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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 27 January 1992
HOME DEPARTMENT
Newspapers (Complaints)
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list those national newspapers by title and ownership which have now established systems of ombudsmen or readers' representatives to take up complaints and breaches of the code of practice to which they were committed under the terms of the joint declaration of November 1989.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We understand that the newspapers that were party to the joint declaration of November 1989 and which currently have readers" representatives are as follows :
Daily Express Express Newspapers plc
Daily Mail Associated Newspapers plc
Daily Star Express Newspapers plc
The Daily Telegraph The Daily Telegraph plc
Evening Standard Associated Newspapers plc
The Guardian Guardian Newspapers Ltd
The Independent Newspapers Publishing plc
The Mail on Sunday Associated Newspapers plc
News of the World News Group Newspapers Ltd
The Observer The Observer Ltd
The Sun News Group Newspapers Ltd
Sunday Express Express Newspapers plc
The Sunday Times Times Newspapers Ltd
The Sunday Telegraph The Daily Telegraph plc
The Times Times Newspapers Ltd
Today News Corporation Ltd
Ultimate parent company
DNA Analysis
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals for guidelines to govern the national and international use of DNA analysis ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have no immediate plans for guidance in this area. My right hon. Friend asked the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice to consider the use of DNA and we await its recommendations.
Mr. Bermingham : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for the destruction of the DNA profiles of persons cleared of committing an offence ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Guidelines adopted by the Home Office and Metropolitan police forensic science services provide that DNA profiles of persons excluded from or acquitted of offences are removed from the central database and the sample from which the profile is taken is also destroyed.
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Release of Prisoners (Ill Health)
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prisoners released from prisons in England and Wales before the completion of their sentences on the ground of ill health in each of the last three years.
Mrs. Rumbold : The numbers of prisoners released from their sentences by the exercise of the royal prerogative on the ground of serious illness are as follows :--
Year |Number --------------------- 1989 |4 1990 |1 1991 |Nil
Prisoners may also be released from prison on parole provided they are considered suitable for release on licence. Any ill health will be taken into account when the case is being considered.
Private Prisons
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what prison industries are proposed for privately run prisons ; who will be responsible for obtaining contracts for such prison industries ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Rumbold : Proposals for work for prisoners are solicited from bidders as part of the invitation to tender for the management of a contracted out prison. It is for the successful bidder to implement his proposals.
Mr. Osama Ibrahim Al-Asfoor
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State proposes to answer the letter of the hon. Member for Basingstoke of 19 January, and subsequent letters and telephone calls, regarding Mr. Osama Ibrahim Al-Asfoor, c/o 258 Kempshott lane, Basingstoke.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I have written to my hon. Friend.
TRANSPORT
Computer Hacks
Mr. Anderson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations have taken place into allegations that computer specialists have hacked into the driving licence records at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea ; and with what result.
Mr. Chope : The DVLA has disscussed the recent allegations about unauthorised access to its computer records with the author of the original Police Review article who has confirmed that there is no substance to them. The author has agreed to retract the allegations in his next article.
King's Cross
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds are being made available to British Rail for design and other work in connection with planning and preparation of the King's Cross project.
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Mr. Freeman : The external finance limit for BR next year will be £2,041 million. This will allow BR to spend £66 million on design and preparatory work for the King's Cross, Thameslink 2000 and channel tunnel rail link projects.Train Doors
Mr. John Browne : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 January, if he will make an early statement on the subject of the reliability of slam-shut doors on British Rail ; and if he will ensure that adequate care is given to British Rail passengers.
Mr. Freeman : Both the Government and British Rail attach the highest priority to railway safety. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will give very careful consideration to the report of the Health and Safety Executive's investigation into the pattern of falls from train doors when it is completed in the spring, and respond appropriately at that time.
Road Schemes
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 503, on the environmental assessment of road schemes, how he proposes to judge whether the environmental impact of a road scheme is significant to the extent that it is within the terms of the EC directive.
Mr. Chope : An environmental impact assessment is required for all projects listed in annex I of directive 85/337/EEC. The environmental appraisal, which is standard departmental practice for all schemes in the national roads programme, reveals the extent to which the impact of annex II projects is significant within the requirements of the directive.
A34
Sir David Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the side road orders required before work can start on the remaining section of the A34 in Hampshire and the Newbury bypass to be completed ; and whether he will make a statement on progress on the A34 improvements.
