House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 Apr 1989

Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Department keeps all aspects of computer security under regular review. Arrangements are reviewed annually by the Departments information technology steering committee.

Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he can quantify the risk of damage by hackers to sensitive computerised files in his Department.

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Mr. Peter Bottomley : It is not the policy of the Department to make public the scope for damage. Such information would be of assistance to potential attackers.

Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether staff are briefed about computer hacking and computer viruses ; whether there are contingency plans to deal with computer downtime caused by unauthorised penetration ; and what plans exist to deal with penetration of particularly sensitive systems.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : Security managers are responsible for staff education programmes and the development of contingency plans. Effectiveness would be reduced if details were made public.

Data Protection

Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department has taken to protect data in transit by electronic means.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Department takes advice from the appropriate Government authorities on security matters, including the Central Computing and Telecommunications Agency. To publish details of actual risks and countermeasures would itself constitute a breach of security.

Motorways

Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Department's standard for motorways of more than dual-three lane width requires the motorway to be continuously lit.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Department's standard allows motorways of more than dual-three lane width to be lit where appropriate.

Goods and Public Service Vehicles

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has now received the review of goods and public service vehicles operator licensing ; when he intends to publish the review ; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo : I refer the hon. Lady to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 21 March at column 530.

Channel Tunnel

12. Mr. Riddick To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the implications of the Channel tunnel for the Yorkshire area ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo : I have received a number especially when I attended a conference in York on the Channel tunnel.

I believe that it can benefit all parts of the United Kingdom, including Yorkshire.

20. Mr. Gow : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the date on which the Channel tunnel will open.

Mr. Portillo : Eurotunnel has recently announced a new target completion date of 15 June 1993.

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26. Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last discussed with British Rail routes for freight traffic from the Channel tunnel to the regions ; and if he will make a statement.

29. Ms. Armstrong : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last discussed with British Rail routes for freight traffic from the Channel tunnel to the regions ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo : The routeing of Channel tunnel rail freight traffic is entirely a matter for British Rail. Its proposals for services to the regions will be set out in the plan it has to produce by the end of this year under section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act.

27. Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to improve communications to the south-west of England so that the area can benefit from the Channel tunnel.

Mr. Portillo : Rail access between the south-west and the Channel tunnel is the responsibility of British Rail. It is required by section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act to publish a plan by the end of the year setting out its proposals for international passenger and freight services serving various parts of the country. It has not yet completed the regional consultations in preparation for this plan. Our national road planning takes into account the requirements of road traffic to and from the tunnel. A review of the trunk road programme is in progress, and we expect to make an announcement in the spring.

Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet Yorkshire regional managers of British Rail to discuss the implications for Yorkshire of the Channel tunnel.

Mr. Portillo : I meet British Rail's regional managers from time to time. They will, I am sure, contribute to BR's plan for Channel tunnel freight and passenger services, which British Rail is obliged to publish by the end of the year in compliance with section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987.

Sir David Price : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the general line of route of his proposed new road from Southampton to the entrance of the Channel tunnel ; and whether it will be a single or dual carriageway.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : There are no firm proposals. As part of our current review of the trunk road programme we are considering whether there should be a study of the need for additional capacity from the Channel tunnel and the M20 westwards to relieve existing roads. We hope to make an announcement about the outcome of the review by early summer.

34. Mr. Gerald Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to approve proposals from British Rail for every passenger and all items of freight from and to the Channel tunnel to all destinations in the United Kingdom to pass through central London.

Mr. Portillo : BR's passenger and freight services through the Channel tunnel must operate on a commercial basis. Subject to that and to parliamentary approval for

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new lines where needed, the routes used by British Rail for its passenger and freight traffic are the responsibility of the British Railways Board. They do not require Government approval.

39. Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further representations he has received on the need for a direct link to the Channel tunnel for the north and Scotland.

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Mr. Portillo : I have received some representations on the need for good communications between the Channel tunnel and the North and Scotland. There will be direct links from the tunnel into the United Kingdom road and rail networks. Out national roads planning takes account of the requirements of road traffic to and from the tunnel. Representations on rail are best made to the working groups which British Rail has set up in each region as part of its planning for international passenger and freight services.

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