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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 26 November 1992
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Church Land and Property
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners what steps are taken to secure an independent valuation of church land and property before disposal.
Mr. Michael Alison : The Commissioners normally ask for an independent valuation when their statutory consent is sought to a sale of ecclesiastical property. The property investments which they themselves own are professionally valued every year.
TRANSPORT
Shipping and Seamen
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that new arrangements which may be brought forward for the General Register and Record Office of Shipping and Seamen will include requirements which specifically protect the recordsof ships' movements and the records of sailors in world war I and world war II.
Mr. Norris : My right hon. Friend is aware that the records presently held are of historical interest. They will continue to be retained under Public Record Office (PRO) rules.
Small Ships Register
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which organisation submitted the lowest tender in respect of providing a contract service for the Small Ships Register ;
(2) if he will give full details of the tender process followed with regard to the contract for the Small Ships Register including a list of the tenderers, a list of those short-listed and the successful tenderer ;
(3) what factors were taken into account in deciding the placement of the contract for the Small Ships Register.
Mr. Norris [holding answers 19 and 20 November 1992] : The tender process followed the Department's normal rules for competitive tender which comply with guidance notes issued by the Treasury's central unit on purchasing, with EC regulations and with Government accounting.
Seven firms were invited to tender, but offers were received from only three. In addition an inhouse bid was submitted by the Department's client division (The Register of Shipping and Seamen). Placement was decided on compliance with the Department's specification, value for money and quality. The contract was awarded to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency which submitted the tender which best met these requirements.
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It is not departmental policy to release information on firms tendering as this is regarded as commercial-in- confidence.Consultants
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the decision of the Government to cancel Cooper and Lybrand's commission to prepare a report on the post-monopoly charges for use of British Rail's rail track and infrastructure.
Mr. Freeman : Coopers and Lybrand is continuing to advise the Government on liberalising access to British Rail's track and infrastructure and charges for its use. The Government intend to publish proposals soon.
Nuclear Material
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the safety standards required in the transportation of plutonium in respect of the temperature and length of time of ship fires.
Mr. Norris : The safety test standards required for the transport of all radioactive material by all modes are those prescribed in the International Atomic Energy Agency's publication "Safety Series No. 6, 1985 Edition" (as amended 1990). These include a thermal test at a minimum temperature of 800 deg C sustained for a period of 30 minutes, after which the package must be shown to maintain its essential functions of containment, radiation shielding and criticality safety to prescribed limits.
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications of kinetic energy for safety standards which apply to the transportation in casks of plutonium in British coastal waters where a ship is travelling at 15 knots ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : Safety standards for the carriage of radioactive material in such flasks take into account the factors that could affect possible accidental damage to the cask, including energy absorbed. The fraction of the kinetic energy of a ship that would be so absorbed in an accident would be small ; most of it would be dissipated in deformation of the ship's structure.
Working Group
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the submissions to be considered by the joint International Atomic Energy Authority-International Maritime Organisation-United Nations Environment Programme.
Mr. Norris : Submissions to the joint IAEA-IMO-UNEP working group have not yet been completed. I shall place in the Library copies of any submissions that the United Kingdom makes.
Okehampton Bypass
Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many acres of public open space were lost in the construction of the Okehampton bypass.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 23 November 1992] : Of the land acquired for the Okehampton bypass :
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1.9 acres were open space ;approximately 20 acres were land which had previously been used by the public for recreation, and in respect of which the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport accepted the recommendation of the inquiry inspector that they be treated as "open space".
In addition to these 22 acres, temporary access rights were obtained to a further 1.6 acres during the construction period.
Road Capacity, Heathrow
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he is currently undertaking as to the capacity of roads in the west London and Heathrow areas to accommodate present and projected traffic ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The capacity of roads is a matter for the responsible highway authority. The British Airports Authority has consulted widely about its proposals for a fifth terminal at Heathrow airport and my Department is considering with them what improvements to the trunk road network may be necessary as a result of these proposals.
Plutonium
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what communication his Department has had with the Clinton-Gore presidential transition team on policies towards the international transport of plutonium.
Heathrow Airport (Emergency Services)
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the capacity of the emergency services to deal with any crash at or near Heathrow airport ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The Department of Transport has taken advice from the Civil Aviation Authority and BAA plc on this important matter. I am advised that the emergency services at Heathrow are able to mount a massive response in the event of any disaster occurring in the vicinity of the airport. The current procedures ensure, initially, that air traffic control (ATC) provides the pilot of an aircraft in distress with whatever assistance he requires to effect a safe landing. This includes immediately alerting the ground emergency services.
BAA manage the emergency services at Heathrow and under the terms of the aerodrome licence issued to it by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which derives from guidelines laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), it is obliged to provide a specific number of staff, fire-fighting and emergency equipment and medical expertise to deal with any aircraft disasters which occur either at Heathrow airport itself or within a two-mile radius. The emergency services provided by BAA exceed by almost double the quotas specified in the licence. Nevertheless, close ties are maintained with the police, fire brigades, ambulance services and local hospitals to ensure that back-up services are available to provide additional and immediate assistance should the need arise. Continuous reviews of the system ensure that the emergency procedures are kept up to date. Annual
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exercises conducted with volunteers and involving all the emergency services and local hospitals ensure that all concerned are familiar with the procedures. The last such exercise took place on 8 October 1992.Driving Tests
Mr. Ancram : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce into the driving test requirements for motorway driving and night driving.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I have no such plans. Including motorway and night driving in a test would imply a multi-part test without clear evidence that the significant extra costs would be justified. But I shall be considering whether, in the light of the recent consultation exercise by the Driving Standards Agency, these topics should be tackled more thoroughly in the theoretical element of the test.
Mr. Ancram : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what substantive changes have been made to the requirements for the driving test since 1962.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Key changes have been--
the introduction in 1969 of a separate test for the drivers of heavy goods vehicles ;
the introduction in 1985 of a separate test for drivers of coaches and buses ;
the introduction in 1989 of a motorcycle test with the examiner accompanying the candidate ;
the introduction in 1991 of a reverse-parking manoeuvre into the car driving test ;
the introduction in 1992 of a double-length driving test for certain disqualified drivers.
Local Safety Schemes
Mr. Day : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what applications he has received from local authorities in their transport policies and programmes submissions for schemes which are likely to give rates of return in excess of those typically achieved by local safety schemes.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 25 November 1992] : It is not possible to make such a direct comparison. Local safety schemes are assessed according to their first year rate of return in casualty reduction terms. Major road improvement schemes are subject to a detailed cost benefit analysis over a period of 30 years. Returns provided by local authorities indicate that the amount earmarked for local safety schemes in the transport supplementary grant settlement for 1991-92 produced an average first year rate of return of 76 per cent. and over the first three years an average rate of return of 213 per cent.
Initial analysis of authorities' transport policies and programme submissions for 1993-94 indicates that the average benefit to cost ratio of major scheme bids for TSG is 4.4 : 1.
Mr. Day : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the 1993-94 specific allocation in transport supplementary grant for local safety schemes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 25 November 1992] : The specific allocation to local safety schemes will be announced to Parliament by the Secretary of State as part of the local roads capital settlement, probably next month.
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Mr. Day : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when guidance will be issued to local authorities to enable them to use signing for red light and speed cameras for deterrence and road safety purposes.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 25 November 1992] : Trials are currently taking place to determine the most effective signing for camera installations. I expect to be able to issue guidance after these trials are completed early next year.
Mr. Day : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total bid of local authorities for transport supplementary grant for local safety schemes for 1993-94.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 25 November 1992] : A total of £117 million.
Driving Standards Agency
235. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 November, Official Report, columns 81-86, what has been the cost to the Exchequer of the chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency's visits to (a) Brussels on 4 November 1991 and (b) Paris on 12 October.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The total cost of each of these visits to the Exchequer was as follows :
Place |Air fare|Total ------------------------------------ Brussels |£257.60 |£394.36 Paris |£263.80 |£414.85
Vehicle Certification Agency
238. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 November, Official Report, columns 81-86, what has been the cost to the Exchequer during the last 12 months of the chief executive of the vehicle inspectorate's visits to (a) Munich and (b) Madrid.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There is expected to be no real cost to the Exchequer in respect of the Vehicle Certification Agency's chief executive travelling to Munich and Madrid because the agency's costs are covered by fees paid by applicants for type approval.
Driving Licences
240. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what documentation is included with new driving licences sent out from the Driver Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea ; and at what cost.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency at Swansea sends a basic information booklet and an organ donor card to drivers with their driving licences.
The annual cost of providing the booklet is £152,000. The cost of the organ donor card is met by the Department of Health.
British Rail
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 6 November, Official Report, column 424, if he will list the six companies who tendered for the consultancy on the sale of British Rail's freight operations.
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Mr. Freeman : This information is commercially confidential.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 November, Official Report, columns 81-86, what has been the cost to the Exchequer during the last 12 months of the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre's visits to (a) Dublin, (b) Germany and (c) Veendam, Holland, in October 1991.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The costs are £567 , £685 and £531 respectively.
A joint visit (September 1991) to both Dublin and Coleraine.
A1 (Upgrading)
Mr. Peter Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what asessment his Department has made on the effect of the upgrading of the A1 to motorway standard on trade in the north east.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : None. There is little doubt the upgrading of the route will open up development opportunities given the benefits of better access and communication. But it is too early to make accurate assessments.
PRIME MINISTER
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 26 November.
The Prime Minister : This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Iraq
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Prime Minister how many defendants in the Matrix Churchill case had assisted (a) the Secret Intelligence Service or (b) the Security Service in monitoring Iraq's defence capability.
The Prime Minister : It would be contrary to normal practice to comment further on intelligence matters.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Press Intrusion
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he will publish his proposals on press intrusion into the private lives of individuals.
Mr. Brooke : I shall announce what action the Government propose to take over press regulation after I have considered Sir David Calcutt's review of press self-regulation, which I hope to receive early in the new year.
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Concessionary Television Licences
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what representations he has received about the amendment of existing regulations to extend access by senior citizens living in sheltered housing accommodation to concessionary television licences ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what plans he has to relax the regulations affecting sheltered housing complexes to allow greater access for senior citizens to the concessionary television licence scheme ;
(3) if he will estimate the cost of the existing licence concession scheme for retired people living in sheltered housing complexes ; (4) if he will agree to meet representatives of local authorities to discuss the future development of the concessionary scheme for retired people living in sheltered housing complexes.
Mr. Brooke : Since 13 April this year, I have received 97 letters from Members of the House and 103 from members of the public, local authorities and other organisations on the subject of the concessionary television licence scheme. The current cost of the concessionary scheme in lost licence revenue is approximately £40 million a year. The Government have repeatedly made it clear that they have no plans to amend or extend the regulations governing the scheme, which were thoroughly overhauled in 1988 after long and careful consideration. I therefore consider that no useful purpose would be served by a meeting with representatives of local authorities to discuss the future of the scheme.
External Consultants
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list all of the reports commissioned from external consultants since April 1992 ; how many reports from external consultants to his Department led to further consultancy work being commissioned, stating for each of these who were the original and subsequent consultants and briefly describing the subject matter of the consultancy work ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The Department of National Heritage has commissioned the following reports from external consultants since April 1992 : Price Waterhouse--Investment analysis for DNH headquarters project. TECTUS--Space planning report for DNH headquarters project. Charles Douglas--Assessment of telephone installation options for new headquarters project.
Robin Johnson--Design proposals for housestyle plus design guide. PE International--Scoping study on provision of central services for DNH. This led to a further consultancy for PE International giving expert assistance for implementation of recommendations in their first report.
GAH Group--Report on aspects of the proposed National Lottery. These consultants were subsequently engaged to make a presentation to the Secretary of State and senior officials on the subject.
Ernst & Young--Report on the scope for market testing in the British Library.
Library and Information Statistics Unit, Loughborough University--Provision of selected public and university library statistics to the Library and Information Services Council for their Annual Report.
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PA Consultants--Report on aspects of the British Library St. Pancras project.Price Waterhouse--Report on financial systems and controls in place on British Library St. Pancras site.
Watts and Partners--Report on options for managing the maintenance and refurbishment of various historic state buildings and monuments in London.
Mr. Geoffrey Page--Report on an information technology strategy for the Royal Parks.
Mr. James Berry--Production of landscaping and ecological appraisals for the Royal Parks.
Mr. John Wilkinson--Development of a programme of free public entertainments in the Royal Parks, and research into sponsorship possibilities.
KPMG Management Consultants--Study for the Royal Parks Constabulary on the scope for use of information technology. This led to a design consultancy for KPMG Management Consultants for the management of the Royal Parks crime statistics.
Thesaurus--Statistical report on objects sold at auction in United Kingdom.
Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, Newcastle University--To establish a method for calculating numbers of day visitors to destinations within the United Kingdom for inclusion in local authority standard spending assessments.
Mr. Francis Butlin--Report on care and conservation of works of art in the Government Art Collection.
Ms. Isabel Horowitz--Report on care and conservation of works of art on the Government Art Collection.
Mr. David Harding--Report on care and conservation of works in Government Art Collection.
The Historic Royal Palaces Agency has commissioned the following reports from external consultants since April 1992 :
Communication by Design--Improved local signage for Kensington Palace.
Travers Morgan--Identification of plants for the Privy Garden at Hampton Court Palace.
Percy Flaxman--Restoration of Hampton Court maze.
Land Use Consultants--Ground maintenance costs of Hampton Court Gardens.
David Watson and Associates--Utilities tariff analysis and efficiency.
Protective Security Systems Limited--Security systems at Kensington Palace.
Grant Leisure Group--Catering facilities at the Tower of London. TOR Systems--Ticketing at the Tower of London.
H. H. Angus and Associates (UK) Ltd.--Electrical supply requirements at the Tower of London. This led to a design consultancy which has now been placed with RMJM (London) Limited.
Alan Baxter and Associates--Car parking at Hampton Court Palace. Alan Baxter and Associates--Brown road signs to Hampton Court Palace.
Fielden and Mawson--Real tennis court at Hampton Court Palace. Royal Ordnance--Security at Tower of London.
Baxter, Williams and Smith--Suitability of different types of building contract.
Caroe and Partners--Stonework at Tower of London.
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