| Home Page |
Column 85
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 18 May 1993
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Charters
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the definition of citizen used by his Department for the purposes of conferring benefits through the charter programme.
Mr. Waldegrave : Anyone who uses, or might use, a public service.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Polly Peck
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Attorney-General what is the cost to date to public funds of the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into Polly Peck.
The Solicitor-General : The cost to date of the investigation into Polly Peck by the Serious Fraud Office is approximately £2.6 million but not including work undertaken by police officers.
TRANSPORT
Trans-Pennine Railway Link
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement about the electrification of the trans- Pennine railway link.
Mr. Freeman : A consultant's report has been commissioned by a consortium of local authorities and passenger transport executives in the area. The report is currently under discussion with the Department. We are currently awaiting the consortium's response to a number of detailed questions. It would be for British Rail to bring forward an investment case for this project.
Tanker Routing
Mr. Cyril D. Townsend : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further developments have taken place on tanker routing following the consultations on the United Kingdom proposals submitted to the International Maritime Organisation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : Following consultations with representatives of the Shetland and Orkney local authorities, local and national fishing interests, United Kingdom shipping interests, international tanker operators and others we have submitted amended proposals to the IMO calling for an extended area to be avoided around the Shetland Islands, new areas to be avoided around the Fair Isle and Orkneys and recommended routes in the Fair Isle channel. In combination these measures should provide a standard
Column 86
of protection broadly equivalent to our original proposals while respecting the traditional rights of fisher men in that area. Proposals are also being submitted in respect of restrictions on laden tanker movements in the Pentland Firth and Isles of Scilly. We are placing copies of our amended proposals in the Library of the House.Submarines (Safety Scheme)
Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives of the Clyde fishermen on the operation of the Subfacts scheme ; what future discussions he has planned ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : No ministerial meetings have taken place with representatives of the Clyde fishermen concerning Subfacts, but my noble Friend the Minister for Shipping and Aviation, the Earl of Caithness, is soon to meet with representatives of the fishing industry, to discuss the matter, on a date and venue yet to be agreed.
No decisions will be made on the future nature of the Subfacts scheme until this consultation takes place.
Level Crossings
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the level crossing accidents in 1992 and 1993 to the most recent practicable date, the causes of the accidents and the remedial action where taken.
Mr. Freeman : Details of level crossing accidents and any remedial action are published in HSE's annual report on railway safety, which is now prepared on the basis of financial years. Details for the first quarter of 1992 are available in the latest published report, for 1991-92, which is available in the House Library. Collated details of accidents since March 1992 are not yet available and will be published in the 1992-93 report in due course.
London Underground
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about London Underground's plans for the future of the line between Epping and Ongar ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : We have had two representations about London Underground's plans for the future of the line between Epping and Ongar. The line is the subject of statutory closure procedures under sections 54 and 56 of the Transport Act 1962. Objectors will be able to give their views to the London regional passengers committee, whose report, among other things, will be taken into account by the Secretary of State when making a decision on the closure proposal.
Birmingham Northern Relief Road
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give figures for the construction costs and interest payments associated with the Birmingham northern relief road.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The construction costs of the road are estimated at some £300 million at current prices. The cost of finance is a matter for the concessionaire.
Column 87
Buses
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate as a percentage the number of K registration buses currently in use in Britain.
Mr. Freeman : By the end of March, K registrations comprised 3 per cent. of the bus stock--approximately 4 per cent. of the stock was under one year old.
Waste Transportation
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to promote non-road based methods of waste transportation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The transport of waste is treated no differently from that of other commodities. We encourage the use of rail and water where practicable. Our enhancement of the freight facilities grant scheme and new track charges grant may help to divert some more waste from being moved throughout by road. I am chairing a group that is examining the scope for making more use of the River Thames for both passenger and freight transport. In addition my Department is considering more generally how best to encourage greater use of inland and coastal water transport.
Rail and Bus Fares
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what rate (a) the retail prices index, and (b) the retail prices of rail and bus fares have increased since January 1987 ; what effect Government policy has had on the level of rail and bus fares ; and if he will publish a table showing the corresponding increase in real earnings in the rail and bus industries compared with the increase in earnings of white collar workers in the private sector.
Mr. Freeman : The data requested are shown in the tables. Detailed rail and bus fare levels are a matter for the operators. Ministers are consulted when British Rail fares are revised in view of their role in setting the financial framework within which British Rail operates. Bus deregulation outside London has promoted competition and reduced operating costs, thereby leading to downward pressure on bus fares.
