HL Deb 22 June 1999 vol 602 cc72-3WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept the opinion of the European Commission that European airspace is nearing "full saturation" and will be unable to absorb additional traffic beyond 2002–05; and, if so, what steps are being taken, and by whom, to address this situation. [HL2967]

Lord Whitty

We forecast that European aviation will continue to grow at around 5 per cent. per annum well into the next century, and there are national and pan-European plans to accommodate it.

EUROCONTROL, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has the primary co-ordinating role in the field of air traffic management in Europe, and works with states to identify airspace or airports where additional capacity is needed in the short term. Strategic vision is provided in EUROCONTROL's ATM Strategy for 2000+, which transport Ministers of the major European states will be asked to endorse in January 2000.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Highways Authority have made use of the assessment method proposed by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology in its POST note on cost benefit analysis of tunnels of January 1997; and, if not, whether they will now require the authority to do so. [HL2854]

Lord Whitty

The Highways Agency is aware of the proposals put forward by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) in its January 1997 report:Tunnel Vision—The Future Role of Tunnels in Transport Infrastructure.

This included areas such as funding from alternative sources, improved systems of investment appraisal, giving greater weight to environmental considerations and the issue of policy about when road and rail tunnels could be used to protect a wider range of environmental assets.

A new approach was developed to the appraisal (NATA) of different solutions to transport problems as part of our 1998 trunk road review. The approach appraises different solutions against the Government's five criteria of accessibility, safety, economy, environment and integration.

This approach was used to assess the A.303 proposals at Stonehenge. We are proceeding with the road scheme as an exceptional environmental scheme following the 1998 review. The scheme includes a 2 km section of cut and cover tunnel and uniquely will be financed with at least a third contribution from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and English Heritage, reflecting the status of Stonehenge as an important part of the World Heritage Site.

The NATA is a requirement for the Highways Agency in appraising major projects on the trunk road network.