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Cattle (Lameness)
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the number and percentage of (a) dairy cattle and (b) beef cattle requiring to be destroyed due to acute lameness in each year since 1982.
Mr. Soames : This information is not collected.
TRANSPORT
Radioactive Materials
Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to collect centrally information on the movement of radioactive materials for reprocessing by road, rail, sea and air in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Norris : I have no plans to do so.
Mr. Jon Owen Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the compilation of the International Atomic Energy Agency database on the movement of radioactive materials for reprocessing in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Norris : Information was supplied by my Department to the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1991 in response to an IAEA request for certain details for its database on shipments of radioactive material. The information related to total shipments of irradiated fuel, non- irradiated fuel, uranium from reprocessing and wastes for the year 1990.
Network SouthEast
Mr. Pope : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total level of investment by British Rail since 1988 in Network SouthEast.
Mr. Freeman : In the five financial years from 1987-88 to 1991-92, Network SouthEast invested about £1780 million at 1991-92 prices.
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Travellers' Vehicles
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are made to ensure that the vehicles operated by travelling people are (a) MOT tested and (b) properly insured ; how many prosecutions in each of these respects have taken place over the last three years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The arrangements for ensuring compliance with the law on vehicle testing and insurance are the same for all vehicle users. It is an offence to use a vehicle without a current test certificate and valid insurance, and the police can bring prosecutions. The vehicle inspectorate checked the roadworthiness of 92 large non-public service vehicle passenger-carrying vehicles, most of which will not have been used by travelling people, at roadside spot checks in 1991-92. The inspectorate's policy is to prohibit unroadworthy vehicles rather than to prosecute. The 92 checks resulted in four prohibitions. The power to prohibit vehicles in a dangerous condition was extended to the police by the Road Traffic Act 1991, which was commenced on 1 July this year.
British Rail Investment
Mr. Pope : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total level of planned investment by British Rail in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Freeman : British Rail invested a total of £1,005 million in 1991-92 ; this was the highest level for 30 years. British Rail's investment ceiling for 1992-93 is currently set at £983 million for the existing railway and £755 million for the new railway. The combined ceiling for both existing and new railways is therefore set at £1,738 million.
Transpennine Study
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when the conclusions of the transpennine study will be published ; and if he will give reasons for the postponement in publication ; (2) what consideration is being given to the extension of the M65 eastwards as part of the transpennine study.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on Monday 29 June at column 391, and to the hon. Member for Burnley (Mr. Pike) on Tuesday 9 June at column 114.
The transpennine study considered options for improving transport links in a number of corridors within a wide study area, which included the M65-A56- A59-A65-A660 corridor. The study covered a range of complex issues and our consideration of the consultants' findings has taken longer than expected.
Thames Road Bridges
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road bridges across the Thames within the area of greater London and indicate which of them are, or will be, subject to closure and restriction because of maintenance ; and how many are subject to width restrictions affecting traffic flow.
Mr. Norris : The following bridges carry roads across the Thames in the greater London area : Tower bridge,
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London bridge, Southwark bridge, Blackfriars bridge, Waterloo bridge, Westminster bridge, Lambeth bridge, Vauxhall bridge, Chelsea bridge, Albert bridge, Battersea bridge, Wandsworth bridge, Putney bridge, Hammersmith bridge, Chiswick bridge, Kew bridge, Twickenham bridge, Richmond bridge, Kingston bridge and Hampton bridge. Chiswick, Kew and Richmond bridges carry trunk roads. Local highway authorities are responsible for all other structures.I am aware that the following restrictions currently apply : Tower bridge, 17 tonnes weight ; Westminster bridge, 7.5 tonnes weight ; Albert bridge, 2.1 m width--temporary--two tonnes weight ; Battersea bridge, 2.5 m width ; and Hammersmith bridge, three tonnes weight. Proposals to restrict bridges that carry or connect designated roads are subject to the prior approval of the Secretary of State under the Local Government Act 1985. Under these powers my Department can ensure that restrictions on structures that affect traffic flow are essential and are imposed for the minimum time necessary.
