANASE).
 
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Phase 1, which is nearing completion, is intended to ensure that the methodology for valuing subjective annoyance from aircraft noise, to be used in phase 2 (the main social survey), is robust.

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) employees of the airport and (b) the airline companies that use or intend to use this airport with whom Ministers and officials held discussions about the expansion of the capacity of Nottingham East Midlands Airport; when and where the discussions took place; and which Ministers and officials conducted them. [173012]

Mr. McNulty: During the preparation of the White Paper "The Future of Air Transport", Ministers and officials discussed the future of Nottingham East Midlands Airport on numerous occasions with a wide range of interested parties as part of the extensive consultation process. These included the management of the airport and its parent company and relevant airlines, but also other parties concerned with the future development of the airport including its consultative committee, local authorities, regional and local development agencies, business interests and environmental and local community groups. Similar discussions will continue to take place as we look to implement the policies set out in the White Paper.

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the level of use of the Antonov and Boeing 747 400 freighter aircraft at Nottingham East Midlands Airport; and if he will make a statement. [173014]

Mr. McNulty: The Department does not have a policy on which types of aircraft may use particular airports, providing that restrictions such as planning conditions and noise agreements are observed and safety requirements are met.

Night Flights

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the (a) expansion and (b) restriction of night flights over rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [173013]

Mr. McNulty: At airports designated for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, controls on aircraft noise at night may be set under that power: at present, only Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are so designated. At regional airports, controls may be imposed voluntarily by the airport operator, in consultation with those affected. The Department has issued Guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on how to assess environmental impacts of changes to airspace arrangements to augment directions to the CAA under section 66(1) of the Transport Act 2000. The guidance picks up and promotes broader Government policy that the CAA should pursue policies that will help to preserve the tranquillity of the countryside where this does not increase significantly the environmental burdens on congested areas.

Shell Haven

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency report on the condition of SS Richard
 
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Montgomery, what the (a) timing and (b) frequency will be of further surveys of the main crack at the No. 2 Hatch. [172571]

Mr. Jamieson: Surveys are undertaken during optimal tidal and weather conditions. For visual inspections this is on Neap Tides during the summer months.

The survey of the SS Richard Montgomery is an evolving process which takes advantage of new technology and understanding. Diver surveys have been undertaken on approximately a decennial basis, with intervening sonar surveys to increase knowledge of the status of the wreck and surrounding area. It is not anticipated that another full visual diver survey of No. 2 Hatch area will be undertaken until 2013. However, if intervening surveys suggest a requirement to gather such information earlier, a visual survey would then be commissioned.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake further sampling and metallurgical analysis of the hull plates on the SS Richard Montgomery in the Thames. [172572]

Mr. Jamieson: The form of the next survey, planned for 2005, will be discussed with specialist advisers, and decisions will be based on furthering knowledge of relevant aspects of the condition of the wreck. The use of sonar (multi-beam, sidescan), Remotely Operated Vehicle, physical sampling, and visual or ultra sonic diver survey will all be considered, and might include further sampling and metallurgical analysis. However, as stated in the most recent report, there has been little appreciable change to the thickness of the hull plating in the last 22 years, so there is no reason to suggest this will be necessary before the next full diving survey.

TREASURY

Army Medal Office

Mr. Luff: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the Droitwich Spa office of Customs and Excise of the proposed closure of the Army Medal Office. [171977]

John Healey: I understand that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) are to close their office in Droitwich. HM Customs and Excise have an arrangement with the   MOD to occupy the building until March 2006. Customs are now considering the implications for its 115 staff based at Droitwich and are exploring alternative accommodation options.

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