To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the correspondence, dated 17 January, from the hon. Member for Leominster, on behalf of a constituent in respect of compensation for loss of his wormery. [42693]

[holding answer 12 March 2002]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 12 June 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the target time will be in 2002–03 for (a) Ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in her Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [44940]

The Department's agreed target times for replying to correspondence from hon. Members and from members of the public is 15 days.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle of 11 June regarding policy guidance for county waste plans. [69954]

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 8 July 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to a letter from the hon. Member for Woking, dated 10 January concerning Mr. A. Giles and the British Cattle Movement service. [61150]

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 2 July 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will provide a substantive reply to the letter from the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner), dated 4 February, her reference 165197, on antibiotic remedies and nitrate vulnerable zones. [52403]

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 10 June 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which EU regulations govern the use of the gamma interferon test as applied to bovine TB. [69000]

Community legislation on the control of bovine TB for purposes of intra-Community trade is set out in Council Directive 64/432/EC. A recent amendment to this will allow for the use of gamma interferon as an adjunct test. We await publication in the Official Journal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with members of the European Parliament about a possible inquiry into bovine TB and its causes. [69002]

My officials have had no discussions with members of the European Parliament on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 25 April from the hon. Member for Northavon regarding bovine TB. [60185]

[holding answer 10 June 2002]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 25 May 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long it takes on average for farmers in (a) England and (b) Wales to receive the results of TB tests on their animals. [68919]

Farmers are notified immediately when TB reactors are found in their herd. The average number of days taken for the culture results of samples taken at post-mortem to become available is given in the table.

Country	Average number of days1
England	52
Wales	53
1The average number of days between the receipt of samples at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and reporting of the results to the State Veterinary Service Animal Health Office. Figures are based on samples received at VLA since 1 November 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what extra resources have been secured in order to clear the backlog in processing the results of TB tests in England. [68921]

A claim against the Reserve has been considering how best to use the additional funding when tackling the TB backlog.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what resources are being dedicated to ensuring that the results of TB tests on animals in (a) England and (b) Wales are processed as quickly as possible. [68918]

The information is not available in the format requested, in that separate figures for England and Wales are not available. The planned expenditure for the 2002–03 financial year on the bovine tuberculosis testing programme at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency is given in the following table.The TB skin test gives a result at reading. The owner is notified of the skin test results immediately. Skin test results are confirmed by microbiological culture of tissues removed at post mortem. The main time delay in getting results from the culture of mycobacteria taken from post mortem samples is due to the time it takes for the mycobacteria to multiply sufficiently to be identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement concerning the failure to meet the required targets set under MAGP IV for the pelagic sector and the effect this will have on future EU funding for fisheries from 1 January 2003; [69212](2) pursuant to her answer of I July 2002,

The UK has chosen the option to set MAGP IV targets for the pelagic segment of the fleet in terms of fishing effort; and we expect those effort targets to be achieved at the end of 2002, as they were at the end of 2001.The Council of Ministers has yet to determine what penalties would apply, should a member state fail to meet its MAGP IV targets at the end of 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what reports she has received from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate regarding the release of radioactive substances into the groundwater under Sellafield in Cumbria from tanks; and if she will make a statement; [65062](2) if she will establish an inquiry into the leaking of radioactive substances into groundwater under Sellafield in Cumbria; and if she will make a statement. [65063]

I have not received any reports from the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate about the release of radioactive substances into groundwater under Sellafield. I am aware, however, that technetium-99 (Tc-99) has been detected in groundwater from boreholes in and around the Sellafield site. I understand that the likely source of the Tc-99 leakage is from the B24I sludge storage tanks.The Environment Agency has carried out an assessment of the radiological impact of the levels of Tc-99 detected and is satisfied that this would be insignificant. Recent borehole data from BNFL supports this conclusion. The groundwater at Sellafield is not used for drinking water supplies.The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the Environment Agency, respectively, have asked BNFL to undertake further monitoring of Tc-99 levels on and off the Sellafield site. The regulators will consider whether

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the staff of her Department are women; and what the percentage was in June 1997. [66906]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 5 July 2002, Official Report, column 622W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total value was of subsidies to agriculture in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [66840]

Our latest estimates relate to 2000, and suggest that in that year UK farmers received in total £4.9 billion of support. In addition to the direct payments and market support measures that fall directly to the EU and UK budgets, this includes the effect on farmers' incomes of the higher prices paid by consumers as a result of the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the foot and mouth disease livestock movement restrictions, with special reference to the 20-day standstill rule, on the operation and profitability of livestock producers in Cheshire; and if she will make a statement. [67200]

Discussions are in progress with industry stakeholders on the basis of preliminary work by the Department's economists in order to gain a better understanding of the economic impact of the current rules both in aggregate and for particular sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the reasons for the maintenance of the foot and mouth disease livestock movement restrictions, with specific reference to the 20-day standstill rule. [67199]

