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Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The investigation into allegations that British American Tobacco was implicated in smuggling is continuing. A confidential investigation
is being conducted under Section 447 of the Companies Act 1985. The department does not comment on any aspects of such inquiries.
Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter from the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews.
The Minister of State, Lord Macdonald of Tradeston has asked me to reply to your recent question about the number of times over the past 12 months the A3 at the Devil's Punchbowl north of Hindhead has been closed in either direction, other than for pre-planned maintenance; the reason for and the duration of each closure, and what diversion signs were put in place.
The Highways Agency had no closures over the past 12 months other than those for pre-planned works. However, we are aware of 4 occasions during that period when the A3 in the vicinity of the Devil's Punchbowl was closed by the police due to road accidents.
I hope that this explains the position.
Lord Walker of Doncaster asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: From 1 April 2003 when the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Act 2002 takes effect.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What importance they attach to the continued transportation of mail by rail as a contribution to the fulfilment of the growth targets for the conveyance of freight by rail in the 10-year transport plan; and[HL5418]
What encouragement they are giving to the establishment in the Midlands of a new rail-connected hub for postal services.[HL5419]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Strategic Rail Authority's freight strategy includes a framework for the development of premium logistics by rail. The premium freight market, including mail, is substantial and could make a significant contribution to the increase in rail freight envisaged in the 10-year plan. To that end, the Strategic Rail Authority would welcome growth of Consignia's business on rail. That and the provision of supporting interchange facilities in the Midlands or elsewhere is, in the first instance, a commercial matter between Consignia and its logistics suppliers. Consignia has not so far applied to the Strategic Rail Authority for a grant. Any such application would be considered according to the rules and processes for freight grants.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Commission was notified on 31 May of a scheme to enable Railtrack plc to be brought out of administration on a financially sound and secure basis. The Commission announced on 17 July that it had no objections to the support facilities, which it judged not to be state aid. Included in this is some public expenditure, but £23 billion of the £23.5 billion notified is for contingent financial support facilities that do not count against any public borrowing ceiling or restriction under Community rules.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Highways Agency is currently assessing two tunnel options, both of which are 2km in length (cut and cover and bored) and also a comparative assessment of a 4.5km long bored tunnel. These will be published in the environmental statement for the A303 Stonehenge scheme.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The main south-east air transport consultation document (page 148) reports that the focus of economic appraisal of the airport development options has been to estimate the direct benefits to passengers, and that potential increase in productivity across the economy due to growth in the aviation industry was not estimated.
A fare premium is applied in the modelling to price off all passengers at a congested airport; this is the same for all passengers. Benefits to passengers from increasing airport capacity are represented by a reduction in this fare premium. The fare premium at a congested airport is higher the less scope there is for switching to a less preferred airport, and higher too if alternative airports have less choice of flight timings.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Government are committed to ensuring that the aviation industry meets its environmental costs. Since civil aviation is a international industry, the Government's approach is to support multilateral action through ICAO to end the exception from tax for international aviation fuel. Unilateral action would create market distortions, such as tankering of extra fuel from abroad to avoid tax, and would have limited environmental benefits. In the consultation document, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, it is estimated that policies to meet the contribution of aircraft emissions towards climate change would reduce demand by around 10 per cent.
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