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Environment Agency Chairman
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was spent by (a) his Department and (b) the Environment Agency on headhunters in the process of finding a new Chairman for the Environment Agency. [105287]
Mr. Meacher: The appointment of a new Chairman for the Environment Agency is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, who has met all costs involved.
Recruitment consultants were employed to assist in finding a new Chairman. Headhunting was only a part of their duties and is not separately identifiable. The total cost of their work, including expenses, was £26,402.26 plus VAT. Advertisements were placed in the national press at an additional cost of £5,569 plus VAT.
Driving Licences
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2000, Official Report, column 4W, on driving licences, if he will make a statement on the reasons for the use of private opticians. [105416]
Mr. Hill:
The requirement for the provision of visual field charts is an expensive undertaking adding to the cost of the driving licence as well as creating customer service problems due to the waiting times in NHS out-patients clinics.
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 250W
Private opticians have therefore been invited to provide the service. This will mean savings of £504,000 in a year on fees and will help to improve turnaround performance of applications where drivers are required to have their visual field tested.
Opticians will be providing reports within three weeks of request as opposed to three months for many hospital clinics.
Mr. Hopkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the result of his review of the contribution utilities should make to the cost of diverting their equipment for public transport schemes. [105675]
Mr. Hill:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has reviewed the decision announced by the then Minister for Transport on 29 October 1998, following representations made to him and comments received during consultation earlier this year on draft regulations under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
Ministers have concluded that the earlier decision strikes a reasonable balance between the legitimate interests of the parties involved. I can therefore confirm that the utilities' contribution to diversionary works for "major transport works" (which as defined under the 1991 Act include rail based public transport schemes) will be reduced from 18 per cent. to 7.5 per cent., except that works that are of the nature of "major highways works" or "major bridge works" will continue to attract 18 per cent., whoever the works are done by.
I will shortly be laying regulations to implement this decision. The regulations will now come into effect after they have been laid and not from the date of the 1998 announcement, as stated at the time.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of heavy goods vehicles run on alternative fuels. [105022]
Mr. Hill:
DETR receives comprehensive data on the vehicle stock in Great Britain from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. These include the method of propulsion used to power vehicles. For those vehicles in the goods tax class at the end of June 1999, over 99 per cent. run on diesel. A further 0.7 per cent. run on petrol and less than 0.02 per cent. are recorded as running on other fuels.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if the record of train operating companies in meeting punctuality and overcrowding targets will be taken into consideration when franchises for services are renewed; [105053]
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Mr. Hill:
The Franchising Director has been instructed by the Secretary of State to have regard to the prospects for greater investment when considering the replacement of franchises. In pursuit of these instructions the Franchising Director is paying close attention to prospective franchisees' proposals for improving all aspects of the customer experience, including station facilities, security and integrated transport measures.
In examining proposals for renegotiated, extended or new franchises, the Franchising Director has also been instructed to give due weight to the commitment of existing franchise operators to performance, efficiency and customer services.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce a toll on foreign heavy goods vehicles entering the UK. [105024]
Mr. Hill:
Any tolling scheme, or any form of levy, would have to apply to domestic vehicles as well as foreign. To discriminate against foreign vehicles would be illegal under Community law. The Transport Bill currently before Parliament contains enabling powers for local authorities to introduce charging schemes on their roads, but there are no plans at present to introduce widespread charging on the trunk road network.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the advantages and disadvantages of a reduction in vehicle excise duty for vehicles powered by alternative fuels. [105023]
Mr. Hill:
The Government have taken a number of measures to promote the use of vehicles powered by alternative fuels. Gas powered lorries and buses already qualify for a vehicle excise duty concession of up to £1,000 and electrical vehicles are taxed at a concessionary rate of £40. The new graduated vehicle excise duty system for cars is being built in a flexible way which will allow scope to create additional incentives for vehicles using cleaner fuels and technology.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what regulations govern the levying of fines in relation to parking at motorway service centres. [105055]
Mr. Hill:
We require the operators of motorway service areas (MSAs) to provide up to two hours free parking for all types of vehicle. Operators are allowed to charge for longer stays but whether to levy a charge and, if so, how to enforce it against drivers who do not pay, are matters for the operator.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will take steps to prevent train operating companies from extending journey times advertised in timetables to allow for delays. [105054]
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 252W
Mr. Hill:
Train Operating Companies (TOCs) must set their timetables within the framework of the Passenger Service Requirements (PSR). The PSR sets minimum service frequency, stations to be served, times of first and last trains and maximum journey times, based on the service provided by British Rail at the time of franchising. TOCs can alter the journey times of services but only within the maxima allowed in the PSR. Temporary dispensations may be granted to TOCs by the Franchising Director to extend journey times during periods of bad weather and at times such as the annual leaf fall in order to provide a reliable service to passengers.
Mr. Hurst:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the criteria for the sale of residual assets of British Rail which retain a potential public transport use. [105328]
Mr. Hill:
Following a review by the British Railways Board/shadow Strategic Rail Authority of its property portfolio, the Government have agreed with the Chairman of the sSRA new marketing procedures which give priority to transport use. Under these arrangements the rail industry, local authorities and other transport interests are being informed of all the properties that BRB/sSRA have available including those judged to be of future transport potential. They are also being given prior notification of the intention to market all sites as they come up for sale and have the opportunity to seek a delay in order to work up a bid. All sites are to be sold at open market value in order to protect the taxpayers' interest. Full details are in the BRB's "Marketing Process" document which is available in the House Library.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to lay orders under schedule 3 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 before the House. [105283]
Mr. Hill:
I signed the order identifying the constituency returning officers for the Greater London Authority elections on 17 December, and it came into force on 22 December (SI No3380). I will be making the election rules and laying the order setting limits on campaign expenses for the GLA elections in due course.
Mr. Linton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions whom he has decided to appoint as the Greater London Returning Officer for the Greater London Authority election on 4 May. [105841]
Mr. Hill:
I am proposing to make an Order appointing Robert Hughes CBE as the Greater London Returning Officer. Mr. Hughes was the Chief Counting Officer for the Greater London Referendum in May 1998. He has wide experience of running elections and knows London well.
(2) if he will make it a condition of awarding or extending rail franchises that passenger facilities including toilets, public telephones, CCTV, and park and ride, are provided at town centre railway stations. [105052]
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