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22 Jul 2004 : Column 660W—continued
Policies (Environmental Impact)
Mr. Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new policy proposals or significant changes in policy were produced in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; how many of these were screened for their environmental impacts; and how many were the subject of separate environmental appraisals. [185105]
Mr. McNulty:
Our policies for a modern, efficient and sustainable transport system are set out in "The Future of Transport" White Paper, published on 20 July. The White Paper builds on the progress made since the publication of the 10-Year Plan for Transport in July 2000.
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All our policies are assessed using an approach that takes account of sustainable development objectives. This builds on our New Approach To Appraisal which takes full account of the environmental impacts of transport projects.
Ports (South-west)
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress there has been on an environmental impact study into Teignmouth Harbour. [185794]
Mr. Jamieson: An Environmental Statement on the potential impacts of the Teignmouth Harbour proposals was prepared by the promoters in accordance with the Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 and was considered at the public inquiry held last year into the application for a Harbour Revision Order.
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the report of the inquiry into the extension to Teignmouth Docks to be published; and if he will make a statement. [185795]
Mr. Jamieson: The Inspector's report of the public inquiry into the proposed extension to Teignmouth Docks is under careful consideration by the Secretary of State as part of the statutory planning process. The report will be published at the same time as the Secretary of State's decision on the proposals.
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent studies he has undertaken into the viability of ports in (a) Devon and (b) Cornwall. [185796]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department has not undertaken any recent studies into the viability of ports in Devon and Cornwall. However, in September 2001 the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) published their Regional Gateways Strategy which addressed the potential future roles of gateway ports in the South West region.
Press Officers
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on press officers, broken down by grade, in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available. [185234]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 19 July 2004]: (a) I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 26 May 2004, Official Report, column 1626W that provided information for the financial year 1996–97.
(b) The salary cost of press officers employed in 2003–04 was £697,000. The average number of staff in post in that year broken down by grade (full time equivalent) is as follows:
| Pay band/grade | Number |
|---|---|
| Senior Civil Service 1 | 0.79 |
| 7.1 (Grade 6) | 0.17 |
| 6.1 (Grade 7) | 0.83 |
| 5.6 (Senior Information Officer) | 3.08 |
| 4.7 (Information Officer) | 8.92 |
| Total | 13.8 |
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Private Finance Initiative (Environmental Impact)
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible create the minimum of environmental damage. [185721]
Mr. McNulty: Department for Transport projects are evaluated against the Department's "New approach to appraisal" (NATA). NATA provides an integrated approach to appraising environmental, economic and social aspects of transport projects. The same procedures apply to PFI projects, which are also subject to NATA appraisals.
Similarly approved PFI projects have to conform to the relevant planning provisions. The scale and nature of Department for Transport PFIs would usually require the Contracting Authority to prepare an environmental impact assessment on the project.
The Department for Transport has jointly published environmental guidance on PFI projects—"Green Public Private Partnerships"—with ODPM, OGC and DEFRA. The guidance note provides practical assistance on environmental aspects of PFI project development, procurement and management.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of (a) the sustainability and environmental impacts of private finance initiative (PFI) projects and (b) the capacity of the PFI process to deliver environmentally sustainable projects. [185722]
Mr. McNulty: Project design has an important bearing on sustainability and environmental impact. This is reflected in the Department for Transport PFI project appraisal methodology and spending round evaluation criteria.
The "Green Public Private Partnership" guidance note provides practical advice on how the PFI process can be used to deliver environmental benefits. The guidance directs contracting authorities to consider the scope for PFI projects to minimise waste, reduce whole life costs and design flexibility into facilities. The London Underground Power Supply PFI provides a case study of a project designed with tough environmental standards for power station decommissioning and redevelopment, and standards that reduce the level of greenhouse gasses produced.
Quantitative and qualitative assessments of PFI project outcomes will improve, as more projects become operational for a longer time.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to make private finance initiative contracts more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability. [185723]
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Mr. McNulty: The Department for Transport will consider the accountability and transparency of its PFI programmes when the consultation on new HM Treasury PFI Value for Money guidance has been completed and the guidance issued.
Private Motoring (External Costs)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the external costs associated with private motoring, with particular reference to the environmental costs. [184847]
Mr. Jamieson: An estimate of the external costs of road use is provided on page 73 of the report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State of the Feasibility Study of Road Pricing in the UK (published by my Department on Tuesday 20 July 2004).
Public Highways (Expenditure)
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Government have spent on maintaining public highways in each year since 1997. [183791]
Mr. Jamieson: Government expenditure on maintaining motorways and trunk roads in England between 1996–97 and 2002–03 is shown in the following table:
| Expenditure (£ million) | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 550 |
| 1997–98 | 582 |
| 1998–99 | 641 |
| 1999–2000 | 726 |
| 2000–01 | 736 |
| 2001–02 | 711 |
| 2002–03 | 796 |
Notes:
1. Figures are net totals (i.e. net of allowable receipts) for capital and resource expenditure.
2. 1996–97 to 2000–01 figures are on a cash accounting basis. Subsequent figures are on a resource accounting basis.
3. The figures for 1996–97 to the first quarter of 2000–01 include roads that subsequently transferred to the Greater London Authority.
Since 2000 there has been a substantial detrunking programme in England. Therefore the money the Government have spent during this period has been against a diminishing length of trunk road. Details of the lengths of road detrunked each year will be available in September; copies of the information will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
Local authority expenditure on maintaining local roads in England between 1996–97 and 2002–03 is shown in the following table:
| Expenditure (£ million) | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 1,906 |
| 1997–98 | 1,858 |
| 1998–99 | 1,968 |
| 1999–2000 | 2,072 |
| 2000–01 | 1,802 |
| 2001–02 | 2,048 |
| 2002–03 | 2,094 |
Notes:
1. Figures are net totals of capital and revenue expenditure.
2. Figures from 2000–01 onwards do not include London.
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Highway maintenance expenditure in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and London is a matter for those Devolved Administrations.
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