Mr. Chope : Supplementary side road orders and a compulsory purchase order for the Newbury bypass were published in draft last October. In the light of objections received, it has been decided that a public inquiry should be held. Details of the arrangements for the inquiry will be issued as soon as possible. Further progress will depend on completion of the statutory procedures.
Leicester Bypasses
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's estimates of traffic flows on the proposed eastern bypass, Leicester ; and how many vehicles use the western bypass each day.
Mr. Chope : Traffic information from consultants for Leicester eastern bypass is not yet available. Construction of Leicester western bypass is due to begin later this year. Estimated flows for the first year of operation--1994--range from 22,000 to 41,000.
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Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost to the taxpayer of appointing consultants to plan the eastern bypass, Leicester.
Mr. Chope : Fees are a commercially confidential matter between the Department as client and the consultant as provider of a service.
Severn Bridge
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the date when the Severn bridge will be free of lane restrictions and have four lanes open to traffic.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 24 January 1992] : Four lanes are available to traffic now at peak time, but work following the completion of the resurfacing, such as the erection of central reserve safety fencing, will be in evidence until about the middle of this year.
Airbags
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his Department's current policy on the use of airbags as an additional safety measure for motorcycles ;
(2) what research his Department has undertaken on the accidental inflation of airbags on motorcycles.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 24 January 1992] : The Government are currently funding a research programme at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory in which motor-cycles are tested with and without airbags. The research is in its early stages, and it is not yet clear whether airbags will prove a practical safety measure.
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken on the potential health hazards from gas contained in airbags used as safety devices on motor vehicles.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 24 January 1992] : A study is looking at the use of airbags in motor vehicles, including any potential health hazards from the gas discharged from airbags.
East Midlands Regional Office
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the grade of the director of network management and construction of the East Midlands regional office.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 24 January 1992] : Grade 5.
Itchen Valley Watermeadows SSSI
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that the contractors do not carry out potentially damaging operations on the River Itchen watermeadows site of special scientific interest in breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ;
(2) if he has received the consent of English Nature for potentially damaging operations, as defined by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, on the River Itchen watermeadows site of special scientific interest ;
(3) if the advance bridge works being carried out on the M3 Bar End-Compton will involve potentially damaging operations as defined by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on the River Itchen watermeadows site of special scientific interest prior to 1 March.
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Mr. Chope [holding answer 22 January 1992] : The potential impact upon the Itchen Valley watermeadows site of special scientific interest of the construction of the M3 between Bar End and Compton was fully considered at the public inquiry into the scheme and the inspector's report thereon. The inspector concluded that the scheme should proceed notwithstanding the impact upon some 3.5 hectares--less than 2 per cent. of the 175-hectare site of special scientific interest. Under the requirements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Department does not need to obtain any further consent from English Nature, but is required to give four months notice before carrying out any works within the site of special scientific interest. No works will be carried out in the site of special scientific interest until the notice has expired.DVLA
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the security of the DVLA computer from unauthorised access or interference.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 23 January 1992] : The DVLA is alert to the sensitivity and value of the data held on its computer system and has protected them accordingly. This has involved measures to combat unauthorised access, including the use of internal and external scrutineers. The security measures are a combination of physical restriction and procedural control.
Motorway Service Areas
Mr. Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the expected location and date of operation of new motorway service areas on the M25 and M40 motorways.
Mr. Chope [holding answer 23 January 1992] : Motorway service areas--MSAs--are currently under development for the M25 at Clacket Lane-- junctions 5 to 6--and for the M40 at Ardley--junction 10. Both are expected to open by the autumn of next year. As intimated in the citizens charter, the Government are considering a new system with the aim of ensuring that more MSAs are provided more quickly.
THE ARTS
Disabled People (Access to Buildings)
Ms. Hoey : To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will make it a condition for public funding that arts venues are fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Mr. Renton : The responsibility for the allocation of Government funding to individual arts organisations rests with the Arts Council of Great Britain. Its funding criteria include requirements on access, including access to artistic and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The council's appraisals of the performance of individual clients pay particular attention to this.
The Arts Council published in 1990 an action plan on the arts and disability, a follow-on from the code of practice published in 1985. These documents have been sent to all the council's client bodies and other interested parties.
The Arts Council is committed to ensuring that improvements are made to increase the accessibility of arts
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venues to people with sight impairments, hearing impairments, mobility difficulties and all other forms of disability. However, the council does not consider that it would be in the best interests to make complete accessibility a mandatory condition of grant, as grants are normally paid to performing companies, many of which do not own the buildings in which they appear.DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Duchy Visit
34. Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next plans to visit the duchy ; and if he will make a statement.
