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CSCE (Implementation)
Sir Geoffrey Finsberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress there has been in the implementation by the Soviet and eastern European countries of the provisions of the Helsinki final act and other conference on security and co-operation in Europe documents during the last six months ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : We have recently prepared a report on Soviet and East European implementation of their CSCE commitments for the period January to June 1989. Copies will be deposited in the Library of the House.
Nepal
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the impact on British travellers of the present dispute between India and Nepal.
Mr. Sainsbury : There is no reason for British travellers not to visit Nepal. We understand that fuel supplies are no longer rationed, public transport is almost back to normal and most hotels are now operating normally.
TRANSPORT
Channel Tunnel
82. Mr. Gerald Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received any environmental impact study consequent on British Rail's proposals for a subsurface junction in Warwick gardens in connection with the Channel tunnel rail link.
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Mr. Portillo : Not yet. British Rail intends to produce in due course an environmental statement covering the whole of the proposed route for the Channel tunnel rail link.
Docklands Light Railway
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to how many passengers per hour the Docklands light railway takes, and how many it will take when improved.
Mr. Portillo : The current capacity of the Docklands light railway on each of the Tower Gateway and Stratford branches is about 1,750 passengers per hour. The capacity of the railway between Tower Gateway and the Isle of Dogs will double early next year and increase further to some 6,500 passengers per hour at the beginning of 1991. On completion of the City extension and upgrading programme, the available capacity from Bank and Stratford respectively will be about 7,000 and 5,000 passengers per hour. The planned capacity of the Beckton extension from Bank is similar to that from Bank to the Isle of Dogs.
Driving Tests
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average waiting time for a driving test in (a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham, (d) Sheffield and (e) nationally ; and what were the comparable figures (i) five years and (ii) 10 years ago.
Mr. Atkins : The table shows the waiting time for a test nationally and at each of the test centres, at present and at July 1985. No earlier figures are available.
Centre Waiting times
|At present|July 1985
|weeks |weeks
--------------------------------------------
Doncaster |11 |18
Rotherham |12 |18
Barnsley |5 |17
Sheffield |8 |26
Nationally |11 |18
Driving Examiners
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving examiners his Department employs in (a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Sheffield ; and what were the comparable figures(i) five years and (ii) 10 years ago.
Mr. Atkins : The table shows the examiners in post at each of the test centres (i) at present, (ii) in 1985 and (iii) in 1979.
Examiners in post
Centre |At present|1985 |1979
-------------------------------------------------------
Doncaster |7 |6 |6
Rotherham |5 |5 |4
Barnsley |6 |5 |4
Sheffield |15 |11 |10
Drink-Driving
Mr. Higgins : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the number of countries which have reduced the level of drunken driving at a faster rate than the United Kingdom over the past five years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : The percentage of drivers and riders killed in road accidents in the United Kingdom over the past five years whose blood alcohol level was above the legal limit fell from 28 per cent. in 1983 to 21 per cent. in 1988.
The number of drivers and riders involved in accidents over the same period who were breath-tested rose from 42,300 to 75,000, yet the number that failed the test fell from 12,400 to 10,200. We are not aware of any other country in which the level of drinking and driving has fallen at a faster rate than these indicators show.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the mean blood alcohol concentration of drivers and riders with illegal blood alcohol levels killed in road traffic accidents in total and by age groups in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland.
Mr. Atkins : The mean blood alcohol concentration of drivers and riders killed in road accidents can be calculated from coroners' reports. As we do not have complete reports for all such drivers or riders, the following figures are based on samples, and cannot reasonably be disaggregated beyond the levels given. The table shows the levels requested for England and Wales, Scotland, Great Britain, and an age breakdown for Great Britain.
Mean blood alcohol concentrations of drivers and riders killed in
road accidents with a BAC above the legal limit: 1987
|mean blood/alcohol level
|(mgs per 100 ml)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
England and Wales |180
Scotland |205
Great Britain
Age 16-24 |165
Age 25-39 |185
Age over 40 |200
Total |180
Because of the small numbers involved, care must be taken in comparing these levels. In particular, the information for Scotland is based on a very small sample, and so is liable to a large degree of error.
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for repeating the 1988 breath test surveys of the frequency of drinking and driving ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : I refer the hon. Member to the reply of 24 May to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) col. 558. The surveys are now under way.
Hedgerow Cutting
Dr. David Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has issued advice to British Rail about the timing of hedgerow cutting along railway lines to prevent the killing of hedgerow birds ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Portillo : No. These are management matters for British Rail, which has its own code of practice on railway linesides.
Fishing Vessels
Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many foreign-owned fishing vessels have been struck off the register of United Kingdom registered fishing vessels ; and if he will make a statement :
(2) how many foreign-owned fishing vessels have been refused (a) a full certificate or (b) a temporary certificate in respect of the new register of United Kingdom registered fishing vessels ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) how many foreign-owned fishing vessels or those which are partially owned by non-United Kingdom citizens have been warded (a) full certificates and (b) temporary certificates by the registrar general for shipping in respect of the new register of United Kingdom registered fishing vessels ;
(4) how many outstanding applications there are for (a) full certificates and (b) temporary certificates in respect of the new register of United Kingdom registered fishing vessels at the most recent date ; and if he will make a statement.
