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Mr. Freeman : My right hon. Friend announced on 8 May 1992 that the ceiling had been set at £1,040 million. This figure has been increased to £1,150 million in the light of revised forecasts. British Rail's external financing limit for 1992-93 is not affected.
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Transport Projects
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to which EC countries take pollution and congestion into consideration as investment criteria when allocating funds in new transport projects ; and if he will outline the principal features of the criteria used in each case.
Mr. Freeman : Investment appraisal procedures vary markedly in their sophistication and scope between countries. All countries undertake some form of environmental assessment of transport schemes, as required by EC directive 85/337/EEC. There is no general agreement on the appropriate techniques for valuing environmental impacts ; consequently few countries attempt to value them directly. My officials are taking part in the EC EURET project "Cost Benefit and Multi Criteria Analysis for New Road Construction", which is surveying the appraisal methodology in use in member states for new road construction, with the ultimate objective of establishing a co-ordinated evaluation method to be made adaptable for use at Community level. The project is due to be completed this year and the final report published early next.
Road Maintenance (Cost)
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the most recent figures available for the cost per mile of road maintenance in the United Kingdom ; and how the figure is calculated.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : In 1991-92 the average cost of maintenance for the United Kingdom road network was £10,400 per mile. This figure is calculated from information collected by the Department of Transport, Scottish Office, Welsh Office and the Department of Environment (Northern Ireland). It is based on all types of maintenance expenditure, including structural, routine and winter, on all roads, both national and local.
Road Damage
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has carried out into the relative damage caused to road surfaces by different classes of road vehicles ; and if he will give specific details for (a) motor cars of 1300 cc engines and (b) loaded 20 ton commercial vehicles.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The research commissioned by the Department is recorded in the following two reports, copies of which are being made available to the Libraries in both Houses :
(a "Relative Damaging Power of Wheel Loads in Mixed Traffic" (TRL Laboratory Report 979, Crowthorne, 1981).
(b "Trends in Axle Loadings and Their Effect on Design of Road Pavements" (TRRL Research Report 138, Crowthorne, 1988). The results of that work have broadly confirmed and extended the original work on this topic undertaken in the United States of America between 1958 and 1961.
All motorcars, whatever the size of their engine, cause negligible road wear and tear compared with commercial vehicles.
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The relative wear and tear caused by fully laden commercial vehicles in the 20-tonne range is indicated by the following vehicle wear factors expressed as the number of standard 80KN axles.
|Factors
------------------------------------------------------------------
Two axle rigid (maximum gross weight 17 tonnes) |3.14
Three axle rigid (maximim gross weight 26 tonnes) |3.44
Three axle artic (maximum gross weight 26 tonnes) |4.50
Freight
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken into the environmental effects of freight travelling by (a) road and (b) rail ; and how these are taken into consideration as investment criteria when allocating funds in new transport projects.
Mr. Freeman : Research carried out by the Department into the environmental effects of freight travelling by road includes the "Lorries in the Community" study, undertaken by the Department in association with the Civic Trust and the County Surveyors Society, and the lorry management study, from which the resulting guidance was published in 1990.
The means by which environmental considerations are taken into account in the Department's investment appraisal procedures are explained in the Department's publication "The role of investment appraisal in road and rail transport" (1991).
The Government pay freight facilities grants to encourage private companies to use rail in cases where there are wider environmental and other benefits. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State yesterday announced substantial enhancements to this scheme, together with a new scheme, similar in concept, to contribute towards track charges for freight flows which would otherwise travel by road. These measures, together with our proposal for a lorry weight concession for combined transport--on which we shall be consulting widely--will help to encourage wider use of intermodal rail freight services.
Transport Costs
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to quantify the respective real costs, including all associated and indirect demands, on public funds of (a) road and (b) rail transport in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Freeman : Levels of public expenditure on road and rail transport are set out in the Department of Transport's annual report.
No comprehensive information is available on the effects of road and rail transport on other public expenditure programmes or on taxation, although costs such as policing are included in the track costs calculation for roads.
