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67. Mr. Evennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the staffing of British Rail stations.
Mr. Portillo : We have received a number but staffing policy is a management matter for British Rail.
91. Mr. Prescott : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the appointment of the chairman of British Rail.
Mr. Parkinson : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker).
Road Safety Statistics
Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road safety figures for the last year for which figures are available for the United Kingdom and the other EC countries.
Mr. Parkinson : The United Kingdom has an excellent record for road safety compared with our foreign neighbours. The rate of road deaths at 9.4 per 100,000 head of population was the lowest of all the European Community countries in 1987. In 1988, the United Kingdom has achieved a further 1 per cent. reduction in fatalities, and a 1.5 per cent. reduction in serious injuries, although international comparisons for that year are not yet available. The detailed information is contained in the following table :
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International comparisons of road deaths: number, and rates for different road users: by selected countries: 1987
|Number of road |Motor vehicles |Road deaths per |Road deaths per |Car user deaths |Pedestrian
|deaths<1> |per 1,000 |100,000 |10,000 |per 100 million |deaths per
|population |population |motor vehicles |car kilometres |100,000
|population
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England |4,349 |411 |9.2 |2.2 |3.0
Wales |220 |386 |7.8 |2.0 |2.4
Scotland |556 |311 |10.9 |3.5 |3.8
Great Britain |5,125 |400 |9.3 |2.3 |0.9 |3.1
Northern Ireland |214 |308 |13.6 |4.4 |4.6
United Kingdom |5,339 |398 |9.4 |2.4 |3.1
Belgium |1,922 |443 |19.5 |4.4 |2.8 |3.3
Denmark |698 |400 |13.6 |3.4 |<5>1.2 |2.7
Federal Republic of Germany 7,967 531 13.0 2.5 1.2 2.8
France |10,742 |542 |19.4 |3.6 |<5>2.2 |2.9
Greece |1,682 |230 |16.9 |7.3 |4.1
Irish Republic |461 |253 |13.0 |5.2 |4.0
Italy |7,108 |<3>525 |12.4 |<3>2.5 |<3><5>1.7 |<3>2.2
Luxembourg |68 |511 |18.4 |3.6 |1.9
Netherlands |1,485 |429 |10.1 |2.4 |1.1 |1.2
Portugal |3,100 |271 |31.5 |11.2 |<5>3.0 |8.5
Spain |7,615 |383 |19.6 |5.1 |6.4 |3.6
Austria |1,469 |522 |19.4 |3.6 |<5>2.8 |3.3
Czechoslovakia |1,393 |<4>219 |8.9 |<4>4.1 |3.1
Finland |581 |427 |11.8 |2.8 |<7>1.0 |2.8
German Democratic Republic 1,531 313 9.2 2.9 2.9
Hungary |1,571 |214 |14.8 |6.9 |5.2
Norway |398 |499 |9.5 |1.9 |<5>1.0 |1.9
Poland |4,625 |176 |12.2 |7.0 |<2><8>5.5 |5.5
Sweden |787 |461 |9.4 |2.0 |1.0 |1.7
Switzerland |904 |581 |13.8 |2.5 |1.2 |3.1
Yugoslavia |4,526 |169 |19.3 |11.4 |7.5 |5.9
Australia |2,771 |577 |17.1 |3.0 |3.2
Canada |4,280 |590 |16.6 |2.8 |2.5
Japan |12,151 |563 |9.9 |1.8 |1.4 |3.0
New Zealand |<3>767 |<3>632 |<3>23.1 |<3>3.7 |<3>3.4
United States of America |46,386 |784 |19.5 |2.5 |<9>1.0 |3.4
Underground Railways
32. Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning future plans for new underground railways serving south-east London.
Mr. Portillo : The Jubilee line extension to docklands will improve accessibility to Southwark and Bermondsey. London Regional Transport are also considering further the case for extensions of the East London line and the docklands light railway to parts of south-east London.
