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A49-465 Bypass
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the relationship between his Department's current assessment of the comparative construction costs of the A49-465 Hereford bypass (a) published route and (b) western alternative route 1C and the cost assessment stated by his Department in public inquiry document 11/3 on route 1C ; if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the components of the cost assessments in each case ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) what number of farms would suffer from severance under (a) the published route for the A49-A465 bypass and (b) the western alternative route 1C ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) what representations he received from English Nature and its predecessor organisations concerning the relative merits of the A49-465 Hereford bypass eastern or western routes ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on Friday 5 February 1993, Vol. 218, column 390.
Bridges (Grouted Duct Tendons)
Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of the use of grouted duct tendons as part of box-girder bridges ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department announced on 25 September 1992 that until new standards are available no new bridges using grouted duct post-tensioned prestressed concrete will be commissioned. The announcement covered all types of this form of bridge construction including concrete box-girder bridges. Bridges which are already being designed are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis and decisions taken whether to continue with the design of the bridge as a post-tensioned structure. Those bridges at an advanced stage of design or under construction when the announcement was made are continuing, although where necessary additional quality control is being adopted during their construction.
Vehicle Emissions
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to introduce an MOT compliance standard on vehicle emissions based on manufacturers' own conformity of production standards.
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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : An amendment to the EC roadworthiness directive made last year means that emissions standards may be based either on vehicle manufactures' stated maximum limits or on fixed common limits. This directive will take effect on 1 January next year for vehicles with conventional petrol engines, 1 January 1996 for vehicles with diesel engines and 1 January 1997 for petrol-engined vehicles with catalytic converters. I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion and the Department will consult interested parties with draft regulations implementing the directive.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to bring forward proposals for additional powers to his Department's vehicle inspectorate to enable them (a) to make a visual assessment of smoking vehicles in use on roads and (b) to impose a legal requirement on vehicle owners of a detected smoking vehicle to have the vehicle checked at an MOT testing station following detection.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The vehicle inspectorate's examiners already have the power to assess smoke from a vehicle stopped at a roadside check and to prohibit the use of that vehicle if the smoke is excessive. Such a prohibition can be cleared only when an examiner is satisfied that the emission of smoke has been reduced to an acceptable level and this may require that the vehicle is first inspected at a testing station.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many instances of vehicles emitting excess smoke were reported to each of his Department's area offices during each of the last three years.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : This information is available for the period from 1 April 1991 :
Traffic area |1991-92 |<1>1992-93
----------------------------------------------------------------------
South Eastern and Metropolitan |636 |468
North Western |154 |178
Scottish |36 |41
North Eastern |86 |114
West Midland and South Wales |114 |156
Eastern |159 |172
Western |298 |949
|------- |-------
Total |1,483 |2,078
<1> April to December.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken to date (a) to publicise his Department's area offices to whom complaints on vehicles emitting excessive smoke should be made, including contact names and telephone numbers and (b) to publicise the courses of action open to his Department to deal with such complaints.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Department of the Environment's leaflet "Wake up to what you can do for the environment", issued in 1990, gave advice on how members of the public could help to tackle environmental nuisance, including reporting excessively smoking vehicles to traffic area offices. We hope that a separate leaflet dealing specifically with smoky vehicles will be issued shortly. This will include the addresses and telephone numbers of the relevant offices and it will also outline what follow-up action is taken in response to complaints.
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Incident Detection and Signalling Technology
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to date to secure that (a) the motorway network and (b) the trunk road network in the United Kingdom are equipped with automatic incident detection and signalling technology.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : With only minor exceptions the motorway network in England is equipped with signals. The provision of signalling technology on all purpose trunk roads is governed by safety-related needs.
The installation of automatic incident detection and signalling on sections of motorway where traffic flows are heavy has been approved in principle and a programme for installation is being identified. I have no plans to provide automatic incident detection and signalling technology on all- purpose trunk roads.
