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Aircraft Detritus
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on the damage to Holy Trinity Primary School in Richmond caused by a block of ice falling from an aircraft on 19 November; and if he will make a statement on the action his Department takes to prevent such incidents. [99647]
Mr. Mullin: My Department has not received any such representations. Nor has the incident been reported to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Most icefalls from aircraft are due to ice which has formed on the outside of the aircraft detaching itself as it descends into warmer air. The accumulation of ice may be caused by atmospheric conditions, or it may occur due to leakage from a faulty seal on one of the hose sockets used to load or unload liquid to the aircraft. Incidents are rare in relation to the volume of air traffic. In the last 12 months, 24 incidents have been recorded of icefall and 16 of other falling objects; this level of occurrence has not risen in the last five years, despite significant increases in traffic over that period.
The Government take seriously all occurrences of ice and debris falling from an aircraft. The primary way to tackle the problem is to ensure that regulations on the safe manufacture and operation of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) aircraft are adhered to. There are many such regulations: for example, before aircraft can be entered on national registers they must meet the appropriate standards for design and construction of aircraft, including resistance to leakage of on-board water or toilet systems which is cause of the build up of ice on the exterior of aircraft.
The CAA will investigate icefall incidents if possible, but it is not an easy process and it is extremely rare to confirm the origin of an icefall. The main focus has to be on striving to reduce the number of icefalls by encouraging the aviation industry to improve the relevant systems and procedures.
Mr. Plaskitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the outcome of the consultation on the revaluation of non-domestic rates in April 2000. [100220]
Ms Armstrong:
Businesses have overwhelmingly supported the need for a transitional relief scheme to phase in changes in business rate bills, as proposed in our recent consultation paper. Following that consultation, I am pleased that we can announce today limits on the size of annual increases over all five years of the new rating list.
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Rate bills will fall for many properties, while others will see only modest increases. The transitional relief scheme will place maximum limits on any larger increases, with additional protection given to small properties.
The largest possible increase in bills for small non-domestic properties will be 5 per cent. in real terms in 2000-01, rising to 7.5 per cent. in each of the following four years. The threshold for these small properties will be increased to a rateable value of less than £12,000 (or £18,000 in London). The equivalent limits on bill increases for all larger properties will be 12.5 per cent. in real terms in 2000-01, 15 per cent. in 2001-02 and 17.5 per cent. in each of the following three years.
Small properties will also be given preferential treatment on the limits on the amount by which rate bills can fall in any year. Their bills will be allowed to decrease by up to 5 per cent. in real terms in the first two years, up to 10 per cent. in the third, 12.5 per cent. in the fourth and 25 per cent. in the last year. Decreases for all larger properties will be limited to 2.5 per cent. in real terms in the first two years, and 5 per cent. in the third, 7.5 per cent. in the fourth and 15 per cent. in the last year.
Revaluation does not mean that more money will be raised from the rates, since the rates multiplier (or poundage) will be reduced next year to take account of the increase in rateable value across the country. What it does mean is that the rate burden will be distributed more fairly, reflecting changes in the property market since 1995.
A number of responses to the consultation paper called on the Government to review the current system of business rate revaluation. We agree that such a review is needed. This will not be a fundamental review of the business rate, but it will look for ways of improving the approach to valuation in order to increase stability, certainty and simplicity in the system, including changes to the frequency of valuations. The details of the review will be announced in due course.
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment is included in table 1.13 of the UK Defence Statistics 1999. [98484]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The commodity breakdown in table 1.3 of "UK Defence Statistics 1999" is compiled from Customs and Excise data. Further details are given in the notes to the table and in Defence Statistics Bulletin 4, a copy of which is available in the House Library. A detailed breakdown of the equipment headings for each year in table 1.3 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the Boeing C-17 airlifter as a potential solution to the heavy lift requirement of the armed forces; and if he will make a statement. [98726]
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Mr. Kilfoyle:
The Boeing C-17 is one of several options being considered to meet the RAF's requirement for heavy lift for both the short and long-term needs. We have yet to complete our assessment and I would not wish to anticipate the outcome.
I hope to be able to make an announcement in the new year.
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment is included in table 9 of the Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. [98487]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The list of major equipments in Table 9 of the 1998 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls is taken from the UK's contribution to the UN Arms Register. The categories "Other Weapons including Small Arms" and "Total Value" are both taken from information collected by HM Customs and Excise. A list of the EU Customs Tariff Codes used in compiling the "Total Value" information is contained in Appendix B to the Report. The category of "Other Weapons including Small Arms" is made up of the goods listed under the three tariff codes 9301 0000 (military weapons, including artillery weapons, continuous rapid-fire weapons, rifles and carbines, and other projectile weapons), 9302 0010 (revolvers and pistols, 9mm calibre and higher) and 9302 0090 (revolvers and pistols below 9mm calibre).
A more detailed breakdown of the equipment included could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost of the Medium- Range Trigat missiles to be delivered in 2003. [99417]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Our current estimate of the cost of Medium-Range Trigat missiles to be delivered in 2003 is £19 million.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the current programme for the industrialisation and production phases of the Trigat-MR ATGW; what changes have been made to the programme since 1 January; and if the project is on schedule; [99440]
(3) what assessment he has made of the impact on (a) the cost and (b) the delivery programme of the Trigat should (i) the Netherlands, (ii) Belgium and (iii) both these countries withdraw from the programme. [99439]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
Germany, France and UK, as the major participants in the programme, have signed the MR Trigat Industrialisation and Production Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Netherlands and Belgium have still to sign and we expect decisions to be made by both nations by early 2000, once their Governmental and Parliamentary procedures are complete. We are not able to give precise dates for these signatures.
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All the participating nations have planned on the basis of a five nation collaborative programme. As such any assessment of the impacts on cost and time of one or more nations withdrawing would be speculative and much would depend on the views of the remaining nations and of industry.
(2) which countries have signed an agreement to participate in the industrialisation phase of the Trigat-MR ATGW programme; which countries he expects to sign; and on what date; [99438]
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