There is firm veterinary and scientific advice in support of the present movement controls which are designed to protect against the rapid spread of any new incursion of disease.The 20 day standstill is an important element of these controls for two reasons. Firstly, it allows time for the disease to become evident in animals brought on to a holding and so improves the prospect of identifying disease on infected premises before animals move off. Secondly, it also prevents potentially infected animals being moved off the holding during the 20 day period and so slows the rate of spread of any undetected disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to remove foot and mouth disease livestock

No decisions about the future of the 20 day standstill will be taken before the publication of the reports of the Royal Society and Lessons Learned inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to increase the number of ports that will allow the import and export of animals that have been vaccinated against rabies. [67581]

Animals subject to the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974, as amended, must enter the UK through Dover (Eastern Docks), Harwich (Parkeston Quay), Hull, Portsmouth or Southampton. If the animals are vaccinated against rabies but do not meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme they must go into quarantine.However, dogs and cats which fully meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme may enter England, without going into quarantine, through the ports at Dover, Portsmouth, Harwich, Poole and Plymouth. These ports are the ones used by carriers on routes approved by this Department. My Department will consider applications for approval from transport companies for routes into England using other ports. It is currently processing an application for a route which would use Newhaven. Whether transport companies choose to seek approval is a commercial and operational decision for them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she holds a definitive map of the navigable inland waterways network in England. [68082]

The Secretary of State does not hold such a map. However, "Waterways for Tomorrow", the Government's policy paper on the waterways contains a general map of the inland waterways of England and Wales. A copy of this document is in the Library of the House. Maps of the inland waterway system are also available from commercial sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she plans to seek derogations from the EU Animal By-Products Regulation to allow the on-farm trial of fallen stock in the upland areas of (a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Southern Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [68618]

[holding answer 9 July 2002]: I am not planning to seek further derogations from the EU Animal By-Products Regulation with respect of on-farm burial of fallen stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much sheepmeat was imported into the United Kingdom from each of the other countries of the European Union in each of the last five years. [68086]

[holding answer 9 July 2002]: The table shows the volume of sheepmeat imported into the United Kingdom from each of the other countries of the European Union.

UK imports of sheepmeat from the EU 1997–20011
					Tonnes
Country	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Netherlands	6,456	5,106	4,809	4,419	4,425
Irish Republic	2,899	2,616	3,387	2,683	3,055
Spain	2,368	1,920	1,287	1,295	1,625
France	1,208	1,214	1,419	1,617	1,871
Germany	1,668	878	594	671	1,350
Belgium-Luxembourg	442	482	208	332	829
Italy	68	150	3	16	159
Denmark	44	32	165	28	112
Austria	16	—	10	—	—
Finland	13	—	—	—	—
Total	15,182	12,398	11.882	11,061	13,426
1Product weight. Excludes exports of live sheep.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 786W, on badger culling, what preliminary findings have emerged from badger culling triplets B, C and F. [69242]

The Independent Scientific Group for Cattle TB (ISG) advise that it is too early for an analysis of results. It is a basic rule for scientific trials that results are not published prematurely. It has however been possible to complete a preliminary analysis of the risk factors associated with cattle TB, and this is set out in the ISG's Third Report, available in the House Library.A summary of the completed work for each triplet is shown on DEFRA's website at www.defra.gov.uk/ animalh/tb/point5/p5prog.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what recent steps the Department has taken to open (a) more footpaths in the countryside and (b) more private land to the public; [69411](2) what

The Department recently consulted on draft guidance to local highway authorities in relation to the requirement in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to prepare and review rights of way

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to improve safety on public footpaths and other rights of way that are (a) poorly lit, (b) in desolate areas and (c) in areas where crime is above average. [69410]

I recently published draft guidance arising from rights of way provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The draft guidance encourages local highway authorities to take positive management measures, such as consideration of the use of lighting and schemes to encourage informal surveillance to counter problems of criminal activity on public rights of way.Where rights of way are facilitating high levels of crime in built up areas the provisions that are covered in the guidance will enable such rights of way to be diverted or extinguished.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the development of a National Access Database; what funding she has made to the Countryside Agency to fund a feasibility study into a national access database; and when the feasibility study will be published. [70041]

The Government announced the plan to establish a National Access Database in the Rural White Paper "Our countryside: the future a fair deal for rural England" in November 2000. The Countryside Agency has commissioned consultants to look at the feasibility of establishing such a database. The feasibility study is being funded from within the Agency's annual grant in aid settlement. The Agency will publish a research note in September 2002 and use the findings of the study to make recommendations on how the project should proceed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons

I have been asked to reply.In common with the majority of other European Union member states, the UK Government do not support the European Commission's proposals for mandatory targets applied uniformly to every state, as originally proposed by the European Commission in the Biofuels Directive. In order to maintain the UK's ability to set national policy on the basis of the UK's own domestic circumstances, the Government favour the adoption of flexible, indicative targets; an approach endorsed by the European Scrutiny Committees of both Houses of Parliament.The Government actively support the use of transport biofuels, in particular through the 20 pence per litre reduction in fuel duty on biodiesel—due to come into effect shortly—and through the further round of the Green Fuels Challenge, offering zero duty for pilots demonstrating innovative technologies for environmentally beneficial fuels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set the Pesticides Safety Directorate for 2002–03. [70677]

I have set the Pesticides Safety Directorate the following performance targets for 2003–03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will publish the 2001–02 Annual Report for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. [70676]

The 2001–02 Annual Report and Accounts for the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science for 2002–03. [70674]

I have set the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science the following performance targets for 2002–03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has received the report of the Royal Society's Scientific Review of Infectious Diseases in Livestock; and if she will make a statement. [70949]

I am delighted that the Royal Society have today published the report of their independent Scientific Review of Infectious Diseases in Livestock. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.This report was commissioned by the Government following the unprecedented outbreak of foot and mouth disease last year. I am very grateful to Professor Sir Brian Follett and his committee for producing such a thorough and excellent report in such a short space of time. This is a very significant contribution to our work to strengthen our ability to guard against and deal with animal disease.I welcome the importance that the report places on the livestock industry in this country and Great Britain having animal disease free status. We are already taking action on imports and disease surveillance to protect this and the report's views on these matters will be of great assistance.More widely, we intend to press ahead with an animal health and welfare strategy and will need to consider carefully the recommendations made by the report on research arid development in the light of yesterday's spending review announcement.The report's recommendations will be of crucial importance in developing the Government's emergency preparedness for controlling animal diseases, and we will need to study these closely, in particular the recommended approach to vaccination against foot and mouth disease. The Government has never rejected vaccination as an option in the fight against foot and mouth. The report recognises that there are aspects of vaccination, in particular trade and technical issues, which are not yet resolved, but which can and should be resolved. Even then, vaccination will not necessarily be a panacea and will not necessarily be right in all circumstances. The report notes that, even with emergency vaccination in place, culling would still be necessary.I welcome the Royal Society's endorsement of the need to take forward the work we have in hand on a greatly improved contingency plan for foot and mouth. Its findings on biosecurity and animal movements will also be of particular importance.In taking work forward on the report, we will need to involve stakeholders, in particular the farming industry, who have a share in the responsibility for maintaining the animal disease free status recommended by the report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government have taken to ameliorate the problem of (a) leylandii and (b) other rapidly growing trees associated with neighbour nuisance. [69575]

I have been asked to reply.The Government supported the high hedges Bill introduced last Session by the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor). Unfortunately, it fell due to lack of time before the election. Although it has not been possible to bring forward a high hedges Bill in the current Session, we remain committed to legislation allowing local authorities to deal with complaints about high hedges as soon as parliamentary time can be found.In December last year, we published guidelines on "Hedge height and light loss" developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). The guidelines explain how to calculate whether a hedge is likely to block out too much light from a garden and from the main rooms of a house. These scientifically based tests might carry some weight with hedge owners and help them to understand the impact of their hedge. As a result, they might be more willing to negotiate with neighbours.We are now preparing a leaflet for members of the public, advising them how they might approach their neighbours to try to agree a solution to their hedge problems. The leaflet will include information on a range of factors that people might consider in settling on the right hedge height for their particular circumstances. It will cover such matters as what heights will ensure privacy; those at which a hedge can be safely maintained; and those likely to block light to neighbouring properties.

Authority	Scheme	Expected start date
Bradford	South Bradford Integrated Transport Improvements	November 2001
Cheshire	Chester-Deeside Transport Scheme	May 2004
Durham	Belmont Interchange	October 2003
Tyne and Wear PTA	Four Lanes End Interchange	April 2002
Wiltshire	Salisbury Integrated Transport Measures	April 2002

The provision of parking facilities, including park-and-ride, is a matter for the local highway authority and rail operators. In addition to the major schemes, a number of smaller schemes have been implemented or proposed by the local authorities as part of their local transport strategies. These have included proposals for the extension of existing sites or new sites for both bus-based and rail-based schemes. The smaller schemes as presented in the local transport plans annual progress reports submitted in July 2001 are summarised in the table. Details of the smaller schemes, including proposed timetables are not kept centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the programme developed by the ORR for Railtrack to create an asset register; and what stage (a) they had reached by 5 October 2001 and (b) they have reached. [62298]

[holding answer 17 June 2002]: Railtrack is required to establish and maintain a register of the condition, capability and capacity of its assets, and to demonstrate that it is taking all necessary steps to do so by the earliest practicable date. Railtrack submits plans for the Rail Regulator's review every six months.By 5 October 2001, Railtrack had completed its assessment of the state of asset information within the company; finalised its strategy for managing asset information; defined the work that it needed to do to implement that strategy; and completed all data collection for the asset register.The Rail Regulator is currently reviewing Railtrack's latest plans, submitted in April 2002, taking into account the views of key stakeholders. He will then consider in consultation with Railtrack what should be published and when.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the park-and-ride schemes introduced in each of the last two years, including the start date for each scheme; and if he will list the further schemes that are being proposed, including their expected start dates. [66567]

The following chart lists major local public transport projects that contain proposals for park-and-ride within them, that have been approved or provisionally approved. The expected start dates are those provided by the authorities in July 2001 as part of the Local Transport Plans annual progress reports.

