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Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made to include the traditional elders in Somalia in the March negotiations and in relief and reconstruction plans ; and what plans he has to reduce the role of the warlords.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have made it clear to the United Nations that the reconciliation process and the development of rehabilitation plans must involve all sections of Somali society, particularly the traditional elders. Implementation of Security Council resolution 794 has reduced the ability of the warloads to hinder aid deliveries.
Liberia
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Security Council's special representative has yet reported back to the Council with his evaluation of the situation in Liberia under resolution 788 ; what further steps are being considered ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy, Mr. Gordon-Somers, has reported informally to the Security Council on his visit to Liberia. He has now returned to Liberia. The Secretary- General is expected to deliver his report on Mr. Gordon-Somers's evaluation to the Security Council in the last week of January. We would not wish to anticipate that report.
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to monitor developments of incursions of rebel forces from Liberia into Sierra Leone ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have been monitoring Liberian rebel incursions into Seirra Leone through our high commission in Freetown. Our defence adviser in Accra visits Sierra Leone regularly.
TRANSPORT
Driving Tests
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the proportion of those passing driving tests at the first time of taking in each of the last 10 years ;
(2) how many people successfully completing driving tests at the first time of taking in Wales in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Information on first-time passes is not collated regularly. Surveys carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory from time to time provide information on first-time pass rates for Great Britain.
Aircraft (Air Circulation)
Mr. Fry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what guidelines from the Civil Aviation Authority or his Department exist for the circulation rates of air in aircraft cabins necessary to safeguard the health of passengers and flight attendants ; and if the CAA takes regular readings of circulation rates of aircraft in service ;
(2) if the Civil Aviation Authority or his Department will initiate a review with the joint aviation authorities into cabin air quality issues and their effects on the health of passengers, flight attendants and crew ;
(3) what assessment the Civil Aviation Authority has made of the dangers to the health of flight attendants and passengers of high levels of ozone in aircraft cabins encountered on some high altitude, high latitude flights ; and what plans there are to introduce regulations to ensure ozone is kept within safe limits.
Mr. Norris : The Civil Aviation Authority and the joint aviation authorities--JAA--have no plans at present to review aircraft cabin air quality issues. The airworthiness requirements addressing fresh air supply in civil air transport aircraft cabins have remained unchanged for some years and the CAA does not believe there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a further review is necessary.
The European--JAA--airworthiness regulations include requirements for minimum fresh air ventilation flows expressed in terms of fresh air quantity per minute per person. These minimum flows must be provided in the event of a failure in the air supply system ; normal flow rates would be appreciably higher. The CAA does not consider it necessary to make regular checks of air flow rates in aircraft cabins.
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The JAA have reviewed the need for changes to aircraft systems to limit ozone levels and have concluded that no additional design features are required.Workers (Reduced Mobility)
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she next expects to discuss with other EC member states and the European Commission the proposed Council directive on minimum requirements to improve the mobility of and the safe transport to work of workers with reduced mobility ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The directive is not currently under discussion. The agenda for Council meetings is a matter for the current presidency in consultation with the Commission.
Glasgow Airport
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will sponsor a study of the environmental impact of aircraft noise in the urban area under the flight path of Glasgow airport ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : I understand that Glasgow airport has undertaken to operate a noise monitoring scheme agreed with the local district council. It also produces noise contours regularly and has a local consultative committee at which noise issues are discussed. In these circumstances, I do not see a need for a study by the Department.
Transport Policies (Land Use)
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the research work recently undertaken by his Department on the interaction of land use and transport policies and needs.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The consultants' report will be published shortly.
Driver Sleepiness
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention in relation to driver sleepiness.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We have now considered the review of research on driver fatigue undertaken for the Department by the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention. As a result, we have commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to manage a research programme into fatigue and driving which will involve Professor Horne's department at Loughborough university.
Trunk Roads
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions, and for how much mileage in each case, county highways have been redesignated as trunk roads in each of the past 10 years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The information is not readily available in the form required.
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Road Schemes, Oxford
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for a public inquiry into the north Oxfordshire tin hat scheme, the details of the Marston interchange and the A40 bypass north of Headington ; and what consideration has been given to holding a joint inquiry into the schemes.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Marston interchange is part of the A40 north of Oxford scheme. Draft orders for this scheme are expected to be published under the Highways Act 1980 later this year, followed by those for the A40 Headington bypass. The need for, and timing of, public inquiries into the schemes will be decided in the light of objections received following publication of the respective orders.
Rural Train Services
Mr. Pickthall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with British Rail the extension of request stopping on rural lines as an alternative to the closure of smal rural stations.
Mr. Freeman : I expect British Rail to have considered all realistic options before proposing closure of any station. I understand that any savings that might arise from making an unstaffed station a request stop are unlikely to be sufficient to influence materially its viability.
Search and Rescue
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the United Kingdom's international search and rescue commitments under (a) the Chicago convention on civil aviation 1947, (b) convention of the high seas 1958, (c) convention on safety of life at sea 1974, (d) the maritime search and rescue convention 1979 and (e) other relevant treaties or conventions to which the United Kingdom is a signatory.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 21 January 1993] : The United Kingdom's international search and rescue commitments under (a) international convention on civil aviation 1944--Chicago convention--are :
"Each contracting State undertakes to provide such measures of assistance to aircraft in distress in its territory as it may find practicable, and to permit, subject to control by its own authorities, the owners of the aircraft or authorities of the State in which the aircraft is registered to provide such measures of assistance as may be necessitated by the circumstances. Each contracting State, when undertaking search for missing aircraft, will collaborate in co-ordinated measures which may be recommended from time to time pursuant to this Convention."