A21 (Report)
Mrs. Lait : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report from East Sussex county council on the A21.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : East Sussex county council has submitted its report on the study into possible need for further improvements to the A21 trunk road within the county and we are now considering it.
Good Roads Guide"
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date he issued the press release announcing the publication of the "Good Roads Guide" ; and on what dates a complete copy of the "Good Roads Guide" was (a) placed in the Library and (b) placed on sale to the general public.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : A press release to announce the launch of the "Good Roads Guide" in England was issued on 6 January 1993. The "Good Roads Guide" is the name given to a collection of nine United Kingdom advice notes for inclusion in the new United Kingdom design manual for roads and bridges. This is a technical publication and copies are not normally deposited in the Library. A limited number of specially bound editions were produced for the press release. These are no longer available.
The nine United Kingdom advice notes will be available for sale to the general public at the end of the month.
London Transport (Capital Investment)
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the capital investment at constant prices by (a) London Transport and (b) London Underground, excluding the Jubilee line extension in 1991-92, 1992-93 and planned for 1993-94 and 1994-95 in the 1991 autumn statement and now proposed for 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Mr. Norris : The table sets out LT's investment plans following the 1991 autumn statement. The investment budgets for London Transport and London Underground Ltd. in the light of the 1992 autumn statement have not yet been decided.
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<
|1991-92|1992-93|1993-94|1994-95
------------------------------------------------------------
LT total excluding
Jubilee line
extension |370 |650<1> |870 |830
LUL total excluding
Jubilee line
extension |310 |580<1> |820 |765
<1> Latest outturn forecasts.
All figures at 1992-93 prices.
Goods Vehicles
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining his Department's position on proposals for a common EC motorway usage charge for goods vehicles.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : No such proposals have been made. The Transport Council has, however, been considering a draft directive which among other things sets out the conditions on which individual member states may, if they wish, levy tolls or other user charges on heavy goods vehicles for the use of their motorways. At its last meeting on 21 December the Council was unable to reach any agreement on this draft.
Car Crashes
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 February Official Report, column 117 , on injury crashes, if he will express the estimates as incidence rates.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Comparable injury accident rates for drivers aged 17, 18 and 19 in relation to the number of full and provisional car driving licence holders in 1991 within these age groups, are available only for Northern Ireland and Great Britain and are shown in the table :
Accident Rates (Per 100 driving licence holders within each age group) Accident Rates: Full and Provisional Licence Holders Age |Northern Ireland|Great Britain -------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 |1.3 |2.7 18 |1.9 |2.8 19 |1.9 |2.3 Total (17 to 19) |1.8 |2.6
It would have been preferable to calculate rates in relation to mileage, which is a better measure of exposure to risk than numbers of licence holders, but this information is not available.
Variable Message Signs
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are currently undertaken by his Department to enhance the usage of variable message signs on the motorway network and non-motorway road network in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The use of variable message signs on English motorways and all-purpose trunk roads has increased in recent years, most notably around the Manchester and Birmingham conurbations. A new design of motorway signal incorporating a variable message
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capability has been trialled on the M25 and approved for installation on all English motorways that are to be widened to dual four lanes.My Department is preparing to install a traffic management VMS scheme on roads in Kent comprising the M20 and M26 from the M25 to Folkestone and the A2/M2/A2 route from Dartford--M25--to Dover. Further applications for use of VMS are being considered.
Motorways (Productivity Targets)
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to (a) establish clear productivity targets for each United Kingdom motorway and (b) appoint network managers for individual motorways or groups of motorways.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Motorway performance depends on a wide range of factors, including particularly the traffic volumes at the time, maintenance requirements and accidents. Investment is carefully targeted to produce maximum return in reducing delay and accidents, subject to full environmental appraisal. The economic assessment of English motorway schemes continues to produce an overall benefit-to-cost ratio of 2.6 : 1.