Traffic Director for London
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the duties and functions of the Traffic Director for London.
Mr. Norris : The duties and functions of the Traffic Director for London are set out in part II of the Road Traffic Act 1991. They include responsibility for co-ordinating the introduction and maintenance of traffic management measures taken by highway authorities in relation to priority routes established under the Road Traffic Act 1991, and for monitoring the operation of those measures. Specific functions include the preparation of a network plan for the design and operation of priority routes in London, giving approval to local plans for priority routes prepared by London highway authorities and preparing local plans himself for trunk roads in London.
Port of London Authority
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who decides and authorises increases in the salary of the members of the board of the Port of London authority.
Mr. Norris : Under the provisions of the Port of London Act 1968, the authority itself determines the board members' remuneration.
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the salary of each member of the board of the Port of London authority for the past five years.
Mr. Norris : Information about board members' remuneration is included in the annual reports of the Port of London authority which are placed in the Library.
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who appoints members of the board of the Port of London authority ; when the existing members were appointed ; and when each member is due to retire or be reappointed.
Mr. Norris : The Secretary of State for Transport appoints the chairman and non-executive members of the
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Port of London authority for terms of three years or until the end of the year when they reach the age of 70. Their terms expire as follows, at the end of the year referred to : Sir Brian Kellett, chairman, 1992 ; Mr. R. G. Crawford 1993 ; Capt. P. M. Edge 1994 ; Mr. I. F. Halliday 1992 ; Mr. C. W. Jonas 1993 ; Mr. J. H. Kelly 1993 ; Mr. A. J. Macintosh 1994 ; Mr. A. P. Ravenscroft 1994 ; Sir Brian Shaw 1994. Two executives have been appointed to the board by the authority.Industrial Vehicles
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by type the vehicles used by (a) the construction or (b) agriculture industry where drivers using them on the public highway cannot be prosecuted for traffic offences, not being deemed a road vehicle under the current legislation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The main bad driving offences under sections 1, 2, 3, 3A and 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 now apply to all mechanically propelled vehicles. Various other road traffic offences apply to "motor vehicles", which are mechanically propelled vehicles intended or adapted for use on roads. Whether a particular vehicle is so intended or adapted depends on the facts in that case.
Fuel Efficiency
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to set mandatory minimum fuel efficiency standards for vehicles.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) on 3 June, Official Report, volume 208, column 522.
Public Service Vehicles
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds, and at what level of regional disaggregation, regarding the failure rates of public service vehicles.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department's vehicle inspectorate holds complete information about vehicle testing, includng the percentage failure rates for public service vehicles at initial annual tests and retests and the most common failure items. Information on a national basis is published in the inspectorate's annual report. Regional information is held by its 54 district offices, which can further break the information down for individual testing stations.
Speed Limiters
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce legislation to make it mandatory for heavy goods vehicles to be fitted with speed limiters.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Regulations have been made requiring the fitment of speed limiters to heavy goods vehicles. New goods vehicles over 7.7 tonnes gross weight must have speed limiters from 1 August this year. Articulated and certain drawbar goods vehicles over 16 tonnes gross weight first used on or after 1 January 1989 will need to be fitted by 1 August 1993.
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Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations the Minister of State for Public Transport has received from the chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority about the stated intention to take powers to enforce the privatisation of all remainining municipal bus companies ; if he will be meeting representatives of the PTA ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Freeman : I am in correspondence with the chairman of Greater Manchester passenger transport authority confirming our commitment to privatise the remaining local authority-owned bus companies. I shall be happy to have an early meeting with the PTA about the future ownership of Greater Manchester Buses Ltd. and our consultant's report on the possibilities of splitting that company. My office is making the necessary arrangements.
Motorway Intersections
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorway intersections, where two motorways join, do not have full four-way access.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Twenty motorway to motorway junctions in England do not have full four-way access.
