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22 Nov 2007 : Column 1043W—continued
Mr. Jim Murphy:
We continue to monitor closely the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) trial, in which Dr. Besigye is a defendant, and are pushing for a swift and fair conclusion of the legal process. We regularly raise this issue with senior members of the Ugandan government through the local Heads of Missions Partners for Democracy and Good Governance Group in Kampala. In the course of our regular dialogue with
the Government of Uganda, we continue to press them, including at senior political level, on the need to engage with the opposition and develop further multi-party democracy. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials raised the PRA case with Ugandan Foreign Minister Kutesa during his visit to London in September.
Our High Commission in Kampala has sought to verify the deaths of David Oboma, Denis Nabilema and Moses Dramani. The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative in Kampala has stated that Oboma died of natural causes. Senior officials from the Forum for Democratic Change have not been able to verify the deaths of Nabilema and Dramani.
Wael al-Haj Ibrahim
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking with their international partners to secure the re-entry of Wael al-Haj Ibrahim, Head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Darfur, into that country. [165369]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The UK fully supports the UN position over the expulsion of the Head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in South Darfur from Nyala to Khartoum.
On 11 November, the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Sudan briefed embassies in Khartoum on her discussions about this issue with the Sudanese Government. She urged the Government to use established channels, including the High Level Committee that monitors the implementation of the Joint Humanitarian Communiqué of 28 March, to resolve the issue.
We, and our international partners, continue to press the Sudanese Government to abide by their commitments under the Humanitarian Communiqué, and stand ready to give the UN Co-ordinator further support on this and other issues.
Zimbabwe: Politics and Government
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the EU is taking to support the democratic process in Zimbabwe during elections in 2008, as discussed at the EU Council meeting on 15 October 2007. [165367]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The EU is working with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and other African and international partners, to encourage the changes necessary to ensure the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe are held in line with international standards, including those adopted by the SADC. These include the removal of all military personnel from the election management process; all parties able to hold rallies, campaign freely and have free access to the media; voting rights for the substantial Zimbabwean diaspora; and a fairer and more transparent voter registration process. We also believe that international election observers should be given access to Zimbabwe at the earliest opportunity, since preparations are already underway.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe. [165982]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Zimbabwe’s decline is tragic and President Mugabe and his misguided policies are a large part of the problem. We are pressing for South African President Mbeki’s and the Southern African Development Community’s efforts to resolve Zimbabwe’s problems with real improvements on the ground, an end to political violence and elections that meet international standards. We are working with them and the international community to achieve those ends. Ordinary Zimbabweans deserve no less.
Transport
Aircraft: Air Conditioning
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 November 2007, Official Report, columns 41-2W, on aircraft: air conditioning, what tests have been carried out for tri-cresyl phosphate in cabin air. [167144]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 November 2007, Official Report, columns 41-2W. Specifically, I draw attention to the penultimate and final paragraph of my reply.
Bournemouth Airport
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to improve the road link to Bournemouth airport from the A338. [166758]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 21 November 2007]: The Department for Transport currently has no such plans and the South West Region has not identified such a link as a regional priority within its regional funding allocation advice to Government.
Cars: Eastern Region
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the number of households in the Eastern Region which will have two or more cars registered in each of the next 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [166427]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of households that are estimated to own two or more cars in the East of England region over the next 10 years are as follows:
| Number | |
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of cars which are likely to be licensed in (a) Peterborough constituency and (b) the Eastern Region over the next 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [166428]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department’s National Car Ownership Model forecasts the number of cars owned by households within areas of Great Britain. These forecasts therefore exclude vehicles that are not owned by private households, such as freight.
Household car ownership forecasts for Peterborough and the East of England Region over the next 10 years are as follows:
| Peterborough | East of England | |
Congestion Charges
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which congestion charging schemes' operating costs were greater than 40 per cent. of their revenue in the latest period for which figures are available; [166724]
(2) what the capital cost of introducing each congestion charging scheme in England has been. [166725]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 21 November 2007]: There are currently three road user charging schemes in England. The Dartford Crossing and Durham charging schemes were implemented under the road user charging provisions of the Transport Act 2000, and the London congestion charge was implemented under the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
Accounts for the charging regime at Dartford are published on the Highways Agency’s website. Operating costs are below 40 per cent. of revenue. The charging scheme took over the infrastructure of the toll that preceded it.