Road Safety
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent publications have been made available, and to whom, relating to road safety.
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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The following publications have been issued in the last three months :
Circular Roads 1/93 Local speed Limits,
"Killing Speed and Saving Lives--The Government's strategy for tackling the problem of excess speed on our roads"
The Highway Code
Copies were sent on publication to local authorities, local authority associations, police, interested professional organisations, lobby groups, monitoring organisations, and individuals who have requested copies. I also sent copies of the first two documents to Members who have written to me on the subject of speed in recent months.
In addition, a number of leaflets and posters have been issued to road safety officers, the police and motoring organisations dealing with winter driving, drinking and driving, including rehabilitation courses for drink drive offenders ; and seat belts.
The DVLA has also distributed leaflets on seatbelts, the highway code, speed and cycling with vehicle excise duty reminders. The transport research laboratory regularly publishes research reports on road safety topics.
Fatalities and Injuries
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities and serious injuries occurred per passenger mile, for each of the last five years for which figures are available for (a) the roads and (b) the railways.
Mr. Freeman : The figures requested are given in the table :
Fatal and serious injuries per billion passenger miles
Road Rail
Year |Fatal |Serious injuries|Fatal |Serious injuries
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991 |10.9 |124 |2.3 |3.9
1990 |12.6 |145 |1.4 |4.8
1989 |13.0 |153 |1.3 |5.5
1988 |13.2 |166 |2.7 |6.9
1987 |14.0 |177 |1.6 |3.9
Departmental Investment Priorities
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account his Department takes in determining its transport investment priorities of the comparative safety risks associated with (a) road and (b) rail travel.
Mr. Freeman : Investment appraisal on roads is carried out using a well-established set of values for casualty reductions. The increased funding for local safety schemes indicates the high priority which is given to proven cost-effective measures for reducing road casualties.
All railway investment includes the cost of meeting relevant safety standards. Where alternative road and rail schemes are compared the safety benefits of any transfers from road to rail are taken into account in assessing the case for grant support.
Road Congestion and Accidents
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates his Department has made as to the total cost to industry of (a) road congestion and (b) road accidents.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : (a) The Department does not make an estimate of the total cost of road congestion as it
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does not believe there is a reliable method of making such an estimate. However, for each road scheme the contribution which it makes to reducing congestion is a central part of the assessment. This is in line with the objective of the roads programme to assist in economic development through the reduction of transport costs. (b) The best available estimate of the loss of productive capacity in the economy as a whole from road accidents is £1.8 billion per annum. This applies to all sectors, not industry alone as usually defined.Underground and Rail Systems (Deaf People)
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to ensure that underground and rail systems have appropriate electronic boards or visual displays capable of notifying deaf and hearing people of changes to scheduled services or safety and security alerts.
Mr. Freeman : My Department is jointly funding with the passenger transport executives a project to produce guidelines on facilities for people with disabilities in transport terminals and interchanges. These guidelines, which are due to be published shortly, will include advice on the use of visual displays to meet the needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Railways Bill
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he expects in the current structure and practice of national negotiations and conciliation practises within the railway service consequent to the implementation of the Railways Bill ; and what assessment he has made of the consequent desirability of maintaining a single structure of training and qualifications for various grades of personnel other than the means of funding such internal training and supervision of operating standards.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 2 February 1993] : The existing national arrangements for those parts of the business that remain in BR will be unchanged, subject to any renegotiation found to be necessary after privatisation. Arrangements for negotiation and conciliation with employees in those parts of BR that transfer to the private sector will be for the new owners and employees.
The Railway Industry Training Council, a voluntary body, already has private sector representation. There is no reason why its work should not continue after privatisation.
Accident Prevention
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's budget for accident prevention.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 2 February 1993] : Safety and accident prevention are a high priority throughout the Department and many of the Department's activities are designed to enhance safety. It is not therefore possible to give a separate figure for the Department's budget for accident prevention.
