| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
18 Dec 2002 : Column 808W—continued
Air-to-Air Refuelling
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where each of the air-to-air refueller aircraft held by his Department is; and if he will make a statement on the level of serviceability of each. [87919]
Mr. Ingram: The following table show the location and serviceability of the aircraft of the Royal Air Force's Air to Air refuelling fleet at 0800 hours on 16 December 2002 and presents no more than a snapshot in time at that particular moment. All aircraft in 2nd, 3rd and 4th line maintenance are undergoing scheduled maintenance. Aircraft that are in 1st and 2nd line maintenance could be brought back into service very quickly if required.
| Serviceable | 1st line | 2nd line | 3rd line | 4th line | Modification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAF Brize Norton | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Op. RESINATE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Munster | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akrotiri | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chateauroux | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Falkland Islands | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| RAF St. Athan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Serviceable | 1st line | 2nd line | 3rd line | 4th line | Modification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAF Brize Norton | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marshalls (Cambridge) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Abu Dhabi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Note:
Only six of the total of nine Tristar aircraft owned by the Department are air-to-air refuelling aircraft, the remainder are air transport aircraft.
18 Dec 2002 : Column 809W
Tracer
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the United Kingdom invested in the development of TRACER before it was cancelled by the US partners. [86380]
Dr. Moonie [holding answer 9 December 2002]: The United Kingdom agreed jointly with our US partners not to proceed beyond the assessment phase of the TRACER programme which completed in July 2002. Total UK investment in the programme was #131 million. Arrangements have been put in place to utilise key technologies developed in the TRACER programmes in new programmes such as the future rapid effects system.
PRIME MINISTER
Referendums
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on holding referendums. [87933]
The Prime Minister: The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 established a generic statutory framework for the conduct of referendums held across the UK, or a referendum held in Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland, or in any region in England. Dedicated primary legislation is required for any individual referendum. The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill, currently before the House, provides for referendums to be held in any of the eight English regions outside of London.
TRANSPORT
Correspondence
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reply to the letter of 21 October from the right hon. Member for Hitchin and Harpenden requesting a meeting with local groups to discuss plans to expand Luton airport. [88058]
Mr. Spellar: We are considering the request made in the letter from the right hon. Member to meet him and members of Luton and District Association for the Control of Airport Noise (LADACAN), and will respond shortly.
Terrorism
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve security at small ports and airfields to prevent entry of (a) terrorist suspects and (b) material for use in terrorism; and if he will make a statement. [87504]
Mr. Jamieson: In the UK in the immediate aftermath of September 2001 attacks we immediately tightened the security regime for commercial flights by small aircraft. Prior to that, commercial aircraft of less than 15 tonnes (maximum take off weight) were outside the requirements of the National Aviation Security Programme. That exemption has been removed, and aircraft of any weight are now subject to the programme.
18 Dec 2002 : Column 810W
The operators of such aircraft and the managers of the aerodromes they operate from have been issued with the relevant directions and guidance, and Department for Transport inspectors monitor compliance and undertake enforcement, prioritising those locations where the risks are judged greatest. As with all aspects of the regime, these measures are kept under review.
A14
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to add the A14 widening project to the Targeted Programme of Improvements. [87449]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency is progressing preparatory work on the A14 improvement with a view to recommending to the Secretary of State the most suitable design to be included in our Targeted Programme of Improvements. This work is taking longer than expected but I hope that we would be in a position to announce the results of that work in the new year.
Aircraft Noise
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what dedicated phone lines exist for members of the public to complain about noise resulting from aircraft. [88083]
Mr. Jamieson: The Department does not have a dedicated phone line for members of the public to complain about aircraft noise. Handling of complaints is a local matter for the airport management. Some airports maintain dedicated complaint lines.
EU Transport Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome was of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 5 December; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [87253]
Mr. Jamieson: The transport segment of the Transport, Energy and Telecommunications Council was held in Brussels on 5–6 December, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport attended on the first day, and I attended on the second day, when the Prestige incident was discussed.
The Council came to an agreement on the Single European Sky package. The aim of the four regulations making up the package is to improve the efficiency of air traffic management across the EU, thereby reducing air traffic delays. The United Kingdom has been a strong supporter of this package from the outset and I am very pleased to be able to report the successful outcome. Civil/military co-operation is an important aspect of air traffic management, and the member states made a declaration agreeing to co-operate on military aspects.
