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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 4 April 1990
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Marchioness
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has now received the results of the police investigation into the sinking of the Marchioness ; and when he expects to reach a decision on whether to prosecute.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Attorney-General whether it is proposed to bring any criminal prosecutions in relation to the sinking of the Marchioness ; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-General : The results of the police investigation of the sinking of the MV Marchioness have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the final report having been received on 22 March 1990.
The evidence has been submitted to Treasury counsel for advice. Consideration of the case is proceeding with all proper expedition.
Mortgage Lenders
Mr. Speed : To ask the Attorney-General if he intends to prohibit mortgage lenders from offering loans to their customers on exceptionally favourable terms if more than one service is offered as part of the loan package.
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The Attorney-General : The Courts and Legal Services Bill contains proposals to prevent the tying-in to the mortgage of any other service in the domestic property market. The Government believe, however, that packages can be in the interests of the consumer and propose that they will be permitted under the legislation.
THE ARTS
The Three Graces"
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Minister for the Arts what proposals he has for the allocation of funds towards the purchase of "The Three Graces."
Mr. Luce : Purchase of works of art is a matter for the trustees of individual museums and galleries, who may apply to the national heritage memorial fund, which acts as a fund of last resort.
NATIONAL FINANCE
Taxation
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of gross income paid in income tax, national insurance contributions and value added tax by (a) a married man with a non-earning wife and two children and (b) a married man with an earning wife and two chilren at one half, one and a half, two, three, five and 10 times national average earnings in 1990-91 ; and what were the comparable figures in 1978- 79.
Mr. Lilley : The information requested is set out in the table :
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(b) Payments of income tax (less child benefit) and NICs by a married
couple with wife working as a percentage of gross earnings.
Multiples of average male earnings.
|" |1 |1" |2 |3 |5 |10
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79
Income Tax less Child Benefit |1.1 |6.4 |15.2|19.7|25.9|32.9|50.6
NICs |6.5 |6.5 |6.5 |6.5 |5.4 |3.4 |1.7
1990-91
Income Tax less Child Benefit |-9.0|8.0 |13.6|16.5|20.3|27.3|33.6
NICs |4.8 |6.9 |7.6 |7.7 |6.2 |3.7 |1.9
Notes:
1. Average male earnings in 1990-91 are assumed to be £303.80 per
week, 8" per cent. higher than in 1989-90. This represents a real
increase of 33 per cent. since 1978-79.
2. NICs are assumed to be paid at the class I contracted-in rate.
3. A married man's payment of income tax do not now depend on whether
he has any children. But in order to provide comparability with
1978-79 when support for children was given partly through child tax
allowances, the figures show income tax less child benefit.
4. From 1990-91 husbands and wives in two-earner couples will be
taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of two-earner
couples depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons
between 1978-79 and 1990-91 the table therefore shows income tax (
less child benefit) and national insurance contributions paid by
a married couple as a proportion of their joint income, assuming that
the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in
the ratio 60:40.
5. Estimates of VAT payments depend on a family's income and its
pattern of expenditure. Such estimates are subject to a substantial
margin of error and cannot reliably be made outside a range of 75
per cent. to 150 per cent. of average male earnings. Estimates for a
single earner couple with two children are set out above.
Corresponding figures for a two earner couple with two children are
not available. Estimates are based on 1985 Family Expenditure
Survey and assume that 10 per cent. of
disposable income is saved.
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(b) Payments of income tax (less child benefit) and NICs by a married
couple with wife working as a percentage of gross earnings.
Multiples of average male earnings.
|" |1 |1" |2 |3 |5 |10
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1978-79
Income Tax less Child Benefit |1.1 |6.4 |15.2|19.7|25.9|32.9|50.6
NICs |6.5 |6.5 |6.5 |6.5 |5.4 |3.4 |1.7
1990-91
Income Tax less Child Benefit |-9.0|8.0 |13.6|16.5|20.3|27.3|33.6
NICs |4.8 |6.9 |7.6 |7.7 |6.2 |3.7 |1.9
Notes:
1. Average male earnings in 1990-91 are assumed to be £303.80 per
week, 8" per cent. higher than in 1989-90. This represents a real
increase of 33 per cent. since 1978-79.
2. NICs are assumed to be paid at the class I contracted-in rate.
3. A married man's payment of income tax do not now depend on whether
he has any children. But in order to provide comparability with
1978-79 when support for children was given partly through child tax
allowances, the figures show income tax less child benefit.