The growing pressures of managing the network of motorways and other trunk roads in England were recognised in the reorganisation of responsibility within my Department in 1990 when regional network management divisions were established.
Motorways (Lighting)
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to establish a target date for all motorways in the United Kingdom to be wholly lit.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : It is not planned to light the whole of the motorway network in England. Lighting is provided, subject to environmental appraisal, where it can be justified on safety grounds, taking account of the savings in night-time accidents.
Concessionary Rail Travel
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, column 869, if he will list the number of dependants in each of the categories of people listed in his answer who receive (a) free unrestricted travel and (b) restricted concessionary travel.
Mr. Freeman : I understand that no recipients of British Rail staff travel facilities have unrestricted free travel on BR train services. All concessionary arrangements exclude specific services which are subject to heavy public demand.
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those categories of people entitled to concessionary (a) unlimited first-class travel, (b) restricted first-class and second-class travel and (c) second-class travel on British Rail services, stating the number in each category and the annual total cost.
Mr. Freeman : The figures requested are not readily available. However, it is estimated that approximately 5 per cent. of British Rail staff are granted first-class travel facilities, excluding use only for specific services subject to heavy public demand.
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Garage Equipment
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to require garage proprietors to maintain air lines and pressure gauges in good working order.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : No. Although it is important that correct tyre pressures are maintained, a new regulatory or other requirement on garage proprietors could not be justified.
Consultants
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the firms of consultants used by his Department as part of the market testing programme since November 1991 together with the total cost ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Two consultancy advisory commissions have been awarded at a total cost of £26,650 plus VAT.
Mr. R. C. D. Walker, ICI Specialties, was appointed as a consultant to advise on the Department's proposed market testing and contracting-out programme. The appointment commenced on 31 January 1992 and was completed by 31 March 1992.
CSL Group Ltd. was appointed to provide advice for certain customers of the Driver, Vehicles and Operators Information Technology Agency in preparation for changed contractual arrangements resulting from the privatisation of DVOIT. The appointment commenced on 22 January 1993.
Rail Privatisation
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the details of the access and charging regime that will apply under his proposals for the privatisation of British Rail.
Mr. Freeman : We have today published a document entitled "Gaining Access to the Railway". Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Betts : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much expenditure he intends to incur under the provisions of the British Coal and British Rail (Transfer Proposals) Act 1993 in preparation for rail privatisation.
British Rail Timetable
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who will be responsible for maintaining services covered by table 51 in the current BR timetable under his proposals for the railways ; whether a national railway timetable will be published twice a year as at present ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Following privatisation it will be for the franchising director to specify the passenger services to be provided by franchisees. His specification will be based on the timetable being operated by British Rail prior to franchising. BR will continue to run passenger services until they have been franchised. Railtrack will be required to ensure the publication of a national timetable. We expect that the frequency of publication will coincide with major timetable changes.
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Paddington-Fishguard Rail Service
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with (a) his opposite number in the Irish Republic and (b) the EC Transport Commissioner in relation to the timing of rail passenger services from Paddington to Fishguard.
Mr. Freeman : I have discussed transport links between the island of Ireland and Great Britain with Ministers of the Irish Republic and the EC Transport Commissioner on a number of occasions. These discussions have not, however, included such detailed matters as the timing of individual rail passenger services.
MV Braer (Oil Spillage)
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received arising out of the MV Braer oil incident on the desirability of establishing a tanker exclusion zone.
Mr. Norris : A number of representations have been received calling for tanker exclusion zones in certain areas. This will be covered by Lord Donaldson in his inquiry which in its terms of reference will give due consideration to the international implications of any measures.
Night Flights
Mr. Kenneth Baker : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing the total number of night flights permitted at Heathrow and Gatwick in the past winter and summer ; and what number would be permitted in 1993-94 under the proposals in the recent consultation paper (a) on the assumption that airlines use the same mix of aircraft as in the past year and (b) on the assumption that airlines choose to use quieter aircraft one quota lower than in the past year and assuming also that in the unlimited zero-rated category there are an additional 25 landings plus 25 take-offs per night ; and if he will indicate in each case whether the average volume of noise per year will be greater or less than in the past year.
Mr. Norris : The Department does not specify the total number of aircraft that may operate at night at Heathrow and Gatwick. Under the present night restrictions, the noisiest aircraft are not allowed to operate at night except for a small number of delayed departures. The less noisy aircraft may operate subject to quotas, but some aircraft are exempt. At Gatwick, the quotas were 2,250 movements for winter 1991-92 and 5,190 for summer 1992. At Heathrow, the quotas were 3,000 for winter 1991-92 and 2,750 for summer 1992.
The new quota levels proposed for the next five years in the consultation paper are designed to keep the overall noise levels below those in 1988. If the proposed new quotas were used by aircraft counting 1 or more under the new system, in the same mix as flew in summer 1992, the proposed summer quota of 9,000 for Gatwick would translate into 4,900 movements and 7,000 for Heathrow would translate into 2,550 movements. In addition to aircraft currently exempt, there would have been about 1,200 movements at Gatwick during the summer season by zero-rated aircraft--about six a night--and about 400 at Heathrow--about two a night. Even though the mix of aircraft using the new quotas may change, overall noise levels should not get worse.
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M62
Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the widening of the M62, junctions 14 to 17, included in the national roads investment plans for 1993-94 is intended to form part of the proposed greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : No. This widening will bring early, but short -term, relief to this busy motorway. Long-term relief would be provided by the proposed greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
Radioactive Materials
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of his assessment of the environmental hazards involved in the transport of radioactive materials by air, assuming a worst-case scenario of an aircraft carrying the highest permitted level of radioactive materials crashing on a main population centre ; and what contingency plans are in place to deal with such an emergency.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 5 February 1993] : In its report to the Secretary of State in 1988, the Advisory Committee for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material estimated that the consequence of a super-severe accident resulting from a plane crash in a suburban area- -1,400 people/km --would result in a mean value of very much less than one fatal cancer in 50 years, assuming that no counter-measures were taken.
Following such an accident, the police will activate the national arrangements for incidents involving radioactivity. Resources available to the police include experts from British Nuclear Fuels plc who are skilled in the handling of plutonium.
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many air movements took place in 1992 conveying radioactive materials in or out of (a) Manchester, (b) Liverpool and (c) other north west or northern airfields ; what is the highest permissible level of radioactivity in respect of such flights ; what was the actual highest level so transported ; and what percentage change he expects to the number of such flights over the coming five years.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 5 February 1993] : The Department does not keep a database of individual movements. The quantity of radioactive material which may be transported is limited by permitted radiation levels from the type of package and by criticality safety considerations if the material is fissile. The percentage change in the number of flights in future will depend on commercial considerations.
Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many movements of radioactive material have been notified to his Department in each of the past five years ; and if he will place a list of such movements in the Library.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 5 February 1993] : The Department does not keep a database of individual movements.
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M4
Mr. Simon Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the widening of the M4 between London and Swindon to begin.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 8 February 1993] : A contract for widening to four lanes of the short length of M4 between junctions 4B, M25, and 5, A4, has just been let and work will start shortly. Four other commissions to study the need and options for increasing capacity on the M4 between the M25 and junction 15 are proceeding satisfactorily and we expect to be in a position to start public consultation about further sections in the course of this year. Subsequent progress will depend on the outcome of public consultation and of any statutory procedures necessary and the availability of funding.
M1
Mr. Madel : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when major repairs between junctions 9 and 10 on the M1 were last completed ; why further repairs are now necessary ; why such repairs will last from March to December ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle [holding answer 8 February 1993] : The last substantial repairs on this section were completed in March 1991 and involved extensive patching to maintain the safety of the carriageway until the proposed widening of the motorway.
The works planned for this year are improvement works to widen the motorway to four lanes. At the same time major maintenance works will be carried out to extend the residual life of the existing carriageway. The extensive nature of these works is reflected in the contract period.
Shipping Routes
Mr. Macdonald : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's policy on each of the recommendations of the European Parliament relating to tanker movements made in response to the MV Braer oil incident in Shetland.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 8 February 1993] : The recommendations of the European Parliament relating to tanker movements raise a number of complex issues which can be effectively resolved only through international agreement at the International Maritime Organisation and elsewhere. Matters relating to radar coverage and pilotage will fall within the terms of reference of the inquiry that Lord Donaldson will hold.
Rail Staff (Deaths)
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the numbers and circumstances of deaths at work of rail staff over the past five years.
Mr. McLoughlin : I have been asked to reply.
The numbers of fatal accidents to railway and contractors staff for each year since 1987 is as follows :
Year |Number ------------------------- 1987 |16 1988 |16 1989 |18 1990 |22 <1>1991-92 |17 <1> This report covers a 15-month period 1 January 1991 to 31 March 1992.
Details of the circumstances of the deaths are given in the annual reports on railway safety in Great Britain for each year. Copies are available in the House Library.
SCOTLAND
Skye Bridge
Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to prohibit Caledonian MacBrayne from running a vehicle- carrying ferry between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin following the completion of the Skye bridge ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend will not permit Caledonian MacBrayne to provide such a service. At the time when it became necessary to introduce new vessels on the Kyle of Lochalsh-Kyleakin service in 1991, approval was given by the Department on the basis that, when the bridge was completed, the ferry service would be withdrawn and Caledonian MacBrayne would redeploy the vessels elsewhere in the network.
Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his policy will be, following construction of the Skye bridge, towards the existing piers at Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin (a) in respect of allowing vehicular access to the piers for the purposes of (i) enabling regular vehicle-carrying ferry service to operate in competition with the bridge and (ii) providing an emergency vehicle-carrying ferry service at times of emergency closure of the bridge and (b) in other respects ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend has no authority over the existing Kyleakin pier which is owned by the Highland regional council.
(a) (i) should a private vehicle ferry service wish to operate between Kyle and Kyleakin, an operator could do so providing the necessary approvals and licences were obtained and the appropriate facilities were available.
(ii) as the bridge will be open at all times, except on occasions to high sided vehicles, there will be no need for an emergency vehicle ferry service.
(b) The Scottish Office are co-operating with Highland regional council to develop a package of measures aimed at improving the environment and amenity in Kyle to make the maximum use of the opportunity offered by the Skye bridge.
European Year of Older People
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the events organised by, or with the co-operation of, his Department for the European Year of Older People ; what arrangements he has made for informing and involving hon. Members of events for the year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart : My Department is participating fully with other Government Departments and voluntary organisations to plan and promote a wide-ranging programme of
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events for the European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations. The programme of events for the Year is relevant to all parts of the United Kingdom. Events being developed as part of the Scottish contribution to the year include a three year project to support volunteering by older people and a project to examine the experiences of ethnic minority older people in selected European Community countries. I will write to the hon. Member with a full list of events which have been organised so far.Officials of the Department of Health, the lead organising Department for the Year, recently met with the all party parliamentary group for pensions. In addition honourable Members will be able to learn more about the European Year of Older People from an exhibition to be mounted in the Upper Waiting Hall from 22 to 28 February. Madam Speaker has graciously agreed at the request of the all party group to host a reception on 30 June at the Speaker's House to mark the Year.
Age Concern Scotland has written to all Scottish hon. Members to inform them of the exhibition and to encourage them to support the year. A similar letter will be issued to all other hon. Members shortly.
Caledonian MacBrayne's
Mr. Charles Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to respond to Caledonian MacBrayne's corporate plan for 1992 to 1995 ; and if he will make a statement.
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