Schemes listed in LTP submissions
Type of scheme	July 2001	July 2002
Bus-based P and R—new	7	11
Bus-based P and R—extension	6	7
Rail-based P and R—new	4	6
Rail-based P and R—extension	7	8

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions since 7 June 2001 the

Following the undertaking he gave to the Transport Select Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) sent to the Committee and placed in the Libraries of the House on 27 November 2001, a copy of the minutes of a meeting he had held with John Robinson, the then chairman of Railtrack, on 25 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to discourage car use by engineering greater road congestion. [67555]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources the Government will be putting into rural stations for services and maintenance of stations in the next three years. [69396]

Station maintenance is funded from the generality of Railtrack's income. Rural stations and services can also benefit from the £430 million funding available through the Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) operated by the Strategic Rail Authority. Extended in December 2001 to run for 10 years, the RPP fund is designed to assist in the provision of new or enhanced local and regional rail services or facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to alter the slip roads on the A404(M) and A404 approaching the junction with the M4 and the M40. [69166]

[holding answer 11 July 2002]: Proposed improvements to the M40/A404 junction at Handy Cross include a new slip road from the A404 to the westbound M40.Any major changes to the junction between the A404(M) and the M4 are subject to the Thames Valley Multi-Modal Study. In the interim, it is proposed to widen the immediate approach from the A404(M) to the junction roundabout as a low cost measure to decrease queue lengths and increase throughput on A404(M).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contingency plans he has for the case where there is failure of a key partner in the Tubelines and Metronet consortia; and if he will make a statement. [69786]

The provisions of the PPP competition process allow for changes in the shareholders of the bidders, subject to the consent of London Underground. The contracts themselves also contain provisions relating to changes in a consortium's shareholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the SRA has made PAYE-liable salary payments to employees of Network Rail. [69944]

No. The Strategic Rail Authority does not employ those working on the Network Rail bid team.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date Network Rail was legally named. [69941]

Network Rail Limited was incorporated on 22 March 2002.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2002, Official Report, column 984–85W, ref. 67062, what estimate he has made of the cost (a) to public funds of providing an indemnity and (b) to Railtrack and its shareholders if such an indemnity were not in place. [70080]

With Railtrack Group expected to take full advantage of exemptions in tax legislation for disposals by companies of substantial shareholdings, there would be no tax liability as a result of its disposal of Railtrack Plc and, therefore, no additional cost to public funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which (a) organisations and (b) individuals the SRA has made payments in relation to the establishment of Network Rail. [69942]

The Strategic Rail Authority has made payments to the following bodies:

• Ove Arup and Partners
• Natwest Card Centre—Purch
• Sita Security Shredding
• Pret a Manger
• Coucher Pender
• Specialised Contract Interior
• Astor Lodge Holdings Ltd.
• Claire Howard Consultancies
• Durance Ltd.
• Financial Dynamics
• SQE Integrated Solutions
• Blue Haven
• Egon Zehender International
• JJR Partnership
• Dentons Catering Equipment
• Fastways Flyers
• Socite Generale
• Partnerships UK plc
• Yellow House Consulting
• Asset Performance Man. Ltd.
• Bechtel Ltd.
• Coolwater (London) Ltd.
• Demita Plants
• Wings Catering Equipment Ltd.
• Morgan Spencer c/o LSM
• Supplies Team.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place a copy of the Network Rail directors' incentive plan in the Lib. [70516]

No, Network Rail intend to prepare and publish an incentive plan annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to whom potential applicants to serve as members of Network Rail should apply; and if he will make a statement. [70509]

Applicants should apply to Network Rail at their registered address.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the members of Network Rail to approve the appointment of directors. [70510]

The timing of the arrangements for the appointment of directors is a matter for Network Rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish reports and accounts for Network Rail for the period between its inception and the date on which it becomes a private sector company in the national accounts. [70513]

No, this is the responsibility of Network Rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the members of Network Rail will be appointed. [70515]

This is a matter for Network Rail, but I understand that the company wish to appoint members as soon as possible, if their bid is successful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the London to Ipswich Multi-modal Study relating to the rail and road infrastructure within the Haven Gateway sub-region. [69989]

This study will report later this year. We will then consider the recommendations once we have received advice from the east of England local government conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what authority representatives of the United States embassy prevent public pedestrian access to the pavement outside the United States embassy. [69984]

