§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public consultation exercises his Department has undertaken in the last three years in respect of transport policy. [8607]
§ Mr. Norris[holding answer 16 January 1996]: "Transport: The Way Ahead" was published as part of the national transport debate launched in 1995, and sought views on the future direction of transport policy. My Department has also conducted a number of consultation exercises on individual aspects of policy including:
- Passenger Rolling Stock (January 1993);
- Gaining Access to the Railway Network (February 1993);
- The Operation of Local Bus Services outside London (March 1993);
- Consultation on Route Options for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (undertaken by Union Railways on behalf of DoT, Summer 1993)
- Paying For Better Motorways (May 1993);
- The Merchant Shipping Registration Regulations (August 1993);
- The future of Taxi and Private Hire Services in England and Wales (October 1993);
- Consultation on the principles of DBFO policy which accompanied the document, "Preliminary Note on Design, Build Finance and Operate contracts" (April 1994);
- Privatisation of the National Air Traffic Services (May 1994);
- Donaldson Report "Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas" (May 1994);
- Wreck Removal Powers (June 1994);
- Waste Reception Facilities in UK Ports (April 1995);
- Proposals for New Regulations on Transport of Radioactive Materials by Road In GB (April 1995);
- River crossings to the East of Tower Bridge (June 1995);
- Possible changes to Bus Deregulation (July 1994).
In addition, there have been a large number of consultations on very specific and/or technical issues such as: railway noise regulations and loading gauge standards; amending highways and vehicle regulations and aviation and shipping matters.