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Local Government Codes of Conduct
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities which do not include in their codes of conduct the 15 principles of conduct set out in the White Paper, "Local Government: In Touch with the People". [125101]
Ms Armstrong: It is not yet a statutory requirement for local authorities to have their own code of conduct. The obligation on local authorities to adopt a code of conduct, based on the general principles of conduct, is contained within Part III of the Local Government Bill, currently in Committee in this House.
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the local authorities which have not yet established formal whistleblowing arrangements in accordance with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. [125103]
Ms Armstrong: My Department collects no information on whether local authorities have such procedures in place. While many employers, including local authorities, will wish to introduce procedures that facilitate internal whistleblowing, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 does not require them to do so, nor to inform the Government of their actions in this respect.
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South-east Airports
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding projected passenger numbers and numbers of flights into airports in the south-east of England. [124488]
Mr. Mullin: None. The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) report, "Options for Growth--meeting demand at London's airports", was received by my Department after it had been published and the contents widely reported.
The work was commissioned independently and there were no discussions between my Department and the LCCI regarding the report.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding new runways in the south-east of England. [124490]
Mr. Mullin: The commissioning of the South East and East of England Regional Air Services (SERAS) study, and the consultation on the proposed appraisal framework to be used in that study, has resulted in a wide range of organisations making representations about new runways in the south-east of England.
These are being carefully considered as part of the ongoing SERAS work. We are currently in the early stages of assessing options, both at existing airports and possible new sites. We will proceed through successive sifts to narrow down options to a final shortlist, on which there will be a full public consultation before Ministers come to decisions.
House Demolitions, Liverpool
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many representations he has received in respect of the possible demolition of houses in Broad Lane, Liverpool; what his response has been; and if he will make a statement. [125106]
Mr. Mullin: I have received a total of nine representations regarding the concerns of tenants and residents in Broad Lane, Liverpool. I have been assured by Liverpool City Council that tenants and residents will continue to be consulted throughout the development of proposals for the area, and my responses have reflected this.
Oceans
Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent United Nations meeting on the oceans. [125404]
Mr. Prescott: The United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and Law of the Sea met for the first time in New York last week. This is a new initiative to provide a global forum where we can identify ways to improve co-ordination at a national and international level, in order to ensure effective implementation of the framework provided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Chapter 17 of
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Agenda 21 (Oceans and All Seas). Participants include states, non-governmental and inter-governmental organisations.
The first meeting succeeded in providing a forum both for a general debate on oceans issues and for a more detailed discussion of particular topics. The scope for further action to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea, and improving co-ordination of global oceans management, particularly by making use of the Secretary General's annual report on all aspects of oceans use, were among the issues covered by the general debate.
The two issues given special consideration at this meeting were improved fisheries management, particularly to counter the problem of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, and the economic and social implications of marine pollution.
On fisheries, one of the main priorities to emerge was the need for early adoption by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of an International Action Plan on IUU fishing. There was also support for the newly agreed co-operation between the FAO and the International Maritime Organisation on developing control measures. Regional fisheries organisations were recognised as pivotal instruments through which states can manage particular fisheries, taking account of scientific stock assessments and balancing priorities, including food security and the need for sustainable economic base for fishing communities.
On marine pollution, the meeting acknowledged the recent progress that had been made in implementing the 1995 Washington Global Programme of Action to Protect the Marine Environment against Land-Based Activities (GPA), but urged states and inter-governmental agencies to do more in this regard. It was also suggested that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) might identify what international support is needed to overcome the obstacles to the implementation of the GPA at national and local levels. The need to integrate action on marine pollution and degradation into mainstream investment programmes, as well as the need for capacity building to facilitate the integrated management of the coastal zone, were both highlighted.
The report of the meeting will be submitted to this Autumn's UN General Assembly debate on Oceans and Law of the Sea, where I hope it will help produce a focused General Assembly resolution covering the priority areas for action.
There will be a further meeting of the new process next year. A number of possible issues for special discussion have already been identified. These include improved development and use of marine science, and capacity building in developing countries.
Particularly today, World Oceans Day, I am pleased to confirm that the UK will continue to support and encourage this new informal consultative process. As well as participating in the meeting, this year we helped to shape the agenda and were able to help broaden participation by funding the attendance of a number of experts from developing countries. I hope that others will follow this lead.
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Central Trains Ltd.
Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if there is an exemption order for the fleet of new Class 170/5 and 170/6 trains to be introduced into service by Central Trains Ltd. in respect of any of the provisions of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998; and if he will make a statement. [125526]
Mr. Hill: We have received an application from Central Trains Ltd. relating to the new Class 170/5 and 170/6 trains they wish to introduce into service. The exemptions have been discussed with our statutory advisers the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. An exemption order relating to the exemption of these trains was laid in Parliament on Thursday 1 June. Copies are available from the Library.
The exemptions will not prevent disabled people from using the new trains. Indeed, we believe that the introduction of the new trains will make a significant contribution to improving mobility opportunities for disabled people.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Maternity Benefits
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have claimed under the Sure Start Maternity Grant scheme; what steps his Department is taking to make sure that people eligible for this grant are aware of it; and if he will make a statement. [124548]
Angela Eagle: Sure Start Maternity Grant was introduced on 27 March of this year for babies due or born on or after 11 June. The Maternity Payment scheme remains in operation for babies due or born on or before 10 June. Both schemes will continue to run concurrently during the transitional period. In the first full month of the new payment's operation (up to 30 April), there were an estimated 5,224 claims. During the same period there were 8,430 claims for Maternity Payments. The number of claims made for Sure Start Maternity Grant will inevitably be lower now than they will be when claims for Maternity Payments finally come to an end.
To raise awareness of the new grant a special leaflet and poster have been produced jointly by this Department and the Department of Health. These are being distributed to outlets likely to be used by lower income families with newly born babies. The leaflet is included in a free pack that expectant mothers can obtain from Mothercare. The leaflet and a poster are being distributed through a number of major retail and pharmaceutical chains. They are also available through doctors' surgeries, through advisory organisations, through key Employment Service offices offering ONE and departmental local offices.
The leaflet and poster are available in Welsh as well as in English and are available in Braille and cassette versions. Information on Sure Start Maternity Grant is also included in departmental leaflets "Expecting a Baby?" and "Babies and Children". These are available in English, Welsh and eight ethnic languages. To coincide with the launch of the new payment, articles were placed in women's magazines. Advice on the grant can also be accessed through the departmental website pages.
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Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will extend maternity benefit to those lower-paid women who are excluded from receiving payment; how many people will be beneficiaries of this payment; and if he will make a statement. [124550]
Mr. Bayley: More women will be able to qualify for Maternity Allowance (MA) under new rules which apply to women expecting babies on or after 20 August 2000. The improvements will extend MA to low-paid women who earn at least £30 a week on average, and who are employed or self-employed for 26 weeks in the 66 week period ending with the week before the week the baby is expected.
Around 11,000 employed women and 2,000 self-employed women will receive a maternity payment for the first time. The changes will also increase MA by 15 per cent. for around 11,000 self-employed women who, until now, received less MA than employed women.
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