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SCOTLAND
Constitutional Change
13. Mr. Salmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on constitutional change in Scotland.
Mr. Lang : Our review of constitutional arrangements is well advanced. We will report to the House once the results of the review are complete.
34. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what further stock he has taken on the future government of Scotland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lang : Our review of constitutional arrangements is well advanced and I hope we will be able to report to the House in a few weeks' time.
Long-term Care (House Sales)
14. Mr. Connarty : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland to this date have had their homes sold as assets to pay for a placement in long-term care ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart : Statistics on the number of residents in long-term residential care who have sold their former dwellings in order to meet the cost of long-term care accommodation are not held centrally.
Stobhill Hospital
15. Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the future of Stobhill hospital.
Mr. Stewart : Greater Glasgow health board is conducting a review of all its acute and maternity services. Stobhill hospital features as part of that review. I look forward to receiving the health board's recommendations in due course.
Holyrood House
16. Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many days, in each year since 1987, the Palace of Holyrood House was occupied by the sovereign.
Sir Hector Monro : In recent years Her Majesty and other members of the royal family have made regular use of the Palace of Holyrood House. In addition the Lord High Commissioner is in residence for some 10 days each year. The palace was also a very successful venue for the European Council last December.
Construction Industry
17. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many small businesses in the construction industry have ceased trading in Scotland in the last three months.
Mr. Stewart : Comprehensive figures on the number of business failures involving small firms in the construction sector in Scotland are not available.
Skye Bridge
18. Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on progress towards the completion of the bridge to Skye.
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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Because of the very stormy weather conditions recently experienced, the planned floating-out and sinking operation for the bridge caissons has been delayed. The contractor intends to mobilise his resources quickly for this critical operation as soon as an appropriate weather window becomes available. It is not expected that the target of completion by mid-1995 will be affected.
NHS Trusts
19. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria he uses in making appointments to the boards of NHS trusts.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend appoints NHS trust non-executive directors for the personal qualities that they have and their ability to make an effective contribution, individually and collectively, to the trust's work.
25. Mr. Donohoe : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria were used by him in selecting the members of the three hospital trusts in Ayrshire.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend appoints NHS trust non-executive directors for the personal qualities that they have and their ability to make an effective contribution, individually and collectively, to the trust's work.
Oil Spillage (Shetland Islands)
20. Mr. Fabricant : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the rate of progress of cleaning up the oil spillage in the Shetland Islands and its effect on wildlife and agriculture.
Sir Hector Monro : Very good progress has been made in cleaning up the visible oil pollution from the wrecked tanker MV Braer. Comprehensive arrangements have been put in place to monitor the immediate and longer term effects. My right hon. Friend outlined the steps taken by the Government in his statement of 11 January. The ecological steering group has been set up and will certainly be monitoring wildlife and agriculture.
Labour Statistics
21. Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of long-term unemployed (a) adults and (b) persons aged 16 years to 24 years recorded by jobcentres covering the east end of Glasgow ; and what percentage of the total unemployment in these centres these figures represent.
Mr. Stewart : Within the constituencies of Glasgow, Shettleston and Glasgow, Provan in October 1992 there were 1,090 persons aged less than 25 who had been unemployed for more than a year. This represents 33 per cent. of the unemployed in this age group. There were 3,660 persons aged over 25 who had been unemployed for more than a year, representing 55 per cent. of the unemployed in this age group.
Scottish Enterprise (Charter Statement)
22. Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the charter statement of Scottish Enterprise.
Mr. Stewart : Scottish Enterprise has recently published a charter standard statement outlining the body's
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commitment to serving the economic and environmental needs of Scotland and to enhancing the skills of its people. The local enterprise companies are developing parallel statements ; and two have already been published. My right hon. Friend had emphasised the importance of the citizens charter in his strategic guidance to Scottish Enterprise, towards the end of 1991 ; and the Government warmly welcome the action which Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies are taking to put citizens charter principles into practice.Scotch Whisky
23. Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what forecast he has made as to the production of Scotch whisky in 1993.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend has made no such forecast.
