House of Commons Hansard Debates for 7 Jul 1992

Alzheimer's Disease

Mr. Hanson : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if she will commission additional research with the Medical Research Council for the development of Interleukin receptor antagonist--IL-Ira--in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Mr. Waldegrave : The Medical Research Council is funded by grant in aid from the science budget, and is an independent body which normally decides its research priorities on its own expert judgment. It is not currently funding research to develop interleukin receptor in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, it is supporting a considerable body of work relevant to the actions of interleukin in immunology, and has recently launched, with the help of additional funding from the science budget, a neuroscience approach to human health to develop further its research in fields such as Alzheimer's disease. The MRC welcomes high-quality research proposals relevant to the disease, and will consider them in competition by the usual peer review mechanisms.

Information Disclosure

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will set out the improvements in widening the scope of information disclosure to the public that are expected to arise from the European Commission's proposal for a council regulation on security measures applicable to classified information--Com (92) 56 final.

Mr. Waldegrave : The Government consider that the draft regulation in its present form is unworkable. In consultation with other member states, the Government's aim will be to ensure that, within a framework which encourages greater openness in the EC's business, any genuinely sensitive material is effectively protected through appropriate security measures.

TRANSPORT

River Safety

Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the report of the inquiry into river safety by Mr. John Hayes ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. MacGregor : After the tragic collision between the Bowbelle and the Marchioness in August 1989 an

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investigation by the marine accident investigation branch--MAIB--was immediately mounted. Directions on two new safety measures were made straight away, and action put in hand on six further safety recommendations which were announced in the MAIB interim report 10 days later.

The MAIB final report could not be published until April 1991, because of possible prejudice to legal proceedings, but its 27 recommendations were published separately in July 1990. All were accepted immediately, and prompt action taken to put them into effect. All but eight recommendations have been implemented ; five of those outstanding have been the subject of public consultation, and resultant legislation will be in force this autumn ; one depends on international developments ; and consideration of the remaining two, relating to the involvement of military helicopters in civil search and rescue, is not yet completed.

The MAIB report commented, with the acknowledged benefit of hindsight, that action taken by the Department in the past had not gone as far as it should. My predecessor felt that further investigation was needed and invited Mr. John Hayes, secretary of the Law Society, to carry out an inquiry into the Department of Transport's handling of its responsibility for the safety of vessels on rivers and inland waters. I am today publishing his report. While pointing out that

"The onus for the safety of travellers rests with the operators who undertake to provide a service for profit",

Mr. Hayes concludes that the Department

"showed technical competence and dedication but lacked the vision and drive to lead the river marine industry into accepting that high safety standards and commercial success were compatible."

I am considering carefully all Mr. Hayes's 22 recommendations. Several concern the overall approach of the Department to the exercise of its functions in this area. We are urged to take a much higher profile in promoting safety among a variety of fragmented operators and regulators. Conditions vary greatly in different parts of the country and I have therefore decided to establish a series of district marine safety committees throughout the United Kingdom to review for each area the way in which responsibilities for safety, rescue and accident prevention are presently distributed. The committees will identify risks and the scope for reducing them, assess the necessary new measures and ensure that systems are set up to support the arrangements.

Mr. Hayes made a number of suggestions concerning the way in which the Surveyor-General's Organisation should in future exercise its responsibilities in connection with safety on rivers and at sea. Following recent reports by the National Audit Office and a Committee in another place, I have had an internal review carried out. This has recommended that the organisation be reconstituted as a Marine Safety Agency, responsible to me and with the degree of independence enjoyed by other next steps agencies. I am therefore putting in hand work to establish whether the Surveyor-General's Organisation should become a candidate for executive agency status. I will make a further announcement of my conclusions in due course.

Mr. Hayes recommended that there should be an early review of the rescue arrangements and equipment on the Thames. The Government have given careful consideration to the recommendation but have concluded that a further review of this kind would not be justified. Action is, however, being taken to ensure that the lessons from the

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Marchioness/Bowbelle disaster have been fully assimil-ated. In addition, Thames rescue arrangements and equipment will also be examined by the relevant district marine safety committee as part of its wider review.

A full list of Mr. Hayes's recommendations and the Government's initial response to them is being placed in the Library.

Mr. Hayes's report makes a valuable contribution to the work we are doing to improve safety standards on our rivers and inland waterways, and I am most grateful to him for his work and that of his advisers, Captain Nic Rutherford and Mr. Mike Henderson.

Channel Tunnel

Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects rolling stock for channel tunnel night passenger services to be ordered.

Mr. Freeman : British Rail and its continental partner railways have now confirmed with Metro Cammell their order for rolling stock. Night services are expected to begin in 1995.

Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on discussions, within the Council of Ministers, about the intervention by the Commissioner for Competition Policy in the decision by British Rail, together with the national railways of France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, to operate through sleeper services via the channel tunnel ; and if he will resist any attempt to prevent the provision of such services.

Mr. Freeman : There has been no discussion of the channel tunnel night trains within the Council of Ministers. The question of exempting from European Community competition rules the joint venture agreement between the participating railways covering the purchase and operation of the night trains is a matter between the railways and the European Commission.

Air Transport Policy

Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to reply to the first report from the Transport Committee of Session 1991-92 on developments in European Community air transport policy.

Mr. MacGregor : My predecessor as Secretary of State, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), submitted the Government's response to the Committee on 16 March 1992. Copies of the response have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Civil Servants

Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants in his Department are paid at a rate exceeding that of a Cabinet Minister.

Mr. Norris : The total salary, including reduced parliamentary salary, of most Cabinet Ministers is £63,047. The number of civil servants in the Department of Transport whose pay currently exceeds this figure is one.

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Reduced-Mobility Workers

Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Council of Ministers to approve the draft directive on safe transport to work of workers with reduced mobility ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Roger Freeman : There was full discussion on the draft directive on safe transport to work of workers with reduced mobility in European Standing Committee A on 16 October 1991. I explained my position in detail at that time.

I welcome moves towards more accessible transport for people with disabilities and my Department is actively promoting and encouraging them. There are a number of legal and technical objections to the directive as currently drafted. I will be discussing with the industry, with disabled people as consumers and with European colleagues, the best way to make progress.

Unadopted Roads

Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend local authorities' duties and powers to adopt currently unadopted roads.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I have no such plans.

Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the obligations on local authorities to maintain those unadopted roads which have operated as public tracks for over 20 years.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Section 31 of the Highways Act 1980 provides that a way over land which has been enjoyed by the public as of right and uninterruptedly for fully 20 years shall be deemed to be dedicated as a highway. But of itself this imposes no obligation for such a highway to be maintained at public expense.

M1/M62

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration has been given to the quality of life in local communities within the proposed M1/M62 link road.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The effects of the proposals on local communities are considered in the environmental appraisal framework.

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which the M1/M62 link motorway will attract traffic from the Snake and Woodhead passes, and divert south Yorkshire trans-Pennine traffic through west Yorkshire via the M1.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : An assessment has been made which indicates that the transfer of trans-Pennine traffic from south Yorkshire to the proposed M1/M62 link road would not form a significant proportion of the total flow on that road.

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how financial evaluations of cost-effectiveness have been undertaken for the proposed M1/M62 link road.

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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The economic evaluation of the scheme has been carried out using the Department's standard cost-benefit analysis-- COBA. A copy of the COBA manual is in the House Library.

Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to announce the results of the public consultation process on the proposed M1/M62 motorway link ; and if he will undertake to publish (a) the number of responses in favour of the yellow route, (b) the number of responses against the yellow route, (c) the number of responses in favour of the purple route and (d) the number of responses against the purple route.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A full analysis of the response to the public consultation will take many months, after which an announcement will be made. Information about the responses will be published at that time.

Totton Western Bypass

Mr. Colvin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the inspector's report on the final stage of the Totton western bypass ; and when he expects to announce his final decision on the route.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The inspector's report on the reopened inquiries into the Totton western bypass was received by the Secretary of State for Transport on 28 May 1992. A final decision on the route may be expected by mid-August.

TRANSPORT

Lowestoft Relief Road

Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will instruct his officials to progress detailed discussions with staff at the Co-operative Wholesale Society factory at Lowestoft over the route of the A12 relief road and the new crossing of Lake Lothing ; and if he will make a statement ;

(2) when he expects to be in a position to give the hon. Member for Waveney a substantive reply further to his holding letter of 2 March, Ref. C/PSO/1907/92 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 6 July 1992] : The Co- operative Wholesale Society's alternative proposals for a Lowestoft relief road are currently the subject of an assessment of economic, environmental and engineering aspects. The assessment is expected to be complete in approximately four to six weeks' time, when a substantive reply to my hon. Friend's correspondence on the subject will be sent.

Severn Bridge

Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that those vans which are of the nature of saloon or estate cars in shape are classified as in category 1 for toll purposes under the Severn Bridges Act 1992.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 6 July 1992] : No. Car- based vans fall within the description of small goods vehicles for tolling purposes, and thus fall in toll category 2.

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Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the amount of traffic now taking the northern route for the journey into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge ;

(2) what change there has been in the amount of road accidents as a result of traffic taking the northern route into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge ; (3) what assessment he has made of environmental damage to villages in Gloucester as a result of traffic taking the northern route into Wales following the changes in the system of collecting tolls on the Severn bridge.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 6 July 1992] : No assessment has been made of the effects of traffic diversion from the Severn bridge as result of the recent toll changes. There was a reduction in westbound traffic flows on the bridge immediately after the introduction of the new tolls. There is already some evidence to show that some drivers who may have diverted initially are now reverting to using the bridge.

Motor Cycles

Mr. Rooney : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on type approval as relating to motor cycles.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Many representations have been received on EC type-approval, mostly from private individuals, but also from representative organisations and industry. Apart from questioning the need for type-approval, they stressed, among other things, that customisation, low-volume manufacturers and sale of second-hand machines should be protected. Some went on to advocate that type-approval should apply only to the original design of a motor-cycle and not to machines in use. While supporting the principle of EC type-approval, industry stressed that much more time was needed to bring the scheme into operation. The Government took up these and other points during EC negotiations, and are now content that the main concerns of the motor-cycle user and industry are met in the type-approval framework directive as adopted on 30 June.

Mr. Rooney : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the need for leg protectors for motor cyclists.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Many representations have been received on this matter, mostly from private individuals, but also from representative organisations and industry. The majority are opposed to leg protectors, and many reflect the view of the motor-cycle industry that they could increase injuries to other parts of the body, particularly the head. The Government's response to industry criticism has been in the form of a research paper by the Transport Research Laboratory (working paper WP/VS/213 : "TRL Review of Research on Motorcycle Leg Protection--1991"). Among other things, it concludes that all the evidence to date, and there is much of it covering a very wide range of conditions, shows the TRL- designed leg protectors to be successful in achieving their objectives of reducing leg injuries without increase of other injuries, while being compatible with the production of motor-cycles. I have arranged for a copy of the TRL review to be placed in the Library today.

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Mr. Rooney : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has has with the EC regarding type approval for motor cycles.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Full discussions were held in Council prior to the adoption of the EC motor-cycle type-approval framework directive on 30 June. A further 23 Commission proposals for the separate directives that will constitute EC motor-cycle whole-vehicle type-approval are yet to be considered by Council.

Street Furniture

Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what street furniture local authorities can add to unadopted roads (a) with and (b) without permission of the road owners.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Local authorities may place any street furniture in unadopted roads that they may in adopted roads unless the power to do so says otherwise.

A27

Mr. Higgins : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take regarding the blighted properties purchased on the proposed route of the A27 in the Worthing area and then let at an uneconomic rent when the leases expire in August.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : All our properties will be retained until our land-take for roadworks has been confirmed following public inquiries. As they expire, existing tenancies will be extended for further fixed terms. Rent reviews will have regard to current market rent levels and the means of the tenant.

M42

Mr. Mills : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the volume of traffic using the M42 motorway between the M6 junction and the M40 junction is greater than his Department's predictions ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department has made a number of predictions of likely traffic flows on this stretch of motorway over the period of several years during the phased construction of the M42 and M40 motorways. Projected flows for 1991 have varied between about 65,000 and 90,000 vehicles per day, with the whole of the M40 open to traffic. The figures vary for different parts of this stretch of motorway. The reasons for the disparity in the figures are changing circumstances affecting the basis on which traffic forecasts are made and the effects of developing plans for the trunk road network elsewhere. The actual flows for 1991 were about 95,000 vehicles per day.

Mr. Mills : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of noise levels experienced by residents of Knowle due to traffic on the M42 motorway after the completion of the link between the M42 and the M40 motorways ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department has made no such assessment. There is no statutory basis for one. The Department will be making an assessment of noise levels in this area when it widens the M42 motorway as proposed.

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Crossing Safety

Mr. Hendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to introduce safer road crossings.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A new type of pedestrian crossing, called a Puffin crossing, is being installed at 50 trunk road sites in England during 1992-93. This crossing is equipped to detect the presence of pedestrians both on the crossing itself and waiting to cross. It automatically gives sufficient time for slow-moving people to cross in comfort and is designed to improve road safety.

Solus 90

Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those ships that currently comply with Solus 90 ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Norris : The information requested is not available. All passenger ships built after 29 April 1990 and engaged on international voyages are required to comply with Solas 90.

Air Misses

Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement in respect of the reported air near-miss on 26 June, involving an United Airlines Boeing 767 and a Venezuelan business jet over south Wales ;

(2) if he will make a statement in respect of the reported air near-miss on 25 June, involving an Air UK F27 and a Royal Air Force Tornado at approximately 12,000 ft, 15 miles north of Grimsby.

Mr. Norris : The responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. All air- miss reports in United Kingdom airspace, involving civil or military aircraft, are investigated initially by the joint air-miss section of the national air traffic services, which is a joint CAA/Ministry of Defence organisation. They are then examined by the joint air-miss working group (JAWG), an independent committee drawn from a wide cross-section of responsible civil and aviation bodies. This incident is the subject of active investigation at this time. I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the CAA and have asked it to write to him direct when the investigation is complete.

Air Fares

Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) under what circumstances he is required to give approval for an air fare for scheduled flights in or out of the United Kingdom ;

(2) if he will set out the exact process by which an application for the setting of an airfare, for which he is required to give approval, is made ; to what extent it involves (a) the Civil Aviation Authority, (b) officials of his Department, (c) any other body and (d) Ministers.

Mr. Norris : At present, the Civil Aviation Authority has the power to regulate air fares. Fares on scheduled services within the EC performed by EC carriers have to be

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approved if they are reasonably related to the carrier's long-term fully allocated relevant costs, or otherwise meet the requirements of current EC legislation. Fares on services to points outside the EC are governed by bilateral arrangements. From 1 January 1993 all fares within the EC are to be set by free pricing : there will no longer be an approval system.

Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what powers he has to regulate the air fares of British charter airlines ;

(2) what powers he has to regulate the air fares of non-British charter airlines flying in and out of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Norris : The cost of a seat on a charter flight is part of the overall cost of the package offered by the tour operator. As from 1 January 1993, European Community arrangements will cover charter services for the first time. Existing practice will be continued, as those arrangements stipulate that charter rates are to be determined by free negotiation between the parties concerned.

Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will set out the powers he has to reject, vary, or accept applications for levels of air fares for (a) British scheduled airlines and (b) non-British scheduled airlines on routes other than EC or transatlantic ;

(2) if he will set out what powers he has to reject, vary, or accept applications for levels of air fares for (a) British scheduled airlines and (b) non-British scheduled airlines on transatlantic routes.

Mr. Norris : The Civil Aviation Authority has power to regulate air fares (a) in the case of United Kingdom airlines, under the air transport licensing provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and (b) in the case of airlines using foreign-registered aircraft, under part X of the Air Navigation Order 1989. In approving or disapproving a fare for international services the Civil Aviation Authority will have regard to the United Kingdom's international obligations.

Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the powers he has to reject, vary, or accept applications for levels of air fares for (a) British scheduled airlines and (b) non-British scheduled airlines on EC routes.

Mr. Norris : EC regulation 2342/90 presently covers the setting of fares on scheduled services within the EC performed by British and other EC carriers. Generally, fares have to be approved if they are related to the carrier's costs. Fares charged by carriers from third countries on EC routes are governed by the bilateral agreements under which those services are permitted.

Arrangements for EC carriers operating within the EC will change substantially on 1 January 1993 when free pricing is introduced for all carriers. The approval system disappears, and a carrier can bring in a fare on 24 hours' notice.

There will be a safeguard against unfair pricing ; but in agreeing this new regulation the Council and Commission made it clear that this safeguard was not intended as a means to reimpose a pricing policy on carriers. In the United Kingdom, whilst fares will be notified to the CAA, it will be for the Secretary of State to decide whether the safeguard should be activated.

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Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the date of the next meeting between his Department and the relevant United States authorities to discuss the Bermuda agreement.

Mr. Norris : The next round of discussions with the US authorities about possible liberalisation of the Bermuda 2 air services agreement is due to begin on 20 July.

Scheduled Flights

Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the United Kingdom airports from which scheduled transatlantic flights leave.

Mr. Norris : Scheduled passenger flights to airports in north America, south America, and the Caribbean leave the United Kingdom airports listed :

Glasgow

London Gatwick

London Heathrow

London Stansted

Manchester

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