---

17 Jan 2006 : Column 1189W—continued

Speed Cameras

15. Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of speed cameras on roads. [42357]

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of speed cameras on roads. [42347]

Dr. Ladyman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a written statement on 15 December last year, announcing the publication of the independent four year evaluation report on the national safety
 
17 Jan 2006 : Column 1190W
 
camera programme, and also announcing changes to the future funding and administration of safety cameras. The independent report confirms that safety cameras continue to be highly effective in reducing speeding, accidents and casualties at camera sites.

Ports

16. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the development of road and rail infrastructure to ports in England and Wales. [42358]

Dr. Ladyman: The current ports policy framework, Modern Ports", acknowledges that the Government have an important role, alongside ports themselves, in ensuring that the best use is made of existing infrastructure, and that opportunities are sought to improve port access. We will be looking closely at this issue in the forthcoming review of ports policy.

Night Flights

17. Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the number of night flights over London. [42359]

Ms Buck: Noise from aircraft operations at night is widely regarded as the least acceptable aspect of aircraft operations. We believe in bearing down on night noise, striking a fair balance between local disturbance, the limits of social acceptability and the economic benefit of night flights. This should be done on a case by case basis.

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has notified the European Commission of the night flying restrictions that will apply at Heathrow when the present restrictions expire; [42242]

(2) when he expects to announce the night flying restrictions that will apply at Heathrow when the present restrictions expire. [42243]

Ms Buck [holding answer 16 January 2006]: The Government will announce their conclusions on future night flying restrictions to apply at Heathrow airport in due course.

Directive 2002/30/EC established rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at certain EU airports. The Government must follow these rules and procedures in making decisions about night flying restrictions at Heathrow. The Directive does not impose any requirement for prior notification of new operating restrictions to the Commission. We have not submitted any information on future night flying restrictions at Heathrow to the Commission.

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects to announce the night flying restrictions that will apply at Heathrow on the expiry of the present restrictions; [43037]

(2) whether he has informed the European Commission of the night flying restrictions that will apply at Heathrow on the expiry of the present restrictions. [43040]

Ms Buck: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given him today (UIN 42242, 42243).
 
17 Jan 2006 : Column 1191W
 

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to question 40915, on night flight restrictions, when he will announce his decisions in relation to the stage two consultation paper of the night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports. [43041]

Ms Buck: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today to the hon. Member for Windsor (Adam Afriyie) (UIN 42243).

Regional Air Services

18. Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the protection of regional air services from London Gatwick and Heathrow airports. [42360]

Ms Buck: Government have recently published guidance on the protection of regional air access to London's five main airports, including Gatwick and Heathrow. The guidance clarifies how we will interpret the criteria for imposing public service obligations (PSOs) set out in the European Regulations. It seeks to guarantee a minimum of two daily return services on existing routes from London to regional airports, but recognises that in some cases more provision may be required.

It is for regional bodies to apply for and make the economic case for a PSO. Regional bodies will also be responsible for providing any subsidy required.

Cliff Mitchie

Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member dated 7 October 2005 in relation to Cliff Mitchie. [42846]

Dr. Ladyman: I have replied to the hon. Member's letter today.

Concessionary Rail Travel

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend concessionary travel to the regional rail network. [42353]

Ms Buck: None. Free off-peak local bus travel in England for people 60 and over and disabled people will come into effect on 1 April 2006. Local authorities and the Passenger Transport Executives will have the discretion, as they do at present, to offer concessions on local rail services based on their judgment of local needs and their overall financial priorities.

Heathrow Airport

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the maximum number is of (a) arriving and (b) departing aircraft that Heathrow could handle between 6 am and 7 pm (i) at present and (ii) when Terminal 5 opens; [42240]

(2) how many aircraft movements took place at Heathrow between 6 am and 7 am in the (a) winter and (b) summer seasons in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 2004–05. [42241]

 
17 Jan 2006 : Column 1192W
 

Ms Buck [holding answer 16 January 2006]: The Government do not routinely monitor aircraft movements between 0600 and 0700 hours at Heathrow airport. The declared scheduling capacity at Heathrow—the maximum number of movements that can be scheduled per hour and still permit the schedule to remain below an average delay of 10 minutes—is currently 61 (35 arrivals, 26 departures). Actual numbers of arrivals and departures will vary depending on operating conditions and the weather. The scheduling capacity for future years is not determined in advance.

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the maximum capacity is of (a) arriving and (b) departing aircraft at Heathrow between 6.00 am and 7.00 am; and what the capacity is expected to be when Terminal 5 opens; [43038]

(2) port how many aircraft movements took place at Heathrow between 6.00 am and 7.00 am in the (a) winter and (b) summer in (i) 1993–94 and (ii) 2004–05. [43039]

Ms Buck: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given him today (UIN 42240,42241).

Heavy Goods Vehicles

Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on the movement of heavy goods vehicles in rural areas. [42847]

Dr. Ladyman: Heavy goods vehicles provide essential services in rural areas but can cause problems on unsuitable roads. Local authorities have powers to regulate what sorts of vehicles use local roads, balancing the needs of local people, HGV operators, those who depend on their services and other road users.

Ministerial Meetings

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to meet members of the public following the award of the Integrated Kent Franchise; and what discussions he has held with GoVia Ltd. [40619]

Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend has no meetings planned with either members of the public or GoVia to discuss the award of the Integrated Kent Franchise nor has any such meetings been requested.

---