Seed and Ware Potatoes
24. Mr. Welsh : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the contribution of the seed and ware potato industries annually to Scotland.
Sir Hector Monro : Potatoes are an important feature of Scottish farm production which are renowned for their high health status and quality.
Total production is normally in excess of 1 million tonnes annually and worth an estimated £70 million. This represents some 4.5 per cent. of total farm output.
Local Authorities (Employment Practices)
26. Mr. Thomason : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement as to the availability of advice from the Scottish Office to local authorities on their employment practices.
Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend has no locus in the employment practices of local authorities and has therefore offered no advice on the subject. However, the national code of local government conduct, issued in April 1990, includes guidance on conduct by councillors in employment matters.
30. Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a guidance note for councillors in Scottish local authorities on good practices in employment.
Mr. Stewart : The national code of local government conduct, issued in April 1990, includes guidance on conduct by councillors in employment matters. My right hon. Friend has no plans to issue any further guidance to councillors in Scottish local authorities.
Private Medical Insurance (Advertising)
27. Mr. Robert Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has recently given to health boards and NHS trusts on permitting private medical insurance to include hospitals in advertising material.
Mr. Stewart : No advice about permitting private medical insurance companies to include hospitals in advertising material has been offered to health boards and NHS trusts, but in July 1991 the Department of Health
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wrote to all United Kingdom health insurers advising them of the statutory framework and management controls governing the conduct of private practice in NHS hospitals.Stranraer Harbour
28. Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to assist the improvement of facilities at Stranraer harbour for foot passengers and berthing of vessels.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Stranraer is a commercial harbour and, as such, falls within the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. Improvements to facilities at commercial harbours are a matter for the owners.
HLCAs and Wool Price Guarantee
29. Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the effect on hill farmers of the reduction in hill livestock compensatory allowances and the ending of the wool price guarantee scheme.
Sir Hector Monro : I have received representations on both matters from several hon. Members, farmers and a number of bodies representing farmers and crofters. In responding to these representations, I have pointed out that a number of recent decisions will result in farmers and crofters receiving for 1992 an additional £4.05 per ewe in the sheep annual premium payment, £1.80 more than the reduction of £2.25 in the hill sheep compensatory allowance.
Written Questions
31. Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many written parliamentary questions he has answered in the current Session.
Mr. Lang : As at Tuesday 3 February my ministerial colleagues and I have answered 1,261 written parliamentary questions in the current Session, 166 of which I have responded to personally.
Legal Aid
32. Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the change in costs of civil legal aid over the latest five years.
Mr. James Douglas-Hamilton : The gross expenditure on civil legal aid in 1987-88 was £15.7 million. This had risen to £16.6 million in 1991-92. Estimated expenditure in the current year is £23.5 million, a rise of 43 per cent. over the previous year.
Inward Investment
33. Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the value of inward investment to Scotland since 1979.
Mr. Stewart : Figures prior to the establishment of Locate in Scotland in 1981 are not available.
From April 1981 to March 1992 Locate in Scotland has recorded planned inward investment in Scotland by companies, totalling some £4.6 billion.
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Edinburgh
35. Mr. Raymond S. Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made on the role of Edinburgh (a) as a key financial centre and (b) as a venue for major international conferences.
Mr. Stewart : Edinburgh has a well-established reputation as a business and financial centre of international standing. The city is the acknowledged focus of the Scottish financial services sector which contributes some 15 per cent. to Scottish gross domestic product--twice the European Community average. Edinburgh's status in the international conference market has been strongly enhanced by its success in hosting the meeting of the European Council in December 1992 and will be further strengthened by the completion of the Edinburgh international conference centre in 1995.
Local Government Finance
36. Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of COSLA to discuss the funding of local government.
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Mr. Stewart : My right hon. Friend met the convention on 18 January as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters. Further such meetings will be held later this year on dates to be arranged.
Planning Procedures
Sir David Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the mechanism for challenging planning appeal decisions in Scotland and costs thereof ; and what proposals he has to change it.
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