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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 24 January 1989
TRANSPORT
Severn Bridge
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to end the imposition of tolls on the Severn bridge ; and if he will make a statement.
Vehicle Weights
Mr. Ward : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to require that all commercial vehicles entering the United Kingdom by sea pass over a weighbridge before travelling on the public roads ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : We are about to install automatic equipment in the main ferry ports which will indicate whether incoming vehicles are overloaded. This will supplement the existing weighbridges used by the Department's traffic examiners.
Air Traffic Control
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the number of air traffic controllers employed at each of Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports for each of the past 20 years ;
(2) what was the number of new air traffic controllers employed in positions in England in each of the past 20 years ;
(3) what was the total number of air traffic controllers employed in England in each of the past 20 years ;
(4) what has been the capital investment in air traffic control systems for each of the past 20 years ;
(5) what was the capital expenditure on air traffic control facilities at Heathrow airport, both on general facilities and on computer systems, in each of the 10 years prior to privatisation.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : These matters have all been within the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority and the National Air Traffic Services since 1972. I suggest the hon. Member writes to the chairman of the authority.
Heathrow Airport
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the capital expenditure on general facilities at Heathrow by the airport authority itself in each of the 10 years prior to privatisation.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Department does not hold this information.
For the years 1977-78 to 1983-84 such information was given in the authority's annual report and accounts, which are in the Library ; for the three subsequent years I suggest the hon. Member approaches BAA plc direct.
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M3 Extension
Mr. Ward : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether contracts have yet been let for the southern section of the M3 extension.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Necessary works in advance of the main contract for the Compton to Bassett section of the M3 are under way. We hope to invite tenders for the main contract shortly to enable work to start this summer.
Mr. Ward : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has now received the independent inspector's report on the latest public inquiry about the final link between the M27 and M3 motorways ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Yes. The inspector's report of the reopened inquiry into the Bar End to Compton section of the M3 extension was received at the end of November. It will be considered together with that of the 1985 inquiry inspector. The reports cover the many complex issues covered at the inquiries. My right hon. Friends will announce their joint decisions as quickly as they can.
Dangerous Cargoes
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what permission needs to be sought by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, British Nuclear Fuels Limited or commercial handlers of nuclear materials to transport by air radiotoxic materials such as plutonium or tritium within the United Kingdom, or from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The consignors of all radioactive materials by air must satisfy the Department of Transport that the arrangements comply fully with the national and international regulations.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to review the safety of air transportation of dangerous toxic cargoes, including radio isotopes, depleted uranium, radioactive wastes and plutonium.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The transport of radioactive materials by all modes of transport must comply fully with the national and international regulations which are under continuous review by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The IAEA is currently undertaking a special review to decide whether any regulatory changes are needed to cover the particular circumstances of air transport.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, during the next meeting of the Council of European Transport Ministers, he will make it his policy to initiate an EEC review of the hazards of the air, sea, road and rail transport of radiotoxic nuclear materials.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The transport of all radioactive materials must comply with the international regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is a United Nations body. These are under continuous review. All EEC countries are member states of the IAEA, and there is no need for a special EEC review.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to set up a review
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study of the rail transport of spent nuclear fuel on the north and south London rail network lines, to study the appropriateness of the routeing and the preparedness of emergency plans in the event of an accident involving the significant release of radioactivity.Mr. Portillo : All movements of spent nuclear fuel must comply with regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The required design of the steel flasks ensure that even in the event of a severe railway accident there would be no significant release of the contents.
Long-standing and well-rehearsed emergency arrangements exist to provide a rapid response to any incident involving nuclear materials in transit.
Boeing 757 (Safety)
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the time and date when the Boeing Aircraft Company first became aware of wiring problems in their 757 aircraft ; when the Federal Aviation Authority was notified ; when the federal authority gave instructions that the aircraft were to be checked ; what the time and date was when the Civil Aviation Authority was notified ; and when the Civil Aviation Authority notified United Kingdom airlines operating these aircraft.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : I understand that the United States Federal Aviation Administration and the Boeing Company are investigating the chronology of the notification of wiring faults in the hold fire warning and extinguishing system of the Boeing 757.
My information is that the Civil Aviation Authority was notified by the FAA, by telephone, at 5.30 pm on Friday, 13 January, that an airworthiness directive was being issued which concerned the wiring of the B757 hold fire warning and extinguishing system. By 7.30 that evening the CAA had notified all United Kingdom operators of the forthcoming airworthiness directive.
On Saturday morning, 14 January, the full airworthiness directive was received by the CAA by telex. The CAA confirmed immediately that all United Kingdom operators of the aircraft had received the telex. Action was by then under way and by the end of the morning British Airways, for example, had already inspected and cleared 12 of their B757s.
Urban Programme
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his provision for the urban programme for 1988-89 and for the next three years at cash prices and at 1987-88 constant prices.
Mr. Portillo : The Department of Transport's cash provision for the urban programme in 1988-89 and each of the succeeding three years is £11 million. This is £10 million per annum at 1987-88 constant prices.
In addition to the urban programme works, which are administered by the Department of the Environment, urban areas receive substantial benefit from the Department of Transport's other programmes, including those for trunk road construction, local authority roads and public transport.
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Cash Limits
Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the cash limits on his votes and to his Department's running costs limit.
Mr. Channon : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limits for my votes are to be changed as follows :
£'000
|Current cash limit|Change |Revised cash limit
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class VIII Vote |1 |1,027,307 |14,145
2 |215,838 |3,390 |212,448
4 |122,453 |1,130 |123,583
The increase in class VIII, vote 1 will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure. This increase takes account of a reduction of £1,585,000 to compensate for an overspend of the cash limit in 1987-88. This follows the normal practice of reducing the cash limit for one financial year by the amount of the previous year's overspend. The reduced cash limit on class VIII, vote 2 takes account of transfers of :
(a) £1,130,000 to class VIII, vote 4 to offset an equivalent increase on that vote ;
(b) £2,110,000 to class VIII, vote 5 as a partial offset to increased public expenditure on rural bus grants on that vote ; and (c) £150,000 to class XI, vote 3 in respect of a transfer of civil defence provision to the Home Office.
The balance of the increased requirement for rural bus grants will be offset by savings on class VIII, vote 5 and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
The running costs limit of the Department of Transport has been reduced by £38,000 from £257,017,000 to £256,979,000. This amount will be transferred to the running costs limit of Her Majesty's Treasury to cover the cost of additional work incurred in respect of the forthcoming transfer of the Department of Transport payroll to the Chessington computer centre.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Sales Practices
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) whether he intends to introduce further measures to curb the practice known as telephone cold calling ;
(2) how many representations he has received since 1 January 1988 regarding the sale practice known as telephone cold calling ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : My Department has received 39 complaints from consumers about unsolicited telephone sales calls since 1 January 1988. The Office of Fair Trading, the Office of Telecommunications and local authority trading standards departments have also received complaints about this practice.
The British Direct Marketing Association is planning to introduce a telephone preference service which would enable telephone subscribers to choose to have their details excluded from lists used by direct selling organisations. Discussions about the form of such a service are taking
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place with the Office of Fair Trading and other interested Government bodies. My Department is keeping in touch with these developments.Local Pay Additions
Mr. Sean Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the number of staff in his Department, by grade, in receipt of local pay additions outside London and the south east economic planning region ; what are the different amounts paid to staff by grade ; whether this figure varies due to location ; what qualifying period of scale- related criteria is used ; and whether this varies by location.
Mr. Forth : Nine administrative officers, four administrative assistants and two personal secretaries are receiving local pay additions in offices of the Department of Trade and Industry in Cambridge, which is outside London and the south-east economic planning region. The annual salaries of the administrative officers and administrative assistants are increased to £300 above the national rate in the first year of service in the Department ; thereafter annual salaries are increased to £600 above the national rate, except where staff are on the maximum of their salary scale, when the annual salaries are increased to £400 above the national rate. The annual salaries of personal secretaries are adjusted in the same manner, except that they are increased to £600 above the national rate in the first year of service. The criteria for payment of these additions do not vary between offices.
Aircraft (Research)
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made in the review of support for civil aircraft and aero engine research.
Mr. Atkins : In the White Paper "DTI--The Department for Enterprise" (CM 278, January 1988) my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced that the Government intended to review during 1988 the Department's support for civil aircraft and aeroengine research and demonstration.
A comprehensive review has now been carried out by officials of my Department and implementation of the recommendations is under way. It concluded that there is a continuing need for the Government to fund research in support of the United Kingdom civil aircraft industry in view of the particular circumstances of this international market. At the same time, the review recommended that the Government should seek measures in the international arena to reduce the market distortions which play their part in making such Government support necessary. We are considering further how to take this forward.
As a result of the review, we shall be taking a number of steps and introducing procedures that are designed both to bring the support in line with wider Government and departmental research objectives and to ensure that we obtain good value for money from the funding. These include withdrawing near market support and encouraging more collaborative research. Because of the particular nature of the industry we shall continue, exceptionally, to make available support for longer-term single company research projects in the airframe, aeroengine and helicopter sectors, limited to a maximum funding of 25 per cent. of total project costs. Also, for research carried out
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either in Government research establishments or agencies, we shall in future expect aerospace companies, as major beneficiaries of the work, to contribute to the funding, usually by seconding staff to the research teams.Century Newspapers Ltd., Belfast
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many days he has allowed for consultation between the date of the announcement of the proposed takeover of Century Newspapers Ltd., Belfast, by Thompson Regional Newspapers and the date when the submissions must be received by him before a decision on referral to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, what is the normal period for such consultation ; and whether he has received any representations from the National Graphical Association and the National Union of Journalists about the possibility of a monopoly of newspaper ownership being created in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Maude [holding answer 16 January 1989] : On 10 January my Department issued a press notice inviting comments on the proposal by 17 January.
The Department's procedures for a formal consultation period were introduced in October 1988. This is the first application for consent to a newspaper merger under the financial urgency provisions received since then. I have received seven representations on the proposal including a full submission from the National Graphical Association.
Net Book Agreement
Mr. Adley : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set up an inquiry into the working of the net book agreement with a view to examining its effect on booksellers, publishers and book purchasers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth [holding answer 19 January 1989] : The Restrictive Practices Court has considered the net book agreement on two occasions and has found it not to be contrary to the public interest. Under the relevant legislation, the Director General of Fair Trading may apply to the court for a review of its decision if at any time he considers that there has been a material change in circumstances on which the original judgment was based. It is not open to Ministers to make such an application.
In the circumstances it would serve no useful purpose for the Government to set up an inquiry. However, the Government have proposed fundamental reforms to restrictive trade practices legislation under which, among other things, it is intended that arrangements such as the net book agreement which have been cleared under existing legislation should be reconsidered in due course by the appropriate competition authority under criteria laid down in the new legislation.
Inner Cities Initiative
Mr. Gordon Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the allocation for the inner cities initiative for 1988-89 and each of the next three years at cash prices and at 1987-88 constant prices.
Mr. Newton : The inner cities unit of my Department has an allocation of £21.3 million for 1988-89 (£20.0 million in 1987-88 constant prices). Information about
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planned expenditure in the following three years will shortly be published in the public expenditure White Paper.FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Eritrea
Mr. Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the greater use now being made of the United Nations Security Council in the sphere of conflict resolution, the Government have raised the issue of Eritrea in informal contacts in Security Council circles ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We are concerned about the continuing conflict in Eritrea and take every opportunity to urge all those involved to reach a solution by negotiation. We do not believe it would be helpful to raise the issue in the Security Council.
British Embassies and High Commissions
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total number of British embassies and high commissions ; what is the number of staff employed in them, and what is the total annual cost.
Mr. Waldegrave : There are 130 embassies and high commissions, and 78 subordinate and miscellaneous other posts. The total running cost in financial year 1987-88 was £241.4 million.
UN Security Council
Mr. Galbraith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give for the last full year for which figures are available the number of meetings of the United Nations Security Council ; and the number of times it voted.
Mr. Eggar : Between 16 June 1987 and 15 June 1988 (the last full year for which figures are available), the United Nations Security Council held 67 meetings, and voted 33 times.
British Antarctic Territory
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he proposes to take with regard to the administration of the British Antarctic Territory ; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : The British Antarctic Territory was established as a separate dependent territory in 1962. Since then, as a matter of convenience, the territory has been administered by an high commissioner resident in Stanley. Following consideration of the future administrative needs of the territory, we have decided that from 1 July this year the administration of the BAT will be repatriated to London and that the commissioner will be a senior official of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The present high commissioner has been informed and is informing the Falkland Islands Councillors. The British Indian Ocean Territory has been similarly administered from London since 1977.
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EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Capital Allocation (Warwickshire)
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set out in the Official Report his Department's capital allocation in real terms to Warwickshire county council for each year since 1978-79.
Mr. Butcher : The information requested for the years 1981-82 to 1989-90 is set out in tables 1 and 2. Before 1981-82 local education authorities did not receive block allocations but were notified annually, in the context of a rolling programme, of a limit on the value of building starts in the following year.
Table 2|B|
Allocations for capital expenditure by Governors of Aided
Schools in
Warwickshire 1981-82 to 1989-90
|Cash prices |Constant prices
----------------------------------------------------------------
1981-82 |- |-
1982-83 |259 |326
1983-84 |346 |417
1984-85 |110 |126
1985-86 |245 |267
1986-87 |19 |20
1987-88 |80 |80
1988-89 |715 |673
1989-90 |631 |566
Notes:
1. Allocations for 1981-82 and earlier years were made on a
different basis and have therefore been omitted.
2. The allocations shown are those announced before the start
of the financial year in question and do not reflect subsequent
revision.
3. These figures are calculated at 1987-88 prices using the GDP
deflator.
Table 2|B|
Allocations for capital expenditure by Governors of Aided
Schools in
Warwickshire 1981-82 to 1989-90
|Cash prices |Constant prices
----------------------------------------------------------------
1981-82 |- |-
1982-83 |259 |326
1983-84 |346 |417
1984-85 |110 |126
1985-86 |245 |267
1986-87 |19 |20
1987-88 |80 |80
1988-89 |715 |673
1989-90 |631 |566
Notes:
1. Allocations for 1981-82 and earlier years were made on a
different basis and have therefore been omitted.
2. The allocations shown are those announced before the start
of the financial year in question and do not reflect subsequent
revision.
3. These figures are calculated at 1987-88 prices using the GDP
deflator.
Teacher Numbers
Mr. McLoughlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures for the total number of teachers employed in schools maintained by the local education authorities of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Hereford/Worcester.
Mr. Butcher : The total number of full-time equivalent teachers in January 1988 were as follows :
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LEA |Qualified teachers within|Total number of teachers
|schools<1> |paid by the local
|education authority<2>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Derbyshire |7,859 |8,353
Staffordshire |8,124 |8,746
Nottinghamshire |8,315 |8,702
Hereford and
Worcester |4,894 |5,273
<1> Full-time equivalent qualified teachers within maintained nursery primary and secondary schools.
<2> The total number of full-time equivalent teachers including qualified teachers, student teachers
and instructors employed for service in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools.
Pupil Numbers
Mr. McLoughlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures for the total number of pupils attending schools maintained by the local education authorities up to the age of 19 years, in Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Hereford/Worcester.
Mr. Butcher : The total number of pupils up to and including those aged 19 and over attending maintained schools in January 1988 were as follows :
LEA |Pupil Numbers<1> --------------------------------------------------------- Derbyshire |143,000 Staffordshire |160,998 Nottinghamshire |154,699 Hereford and Worcester |96,527 <1> Total number of pupils in maintained nursery, primary, middle, secondary and special schools. Includes those attending part-time.
Superannuation (Compensation)
Mr. Redwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has made compensation regulations under section 24 of the Superannuation Act 1972.
Mr. Butcher : My right hon. Friend has made the following compensation regulations under section 24 of the Superannuation Act 1972
1. The Colleges of Education (Compensation) Regulations 1975. 2. The Teachers' (Compensation for Redundancy and Premature Retirement) Regulations 1985.
Special Educational Needs
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department has plans to increase funds available for the education of children with special educational needs.
Mr. Butcher : The Government's expenditure plans for 1989-90 provide for local authorities to spend £59 million, or over 10 per cent., more in cash on maintained special schools than was allowed for within the 1988- 89 plans, at a time when pupil numbers in special schools are declining. Expenditure on pupils with special educational needs in ordinary schools cannot be separately identified.
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department is taking to safeguard special educational needs after the implementation of the Education Act 1988.
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Mr. Butcher : The Education Act 1988 contains many safeguards for children with special educational needs. The National Curriculum Council and the Schools Examination and Assessment Council are fully aware of the particular difficulties faced by such children. The Government believe that all children, including those with special educational needs will benefit from the provisions of the 1988 Act. Nevertheless, provision for children with special educational needs will continue to be monitored after the implementation of the Act, as it is at present, by Her Majesty's inspectorate.
Glandular Fever
Sir David Price : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research he is supporting into infectious
mononucleosis--known as glandular fever ; and what are the prospects of developing a successful anti-body to the Epstein-Barr virus.
Mr. Jackson : The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant -in-aid from this Department, is currently supporting a virological study of Paul-Bunnell negative glandular fever at the communicable diseases division of the MRC clinical research centre. In addition, the MRC and university departments and medical schools support a range of basic research which may have relevance to glandular fever.
The council's sub-committee on herpes virus vaccines has recently concluded that it is now possible to undertake studies of whether an Epstein-Barr virus antigen will stimulate immunity in humans. Proposals for such studies are presently being formulated.
Viraj Mendis
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the cost to public funds of Mr. Viraj Mendis's maintenance and tuition at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology between 1973 and 1979.
Mr. Jackson : I understand that Mr. Mendis is recorded as having supported himself during his attendance at the university of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology between 1973 and 1979. However, the tuition fees charged to overseas students at that time were subsidised and an element of the cost of Mr. Mendis' tuition will therefore have been met through the public funding of higher education institutions. It is not possible to quantify this element.
List 99
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report for each academic or calendar year since 1970 (a) the total number of teachers on list 99, (b) the number included on the list under each of the four principal reasons for inclusion, (c) the number removed and granted permission to resume teaching and (d) the number subsequently relisted ; and if he will make a statement on the operation of the list 99 process.
Mr. Butcher : The table shows the number of persons added to list 99 in each financial year from 1 April 1970 to 31 March 1988 categorised as requested, and the number
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of persons removed from the list in each year. The total number of persons on list 99 at present is 1,471. The other information requested is not available.List 99 contains the names, dates of birth, and departmental reference numbers, of teachers, youth workers, and others whom the Secretary of State has directed should be excluded wholly or partially from
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