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Mr. Greg Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why the road surface markings and signs relating thereto on the southbound carriageway of the M1 north of junction 4 on the stretch of four-lane motorway were (a) initially altered to show the use of an additional offside lane for fast moving vehicles and (b) altered again to show instead the use of an additional nearside lane for slow moving vehicles.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The initial signing arrangement was based on signing of diverge lanes for faster traffic elsewhere. It was not successful on this stretch of the M1. It has therefore been changed.
Railways (Safety)
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve safety on the railways.
Mr. Portillo : I am obviously concerned that safety on the railways should be of the highest order. The law places upon the British Railways Board and the operators of other statutory railway undertakings an obligation to run their services safely. The railway inspectorate, which advises Ministers on railway safety matters, keeps closely in touch with the railway operators on all aspects of safety. In the light of the Fennell report, the railway inspectorate is considering whether it can improve the way in which this is done.
London Underground (Crime)
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the recommendations in the 1986 report, "Crime on the London Underground", have been implemented.
Mr. Portillo : All the recommendations for action by London Underground Limited are being implemented, some on an experimental basis in pilot projects. The recommendations concerning the organisation of the British transport police are for the Police Committee.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received a costed programme from London Regional Transport of the measures recommended in the report, "Crime on the London Underground".
Mr. Portillo : My Department receives regular reports from London Underground Limited on expenditure
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committed and planned from the £15 million that the Government have made available for the implementation of the measures recommended in the report.Air Traffic Control
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the Civil Aviation Authority's advice on strategies for making good use of the air traffic control capacity in the period up to 1995.
Mr. Channon : I received the advice at the end of November. The authority is publishing it today and copies are being placed in the Library.
I welcome the advice, which contains a clear statement of the steps that the national air traffic services are taking to improve the provision of air traffic control services pending the significant increase in capacity which will result from the reorganisation of the London terminal area airspace due to be completed in 1995. The advice also explains the important initiatives that the United Kingdom has been taking internationally to increase co-operation and co-ordination between air traffic control authorities in Europe. The Government's public expenditure plans announced in the autumn, already make provision for a two thirds increase in the authority's investment next year. The Government will continue to approve individual projects within the authority's investment programme where they are financially justified, as in the past. The Government also fully support the authority in introducing flexible working practices and in increasing recruitment of air traffic controllers to handle growing traffic levels.
I look to the chairman of the authority to pursue the strategy vigorously. I have asked him to consider any new ideas that may be put to him and to take further steps to relieve air traffic control congestion where these prove practicable.
Mr. Haselhurst : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has yet updated its 1986 air traffic forecasts ; and if he will make a statement about airport capacity in the south-east.
Mr. Channon : My Department is today publishing fresh forecasts of passenger demand at United Kingdom airports. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the House Libraries.
The latest forecasts cover the period to 2005. For United Kingdom airports they predict higher volumes of traffic than those estimated in 1986, with a significant increase in the proportion of passengers using regional airports, whose share is projected to rise from 33 per cent. to over 37 per cent. Continuing strong growth is expected both at London and at regional airports, relying on the availability of sufficient air traffic control capacity. This reflects among other factors the sustained economic performance of this country and our strength in business and tourism. The new forecasts take account on the one hand of lower air fares which are expected to result from further liberalisation ; and on the other of the effects of the Channel tunnel.
In the 1985 White Paper "Airports Policy" (Cmnd 9542) the Government stated that one of the objectives towards which United Kingdom airports policy should be directed was the fostering of a strong and competitive British airline industry through the provision of enough airport capacity where it is needed. In respect of the
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London airports the White Paper concluded that the developments then in hand or planned should provide both sufficient capacity to meet air transport demand in the south-east into the mid 1990s, and the necessary flexibility to enable decisions to be taken at the appropriate time for any development needed thereafter. On regional airports my predecessors and I have consistently affirmed our encouragement for their maximum use and development to meet demand arising locally, and have said we look to them to attract more traffic and so help with the pressure on the south-east.The Government's commitment has most recently been evidenced by my announcement yesterday of capital expenditure allocations for municipal airports and public airport companies for 1989-90 totalling £23 million. These include an allocation towards the cost of the first phase of a major new passenger terminal at Manchester airport, thus allowing the airport company to proceed.