Commuter Services, London
33. Mr. Carrington : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much investment in London commuter services will increase over the next three years.
Mr. Portillo : London Regional Transport and BR's Network SouthEast plan to invest about £3.4 billion over the next three years (including £0.5 billion for the Jubilee line extension). That is £1.6 billion more than in the three years to April 1990, an increase of nearly 70 per cent. in real terms. Most of that investment will benefit services used by commuters.
Bus Substitution
34. Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will direct British Rail to cease providing services by bus substitution.
Mr. Portillo : No. If these services stopped the passengers who used them would be inconvenienced.
Women Travellers
37. Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to improve the safety of women travelling on their own.
Mr. Portillo : Public transport operators are implementing a number of measures which will improve the security of all passengers. British Rail : The British transport police are maintaining a higher visibility throughout the British Rail network and particularly in the Network SouthEast area. Other measures at NSE stations include better lighting and
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closed circuit television (CCTV). The remaining closed compartment carriages still in use on NSE services will be replaced as soon as new rolling stock comes on stream.London Underground : The Government have provided £15 million for a programme of passenger security measures including passenger alarms, CCTV, mirrors and improved lighting in passageways. The number of police on the Underground has increased and their effectiveness has been improved by a new radio system and new area police stations. Buses : The installation of radios and video cameras will help to deter crime. Women may particularly welcome the growing use of midi-buses where passengers travel close to the driver.
My Department has issued advice to motorists on what to do should they break down on the motorway or in remote places.
Concessionary Fares
39. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the future operation of the concessionary fares scheme in London.
Mr. Portillo : Many such representations have been received following speculation that the present concessionary travel scheme in London might be withdrawn or curtailed. I wrote to London Members on 4 September explaining that the details of the scheme are agreed each year by the London boroughs and the City of London. If they fail to reach agreement, the reserve free travel scheme will be implemented.
Thames Collision
40. Miss Hoey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement regarding the inquiry into the collision involving the Marchioness and Bow Belle dredger on the river Thames.
Mr. McLoughlin : The inquiry into the collision involving the Marchioness and the Bow Belle is not yet completed. It is our intention to publish the report of the chief inspector of marine accidents at the earliest practicable date.
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Air Traffic Control Centre
41. Mr. Ground : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the Civil Aviation Authority's new en route air traffic control centre will increase airspace capacity.
Mr. McLoughlin : The new en route centre is expected to increase capacity in the en route sectors over England and Wales by at least 40 per cent. when operational in 1996.
Stockton-on-Tees
42. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an official visit by car to Stockton-on-Tees ; and if he will notify his route in advance.
Mr. Atkins : I have no plans to visit Stockton-on-Tees in the near future.
Orange Badge Scheme
43. Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the proposals to modify the qualifying conditions for an orange badge and to tighten the monitoring of abuse ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : We are currently drawing up detailed proposals for redefining the eligibility criteria for the orange badge scheme in the light of the plans we published earlier this year. We are also examining ways of extending the benefits of the scheme to people with severe upper limb disabilities. We shall consult widely on our proposals as soon as possible.
Revised eligibility criteria are needed so that badges are issued only to those who genuinely need them. Our proposals for a new design of badge with space for a photograph of the holder will aid enforcement. The operation of the revised scheme will be kept under close review and discussions held with chief police officers as necessary.
Underground Railway, London
44. Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what methods he intends to adopt to assess the relative merits of proposals for new underground railway routes in central London.
Mr. Portillo : The costs and benefits of the various options will be assessed with the assistance of the London transportation survey model. Account will also need to be taken of any wider benefits not included in the model.
M1, Bedfordshire
45. Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the current repairs to the M1 in Bedfordshire.
Mr. Atkins : The major maintenance works between junctions 12 and 13 were substantially completed on 19 November, four weeks earlier than expected. Some further minor remedial works involving closure of the northbound hardshoulder and overnight works on the outside lane are expected to be completed soon.
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Motorways, North-East
46. Mr. Bell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected road life of existing motorways in the north-east of England ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Since the Department's standards for highway design were revised in 1985, motorways have been built to last, with appropriate maintenance, for 40 years before having to be reconstructed. Before that time bituminous roads were generally built to last on average 20 years and concrete roads 40 years. The actual life of particular motorways or sections of motorways depends upon a number of factors, notably the volume and weight of traffic using them, and may vary significantly. The condition of motorways is routinely monitored to identify deterioration and the need for major maintenance. An announcement about the 1990-91 programme of major maintenance will be made as usual around the end of March.
Roads (Spending)
47. Mr. Hague : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much spending on national roads will be increased over the next three years.
Mr. Atkins : Spending on national roads over the next three years will total £5.7 billion, compared with £3.3 billion in the three years ending March 1990. This is an increase of 70 per cent. in cash terms.
Of the £5.7 billion, £4 billion will be made available for new construction and improvement. This represents an increase of 50 per cent. in real terms, on original expenditure plans for the years 1987-88 and 1989 -90, and reflects the Government's commitment to the proposals set out in the White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" for reducing congestion.
In addition £1.7 billion will be spent on road, bridge and current maintenance. This will mean an increae of over 40 per cent., in real terms, in spending on capital maintenance compared with the three years to March 1990.
Dalston Kingsland Station
50. Ms. Abbott : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to visit Dalston Kingsland BR station.
Mr. Portillo : No, but I visited stations on the north London line on 7 October this year.
Leeds-Bradford Airport
51. Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received for the further extension of operating hours at the Leeds-Bradford airport ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. McLoughlin : My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport announced on 14 August 1989 their decision on planning application by Leeds-Bradford airport for extended opening hours.
Since the announcement, my right hon. Friend has received 12 representations favouring longer opening hours than the 1 hour extension granted.
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A30, Cornwall
52. Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements are planned for the A30 in Cornwall.
Mr. Atkins : The following schemes are in the trunk road programme :
Launceston-Plusha
Plusha-Bolventor
Shallowater Hill Improvement
Temple-Higher Carblake Improvement
Bodmin-Indian Queens Improvement
Indian Queens Bypass
Penhale-Carland Cross
Zelah Bypass
Zelah-Chiverton Improvement
St. Erth-Newtown Improvement
I shall be opening the Launceston-Plusha scheme on 7 December. Work is expected to start on Plusha-Bolventor and Penhale-Carland Cross in spring 1990 and on Zelah bypass in summer 1990. The remaining schemes are at an earlier stage of preparation.
A38
53. Mr. Robert Hicks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he hopes to announce his Department's preferred route for the A38 trunk road improvement Liskeard-Bodmin section and consulting engineers to undertake investigations for the proposed A38 Saltash-Trerulefoot section.
Mr. Atkins : I hope to announce a preferred route for the Liskeard- Bodmin section early in 1991 and the appointment of consulting engineers for the Saltash-Trerulefoot section very shortly.
Civil Aviation Authority (Computers)
55. Mr. Franks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Civil Aviation Authority's new computers will be installed.
Mr. McLoughlin : I understand that the replacement mainframe computers for the London air traffic control centre have now been installed. After further testing they will become operational early next summer.
Roads and Street Lighting
56. Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the City of Newcastle upon Tyne about the maintenance of roads, and the provision of streetlighting in residential areas.
Mr. Atkins : I have received the city council's document entitled "Residential Roads : The Problem--The Cure". All matters and priorities relating to local roads are, of course, the responsibility of the local highways authority.
London Underground
58. Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Government money is allocated to improving safety standards on the London Underground.
Mr. Portillo : London Underground estimates that by the year 2000 it will have spent more than £1 billion on improving safety. Although Government grant is not
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attributed to specific projects or activities, I am satisfied that the increases recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be more than sufficient to allow London Underground to secure its planned improvements in safety standards.89. Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce overcrowding on the London Underground.
Mr. Portillo : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock), earlier today.
Rural Transport
59. Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on rural transport provision.
Mr. Portillo : The provisions of rural transport is chiefly a matter for local transport operators and for local authorities. Under the Transport Act 1985 the operators can provide services wherever they see a commercial opportunity to do so. Local authorities may make provision for additional socially necessary services, under subsidy, after going out to competitive tender. In addition, the rural transport development fund, administered by the Rural Development Commission, receives £1 million a year from the Department of Transport to assist the provision of innovative rural transport services in England. In Wales and Scotland, the Welsh and Scottish Offices administer similar rural transport innovation grant schemes.
London Road Assessment Studies
60. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his Department's plans for public consultation on the London road assessment studies once these proposals have been published.
63. Mr. Hanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in his consideration of the west London assessment study ; and if he will make a statement.
76. Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make a decision on the options raised by the London road assessment studies.
Mr. Atkins : Arrangements have been made for the consultants' reports to be printed and I expect them to be published later this month. An announcement will be made at that time about the arrangements for consultation and decision.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, when his statement is made in early December on the London road assessment studies, he will ensure that at the same time a free copy of a summary of these studies will be made available to the general public ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Summary leaflets of the consultants' reports on each of the four London assessment studies will be available free of charge from the consultants and at libraries and other venues throughout the relevant study areas.
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Manchester Airport
61. Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on negotiations concerning trans-Atlantic flights to Manchester airport.
Mr. McLoughlin : Negotiations on air services between the United Kingdom and the United States were held between 29 November and 1 December. The United Kingdom's objectives include agreeing a balanced expansion of opportunities for the airlines on both sides which will allow for additional transatlantic services to be introduced to serve Manchester airport.
Bus Deregulation
64. Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the vehicle mileage increase on private sector bus routes since deregulation.
Mr. Portillo : Between 1985-86 and 1988-89, there was an increase from 168 million to 1,241 million in the vehicle kilometres run by private operators on local services outside London.
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made towards the deregulation of buses in London.
Mr. Portillo : We have already moved some way towards deregulation by splitting London Buses Ltd. into smaller operating subsidiaries, by promoting the extension of competitive tendering on London Regional Transport bus routes and by enhancing the opportunities for private operators to introduce their own routes under the London local service licensing system. The timetable for full deregulation has yet to be set.
Regional Airports
65. Mr. Jessel : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to support regional airports.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Government encourage the maximum use of regional airports, both to meet local demand and to relieve pressure on the London airports. Over the past decade more than £300 million of capital expenditure has been facilitated through special borrowing approvals for local authority airports. I hope to announce shortly the special borrowing approvals for 1990-91. We also very much welcome the contribution to the development of local authority airports which the private sector makes through the direct investment and joint venture schemes.
We are continuing to pursue liberalisation policies, both in the European Community and in bilateral negotiations, which increase further the scope for services from our regional airports.
London Regional Transport
66. Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the chairman of London Regional Transport ; and what matters will be discussed.
Mr. Portillo : My right hon. Friend and I frequently meet the chairman of London Regional Transport to discuss a wide range of issues.
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European Aviation Package
68. Mr. Gerald Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the second stage of the European aviation liberalisation package will be agreed.
Mr. McLoughlin : The Council is committed to agreement on a second stage of aviation liberalisation by June 1990. The Government have welcomed the proposals which the Commission has recently put forward, and are fighting hard to prevent them being watered down.
A41 Bypass
69. Mr. Page : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the decision on the A41 bypass inquiry will be announced.
85. Mr. Robert B. Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his decision on the A41 Hemel Hempstead and Bourne End bypass.
Mr. Atkins : I expect the announcement to be made by the end of the year.
Trunk Roads, Selby
70. Mr. Alison : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for expediting the flow of traffic along the A19 and A63 trunk roads through the town of Selby.
Mr. Atkins : Detailed proposals, in the form of draft orders under the Highways Act 1980, have just been published for a bypass of Selby by my Department. The scheme is designed to aid the flow of traffic on the A19 and A63, and bring considerable relief to the town centre.
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