| Previous Section | Home Page |
Housing Repairs
Mr. Wray : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest information regarding housing in need of major structural repairs in (a) Scotland, (b) Greater Glasgow, (c) Edinburgh, (d) Dundee and (e) Aberdeen.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The information requested is not held centrally.
Skye (Road Bridge)
Mr. Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if, pursuant to his answer of 25 January to the hon. Member for Ross, Cromarty and Skye, he will indicate (a) the likely time-scale involved in considering the range of options and the financial implications currently before him in respect of the possibility of building a bridge to Skye and (b) whether he proposes any public consultation over the use and level of tolls associated with such a project ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : It is not possible at this stage to indicate any precise time scale for the consideration of options or what procedures will be involved.
Prisoners
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioners there are in Scotland ; and what proportion this is of the total population.
Mr. Rifkind : The registrar general's population estimates for 30 June 1987 give the total number of women over 60 and men over 65 as 893,629 which is 17.5 per cent. of the population of Scotland on that date.
Column 143
Pensioners (New Towns)
Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pensioners, expressed as a percentage of the total population, are resident in each of the new towns ; and what is the projected figure for each of the next five years.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 20 January 1989] : I regret that the information requested is not available.
The registrar general prepares population estimates and projections by age for local government districts but only estimates of total population for new towns. The most recent census information relates to 1981. There are likely to have been significant changes in the new towns since then.
Hospital Waiting Lists (Gynaecology Patients)
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to reduce the hospital treatment waiting lists for gynaecology patients.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 30 January 1989] : The gynaecology in-patient waiting list is estimated to have falled by 10 per cent. in the year to March 1988. Of the £3 million which I have allocated to health boards to reduce waiting lists in 1988-89, a total of £218,000 has been allocated to projects to reduce gynaecology waiting lists. Boards have set targets to see or treat 3, 510 extra out-patients, 614 extra in-patients and 690 extra day cases in this specialty. The £7 million which has been allocated for action to reduce waiting lists in 1989-90 will further improve the situation substantially.
Radioactivity Monitoring
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now consider funding and authorising the Clyde River Purification Board to undertake direct radioactivity monitoring in the river areas for which they have responsibility.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 30 January 1989] : We have no plans for this. But if the hon. Member has a particular objective in mind which such monitoring might achieve he may like to let me know.
TRANSPORT
Parking Facilities (Greater London)
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he is having with the Metropolitan police and borough councils to improve parking facilities in Greater London.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : We have advised London boroughs to develop coherent policies on parking, waiting and loading as part of their approach to traffic management.
In his statement on transport in London issued last week to all London borough councils and to the Metropolitan police, my right hon. Friend noted his support for more effective parking controls ; the need for users of off -street public car parks to pay the full commercial price ; his support to local authorities' policies of limiting private non-residential off-street parking in new
Column 144
developments ; and the contribution of park- and-ride facilities in outer areas to relieve congestion on radial routes.Officials are in regular contact with the Metropolitan police and London borough councils on a wide range of parking topics.
Departmental Staff (Child Care)
Ms. Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what child care provision his Department provides for pre-school-age children of his Department's employees ; what child care provision, for school holiday or after-school care, is provided for employees' children aged five years and over ; and what plans there are for increasing provision in the next five years.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The driver and behicle licensing centre at Swansea runs an annual summer holiday play scheme for children of school age which is being extended to the Easter holidays this year for the first time.
Child care for 5 to 12-year-olds is again being provided for two weeks in August at the Cardington residential training centre. The Department is considering what scope there is for further provision without continuing subsidy.
King's Cross (Traffic and Roads)
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has commissioned into traffic and roads in the King's Cross area ; when they are due to be completed ; and who are carrying them out.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The east London assessment study area has been extended to include King's Cross. Ove Arup and Partners have been asked to consider the impact on transport of proposed developments in the King's Cross area as part of their commission. The consultants' report on the assessment study is expected this summer. They will provide advice as necessary on issues arising from development proposals in the meantime.
Road Transport
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will be seeking in the context of the single European market to bring road transport cabotage into line with continental countries, whether heavy goods vehicles will be forbidden to travel on Sundays and restricted to specific roads ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 12 January at column 122 about the need for compliance by all vehicles with Community law and the national laws of the countries they visit. It is for highway authorities to decide whether to restrict the movement of heavy goods vehicles on the roads for which they are responsible.
Harbour Authorities (Shipping Services)
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many competent harbour authorities are charging firms which maintain scheduled services between United Kingdom offshore islands and the United Kindom mainland, under the Pilotage Act ; and if he will list them.
Column 145
Mr. Portillo : I understand that the following competent harbour authorities make charges under the Pilotage Act 1987 to firms operating such services :
Aberdeen Harbour Board
Clyde Port Authority
Cowes Harbour Commissioners
Lerwick Harbour Trust
Penwith District Council
City of Portsmouth
I further understand that Associated British Ports, as competent harbour authority for the port of Southampton, intends shortly to introduce such charges on firms operating services of this kind.
Ferry Services
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints about charges on scheduled United Kingdom territorial ferry services he has received ; and if he will list them.
Mr. Portillo : My right hon. Friend has received complaints from my hon. Friend about charges made under the Pilotage Act 1987 by the city of Portsmouth to Solent Cruises and Wight Line Cruises and by the Cowes harbour commissioners to the Red Funnel Group ; and from another hon. Member about such charges made by the city of Portsmouth to Gosport Ferry Limited. I understand that following discussions between the city of Portsmouth and Solent and Wight Line Cruises an acceptable arrangement has been reached in those cases.
My right hon. Friend has received no objection under section 10 of the Pilotage Act 1987 about charges made on ferry services operating entirely within United Kingdom territorial waters or between the mainland and United Kingdom offshore islands.
Ministerial Advisers (Salaries)
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total expenditure on salaries of ministerial advisers in his Department for each completed year since 1979 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : I have nothing to add to the information which I gave to the hon. Member in my reply of 16 January at column 98.
Personal Injury Accidents
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke on 24 January, Official Report, column 513-14, he will express the personal injury accidents given in the reply as a percentage of (a) resident population in the police area, (b) per mile of road in the police area and (c) per registered motor vehicle in the police area.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Population, road length and vehicle stock figures are not readily available by police force area. Figures are available for counties. I will write to my hon. Friend when the official road accident statistics for 1988 are available.
BAA Airports (Security)
Mr. Dicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has yet received from Sir Norman Payne the report on improvements in security at BAA airports that he requested on 13 January.
Column 146
Mr. Channon : Yes, I received Sir Norman Payne's report on Thursday 19 January.
The report is thorough and detailed. It identifies well over 100 points on which security improvements have recently been made at BAA's seven airports, are now being made, or are under urgent review.
These improvements cover the following areas in particular : (a) conditions for the issue of airside passes ;
(b) the searching of staff and of any articles they carry when entering airside ;
(c) the searching of vehicles when entering airside.
(d) reducing existing landside/airside control posts to release staff for improving security elsewhere ; and
(e) increasing patrolling of restricted areas.
In identifying these improvements BAA have been guided by the following principles :
(i) All staff in possession of unescorted airside passes must have been satisfactorily checked to ensure their integrity. Subsequent to the issue of their passes appropriate positive monitoring must be implemented on an ongoing basis.
(ii) Procedures must be in operation which satisfactorily monitor the articles carried airside by staff.
(iii) Procedures must be in operation which either ensure that goods on delivery are escorted to the offload point or minimise the risk of prohibited goods entering airside.
(iv) Better security is achieved by the minimum number of airside/landside control points.
(v) Monitoring of restricted areas by patrolling must be at a level consistent with the risks.
I do not propose to have BAA's report as a whole published. It would not be in the interests of good security to release detailed material on airport security measures in force or under consideration.
I have replied to Sir Norman Payne accepting his report. My officials will keep in touch with BAA about its implementation. I have asked Sir Norman for an account of progress on outstanding matters in three months.
Invalid Carriages
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when regulations allowing for a new class of invalid carriage that can travel at 8 mph will be introduced.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988 (SI 1988/2268) came into force yesterday. These regulations allow for the introduction of the type of vehicle my hon. Friend describes, that is, an "invalid carriage" (powered outdoor vehicle for a disabled person) able to travel at a speed of up to 8 mph on the carriageway with the restriction remaining at 4 mph on the footway.
