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Iraq

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote economic development in Basrah. [188345]

Hilary Benn: Iraq's economic growth will depend not only on extensive reconstruction to make good the dilapidation of infrastructure under Saddam-Hussein, but also on wide-ranging economic reforms to promote private sector growth. We are encouraging the Iraqi Interim Government to agree an IMF programme, and debt reduction through the Paris Club.

The international community pledged over US$32 billion for reconstruction at the Madrid Donors' Conference in October 2003. The UK and the US are also leading the G7 in pushing for generous relief of Iraq's debt. Iraq's oil revenues, currently estimated at over $20 billion per year (and with the capacity to rise substantially in the future) will, of course, be a major source of finance for growth. The Interim Government have asked for help with public administration and economic policy reform and DFID is helping with both. The aim is to strengthen planning and budgeting and to plan economic reforms that will help all of Iraq, but particularly the poorer areas such as Basra.
 
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In southern Iraq, DFID has funded an Emergency Infrastructure Programme that has helped to stabilise and improve infrastructure. We are starting to implement a £20.5 million project for Capacity Building for Southern Iraq Governorates (including Basra). The project will focus on strengthening planning and budgeting in the governorates so they are better able to support to the local economy and community. We are also funding a £16.5 million programme to promote employment and sustain infrastructure.

TRANSPORT

A13

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects road works on the A13 at Pitsea in Essex to be completed and diversions removed. [189303]

Mr. Jamieson: This section of the A13 is the responsibility of Essex county council, the local highway authority. The council is carrying out the repair works which are scheduled for completion by the middle of November 2004.

Ambulances

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road traffic accidents involving Mercedes Sprinter style ambulances there were in the last two years in England; and if he will make a statement; [188376]

(2) how many of the total ambulance accidents in the last two years in England were attributed to (a) driver error and (b) mechanical failure; and if he will make a statement; 188377]

(3) how many road traffic accidents involving Mercedes Sprinter ambulances in the last two years in England were attributed to (a) driver error and (b) mechanical failure; and if he will make a statement. [188378]

Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Council of Ministers

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a Written Ministerial Statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which his Department is represented in advance of each meeting; [188192]

(2) if he will make a Written Ministerial Statement outlining for each meeting of the Council of Ministers at which his Department is represented as soon as is practicable following that meeting (a) the key items of discussion, (b) the positions of the Government on those items, (c) the key positions taken by other member states
 
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that Ministers consider should be noted by hon. Members and (d) any preliminary discussion on the timing and the agenda of the following meeting. [188193]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 13 September by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Official Report, column 1451W.

Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to encourage the greater use of electrically assisted pedal cycles in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [188577]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 15 September 2004]: Electrically assisted pedal cycles complying with the requirements in The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Construction and Use Regulations 1983 are able to use facilities provided for ordinary bicycles. The Government are committed to encouraging more cycling as a healthy, useful and enjoyable means of travel.

Our White Paper, "The Future of Transport", confirmed our long-term aim to increase levels of cycling and followed the publication in June of "Walking and Cycling: an action plan". That plan includes more than 40 practical actions from across Government to encourage and promote walking and cycling through improved facilities, training, education and promotion.

Electronic Consultation Papers

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his recent consultation paper, Driving at Work, is available in paper as well as electronic versions; how many pages long it is when printed out; and if he will issue a printer friendly version of this and other electronic consultation papers. [188496]

Mr. Jamieson: "Driving at Work" is a guidance leaflet published by the Department and the Health and Safety Executive in September 2003. It is available in paper form from HSE Books and can be printed from the electronic version at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg382.pdf. Both versions are 24 pages long.

The Department's consultation papers are available in hard copy from and can also be printed from our web-site using the PDF and Word format icons at the top of each document.

Eurostar

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what free capacity will be generated by the relocation of Eurostar services from Waterloo station. [186724]

Mr. Darling: Any relocation of Eurostar services from Waterloo station is a matter for Eurostar. The most effective use of track capacity is kept under review by the rail industry.

Farnborough Airfield

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Farnborough Airfield will be included in his strategy for dealing with the future needs of airport capacity in the UK. [189116]

 
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Charlotte Atkins: The White Paper "The Future of Air Transport" recognises the potential of small airports, including Farnborough Airfield, to cater for business aviation demand, which is necessary due to capacity constraints at the main South East airports.

However, it is for the operator of Farnborough Airfield to bring forward any development plans, which will need to be considered through the planning system in the normal way.

Highways Agency

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of the Highways Agency's four-stage complaints procedure; and what plans he has to review its structure and operation. [188802]

Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency is conducting a review of its complaints procedure that is due to be completed during the current financial year.

Oxford/Cambridge Motorway

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the need for a motorway between Oxford and Cambridge. [189246]

Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State has made no assessment of the needs for a motorway between Oxford and Cambridge.

Ports

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the outstanding UK deep sea container terminal development applications (a) which have been referred to his Department prior to formal planning applications being submitted in the form of HRO, HEO, TWAO or a standard planning application, (b) which have been subject to a scoping study and are awaiting or in the process of a public inquiry and (c) for which he has received the inspector's report following a public inquiry; and in each case when he (i) received the report and (ii) expects to announce his decision. [189097]

Mr. Jamieson: There are three outstanding applications for deep sea container terminal developments requiring approval by the Secretary of State. The positions on each are as follows:

The inspector's report into P&O's application for a Harbour Empowerment Order to construct a port at Shellhaven (London Gateway) was received in the Department on 26 February 2004. A decision will be announced when Ministers have completed their consideration of the report and all relevant issues.

The application by Hutchison Ports to construct a port at Bathside Bay is currently at a public inquiry which I understand is due to close this week.

The application by Hutchison Ports for a further container terminal at Felixstowe South is due to be considered at a public inquiry starting on 26 October.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects the proposals for major container port developments at Hunterston and Scapa Flow to be taken through the decision process by the
 
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autumn 2005 deadline set out in paragraph 7.28 of the Government's White Paper entitled the Future of Transport: A network for 2030. [189098]

Mr. Jamieson: The timing of these decisions is a matter for the Scottish Executive, to whom the applications for approval would be made.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's interpretation is of the alternative test required by the Habitats Directive when assessing environmental damage that may be created by a deep sea container terminal development proposal. [189105]

 
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Mr. Jamieson: In line with the European Commission's methodological guidance on the assessment of plans or projects significantly affecting Natura 2000 sites we take the view that consideration of alternatives is not confined to alternative local sites.

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