| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
23 May 2006 : Column 1622W—continued
Network Rail
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) the relationship is between Network Rail Infrastructure Finance and Network Rail Infrastructure Limited; [72468]
(2) how much of the debt issuance programme of Network Rail Infrastructure Finance has been (a) authorised and (b) issued or drawn down; [72469]
(3) what the relationship is between Network Rail and Network Rail Infrastructure Finance (NRIF); whether NRIF is a subsidiary of Network Rail; and how much of NRIF is owned by Network Rail; [72470]
(4) what the total value is of property assets owned by Network Rail. [72471]
Derek Twigg: These questions are for Network Rail and I have asked them to reply directly to the hon. Member.
Railways
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will examine the merits of options for introducing a rail discount scheme for people without cars. [71894]
Derek Twigg: There are a number of discount schemes already offered on rail: the Young Person's, Senior, Family and Disabled railcards and, in the South East, the Network Card. There are also group travel discounts available for some journeys. There are no specific plans to examine further schemes at this stage.
Road Pricing Policies (Greater Manchester)
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from (a) local authorities and (b) the passenger transport executive in Greater Manchester concerning(i) congestion charging and (ii) road pricing policies; and if he will make a statement. [72651]
Dr. Ladyman: In October 2005 the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Executive applied to the Department for Transport for Transport
Innovation Fund development funding. The application was for funding to assist in the development of their corridor partnership approach and a demand management toolkit involving definition of the circumstances in which increasingly hard-edged measures, such as road pricing, will need to be deployed.
My right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State announced on 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 3WS, that the authorities of Greater Manchester were one of seven areas that had been awarded funding.
Road Safety
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bridges on the strategic road network do not meet safety standards for the level of traffic they carry; and how many would not meet the standards at projected traffic levels for (a) 2016 and (b) 2026 levels. [71831]
Dr. Ladyman: There are no bridges on the strategic road network, for which the Highways Agency is responsible, that do not meet safety standards for the level of traffic they carry.
Bridges on the strategic road network are managed to safely carry loading from permissible vehicles covered by The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 and The Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998. For a particular bridge, the traffic loading is derived by considering the effects of the most severe combination of permissible vehicles that it can accommodate. Currently, there are approximately 18 bridges on the strategic network with weight restrictions.
A regime of regular inspections, assessments and renewals is in place to ensure that bridges continue to safely accommodate the traffic on the network.
As there are no known proposals to increase permissible vehicle weights the traffic loading will be safe in the future.
Road Traffic Regulations
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of the Road Traffic (Parking Adjudicators) (London) Regulations 1993; what recent representations he has received about the operation of these regulations; if he will place in the Library copies of such representations; and whether he has any plans (a) to amend and (b) to repeal these regulations. [69144]
Gillian Merron: Regulations to enact the parking provisions in part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 will go to public consultation later this year. When those regulations are enacted the Road Traffic (Parking Adjudicators) (London) Regulations 1993 will be repealed. The Department expects to receive comments on the draft new regulations following the public consultation. The Department frequently receives letters from members of the public about the parking adjudication service but have received none recently that are specifically about these regulations.
Road Use
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total combined mileage of (a) vehicles and (b) cars travelling on roads in the UK in each of the past 10 years. [72083]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department makes estimates for Great Britain only. Estimated mileages for each year from 1995 to 2004, the latest year available, were published in the annual statistical bulletin "Road Traffic Statistics: 2004". The bulletin was published on 7 July 2005 on the DfT website and a copy placed in the House of Commons Library.
Prime Minister
Energy Review
Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister what account he took of the DTI Energy Review, “Our Energy Challenge—Securing clean, affordable energy for the long term”, in formulating the contents of his speech to the Confederation of British Industry on16 May 2006. [72820]
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Prime Minister when he received the first draft of the Energy Review; and if he will make a statement. [73126]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Members to the press briefings given by my official spokesman on16 and 17 May, copies of which are available on the No. 10 website.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
UK/Venezuelan Relations
12. David Taylor To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on UK-Venezuelan relations. [72688]
Mr. Hoon: We have an active relationship with Venezuela. We work together in several areas of shared interest, including counter-narcotics and energy. We also have an important commercial relationship. Venezuela is the third biggest market for the UK in Latin America. Our policy is to maintain constructive engagement; we have much to gain from working together.
Middle East
13. Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [72689]
Dr. Howells: We welcome both Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's and Palestinian President Abbas' commitment to the Roadmap and negotiations. It is important that both sides take steps to move the peace process forward.
We remain committed to the principles of a negotiated solution based on the relevant Security Council resolutions and international law. We continue to work towards a just, viable and lasting peace.
