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British American Tobacco Investigation

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

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is being conducted under Section 447 of the Companies Act 1985. The department does not comment on any aspects of such inquiries.

A3: Closures

Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:

    On how many occasions in 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; what was the reason for and the duration of each closure, and what diversion signs were put in place on the A287 at Hindhead and beyond to guide traffic back onto the A3.[HL5316]

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.


    On 15 October 2001 the A3 was closed for 10- hours after a collision between an HGV travelling southbound and one travelling northbound. During the closure traffic was diverted by signing via the A325 and A31.


    On 2 April 2002 the A3 was closed for 12 hours after an HGV overturned and shed it's load. Traffic was diverted by signing through Thursley.


    On 14 May 2002 the A3 was closed for 1- hours after a car travelling southbound collided with a lorry travelling northbound. The police did not request a diversion.


    On 14 July 2002 the A3 was closed for 4- hours when a car travelling southbound collided with 2 vehicles travelling northbound. Northbound traffic was diverted via the A287 to Farnham and A31. However, we understand that the police varied this at one stage, directing traffic via the A287 to Haslemere. Southbound, light traffic was diverted by signing via side roads from Thursley towards Farnham, onto the A287 and back on the A3 at Hindhead. The police did not request a diversion route for HGV's.

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The responsibility for closing sections of a road or carriageway in the event of an accident rests with the police. The role of the Highways Agency and our Managing Agents is to provide assistance in setting and signing diversion routes or carrying out repairs to restore the road to a safe condition. The police have the power to vary the diversions at any time and there may of course be occasions when the police close a road without the Highways Agency's knowledge.

I hope that this explains the position.

Bus Passes

Lord Walker of Doncaster asked Her Majesty's Government:

    When parity will be established in the age of eligibility for bus passes for women and men.[HL5378]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: From 1 April 2003 when the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Act 2002 takes effect.

Rail Freight

Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will extend to Consignia the grants that are available to new entrants to the postal business to balance road and rail costs; and[HL5417]

    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.

Railtrack

Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What applications have been made by them, or any other statutory authority, to the European Commission, or any other institution of the European

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    Community, concerning loans or grants available to Network Rail in respect of expenditure, or contingent liability, for assuming the responsibilities of Railtrack plc; what replies have been received; under what rules such applications were made or agreed; and what parts count against any ceiling or restriction made on public borrowing requirements by the Government under Community rules.[HL5506]

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.

Stonehenge: Road Tunnel Options

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether the Highways Agency is considering comparisons between 2km cut-and-cover and bored tunnels and a c.4.5km long bored tunnel for the A303 at Stonehenge.[HL5568]

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.

Air Travel: Economic Appraisals

Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:

    In respect of their air transport consultation document published on 23 July—(a) what is the potential increase in productivity across the economy due to growth in the aviation industry (page 48); and (b) what are, per passenger, the values attributed in the economic appraisal of options (section 9.3) to the benefits of: (1) allowing more people to fly for business; (2) allowing more people to fly for pleasure; (3) giving passengers a greater choice of airport; (4) giving passengers a greater choice of flight timings.[HL5605]

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.

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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.

Aviation Fuel Duty

Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:

    In respect of their air transport consultation document published on 23 July, what would be the reduction in demand for air transport in the United Kingdom if aviation fuel were subject to the same rates of duty and tax as motor vehicle fuel.[HL5603]

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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