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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 11 November 1991
TRANSPORT
Goods Vehicle Drivers
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statistical evidence is collected about accident rates for large goods vehicle drivers.
Mr. Chope : The statistics available cover road accidents involving personal injury and reported to the police. The standard report prepared by the police and submitted to the Department of Transport includes information on each vehicle involved and identifies the vehicle type. The report also includes the vehicle registration mark of any vehicles involved, and, by linking with data held at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency at Swansea, a more precise definition of vehicle type can be obtained.
Information about the driver includes age, sex and results of any roadside screening breath test, but no other personal details. Information on heavy goods vehicle traffic and movements are produced by the national traffic census and the continuing survey of roads and goods transportation. Information on heavy goods vehicle accident involvement rates is published in "Road Accidents Great Britain 1990 : The Casualty Report". The involvement rate of HGVs in injury accidents has fallen from 70 per 100 million vehicle kilometres in 1980 to 56 per 100 million vehicle kilometres in 1990. The casualty rate for HGV drivers was 11 per 100 million vehicle kilometres in 1990.
High-speed Rail Link
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comparisons he has undertaken between the amount of revenue income attributable to the proposed King's Cross low-level international station from high-speed rail link services approaching via Stratford East, and those approaching from the previously proposed link from the south.
Mr. Freeman : The low-level station at King's Cross was treated by British Rail in its comparative study of routes for a high-speed rail link as an integral part of those routes in which it featured. British Rail's comparative estimates of the revenues obtainable from the traffic forecast for each of the routes is shown in its route comparison report, a copy of which is in the Library. In deciding their preferred route the Government took account of all the relevant considerations, including regional planning, the environmental impact, and the effect on property, as well as transport objectives.
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport within what time range he expects the high-speed rail link from the channel tunnel to be (a) completed and (b) connected to the proposed low-level station at King's Cross.
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Mr. Freeman : It is too soon to say. No decision has yet been made on when construction may start.
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the proposed rail link from Stratford to King's Cross will be designed to be able to take freight services ;
(2) whether he has yet received any proposals from British Rail for the use of the proposed rail link from Stratford to King's Cross for freight services.
Mr. Freeman : Further consideration has to be given to the implications of the proposed new line for freight. But if it were to be designed to be able to be used for freight, it seems unlikely that freight trains would run on the section between Stratford and King's Cross.
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) within what range of real rates of return British Rail's revenue projections for the proposed international low-level station at King's Cross lie ;
(2) whether British Rail's proposals for the European passenger services component of the financing of the proposed international station at King's Cross envisage the involvement of any Government financial support ; and whether British Rail is seeking any capital grant for the new Kent express or Thameslink components of the financing of the station ;
(3) what updated appraisal he has received from British Rail of its proposals for financing the works covered by the King's Cross Railways Bill following his decision that the high-speed rail link should come to King's Cross via Stratford.
Mr. Freeman : The Department has not yet received British Rail's detailed financial appraisal for the proposed King's Cross terminal. International passenger services using the station will be subject to the terms of section 42 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987, so they will have to cover the part of the station costs properly attributable to them out of commercial revenue.
Network SouthEast is in principle eligible to receive capital grant in recognition of benefits of projects to non-users. British Rail has not sought such a grant so far in respect of the element of the cost of the proposed works at King's Cross relating to commuter services.
Dame Peggy Fenner : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when the Ove Arup original consultation team will be able to visit the Medway constituency to continue discussions on the precise location of the route ;
(2) if he will meet constituents of the hon. Member for Medway to discuss their requirement that the channel tunnel rail link Medway crossing should be positioned as closely as possible to the present crossing ;
(3) if the Government will publish the precise details of the channel tunnel rail link route through the Medway constituency.
Mr. Freeman : The route originally proposed by Ove Arup, and developed further in conjuction with British Rail, will now be refined over the next few months. It will be published once sufficient details are available to form the basis of the public consultation process that BR will lead. There will then be ample opportunity for any concerns to be aired about the alignment of the route and how best to limit its environmental impact. Only after this will the plans be finalised.
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Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proposals he has received from British Rail in furtherance of the implementation of its proposals in "International Rail Services for the United Kingdom" of 1989 to run 11 services per day from different places beyond London ;(2) what proposals he has received from British Rail for the provision of the rolling stock it aims to obtain for the channel tunnel rail link services to run through-trains beyond London.
Mr. Freeman : Since 1989 investment proposals have been approved by the Government for various infrastructure works which are under way. We are considering proposals for the day trains. Orders for the night rolling stock depend on the outcome of British Rail's negotiations with their continental railway partners. British Rail's initial plans and requirements for rolling stock are not affected by the Government's recent decision on the rail link.
Dame Peggy Fenner : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Ove Arup route now adopted for the channel link deviates in any way from that discussed with Ove Arup and the local communities.
Mr. Freeman : The supplementary note to British Rail's document "Rail Link Project : Comparison of routes : Report to British Railways Board, May 1991", a copy of which is in the Library, explains two late changes which Ove Arup introduced to its proposed route. These were summarised in letters which my right hon. and learned Friend's office sent to my hon. Friends the Members for Medway (Dame P. Fenner) and for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 14 October, and were reflected in the outline route map published by the Department.
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be lifting his safeguarding directions covering the section of the previous British Rail preferred route for the channel tunnel rail link between Detling and Malling.
Mr. Freeman : My right hon. and leaned Friend made a direction on 5 November 1991 to the local authorities concerned. This varies the present safeguarding directions for the channel tunnel rail link in Kent so that these no longer apply to the west of the A249 at Detling.
Brownieside
Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now publish the report of the inspector who conducted the public inquiry into objections to the A1 Brownieside improvement scheme.
Mr. Chope : The decision letter and inspector's report on the statutory orders for the A1 Brownieside improvement scheme will be issued in a matter of weeks.
Blighted Homes
Sir. John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be using his new powers under the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 to make voluntary acquisitions of blighted homes regardless of their distance from the proposed new highway scheme in question.
Mr. Chope : Section 62 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991 gives my right hon. Friend the
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power to acquire property which in his opinion will be seriously affected by the Department's road schemes. The criteria by which he will exercise his discretion are under consideration.Driving Licence Fees
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the income from driving licence fees during 1990-91.
Mr. Chope : The income from driving licence fees for the year 1990- 91 was £22,305,780.
High-speed Rail Link
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish the precise details of the channel tunnel rail link route as it passes through the Dartford constituency ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) when he expects the original Ove Arup consultation scheme to visit the Dartford constituency to discuss the implications of the chosen channel tunnel rail link route upon local householders and communities ;
(3) if the route he has approved for the channel link in concept deviates significantly from that running at March 1990.
Mr. Freeman : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Medway (Dame P. Fenner).
Road Accidents
Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department has taken over the past year to reduce the number of people who are killed or injured on the roads.
Mr. Chope : I have today published the "Road Safety Report 1990-91" which describes the measures to reduce casualties that the Department, together with the Scottish and Welsh Offices, have promoted over the past year. Copies have been placed in the House Library.
Central European Time
Sir Gerrard Neale : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect of a move by the United Kingdom to central European time on the number of fatal and serious road accidents ; and whether the Government support such a move.
Mrs. Rumbold : I have been asked to reply.
I refer my hon. Friend to estimates by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory set out in the Green Paper "Summer time : A Consultation Document", CM722. The responses to the Green Paper revealed considerable difference of opinion within the United Kingdom about options for future summer time arrangements. Policyon those arrangements therefore remains under consideration.
Smoke Emissions
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will specify what type of smoke measuring equipment will be required for use in heavy goods vehicle testing stations.
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Mr. Chope : The vehicle inspectorate is currently studying which smoke opacity measuring equipment should be installed in heavy goods vehicle testing stations.Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations to require the identification of manufacturers' emission standards as recorded at COP testing on under-bonnet plates.
Mr. Chope : There is no need to do this. Information on vehicle manufacturers' recommended emission levels is readily available from the manufacturers and their agents and from certain specialist publications.
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what standards will be used to assess emissions of smoke from heavy goods vehicles.
Mr. Chope : The current test relies on a visual check of smoke density by vehicle examiners to standards which are published in the heavy goods vehicle inspection manual. The same standards will be applied when smoke meters are introduced into the testing scheme.
Cycles
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken by his Department to ensure that cycles using the public highway are equipped with an audible means of warning.
Mr. Chope : In 1984, there was consultation upon a proposal to require pedal cycles to be fitted with bells. The proposal was not implemented because it was subject to many objections from cycling organisations and also the Pedestrians Association. The issue will be considered further when the Pedal Cycles (Safety) Regulations are updated next year.