(5) if he will list the number of (a) full certificates and (b) temporary certificates granted by the registrar general for shipping in respect of the new register of United Kingdom registered fishing vessels ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : At 21 July 1989, 9,613 vessels had been registered. Thirteen of these were owned by individuals who are not United Kingdom citizens but who could prove long standing United Kingdom residence and involvement in the British fishing industry. No separate record is kept of vessels which are partly owned by non-United Kingdom nationals. Soome 3,500 temporary certificates were issued for three months, lapsing on 1 July 1989 : most of these vessels have since been fully registered. About 150 formerly registered vessels have been refused registration because they failed to satisfy the requirements of the 1988 Act but fresh applications have been received in respect of the majority of them. In addition to these, the registrar general is currently processing 750 new applications for full registration.
North Report
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to introduce legislation based on the North report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 23 June to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands (Mr. Knox) at column 269.
Whaley Bridge Bypass
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the report by Allol and Lomax, consulting engineers, into the performance of the consulting engineers employed on the Chapel-en-le-Frith/Whaley Bridge bypass ; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
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Mr. Atkins : I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by the then Minister for Roads and Traffic, my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley), on 2 and 9 March.
Derailment (Harrow)
Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the derailment of the InterCity 125 express train at Harrow and Wealdstone which occurred at 8.50 pm on Thursday 20 July ; and what decision he has reached on a public inquiry.
Mr. Portillo : Six coaches of the 1400 Glasgow to London express passenger train carrying about 300 passengers became derailed as the train approached Harrow and Wealdstone station.
The train came to rest with the locomotive and leading four coaches standing on the rails in the station platform. The fifth coach was derailed and leaning over. The rear of the train had divided into two parts with a gap of 400m between the leading part and three derailed but upright coaches ; and a gap of 35m between those three and the last two derailed but upright coaches. Twenty-six persons were injured, none seriously. Twenty were treated locally, and six taken to hospital. The emergency services were called by the senior conductor, using a passenger's cellphone, as the train came to rest. The independent railway inspectorate and British Rail are investigating the cause of the accident. My right hon. Friend will not decide on the need for a public inquiry until he has more information about why the accident occurred.
East London Rail Study
Mr. Arbuthnot : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on the east London rail study.
Mr. Parkinson : The Department's consultants, Halcrow Fox and Associates (HFA), have today issued a report on the east London rail study. Their preferred option for a second line to the Docklands is an extension to the Jubilee line from Green Park via Waterloo, London Bridge and Canary wharf to Stratford. The line might be routed via either Greenwich point or Brunswick foreshore.
No decisions have yet been taken on whether the proposed line should be built. HFA estimates that the total cost of the new line would be of the order of £900 million at late 1988 prices. We shall need to consider the findings of the report, and in particular how the line would be financed. As we have already made clear the line would only be built if sufficient contributions are forthcoming from property developers and other landowners who would benefit. LRT has already begun consultations with local authorities and other interested parties about these proposals. I have agreed that, in order that a Bill could be deposited this autumn to seek the necessary parliamentary powers, further work should concentrate on the recommended alignment running from Green Park via Waterloo to London Bridge rather than the alternative which might start from Charing Cross and run via Ludgate Circus.
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Salisbury Bypass
Mr. Key : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement about the preferred route of the proposed Salisbury by-pass.
Mr. Atkins : We aim to announce a preferred route before the end of the year.
WALES
Porpoises (Deaths)
83. Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures his Department has taken to identify the cause of the deaths of porpoises washed up in Cardigan bay in the current year.
Mr. Peter Walker : None. Welsh Water, in liaison with other interested parties, has carried out considerable research, but has concluded that none of the existing discharges in Cardigan bay has contributed to the problem.
Anthrax
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many deaths of pigs in 1988 at Singrett farm, Llay, have been ascribed to anthrax ; how many deaths were ascribed to matters other than anthrax ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : No deaths in 1988 at Singrett Farm, Llay, were ascribed to anthrax. It has not been possible to ascertain how many deaths were due to other causes but the mortality rate was well within the range experienced in other well-run units.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what action he took consequent upon the outbreak of anthrax at Singrett farm, Llay in April to establish the cause of previous deaths in 1989 at that farm ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : Prior to the outbreak of anthrax at Singrett farm, Llay on 19 April, 13 sows and gilts had died during 1989. Anthrax was not suspected in any except one which died on 9 April, for which tests proved negative.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the production of vaccine in Britain was begun to combat the anthrax outbreak at Llay ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : Production of an emergency supply of vaccine to deal with the outbreak of anthrax at Llay began on 10 July 1989 at the MAFF central veterinary laboratory, Weybridge.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a public inquiry into the 1989 anthrax outbreak in Clwyd ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what review he will undertake of (a) the anthrax regulations and (b) the Medicines Act consequent upon the current year's outbreak of anthrax in Clwyd ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Peter Walker : The decision to slaughter and offer compensation was taken on animal welfare grounds not because of any deficiency in the Anthrax Order 1938.
Health Service Proposals
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposed to publish in Wales the equivalent to the Department of Health's, "Self Governing Hospitals : a Guide" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Walker : My officials will be making available copies of the Department of Health's documents "Self-Governing Hospitals : An Initial Guide" and "Self-Governing Hospitals : Briefing for NHS Managers" for the information of relevant NHS interests in Wales.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to publish papers concerning National Health Service reforms as they apply to Wales.
Mr. Grist : Chapter XI of the White Paper, "Working for Patients" (Cm. 555), set out the broad framework for further improving the NHS in Wales. My right hon. Friend and I have been having extensive discussions with a wide range of interests since the publication of the White Paper and we intend shortly to make a statement on the next steps in Wales.
Welsh Development Agency
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library minutes of the meetings of the board of the Welsh Development Agency for 1989.
Mr. Peter Walker : No. It would not be appropriate for the Welsh Development Agency to make public a record of its board meetings.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what occasions over the last 12 months, the finance director of the Welsh Development Agency met representatives of the National Freight Corporation ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Peter Walker : I am advised by the agency that the finance director has met representatives of the National Freight Corporation once (on 13 July 1988) when a range of matters of mutual interest was discussed.
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to his oral reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams) of 17 July, Official Report , column 6, if he will list the names and positions of the Welsh Office officials, who knew of the rejection of the management buy-out from WDA West Wales ; when those officials first learned of the proposals ; and how they came to know of them.
Mr. Peter Walker : In November or December 1988 an official of the Welsh Office, Mr. Own Rees, head of the economic and regional policy group, was telephoned at home by a chartered accountant and informed that the regional managers of the west Wales office of the Welsh Development Agency had formulated proposals for a regional management buy-out which were not being favourably considered by the agency's management in Cardiff. Mr. Rees told the accountant that he was not the
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official with responsibility for the affairs of the WDA and that if he or those he was advising wished to pursue the question he or they should write in an official way to the director of the Welsh Office industrial department. In January 1989 the accountant wrote to Mr. Rees at his home making the same points and received the same response. Mr. Rees informed the industry department director of both approaches and of his reply. Nothing further was heard from the accountant.In May 1989 industry department officials made inquiries of the agency to enable me to answer the question put down by the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams). In that context, I was informed that the west Wales management had made proposals for contracting out certain services to the private sector but that these were regarded by the agency as premature. I knew nothing of management buy-out proposals until Mr. Wyn Pryce wrote to me and made his announcement to the press.
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spends each year on counteracting (a) alcohol abuse, and (b) drugs abuse in Wales.
Mr. Peter Walker : The prime responsibility for providing advice and treatment facilities to deal with alcohol and drug abuse rests with individual health and local authorities. The Health Promotion Authority for Wales also has a major health educational role. On drug misuse in the current financial year my Department has earmarked nearly £1.5 million for health authorities and voluntary sector projects.
On alcohol misuse, in addition to funds allocated to health authorities and the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, my Department has also funded the activities of Alcohol Concern Wales (ACW). In 1988-89, ACW received £48,000 and a bid for increased funding for 1989-90 is currently being finalised.
Funds are also provided to finance specific publicity campaigns to warn of the dangers of drug and alcohol misuse.
Quangos (Appointments)
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the quangos to which he appoints the chairpersons in Wales.
Mr. Peter Walker : I appoint the chairpersons to the following bodies :
Advisory Group for Breast Cancer Screening
Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales
Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee Panel of Chairman Agricultural Valuation Committee (Wales)
Agricultural Wages Committees :
Clwyd
Dyfed
Glamorgans
Gwent
Gwynedd
Powys
All Wales Advisory Panel on the Development of Services for People with Mental Handicaps
Ancient Monuments Board for Wales
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
Committee on Opportunities for Volunteering
Committee for the Welsh Scheme for the Development of Health and Social Research
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Curriculum Council for WalesDevelopment Board for Rural Wales
District Health Authorities :
Clwyd
East Dyfed
Gwent
Gwynedd
Mid Glamorgan
Pembrokeshire
Powys
South Glamorgan
West Glamorgan
Family Practitioner Committees :
Clwyd
Dyfed
Gwynedd
Mid Glamorgan
Powys
South Glamorgan
West Glamorgan
Health Promotion Authority
Historic Buildings Council for Wales
Housing for Wales
Land Authority for Wales
Library and Information Services Council (Wales)
Local Government Boundary Commission
Place Names Advisory Committee
Rent Assessment Panel
Standing Working Group of the Wales Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education
Teamcare Valleys Steering Group
Training, Enterprise and Education Advisory Group
Sports Council for Wales
Urban Investment Grant Advisory Panel
Wales Tourist Board
Welsh Committee on Drug Misuse
Welsh Development Agency
Welsh Health Common Services Authority
Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board
Welsh Language Board
Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Welsh Water Authority
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