The Government are extremely dismayed, however, by the recent spate of killings in what appears to be an escalating battle between Hamas and Fatah militias for control of the streets in Gaza. That kind of internecine conflict is the last thing the middle east peace process requires.
Iran
14. Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the US about Iran. [72690]
Margaret Beckett: I discussed Iran's nuclear programme with my US, Russian, Chinese, French and German counterparts when we met in New York on 8 and 9 May. We agreed that it was essential that Iran should meet the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board and the Security Council, including fully suspending all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. We will continue to work closely with our EU partners, the US, Russia, China and others to ensure that Iran meets its obligations.
17. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she had on Iran with her US and EU counterparts during her recent visit to New York. [72693]
Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mrs Julie Morgan) today (UIN 72690).
18. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the steps the UK is taking to ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons. [72694]
Margaret Beckett: The UK is working closely with international partners in multilateral fora and in ad-hoc groupings to ensure that Iran takes the steps necessary to guarantee that its nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes. We continue to maintain strict national export controls in fulfilment of our obligations and commitments, including under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Palestinian Authority
15. James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her US counterparts on the funding of the Palestinian Authority. [72691]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the importance of developing a temporary international funding mechanism to channel donor funds with US Secretary of State Rice on 9 May and Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick on 17 May.
Proliferation
16. Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she had on proliferation with her UN Security Council counterparts during her recent visit to New York. [72692]
Margaret Beckett: I had no discussions on proliferation issues during my visit to New York other than those on Iran.
Arms Export Controls
19. Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress there has been towards further arms export controls; and if she will make a statement. [72695]
Margaret Beckett: The Government continue to work to strengthen regulation of the arms trade and counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Key current goals are securing the launch of a UN-based process toward an international arms trade treaty, and also seeking agreement within the UN Programme of Action to establish minimum criteria for controls on the transfer of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
Montenegro
20. Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the referendum in Montenegro on 21 May. [72696]
Mr. Hoon: The Montenegrin Referendum was discussed at the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which I attended, on 15 May.
Following the vote on 21 May, the Head of the Referendum Commission stated at a news conference this morning that the preliminary result shows a majority in favour of independence at 55.5 per cent. with a turnout of 86.49 per cent.
The EU has issued a declaration welcoming the conduct of the referendum.
I issued a press statement this morning noting that the people of Montenegro have expressed a clear desire for an independent state and calling on all sides in Montenegro, and the Serbian Authorities, to work together to determine the way forward.
Karen People (Burma)
21. Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the situation of Karen people in Burma. [72698]
Mr. Hoon: We condemn the Burmese army's attacks on civilians in Karen State, which have forced thousands to flee their homes and seek refuge on the
Thai/Burmese border. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, will shortly be calling in the Burmese Ambassador to express our concern about the situation.
Palestinian Aid
22. Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on the Palestinian people of the decision by the EU to suspend aid. [72699]
Dr. Howells: The EU continues to provide aid to the Palestinian people. Following the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority's (PA) failure to commit to the three Quartet principles direct budgetary assistance to the PA has been suspended.
The 15 May General Affairs and External Relations Council concluded that an international mechanism would be urgently established to direct delivery and supervise assistance to the Palestinian people.
EU Constitution
23. Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on progress made on the EU constitution. [72700]
Mr. Hoon: Following the rejection of the Treaty in the Dutch and French referendums, the European Council agreed on a period of reflection to consider the way forward. The European Council will come back to the matter this June. We will participate constructively in these discussions.
Darfur
24. Mr. Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the peace process in Darfur. [72701]
Dr. Howells: We welcome the signature of the Darfur Peace Agreement by the Government of Sudan and the largest rebel faction. This followed intense efforts by the UK and others to agree a deal. We call on those parties who have signed the agreement to begin implementation immediately; and on those who have not to join the agreement and help rebuild peace in Darfur.
BBC World Service
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many hours a week was broadcast by the BBC World Service to (a) Bhutan and (b) Nepal in (i) television and (ii) radio format in the last year for which figures are available. [71725]
Mr. McCartney: There is no dedicated service to Bhutan. But SW transmissions of the Bengali, Nepalese and English services are audible there. The dedicated Nepalese service is delivered on SW and FM. FM transmissions were adversely affected by recent political events. These should return to normal soon. SW transmissions in English and Hindi can also be heard in Nepal. Details are:
Bhutan English (115.5 hours per week), Bengali (10.5 hours per week), Nepalese (3.5 hours per week)
Nepal English (129.5 hours per week), Nepalese (3.5 hours per week), Hindi (17.5 hours per week)
From March to end September 2005, the Nepalese Service also broadcast an additional 15 minutes daily but this was discontinued in October. The World Service does not broadcast via television.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |