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Mr. McLoughlin : The investigation of airmiss reports is the responsibility of the independent joint airmiss working group. The group meets regularly to consider the circumstances surrounding every reported airmiss. Details of its deliberations and assessment of the risk and cause are published every four months by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the civil aircraft involved in a near miss with a military Tornado aeroplane over Kelso on Wednesday 31 January was in unregulated air space at the time of the incident.
Mr. McLoughlin : The incident is the subject of a full investigation by the independent joint airmiss working group. From the facts available at present, it would appear that both aircraft were in unregulated airspace at the time of the incident.
Mr. Harry Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many of the incidents reported to the joint airmiss working party since 1 January 1987 of helicopters coming dangerously close to other aircraft when operating to, from or between offshore installations (1) took place in controlled air space, (2) had aircraft operating under instructions given by air traffic control to either captain, (3) took place in air space for which an advisory service was available, (4) had aircraft in receipt of advisory services and (5) operated outside either controlled air space or advisory services ; (2) how many reported incidents there have been to the joint airmiss working party since 1 January 1987 of helicopters being claimed to have come dangerously close to other aircraft when operating to, from and between offshore installations ; what were the identities of the other aircraft, by type and operator ; at what heights the incidents took place ; and in which cases either the helicopter or the other aircraft were on approach or take-off ; (3) if he will prepare and publish a report on the lessons to be drawn from the incidents of helicopters coming dangerously close to other aircraft ;
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(4) in which cases where incidents have been reported to the joint airmiss working party since 1 January 1987 of helicopters coming dangerously close to other aircraft when operating to, from or between offshore installations the incidents have been categorised as A, B or C ; and where the responsibility for each incident has been laid.Mr. McLoughlin : These are matters for the Civil Aviation Authority, which has the statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of civil aviation.
I have drawn the questions to the attention of the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority and will ask him to write to the hon. Member direct.
A3 (Noise)
Mr. David Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will complete his review of noise insulation and noise barrier needs to protect residents living adjacent to the A3 trunk road on the Ladymead to Hog's Back section.
Mr. Atkins : No review of noise insulation is being undertaken. I can agree to four of six noise barriers proposed as an interim solution pending the longer-term improvements to this section of the A3 recently announced. The case for two of these barriers nearest the A31 bridge is not made, but is being re-examined following the recent alterations to the A3 northbound carriageway. It is not possible to say yet when this re- examination will be completed.
Motorway Exits
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to eliminate the queueing which is occurring at the exits of junction 6 on the M3 at Basingstoke.
Mr. Atkins : The installation of peak hour traffic signals is being considered to deal with this problem pending longer-term solutions. A scheme for the grade separation of the Black Dam roundabout was added to the trunk road programme last year. This should overcome the problems in the longer term.
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to remove the danger of stationary vehicles in queues in nearside lanes waiting to leave motorways.
Mr. Atkins : The proposals announced in "Roads for Prosperity" (Cm. 693) in May 1989, including widening and junction improvements of substantial lengths of existing motorway, will go a long way to reducing congestion, including that caused by vehicles queuing to leave motorways. In the case of some junctions not scheduled for major improvement, minor schemes such as installation of signal controls can reduce queuing, especially at peak periods.
Scottish Lowland Airports
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for the delay in the announcement of his decision on the review of Scottish lowland airports policy ; and when he now expects to make it.
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Mr. McLoughlin : There has been no delay. Careful consideration is being given to the very full response to our recent consultation, and my right hon. Friend hopes to announce his decision before long.
St. John's Wood Station (Escalators)
Mr. Kaufman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his reply on escalators at St. John's Wood to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, Official Report, 12 February, column 112, concerning work on the out-of-service escalator at St. John's Wood station, if he will seek from London Underground an explanation as to why a notice states that the escalator in question will be out of service until early April.
Mr. Portillo : This is a matter within London Underground Limited's management responsibility.
Road Projects
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish tables showing the estimated completion dates for the major road projects outlined in the roads White Paper in 1987 and the present estimated completion dates ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) if the roads report promised in the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity", has been completed ; and if he will make a statement ; (3) when he plans to complete and publish the roads report promised in the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Preparation of the roads report is complete and will be published very shortly. The report will include tables showing details of all schemes in the national trunk road programme, including completion dates where appropriate. It will cover the schemes under construction or in preparation at the time of publication of "Policy for Roads in England 1987" and additions to the programme made since, including those announced in the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity" published last May.
A30 (Dualling)
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the present target date for completing dualling of the A30 in (a) Cornwall and (b) Devon ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what progress has been made in drawing up plans for dualling the whole of the A30 in (a) Cornwall and (b) Devon ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) whether the review of plans for the dualling of the A30 in (a) Cornwall and (b) Devon, promised in the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity", has been completed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Dualling of the A30 in Devon, west of Exeter, is planned to be completed by the end of 1993.
Current plans for the improvement of the A30 in Cornwall do not provide for dual carriageways throughout, but the assessment of needs of the whole route foreshadowed in "Roads for Prosperity", which will start later this year, will include consideration of the need for further dualling.
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A38 (Dualling)
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what stage plans for the dualling of the A38 Liskeard to Bodmin have reached ; if the review promised in the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity", has been completed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : We expect to consult the public on possible route options in the autumn. The assessment of needs of the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth is expected to start later this year.
Network SouthEast
Mr. Channon : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will direct British Rail to give priority in its investment plans for Network SouthEast to improving rolling stock.
Mr. Parkinson : Network SouthEast has already identified rolling stock as its top investment priority. It is planning to invest some £1.2 billion over the next three years, of which about 70 per cent. will be for replacement of old stock and additional trains to relieve overcrowding.
Mr. Channon : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from British Rail about the timing of investment plans to improve the least satisfactory commuter lines in Network SouthEast.
Mr. Parkinson : Network SouthEast will be bringing forward various investments over the coming months to back up its efforts to achieve the quality objectives over every route by 1993. I know that it has begun work on detailed investment proposals for modernising the north Kent lines and the London-Tilbury-Southend line and I look forward to receiving its formal investment submissions as soon as they are ready.
Pollution
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 15 January, Official Report, column 46, what was the sample size of the 1988 survey which showed 3.6 per cent. of heavy goods vehicles emitting excessive smoke ; and what results were obtained from the regional roadside visual checks of exhaust smoke from heavy goods vehicles undertaken by his Department's vehicle inspectorate in 1985, 1986 and 1987.
Mr. Atkins : The figures requested are :
Year and region |Number |Number emitting |Per cent. emitting
|checked |excess smoke |excess smoke
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985
North |18,637 |663 |3.56
Scotland |8,583 |640 |7.46
South West
and Wales |17,050 |1,690 |9.91
South East |22,855 |2,703 |11.83
1985
National |67,125 |5,696 |8.49
1986
North |17,032 |805 |4.73
Scotland |7489 |300 |4.01
South West
and Wales |11,731 |1,083 |9.23
South East |20,821 |2,154 |10.35
1986
National |57,073 |4,342 |7.61
1987
North |21,029 |894 |4.25
Scotland |7,130 |199 |2.79
South West and
Wales |13,368 |1,242 |9.29
South East |29,338 |2,532 |8.63
1987
National |70,865 |4,867 |6.87
1988
North |7,824 |235 |3.00
Scotland |3,817 |68 |1.78
South West
and Wales |10,195 |475 |4.66
South East |17,726 |650 |3.67
1988
National |39,562 |1,428 |3.61
1989
North |8,874 |275 |3.10
Scotland |4,175 |48 |1.15
South West
and Wales |6,921 |263 |3.80
South East |12,938 |346 |2.67
1989
National |32,908 |932 |2.83
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has about pollution from motor vehicles, including motor cycles, detected by his Department's vehicle inspectorate since 1986, including excessive smoke emissions and excessive noise ; and whether he will in future take steps to publish annually a separate analysis of such information.
Mr. Atkins : The percentages of heavy goods and passenger service vehicles failing their annual test for excess smoke or for defective exhaust systems are as follows :
Excess smoke Defective exhaust
|PSV |HGV |PSV |HGV
|Percentage|Percentage|Percentage|Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |1.34 |1.09 |2.29 |0.97
1987-88 |1.60 |1.18 |2.86 |1.11
1988-89 |1.42 |1.06 |2.76 |1.72
The percentages of vehicles selected at random seen emitting excess smoke during roadside surveys were :
|Heavy goods vehicles |Public service vehicles
|(Statistical checks) |(Deregulation survey)
|Percentage |Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |8.49 |-
1986 |7.61 |-
1987 |6.87 |1.89
1988 |3.61 |1.18
1989 |2.83 |1.31
The numbers of cars, light goods vehicles and motor cycles failing their MOT test for excess noise is not recorded separately. There are currently no checks for excess emissions in the MOT test.
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The vehicle inspectorate executive agency publishes statistics relating to its work in its annual report, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. It is going to expand the amount of data it publishes.Ferries (Safety)
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the report and recommendations of phase I of the research programme into the safety of roll-on roll-off ferries.
Mr. McLoughlin : All the projects in phase I of the Department of Transport-sponsored research programme into ways of increasing the safety of ro-ro passenger ferries have now been completed. The steering committee which has been supervising the programme has nearly completed its assessment of the results, and I expect to receive its report next month. I will, of course, need to consider that report, but it is my intention to make the report and the results of the research widely available as soon as possible.
Clapham Rail Accident
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive British Rail's response to Sir Anthony Hidden's report on the Clapham Junction railway accident ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : The chairman of the railways board, Sir Robert Reid, sent me his initial response to Sir Anthony Hidden's recommendations earlier today. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.
I am pleased to see that the railways board has been able to accept all the recommendations which apply to it. It has already implemented many of these, including all those that required urgent action. Several of the recommendations depend on developmental work for their full implementation. I know that Sir Robert Reid and the board are anxious to press on with full implementation as quickly as practicable, and to ensure that the systems are right before installing them. The railway inspectorate is discussing the detailed programme of implementation, including the prototype trials now going ahead, with BR. The implementation of some other recommendations depends on a satisfactory outcome to negotiations between BR and the railway unions : I am sure that both sides will do all they can to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the railway.
Part of the cost of implementation of the Hidden report is covered by the £125 million for safety measures already included in BR's expenditure plans for the next three years and endorsed by the Government. I have asked BR to produce detailed estimates of the cost of implementing the longer- term recommendations ; it is now assessing these and will include them in its 1990 corporate plan, which I shall be discussing with it later in the year. We will continue to ensure that BR has adequate funds for safety.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Human Rights
74. Mr. Maclennan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what manner the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on
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Human Rights and by the international covenant on civil and political rights are directly secured by domestic law to everyone within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.Mr. Peter Lloyd : The provisions of our common and statute law have always recognised basic human rights and freedoms. New laws are drafted in the light of international conventions and covenants ; and, where necessary, existing laws are amended in the light of international judgments to meet our obligations.
75. Mr. Rooker : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about compliance by the United Kingdom with covenants on civil and political rights, detailing how decisions of United Kingdom courts are communicated to international bodies monitoring such covenants.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The United Kingdom fully meets its obligations under the various international instruments dealing with civil and political rights to which it is party. Details of court decisions relevant to a particular international instrument would normally be included in the United Kingdom's regular reports to treaty-monitoring bodies.
Criminal Proceedings
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to reduce the time taken to complete hearings in criminal proceedings.
Mr. John Patten : We have urged magistrates and court clerks to concentrate on reducing delays. A training video, "Court in Action", was launched earlier this year. A management information system has been introduced to help magistrates courts monitor their performance and performance targets have been set. We have authorised additional court clerk posts, and we shall be issuing guidance later this year on listing and efficient use of court resources. We intend to extend the operation of statutory custody time limits to the whole of England and Wales by the end of the year.
My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor has taken steps to tackle delays in the Crown court through the provision of more resources and improved management. Additional judges have been appointed and new courtrooms opened.
We shall be monitoring the impact of these initiatives carefully.
Paternity Leave
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what paternity leave is allowed to staff in his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waddington : At present paternity leave is not available to civil servants. The Treasury is, however, finalising arrangements for the introduction of an entitlement to two days' paid paternity leave.
Departmental Circulars
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the name and number of every circular issued by his Department since June 1979 ; and what monitoring is done for their implementation.
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Mr. Waddington : Since 1979 the Home Office has issued each year an average of about 75 circulars to local and police authorities. A list giving details of these circulars is prepared quarterly and a copy sent to the Clerk to the Select Committee on Home Affairs. To list the name and number of every circular and to establish what monitoring has been done for their implementation would require a disproportionate use of resources.Departmental Advisers
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names and previous occupations of advisers currently appointed to his Department, stating their current salaries.
Mr. Waddington : The information is as follows :
Mr. John Godfrey--seconded from Daiwa (Europe) Ltd
Mr. John Taylor (from 19 February 1990)--barrister-at-law It is not the practice to disclose the salaries of special advisers as they are negotiated individually in relation to previous outside earnings and are therefore confidential.
Dr. Malde Modhwadia
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of Dr. Malde Modhwadia of 245 Goodwood road, Leicester ; and when he estimates the case will be resolved.
Mr. John Patten : The hon. Member is aware that inquiries are now being made into new information about this case. I understand that these inquiries will be completed shortly and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as we have had an opportunity to consider the results.
London Prisons
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to co-opt on to the local boards of visitors at each London prison members from the local education authorities which are shortly to be set up.
Mr. Mellor : No. At least two members of the board of visitors to prison establishments are required to be Justices of the Peace, but it is not otherwise the practice to appoint members to boards by virtue of their office. In making appointments to boards of visitors, consideration is rather given to the abilities of the individual candidate to discharge the duties effectively and the desirability of maintaining, so far as possible, a representative balance on the board in terms of age, sex and social and ethnic background.
Prison Officers
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prisons have failed to meet their full establishment figures for prison officers ; and what is the shortfall of staff in each of these prisons.
Mr. Mellor : The initial complement figures set for each establishment during the introduction of the "fresh start" arrangements have already been modified in many instances and are in the process of further revision. They will continue to be reviewed during the period of the
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framework agreement to take account of the resources available to the prison service and of the progressive reduction in the working week for prison officers. This continuing series of changes means that any list of complement figures for each of the 124 establishments around the country would be misleading and unreliable. Nationally the position remains that we have provided and will continue to provide all the additional staff promised under "fresh start" : the number of prison officers in post has risen by nearly 20 per cent. over the past three years.Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total shortage of trained prison officers in England and Wales.
Mr. Mellor : Although there are still problems in particular establishments, there is no general shortage of officers in the prison service. We are having no difficulty in attracting good quality recruits and are continuing to provide all the additional staff promised under "fresh start." The number of prison officers in post is now over 20,000, nearly 20 per cent. higher than three years ago.
Private Security Firms
Mr. George : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of all the private security firms currently employed by his Department, the number of employees for each firm on the contract, the total value of each contract and the total value of all contracts for each financial year since 1984-85.
Mr. Waddington : The following private security firms are currently employed by my Department :
Burns International
Chubb Wardens Limited
Compass Security
Group 4 Total Security Limited
Potton Leisure Limited
Real Security
Reliance Security
Securicor
Securiguard Services Limited
Security Express
Security Services
Wray Security.
The value of each contract is a matter of commercial and contractual confidentiality. Information about the total value of all such contracts for each year since 1984-85 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information about the number of staff employed on each contract is also not readily available ; in some cases the number varies from day to day according to operational requirements.
Community Service Orders
Mr. Grylls : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time between sentencing and the start of the community service order in (a) inner London and (b) the rest of the country.
Mr. John Patten : The implementation of the national standards for community service orders, which were introduced in April last year, is being monitored through quarterly returns from all probation areas. During the first six months (April to September 1989) the following delays were recorded between sentencing and the start of the community service work, based on the returns received and coded so far :
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Delays in Inner London Areas outside
days probation areas inner London
|Number |per cent.|Number |per cent.
--------------------------------------------------------------
0 to 6 |127 |19.00 |4,737 |47.8
7 to 9 |137 |20.50 |1,912 |19.3
10 to 13 |139 |20.75 |1,570 |15.8
14 to 20 |139 |20.75 |1,074 |10.8
21 and over |127 |19.00 |627 |6.3
|------- |------- |------- |-------
|669 |100.00 |9,920 |100.0
The most frequent reason for delay in beginning work in inner London was the unavailability of work placements. Other reasons included the offender's failure to turn up for interviews or work, health, domestic or mental problems, further offending, conflicting employment commitments and administrative error.
Mr. Grylls : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of criminals sentenced to community service orders completed their full hours.
Mr. John Patten [holding answer 16 February 1990] : The information requested is published in "Probation Statistics England and Wales 1988" (table 6.11). In 1988, the proportion of community service orders that were terminated on completion of the specified number of hours was 72 per cent.
Violent Crime
Mr. Lofthouse : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further proposals he has to combat and reduce the incidence of violent crime.
Mr. John Patten : Our proposals in chapter 3 of the White Paper, "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public" (Cm 965), include empowering the Crown court to impose longer sentences on serious violent and sexual offenders where this is necessary to protect the public. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to questions from the hon. Members for Glasgow, Central (Mr. Watson) and for Hemsworth (Mr. Buckley) and the right hon. and learned Member for Warley, West (Mr. Archer), on 25 January at column 864.
Licensed Hotels
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to compile statistics on how many licensing benches insist on a dry lounge in licensed hotels.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : No. It would not be practicable to compile statistics of the very many different types of conditions which licensing justices may attach when granting an on-licence ; and we have no reason to suppose that licences granted under part IV of the Licensing Act 1964 do not normally have a "dry room" condition.
Drug Trafficking
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons now serving sentences in British prisons have been convicted of crimes related to drug trafficking.
Mr. Mellor : The available information on the type of drugs offence for England and Wales is published annually
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in "Prison statistics England and Wales" (Table 1(a) of the volume for 1988, Cm 825). Information on custodial sentences imposed in the United Kingdom for drug trafficking offences is published annually in "Statistics of the misuse of drugs : seizures and offenders dealt with. Supplementary tables" (Table 2.6 of the issue for 1988). Copies of both volumes are in the Library.
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