Severn Bridge
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the individuals and organisations that have registered their objections to the proposed increase in tolls on the Severn bridge and which intend to give evidence at the inquiry which starts on 21 February.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : At the pre-inquiry meeting held in Thornbury on 17 January, the following signified their intention of giving evidence at the inquiry :
The Standing Conference on Regional Policy in South Wales Avon County Council
The Automobile Association
The Royal Automobile Club
The Freight Transport Association
Column 147
The Road Haulage AssociationMr. John Jackson of the Railway Development Society Severnside Mr. Steve Hoselitz, Editor of the South Wales Argus
All registered objectors have been asked to say by 7 February whether they wish to give evidence.
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what interest charges were incurred in the building of the Severn bridge ;
(2) what was the basic cost of building the Severn bridge.
Mr. Peter Bottomley [holding answer 30 January 1989] : The total cost of building the Severn crossing, comprising the Severn bridge, the Wye bridge and viaduct, and the approach roads, with all ancillary equipment, was £14,362,334. This includes £1,710,143 in respect of interest capitalised during construction.
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of the current repair work on the Severn bridge at the latest available date ; and what is the total amount expected to be on completion.
Mr. Peter Bottomley [holding answer 30 January 1989] : To date £38.9 million has been spent on strengthening and repair work to the Severn crossing. The current estimate for the whole of the works including maintenance is £70 million.
PRIME MINISTER
Israel (Prime Minister)
Q29. Mr. Latham : To ask the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to seek to meet the Prime Minister of Israel.
The Prime Minister : I have at present no plans to do so.
Social Reform (EEC Proposals)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister is she will make a statement on her policy on the EEC's proposals on social reform, with particular reference to the draft directives on sex discrimination, parental leave and the rights of part-time employees.
The Prime Minister : The Government support the conclusion of the European Council that the single market offers the best prospect for promoting employment and increasing the general prosperity of the Community for the benefit of all our people, women and men. We therefore encourage those measures that help the achievement of the single market, and bring down unemployment. But we must resist unnecessary directives which would be an obstacle to growth. We believe that such matters as parental leave and terms and conditions for part-time workers are best dealt with not by inflexible directives but by negotiation between employers and employees.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Speed : To ask the Prime Minister how many letters she has received objecting to the proposed high-speed rail link from London to the Channel tunnel ; and what replies she has sent.
The Prime Minister : I have received several hundred letters, including some from hon. Members.
Column 148
Ministerial Advisers (Salaries)
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure on salaries on ministerial advisers in her office for each completed year since 1979 ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : Following is the information :
Year |£ --------------------------------- 1981 |35,762.50 1982 |75,569.25 <1>1983 |167,126.97 1984 |145,022.52 1985 |188,654.82 1986 |210,746.87 1987 |239,459.46 1988 |215,379.85 <1> In 1983 the CPRS was abolished and some members became Ministerial advisers.
Engagements
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether she will publish tables listing all the arts : (a) companies, (b) projects and (c) events that she has visited or attended in her official capacity in each of the past 10 years ;
(2) whether she will publish a table showing the total number of official engagements she has undertaken in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.
The Prime Minister : I undertake a substantial number of official engagements each year and visit a wide variety of organisations.
Press Statements
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether she will publish tables listing all the (a) dates and (b) titles of all press releases on the arts that her office has released in each of the last 10 years ;
(2) whether she will publish a table showing the total number of press statements released by her office in each of the past 10 years.
The Prime Minister : This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Speeches
Mr. Fisher : To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether she will list the (a) dates, (b) locations and (c) titles of all the speeches she has made on the arts in each of the last 10 years ;
(2) whether she will publish a table showing the total number of speeches she has delivered in her official capacity in the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years.
The Prime Minister : This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Insurance
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Prime Minister what was the total cost to each Government Department which carries its own risks and has its own insurance
Column 149
arrangements in each year since 1974 of paying damages and associated administrative costs ; and what estimate she has as to the cost for each Department in each year of subscribing to normal third party cover afforded by insurance companies in respect of (a) employees, (b) properties and (c) vehicles.The Prime Minister : I regret that this information cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.
Non-ministerial Appointments (Salaries)
Mr. Ashdown : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list those non- ministerial appointments for which she is responsible, to which a salary is attached.
The Prime Minister : The information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Engagements
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 31 January.
| Next Section
| Home Page |