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Mr. Needham : Environmental audits are to allow a company to examine its performance in terms of emissions to atmosphere, discharges to sewer and in the production and disposal of waste. There are no proposals for the Government to require independent audits of this nature.
Coronary Heart Care
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make it his policy to allocate resources to coronary heart medicine according to the extent of the problem ; and if he will make a statement.
(2) what measures will be adopted to reduce the waiting list in respect of operations for coronary heart care in each of the health and social services boards.
Mr. Hanley : Cardiac surgery is, and will continue to be, a priority for the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland. The Government are well aware of the extent of heart disease in Northern Ireland and are committed to reducing the time that those requiring heart surgery have to wait for an operation. Over the past two years, significant additional resources of £300,000 have been invested to increase the level of operations. A capital scheme costing £1.5 million to extend the cardiac recovery area at the Royal Victoria hospital is due to be completed in October. This will permit the appointment of a fourth cardiac surgeon and supporting team and I recently announced that, as part of the development in regional medical services this year, a further £300,000 would be made available to meet the costs involved.
In the longer term, the Government are committed to working to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease in Northern Ireland through health education and
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promotion and several years ago launched the "Change of Heart" campaign. This 10-year programme is now being carried forward throughout the Province by the four health and social services boards.Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have died as a result of heart problems in each of the health and social services boards in each of the last five years who were on a waiting list for a coronary heart operation.
Mr. Hanley : This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently waiting for operations in respect of coronary heart care in each of the health and social services boards.
Mr. Hanley : All patients in Northern Ireland waiting for cardiac operations are included in a single cardiac surgery waiting list at the Royal Victoria hospital which provides the service for the whole of Northern Ireland. Separate waiting lists are not therefore maintained for each board. At 31 March 1991, the number of patients on the waiting list was 869.
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current waiting time for operations in respect of coronary heart care in each of the health and social services boards.
Mr. Hanley : All patients in Northern Ireland waiting for operations for coronary heart care are included in a single cardiac surgery waiting list at the Royal Victoria hospital which provides the service for the whole of Northern Ireland. Separate waiting lists are not therefore maintained for each board. At 31 March 1991, the number of patients on the waiting list by waiting time was :
Months |Number
---------------------
0-2 |111
3-5 |90
6-8 |44
9-11 |53
12-23 |162
24+ |409
|---
Total |869
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many reported cases of BSE there have been in each of the last six months ; how many cattle have been killed ; and from what number of farms in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Hanley : The information is as follows :
Month ReporteCattle Killed
"Suspect"
Cases
|Number|Farms
-------------------------------------
January |23 |21 |20
February |21 |17 |17
March |13 |18 |18
April |15 |8 |8
May |18 |12 |11
June |22 |14 |14
|-- |-- |--
Totals |112 |90 |88
In Northern Ireland there are some 1.5 million cattle in 26,000 herds.
Historic Monuments and Buildings
Mr. Mallon : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the historic monuments and buildings which are registered by the historic monuments and buildings branch of the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland ; indicating in each case whether they are (a) listed buildings, (b) owned and maintained by a public body, (c) otherwise protected or (d) unprotected.
Mr. Needham : As there are currently more than 7,800 buildings listed and 1,100 monuments scheduled by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, including 170 in the Department's care, it is not practical to provide the information as requested. However, the lists of buildings and monuments are open for inspection by the public at the offices of the historic monuments and buildings branch of the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland in Hill street, Belfast. All listed buildings are afforded a degree of protection by the Planning (NI) Order 1972 and scheduled monuments by the Historic Monuments Act (NI) 1971. Information on current ownership of listed buildings or monuments is not held in every case by the Department.
Strangford Lough
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the membership of the proposed executive committee and advisory committee for the management of Strangford lough will be subject to consultation with the Government of the Republic of Ireland in accordance with the provisions of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Mr. Needham : No. Committees of this kind are not the subject of consultation with the Government of the Republic of Ireland under the provisions of the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
TRANSPORT
Stockport Bypass
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received representations from Stockport metropolitan borough council urging delay in the construction of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass.
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current timetable for the building of the A6(M) Stockport north- south bypass.
Mr. Chope : A start has been made on the diversion of some statutory undertakers apparatus. Subject to the satisfactory clearance of the remaining statutory procedures, work on the main contract should start in the spring 1993.
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Motoring Offences
Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute a system for recording the type and make of vehicles involved in motoring offences and road accidents and publish them periodically ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Chope : We published earlier this year the first of a new statistical series showing casualty rates by make and model of car-- "Transport Statistics Report--Car and Driver : Injury Accident and Casualty Rates, Great Britain 1989", HMSO, May 1991. We have no plans to extend this to recording offences by vehicle make and model.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made concerning the compulsory fitting of speed governors to heavy goods vehicles.
Mr. Chope : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Stevens) on 4 July at column 174.
Bypasses
Mr. Gill : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the provision of bypasses.
Mr. Chope : Bypasses are an important part of our commitment to civilising road transport. We know that they make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life in our towns and villages.
I am pleased to announce that we propose to add to the roads programme a further 15 schemes which are new or extended bypasses or related improvements, and three scheme identification studies, at a total cost of £85 million. The package includes new bypasses for Christleton and Waverton near Chester, Turvey in Bedfordshire, Kilkhampton in Cornwall, and Bishop Burton in Yorkshire. Other components are improved bypasses for Ilminster in Somerset, Guestling Thorn and Icklesham in East Sussex, Woofferton in Shropshire and Skeffington in Leicestershire. Studies will consider alternatives to the A40 through Cheltenham, and the possibility of relief for the A45 through the south of Coventry and for the A663 Broadway in Manchester.
The bypass programme has made a major contribution to improving urban conditions over many years. One hundred and three trunk road bypasses have been built in England since 1979 and over 170 are planned. Twenty-one are now under construction, with a further 19 due to start this financial year. In addition, since 1986-87, a total of 191 local authority bypasses supported by transport supplementary grant have been completed, 64 are under construction, and 30 more are due to start this financial year.
Bypasses in themselves achieve great environmental benefits by redirecting traffic to more suitable routes. A new bypass can have a much bigger impact on the quality of the local environment if complementary measures are implemented at the same time which take advantage of the fresh opportunities which arise if through traffic is removed or significantly reduced.
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These opportunities can include the introduction of traffic calming measures, improved provision for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users, landscaping and environmental enhancements. Last year in the enviroment White Paper we announced our intention to set up demonstration projects in a number of towns to link the provision of a trunk road bypass with measures in the bypassed towns. I am pleased to announce that the towns selected for the demonstration projects are :Berkhamsted
Dalton-in-Furness
Market Harborough
Petersfield
Wadebridge
Whitchurch
Local authorities responded enthusiastically to an invitation to nominate towns for the project, and it has not been easy to choose just six from the many interesting possibilities put forward. But the towns selected offer a good range of issues and opportunities, and in each case the local authorities already have proposals to build on the contribution being made by the trunk road bypass.
The bypass demonstration project will explore the possibilities in these towns, together with the local authorities, the Civic Trust and community interests. It will show what can be achieved in specific locations, and provide new ideas and useful guidance for the many local authorities whose towns will benefit from bypasses over the next few years.
Road Accidents
Sir Nicholas Bonsor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the road accident fatality rates for Great Britain, other EC countries, the United States of America, Canada and Japan.
Mr. Chope : The fatality rates expressed as the number of fatalities per 100,000 population in 1988 are published in "Road Accidents Great Britain" and are set out in the following table.
Fatality rate per billion vehicle km, selected countries: 1988 Country |Rate ------------------------------ Great Britain |13 Belgium |36 Denmark |20 France |29 West Germany |19 Greece |72 Ireland |21 Italy |<1>26 Luxembourg |28 Netherlands |15 Portugal |106 Spain |83 Canada |15 Japan |23 USA |15 <1> 1986 figure.
Comparable fatality rates expressed as the number of fatalities per billion vehicle kilometres depend upon the availability of estimates of traffic in individual countries. Not all countries make direct estimates of road traffic, nor are the published estimates on a consistent basis. However, the Netherlands Road Safety Research Institute has recently published the following estimates :
Column 289
Fatality rate per billion vehicle km, selected countries : 1988Country Rate
Great Britain 13
Belgium 36
Denmark 20
France 29
West Germany 19
Greece 72
Ireland 21
Italy 26
Luxembourg 28
Netherlands 15
Portugal 106
Spain 83
Canada 15
Japan 23
USA 15
1986 figure.
