HC Deb 27 April 1995 vol 258 cc661-2W
Sir Nicholas Bonsor

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment has been made of the damage to trees in the borough of Havering by the work undertaken by Encom; and what steps have been taken to prevent further damage. [20719]

Mr. Ian Taylor

Havering borough council, in conjunction with Encom, has carried out a survey of 14,000 trees in the borough to assess damage to trees by cabling activity. The company have agreed that any tree damaged as a result of their contractors' activity will be replaced by two new specimens. A code of practice has been agreed with the borough council to minimise the potential for further damage. The code commits Encom's contractors to hand digging in the vicinity of trees.

Sir Nicholas Bonsor

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers local authorities have to control the activities of cable television operators within their area; and what residual powers Her Majesty's Government have in this area. [20717]

Mr. Ian Taylor

The street works activities of cable TV operators, in common with other statutory undertakers, are governed by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and its associated regulations. Local authorities may bring prosecutions under the Act for offences which include failure to reinstate, failure to comply with requirements on reinstatement materials and workmanship standards, failure to sign, guard and light the works as required and failure to co-operate with the street authority. The Telecommunications Act 1984, under which cable TV operators are licensed to install and run their systems, empowers the Secretary of State to modify the system installation conditions of cable operators' licences should he consider it expedient to do so.

Mr. McMaster

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what monitoring his Department carries out to ensure that cable television companies do not abuse their franchise by causing serious, unnecessary and unacceptable disruption to other local services and local residents; what recourse is available where this happens; and if he will make a statement. [19003]

Mr. Ian Taylor

Cable TV operators are licensed under the Telecommunications Act 1984 to install their systems in the maintainable highway and, with appropriate consent, on private land. Their licences include conditions designed to ensure that they operate in a responsible manner and adhere to all relevant street works legislation. Street works in the maintainable highway are subject to the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and its associated regulations, which is enforced by local highway authorities. The Act imposes a duty on the cable operator to co-operate with the local highway authority in the interests of safety, to minimise the inconvenience to persons using the street and to protect the structure of the street and the integrity of apparatus in it. The DTI monitors the performance of individual cable operators using a variety of statistical and empirical measures. The Department, in conjunction with local authorities, take action to ensure street works do not cause unnecessary disruption.