§ 5. Mr. Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale, West)What action his Department is proposing to mitigate the environmental nuisance caused by increased levels of rail freight movements through residential areas. [54329]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Mr. Alan Meale)Overall, rail freight causes less pollution and noise than road traffic. It can, however, cause local environmental problems, particularly in terms of noise. We expect Railtrack and the freight operating companies to minimise the environmental impacts of their operations on their neighbours.
§ Mr. BradyI thank the Minister for his helpful response. While I welcome increased freight moving on the railways, as I am sure all hon. Members do, real problems are caused in certain communities, including one in my constituency, where rail freight is causing vibration, which damages properties, and noise, which wakes people up in the middle of the night. In many instances, the effects can be mitigated by using different types of wagon or other measures. I impress on the Minister as powerfully as I can the importance of addressing those concerns.
§ Mr. MealeI thank the hon. Gentleman for his efforts, and especially for corresponding with me to let me know about the problems. I am aware of the noise problems in relation to rail freight traffic generally and in particular in respect of the Brunner-Mond chemical plant. I am pleased to be able to inform the House that Railtrack has entered 1066 into discussions with English, Welsh and Scottish Railway, the freight company involved, and the local authority to try to solve the problem.
§ Dr. Rudi Vis (Finchley and Golders Green)EWS took over the transport of spent nuclear fuel on rail privatisation. It has now been taken over by Direct Rail Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels plc. Is my hon. Friend aware that BNFL wrote on 25 September to the London borough of Barnet, without any negotiation or prior information, saying that it was going to use Cricklewood sidings to park spent fuel?
§ Mr. MealeI was not aware of that detail. I will gather information when I return to the Department and give my hon. Friend a full response.
§ Mr. Norman Baker (Lewes)While it is right to minimise the environmental impact of rail freight movements, is not far more environmental damage caused by the movement of freight by road? The Government's priority should be—as I think it is—to secure a shift of freight from road to rail, which causes less pollution and noise. I am happy to have more rail freight move through Newhaven.
§ Mr. MealeI thank the hon. Gentleman. I can enlarge on what he said. Moving freight from road to rail creates major environmental benefits. In our 18 months in power, the Government have effected a 5 per cent. growth in that transfer.