(b) convention of the high seas 1958 are :
"Every coastal State shall promote the establishment and maintenance of an adequate and effective search and rescue service regarding safety on and over the sea and--where circumstances so require--by way of mutual regional arrangements co-operate with neighbouring States for this purpose."
(c) convention of safety of life at sea 1974 are :
"Each Contracting Government undertakes to ensure that any necessary arrangements are made for coast watching and for the rescue of persons in distress at sea round its coasts. These arrangements should include the establishment, operation and maintenance of such maritime safety facilities as are deemed practicable and necessary having regard to the density of the seagoing traffic and the navigational dangers and should, so far as possible, afford adequate means of locating and rescuing such persons."
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(d) international convention on maritime search and rescue 1979 are :"Parties shall ensure that necessary arrangements are made for the provision of adequate search and rescue services for persons in distress at sea round their coasts".
There are no other relevant search and rescue conventions and treaties to which the United Kingdom is a signatory.
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names of members and organisations they represent at the United Kingdom search and rescue committee and the district search and rescue and safety committee responsible for south-west Wales.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 22 January 1993] : A local coastal search and rescue committee responsible for south-west Wales has yet to be established. The district marine safety committee for Wales is split into sub- committees concerned with specific areas. Those present at the meeting of the sub-committee responsible for Whiteford Point to Cardigan Island including Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard were :
Mr. J. Leak-- DOT (Chairman)
Mr. J. Frost--MHPA
Mr. J. Haines--Cory Towage Ltd.
Mr. G. Taylor--Llanelli District Council
Mr. D. Williams--Llanelli District Council
Mr. T. Bennett--Preseli District Council
Mr. R. Phillips--Carmarthen District Council
Mr. C. Morgan--Saundersfoot Harbour Commissioners
Mr. F. V. Mountney--South Pembrokeshire District Council Mr. T. Lloyd-- Dyfed County Council
Mr. N, Saul--Sealink UK Ltd.
Mr. M. Earley--HM Coastguard
Mr. D. Millar--HM Coastguard
Mr. M. P. Jones--MAFF
Capt. N. Sainsbury--Cardiff Marine Office, DOT
Mr. N. J. Spring--Cardiff Marine Office, DOT
Mrs. A. Hay--Cardiff Marine Office, DOT (Secretary)
The members of the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Committee are as follows :
Mr. C. J. Harris (Chairman)--DoT DMEO
Cdr. D. T. Ancona--DoT Chief Coastguard
Mr. J. Astbury--DoT HMCG
Capt. R. Pomphrey--DoT DSG1B
Mr. A. G. Thorning--DoT Civil Aviation Safety Adviser
Ms. D. Parkin--DoT CAP2
Mr. E. J. Glover (Secretary)--DoT MEAD
Miss P. A. Brown (Assistant Secretary) DoT MEAD
AVM A. B. Blackley CBE AFC RAF--AOSNI RAF
Wg Cdr. M. J. Carlyle--MoD SAR (RAF)
Wg Cdr. White--Wg Cdr. Air RAF HQ 18 Gp
Mr. C. Kingham--MoD (Air)
Cdr. P. G. Millar--MoD (DNW/WASF)
Mr. J. R. G. Clark--MoD SEC (AIR)
Mr. R. M. Wilton--British Telecom
Mr. R. Burdess--British Telecom
Mr. H. E. Brenchley--Meteorological Office
Mr. I. Small--CAA C(G)2
AVM J. F. H. Tetley CB CVO--RNLI
Lt. Cdr. B. Miles--RNLI
Cdre. G. R. Cooper--RNLI
Mr. R. A. Hall--Chamber of Shipping
Capt. J. R. Corke--UK Offshore Operators Association
Capt. N. MacD Turner RD--Trinity House
Mrs. A. Welch--The Royal Aero Club
Mr. R. Sjoberg--Royal Yachting Association
Mr. B. Hayman--Royal Yachting Association
Mr. W. F. Hay CBE--Scottish Fishermen's Federation
Mr. R. Allan MBE--Scottish Fishermen's Federation
Mr. G. E. Lawry--Cornish Inshore Fishermen's Federation
Mr. D. R. Bond--National Union of Marine, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers (NUMAST)
Mr. M. Howard--National Union of Marine, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers (NUMAST)
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Capt. D. Whatling--British Air Line Pilots' Association (BALPA) Mr. T. Santamera--National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)Mr. J. Kinahan--National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
Capt. W. A. Kirwan--Director, Irish Maritime Emergency Service (IMES)
Capt. A. V. Cherry--British Air Transport Association (BATA) Mr. R. D. Mapleson--British Air Transport Association (BATA) Capt. D. M. Cowell--Isle of Man Government
Mr. Jeffard--North Yorkshire Police
Mr. F. MacLennan QPM FBIM--Deputy Chief Constable
ACPO(S)--Northern Constabulary
Mr. R. Evans--Assistant Chief Constable
ACPO(W)--South Wales Constabulary
Capt. R. M. Bullen--States of Jersey
Capt. T. A. Spencer--States of Guernsey
Capt. P. R. White--British Ports Federation
D. C. G. Brook Esq. CB CBE--Civil Emergencies Adviser Home Office
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