Speedlink
Sir Nicholas Bonsor : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what services will be commencing on 8 July to replace Speedlink.
Mr. Freeman : From 8 July British Rail will be running 125 trains a day to replace the Speedlink wagonload and related trainload services. Tigerail will be running freight train services from Cornwall and from Hampshire to Scotland and British Rail will commence a container service from north-east Scotland to Glasgow on a trial basis. About 70 per cent. of the domestic Speedlink traffic has been retained on rail. British Rail will also be running dedicated services to the Dover train ferry from all principal industrial locations in Britain for European traffic. Eighty-five per cent. of existing train ferry traffic has been retained to encourage and build up European business prior to the opening of the channel tunnel. I very much welcome this achievement.
Cycle Lanes (London)
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further progress has been made in implementing his policy of creating 1,000 miles of cycle lanes in London ; and what is his policy regarding the creation of cycle lanes through royal parks.
Mr. Chope : Following the seminar hosted by my Department last November, a group of cycling officers from the London boroughs has been set up and continues to meet regularly with the object of co-ordinating the provision of cycle facilities in London. The London planning advisory committee has endorsed the results of consultation with the boroughs on the 1,000-mile network and that information is being used to produce the maps of the network which will be ready for distribution to boroughs in the autumn. I am discussing the provision for cyclists in the royal parks with my noble Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment.
Explosive Materials
Mr. Alan W. Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional safety precautions he intends to take to ensure the safe transport by road of explosive materials to Ministry of Defence bases.
Column 290
Mr. Chope : The transport by road of explosive materials is subject to the Road Traffic (Carriage of Explosives) Regulations 1989 with which the MOD must comply. I have no plans to require additional precautions.
Transport Single Market
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to hasten the creation of a single market in transport in the European Community.
Mr. McLoughlin : The creation of a single market in transport is a key objective for the Government. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and my hon. Friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic attended the EC Transport Council in Luxembourg on 21 and 22 June and secured agreement to a directive on the development of Community railways which will allow access by individual rail companies to other member states' railway systems for the purpose of combined transport operations. In addition my right hon. Friend stressed the pressing need to fulfil the legal requirement to liberalise international road passenger transport, while my hon. Friend emphasised that progress had to be made on liberalising maritime cabotage.
The June Transport Council is but a recent example of the many meetings in which the Government have pressed our Community partners for more rapid movement in establishing a genuine single market in transport. The Luxembourg European Council on 20 June made a new series of commitments to liberalisation in the various transport modes.
London Buses
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been received on access and provision for disabled people in response to the consultation paper "A Bus Strategy for London".
Mr. Freeman : The consultation paper, "A Bus Strategy for London" did not deal specifically with the provision of bus services for disabled people. Nevertheless, a number of those who responded to the paper-- including the hon. Lady--commented on this point. Their views have been fully taken into account. A statement on the conclusions reached following the consultation exercise will be made shortly.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to meet representatives of the Greater London Association of Disabled People to discuss the implications of bus deregulation for people with disabilities.
Mr. Freeman : I should be pleased to meet representatives of the Greater London Association for Disabled People to discuss their views on access to public transport for disabled people.
Energy Efficiency
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of the recommendations in paragraph 130 of the third report of the Select Committee on Energy on Energy Efficiency, HC91.
Column 291
Mr. McLoughlin : A response to the Select Committee on Energy's recommendations on energy efficiency has been sent to the Committee. I understand that it will be published shortly.Nuclear Waste (Accidents)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the incidents reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency under the auspices of the 1972 convention on the prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes and other matter, concerning accidents at sea involving radioactive materials (a) involved nuclear materials originating in the United Kingdom, (b) involved nuclear materials destined for the United Kingdom and (c) took place in or near to United Kingdom territorial waters ; and if he will obtain a copy for his Department library of the IAEA report on these matters.
Mr. Mcloughlin : None of the incidents reported, concerning accidents during transport at sea, involved nuclear materials originating from or destined for the United Kingdom or took place in or near United Kingdom territorial waters. Several incidents have been reported, however, involving sealed radioactive sources, details of which have not yet been incorporated into the IAEA database. The Department has a draft copy of the IAEA report on these matters.
Newhaven-Dieppe Ferry Service
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will discuss with his French counterpart the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry service ;
(2) what steps he is taking to secure the resumption and long-term future of the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry service.
Mr. Mcloughlin : The Newhaven-Dieppe ferry service has been suspended because of an industrial dispute between French seamen and the Sealink ferry company. Commercial negotiations are under way to resolve the dispute and the French authorities have appointed a mediator. It would not be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to seek to become involved at this stage. We are, however, monitoring the situation closely.
Ships (Specifications)
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British-registered ships are built to STAB 90 specifications.
Mr. Mcloughlin : The information is not available at the moment in the form requested. The damage stability characteristics of all United Kingdom roll on/roll off passenger ferries are being urgently assessed in accordance with procedures adopted by the International Maritime Organisation in May. The level of their compliance with STAB 90--SOLAS 90-- specifications will be available when that exercise is complete.
Port Inspections
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the number of port state control inspections over the past 10 years, the percentage of inspections as a total of vessels using British ports in each year, and the number and percentage of ferries inspected using British ports in each year.
Column 292
Mr. McLoughlin : The number of foreign ships given port state inspections at United Kingdom ports from 1983 to 1990, and the numbers of inspections as a percentage of the numbers of foreign ships using United Kingdom ports in those years were :
Year |Numbers |Per cent. ---------------------------------------- 1983 |2,557 |40 1984 |2,529 |39 1985 |2,532 |39 1986 |2,439 |32 1987 |2,250 |35 1988 |1,839 |30 1989 |1,692 |<1>27 1990 |2,118 |<1>34 <1> Based on the 1988 figure for ships visiting, which is the latest available.
Figures for earlier years are not available.
The number of inspections of foreign-registered roll on/roll off passenger ferries at United Kingdom ports from 1988 to 1990 were :
Year |Number --------------------- 1988 |136 1989 |134 1990 |82
Most foreign ferries were inspected twice in each of the three years and the numbers of inspections consequently exceed the numbers of such ferries available for inspection at our ports. The number of foreign ferries using United Kingdom ports varies considerably during the year. At March 1990, a total of 49 such vessels were operating. Figures for earlier years are not available.
Air Services (Gibraltar)
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his present policy relating to the liberalisation of air services to and from Gibraltar.
Mr. McLoughlin [holding answer 5 July 1991] : The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of moves to liberalise air services arrangements in the European Community. It has been agreed within the Community that Gibraltar airport will be able to benefit from the EC liberalisation packages when the Gibraltar airport agreement is implemented.
EMPLOYMENT
Employment Training
Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed in Tower Hamlets on employment training schemes or other schemes operated through the training and enterprise council network.
Mr. Jackson : The table shows numbers of people employed on the main training programmes operated by the London East TEC, of which Tower Hamlets forms part.
*
LETEC-participants on TEC operated
schemes at 24 May 1991
|Number
------------------------------------------
Employment training |3,153
Youth training |4,052
Enterprise allowance scheme |782
Note: LETEC covers Tower Hamlets, Waltham
Forest, Redbridge, Havering, Barking and
Newham.
Chemicals Haulage
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the grades of officers involved in the recent north-west roadside check of lorries carrying chemicals ; and whether this activity is part of the job descriptions of all the officers so employed on that day.
Mr. Forth : The following grades of staff in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were involved in the Chemcheck North West exercise on 26 June :
Band B inspector
Band D inspector
Band E inspector
Band F inspector
Higher professional technical officer
Administrative officer
One of HSE's main objectives is to promote and secure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation and this extends to and includes the legislation that applies to the transport of hazardous substances or goods by road. All staff in HSE's field operations division are responsible for ensuring that this main objective is met and contribute either directly or indirectly by a variety of means including the inspection of work activities, enforcement, giving advice and information and the provision of clerical support. However, their job descriptions do not include specific reference to undertaking roadside checks on lorries carrying chemicals.
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