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport why it was decided not to construct a full four-way access junction where the A1(M) joins the A66(M) at Darlington ; what plans he has to initiate the construction of a full four-way access junction at this point ; and what estimate he has made of the cost.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The A1(M)--A66(M) inter-change at Darlington was opened to traffic in May 1965 and its layout was designed to cater for the then existing and predicted further traffic movements. A study of the A1(M) between Barton and Birtley is currently being undertaken to assess the longer-term requirements of this section of motorway. An assessment of this interchange and others will be undertaken as part of the study which will be completed in the spring of 1993.
Road and Rail Infrastructure
Mr. Booth : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to ensure that road and rail infrastructure investments are being appraised on a comparable basis.
Mr. Freeman : The Department of Transport published last January a paper on investment appraisal in road and rail transport, which attracted helpful comments from many quarters. Many of these comments expressed concern about the relative roles of cost-benefit analysis and of financial analysis, and in particular the view that cost-benefit analysis should be more widely used in the appraisal of all transport infrastructure.
Different forms of transport should be able to compete on fair terms. This should be reflected in the criteria for Government grants and investment rules. It also follows that users of transport should as far as possible pay the full cost of the services they use. Although it is efficient to allow road congestion relief and other external benefits to be taken into account in the pricing of urban public transport, the benefits to public transport users themselves should be met as far as possible through fares.
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If a new public transport investment cannot pay its way after counting both revenues and external benefits, the case for it is generally very weak. The availability of finance will remain a major consideration for any transport investment, be it in road or rail. So I see no reason for any change to the current grant rules. But benefits to users which cannot be recovered in fares can be relevant in, for instance, considering relative priorities between competing projects. I have therefore asked officials to develop further guidance on the use of cost- benefit analysis in urban transport appraisal.Regional Offices (Inquiries)
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent changes he has made in the arrangements regarding the handling of constituency inquiries by hon. Members which are addressed to regional offices of his Department ; if he will publish the arrangements ; what assessment he has made of the time taken to reply to (a) such an inquiry and (b) a similar inquiry from a member of the public ; if he will review the arrangements ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We have made no recent changes in the arrangements for handling constituency inquiries by hon. Members to our regional offices. We continue to require these to be replied to promptly and fully ; the same requirements apply to inquiries from members of the public. We have no plans to review the arrangements.
DEFENCE
Bullying
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will instigate a confidential inquiry into bullying in the Army ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : No inquiry is necessary. The Army takes the most careful steps to prevent bullying and treats any cases which do occur very seriously. Since 1987, the number of substantiated cases of bullying in the Army has fallen from 31 a year to 11 in 1990 and six in 1991.
Defence Research Agency
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what professional, security, copyright and financial terms staff of the Defence Research Agency may participate in the Link programmes or research programmes funded by the European Community.
Mr. Aitken : This is a matter for the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to reply directly to the hon. Member.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what encouragement there is in the framework document or in other formal guidance to encourage personnel and technology transfer between the Defence Research Agency and civil research and development.
Mr. Aitken : As the Ministry of Defence's principal source of scientific and technical advice, the Defence Research Agency attaches high priority to co-operation with industry in meeting MOD's requirements. Within the context that MOD is its major customer, it can pursue profitable commercial outlets for its services and arrange personnel exchanges with other organisations.
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Defence Export Services Organisation
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the names and company of secondment of the head of the Defence Export Services Organisation and its international financial adviser.
Mr. Aitken : The head of Defence Export Services Organisation is Mr. Alan Thomas, on secondment from Raytheon. Mr. Miles Faulkener, the international financial adviser, was previously employed by Trafalgar House.
Resettlement Training
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what advice and facilities such as telephones and stationery are provided for service personnel undergoing resettlement training to seek outside employment ; and what arrangements are made for personnel to have access to newspapers and magazines which publish job vacancies ;
(2) how many service personnel are currently undergoing resettlement training ; in how many places such training is being undertaken ; what types of training are offered ; what are the minimum and maximum days of training offered ; and what budget allocation has been made to pay for such resettlement training ; (3) what representations he has received about the current provision for resettlement training ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : All service personnel coming to the end of their careers are advised individually on how best to prepare themselves for civilian life. In addition, everyone who leaves after more than five years' service is entitled to a comprehensive resettlement package. This comprises :
Briefings on how to go about finding a new job, on specific second careers, on home purchase, on personal finance and on other aspects of civilian life.
