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Mr. Lang : Comprehensive figures in the form requested are not available for expenditure under the old regional development grant scheme. Expenditures on each of the revised regional development grant (RDG2) scheme, regional enterprise grants (REG) and regional selective assistance (RSA) in the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 are given in the table.


Region               |Regional development|Regional enterprise |Regional selective                       

                     |grants              |grants              |assistance                               

                     |£ million           |£ million           |£ million                                

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Borders              |-                   |-                   |*                                        

Central              |*                   |*                   |2.0                                      

Dumfries and Galloway *                    -                    0.8                                      

Fife                 |*                   |-                   |3.7                                      

Grampian             |-                   |-                   |*                                        

Lothian              |-                   |-                   |*                                        

Highland             |4.9                 |*                   |6.8                                      

Strathclyde          |41.6                |0.2                 |22.4                                     

Tayside              |4.0                 |*                   |1.8                                      

                     |-------             |-------             |-------                                  

Total                |50.8                |0.3                 |38.0                                     

Notes:                                                                                                   

(i)Regional development grants and regional enterprise grants are available in development areas.        

Regional selective assistance is available in development and intermediate areas.                        

(ii)Starred entries are suppressed to avoid disclosure of information relating to individual businesses. 

Mr. McLeish : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give the total number of applications (a) received and (b) approved for regional development grants between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities ;


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(2) if he will give the total number of applications (a) received and (b) approved for enterprise grants between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities ;

(3) if he will give the total number of applications (a) received and (b) approved for regional selective assistance between 1 April 1988 and 31 March 1989 and for each of the region and island authorities.


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Mr. Lang : Comprehensive figures in the form requested are not available for the old regional development grant scheme. The revised regional development grant (RDG2) scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 1998. Figures for RDG2 approvals and for applications and offers of regional enterprise grants (REG) and regional selective assistance (RSA) in the period 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1989 are given in the table :


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Region                 RDG2         REG                       RSA                                   

                      |Approvals   |Applications|Offers      |Applications|Offers                   

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Central               |*           |*           |*           |*           |*                        

Dumfries and Galloway |6           |-           |-           |*           |*                        

Fife                  |*           |*           |*           |29          |24                       

Highland              |-           |-           |-           |*           |*                        

Lothian               |176         |29          |*           |27          |26                       

Strathclyde           |2,742       |394         |195         |152         |131                      

Tayside               |218         |31          |15          |29          |24                       

Western Isles         |-           |-           |-           |*           |*                        

Location undecided    |-           |*           |-           |-           |-                        

                      |----        |----        |----        |----        |----                     

Total                 |3,148       |481         |226         |255         |221                      

Notes: (i) RDG2 and REG are available in development areas. RSA is available in development and     

intermediate areas.                                                                                 

(ii) Starred figures are suppressed to avoid disclosure of information relating to individual       

businesses.                                                                                         

HOME DEPARTMENT

Bail Hostels

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals for new bail hostels he has received from the Greater Manchester area ; and what steps he is taking to encourage proposals.

Mr. John Patten : Following a meeting between officials and representatives of the Greater Manchester probation service on 1 December 1988 capital provision of £550,000 was allocated to provide about 50 new bail hostel places in Manchester by April 1990. On 9 March 1989 officials visited the Greater Manchester probation service to discuss their proposals which will involve two new bail hostels and additional places at two existing hostels.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Board

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time taken between an applicant to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board applying for an appeal hearing and the appeal taking place ;

(2) what is the average length of time taken between receipt of a claim and its single member adjudication by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Mr. John Patten : Information is not available in the form requested, but the percentage of cases resolved by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board within certain periods of registration, either by single member adjudication or hearings determination, is shown at paragraphs 6 and 11 of the board's latest annual report (Cm. 536), a copy of which is in the Library.

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are awaiting single member adjudication ; and, of those, how many have been awaiting adjudication for over one year, two years, three years, four years and five years, respectively ;


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(2) what is the longest period that has been taken to reach single member adjudication in any claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board ;

(3) what plans there are to speed up the processing of claims to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten : The board does not keep detailed information about the length of time for which cases have awaited determination by a single member. On 1 June 1989, 69,480 applications were awaiting final determination by a single member. Interim assessments of compensation had been made in 2,828 of these cases.

To speed up the processing of claims the board's complement has been increased from 220 in 1987 to 320 now and a new office has been opened in Glasgow where recruitment is expected to be easier and turnover lower than in London. The board's new chairman is reviewing administrative procedures with the aim of reducing the time taken to resolve claims.

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of staff are employed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board ;

(2) how many staff vacancies at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are presently being advertised ;

(3) what is the present level of staff shortages as a percentage of the recommended full staff complement at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Mr. John Patten : On 23 June 1989 the board had the equivalent of 317 whole-time staff, 0.9 per cent. below its complement of 320, including 36 temporary staff engaged as part of the phased relocation of about 180 posts from London to Glasgow. The vacancies are being filled by interdepartmental trawl.

Mr. Campbell-Savours : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time taken between the receipt of an appraisal by single member adjudication and receipt of a formal Criminal Injuries Compensation Board decision and the notification of the outcome to the applicant.


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Mr. John Patten : Notification of a decision by a single member of the board is usually dispatched within two weeks of the date of the decision. Applicants whose claims are decided following a hearing are usually advised of the decision at the conclusion of the proceedings.

Seat Belt Offences

Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of (a) males and (b) females(i) charged and (ii) convicted of failure to wear a seat belt in 1987 and 1988 ;

(2) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of (a) males and (b) females (i) 16 to


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18, (ii) 19 to 21, (iii) 22 to 24, (iv) 25 to 30 and (v) 30 years and over who were (aa) charged and (bb) convicted of failure to wear a seat belt in 1987 and 1988.

Mr. John Patten : The latest available information is shown in the table. Information on the age of persons proceeded against for summary offences is not generally collected for those aged 21 and over. Since 1 October 1986, the police have been able to issue fixed penalty notices for seat belt offences as an alternative to prosecution. Further information is given in Home Office statistical bulletin issue 32/88, table 13 of which suggests that in 1987 there was a large rise in the enforcement of this legislation. Figures for 1988 will be published in the autumn.


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Proceedings at magistrates' courts for seat belt offences                                                   

England and Wales 1987   Number of offences                                                                 

Age group          Males                               Females                                              

                  |Proceeded against|Found guilty     |Proceeded against|Found guilty                       

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Under 16          |16               |13               |-                |-                                  

16 to 18          |341              |285              |29               |26                                 

19 to 20          |655              |555              |49               |43                                 

21 and over       |7,497            |6,094            |563              |488                                

                  |---              |---              |---              |---                                

Total             |8,509            |6,947            |641              |557                                

Parties (Police Powers)

Dr. Glyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he plans to seek further powers to enable the police to deal with large- scale party-style events held on private property ; (2) if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the Thames Valley on the events at White Waltham industrial estate on Saturday 24 June, and on the outcome of police inquiries into these events.

(3) if he will take steps to ensure that police and local authorities are aware in advance of the planned location of the large-scale party-style events planned for July.

Mr. Hurd : I have just received from the Chief Constable of Thames Valley a report on the incident at White Waltham on 24 June and I will consider the need for any further action in the light of his assessment of events. The police have been aware of the growth of these parties and, insofar as there may be a breach of the law or a risk to public safety, have taken action to prevent them where possible. I understand that the Metropolitan Police have been able to prevent in advance or shut down some 75 such parties so far this year.

In addition to continuing police action, those involved in these events should be aware that they may be in breach of existing public entertainment law. The controls exist to ensure that the local authority, police and fire services are given advance notice of events, that there are proper control and safety arrangements, and to minimise nuisance to the local community. It is already an offence to provide public entertainment involving music and dancing without a licence. The maximum penalty in Greater London is a fine of up to £2, 000 plus imprisonment of up to three months. Outside Greater London, the fine is the same but imprisonment is not available.

There are also controls over nuisance caused by noise, for which the maximum penalty is a fine of up to £2,000.

We are satisfied that the existing law on the misuse of drugs is strong and adequate. At large gatherings of young


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people there is always the risk of drugs being used or supplied. The police attach high priority to drugs enforcement and action will be taken where necessary.

Those who hire out large premises would be well advised to exercise caution to establish the true purpose of the activity and inform the police if they are suspicious. Regular use of premises for purposes for which planning permission had not been obtained may result in enforcement action.

There is in being a comprehensive set of controls, backed up by offences, and penalties for those who commit them, to keep events within proper grounds.

I am considering whether there are any gaps in the law, but it is clear that the main need is for citizens who have advance knowledge of any party at which the law may be broken to give timely information to the police so that the law can be enforced.

Prisons

Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners there were in Leicester prison as at (a) 26, (b) 23, (c) 16, (d) 9 and (e) 2 June, and (f) 26 (g) 19 and (h) 12 May 1989.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : The information requested is as follows :




             |Numbers        

-----------------------------

26 June 1989 |362            

23 June 1989 |365            

16 June 1989 |369            

 9 June 1989 |389            

 2 June 1989 |374            

26 May 1989  |381            

19 May 1989  |388            

12 May 1989  |379            

Immigration

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision is to be taken on the application of Mr. G. M. Tinwala-- reference : T204490--to settle in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Renton : The British deputy high commission in Bombay was notified on 27 June that entry clearance may be issued to Mr. Tinwala.

Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East can expect to hear from his Department on the case of Mohammed Nazak and Miss Jurida Begum, reference N. 158192, whose papers were forwarded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to his Department on 6 February ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton : I have replied to the hon. Member's letter of 6 June today.

Road Accidents

Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are given to chief constables in relation to the inspection of tachographs and their charts following road accidents involving vehicles which are required to carry them.

Mr. Douglas Hogg : None. This is a matter for individual chief officers of police.

Crime Prevention

Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has proposals to review the effectiveness of prison sentences in controlling crime ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten : Our views were set out in the Green Paper "Punishment, Custody and the Community" (Cm. 424), published in July last year.

Commission for Racial Equality

Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many men from the ethnic groups (a) Afro-Caribbean or African, (b) Asian and (c) white have been appointed in the principal, director and chief executive grades of the Commission for Racial Equality ;

(2) how many women from the ethnic groups (a) Afro-Caribbean or African, (b) Asian and (c) white have been appointed in the principal, director and chief executive grades of the Commission for Racial Equality.

Mr. John Patten : The information requested is as follows :


                  |Chief Executive|Director       |Principal                      

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Men                                                                               

a. Afro-Caribbean                                                                 

and African       |-              |-              |1                              

b. Asian          |-              |1              |5                              

c. White          |1              |1              |7                              

                                                                                  

Women                                                                             

a. Afro-Caribbean                                                                 

and African       |-              |-              |-                              

b. Asian          |-              |-              |-                              

c. White          |-              |2              |2                              

Prisoners (Rule 43)

Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were on rule 43 in prisons in England and Wales on 1 June.

Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding answer 14 June 1989] : The latest readily available information is given in the table.


Prisoners held in prison service establishments in England and Wales                                

under prison rule 43 and young offender institution rule 46: by type                                

of segregation, age group and sex, 30 April 1989                                                    

                         |Own protection          |Good order or discipline                         

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aged under 21                                                                                       

  Males                  |185                     |55                                               

  Females                |17                      |3                                                

                                                                                                    

Adults                                                                                              

  Males                  |2,065                   |178                                              

  Females                |35                      |9                                                

TRANSPORT

Greenhouse Effect

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has taken account of the implications for the greenhouse effect of his Department's forecast increase in vehicle miles of 83-142 per cent. by the year 2025 in his recent White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity" (Cm. 693) ;

(2) what account has been taken of environmental degradation including atmospheric pollution in his recent White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity" (Cm. 693).

Mr. Peter Bottomley : Road congestion is bad for the environment. It increases atmospheric pollution whereas free-flowing traffic cuts down on emissions and saves fuel.

The proposals in "Roads for Prosperity" will also have a major impact in improving the environment by taking traffic away from communities and off unsuitable roads. The emphasis in our programme on increasing the capacity of existing routes will help minimise its environmental impact. Protecting and enhancing the environment will continue to be a major feature of our road building plans. I have sent the hon. Member a copy of the press notice No. 291 (28 June) which illustrates how exhaust fumes at the 1979 levels would be possible if economic driving and efficient maintenance were widespread.

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department has put forward for reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide and tropospheric ozone from road transport since the Prime Minister's seminar on the greenhouse effect on 26 April.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : At the Council of Environment Ministers held in Luxembourg on 8 and 9 June my noble Friend the Minister for Housing, Environment and Countryside supported tighter new limits on gaseous


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emissions from small cars. These gases are the precursors of tropospheric ozone. He was also successful in pressing the Commission to report back to the Council on measures that can be taken to combat carbon dioxide emissions from cars.

Orange Badges

Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he sought advice from organisations representing disabled people before deciding that eligibility for orange badges should not automatically be extended to those with upper limb disabilities.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : The decision that badges should continue to be restricted to people with severe mobility problems was made in the light of representations from the statutory disabled persons transport advisory committee (DPTAC).

The committee's constituent organisations include : the joint committee on mobility for the disabled, the Disabled Drivers Association, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation and the Disabled Drivers Motor Club. The majority of DPTAC's members are people with disabilities. We have accepted DPTAC's advice. We are taking medical advice on the mobility problems specific to Thalidomide victims. We are also in touch with the Thalidomide Trust and the Thalidomide Society.

Any individual who has a severe mobility problem may qualify for a badge, regardless of the medical cause of the problem.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Mr. Gerald Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) the effects of private sector involvement in the building of the Channel tunnel rail link and (b) whether the private sector has a role in appraisal of the design ; and what financial advisers are employed by his Department to advise on private sector investment in building the Channel tunnel rail link.

Mr. Portillo : Our assessment will depend on the outcome of British Rail's current discussions with a number of private sector interests. The Department has not as yet appointed financial advisers on this matter.

Aircraft (Near-Misses)

Mr. Rhodes James : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will ask the Air Accident Investigation Branch for an urgent report on the near-miss over Heathrow airport at approximately 07.30 hours on Saturday 26 June involving an Air Canada flight from London to Nice and another aircraft ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Civil Aviation Authority which has statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation within the United Kingdom, has no record of any near-miss incident occurring over Heathrow airport at the time specified on either Saturday 24 June or Monday 26 June.

Severn Crossing

Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make arrangements for an exhibition at Westminister similar to the one currently on


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display in venues in Gwent, together with a briefing by officials, in order for hon. Members on both sides of the Bristol channel to be fully informed of the proposals for the second Severn crossing.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : The exhibition--which explains proposed changes to the route of the approach roads to the second Severn crossing-- is already being held at venues on both sides of the Bristol channel--at Caldicot 26 to 28 June ; at Rogiet 29 June to 1 July ; at Pilning 3 to 5 July ; and at Avonmouth 7 and 8 July. Officials will be on hand throughout to respond to queries.

Hon. Members with a constituency interest were told in advance about the exhibition. Any hon. Member unable to attend should write to me ; it may be possible to arrange a separate viewing for them of the display material at a later date.

Unleaded Petrol

Dame Jill Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on whether car engines deteriorate more quickly when only lead-free petrol is used in them.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : Most of the information available to the Department comes from the United States, where there is more than a decade of experience with running on unleaded petrol. It has been found that components of the drivetrain, such as spark plugs and exhaust systems may last longer with unleaded petrol. There is no indication of damage from unleaded petrol when engines are designed for its use.

Using unleaded petrol in a vehicle for which it is not designed could result in serious damage.

British Rail (Safety)

Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list (a) the number of reports he has received from the railways inspectorate, (b) the number recommending prosecutions, and (c) the number of prosecutions taken up and the outcome for each of the past 10 years ;

(2) if he will list (a) the number of deaths on British Rail premises each year in the last 10 years and (b) the number of prosecutions for such deaths and the outcome of the prosecutions.

Mr. Portillo : The number of deaths on British Rail premises during the period 1979-88 is in table A. Table B shows the number of prosecutions arising from incidents involving fatalities and the outcome. The decision to go ahead with prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is a matter solely for the chief inspecting officer of railways. He does not consult my right hon. Friend before proceeding. Details of all prosecutions, and their outcome, during the period 1980-1988 were set out in my answer of 4 May 1989, at column 118 to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) There were no prosecutions in 1979.


Table A                                                                             

Fatal Accidents on BR Premises 1979-1988                                            

Year          |Passengers   |Staff        |Other Persons|Total                      

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1979          |52           |43           |12           |107                        

1980          |26           |32           |11           |69                         

1981          |39           |27           |10           |76                         

1982          |20           |27           |10           |57                         

1983          |29           |28           |12           |69                         

1984          |39           |25           |12           |76                         

1985          |33           |25           |16           |74                         

1986          |32           |16           |24           |72                         

1987          |68           |16           |20           |104                        

1988          |<1>          |<1>          |<1>          |<1>                        

<1> Figures for 1988 not yet available.                                             


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Table B                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Prosecutions involving fatalities 1979-1988                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Prosecution in respect of                                  |Number of fatalities                                      |Date of first proceedings                                 |Outcome                                                                                                              

incident at                                                |involved                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Denham Station                                             |3                                                         |25 April 1983                                             |Not Guilty.                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Barking Station                                            |1                                                         |3 December 1984                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                 |(BRB appealed successfully and costs awarded against HSE).                                                           

Birmingham International                                   |1                                                         |10 September 1984                                         |Absolute discharge.                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Coquet Viaduct                                             |2                                                         |23 September 1985                                         |Guilty, fined £1,250 plus £1,100 costs.                                                                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Glasgow Central Station                                    |1                                                         |2 July 1985                                               |Company, which was in liquidation, received an admonition.                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Liverpool Street Station                                   |1                                                         |13 January 1987                                           |Guilty, fined £5,000 plus £900 costs.                                                                                

Street Lighting

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent by each county council highways authority on street lighting in 1988-89 and 1989-90 ; and what percentage that money is of the total amount spent on roads, by each county.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : Figures for local authority spending on street lighting are not yet available for the years in question.

Capital Expenditure

Sir William Shelton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the capital expenditure invested in (a) Rail Network SouthEast and (b) London Underground in 1988-89.

Mr. Portillo : This information will be published in the 1989-90 annual report and accounts for British Rail and London Regional Transport. Both documents will be published shortly.

M3

Mr. Hanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the state of the surface of the M3 between junctions 4 and 2, London-bound ; and when repairs are scheduled to take place.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : This length of motorway is in need of surface maintenance. The necessary work is planned for early next year.

Highways

Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what allocation each county council highways authority has made in 1988-89 and 1989-90 for non-major schemes.

Mr. Peter Bottomley : No figures are available yet for 1989-90. The counties' 1988-89 budgets for capital expenditure on schemes costing less than £1 million were as follows :


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1988-89 budgets for capital expenditure         

on schemes costing under £1 million             

Authority                   |(£'000)            

------------------------------------------------

Avon                        |2,399              

Bedfordshire                |1,549              

Berkshire                   |3,887              

Buckinghamshire             |1,729              

Cambridgeshire              |1,660              

Cheshire                    |4,720              

Cleveland                   |1,990              

Cornwall                    |1,381              

Cumbria                     |1,995              

Derbyshire                  |8,693              

Devon                       |2,758              

Dorset                      |2,848              

Durham                      |1,884              

East Sussex                 |4,335              

Essex                       |3,339              

Gloucestershire             |2,173              

Hampshire                   |6,490              

Hereford and Worcestershire |2,098              

Hertfordshire               |2,445              

Humberside                  |1,921              

Isle of Wight               |1,894              

Kent                        |8,010              

Lancashire                  |2,553              

Leicestershire              |2,740              

Lincolnshire                |4,210              

Norfolk                     |3,586              

Northamptonshire            |2,546              

Northumberland              |1,219              

North Yorkshire             |3,098              

Nottinghamshire             |8,013              

Oxfordshire                 |2,351              

Shropshire                  |467                

Somerset                    |3,524              

Staffordshire               |3,374              

Suffolk                     |2,474              

Surrey                      |2,946              

Warwickshire                |2,812              

West Sussex                 |1,700              

Wiltshire                   |1,782              

Docklands (Traffic Delays)

Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) for how long the hon. Member for Enfield, Southgate (Mr. Portillo) was delayed in traffic on his visit


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to Luciano Pavarotti's concert in docklands ; what representations he has received on traffic delays in the docklands area ; and if he will increase planned expenditure on road links between central London and docklands ;

(2) if, given the considerable traffic delays encountered by those attending last Sunday's London Arena concert by Luciano Pavarotti, he will speed up work on (a) roads and (b) communications generally for the London docklands.

Mr. Portillo [holding answer 26 June 1989] : It took me just over an hour from Westminster to the Arena, which is about the time I allow for journeys to major events at Earls Court, Wimbledon and so on. It was perhaps a pity that more people did not choose to travel by docklands light railway, which was operated especially for the Pavarotti concert.

The Department and the London Docklands development corporation have very large road programmes which are being pursued with all possible urgency. On the A13 trunk road in Tower Hamlets and Newham, over £60 million of schemes will provide interim and permanent improvements to every major junction and bridge over the next seven years. These schemes form part of the Department's £600 million programme for trunk roads in east London of which the Sidcup bypass, South Woodford to Barking relief road, Rochester way relief road and Beckton flyover tidal flow are already complete, and others in hand include the A406 Chingford road to Hale End road improvement, the A12 Hackney Wick to M11 link road and the proposed east London river crossing, on the design of which we hope to make an announcement shortly. With refurbishment of the Blackwall tunnel south bore now nearing completion, we hope to tackle the north bore in offpeak periods over the two years from September. We have also invited tenders for a new traffic control and communications system for east London to be located at Blackwall.

The London Docklands development corporation's £550 million programme of access roads includes schemes already complete in the Surrey docks and under way at the Royal docks. Work will start later this year on a new crossing over the lower Lea, and the compulsory purchase order has now been made for the proposed 1.5 km dual two-lane cut-and-cover tunnel from The Highway to Westferry road and Poplar, known as the Limehouse link.

The Department is working closely on co-ordination of streetworks with the utilities, developers, the police and the LDDC which has commissioned a study into extending the controlled parking zone to docklands.

On public transport, the reliability of the docklands light railway is being improved with an urgent programme of remedial measures. Capacity will be trebled on completion of the extension to Bank, and the Bill for a link to Beckton is now completing its parliamentary passage. I am about to receive the report of the east London rail study recommending extension of the Jubilee line through Surrey docks, Canary wharf and the Greenwich peninsula to Stratford, for which we shall be seeking contributions from developers. Subject to satisfactory contributions, LRT could deposit the necessary Bill in Parliament in November. British Rail is introducing longer trains in October on its north London link, where capacity will be increased by a tunnel refurbishment to be funded by LDDC. The new network of docklands minibus routes usefully complements London Regional Transport's


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improved docklands bus services, and Thamesline riverbus services are being extended to Greenland and Greenwich piers.

My chairmanship of a steering group comprising operators, boroughs, utilities, developers, the police and the LDDC enables me to help keep the momentum up and to intervene whenever necessary to facilitate action.

I am satisfied that the docklands transport programmes are appropriate and are being progressed as fast as possible.


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