37. Mr. Butler : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next expects to visit the duchy.
38. Mr. Burns : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next plans to pay an official visit to the duchy.
Mr. Chris Patten : I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) earlier today.
Official Duties
35. Mr. Winnick : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to increase the amount of time spent on official duties.
Official Car
36. Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements are made for the reimbursement of public funds for any use of his official car for non-official purposes.
Mr. Chris Patten : I use my ministerial car only when undertaking duties as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and in my capacity as a Government Minister.
ENVIRONMENT
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Andrew Bowden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase capital investment in home energy efficiency.
Mr. Yeo : The Government make substantial capital sums available for home energy efficiency. Provisional figures indicate local authorities spent over £120 million on insulation works, and some £110 million on other energy conservation measures, on the council house stock in 1990-91. They are spending an extra £60 million on energy efficiency over three years under the green house programme. An additional £24 million has been made available for spending on public and private sector insulation under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1991-92. Further smaller sums are spent on these measures through house renovation grants and the Housing Corporation. We have also recently launched a major publicity campaign called "Helping the Earth Begins At
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Home", to encourage householders to adopt energy efficiency measures in response to global warming. The campaign emphasises that many measures have short payback periods and are therefore cost-effective for householders to finance themselves.Urban Programme
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much money Sheffield's urban programme budget has lost, in 1990-91 and 1991-92, as a result of the Government's policy not to implement full additionality ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) how much money urban programme local authorities have lost in 1990-91 and 1991-92 as a result of the Government's policy not to implement full additionality ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Portillo : Expected European Community receipts are taken into account annually in setting national public expenditure programmes which are therefore larger than they would otherwise be. Consequently, ERDF grants must be covered from within the public expenditure provision.
Executive Agencies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the new forms of optional alternative working patterns introduced into each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment and provide a breakdown by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern for each agency ;
(2) how many staff were in post in each of his Department's executive agencies on the date on which it was established ; and how many are now in post ;
(3) if he will list each of his Department's executive agencies that operates on a group bonus scheme ; what cash amount per person was awarded in the last year for which figures are available ; and what conditions were attached to its award.
Mr. Heseltine : I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on Monday 13 January 1992 at columns 420-21.
Water Pollution
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to assure himself that the chlorine levels present in drinking water are sufficient to prevent infection in consumers from oocysts of Cryptosporidium.
Mr. Baldry : In July 1990, the group of experts on cryptosporidium in water supplies, chaired by Sir John Badenoch, reported that water treatment processes in current use were not designed to deal specifically with the problem of cryptosporidial oocysts which are also unaffected by chlorine in the concentrations that can be used. Although treatment processes cannot be relied upon to prevent all oocysts from entering mains water, they are quite effective in dealing with low numbers of the parasite.
The Government accepted all the recommendations of the expert group designed to minimise infection. They also initiated the research programme proposed by the group.
Copies of the report were placed in the House Library at the time of publication.
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Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to require British Coal to obtain consent to discharge ferric iron from abandoned coal mines to surface waters.
Mr. Baldry : The National Rivers Authority has been reviewing the extent of problems from abandoned mine workings in England and Wales, and we are considering how best they might be tackled.
Chemical Weapons
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements exist to report and collate information from the littoral states relating to the surfacing of dumped chemical weapons in the North sea and surrounding areas ; and how many reports of such incidents have been received by his Department in the last 12 months.
Mr. Baldry : The United Kingdom is party, with all other north sea littoral states, to an international agreement designed to facilitate co- operation in dealing with major oil or chemical pollution incidents in the North sea. Known as the Bonn agreement, it requires contracting states to report any pollution incident to other members which may be affected by subsequent pollution. The agreement also provides for each member to use its best endeavour to provide counter-pollution assistance if requested by another contracting party.
The Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit exercises the Government's responsibility in this area. It has received no reports of the surfacing of dumped chemical weapons in the last 12 months.
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department holds on the quality of water in marinas ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Baldry : The National Rivers Authority is responsible for monitoring the quality of coastal waters, as defined under section 104 of the 1991 Water Resources Act, including marinas. The monitoring data is publicly available on the registers maintained in the regional offices of the NRA.
Privatisations
Mr. Page : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the five years prior to privatisation the loss or profit of the water industry ; and if he will list any grants or loans made over the same period.
Mr. Baldry : Full financial details for each of the former water authorities covering the five years prior to privatisation were included in the accountants' report chapter of each company's section of the prospectus for the sale of the water holding companies, a copy of which is available in the Library.
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