The Commission presented its recent Communication on the consequences for European aviation policy of the recent ECJ rulings on aviation agreements. The Commission called for rapid progress on concluding an EU-US aviation agreement, the Commissioner having written to Ministers, asking them to denounce their existing agreements with the US, which, following the
18 Dec 2002 : Column 811W
ECJ rulings, the Commission believed were no longer valid. There was general agreement that member states and the Commission needed to discuss the consequences of the ruling urgently, including the question of a Commission mandate for negotiations with the US. COREPER was asked to work on proposals to be put to the Council.
The Council agreed on a Regulation providing for new levels of compensation to air passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation and delay. A majority of Ministers accepted three levels of compensation: 250 euros for all flights of 1,500 km or less, 400 euros for intra-EU flights of more than 1,500 km and other flights between 1,500–3,500 km, and 600 euros for all other flights. These compensation levels will be reviewed four years after the Regulation comes into effect. The UK voted against the Regulation because in the absence of a link to the ticket price it could damage the interests of consumers of Xno-frills" air services. During the debate, the Minister of State had voiced concern at the impact on the services of no-frills carriers, pointing out that the minimum compensation level was almost four times the average cost of a no-frills ticket. Following a suggestion from some member states that the scope of the Regulation be extended to certain passengers returning to the EU from non-Community airports, it was agreed that the Commission would publish a report on this issue.
Conclusions were agreed setting out the basis for the continuation of the Galileo satellite navigation project, including the tendering procedure, and addressing the importance of relations with third countries. A final decision on whether to include a Public Regulated Service (PRS) in the project is to be taken before the end-of 2003. The UK and the Netherlands entered a Minutes Statement stressing that they could not accept any PRS that would overlay the US GPS M-Code.
The Council debated the second package of rail measures. The presidency noted the progress that had been made on this package of five proposals, designed to progress the development of more harmonised technical standards for interoperability, harmonise safety regulation processes, to open up access to the market for all rail freight services, and to establish a European Rail Agency. In discussion of the main outstanding issues on the safety and interoperability proposals there was a consensus for member states to be able to maintain safety levels above any harmonised minimum standard, and general support for extending the scope of the interoperability requirements. The presidency concluded that work should continue on the package. Greece made clear that it hoped to reach agreement during its presidency.
There was a debate on action to be taken following the Prestige accident. I, in common with other Ministers and the Commission, generally welcomed the presidency's approach in the Conclusions put to the Council. I joined others in arguing for better quality port state control inspections, and expressed the UK view that in general there should be co-ordinated EU actions leading to improvements in the international regulatory framework. The Conclusions reaffirmed the support of member states for the establishment of a supplementary compensation fund, developed in the IMO, to the benefit of the victims of oil pollution. This
18 Dec 2002 : Column 812W
would enhance the existing international fund. The UK's concern was that the EU should not commit itself at this stage to its own fund in the event of failure of negotiations in the IMO, for fear of prejudicing those negotiations, and we secured an amendment to this effect. The Conclusions also include commitments to a faster phasing out of single-hulled tankers and restrictions on those carrying very heavy oil. There is to be an analysis of available double-hull tanker capacity. Also included are: better implementation of port state control obligations, and possible measures by member states to prohibit within 200 miles of their coasts traffic carrying dangerous and polluting goods.
The Council agreed on a Regulation establishing the Marco Polo programme to grant community financial aid to projects designed to achieve the shift of freight transport from road to other modes. The programme will have a total budget of 75 million euros.
Political agreement was reached on a Regulation to prohibit the use of environmentally damaging anti-fouling paints on ships, in accordance with the latest IMO agreements.
Conclusions were agreed on the integration of environment and sustainable development into transport policy, a continuation of the process begun at the Cardiff European Council in 1998.
The Council debated the issue of Alpine transit and the ecopoint system for transit through Austria. Agreement could not be reached, and the presidency submitted the dossier to the General Affairs and External Relations Council.
During the Council, Ministers signed the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the European Community and its member states, and the People's Republic of China.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |