House of Commons Hansard Debates for 23 Mar 1990

West Yorkshire Residuary Body

Mrs. Peacock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on appointments to the West Yorkshire residuary body.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The following have been reappointed to the West Yorkshire residuary body for the period 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991 or until dissolution of the body, whichever is sooner :

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Chairman :

T. McDonald, OBE

Members :

K. J. Bridge

D. Hanson

F. A. Mallett, CBE

Cllr. G. E. Mudie

R. W. Suddards, CBE

The West Yorkshire residuary body has already distributed £5 million in balances and £24 million in capital receipts for the benefit of local ratepayers and charge payers. The reappointments reflect my right hon. Friend's confidence in the board's ability to discharge the residuary body's few remaining tasks before early wind-up.

Surface Water Acidification

Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the results of the recently completed surface water acidification programme and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The results of the surface water acidification programme, which has been held under the auspices of the Royal Society and the Norwegian and Swedish academies of science, have cast valuable light on this subject. This programme has complemented the continuing research programmes funded by the Department of the Environment as well as those of the Natural Environmental Research Council, and the Lock Fleet studies funded by the CEGB. My Department is funding research programmes on air pollution which in 1990-91 will total nearly £7 million : a similar sum will be devoted to research on climate change and stratospheric ozone. In addition to the research programmes, the Department operates a system of independent scientific review groups to provide a critical evaluation of the emerging evidence and need for further work.

Together these programmes show that for some upland, sensitive areas of Wales, Scotland, Cumbria, the midlands, the Pennines and parts of the south -east of south-west England, as in Scandinavia, there is a direct link betwen acid disposition, soil and water acidification and effects on flora and fauna. This direct link means we would expect to observe a decrease in acidification in certain areas following a reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions. The first signs of such a recovery have been found for some lochs in the south-west of Scotland following the decreases in United Kingdom emissions of SO that have occurred over the past 20 years, and further improvement is to be expected as a result of the major additional reductions to which we are now committed. As part of its research programme, the DOE is committed to monitoring these long-term trends in air pollution.

One important outcome of the science has been the development of the critical loads concept which enables ecosystems to be classified in terms of their sensitivity to pollution. This concept is now accepted internationally as a basis for discussing strategies for controlling pollution.

Transitional Relief Scheme Orders

Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment to what debate on the transitional relief scheme orders he was referring at column 427 of the Official Report of 18 January.

Mr. David Hunt [holding answer 19 March 1990] : I understand that there will be a debate next Monday.

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Collective Community Charge

Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the numbers and types of property which are being designated for the collective community charge.

Mr. David Hunt [holding answer 22 March 1990] : We are planning to collect information about numbers of properties subject to a collective community charge on an annual basis from community charges registration officers.

DEFENCE

Climate Change

Mr. Gould : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research is being carried out by the Meteorological Office on global climate change and precipitation.

Mr. Neubert : Changes in precipitation patterns are monitored on a global scale in the Meteorological Office using all relevant available data. Precipitation is one of the variables carried in the mathematical models being developed to estimate future climate changes. There is substantial research within the Meteorological Office on the processes involved in precipitation generally and on their representation in models.

A90 Building, Aldermaston

Mr. Sayeed : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken following the alleged contract irregularities on the A90 building at Aldermaston ; and what conclusions have been reached.

Mr. Neubert : A detailed and painstaking investigation of these allegations undertaken by the MOD police has now been completed. No evidence has been found of criminal activity.

Patent Rights

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has paid or is committed to pay for patent rights.

Mr. Neubert : In strict terms the Secretary of State does not pay for patent rights. Under the Patents Act 1977, Government Departments already possess the right to use or authorise the use of any patent for the services of the Crown. In the absence of any right of free use, terms for payment must be negotiated with the patentee. The following payments have been made on behalf of the Secretary of State in the exercise of these rights during the past two financial years :



                                


                                


1987-88 |257,000                


1988-89 |210,000

Advertising Expenditure

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total publicity and advertising expenditure, including for privatisation, of his Department and public bodies for which his Department has responsibility in (a) 1979 and (b) 1989.

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Mr. Neubert : The earliest year for which the figures requested are available is 1982-83 when expenditure totalled £10.113 million. The estimated expenditure for 1989-90 is £30.891 million.

Figures for 1979-80 are not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.

Iraqi Military Cadets (Training)

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Iraqi military cadets have studied at Ministry of Defence training schools in each year since 1979 ; and how much Iraq has been charged in 1990 prices for each cadet's study course.

Mr. Neubert : Details of military assistance provided to individual countries are normally confidential between Governments. Attendance of Iraqi students on United Kingdom service courses since 1979 has been entirely on a repayment basis.

WALES

Trefnant Footpaths

Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether public rights of way Trefnant footpaths, seven, eight, nine, 14 and 15 are free from all obstructions ; and whether he will discuss those footpaths with Mr. Michael Griffith, chair designate of the Countryside Council for Wales ;

(2) whether public rights of way Trefnant, seven, eight, nine, 14 and 15 have any missing signposts where they leave or cross public roads, or are in need of way marking ; and whether he will discuss those footpaths with Mr. Michael Griffith, chair designate of the Countryside Council for Wales.

Mr. Wyn Roberts : This is a matter for the appropriate highway authority.

Local Government Finance

Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of funding for each of the district health authorities in Wales ; and what is their corresponding population.

Mr. Grist : The information requested is shown as follows :



<1>Revenue and capital allocations for 1989-90 as at 19 March 1990.             


<2>Unweighted mid 1988 estimates of population: Source: Office of Population    


Censuses and Surveys.                                                           


<3>Provides medical and dental teaching facilities.

It should be noted, however, that allocations to district health authorities in Wales are not currently based on resident population. Authorities are, at present, funded on the basis of the services which they provide and in relation to the catchment populations (weighted for age, sex, morbidity, sparsity and seasonal variation) which they serve. However, this will change in 1991-92 when a process of transition will begin towards funding authorities on the basis of weighted resident capitation in accordance with the proposals set out in the White Paper "Working for Patients". Allocation mechanisms are therefore now in the process of being reviewed and authorities will be consulted on both revised and transitional arrangements prior to allocations for 1991-92 being determined later this year.

Veterinary Laboratories

Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit the veterinary laboratories at Bangor, north Wales ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Walker : I have no plans for such a visit.

TRANSPORT

A6 Windlehurst Road

Mr. Tom Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give further details of the A6 Windlehurst road scheme which he is putting out to tender.

Mr. Atkins : This scheme, scheduled for completion this summer, will improve road safety and ease traffic flow, by widening the A6 on the south side of its junction with Windlehurst road.

The provision of a ghost island, and wider turning circle at the junction, will assist vehicles turning right into and out of Windlehurst road and reduce traffic delays for through traffic on the trunk road. The existing pelican crossing will also be improved.

London Underground (Incidents)

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has on recent incidents on London Underground involving doors closing while blind persons and guide dogs were entering a train ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) what information he has on recent incidents on London Underground involving the trapping of pushchairs and children in train doors out of the driver's view ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo : The railway inspectorate was notified of an incident involving a London Underground train at Wimbledon Park station on 9 February. A partially sighted man was caught by the doors and carried along the platform for a distance of 15 to 20 yd, sustaining injuries to his left elbow and hip.

The inspectorate has learnt from London Underground of two incidents involving children. On 23 October 1989 a train was leaving Lambeth North station when someone on the platform shouted a warning that there was a child caught in the doors. The guard stopped the train after it had travelled, I understand, half a carriage length. On 11 January 1990 a pushchair with a child in it was trapped by a wheel support bar as the doors of a train closed at

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Holborn station (Piccadilly line). The driver reported that on hearing shouts he stopped the train within 10 to 12 ft. I am pleased to say that neither of these incidents caused injury. Because of this, neither incident was notifiable to the inspectorate.

Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will indicate the nature of incidents which London Underground Limited has a legal duty to report to the railway inspectorate ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) whether there are published guidelines specifying the type of incidents which London Underground Limited has a legal duty to report to the railway inspectorate ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Portillo : Railways are required to report any accident specified in schedule 1 of the Railways (Notice of Accidents) Order 1986.

The terms of that schedule are as follows :

Schedule-- 1 Article 3(2)

Accidents Occurring in the Working ofa Railway which are Notifiable Accidents--

1. Accidents to persons

Any accident attended with loss of life or major or minor personal injury to any person whomsoever.

2. Accidents to passenger trains

(a) Any collision where one of the trains is a passenger train ; (

(b) any passenger train or any part of a passenger train accidentally leaving the rails.

3. Accidents not involving passenger trains

(a) Any collision on a running line where any vehicle sustains damage as a result of the collision, and any collision in a siding which results in a running line being obstructed ;

(b) any derailment on a running line, except a derailment which occurs during shunting operations and does not obstruct any other running line ;

4. Accidents involving any kind of train

(a) Any case of a train striking a buffer stop, other than in a siding, where damage is caused to the train ;

(b) any case of a train on a running line striking or being struck by any object which causes damage (other than damage consisting solely in the breakage of glass) necessitating immediate temporary or permanent repair or which might have been liable to derail the train ;

(c) any case of a train striking any cattle or horse, whether or not damage is caused to the train, or striking any other animal if, in consequence, damage (other than damage consisting solely in the breakage of glass) is caused to the train necessitating immediate temporary or permanent repair ;

(d) any case of a passenger train, or any other train not fitted with continuous self-applying brakes, becoming divided.

5. Accidents and incidents at level crossings

(a) any train striking a road vehicle or a gate at a level crossing ;

(b) any train running onto a level crossing when not authorised to do so ;

6. Accidents involving a locomotive or other power unit or any rolling stock.

Any of the following classes of accident is notifiable if it occurs or is discovered whilst the vehicle is on a running line : (

(a) the failure of an axle ;

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(b) the failure of a wheel or tyre, including a tyre loose on its wheel ;

(d) any fire, severe electrical arcing or fusing in or on any part of a passenger train ;

(e) in the case of any train other than a passenger train, any severe electrical arcing, fusing, or any fire which was extinguished by a fire- fighting service ;

(f) any other failure of any part of a train which is likely to cause an accident to that or any other train or to kill or injure any person.

7. Accidents involving the permanent way and other works on or connected with a railway :

(a) The failure of a rail in a running line, which results in a complete fracture through its cross-section or in a piece becoming detached from the rail ;

(b) a buckle of a running line which necessitates the immediate imposition of a speed restriction lower than that currently in force ;

(c) any aircraft or vehicle of any kind landing on, running onto or coming to rest foul of the line, or damaging the line, causing damage which obstructs the line or damaging any railway equipment at a level crossing ;

(d) the runaway of an escalator, lift or passenger conveyor ; (

(e) any fire or severe arcing or fusing which seriously affects the functioning of electrical signalling equipment ;

(f) any other fire affecting the permanent way or works of the railway which necessitates the suspension of services over any line, or the closure of any part of a station, signalbox or other premises for a period :

(i) in the case of a fire affecting any part of the railway below ground, of more than 30 minutes, and

(ii) in any other case, of more than 1 hour.

8. Accidents involving failure of the works on or connected with the railway.

The following classes of accident are notifiable if they are likely either to cause an accident to a train or to endanger any person :

(a) a failure of a tunnel, bridge, viaduct, culvert, station, or other structure or any part thereof including the fixed electrical equipment of an electrified railway ;

(b) a slip of a cutting or of an embankment ;

(d) the striking of a bridge by a road vehicle or its load ; (

(e) the failure of any other portion of the permanent way or works not specified above.

Greenhouse Effect

Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Southport of 2 February, Official Report, column 368 and 16 February, Official Report, column 430 , he has any plans to increase his Department's road building programme further to combat the greenhouse effect. Mr. Atkins : Combating the greenhouse effect will depend on many factors including reducing congestion on the roads. The road programme itself is kept under constant review in the light of our stated objectives to assist economic growth, improve the environment and enhance safety.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made an assessment of the effect on carbon dioxide emissions of each pound spent on (a) road building programmes and (b) rail investment ; and if he will make a statement.

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Mr. Atkins : No, because so many uncertain factors are involved.

Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 February, Official Report, column 430, what assessment he has made of the size of the road building programme which would give maximum reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from vehicular transport.

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