Remote Sensing Equipment
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the use of remote sensing equipment to detect in-use vehicles which exceed the new MOT standards for carbon monoxide ; and what action will be taken.
DEFENCE
Operation Buffalo Nuclear Tests
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to remove nuclear debris from the site of the Operation Buffalo nuclear tests and to store such debris in a nuclear waste depository.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : This is a matter fror the Government of Australia.
Maralinga Nuclear Test Site
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the extent of plutonium contamination of the Maralinga site, resulting from the minor trials of British nuclear weapons.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The latest assessment of the extent of contamination of the Maralinga site is contained
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in the report by the technical assessment group entitled "Rehabilitation of Former Nuclear Test Sites in Australia" published by the Australian Department of Primary Industries and Energy in November 1990. I will arrange for a copy of this report to be placed in the Library of the House.Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest assessment of the extent of radioactive contamination of the Maralinga site of the British nuclear bomb test ; and what is his latest estimate of the cost of a clean up.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The latest assessment of the extent of contamination and cost of clean-up of the Maralinga site is contained in the report by the technical assessment group entitled "Rehabilitation of Former Nuclear Test Sites in Australia" published by the Australian Department of Primary Industries and Energy in November 1990. I will arrange for a copy of this report to be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimates his Department has made of the cost of decontamination of the Maralinga range, South Australia ; what representations he has received on this matter ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Newport, (Mr. Flynn), on 5 November, Official Report, column 43. Estimates of the cost of options for rehabilitation of the former nuclear weapon test sites at Maralinga and Emu Field are set out in the report of the technical assessment group entitled "Rehabilitation of Former Nuclear Test Sites in Australia" published by the Australian Department of Primary Industries and Energy in November 1990. I will arrange for a copy of this report to be placed in the Library of the House.
Regiments
Mr. Cyril D. Townsend : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the dates for restructuring the regiments of the combat arms.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : It is intended to implement the majority of the regimental mergers and other restructuring progressively over the next four years. Plans have been made for the following major changes to take place by early 1993 :
Early 1992
40 Army Engineer Support Group and RHQ 28 Engineer Regiment amalgamate.
30 Field Squadron Royal Engineers disbands.
Mid 1992
2nd and 3rd Royal Tank Regiments amalgamate
4th/7th Dragoon Guards and 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards amalgamate.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers merge to form two battalions.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of The Royal Anglian Regiment merge to form two battalions.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of The Royal Green Jackets merge to form two battalions
52 Field Squadron (Construction) Royal Engineers disbands. 244 Signal Squadron (Air Support) disbands.
Late 1992
The 1st and 2nd Battalions of 2nd King Edwards VII's Own Gurkha Rifles merge to form one battalion.
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13th/18th Royal Hussars and 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars amalgamate.The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals combine.
The Royal Hussars and 14th/20th King's Hussars amalgamate. 49 Field Regiment Royal Artillery disbands.
22 Signal Regiment disbands.
Early 1993
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of The Queen's Regiment together with The Royal Hampshire Regiment amalgamate to form a regiment of two battalions.
The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of The Light Infantry merge to form two battalions.
27 Field Regiment Royal Artillery disbands.
50 Missile Regiment Royal Artillery disbands.
Detailed planning for later years has not been finalised but it is expected that the following timetable will apply :
1993
The 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Royal Irish Rangers merge to form a single general service battalion.
The Second Battalions of the Coldstream Guards and the Scots Guards are placed in suspended animation.
The Cheshire Regiment and The Staffordshire Regiment amalgamate. The Queen's Own Hussars and The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars amalgamate.
1st and 4th Royal Tank Regiments amalgamate.
16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers and 17th/21st Lancers amalgamate.
45 Field Regiment Royal Artillery disbands.
94 Locating Regiment Royal Artillery disbands.
23 Engineer Regiment disbands.
10 Field Squadron Royal Engineers disbands.
16 Field Squadron Royal Engineers disbands.
229 Signal Squadron disbands.
1994
The Queen's Own Highlanders and The Gordon Highlanders amalgamate. The Gloucestershire Regiment and The Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment amalgamate.
The Royal Scots and The King's Own Scottish Borderers amalgamate. The Second Battalion of the Grenadier Guards is placed in suspended animation.
2 Field Regiment Royal Artillery disbands.
46 Air Defence Battery Royal Artillery disbands.
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