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23 Mar 2005 : Column 808W—continued

Surplus Assets Sales

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the value of sales of surplus assets from his Department was in each year since 2000–01. [220958]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The value of sales of surplus assets from my Department (including its agencies but excluding NDPBs) is as follows:
£
2000–01248,000
2001–020
2002–03648,000
2003–04207,000

This information is included in the departmental resource accounts, copies of which are available in the Library.

Traffic Congestion

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve traffic congestion at Sandyknowes roundabout on the M2 motorway in Northern Ireland. [223168]

Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.

Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. David Burnside, dated 22 March 2005:

23 Mar 2005 : Column 809W
 

Transport Links

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his plans are for improving road and rail links between the airport at Aldergrove and Belfast, with particular reference to the Dunsilly roundabout M2 link through Antrim town to the airport. [223171]

Mr. Spellar: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.

Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin to Mr. Burnside, dated 22 March 2005:


 
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TRANSPORT

Aircraft Pollution

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce the contribution that aircraft make to greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement. [221749]

Charlotte Atkins: The Government's proposals to tackle the climate change impacts of aviation are set out in the Future of Air Transport White Paper (paragraphs 3.35–3.43).

Buses

Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the A65 quality bus scheme submitted by Leeds city council and West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive; and when he expects to make a decision on funding for the scheme. [223526]

Charlotte Atkins: Ministers decided to ask regional bodies for a view on its priority. It is now for Leeds city council to determine which of the schemes they would want considered, and the justification for that decision.

Full consideration of regional views is currently expected to commence in time for the 2006 settlement. Local authorities would need to provide a strong case for the Department to reconsider schemes remitted to the region before those arrangements are in place.

Carriage of Dangerous Goods

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments have responsibility within Wales for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No.568). [223103]

Mr. Jamieson: The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 apply to the whole of Great Britain.

These regulations are the policy responsibility of the Department for Transport. Competent authority functions are primarily shared between DfT and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The lead agency for enforcement of the regulations in Wales is the HSE. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and the Welsh police forces also have enforcement responsibilities under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding with the HSE.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the drafting process that was followed for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and use of Transportable Pressure Equipment
 
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Regulations 2004 (S.I., 2004, No.568); and whether individuals from outside his Department were involved in the drafting. [223132]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 21 March 2005]: Transport Ministers and the Chair of the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) exchanged correspondence in 2000 and the HSC were invited to prepare the draft regulations. HSC instructed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to undertake that task. HSE's policy and legal advisors prepared the regulations (including a regulatory impact assessment and full consultation exercise) and these were submitted to the DfT who agreed and made them on 1 April 2004.


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