| Previous Section | Home Page |
Railway Tracks (Chemicals)
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to limit the use of the chemical Atrazine by British Rail on railway tracks.
Mr. Portillo : I understand that the use of herbicides containing Atrazine is an effective way of preventing weed growth on the railway tracks. British Rail regularly review
Column 149
the methods used by other railway organisations and conduct trials with other methods, but has not found any other as effective.Regional Expenditure
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the regional distribution of spending by his Department over the three most recent financial years.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : Two thirds of the Department of Transport's own expenditure on transport is spent on the national roads system ; that expenditure can be broken down between the Department's own administrative regions, as shown in table 1.20 of "Transport Statistics Great Britain". Transport supplementary grant, though paid to local authorities rather than regions, can be broken down according to the geographical location of those authorities in DTp regions. Statistics for the three most recent available financial years are shown in the table.
The balance of central Government expenditure, as shown in table 7.1 chapter 7 of the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1990-91 to 1992-93" (CM 1007) is neither planned nor controlled on a regional basis, so a comparable breakdown cannot be made.
Regional expenditure on motorway and trunk roads by DTp region
|1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88
|£ million|£ million|£ million
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |24.0 |24.5 |53.1
Yorkshire and Humberside |47.6 |65.1 |83.1
North West |54.1 |83.4 |88.9
West Midlands |117.1 |122.5 |116.1
East Midlands |73.4 |72.9 |65.2
Eastern |197.2 |171.2 |118.6
South West |47.0 |64.5 |98.2
South East |136.0 |86.3 |183.8
London |43.8 |60.3 |82.2
Notes:
1. Figures include some estimates.
2. Sum of figures, for England, differ from those voted in the
Supply Estimates because of differences in sources.
Transport supplementary grant by DTp region
|1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89
|£ million|£ million|£ million
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |9.76 |10.70 |12.24
Yorkshire and Humberside |14.46 |14.69 |12.91
North West |23.31 |24.28 |15.15
West Midlands |17.21 |18.72 |21.30
East Midlands |12.93 |13.13 |12.03
Eastern |5.27 |7.52 |6.15
South West |14.31 |15.68 |19.05
South East |34.49 |36.45 |40.37
London |32.27 |38.78 |41.78
Column 150
Public Relations
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest figures for the number of staff presently employed, and the full complement of staff, including vacant posts, in the press and public relations office of his Department ; and what is the proposed complement for 1990-91.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : The Department has a current complement, within its information division, of 16 posts for press and public relations, with no vacancies. The proposed complement for 1990-91 is 16.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total expenditure by his Department on press and public relations in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : The total expenditure on the Department's press and public relations office since 1984-85 is as follows :
|£
---------------------------
1984-85 |339,426
1985-86 |354,393
1986-87 |363,446
1987-88 |389,473
1988-89 |437,950
<1>1989-90 |451,214
<2>1990-91 |480,000
<1> estimate
<2> budget
These figures cover the overall costs of running the press office, calculated using HM Treasury simplified ready reckoner for staff and other costs. Before 1984-85 the information division was a common service of the Departments of Transport and of the Environment and the Property Services Agency.
Privatisation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total sum paid out in fees to outside organisations in the furtherance of privatisation by his Department in 1979-80 and in each subsequent year ; and what is his estimate for 1990-91.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : The information is as follows :
Column 149
The sums involved are as follows: £000s Privatisation |1981-82 |1982-83 |1983-84 |1984-85 |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 |<1>1989-90 |<1>1990-91 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sales of Shares in National Freight Corporation |151 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- Sale of Shares in Associated British Ports |- |1,809 |260 |1,494 |- |- |- |- |- |- Sale of Shares in British Airways plc |- |- |50 |1,012 |674 |20,804 |11,364 |72 |570 |3 Sale of Shares in BAA plc |- |- |- |- |- |564 |41,149 |3,095 |17 |1,500 Sale of National Bus Company Operations |- |- |- |- |- |635 |324 |139 |38 |15 British Rail Privatisation Study (Consultants' Fees) |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |94 |542 |270 <1> Estimate. No expenditure was incurred before 1981-82.
Advertising Expenditure
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year ; and what is his latest estimate for the current year and budget for 1990-91.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : The spending by my Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising and (d) other promotional material in 1979-80 and in each following year is as follows :
|Television|Radio |Newspaper |Other
|£'000s |£'000s |£'000s |£'000s
------------------------------------------------------------------
1979-80 |4,141 |62 |105 |1,532
1980-81 |3,502 |336 |129 |1,737
1981-82 |3,615 |6 |410 |1,457
1982-83 |2,319 |98 |816 |1,415
1983-84 |4,655 |22 |334 |1,488
1984-85 |1,723 |207 |476 |2,873
1985-86 |70 |858 |834 |4,026
1986-87 |72 |520 |738 |4,489
1987-88 |2,310 |50 |140 |3,010
1988-89 |1,867 |110 |365 |3,367
1989-90 |1,930 |113 |332 |3,189
Detailed decisions have not yet been taken on expenditure by media for 1990 -91, but the overall figure is expected to be £6.6 million.
A2
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the likely timetable for implementation of the proposal to dual the A2 road between Lydden and Dover.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : It is too early to forecast the timing of construction of the A2 Lydden (B2060)-Dover improvement scheme which has only just entered the national trunk road programme. Detailed programmes have not yet been prepared. Meanwhile the roads report, "Trunk Roads, England--Into The 1990s", shows "Preferred Route" as the next key preparation stage, with a target date of 1993. This would be followed by detailed design work, leading to publication of formal draft order proposals under the Highways Act.
The first step will be the appointment of design agents to work up options.
M1
Mr. Marlow : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March, Official Report, columns 279-80, what are the peak hours on the M1 between junctions 6 and 12.
Column 152
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : Peak hours are 0700 to 1000 southbound and 1630 to 1900 hours northbound on most weekdays, Friday afternoons in both directions and Sunday evenings southbound.
Palmer Report
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the leaflet explaining the role of the traffic commissioners and the traffic area offices promised following the Palmer report will be available ; and if he will place a copy in the Library.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : The Palmer report recommended that the Bus and Coach Council should be asked to draw up a code of practice on complaints from passengers, covering in particular the provision of suitable notices notifying passengers where complaints should be addressed. The Bus and Coach Council has agreed to undertake this task, in association with my Department, and work is due to begin on it shortly. I will place a copy of the code of practice in the Library when it is ready.
Kleinwort Benson
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions and for what purpose his Department has commissioned work from Kleinwort Benson since July 1988.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : None.
Badgers
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration is given to resident badger populations when (a) designing and (b) constructing new roads.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 12 March 1990] : We aim, where possible, to design trunk roads to avoid interfering with badgers. Where setts or runs may be affected, advice is obtained from the Nature Conservancy Council and local wildlife trusts about steps to be taken to move the badgers or maintain their runs. Badger-proof fencing alongside the road and badger tunnels under the carriageway are provided where appropriate. There are examples on the M3, M25 and M40.
Badgers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the respective Secretary of State.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Pensioners (Incomes)
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures of average mean household income in Britain for retired people ; what are
Column 153
the latest comparable figures for each European Community state ; and whether he will launch a survey to calculate costs facing pensioners as against those in full employment.Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Analysis of data in the 1987 family expenditure survey shows that the average pensioners' total net income in 1987 was £99.90 a week . There are no comparable figures available for other European Community states. We do not see a need for a survey along the lines proposed.
Footnote : Family Expenditure Survey.
This refers to pensioner tax units.
Pensions
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is his estimate of the cost of paying full retirement pension regardless of contribution record to persons who were excepted from liability to pay non-employed contributions to the original national insurance scheme ;
(2) what is his estimate of the number of men and women who are excepted from liability to pay non-employed contributions to the national insurance scheme from 1948, who, as a result of this are now receiving a reduced retirement pension.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Child Benefit
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the rate of child benefit at the present time if it had been uprated with inflation since 1987.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The rate would be £8.
Unclaimed Benefit
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the amount saved by his Department in respect of unclaimed benefit in the last financial year.
Mr. Scott : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 7 December 1989 at column 342. Information is available only for income-related benefits.
Disabled People
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the advantages that will accrue to people with disabilities in 1992 on completion of the single market in relation to any benefits, goods or services they receive in respect of their disabilities ; if he will list them ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The United Kingdom is currently included in the European Communities' second action programme in favour of disabled people called HELIOS. A major component is the development of "Handynet", a multilingual, multinational computerised database of information for people with disabilities. The first module "Handyaids" is expected to have beneficial effects by
Column 154
stimulating consumption production and competition. This should give rise to economies of scale, leading to a reduction in the price of products and improving their quality.As for social security, the completion of the internal market will not in itself have any effect on the situation of people with disabilities in the United Kingdom.
Invalidity Benefit
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are in receipt of invalidity benefit ; and how many of those are also in receipt of income support.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : At April 1988, the latest date for which information is available, there were 1,047,500 people in receipt of invalidity benefit. Information for income support is not available for precisely the same period, but in May 1988 there were 101,705 people in receipt of both benefits.
Disability Allowance
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy that, following the introduction of the disability allowance, children under two years with attendance needs will qualify for attendance allowance after a three-month waiting period.
Family Credit
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the uptake of family credit in (a) the Liverpool area and (b) other areas in the north-west.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : The latest available information about the families receiving family credit who, at the time their award was made, were living in the areas concerned is as follows :
(a) In the areas covered by the local social security offices in Liverpool- -5,600 ;
(b) In the areas covered by all the local social security offices in the Department of Social Security's North Western Region--56,000. Information about the total number of families eligible for family credit can be obtained only for Great Britain, and only retrospectively, from the family expenditure survey data.
National Insurance
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national insurance contributors are currently benefiting from the existence of the ceiling on contributions.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : It is estimated that approximately 16 per cent. of contributors have earnings in excess of the upper earnings limit for class 1 primary national insurance contributions.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employers have been tried and found guilty of fraud in respect of national insurance contributions over the last 10 years ; and what was the sentence in each case.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard [holding answer 8 March 1990] : In the last five years, the number of employers against
Column 155
whom either civil or criminal proceedings have been taken by DSS in respect of non-payment of national insurance contributions is as follows :
Year |Number of
|cases
------------------------------
1984-85 |2,896
1985-86 |1,272
1986-87 |1,523
1987-88 |1,264
1988-89 |1,528
Information for earlier years is not available. It is not possible to identify the number of these cases involving fraud.
PRIME MINISTER
Conservation
Q24. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations she has received relating to Government action to conserve biodiversity.
The Prime Minister : I receive many representations on a wide range of subjects concerned with the environment. These include the need to conserve biodiversity, particularly in tropical forests. The further £100 million which we have allocated over the next three years to tropical forestry activities will contribute to the maintenance of biological diversity. In my speech to the United Nations General Assembly last November I indicated my support for a global convention on the environment which would help to conserve biodiversity.
Demersal Fisheries
Q135. Dr. Godman : To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations Her Majesty's Government have received regarding proposals to reduce fishing effort in the North sea demersal fisheries from 1 March 1990.
The Prime Minister : My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland have consulted representatives of the fishing industry about the measures necessary to reduce fishing for North sea haddock in 1990 by 30 per cent. and they have taken careful account of the representations that they have received. The decision on the necessary measures was announced on 8 March at column 855.
Exchange Rate Mechanism
Q182. Mr. Latham : To ask the Prime Minister what progress is being made towards fulfilling the Government's conditions for joining the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : There has been significant progress on capital liberalisation, in competition policy and liberalisation of financial services, but further important decisions have yet to be taken. Further progress is needed to get inflation down.
Column 156
London Assessment Studies
Q218. Mr. Cox : To ask the Prime Minister what has been the number of letters sent to her by London residents (a) supporting and (b) opposing the London assessment studies ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : I have received several letters from residents of various parts of London. I have passed them on to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, who will consider them alongside the other comments he has received.
Polish Borders
Mr. Allen : To ask the Prime Minister what is her policy on the use of Her Majesty's Government's armed services to guarantee the existing borders of Poland.
The Prime Minister : We have no such policy. We are committed to fulfil Britain's collective defence obligations arising from the North Atlantic and modified Brussels treaties within the areas covered by these treaties. We are also committed to the principles set out in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, including the inviolability of frontiers. The question of Poland's borders needs to be finally settled by a binding treaty instrument. We welcome the Federal German Government's intention to reaffirm the inviolability of Poland's borders.
South Africa
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister how many representations she has received from British investors in South Africa supporting the lifting of sanctions.
The Prime Minister : A number.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister if she has received any communications from President de Klerk following the release of Nelson Mandela.
The Prime Minister : We are in frequent contact with the South African Government at all levels on a wide range of issues, both here and through Her Majesty's ambassador.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister if she will seek to persuade the South African Government to allow the free flow of funds from outside South Africa to the United Democratic Front.
The Prime Minister : I understand that there are no impediments to the flow of funds from outside South Africa to the United Democratic Front.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister what methods it is her policy to use to facilitate the abolition of apartheid in South Africa ; and if she will make a further statement.
The Prime Minister : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 7 March at column 692.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Prime Minister what representations the Government has made to South Africa about its activities in Mozambique ; and if she will make a statement.
The Prime Minister : The South African Government have publicly declared that neither they nor the South
Column 157
African defence force are providing support for Renamo and that South Africa is committed to a policy of non- interference in the internal affairs of other states. The South African Government are in no doubt of our views about the territorial integrity of neighbouring states.Engagements
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 March.
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 March.
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 13 March.
The Prime Minister : This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an Audience of Her Majesty the Queen.
SCOTLAND
Loch Lomond
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to confer on the Loch Lomond area the status of a national park.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : There no such plans at present. The designation of the area as a regional park was confirmed by the Secretary of State in April 1988 and it would therefore be appropriate to allow this new arrangement to be developed. The Government will however carefully consider any proposals from the Countryside Commission for Scotland following its review of the management of popular mountain areas.
Community Charge
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of people in Scotland who have had their property confiscated as a result of not paying the community charge.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information as to the number of poindings and warrant sales undertaken in respect of community charge arrears is not held centrally.
Student Finance
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students will be grant or loan funded by the Scottish Office in 1990- 91 as against 1989-90.
Mr. Lang : For session 1990-91, the estimated number of students who will be assisted by the Scottish Education Department is 66,000. The latest available figure for session 1989-90 is 66,024. The number of eligible students who will take advantage of the loans facility in session 1990-91 is estimated at 52,600.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the expenditure by the Scottish Office in 1990-91 (a) on student grants and (b) on student loans.
Column 158
Mr. Lang : The information is as follows :
(a) £163.6 million
(b) £15.7 million
Self-governing Schools
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been allocated in the Scottish Office budget for 1990-91 to meet the cost of balloting parents and preparing proposals for self-governing status in schools, and for transitional and special purpose grants to any schools which become self-governing in 1990-91.
Mr. Lang : Forecast expenditure of £300,000 has been included in financial plans for 1990-91. Actual provision will be published in the supply estimates for 1990-91 to be laid before the House shortly.
| Next Section
| Home Page |