The Metropolitan police, using their common law powers, control public pedestrian access outside the United States embassy to maintain the security of those who work at, visit or live nearby the location. The United States embassy does not itself prevent public pedestrian access. The security arrangements are regularly reviewed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 February 2002, Official Report, column 1094W, on public highway closures, if he will list the roads in London in respect of which he has sought an order under section 116 of the Highways Act 1980. [69974]

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what communications he has received in the last three months from the European Commission regarding the regulation of UK-US aviation; and if he will make a statement. [70062]

We have had correspondence from the Commission about a complaint by bmi british midland about the operation of the Bermuda 2 agreement with the United States.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures his Department has collated for the SERAS report on comparative rates of growth over the past five years at (a) Heathrow airport and (b) its competitors. [70063]

The Civil Aviation Authority published statistics show the rate of growth in terminal passengers at Heathrow airport over the last five years. These are set out in the table below together with equivalent figures for Heathrow's main European competitors.

Terminal passengers
million
	Heathrow	Amsterdam	Paris(CDG)	Frankfurt
1997	57.84	31.02	35.10	39.68
1998	60.35	33.95	38.47	42.15
1999	61.97	36.43	43.48	45.43
2000	64.27	39.27	48.14	49.05
2001	60.45	39.31	47.94	48.29
Percentage increase	+4.5	+26.7	-36.5	+21.7

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library statistics relating to the average journey time, distinguishing between scheduled and excess, on the (a) DLR, (b) Tyne and Wear Metro, (c) Manchester Metro link, (d) South Yorkshire Supertram, (e) Midland Metro and (f) Croydon Tramlink. giving the source for each data set used. [69774]

Information is not available for (c) Manchester Metro link. The available information for the other five light rail systems has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what help will be given to NATS to make sure that the problems of computer failure are addressed. [69492]

These are operational matters for NATS, who have already introduced measures to address the problems which caused the recent computer failures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the overall manning level of air traffic controllers at Swanwick has been, expressed as a percentage of optimal manning levels since its opening; [70126](2) how much time has been lost to flight delays in the London Flight Information Region in each month since January 1999; [70124](3) how many overload reports have been made by air traffic controllers in the London Flight Information Region in each month since January 1999; [70123](4) what the full establishment of air traffic controllers in the London Flight Information Region has been in each month of the past three years; and what the current establishment of air traffic controllers is; [70122](5) how much time has been lost to absenteeism by air traffic controllers in the London Flight Information Region in each month since January 1999. [70125]

These are operational matters for National Air Traffic Services Ltd (NATS).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will review the bus service operating tolerance guidelines introduced on 2 April. [70364]

The guidelines were introduced by the Traffic Commissioners and any review would be a matter for them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many more buses there are on UK roads since 1997; and what improvements in bus travel have been made. [69528]

Figures for Great Britain from the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) show that there were 78,577 buses and coaches with nine or more seats registered on 31 December 1997. On 31 March 2002, the equivalent figure was 89,867, an increase of 11,290.In the same period, 31,386 buses and coaches were newly registered. The average age of the local service bus fleet has fallen from 9.4 years in 1997 to 8.4 years in 2001 and the bus industry is committed to reducing it to 8.0 years and maintaining it at that level in line with the Government's 10-year plan for transport. From 31 December 2000 all new buses used on local or scheduled services have been accessible to disabled people including wheelchair users.Bus service provision in rural areas has been enhanced since 1998 by additional funding to local authorities in the form of Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) and Rural Bus Challenge (RBC). RBSG funding for 2001–04 is £138 million and is supporting 1,800 new and enhanced services in rural areas. The RBC competitions have provided £69.8 million to enable 213 innovative local authority schemes for rural communities to be introduced. Since 2001 the Urban Bus Challenge, targeted at urban communities suffering from high levels of deprivation, has resulted in awards of £15.3 million to 32 schemes in 24 local authority areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with London Underground management on the strikes called by the RMT union for 17 and 18 July. [70508]

This is a matter for London Underground. However, the Government are extremely disappointed that the RMT has decided to call industrial action. We urge both sides to do all they can to reach agreement and avoid making the 3 million people who rely on the tube each day suffer again.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government have done since 1997 to convince people to use methods of transport apart from the car. [69527]

We published our Integrated Transport White Paper in 1998, and our 10-year plan for Transport in 2000. These documents set out our policy for promoting choice for the travelling public. Initiatives we have taken or are taking to promote alternative forms of transport to the car include:

Introduction of Bus Quality Partnerships; introduction of a new Urban Bus Challenge Fund; guaranteeing half-fare travel concession for elderly and disabled people;

Increased funding for rural transport; resulting in over 1,800 new or enhanced services so far in England alone. In supporting 150 innovative rural transport schemes under the Rural Bus Challenge scheme;

Rural Transport Partnerships which we aim to have in every rural community in England by next year;

Appointment of a new team of regional cycling co-ordinators, to support delivery of the National Cycling Strategy, and announced funding for the first 10 cycling projects under a new £2 million Cycling Projects Fund;

Preparation .of a draft national walking strategy which will be issued for consultation in due course;

£1.5 billion for local authorities in England to implement their Local Transport Plans in 2002–03. These include many measures designed to make public transport more available, more reliable and more attractive;

Encouraging and supporting the take-up of travel plans by businesses, schools, hospitals, local authorities and other major employers:

Establishment of "traveline"; a national telephone-based public transport information system;

Working on "Transport Direct", an internet programme which aims to provide travellers with all the information they need. This will be online in 2003;

Supporting a range of travel awareness campaigns including "Walk to School, Bike Week" and "In town, without my car".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new road have been constructed since 1997. [69526]

The public road length of Great Britain at 1 April 2001 was estimated to be 3,066 miles longer than at 1 April 1997. Motorways accounted for 59 miles of this increase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made with the plans for new toll roads and motorways. [69529]

There are no such plans. The M6 toll (the Birmingham northern relief road) is already under construction and is expected to open in early 2004.

Secondary fires1by bridge area, UK 2000
			Location/Item
Brigade	Total secondary fires1	Derelict buildings	Grasslands/heathlands2	Refuse	Other1
United Kingdom	241,357	4	24	61	10
England and Wales	197,253	4	24	61	11
England	179,753	4	22	63	11
England—non-Met counties	86,934	4	25	59	12
Avon	2,837	4	22	66	8
Bedfordshire	1,485	5	19	60	16
Berkshire	2,054	3	28	0	69
Buckinghamshire	1,888	2	14	66	18
Cambridgeshire	1,678	4	27	51	19
Cheshire	3,778	4	22	70	5
Cleveland	5,028	1	17	79	3
Cornwall	848	2	50	41	7
Cumbria	1,538	6	19	68	6
Derbyshire	2,244	5	29	53	13
Devon	2,314	5	25	60	11
Dorset	1,646	3	52	31	14
Durham	3,317	5	26	65	4
East Sussex	1,603	3	22	62	14
Essex	4,474	3	32	51	14
Gloucestershire	929	5	23	65	7
Hampshire	4,602	3	27	58	12
Hereford and Worcester	1,514	2	33	46	18
Hertfordshire	2,127	2	26	57	15
Humberside	4,819	5	18	71	6
Isle of Wight	172	4	38	51	8
Kent	4,326	3	17	57	23
Lancashire	6,451	4	12	77	7
Leicestershire	2,346	4	31	55	10
Lincolnshire	1,105	7	30	53	10
Norfolk	1,312	4	28	61	7
North Yorkshire	1,153	3	23	64	10
Northamptonshire	1,943	4	14	60	22
Northumberland	1,339	2	37	56	6
Nottinghamshire	3,620	5	42	42	10
Oxfordshire	999	3	24	61	13
Shropshire	1,209	2	39	52	7
Somerset	745	3	22	67	9
Staffordshire	3,233	4	35	54	7
Suffolk	979	2	32	53	13
Surrey	1,623	3	29	54	15
Warwickshire	1,443	8	30	48	15>
West Sussex	1,428	3	27	51	19
Wiltshire	780	3	24	63	9
Isles of Scilly	5	—	100	—	—
England—Met counties	92,819	5	19	66	10
Greater Manchester	14,189	7	12	75	5
Merseyside	12,810	4	18	73	5
South Yorkshire	6,844	8	26	53	12
Tyne and Wear	8,821	2	22	69	6
West Midlands	12,855	5	31	55	8
West Yorkshire	10,908	8	14	68	11
Greater London	26,392	3	17	64	16

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of secondary fires were (a) on grassland and heath, (b) in refuse, (c) in derelict buildings and (d) in none of the above in the last 12 months. [60448]

I have been asked to reply.The information in the table relates to secondary fires attended by UK local authority fire brigades in 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to adopt a policy of differential charges for providing answers to conveyancing search inquiries; what further steps he will take; and if he will make a statement; [58271](2) how many local authorities have digitised their local land charges and associated records and obtained the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58269](3) how many local authorities have applied to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58281](4) what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to digitise their land records and obtain the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58268](5) how many applications by local authorities have been approved by his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and what the total value is of the approvals granted; [58283](6) what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to apply to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and obtaining the necessary computer equipment to connect to the National Land Information Service; and if he will make a statement; [58284](7) what the total value is of the applications which have been made by local authorities to his Department for funding to assist them in digitising their land records and

I have been asked to reply.The National Land Information Services (NLIS) is a project, which has been developed and is run by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for local government.NLIS is an important part of the Government's policy to improve the home buying process. In particular it has the potential of significantly improving the turnaround times for conveyancing searches. We have written to local authorities drawing the benefits of both NLIS and the associated National Land and Property Gazetteer project to their attention. I have placed a copy of that letter in the House Library.From information provided to us by the IDeA as at 28 May 2002, we understand for local authorities in England that: 117 of the 388 authorities are electronically connected to NLIS with 81 authorities connected at Level 2, and 36 at Level 3.From information provided to us by the IDeA as at 28 May 2002, we understand for local authorities in England and Wales that: there are 132 local land and property gazetteers (LLPGs) produced by local authorities which are linked to the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG); with a further 117 gazetteers in prospect to be linked to the NLPG in the near future; and a further 33 local authorities known to be developing LLPGs.There is no direct funding available from Government for local authorities to participate with NLIS. The Government are providing £155 million over the next

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the forecast in-service date as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) Type 23 Frigate, (ii) Single-role minehunter, (iii) Sting Ray Torpedo, (iv) Sonar 2087 Type 45 Destroyer, (iv) Seawolf Block 2, (vi) C-17, (vii) Auxiliary Oiler, (viii) Vanguard Class and (ix) Trident II; [69564](2) if he will list the forecast cost of demonstration and manufacture phase as at 31 March

[holding answer 15 July 2002]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the forecast in-service date was as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) COBRA (Counter Battery Radar), (ii) Chinook MSH/HC2A, (iii) Chinook MSH/HC3, (iv) BR 90 Bridge Systems, (v) SHIELDER, (vi) Combined Arms Tactical Trainer and (vii) Medium and Light Utility truck; [69567](2) if he will list the forecast in-service date as at 31 March

[holding answer 15 July 2002]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) date of initial gate, (b) target date for main gate approval and (c) approved cost of assessment phase at initial gate for the (i) future Carrier-Bourne aircraft, (ii) future Carrier, (iii) Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, (iv) Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System (Gun) and (v) Microwave Landing System. [69554]

[holding answer 15 July 2002]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the forecast in-service date as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) Tornado F3-weapon system upgrade, (ii) Sea Harrier FRS I to F/A2 conversions, (iii) Next Generation Anti-Armour Weapon and (iv) Eurofighter Aircrew Synthetic Training Aids; [69565](2) if he will list the forecast cost of demonstration and manufacture phase as at 31 March

[holding answer 15 July 2002]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what the forecast in-service date was as at 31 March (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002 for the (i) E3D Sentry-Radar Improvement Programme, (ii) Skynet 4 Stage 2 and (iii) Skynet 5; [69566](2) if he will list the forecast cost of demonstration and manufacture phase as at 31 March

[holding answer .15 July 2002]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the jobs created by the new anti-armour technology contract will be established; whether these will be permanent; and if he will make a statement. [67418]

The contractor for the Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon programme, Saab Bofors Dynamics, estimates that a total of 520 jobs will be created or sustained in the United Kingdom as a result of this contract. The timing of the creation of these posts and their permanency is a matter for the contractor and as such I cannot comment specifically. However, work on the programme has now started and production for the UK is expected to be complete by 2010. This could be extended if the contractor wins further orders from other customers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of the Storm Shadow air launched cruise missile; and if he will make a statement. [67835]

As reported in the 2001 Major Project Report, the total estimated procurement cost of the Storm Shadow conventionally armed stand-off missile project is £981 million. This figure includes development, production and initial support costs. Information on the cost of an individual missile would enable deductions to be made on the planned size of our Storm Shadow inventory. I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to Defence, Security and International Relations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the expansion of his Department's sponsored Skill Force initiative to assist under-achieving youngsters in schools. [67705]

The Skill Force scheme forms part of the Ministry of Defence's contribution to wider Government social exclusion policies. The initiative aims to prevent young people from feeling long-term disaffection with school and society. It is currently being piloted in 11 areas and in 47 schools in England and Scotland.An integral part of the Skill Force pilot scheme has been rigorous and independent evaluation by the British Market Research Bureau. The most recent evaluation report, based on the two original schemes that started in September 2000 in Newcastle and Norfolk, has been completed. The report has shown that Skill Force has helped to maintain attendance rates of over 90 per cent. among children who would otherwise have been expected to display sharply declining attendance, sometimes leading to exclusion through years 10 and 11. Exclusions among participating children in these schools have been reduced by 72 per cent. compared with those predicted by the head teachers at the start of the scheme. A copy of the full report will be placed in the Library of the House.The positive results from the independent evaluation have encouraged DIES to work with the MOD in offering Skill Force more widely. In response to the Government's Street Crime Initiative, Skill Force is one of the schemes 11 local education authorities have been invited to consider to help them to deliver part of DfES's Behaviour Improvement Programme. The LEAs concerned have all been in discussions with the MOD and a final decision on locations and schools is expected to be made in the next month. In addition, discussions are currently being held with a view to extending the pilot scheme to Wales. A decision is expected shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Eurofighter will be delayed beyond the end of the year. [67706]

The Eurofighter In Service Date (ISD) is dependent on industry's ability to deliver an aircraft that meets the nation's requirements. The programme is hugely complex and therefore some risks are inevitable. As I stated in the initial announcement of the delay on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 478W, nations have reviewed the programme with industry and we have jointly concluded that the ISD should be achieved towards the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on (a) how many Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft he plans to purchase for the RAF, (b) how many aircraft there will be in each tranche to be ordered and (c) when confirmation for each tranche is planned to be completed; and what the equivalent plans were for Eurofighter procurement as at November 1998. [69862]

[holding answer 15 July 2002]: The Ministry of Defence plans to purchase a total of 232 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the Royal Air Force. The

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the procurement of a further five shipsets of the principal anti-air missile system; and if he will make a statement. [67709]

It is intended that the requirement will be contracted by the end of the year, subject to the agreement of acceptable terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the minutes of the meeting between his Department's officials, French Government officials and United States Administration officials at the Bristol Abbey Wood establishment on 1 and 2 March 2001, in respect of the project to manufacture mox lead test assemblies. [68257]

Mixed oxide (MOX) fuelled lead test assemblies are required for a Russian/US programme for the disposal of excess plutonium. There is an international project to manufacture the assemblies. The purpose of the meeting in March 2001 was to make provisional assessment of the technical and time-scale implications of incorporating surplus UK weapons grade plutonium into the assemblies. It has subsequently been agreed not to proceed in this manner. As the meeting touched on programme and planning matters within the authority of respective Governments, I am withholding the information requested under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Defence, Security and International Relations).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment he has made of potential barriers to interoperability between Watchkeeper and (a) other elements of the ISTAR capability, (b) systems used by US forces and (c) systems used by other NATO forces; and if he will make a statement; [68675](2) whether the platforms offered by the firms competing in the Watchkeeper tendering process are mutually compatible; and if he will make a statement; [68676](3) when the results of the Watchkeeper tendering process will be published; and if he will make a statement. [68674]

In the current assessment phase of the Watchkeeper project we are considering proposals for more detailed assessment phase work from four potential prime contractors. Two of the companies will be selected to undertake a series of systems integration and assurance activities before we make our main investment decision. Studies conducted by the four contractors have not identified any significant barriers to achieving interoperability with other elements of ISTAR capability, whether national or NATO (including US). The platforms offered by the contractors within their proposed solutions

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is (a) the original in-service date, (b) the current in-service date, (c) the original estimated cost and (d) the current cost of the (i) advanced short range air-to-air missile, (ii) advanced landing ship logistics, (iii) Astute class submarines, (iv) Bowman, (v) directional infra-red counter measures, (vi) future aircraft carrier, (vii) future carrier borne aircraft, (viii) joint tactical information and distribution system, (ix) landing platform dock replacement, (x) Link 16 joint tactical information display system, (xi) microwave landing system, (xii) mine counter measures vessels, (xiii) NATO submarine rescue system, (xiv) primary casualty receiving ship, (xv) remote influence minesweeping system, (xvi) SeaGnat DLH project, (xvii) Sonar 2087, (xviii) Sting Ray Life Extension lightweight torpedo, (xix) support amphibious and battlefield rotocraft, (xx) type 45 destroyer, (xxi) airborne stand-off radar, (xxii) BattleGroup thermal imaging, (xxiii) combined arms tactical trainer, (xxiv) extended range ordnance/modular charge system, (xxv) future command and liaison vehicle, (xxvi) future engineer tanks, (xxvii) future integrated soldier technology, (xxviii) ground based air defence, (xxix) multi-role armoured vehicle, (xxx) Airbus A400M, (xxxi) beyond visual range air-to-air missile, (xxxii) deployable air command and control system, (xxxiii) Eurofighter, (xxxiv) future offensive air system, (xxxv) Nimrod MRA-4, (xxxvi) Skynet 5, (xxxvii) Storm Shadow conventionally armed stand off missile and (xxxviii) UK air command and control system. [67632]

[holding answer 9 July 2002]: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the type 45 destroyer could offer a ballistic missile defence capability. [68774]

The type 45 destroyer has been designed with substantial weight and space margins to enable its capability to be upgraded through life. At present, no Ministry of Defence studies have been done to assess its specific suitability for a Ballistic Missile Defence role.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) planned capabilities and (b) strategic purposes and systems for type 45 destroyer. [68773]

The type 45 will be a versatile destroyer capable of contributing to world-wide maritime and joint operations in multi-threat environments and providing a specialist air warfare capability. With regard to the planned capabilities and systems for the warship, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 April 2001, Official Report, column 232, to the hon. Member for Grantham and Stamford (Mr. Davies). As the design of the type 45 progresses, opportunities to upgrade the ship's capability are being identified and acted upon. During the

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanisms exist for ensuring that Defence Housing Executive achieve value for money; what criteria are used to assess their performance; and if he will make a statement. [69070]

The Defence Housing Executive has been set challenging targets each year since its establishment as an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence in 1999. In 2001–02 these targets were as follows: