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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 1 December 1992
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Legal Aid
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the estimate of his Department of the numbers of adults who (a) are at present liable to pay a contribution for civil legal aid and (b) are not at present liable to pay a contribution towards the cost of civil legal aid but would become so under the Lord Chancellor's proposals.
Mr. John M. Taylor : Information on eligibility for legal aid is available only on the basis of percentages of households. We estimate that about 23 per cent. of households are currently eligible for civil legal aid with a contribution. The proportion of households which are not at present liable to pay a contribution but will become so under the changes recently announced is estimated at 14 per cent.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Pakistan
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he plans to take to persuade the Pakistani authorities to review the death sentence for blasphemy passed on the Christian, Gul Masih ; and what representations he has made to the Pakistani Government concerning the treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have been carefully monitoring the position of all minorities in Pakistan, including Christians, for some time. We have regularly made our concerns known to the Pakistan Government, most recently on 30 November with the Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Shaharyar Khan. We understand that the case of Mr. Gul Masih has gone to appeal.
Bosnia
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government first became aware of aircraft flying in logistical or any other support of combat forces in the air exclusion zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina before 16 November.
Mr. Garel-Jones : Since the establishment of air and ground-based observation, we have become aware of reports of flights by military aircraft which have not been approved by the United Nations protection force. We have had no confirmation of the purpose of such flights, or evidence that the aircraft were used in combat missions.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral
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answer to the hon. Member for Western Isles on 25 November, Official Report, column 854, to what extent the ban on military flights imposed by United Nations resolutions 781 and 786 is limited to aircraft flying combat missions ; and to what extent it extends to any flights with a military purpose, with the exceptions of the United Nations protection force flights or other flights in support of United Nations operations or resolutions.Mr. Garel-Jones : United Nations Security Council resolutions 781 and 786 ban military flights in the airspace above
Bosnia-Herzegovina. The ban does not apply to UNPROFOR flights or to other flights in support of United Nations operations, including humanitarian assistance.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definition he uses of aircraft flying combat missions in his assessment of contraventions of the exclusion zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The United Nations protection force has produced guidelines which define a military flight for the purposes of United Nations Security Council resolutions 781 and 786 as any flight by a fixed- wing or rotary aircraft that has a military purpose. This excludes flights with a humanitarian purpose, or which are judged by UNPROFOR to be in the pursuance of the peace process.
We have no confirmed reports of aircraft being involved in combat activity over Bosnia-Herzegovina since 13 October.
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make it his policy in the Security Council of the United Nations to press for further measures necessary to enforce the ban on military flights in the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as provided for in resolution 786.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The United Nations Security Council made clear in resolution 786 its determination to consider urgently further measures necessary to enforce the ban on military flights over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the case of further violations reported to it.
Research Projects
Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 October, Official Report, column 27, how many scientists working on these projects had to sign the Official Secrets Acts or agree to any restrictions on publication or discussion of the project ; and how many projects in universities and polytechnics which were funded by the Government Communications Headquarters were signed in each year since 1979.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : Five scientists working on the projects listed in my answer of 19 October have signed the Official Secrets Act. The research commissioned by GCHQ is confined to unclassified subjects, as stated in my answer of 29 June, but there are clearly benefits to GCHQ to be able to discuss the context in which the research will be useful to them, and this of necessity involves revealing classified information to some of those involved.
The numbers of research contracts signed in each year since 1979 are as follows :
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Institutions |Number of contracts
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979
University of Birmingham |1
University of Surrey |1
1980
Loughborough University of Technology |1
1981
University of Sheffield |2
1982
University of Sheffield |1
University of Surrey |3
University of York |2
1983
University of Leicester |2
University of York |1
1984
University of Sheffield |1
1985
Cheltenham and Gloucester College
of Higher Education |1
University of Leicester |1
Plymouth Polytechnic |1
1986
Imperial College, London |1
University of York |1
Cheltenham and Gloucester College
of Higher Education |1
University of Leicester |1
University of Manchester |1
1987
Plymouth Polytechnic |1
University of Leicester |1
Cheltenham and Gloucester College
of Higher Education |1
1988
Plymouth Polytechnic |2
1989
Cambridge University |1
1990
University of Leicester |1
1991
University of Leicester |3
University of York |1
Oxford University |1
1992
University of York |2
Cheltenham and Gloucester College
of Higher Education |1
I have asked GCHQ to confirm the titles and cost of the projects referred to above and will write to the hon. Member when I have the full list.
During research for this question, a further contract has come to light which should have been included in my earlier answer. The contract signed in 1990 with the university of Leicester was worth £1,700. This should be added to the sum given in my answer of 29 June to give a total of £528,200. The contract was for testing and integration of DF subsystems.
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Correspondence
Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the average time taken by the Ministers in his Department, including himself, to answer letters from hon. Members, in each of the first three quarters of 1992, measuring the time from the receipt of the letter to the dispatch of the substantive reply.
Mr. Goodlad : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell) on 3 November, at col 173.
Running Costs
Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in achieving the target of a reduction of 1.5 per cent. in his Department's running costs for the present financial year, in the first half of this financial year ; and what specifically has been saved, by what means and in what areas of his responsibility.
Mr. Goodlad : The Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic and aid (Overseas Development Administration) Wings are expected to achieve efficiency savings of 2.3 per cent. and 2.74 per cent. respectively on running costs for 1992-93, thus exceeding the minimum target of 1.5 per cent.
The target areas for savings include relocation, staff reductions, overseas security, overseas estate, energy efficiency, training, travel, communications and information systems.
Neo-Nazi Activities
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Governments of the former Soviet Union concerning neo-Nazi and extreme right-wing activities in these countries ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We look to all countries of the former Soviet Union to live up to their obligations and commitments in respect of human rights, including the rights of ethnic and religious minorities. We use appropriate opportunities to express to their Governments our concern about the activities of extremist groupings of all persuasions.
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Governments of Germany, Spain, and France concerning neo-nazi activities in those countries ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Garel-Jones : Her Majesty's Government are very alert to the rise in attacks against foreigners in Europe. So are the Governments of Germany, France and Spain. The European Council has twice issued declarations expressing its condemnation of racism and xenophobia : at Dublin in June 1990 and at Maastricht in December 1991. The European Parliament also issued resolutions on the subject during its plenary sessions in March and November this year. The problem is being addressed both at the European and national level.
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Acquired Rights Directive
Mr. Tony Lloyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the effects of the acquired rights directive on (a) services which his Departments contracts out and (b) services which he plans to contract out in the future ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad : The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is fully aware of its obligation to take account of the effects of the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE), the British law based on the acquired rights directive, and of the directive itself, when contracting out any services, but the detailed implications have to be assessed in each particular case ; it is not possible to generalise.
European Union
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances and constitutional procedures he expects to deposit instruments of ratification in respect of titles I, V and VI of the treaty on European union with the President of the Italian Republic as required by that treaty.
Mr. Garel-Jones : The United Kingdom's instrument of ratification will be deposited with the Italian Government once we have given effect in United Kingdom law to those provisions of the treaty of European union which amend the European Community treaties previously enacted here. The instrument of ratification will cover all titles of the treaty on European union.
Iraq
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what responses have been made to requests and reports received from the United Nations special commission of inspection in Iraq or its executive chairman, Rolf Ekeus ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg [holding reply, 26 November] : The Government have made a significant contribution to the work of the United Nations special commission on Iraq as it seeks to implement relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. In response to UNSCOM's requests, we have supplied personnel for the UNSCOM inspection teams and some specialised equipment. It is not our practice to comment in detail on the information given to us by UNSCOM.
TRANSPORT
Aviation
Mr. Deva : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has reached on the case for compulsory third party insurance in aviation, in the light of the single market in aviation.
Mr. Norris : The EC licensing regulation (council regulation (EEC) No. 2407/92 of 23 July 1992), which is part of the single market in aviation, introduces from 1 January 1993 a statutory requirement for air carriers to hold insurance to cover liability in case of accidents in
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respect of passengers, luggage, cargo, mail and third parties. Any air transport operator established within the European Community and operating commercially will, with minor exceptions, be subject to this requirement as a condition of holding the new operating licence--which all Community air carriers will need to have. My Department had already been examining the case for a general scheme, within the United Kingdom only, of compulsory third party insurance for all United Kingdom operators and pilots. In the light of consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority and the insurance industry (and in the light of the new EC requirement), my officials have found no reason to doubt that the great majority of United Kingdom operators and pilots do already hold insurance in respect of third parties. Accordingly, taking into account the new EC requirement, I see no reason to add to bureaucracy and administrative costs by introducing a separate United Kingdom scheme.Correspondence
Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the average time taken by the Ministers in his Department, including himself, to answer letters from hon. Members, in each of the first three quarters of 1992, measuring the time from the receipt of the letter to the dispatch of the substantive reply.
Mr. Norris : The average time taken by Ministers in the Department of Transport, including the Secretary of State, to answer letters from hon. Members, in each of the first three quarters of 1992, measuring the time from the receipt of the letter to the despatch of the substantive reply is as follows :
1 January--31 March--average response time = 14.93 working days. 1 April-- 30 June--average response time = 15.98 working days. 1 July--30 September-- average response time = 14.83 working days. The target for ministerial correspondence in the Department of transport from letter in to reply out is 15 working days or less.
Running Costs
Mr. Sproat : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in achieving the target of a reduction of 1.5 per cent. in his Department's running costs for the present financial year, in the first half of this financial year ; and what specifically has been saved, by what means and in what areas of his responsibility.
Mr. Norris : My Department's running costs budget for financial year 1992-93 contains planned savings significantly in excess of 1.5 per cent.
The review of running costs at the mid-point of the financial year showed that the Department was within budget. The forecast outturn for the full year is also forecast to be within budget.
The savings initiatives are wide-ranging and varied. They include the continued equipment of most administrative staff with word processors, which has allowed the closure of a typing pool and a reduction in the number of typists, the computerisation of traffic area offices and a reduction in their number from eleven to eight, the contracting out of stationery and publications, energy conservation measures, and reductions in accommodation
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costs, as well as initiatives across the whole Department at working level to improve the effectiveness with which all resources are used.Further details of the efficiency targets set by my Department are given in the departmental management plan 1992-95, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.
Red Routes
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been allocated to the London boroughs of (a) Haringey, (b) Islington and (c) Tower Hamlets for work related to red routes since these were introduced.
Mr. Norris : The latest estimates of expenditure on approved works for the red route pilot scheme are as follows :
|£
--------------------------------------
(a) Haringey |778,000
(b) Islington |1,111,000
(c) Tower Hamlets |1,490,000
A further £526,000 has been provided for works in Hackney.
Rail Privatisation
Sir Keith Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the individuals and organisations he has consulted over his Department's current rail privatisation proposals.
Mr. Freeman : Many individuals and organisations have been consulted, and many others have volunteered their
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views. They include the British Railways Board, railway trade unions, local authorities, rail user consultative committees and other consumer groups, the CBI, commercial enterprises and financial institutions.Road Building
Mr. Peter Atkinson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent in each of the last five years on new road building ; if he will give the figures for each region ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department of Transport has spent £4.8 billion on the new construction of motorways and trunk roads in England in the period 1987-88 to 1991-92, broken down as follows :
|£ million
------------------------------
1987-88 |557
1988-89 |725
1989-90 |955
1990-91 |1,280
1991-92 |1,302
|-------
Total |4,818
The table sets out the expenditure by region.
In real terms (GDP deflated), expenditure rose 91 per cent. over the five years ; investment in new roads has increased further to £1, 446 million in 1992-93, and will rise to the record level of £1,496 million by 1994-95. This funding is being used to make excellent progress with the road programme ; since 1987-88 we have completed 604 miles of new motorway and trunk roads, including 72 bypasses.
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|c|Trunk roads and motorways in England: new construction expenditure (cash)|c| £ million Transport Regions |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |5 year Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eastern |79.7 |61.8 |69.6 |209.0 |240.5 |660.6 South Eastern |68.6 |121.0 |214.5 |313.0 |320.3 |1,037.4 North Western |56.1 |71.4 |63.9 |102.0 |100.0 |393.3 West Midlands |85.0 |162.3 |213.5 |165.5 |193.0 |819.3 Yorkshire and Humberside |56.1 |39.4 |30.2 |41.3 |48.7 |215.7 South Western |93.6 |103.3 |92.2 |119.4 |122.8 |531.3 East Midlands |29.7 |73.7 |88.0 |152.8 |100.7 |444.9 Northern |28.9 |39.1 |58.1 |55.3 |34.4 |215.8 London |59.1 |53.0 |124.5 |121.4 |141.6 |499.6 Total (Cash) |556.8 |725.0 |954.5 |1,279.5 |1,302.0 |4,817.9 Total (GDP deflated constant 1992-93 prices) |708.9 |884.7 |1,115.9 |1,411.0 |1,355.1 |5,475.7
A27 (Improvements)
Mr. Higgins : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the amount which would be payable under the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 if his preferred route for the A27 Worthing-Lancing improvements scheme went ahead ; and what is the corresponding amount for the bypass north of Cissbury ring.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The estimated sums payable under the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 are £22.84 million for the published route and £837,000 for the route north of Cissbury ring at current prices. These sums are
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included in the "land cost" estimates shown in the recently published brochure for the A27 Worthing-Lancing scheme.Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
Mr. Robert Ainsworth : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representation his Department has received from the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : My right hon. Friend has not received any representations recently from the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors, although it did send him a copy of its letter of 1 October to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor about the importance of investment in transport infrastructure. We have had a number of useful
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discussions with the federation this year, and there is a regular dialogue with the Department which has enabled a helpful exchange of views on various matters.Main Line Rail Services
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will establish a target date by which time all major freight and passenger ports and airports will be served by a main line railway.
Mr. Freeman : No. The provision of railway infrastructure is a matter for the British Railways Board.
Out of Town Shopping
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted by his Department into the effect of the development of out of town shopping facilities on the level of car journeys undertaken.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There are two research projects currently in hand : (a) a series of traffic surveys on trip attraction rates at different sites for a variety of land uses, including retailing, in London and the south-east ; and (b) a joint DOE/DOT commission to investigate the relationship between land use and trip generation, and identify measures to reduce the need to travel.
Private Sidings and Rail Schemes
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to amend the criteria for section 8 payments for developing private sidings and rail schemes by (a) broadening the environmental criteria referred to to include motorways and trunk-roads and take account of congestion, (b) increasing the lorry sensitive mile value, (c) reducing the minimum qualifying period for asset use (d) the widening of the scheme to include intermodal operations.
Mr. Freeman : The criteria for the payment of freight facilities grants were broadened last year and we are continuing to keep their effectiveness under review. The grants scheme will require amendment in due course to reflect the privatisation and liberalisation of rail freight.
Combined transport operations are eligible for grant.
Traffic Calming
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of traffic calming measures on the level of traffic on nearby roads.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Traffic calming measures can have the effect of displacing traffic onto nearby roads. We have advised highway authorities that traffic calming schemes need to be developed within an overall strategy for the roads in their areas.
The Department, through the Transport Research Laboratory, has studied some 60 traffic calming schemes introduced by local authorities. A preliminary assessment indicates that there has not been an increase in accidents on the surrounding road network.
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review his Department's guidelines for local highways authorities on traffic calming measures.
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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Advice and guidance on traffic calming is kept under review and brought up to date in the light of experience, changes in the law and the results of research.
My Department is currently working on traffic calming regulations, under provisions of the Traffic Calming Act 1992. We aim to undertake a public consultation soon and lay regulations before the House in the new year.
Motoring Campaigns
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what publicity campaigns have been launched by his Department during 1991 and to date in 1992 highlighting (a) the importance of proper car maintenance, (b) reduction of speed for (i) cars and (ii) lorries, (c) acceleration and braking and (d) encouragement of public transport usage ; and what is the amount allocated to each individual campaign.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : During 1991 and 1992 the Department launched two major television advertising campaigns (with the slogan "Kill your speed, not a child") aimed at the reduction of driving speed in residential areas. The amounts allocated to this campaign were £1.2 million in 1991 and £2.3 million in 1992.
A number of campaigns launched in 1991 and 1992 have addressed issues raised by the hon. Member, for example :
April 1991
Travel Safely by Public Transport.
June 1991
Transport and the Environment. Included information on benefits of public transport.
August 1991
Safer, Cleaner, Wiser Driving. Leaflet issued with all vehicle licence renewals for 12 months. Included advice on maintenance. September 1991
Advice on new Road Traffic Act provisions. Leaflet issued with vehicle licence renewals for 12 months. Included advice about unroadworthy vehicles.
June 1992
Blunt Instrument public service information film for television. Encourages reduction of driving speed in residential areas. July 1992
Easy Ways to Save Fuel. Leaflet issued with vehicle licence renewals for 12 months. Includes advice on braking and accelerating and on use of public transport.
Many of these initiatives form part of wider campaigns covering a number of related issues, and it is not possible to provide costs in the form requested by the hon. Member.
A12 Dualling (Suffolk)
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the cost of dualling the A12 in Suffolk, including a new crossing at Lake Lothing ; and if he wil make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 30 November 1992] : The cost of dualling the A12 in Suffolk is currently estimated to be £197 million. This figure includes £82 million for the Lowestoft relief road and second harbour crossing.
Speed Limits
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the changes he has announced on speed limits to be in operation ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 30 November 1992] : A draft order was laid before the House on 23 November, seeking to remove the requirement for local authorities to obtain the Department's consent before establishing a speed limit on a principal road. This is subject to affirmative resolution of both Houses but I hope to be in a position to make the order by January 1993.
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