Earlier this year I judged that the time had come to review the strategy set out in the White Paper in the light of subsequent events. I therefore asked the Civil Aviation Authority for formal recommendations, under section 16(2) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982, on the United Kingdom airport capacity needed to cope with demand through to 2005. At the same time, I asked the authority for interim advice on strategies for making good use of the available air traffic control capacity until the planned reorganisation of the London terminal area (LTMA) airspace produces additional capacity in 1995. I received the authority's interim advice at the end of last month and it is being published by the authority today. The authority's main advice is due in July of next year and I shall neither take nor endorse any decisions on airport capacity until I have considered that advice.
The present outlook is as follows. Although Heathrow and Gatwick are now operating for much of the time at close to the capacity of their runways, their passenger throughput can be expected to go on increasing gradually over the years with the growth in size of aircraft and with some further peak-spreading. Moreover, the London area still has substantial spare runway capacity at Stansted. The runway there is at present handling only about 1 million passengers per annum, though its potential capacity is of the order of 25 million passengers per annum. Runways at Luton and London City airports and at other existing airports accessible to passengers to and from the south-east can also be expected to make some contribution to the handling of London's traffic growth. But of course runway capacity cannot be realised without improvements in airspace capacity over south- eastern England, and the corresponding development of sufficient passenger terminal capacity.
In its interim advice on airspace strategies, the CAA explains that in 1995, with the completion of the planned reorganisation of London terminal area airspace, it expects LTMA air traffic control capacity to be adequate to handle the runway capacities of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, in addition to 16 movements per hour at Luton. As to terminal capacity, a number of new developments are either planned or possible. The first phase of Stansted's new terminal is already under construction and is planned to open in 1991. Outline planning permission has been given for completion of the terminal to a capacity of 15 million passengers per annum, though parliamentary approval would be needed to raise the current limit on air
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transport movements at the airport. Moreover, as envisaged in the 1985 White Paper, further terminal development to the capacity of Stansted's runway would also be possible, subject to planning permission and to Parliament's decision over the airport's current air transport movement limit. The White Paper also left open the possibility of a fifth passenger terminal at Heathrow ; again, any proposal would be subject to planning permission.There are therefore a number of ways in which airport capacity in the south -east can continue to meet demand, without the commissioning of new runways. I now await the CAA's main advice, due in July. Meanwhile, in view of the long lead-times necessary for seeking planning approval and for construction, it is right that those responsible for operating and developing airports should review the options for any new terminal developments that traffic forecasts indicate are likely to be needed.
London Regional Transport (Finance)
Dr. Michael Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the external financing limit for London Regional Transport.
Mr. Portillo : The external financing limit for London Regional Transport for the current financial year has been increased by £54 million to £275 million to allow for additional safety-related expenditure following the fire at King's Cross and the purchase of Victoria coach station from the National Bus Company. The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.
Travellers Fare
Mr. Kirkhope : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future arrangements in respect of Travellers Fare.
Mr. Portillo : I am pleased to announce that, following a recommendation from the British Railways Board, the Secretary of State has given his consent under section 1 of the Transport Act 1981 to the board's sale of Travellers Fare Limited, its station catering subsidiary, to a new company formed by the Travellers Fare management.
The board's choice of the Travellers Fare management as the new owners follows a competitive tender exercise. The management will be setting up an employee share ownership plan in the new year. I wish the management and staff of Travellers Fare success in the private sector.
Road Development
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on the control of development on motorways and other trunk roads in England and Wales.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Department of Transport Circular 4/88 and Welsh Office Circular 42/88 set out the general policy which will guide the Departments in exercising their powers of direction under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988, and in advising local planning authorities on the implications of development proposals for trunk roads.
Trunk roads are designed primarily to further the safe and free flow of long distance through traffic. This
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necessitates limiting the numbers of junctions and accesses. No direct accesses to motorways are allowed other than for service area and related facilities.In the case of other trunk roads, development of suitable sites to provide services for motorists is to be encouraged in areas where the necessary services are lacking, and it will not be appropriate to exercise the same severity of restriction on some of the older trunk roads as in relation to the newer high standard ones.
In all cases the implications of development for traffic on the trunk road should be taken into account in decisions on planning applications. This also applies to development at or near to junctions with trunk roads.
It is important to take into account the extent to which traffic generated by development may use up in whole or part the residual capacity of trunk roads or junctions with them. That aspect is of particular concern in relation to the more heavily used roads such as M25.
In cases where the developer considers that the traffic implications of development can be made acceptable by works which he is willing to fund, he is recommended to seek an early meeting with the Department concerned to explore the scope for an agreement under section 278 of the Highways Act 1980. Agreements cannot be used to cover departures from the general ban on accesses to motorways, or for multiplying access points on other trunk roads contrary to the policy in the circular.
They may be appropriate in circumstances where new or modified access arrangements to departmental standards would be acceptable from a road safety and traffic management standpoint, and the developer is willing to pay in whole or part for these and other improvements to deal with traffic generated by the development. Where such improvements are in prospect, it may be appropriate to impose a condition on the planning permission delaying implementation of the development until they are effective.
We shall shortly issue a guidance notice on section 278 agreements.
Transport Police
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the independent inspection of the British Transport police by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary has been completed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 19 December at columns 9- 10.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current complement of British Transport police officers ; and how many are on duty on average each day within the London Underground system.
Mr. Portillo : The current national complement of the British Transport police is 1,918. The complement of the division responsible for the London underground is 350. On an average day 162 of the division's officers are deployed, on a three shift basis, on the underground network.
Bus Licensing
Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals are being advanced by the
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European Commission to the Council of Ministers on the procedure for licensing bus services within the Community after 1992 ; and what is his assessment of the effect of these proposals on United Kingdom bus operators with services to the continent.Mr. Portillo : The Commission has submitted proposals to liberalise and simplify some of the rules governing international bus and coach services in the Community, and to permit road passenger transport cabotage. The proposals have still to be agreed, and envisage a more far-reaching proposal by 1990. United Kingdom coach operators would be subject to more intensive competition in certain areas and would benefit from the increased opportunities which deregulation would bring.
London Underground (Security)
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of recent murders and attacks on London Underground, he will give details of any proposals to improve security on public transport in London ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : [holding answer 15 December 1988] : London Regional Transport has accepted the recommendation of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary that the complement of the London underground division of the British Transport police should be increased from 350 to 400 officers. LRT will be discussing the implementation of this recommendation with the British Transport police committee and the Chief Constable with the objective of bringing the division up to the new complement by the end of the 1989-90 financial year. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Commissioner of the City of London Police will be consulted as to how best they, in conjunction with the British Transport police, could provide additional officers as quickly as possible for policing the underground while the new British Transport police officers are being recruited and trained.
The increased manpower will facilitate further extension of the local area policing concept successfully piloted in the Stockwell area and will increase the police presence on the underground generally. London Underground Limited is implementing the recommendations of the Department of Transport's report of November 1986 on "Crime on the Underground" through a programme of passenger security measures for which the Government have made £15 million available. As part of this programme it has today commissioned a new underground communications network which will enable the use of police radio at 42 deep-level stations. The passenger security programme also includes installation at a number of stations of "Help Point" booths, intercom/alarm panels, enhanced closed circuit television monitoring and improved lighting.
SCOTLAND
Identity Cards
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has investigated, or is currently studying, the usefulness of a national identity card to his departmental responsibilities ; and whether he will make a statement.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department gave on 15 December in response to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Darling) about this matter. My right hon. and learned Friend has asked the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) for its views on the introduction of national identity cards and the association's response is awaited.
Community Charge
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce regulations to restrict the copying of an extract of the community charge register when a copy is taken for a purpose wholly unconnected with the community charge.
Transplant Surgery
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) heart, (b) cornea, (c) liver, (d) pancreas, (e) kidney and (f) lung transplants were carried out in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Only corneal and kidney transplants are carried out in Scotland. Scottish figures for these are as follows :
|Corneal|Kidney
--------------------------------
1977 |98 |67
1978 |95 |81
1979 |75 |59
1980 |96 |90
1981 |106 |70
1982 |106 |104
1983 |116 |132
1984 |129 |149
1985 |167 |126
1986 |142 |125
1987 |100 |116
Anti-smoking Campaigns
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what expenditure his Department made on anti-smoking campaigns, other than grants to ASH and the Scottish Health Education Group, in the current financial year ; and what are planned in 1989-90 ; (2) what is the total expenditure by the Scottish Health Education Group on anti-smoking campaigns in the current financial year ; (3) what expenditure he intends to make on anti-smoking campaigns in 1989-90 ;
(4) what grant his Department made to Action on Smoking and Health in the current financial year ; and what it will be in 1989-90 ; (5) what proportion of the Scottish Health Education Group's budget is spent on anti -smoking campaigns in the current financial year ; and proportion he expects to spend in 1989-90.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Scottish Health Education Group has allocated the sum of £247,000 for anti-smoking measures during the current financial year. This allocation represents 9 per cent. of the group's total publicity budget. The Scottish Committee for Action on Smoking and
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Health will receive an annual grant-in-aid from the Scottish Home and Health Department of £34,000 in the current financial year. Specific allocations concerning National Health Service expenditure in Scotland for 1989-90 have not yet been finalised. No other anti-smoking campaigns are being funded by the Scottish Home and Health Department at present.Scottish Health Education Group
Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to appoint a fund raiser to the Scottish Health Education Group to encourage an increase in the group's income from non-governmental sources.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The Scottish Health Education Group is considering how any additional funds which non-Governmen sources might be willing to contribute could be directed into health education. I will ask the group to let me have views on my hon. Friend's suggestion.
Timber
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his estimates of the expected annual growth in timber production assuming present forestry policies are maintained until the year 2000.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Current annual timber production in Great Britain is 6.1 million cu. m. This is expected to rise to about 9 million cu. m. by the year 2000.
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his estimates of the expected annual growth in the apparent consumption of timber and timber derivatives until the year 2000.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 16 December 1988] : The FAO's European timber trends study, published in 1986, forecasts an annual growth in the apparent consumption of timber and timber derivatives in the United Kingdom from now until the year 200 of about 2 per cent.
M77
Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of the opposition expressed to the proposed M77 extention, he will halt its construction.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : A public local inquiry into objections to the A77 Ayr road route proposals was held in Glasgow earlier this year. The reporter has recently submitted part I of his report and I expect the full report to be completed early next year. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will decide whether or not the road improvement should go ahead when he has considered the full report.
Hospital Beds
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the average number of people resident in Scotland per National Health Service hospital bed for the years 1978 to 1988.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The ratio of people to beds is set out below on the basis of the registrar general's mid-year estimates of population and the average number of available staffed beds in the years ending 31 March.
|Number
---------------------
1978 |87.9
1979 |88.1
1980 |88.6
1981 |88.6
1982 |89.4
1983 |90.5
1984 |89.8
1985 |90.6
1986 |91.8
1987 |92.5
1988 |93.8
Hazardous Waste
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the names and addresses of all the sites in Scotland which are approved for the disposal and dumping of hazardous and toxic wastes.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton Twenty-two landfill waste disposal sites authorised to accept significant quantities of hazardous and toxic wastes are listed in the table. Other sites may be authorised by the 56 Scottish waste disposal authorities, the district and islands councils, to accept hazardous and toxic wastes but under conditions which limit their significance.