4. From 1990-91 husbands and wives in two-earner couples will be
taxed independently. Previously the tax liability of two-earner
couples depended on their joint income. To permit comparisons
between 1978-79 and 1990-91 the table therefore shows income tax (
less child benefit) and national insurance contributions paid by
a married couple as a proportion of their joint income, assuming that
the husband and wife share the relevant multiple of earnings in
the ratio 60:40.
5. Estimates of VAT payments depend on a family's income and its
pattern of expenditure. Such estimates are subject to a substantial
margin of error and cannot reliably be made outside a range of 75
per cent. to 150 per cent. of average male earnings. Estimates for a
single earner couple with two children are set out above.
Corresponding figures for a two earner couple with two children are
not available. Estimates are based on 1985 Family Expenditure
Survey and assume that 10 per cent. of
disposable income is saved.
Retail Prices Index
Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why no account is to be taken of transitional relief when the community charge is introduced into the retail prices index in April.
Mr. Lilley : For purposes of the retail price index transitional relief will not be treated as reducing the prices charged. This conforms to a general principle governing the treatment of subsidies and discounts, which was laid down by the retail price index advisory committee in a report submitted to and accepted by Ministers in 1986 (Cmnd 9848). The principle is that reductions in the amount charged are treated as price effects if they are equally available to all consumers facing the charge in question or if they are financed by the supplier of the goods or services concerned. Transitional relief does not qualify on either ground as it is available only to consumers fulfilling certain criteria and is funded not by the local authority making the charge but by a transfer from central Government. The community charges taken for the retail price index will be those made by authorities after allowing for the "safety net" since this affects all charge payers in any one area.
Correspondence (MEPs)
Mr. David Young : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer since 18 June 1989, how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament that concern local or United Kingdom matters ; and if he will make it his practice where such matters are involved to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.
Mr. Major : Since 18 June 1989 Treasury Ministers have received 40 communications from Members of the European Parliament concerning local or United Kingdom matters. Where Members of the European Parliament raise matters in correspondence which are exclusively of local interest, the practice is to reply suggesting that the MEP should refer the matter to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to such communications would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.
Central Office of Information
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards establishing the Central Office of Information as an executive agency.
Mr. Major : I am pleased to announce that the Central Office of Information (COI) will become an executive agency tomorrow. I have set demanding targets against which performance will be measured. These will ensure that the steady improvement in COI's efficiency over
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recent years continues into the future. Copies of the framework document will be placed in the Library of the House.Government Data Network
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will report the outcome of the price variation negotiations with Racal Data Networks Ltd. for the Government data network.
Mr. Ryder : Negotiations are still in progress and scheduled for completion by 30 June 1990. These negotiations are taking into account marketplace movements since the GDN contract was let and are reviewing general administrative arrangements in the contract associated with the GDN tariff.
Further consideration of the contract has shown that, contrary to earlier interpretations reflected in my right hon. Friend, the then Paymaster- General's answer of 22 June 1988, Official Report, col. 599-600, the contract does not necessarily prevent the cost of the GDN service from exceeding that of comparable public services. The Treasury and Racal Data Networks Ltd. are seeking to negotiate revisions to the contract which would incorporate a satisfactory basis for value-for-money comparison with available public services. I will announce the outcome of these negotiations when they have been completed.
Civil Service Catering Organisation
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have for the future of the Civil Service Catering Organisation.
Mr. Major : I have commissioned a study of future options for the Civil Service Catering Organisation (CISCO).
The aim of the study will be to examine how CISCO might be placed on a more commercial footing for the future in an increasingly competitive environment for the provision of staff catering. The study will centre on possibilities for the transfer of CISCO to the private sector. Operation in the private sector might provide a better basis and greater range of opportunities for building upon the success that CISCO has achieved to date. The options will include the possibility of management and employee participation in the privatisation of CISCO's business.
If this approach is found not to be feasible or desirable, the study will consider whether CISCO should be retained within the civil service as a "next steps" agency or whether the delivery of catering services is best devolved fully to Government Departments. The study will involve discussions with Government Department clients of CISCO and consultation with relevant bodies in the catering trade. Consultation will also take place with the Council of Civil Service Unions and the joint co-ordinating committee for Government industrial establishments.
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A decision will be made later in the year.LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Creche
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Lord President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 26 March, Official Report, column 24, concerning child care facilities at the House of Commons, what arrangements are being made for consultation with and the full participation of each of the staff unions and the creche committee established by staff.
Sir Geoffrey Howe : The Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) has asked for an urgent feasibility study to be undertaken into the cost and accommodation implications of providing child care facilities for the children of Members and staff employed in the House. A decision on whether a survey of potential demand is needed will be taken once the results of the feasibility study are known.
TRANSPORT
Traffic Director for London
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, pursuant to his intention to appoint a traffic director for London, he will list the terms of reference for that post, the bodies and resources attached or available to it ; and to whom the director will be responsible.
Mr. Portillo : Proposals concerning the traffic director are set out in paragraphs 7.34 to 7.38 of the discussion document "Traffic in London". We are considering the powers and duties of the post in more detail, and will consult local authorities and other interested bodies further.
Motorway Repairs
Mr. Jack : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what motorway repair works are scheduled for the M6 and M1 between April and October ; and if he will publish full details of these in the Official Report.
Mr. Portillo : Capital maintenance schemes which have been given approval and are programmed to be carried out at various times between April and October 1990 are as follows :
M1
Major schemes (over £0.5 million)
Junction 8 to junction 9 (resurfacing)
Junction 26 to junction 27 (reconstruction)
Junction 29 to junction 30 (reconstruction)
Junction 43 to M621 (reconstruction)
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Non-major schemesJunction 2 slip roads (earthworks)
Junction with A42 (part of national improvement scheme) Junction with M1-A1 Link (part of national improvement scheme) Junction 34 to junction 35 (earthworks)
M6
Major schemes (over £0.5 million)
Junction 3 (reconstruction)
Junction 8 to junction 9 (resurfacing)
Junction 13 to junction 14 (resurfacing)
Junction 17 to junction 29 (reconstruction)
Junction 28 to junction 29 (resurfacing)
Junction 41 to junction 42 (resurfacing)
Non-major schemes
Junction 5 slip roads (safety fences)
Junction 5 to junction 6 (resurfacing)
Junction 6 slip roads (safety fences)
Junction 6 to junction 7 (safety fences)
Junction 7 slip roads (resurfacing)
Junction 7 to junction 8 (resurfacing)
Junction 22 to junction 27 (cable laying)
Junction 27 slip roads (resurfacing and safety fences)
Junction 29 slip roads (safety fences)
Junction 36 to junction 38 (safety fences)
Programme may be subject to alteration due to local considerations.
There will also be other urgent and routine works necessary on these roads during this time.
The Department will announce further details of schemes in due course.
Road Congestion
Mr. John Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on road congestion in the 1990s and the cost to the economy.
Mr. Portillo : I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply of 6 March, volume 65, columns 545-46. We are concerned about the economic effects of congestion, and about the consequences for the environment and road safety. We have doubled the road programme to increase capacity on existing motorways and other strategic routes.
MOT Tests
Mr. Meale : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public service vehicle failure rates of vehicles undergoing their annual MOT test in Government-controlled testing stations, in each year since the scheme's inception, listing regional variations.
Mr. Portillo : Statutory annual testing for PSVs was introduced in January 1982. Between 1982 and 1987 the results were collated by traffic areas. Since 1987 they have been collated by sub-regions of the vehicle inspectorate. The fail rates, not including vehicles with minor defects rectified at the time of test, are :
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Vehicles Inspectorate Sub-Region |1987-88 |1988-89 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Metropolitan |18.13 |17.75 South-Eastern |20.44 |17.69 Eastern |19.32 |20.95 Western |24.33 |23.29 West Midland |23.47 |24.37 North-Western |23.15 |22.14 North-Eastern |24.12 |23.23 Scottish |23.90 |23.54 National |22.20 |21.60
Vehicles Inspectorate Sub-Region |1987-88 |1988-89 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Metropolitan |18.13 |17.75 South-Eastern |20.44 |17.69 Eastern |19.32 |20.95 Western |24.33 |23.29 West Midland |23.47 |24.37 North-Western |23.15 |22.14 North-Eastern |24.12 |23.23 Scottish |23.90 |23.54 National |22.20 |21.60
UK-US Air Routes
Mr. Tom Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable he envisages for further talks with the appropriate American authorities on the future of air routes from the United Kingdom to the United States of America.
Mr. McLoughlin : No specific timetable has been established, but my right hon. Friend is in direct touch with his US counterpart.
Noise Insulation
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide additional resources to local highway authorities specifically to enable them to deal with properties which qualify for insulation from traffic noise under the revised interpretation of the 1973 Noise Insulation Regulations.
Mr. Portillo : No. There is no revised interpretation of the Noise Insulation Regulation. The hon. Member may, however, be referring to the greater exercise of discretionary powers in connection with the proposed motorway widening programme, as announced in the recent roads report, which refers to motorways and other major trunk roads. It is a wider application of the existing discretionary power by the Secretary of State in relation to his trunk road programme, for which of course local authorities are not responsible.
Correspondence (MEPs)
Mr. David Young : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, since 18 June 1989, how many communications he has received from Members of the European Parliament that concern local or United Kingdom matters ; and if he will make it his practice, where such matters are involved, to provide the hon. Member for the local constituency with a copy of the correspondence and the reply for information.
Mr. Portillo : Ministers at the Department of Transport have received 54 written communications from Members of the European Parliament since 18 June 1989 that concern local or United Kingdom matters.
If there is no Community content at all in the MEP's letter and a constituency interest predominates, it is our
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general practice to suggest that the MEP should refer the case to the hon. Member for the constituency concerned. As with other correspondence, replies to MEPs' letters would normally be copied to the hon. Member concerned only if the MEP had himself copied his letter in this way.Stop Notices
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to confer upon highway authorities the power to issue stop notices in respect of development projects where public rights of way have been rendered unusable as a consequence of works being started in the absence of lawful authority being secured either to stop up or divert the right of way.
Mr. Portillo : This is not necessary. Highway authorities already have powers under section 143 of the Highways Act 1980 to secure the removal of unauthorised structures from highways. A grant of planning permission for such a structure is not of itself such an authorisation.
Wales (Official Visits)
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the dates on which he has made an official visit to Wales since his appointment to his present post.
Mr. Portillo : My right hon. Friend made an official visit to Wales on 2 April when he launched the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea.
Roads (Private Financing)
Mr. Neale : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further developments there have been in private financing for roads since the publication of the Green Paper, "New Roads by New Means" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Parkinson : The Green Paper set out proposals for new legislation and procedures to authorise privately financed roads. We invited comments from the private sector and from a wide range of other organisations concerned with roads and transport.
The response was encouraging, with over 160 interested parties commenting. A number of potential problems were exposed and debated, but the overall message was one of wide support for the Government's aims.
Today the Government have published their response to the consultation.
We are making some additions to the proposals in "New Roads by New Means". Their purpose is to enhance the attraction of major road schemes for private sector funding by reducing some of the uncertainties. The details are in the published response which I have placed in the Library of the House.
I am pleased to be able to announce a number of other developments and initiatives. Last year the Government set up a competition for the Birmingham northern relief
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road. The response to this challenge has been good. Three pre-qualifying bids were received from consortia which have assembled a wide range of expertise. Today I have issued final tender invitations to all three bidders. This means that we should receive, this autumn, firm indications of how the road can be built and operated in the private sector.I am also inviting the private sector to come forward with preliminary proposals for a new privately funded road between Birmingham and Manchester, as foreshadowed in the Green Paper. We have recently announced a public scheme to widen much of the existing M6 motorway. This will relieve congestion on the route of the motorway, but there will be a further need for extra capacity between the two cities in the longer term. We are looking to the private sector to consider innovative ways of meeting this longer-term need well into the 21st century.
I am inviting views about the suitability of six other schemes for private finance. The schemes I have in mind are :
a lower Thames crossing, east of the M25,
a new crossing of the River Tamar,
a new Mersey crossing serving Liverpool airport,
a link between the M25 and Chelmsford,
a new route parallel to the A127 from the M25 to Rayleigh in Essex, and
a short link between the A1 and M1 at Scratchwood in north London.
The list is not a closed one. We are willing to consider proposals for the private financing of any scheme in the roads programme. We shall also welcome proposals for schemes not in the programme, since the Government do not have a monopoly of good ideas.
All roads financed by the private sector will be subject to the same form of environmental assessment as public schemes. The Government will insist that they are designed and built to the highest standards. We shall want to ensure also that road investment provides best value for money for taxpayers and users.
The response to the Green Paper shows that our proposals for the further development of private funding financing of transport projects enjoys widespread support. My new proposals will provide additional opportunities for the private sector to add to Britain's transport network.
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