| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
London Underground: Rolling Stock Replacement
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What provision is made in their plans for the renewal of London Underground to replace rolling stock within the next 10 years. [HL276]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The plans for the modernisation of the Underground provide a comprehensive package to renew the whole of the Underground's infrastructure, including track, trains, signalling and stations. The detailed provisions are a matter for London Underground. We understand, however, that work has been prioritised to deliver an improved service to passengers as quickly and efficiently as possible. As part of that, all Victoria Line trains will be replaced from 2007; and during the course of the contract all trains on every line, including the 40 per cent of the fleet built within the last eight years, will either be replaced or refurbished.
Trans-European High Speed Rail System: Interoperability Directive
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which member states have failed to implement the European Union Directive on the Interoperability of the Trans-European High Speed Rail System; and against which member states the European Commission has so far instigated infraction proceedings. [HL284]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I understand that a number of member states had not implemented the directive by the required date of April 1999 and that infraction proceedings were started against them. However, some member states have implemented since then and I have no information about the current position for individual member states.
Drivers and Cannabis
Lord Monson asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they endorse the Lord Rea's contention (H.L. Deb., 21 February, col. 890) that road users under the influence of cannabis normally compensate for their impaired reaction time by driving more cautiously than they do when not under the influence, and therefore do not materially endanger other road users. [HL290]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government would not support the view that road users under the influence of cannabis do not materially endanger other road users.
Research undertaken by TRL Limited on behalf of my department concluded that the effects of cannabis on driver performance were not as severe as those of alcohol, but that they were unpredictable and as such could be a hazard.
TRL Report 477 The influence of cannabis on driving is available on the DTLR's website at http://www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadsafety/research16/index.htm.
Department of Health Regional Structure
Lord Smith of Leigh asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How, in view of the wider social and economic influence on health, the new regional structure of the Department of Health will relate to other regional bodies. [HL104]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Regional Directors of Public Health will be established in the nine Government Offices of the Regions by April 2003, and there will be four Regional Directors of Health and Social Care who will be National Directors of the Department of Health. This will encourage more joint working between the Department of Health, the Government Offices and other regional bodies on issues such as health, transport, regeneration and the environment. It will also align the department's work into established regional structures, building on the work already under way with the Government Offices, Regional Assemblies and Regional Development Agencies. This will allow for the further development of these partnerships and the taking forward of regional strategies for economic growth, social infrastructure and sustainable development.
The boundaries for different sets of regional bodies should not form a barrier to closer joint working, and for this reason the areas overseen by the new Regional Directors of Health and Social Care will be aligned with the boundaries of the Government Offices.
Nursing Homes: Free Nursing Care
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they plan to fulfil the pledge made in the NHS Plan to introduce free nursing in nursing homes. [HL403]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have issued draft guidance and directions on implementing free nursing care in England and copies have been placed in the Library. The Department of Health will introduce this
from 1 October for those who pay for their care themselves. This will bring financial benefits to approximately 35,000 people who currently pay for their care from their own resources and could save up to just over £5,000 in a full year for some people.It will also end the anomaly of people having to pay for care that is provided free of charge by the National Health Service in other settings.
Those people whose care is currently provided by councils and who receive free nursing care anyway will receive it free via the NHS from April 2002.
Meat Hygiene Service: Annual Report
Baroness Nicol asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the 2000-01 annual report and accounts for the Meat Hygiene Service will be laid before Parliament. [HL424]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The 2000-01 Annual Report and Accounts for the Meat Hygiene Service have been laid before Parliament. Copies are available in the Library, but formal printing and publication will not occur for another four to six weeks, pending preparation of a version in Welsh as required by the Welsh Language Act.
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page