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Mr. Portillo : The names and port of registry of cargo vessels and passenger ferries registered in the United Kingdom lost in the five years 1984-88 are listed, with the number of fatalities. Inquiries were carried out by the Department of Transport in all cases. The remaining information requested is not readily available and could be compiled only at disproportionate expense.
Cargo Vessels and Passenger Ferries Lost 1984-88
Ship |Port of Registry|Deaths
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1984
Camilla Weston |London |-
Fylrix |Hull |-
1985
Johanna V |London |-
Bridgeness (Tanker) |London |-
Xanthence |Colchester |-
David F |Liverpool |-
Gwyn |Cardiff |-
1986
Southern Quest |Grangemouth |-
Eilean Rosin Dubh |Stornoway |-
1987
Herald of Free Enterprise |Dover |189
Besthorpe |Hull |1
Maral R |London |-
1988
Grit |London |-
BC Mercurius |London |-
Deepdale H |Liverpool |-
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow on 11 July, Official Report , columns 458-59 he will indicate in how many of the subsequent inquiries into such losses the master was
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held responsible for the loss of his vessel ; what were the penalties imposed upon those deemed to be offenders ; and under which regulations those sanctions were imposed.Mr. Portillo : I regret that information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate expense.
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow on 11 July, Official Report, columns 458-59, he will indicate how many of these losses of fishing vessels were subjects of inquiry ; how many were lost as a direct result of collisions with submarines ; and, of those which foundered following such collisions, how many were fishing at the time with (a) demersal gear and (b) pelagic gear.
Mr. Portillo : The Department of Transport made inquiries into the large majority of the losses, including all where fatalities occurred. None of the vessels was lost so far as is known as a direct result of collision with a submarine.
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow on 11 July, Official Report, columns 458-59, he will indicate the number of inquiries where no judgment or assessment was made concerning the reason or reasons for the loss of a fishing vessel ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : In all cases where an inquiry is carried out, an attempt is made to assess the possible causes of the accident. A full list of all cases with information as to the extent to which cause remains uncertain could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
Manchester Airport (Far East Flights)
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many additional international flights to and from the far east and Manchester airport have been approved this year ; which airlines and destinations are involved ; and if he will list all similar applications still to be considered.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : So far this year, arrangements have been made allowing new scheduled services from Manchester to be operated to Malaysia and to Hong Kong, and for additional services to Singapore. United Kingdom airlines can seek licences for these routes from the CAA (at present, only British Airways has one, from Manchester to Hong Kong). Airlines at present designated by the authorities at the other ends of the routes are MAS, Cathay Pacific, Air Hong Kong and SIA. It is for each of these airlines to decide whether or not to take advantage of the opportunities. Apart from a licence application by Virgin Atlantic for services between Manchester and Singapore under consideration by the CAA, there are no outstanding requests for services between Manchester and the far east.
Airtours and Orion
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends taking about the time-keeping and maintenance performance recently of the Airtours company and Orion airlines.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley : It is the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that is responsible for ensuring that all United States carriers, including Orion Air, operate their aircraft in accordance with safety and airworthiness standards set by the FAA pursuant to their obligations under the Chicago convention. Our Civil Aviation Authority has already drawn the FAA's attention to the recurring maintenance difficulties experienced on Orion Air's services to and from Manchester.
Fuel Efficiency
Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are any plans to introduce legislation to require vehicle manufacturers to achieve fuel efficiency targets for cars and light vans.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley [holding answer 24 July 1989] : Following the June Environment Council, the European Commission is committed to looking for ways of reducing the emissions from vehicles of carbon dioxide, the principal "greenhouse" gas. These emissions are directly related to fuel efficiency. It is unclear how the Commission intends to fulfil this commitment. We expect it will consult member states at an early stage to explore what might be technically, economically and legally feasible.
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent in respect of each A2-M2 road maintenance programme or improvement programme in each of the last 10 years ; and if he will list the amounts by programme.
Mr. Peter Bottomley [holding answer 24 July 1989] : The information readily available is :
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A2/M2 road maintenance programme (£ million)
Scheme |1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89
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A2
Swanscombe-Pepper Hill |0.2 |2.9 |- |- |-
Barham-Westcourt Road |1.3 |- |- |- |-
Tollgate-Marling Cross |- |0.1 |1.4 |- |-
Lydden-Whitfield |- |- |2.0 |- |-
Tollgate-Thanglane |- |- |2.1 |0.6 |-
Coldred-Whitfield |- |- |0.4 |1.3 |-
Thanglane-M2 |- |- |- |2.6 |-
GLC Boundary-M25 |- |- |- |0.05 |-
Brewers Gate |- |- |- |- |0.2
West Court-Lydden |- |- |- |- |1.2
Whitfield Eastwards |- |- |- |- |0.2
County Boundary-M25 |- |- |- |- |0.4
Singlewell-Hog Lane |- |- |- |- |0.05
M2
Junctions 3 and 4-5 |4.8 |- |- |- |-
Junctions 5-7 Joints Ph1 |- |0.5 |- |- |-
Junctions 5-7 Joints Ph2 |- |- |0.5 |- |-
Junctions 5-6 Concrete repairs |- |- |4.1 |0.4 |-
Junction 4 |- |- |0.2 |2.7 |-
Junctions 5-7 overlay |- |- |- |5.5
Junction 5 |- |- |- |- |3.9
Junctions 5-7 |- |- |- |- |3.2
Junctions 6-7 |- |- |1.1 |- |-
A2 Improvement schemes (£ million) Schemes |1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Swanscombe-B262 |1.3 |- |- |- Tollgate-Marling Cross |- |0.78 |- |- Cobham-3 Crutches |- |- |0.94 |- London Boundary-M25 |0.07 |- |- |2.35 Singlewell-Hogg Lane |- |- |- |0.01 A2/M2 Brenley Corner Roundabout |- |0.02 |- |-
Radioactive Material
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many journeys were made in 1988 of (a) uranium and (b) other nuclear or radioactive material, which were transported through the Doncaster metro- politan borough council area by (i) rail and (ii) road to Sellafield or other destinations ; and what reviews are being carried out on the frequency of these cargo shipments.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The Department does not collect data of the kind requested.
The movement of all radioactive materials must be made in compliance with national and international
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regulations which require safety for both normal and accident conditions to be built in to the container used for transport. Safety does not depend on the choice of route used, which is a matter for the carrier.Correspondence
Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters were received from, and sent to, hon. Members by his Department in (a) January and (b) the whole of this Session up to 1 July.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : This question could be answered only at disproportionate cost.
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Civil Service Dispersal
Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in his Department's review, in line with Treasury guidelines, of the potential for the further relocation of Civil Service posts outside London and the south-east ; and when he expects the review to be completed.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Eighty per cent. of DTp staff are located outside London and the Department is reviewing the possibilities for further relocation.
A decision to relocate the headquarters of the driver testing and training division to Nottingham in mid-1990 was announced earlier this year ; a review of TRRL at Crowthorne concluded against relocation ; a review of marine HQ posts is nearing completion ; and a review of parts of the highways command has recently started.
A1
Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the decision was made to undertake the new road works south of Wetherby on the A1.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The carriageway repair work on the A1 at Bramham to the south of Wetherby was planned in February. The works are 0.5 miles long and are expected to be completed by 8 August. We are conscious of the need to plan and phase road works and try to keep those on the A1 to a minimum.
To aid traffic flow, the lane restrictions which were in force on the A1 at Dishforth have been suspended until early September.
Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of the A1 north of Doncaster to Dishforth are presently under repair.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : One half of one mile.
Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to the nearest 1,000, how many cones are presently deployed on the A1 between Doncaster and Dishforth.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : There are approximately 6,000 cones currently in use on the A1(M) Doncaster bypass. Between Doncaster and Dishforth, there are approximately 750 cones deployed for day-time lane closures. A further 750 cones are used for work which is being carried out at night to minimise traffic delays.
Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the distances between highways works signs on the A1 between the M18 junction and the A19 both north and south.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : The works on the A1(M) Doncaster bypass and those at Bramham to the south of Wetherby are 25 miles apart. The works at Bramham are 22 miles from those at Dishforth.
Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any departmental Ministers have travelled on the A1/M1 in Yorkshire during the past six months.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : Yes. I drove up and down twice last month.
Motorway HGV Checks
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of counties in which major checks have been carried out on the motorways in
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the last 12 months, to discover how many heavy goods vehicles were unfit for use ; and whether he will hold talks with the Association of Chief Police Officers on the effectiveness and frequency of exercises such as that carried out by Staffordshire county constabulary.Mr. Peter Bottomley : In the 12 months to the end of June 1989, major vehicle checks were carried out in 23 counties ; 470 goods vehicles were prohibited from further movement for offences including overloading, mechanical defects and breach of the drivers hours rules.
The Department regularly holds liaison meetings with the Home Office and representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers at which enforcement procedures and other matters are discussed. The vehicle checks carried out by Staffordshire police are effective both in enforcing the law and increasing inter-agency co-operation. The Department's enforcement staff will continue to assist the police in Staffordshire and elsewhere in holding checks on motorways.
Driving Test
Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include a test of literacy in the driving test procedure before a person is licensed to drive a motor vehicle.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : There are no plans to do so. There is no known correlation between literacy and road safety.
It is not difficult to envisage someone functionally illiterate driving better than a doctor of philosophy (and vice versa).
Mersey Rail
Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide additional resources to improve services on the Mersey Rail northern line ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : No additional resources are required. I understand that once recent traincrew recruits have been trained the problem of cancellations should be much reduced.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Overseas Aid (Annual Review)
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much it cost to publish the "Annual Review of British Overseas Aid" in 1987.
Mr. Chris Patten : Five thousand copies of "British Overseas Aid 1986" were produced in 1987 at a unit cost of £7.87.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Mr. Frank Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the replies to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn), 19 June, Official Report, columns 32-33, he will
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seek from the Governments of the People's Republic of China, Argentina, Republic of South Africa and India the terms on which each is prepared to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.Mr. Waldegrave : No. The non-proliferation treaty is open for signature to all states, and we take every suitable opportunity to encourage non-parties to join.
Civil Service (Relocation)
Mr. Cran : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in his Department's review, in line with Treasury guidelines, of the potential for the further relocation of Civil Service posts outside London and the south-east ; and when he expects the review to be completed.
Mr. Waldegrave : As a result of the FCO review, about 250 diplomatic wing jobs have been identified for possible relocation to the FCO estate at Hanslope Park near Milton Keynes, subject to planning permission and financial provision for the necessary development of that estate.
The aid wing has carried out two major relocation exercises in recent years and when the current move to Chatham is complete nearly 60 per cent. of ODA staff will be located outside London. Opportunities for further relocation are kept continuously under review.
Armament Sales (Israel)
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total value of armament sales to Israel from Britain between 1980 and 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to give details of arms sales to particular countries.
Human Rights (Israel)
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to the Israeli Government concerning human rights in Israel ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have not taken up the question of human rights in Israel proper but have made repeated representations to the Israelis about human rights in the occupied territories.
Creches
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received any recent representations about pilot or permanent workplace creches and similar incentives further to encourage the return to employment of women in his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : A survey to assess likely demand for a diplomatic and aid wing child care facility was recently carried out prior to a feasibility study completed in May this year. The results of this feasibility study are now being considered.
Both the diplomatic and aid wings also contributed to the setting up fund for a 1989 Westminster holiday play
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scheme, and children of school age of employees in both wings registered to take part. Separate play schemes are being planned at outer London aid wing locations.A number of measures have been introduced in both the diplomatic and aid wings in recent years, designed to further the FCO equal opportunities policy--for instance, the introduction of flexible working hours, and the extension of special unpaid leave arrangements (for up to a total of five years) to enable an officer to meet domestic responsibilities.
Hong Kong
Mr. David Young : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had, and what action is being taken, in secondary education in Hong Kong to lay the foundations for informed participation of youth in a democratic elective system in Hong Kong.
Mr. Waldegrave : We are consulting the Government of Hong Kong. I will give the hon. Member a full reply as soon as possible.
Immigration
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when Mr. Irfan Abdul Alikazi, whose date of birth is 13 October 1969, first applied to the post in Bombay to enter the United Kingdom ; on what dates he has been interviewed at the post ; and when a decision is to be taken on his application ; (2) when Mr. Mohd Yasin, who was born in 1962 and whose reference is SN 81140, first applied to the post in Islamabad to enter the United Kingdom ; and when a decision is going to be taken on his application.
Mr. Waldegrave [ pursuant to the reply, 14 July 1989, c. 673 ] : In accordance with the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, issued to Members on 14 December 1988, the questions have been referred to the correspondence unit of the migration and visa department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The hon. Member will receive a reply from the unit in due course.
PRIME MINISTER
Prevention of Terrorism Act
Q6. Mr. Nelson : To ask the Prime Minister whether she has received any recent representations requesting the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The Prime Minister : No. The Prevention of Terrorism Act is one expression of our resolve to defeat the evil of terrorism, and there is no question of a repeal.
Italy
Q15. Sir Hugh Rossi : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the United Kingdom's relations with Italy.
Fire Service
Q29. Mr. Marland : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the fire service.
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The Prime Minister : I have received a number of representations about fire service matters. We all owe a considerable debt to individual firefighters for their courageous service to the community. As with other public services, the Government have a responsibility to ensure that the fire service is run in the most efficient way possible and that it gives the best value for money to the public.
Pakistan (Prime Minister)
Q36. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Prime Minister if she will make a statement following her recent meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister : I had a very friendly and useful discussion with Prime Minister Bhutto on 7 July about a number of subjects, including Britain's relations with Pakistan, which are excellent, the situation in Afghanistan and other regional issues. I also welcomed the prospect of Pakistan's return to the Commonwealth.
Securities and Investments Board
Q60. Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the performance of the Securities and Investments Board.
The Prime Minister : While I receive from time to time representations about various aspects of the financial services regulatory system, only one received in recent months would fall into the category referred to by my hon. Friend.
Maritime Affairs
Q63. Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to rationalise the administration of maritime affairs into one Ministry.
The Prime Minister : No. There is a maritime aspect to the work of several Government Departments which could not sensibly be separated from their other responsibilities.
Environmental Pollution
Q65. Mr. Richard Page : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding environmental pollution.
The Prime Minister : I have received a number of representations. The Government are committed to the protection of the environment. Government and industry are already investing £2 billion to reduce air pollution, £1.3 billion in the water industry, and £100 million a year on schemes to improve the quality of coastal bathing waters. This investment will improve the quality of the environment for generations to come. We also intend to bring forward legislation to strengthen the powers available to control pollution at source.
Methodist Conference
Q71. Mr. Archer : To ask the Prime Minister what reply she has sent to the letter of 1 July from the President of the Methodist Conference.
The Prime Minister : It is not my usual practice to publish exchanges of this kind.
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EEC
Q82. Mr. Cash : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the EEC.
The Prime Minister : Yes, I receive regular representations on EC matters.
National Health Service
Q90. Mr. Kirkhope : To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has had on the proposed reforms for the National Health Service.
Q111. Mr. Malins : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the National Health Service.
The Prime Minister : I understand that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Health has received some 8,500 representations on the White Paper ; many correspondents give strong support for its objectives and endorse its proposals.
Structural Fund Policy
Q94. Mr. William Powell : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding structural fund policy in the European Economic Community.
The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friends have received representations from local authorities and others about the management of the funds under the revised arrangements.
Transport Policy
Q104. Mr. Leigh : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding transport policy.
The Prime Minister : I regularly receive representations on a wide range of issues concerning transport policy. The programme of investment in railways is now running at the highest level since the transfer from steam to diesel 30 years ago. There is already a major programme of road building which the Government are committed to increasing still further.
Crime
Q107. Mr. John Browne : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received recent representations regarding the level of crime.
The Prime Minister : I have received a number of such representations. The recent fall in the overall level of crime which is disclosed in the statistics for recorded offences in the year ending 31 March 1989 is encouraging.
Maesglas, Newport
Q108. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit the Maesglas area of Newport, Gwent.
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