The Department does not routinely collect information on costs and revenues of the other two schemes, in London and Durham. However we understand that revenues for the Durham scheme in the last financial year were £65,820 and operating costs £26,517.
The capital cost of introducing the Durham scheme was in the region of £175,000.
For London the published figures for 2006-07 show total revenues of £252.4 million and total costs (including depreciation and start-up costs for the western extension) of £163.3 million. The original capital cost of setting up the congestion charge in 2003 was £161.7 million.
Daedalus Airfield
Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will appoint a regulator for Daedalus Airfield. [166953]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Solicitors acting for the Lee Flying Association recently wrote to a number of parties, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, threatening to bring judicial review proceedings in respect of the decision, which I am informed the Hampshire police authority took, to close the former HMS Daedalus to general aviation due to safety concerns. The Hampshire police have now suspended its decision for 28 days.
The Government are currently considering the situation and in the circumstances, it would be inappropriate and premature for me to say any more at this stage.
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that English wine is served exclusively or at the request of guests at meals, parties and receptions hosted by her Department; and if she will make a statement. [164297]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport does not purchase food or drink centrally. At our main London Headquarters building food and drink for official events is usually obtained from the facilities management provider. Wine is rarely ordered.
All procurement within the Department is undertaken in line with the EU’s procurement rules and to obtain value for money.
Departmental Standards
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to publish her Department’s autumn performance report. [164868]
Jim Fitzpatrick: We expect to publish the DfT autumn performance report in week commencing 10 December 2007.
M1: Nottinghamshire
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her most recent estimate is of the date work will start on widening the M1 motorway in Nottinghamshire; if she will ensure that concurrently with the road widening motorway lighting is installed; and if she will make a statement. [165602]
Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 19 November 2007]: Work to widen the M1 between J25 and J28 began with site clearance on 29 October 2007, with the main start of works in January 2008.
Further planning for the remaining sections of the M1 between J21 and J30 is being undertaken and a programme is being developed. Subject to satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory processes, I hope to be able to make an announcement about this next year.
The M1 from J25, to part way between J27 and J28 is already lit and replacement will be included as part of the widening.
Designs of the lighting have not yet been finalised for the remaining sections of the M1. The intention at this time it to follow current guidelines; which includes economic assessment, to assess the lighting need on a location by location basis.
M6: Road Traffic Control
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the status is of proposals to widen the M6; how this scheme will be affected by proposals to introduce hard shoulder driving on parts of the M6; what discussions she has had with (a) safety groups, (b) insurance groups and (c) other interested parties on proposals to extend hard shoulder driving beyond the M42 pilot scheme; and what motorways will be considered by her study into extending advanced signalling and traffic management systems. [163224]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Highways Agency (HA) is currently investigating options for adding capacity to the M6 between junctions 11a and 19, including both widening and Active Traffic Management (ATM). This work is anticipated to lead to a public consultation in due course.
HA will also consult a wide range of stakeholders on the £150 million scheme to extend ATM to sections of the M6 around Birmingham as the detailed specification is developed, building on the relationships already established with stakeholders in relation to the M42 ATM trial. Further decisions on the possible wider application of advanced signalling and traffic management systems will be informed by the feasibility study announced on 25 October 2007. The Terms of Reference were published to Parliament through a written ministerial statement on the same day. In conducting the study we will convene a stakeholder advisory group to ensure a wide range of key interest groups are consulted.
Motor Vehicles: Licensing
Mr. Clelland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007, Official Report, column 461W, on motor vehicles: licensing, how many registered vehicle owners identified as failing to comply with a statutory off-road notice subsequently complied with the enforcement action. [167413]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table shows the number of cases where the penalty for failure to declare a vehicle off the road was paid following enforcement action:
| £ | |
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