House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 Jun 1992

East-West Routes

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his officials have had with officers of Oxfordshire county council about extending the east-west route beyond the Buckinghamshire- Oxfordshire border.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Since July 1989, my officials have had six formal meetings with officials of Oxfordshire county council about the strategy for extending the east-west route from west of Aylesbury to Oxford. In addition, they gave a presentation to the council's officers and members in July 1991, and my predecessor received a delegation of officers and members led by the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) in December 1991.

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish the terms of reference he has set for the study of the need for a new east-west strategic route between Kent and Hampshire ; and who has been commissioned to carry out the study.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We will not consider making a start on the Kent-Hampshire study until work now in progress on the construction of a regional traffic model is further advanced.

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Road Grants

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions, in the past five years, he has offered 100 per cent. grants to highway authorities for the construction of particular roads ; and what criteria he operates when determining whether to provide 100 per cent. grants for local road schemes.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : In the past five years the Department has offered 100 per cent. grants to local highway authorities for the road schemes :

A15 Brigg and Redbourne bypass, Humberside

A120 Stansted-Braintree, Essex

A418 Leighton Linslade bypass, Bedfordshire

A602 Little Wymondley bypass, Hertfordshire

A418 Wing bypass, Buckinghamshire

A134 Fornham St. Martin, Suffolk

Black Country Spine road, West Midlands

M56-A6 (M), Manchester airport link road (central section) A15-A16 Market Deeping-Deeping St. James bypass, Lincolnshire A158 Scremby, Lincolnshire

Our practice is to use this power sparingly for roads which will be trunked on completion, where the local highway authority has made such progress that significant delay would be caused if the scheme were promoted by the Department.

Inspectorate

Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to set up an inspectorate for public transport.

Mr. Freeman : There are already a number of inspectorates and similar bodies responsible for overseeing various aspects of public transport. We have no plans to create any new inspectorate.

British Rail (Privatisation)

Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will provide a list of the accountancy firms which are advising him for the privatisation of British Rail.

Mr. Freeman : Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte is advising on liberalisation of access to the rail network.

East London River Crossing

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to answer the letters sent to him by the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford on 13 January and 13 February regarding the east London river crossing ; what recent communications he has had with the European Commission about the proposal ; and what steps he now plans to take in respect of the proposal.

Mr. Norris : I am sorry that the hon. Member did not receive a reply to her letters. The United Kingdom sent its response to the European Commission's article 169 letter on 17 December. There have since been informal discussions with the Commission. Its formal response has not yet been received. In the meantime, preparatory work towards the construction of the east London river crossing continues but no contracts for the construction of this important and urgently needed scheme have yet been let.

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Marine Safety

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in implementing (a) recommendations 5, 15 and 17, (b) 20 and 24, (c) 4 and (d) 19 of the marine accident investigation branch report into the Marchioness disaster.

Mr. Norris : Recommendation 5 is to be given legislative force by regulations. A consultative document was issued in January 1992, and it is planned to bring these regulations into force in Autumn 1992. On recommendation 15, a consultative document was issued in September 1991 and it is planned to bring these regulations into force in Autumn 1992.

A consultative document on recommendation 17 was issued in September 1991. It is planned to bring regulations in respect of river craft into force in Autumn 1992.

A revised consultative document on recommendations 20 and 24 was issued in November 1991, and it is planned to bring the two sets of regulations into force in Autumn 1992.

On recommendation 4, action in respect of United Kingdom ships has been completed ; the longer-term development of internationally applicable requirements depends upon the success of our proposals at the International Maritime Organisation, which will be considered in December 1992.

Action on recommendation 19 was completed in February 1992.

Roads, Coventry

Mr. Robert Ainsworth : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to give his decision on the Coventry north-south road, phase 1 ; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this scheme on the economy and the environment in Coventry, North-East.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Decisions on the Coventry city council north- south orders and scheme are expected in early July. The responsibility for the assessment of the effect of the scheme on Coventry, North-East is essentially one for the local authority that sponsored the scheme. However, these issues were covered at the inquiries and have been reported on by the inspector. The Secretary of State will give full consideration to the report before making his decision.

ENVIRONMENT

Ofwat

Mr. Tyler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the role, responsibilities and powers of the Office of Water Services to ensure effective limitation of charges to the consumer ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean : Present legislation gives the Director General of Water Services the powers he needs to fulfil his role of controlling increases in charges and protecting consumers.

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Council Tax

Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost so far of carrying out valuations in preparation for the introduction of council tax ; what is his estimate of the total cost ; and when he expects the completion of valuations in preparation for the introduction of the council tax.

Mr. Robin Squire : The cost of valuing 19 million properties in England for council tax and producing valuation lists is expected to be £70 million. To date, payments of some £30 million have been made by my Department to the Valuation Office Agency, which is responsible for supervising the valuation exercise. Private sector valuers have now, subject to quality control procedures, completed their work. The Valuation Office Agency expects to complete its own valuation work in the near future and to schedule.

Agencies

Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of the planning inspectorate ; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.

Mr. Baldry : The first degree of the chief executive is Master of Arts--having read geography--of Cambridge university.

Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum salary payable, including performance-related element, and the length of time of the contract of the chief executive of the planning inspectorate.

Mr. Baldry : The maximum salary payable to the chief executive is £55,700 per annum. His term of appointment ends with his retirement in September 1994.

Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the planning inspectorate as an agency ; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.

Mr. Baldry : The total amount spent was £12,300, all borne by the agency.

Housing Finance, Harrogate

Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum received from the sale of council houses by the Harrogate borough council in 1991-92.

Mr. Baldry : During 1991-92 Harrogate borough council received £1.642 million from the sale of 73 council dwellings.

Carlisle City Council

Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what receipts have been received by Carlisle city council in each year since 1987 through the sale of council houses, land and other buildings.

Mr. Robin Squire : The information is given in the table

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