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Address of landfill waste |Waste disposal authority
disposal site
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central region
Kinneill Kerse tip, Bo'ness, Foreshore, Bo'ness |Falkirk District Council
West Carron, Carron road, Falkirk |Falkirk District Council
Lower Polmaise, Fallin, Stirling |Stirling District Council
Fife region
East Forthar Farm, Kingskettle, Ladybank |North East Fife District Council
Grampian region
Little Clinterty, Clinterty, Aberdeen |City of Aberdeen District Council
Blackdog Farm (north), Bridge of Don |Gordon District Council
Highland region
Council site, Brackletter, Spean Bridge |Lochaber District Council
Lothian region
Levenseat Landfill Ltd, Levenseat quarry, Fauldhouse |West Lothian District Council
Strathclyde region
Stevenston Works tip, Stevenston |Cunninghame District Council
Greenoakhill tip, Hamilton road, Broomhouse, Glasgow |City of Glasgow District Council
Craignaught quarry, Dunlop |Kilmarnock and Loudoun
|District Council
Lanarkshire lagoons, Ravenscraig works, Motherwell |Motherwell District Council
Coke ovens area, Ravenscraig works, Motherwell |Motherwell District Council
Tweeniehills quarry, Kilbarchan |Renfrew District Council
Birdston, Kirkintilloch |Strathkelvin District Council
Inchbelly, Kirkintilloch |Strathkelvin District Council
Tayside region
Lochead farm landfill site, Forfar |Angus District Council
Leysmill quarry, Leysmill, Arbroath |Angus District Council
Leoch and Fallows quarries, Rosemill, Dundee |City of Dundee District Council
Wellbank quarry, Wellbank, Dundee |City of Dundee District Council
Luncarty Bleachfield, Luncarty, Perth |Perth and Kinross District Council
Shetland Islands
Sullom Voe terminal, Calback Ness, Shetland |Shetland Islands Council
Young Offenders (Training)
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has carried out any evaluation of the SACRO Strathclyde ESF training scheme for young offenders ; if he will consider funding similar schemes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The funding for this scheme was arranged by Strathclyde regional council and it does not therefore fall to my right hon. and learned Friend to carry out any evaluation. He would, of course, be interested to see the outome of any evaluation carried out by the regional council.
Motorway Crash Barriers
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to complete the installation of central crash barriers on every motorway in Scotland.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : At present there are 145 miles of motorway in Scotland, of which 41 miles have central barriers. The existing motorway network has been constructed by successive Governments since the mid-1960s, some sections with central barriers, others without. It is our policy to provide central barriers on all new and existing motorways and this will be done as quickly as available resources permit.
Museums and Galleries
Mr. Faulds : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1988 reported by the national museums and galleries in Scotland, broken down into the individual institutions, including their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage change on the attendance figures for 1987.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Attendance figures for the calendar year 1988 are not yet available.
Regional Development Grant
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list of those companies which have received regional development grants of under £25,000 in each of the past five years.
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Mr. Lang : Information about the payments over £25,000 is published in British Business, but is not collated for payments below that figure because of disporportionate cost.
Fish Farming
Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now give any information as to the results of research carried out by his Department's marine laboratory concerning the incidence of plankton blooms on the west coast and their effect upon fish farming operations ; what steps he proposes to take in response to their conclusions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Findings of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland's marine laboratory analysis of algal blooms which occurred this year are to be published next year. I will send a copy to the hon. Member in due course.
Longer-term research by the marine laboratory into the causes and spread of algal bloom in waters of the west coast of Scotland and in Shetland will take several years to complete.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library the latest figures on hospital waiting lists by area and speciality in Scotland in the manner set out in the information deposited in response to the question from the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Fearn) Official Report, column 810, on 21 July.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The latest available information on hospital waiting lists in the form requested is published in table 2 in the Statistical Bulletin 1/88, "Waiting List Figures for 31 March 1988", copies of which are held in the Library.
Adult Education
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has reached a conclusion on the funding of an adult basic education project in Scotland.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I have agreed the suggestion of the Scottish Community Education Council that I provide
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up to £29,500 in 1988-89 towards the establishment of a "learning shop" in Whitfield, Dundee. I hope that this initiative will provide valuable lessons for adult basic education in Scotland.Prisons Inspectorate
Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received from Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons for Scotland his annual report for 1987.
Mr. Rifkind : I have received Her Majesty's inspector of prisons for Scotland's annual report for 1987. I have today placed copies of the report in the Library, and I am sending a copy to the chairman of the Scottish parliamentary all-party penal affairs group and to other interested bodies. Copies may also be purchased from my Department.
Farming (Subsidies)
Mr. Andrew Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has on the level of subsidies received by West German farmers from their national Government ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : [holding answer 19 December 1988] : The information is contained in the annal agriculture report prepared by the federal Government. The 1988 edition was published in February of this year.
Tobacco Industry
Mr. McTaggart : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by how many employment has declined in the tobacco manufacturing industry in Scotland since 1979.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 19 December 1988] : The information requested is not available for publication as this would disclose information about individual companies.
Electricity
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to secure publication of the methods of calculation used by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to establish the tariffs charged for the purchase of privately generated electricity under section 10(1) of the Electricity Act 1983.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 8 December 1988] : The calculation of tariffs is a matter for the board and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.
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