The opportunity to spend some time on attachment to an employing organisation in order to gain civilian work experience.
A pre-release resettlement period of 28 days on full pay which can be used for any resettlement-related activity, including attendance at a wide range of training courses. These courses take place at the resettlement training centres at Aldershot and Catterick and at many other locations.
Assistance with job finding through the Services Employment Network, the Officers Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association.
About 19,500 sevice personnel will be entitled to this help during 1992-93, and most of them will take advantage of at least some of what is available. The total direct cost in 1992-93 will be about £4 million. As part of this process, personnel are encouraged to consult newspapers and magazines which publish job vacancies. In addition, the Service Employment Network of the Ministry of Defence publishes its own weekly "Resettlement Bulletin Vacancy Supplement" which contains details of specific jobs. It is not MOD policy to make telephones or stationery specifically available to those seeking jobs.
We are determined to ensure that the service we offer provides those leaving the armed forces with the best possible support, particularly at a time when a number of those leaving will have been made redundant. The package of measures that I have set out has therefore been revised thoroughly and enhanced in a number of ways. We are
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continuing to consult widely within the armed forces and with other organisations which provide resettlement services to ascertain what more might be done.Military Detention Centres
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what independent inspectorate exists for military detention centres in England ; who appoints such inspectors ; to whom they make their reports following their visits to military detention centres ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The two military detention centres at the royal naval detention quarters, Portsmouth, and military corrective training centre, Colchester, are inspected at least twice a year by an independent board of visitors. Members of the board are appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence and make their reports to him. Statutory Instruments Nos. 723 and 724 of 1980 set out the composition and duties of the board relating to the military corrective training centre and royal naval detention quarters respectively.
Royal Air Force regional services detention rooms are not independently inspected, but are visited daily by the orderly officer and inspected regularly by the chain of command.
Sea-Air Rescue
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is the Government's intention to continue the operation of air-sea rescue services at RAF Chivenor in north Devon ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : A review of the provision of sea-air rescue by the armed forces is approaching its final stages. Final decisions on the structure and basing of the military SAR force have yet to be taken. I cannot, therefore, comment on the future of any individual military SAR flight.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Claim Processing Times
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the Government's target for the length of time to process reviews of claims for (a) mobility allowance, (b) attendance allowance, (c) attendance allowance on grounds of terminal illness, (d) disability living allowance and (e) disability living allowance including a claim for the highest rate of care component on grounds of terminal illness ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : The administration of mobility and disability living allowance are a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if sufficient officers have been employed during the last six months to handle reviews of claims for attendance allowance in order to meet the Government's targets for processing reviews ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Scott : The administration of attendance allowance is a matter for Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.Residential Homes
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for the shortfall in income support payments by comparison with fees charged in (a) residential homes and (b) nursing homes for the elderly or disabled, on a national, regional and local basis.
Mr. Burt : The information is not available. Data are collected on a sample basis which precludes the provision of reliable estimates. Contemporary information is not collected on fees.
Income Support
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of raising the income support personal allowance for home owners aged (a) 21, (b) 22, (c) 23 and (d) 24 years, respectively, to the rate appropriate to persons aged 25 years and over.
Mr. Burt : The information is given in the table.
Benefit |Age |Age |Age |Age 24
|21+ |22+ |23+
---------------------------------------------------------
Income support |5 |<1> |<1> |<1>
Community charge |<1> |<1> |<1> |<1>
Housing benefit |0 |0 |0 |0
Total |5 |<1> |<1> |<1>
<1>Denotes a cost of less than £2.5 million.
Notes:
1.Figures have been rounded to the nearest £5 million.
2.Home owners{cdq} are defined as owner occupiers with a
mortgage still outstanding.
3.The reply shows the cost of making the increases for
the age group given at the top of the column and all
those up to, but not including, age 25.
Sources:1987-88 family expenditure survey and 1990
annual statistical inquiry.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of raising the income support personal allowance for recipients of housing benefit aged (a) 21, (b) 22, (c) 23 and (d) 24 years, respectively, to the rate appropriate to persons aged 25 years and over.
Mr. Burt : The information is given in the table.
Benefit |Age |Age |Age |Age
|21+ |22+ |23+
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Income support |20 |15 |10 |5
Community charge benefit<1> |<1> |<1> |0
Housing benefit |15 |10 |5 |5
Total |40 |25 |20 |10
<1>Denotes a cost of less than £2.5 million.
Notes:
1.Figures have been rounded to the nearest £5 million.
2.The reply shows the cost of making the increases for the age
group given at the top of the column and all those up to, but not
including, age 25.
Sources:1987-88 family expenditure survey and 1990 annual
statistical inquiry.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 483, if he will estimate the cost of raising the income support level for all persons aged (a) 21, (b) 22, (c) 23 and (d) 24 years, who are living away from home to the rate appropriate to persons aged 25 years and over.
Mr. Burt : The information is given in the table.
Benefit |Age |Age |Age |Age
|21+ |22+ |23+
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Income support |55 |40 |25 |10
Community charge benefit<1> |<1> |<1> |<1>
Housing benefit |15 |10 |5 |5
Total |70 |55 |30 |10
<1>Denotes a cost of less than £2.5 million.
Notes:
1.Figures have been rounded to the nearest £5 million.
2.Benefit units living away from home have been defined as those
who are recorded in the FES as being head of households or who are
living with a non-relative.
3.The reply shows the cost of making the increases for the age
group given at the top of the column and all those up to, but not
including, age 25.
Sources:1987-88 family expenditure survey (FES).
Social Fund
Mr. Betts : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what financial effect there has been from the recent review on the level of the social fund available in 1992-93 to those social security offices which serve people in the Sheffield, Attercliffe constituency.
Mr. Scott : Details of the allocations made to individual Benefits Agency districts are available in the Library.
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long it is taking social fund inspectors to deal with an application for review of a decision made by a social fund officer ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : I am informed by the social fund commissioner that the average time taken is 38 working days. This figure includes the two weeks allowed for the applicant to comment on the papers which are sent to him. The majority of urgent cases are cleared within four working days.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Criminal Justice Consultative Council
Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what programme of work the Criminal Justice Consultative Council adopted at its initial meeting on 15 January ;
(2) on what dates the Criminal Justice Consultative Council has met ; and when it will hold its next meeting.
Mr. Jack : The Criminal Justice Consultative Council met on 15 January and 9 April 1992. It will meet again on 6 July and 12 October. Subsequent meetings will take place quarterly.
At its initial meeting on 15 January, the council agreed to give early priority to monitoring the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, to the pre-trial issues initiative and to the establishment of area criminal justice liaison committees. Additionally, the council has agreed to
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receive papers at forthcoming meetings on prisoners awaiting trial, on section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, on mode of trial issues, on the crime preventive aspects of the criminal justice system and on its own future reporting arrangements.Racial Crimes
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the number of complaints that have been made to the Plumstead/Thamesmead police from white victims of racially motivated crimes in 1990, 1991 and to date in 1992 ; how many of the complaints were about crimes of violence ; how many were investigated ; how many were against named suspects ; how many led to charges being brought ; and how many led to convictions ; (2) if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the number of complaints that have been made to the Plumstead/Thamesmead police from black or ethnic minority victims of racially motivated crimes in 1990, 1991 and to date in 1992 ; how many of the complaints were about crimes of violence ; how many were investigated ; how many were against named suspects ; how many led to charges being brought ; how many led to convictions ; and how many such complaints about crimes of violence were made in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The publication of detailed statistics of this kind is a matter for chief officers. I have referred these questions to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, and I understand that he will be writing to the hon. Member.
Wolds Private Prison
Mr. Gerrard : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoner custody officers employed by Group 4 at the Wolds private prison are from an ethnic minority background.
Mr. Gerrard : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have been assaulted at the Wolds private prison since it opened in April.
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