Average earnings,<1> by industry and sector: Great Britain, 1987-92
1992 prices<2> £ per week at April
Date |Railways industry |Scheduled road |Private sector
|passenger transport|non-manual
|and urban railways
|industry
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 1987 |284 |260 |304
April 1988 |293 |261 |325
April 1989 |296 |253 |331
April 1990 |274 |264 |333
April 1991 |301 |264 |332
April 1992 |307 |275 |338
<1> Full-time employees on adult rates. Derived from the New Earnings Survey published by the
Department of Employment.
<2> Constant prices derived using the RPI deflator.
Column 88
Average earnings,<1> by industry and sector: Great Britain, 1987-92
1992 prices<2> £ per week at April
Date |Railways industry |Scheduled road |Private sector
|passenger transport|non-manual
|and urban railways
|industry
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 1987 |284 |260 |304
April 1988 |293 |261 |325
April 1989 |296 |253 |331
April 1990 |274 |264 |333
April 1991 |301 |264 |332
April 1992 |307 |275 |338
<1> Full-time employees on adult rates. Derived from the New Earnings Survey published by the
Department of Employment.
<2> Constant prices derived using the RPI deflator.
Rail Privatisation
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what protection he proposes to give to private passenger train franchise operators from takeovers by companies deemed not suitable for the award franchises.
Mr. Freeman : Our intention is that the franchising director will assess the suitability of bidders to become franchisees. He will include terms in the franchise agreement under which the franchising director's consent will be required to changes in ownership of a franchisee.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations will be placed on the new owner of British Rail's freight and parcels subsidiaries to ensure their continued use of rail transport following privatisation.
Mr. Freeman : Decisions about whether to use rail will be taken by the customers, as now, on the basis of price and quality of service.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with how many parties he is in negotiation for the franchising of rail passenger services.
Mr. Freeman : None. Negotiations on franchises will be conducted by the franchising director when he is appointed. I have had discussions with various parties about our franchising proposals.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many British Rail employees will be transferred to the employment of Railtrack ;
(2) which assets currently owned by the British Railways Board he proposes to transfer to Railtrack.
Mr. Freeman : It is too early to say. Railtrack will not be established as a Government-owned company until April 1994.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources he intends to make available for the Health and Safety Commission, the Health and Safety Executive and Her Majesty's railway inspectorate for the discharge of their duties arising from the Railways Bill after April 1994.
Mr. Freeman : Agency funds for HSE have been increased by about 60 per cent. in 1993-94 compared with
Column 89
the previous year, in recognition of HSE's increased railway safety workload, including British Rail privatisation. Funds for 1994-95 will be agreed following this year's public expenditure discussions. We are committed to ensuring that adequate resources are made available.Nuclear Materials
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what issues are covered in Working Paper 30 on a draft code for the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high level radioactive wastes in flasks on board ship, as agreed at the second technical committee meeting of the joint IAEA/IMO/UNEP working group on the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel by sea held in Vienna on 26 to 30 April ; and if he will place a copy in the Library ; (2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Working Paper No. 17, dealing with exports of plutonium from the United Kingdom to Japan, submitted to the technical committee meeting of the joint IAEA/IMO working group on the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel by sea held in Vienna on 26 to 30 April.
Mr. Norris : I am placing copies of the working papers in the Library of the House.
Trans-Pennine Rail Service
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the electrification of trans-Pennine rail services will have on local rail services at Mossley Hill and West Allerton ; what discussions he has had with British Rail about the provision of a South Liverpool Parkway station ; and what discussions he is holding with BR about the Liverpool to Crewe service and the stopping of trains at West Allerton station.
Mr. Freeman : Any decision to electrify the Trans-Pennine rail service would have an effect on local services. British Rail, in conjunction with the passenger transport executive, would need to give the matter due consideration.
Decisions on the opening of new stations and the timetabling of existing services are for British Rail, and, where appropriate, the local PTE and not something in which Ministers directly intervene.
Motor Rescue Services
Mr. Bates : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards restrictions on access to new motorway service areas for motor rescue services including the RAC and AA.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The operators of existing motorway service areas are required under the terms of their leases to permit access at all times to the employees or agents of the AA and the RAC to carry out emergency repairs to members' vehicles. I have decided that this right should be continued under the new regime announced on 6 August last year, and that they should also apply in new motorway service areas. My Department will therefore not agree to provide signs to a new motorway service area unless the operator agrees to permit access to the AA and the RAC. I am considering whether similar rights should be extended to other motor rescue services.
Column 90
West Coast Main Line
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence has been submitted to him of the numbers of jobs in the United Kingdom railway manufacturing and supply industry which would be created by the total route modernisation of British Rail's west coast main line.
Mr. Freeman : None. Any estimate of the number of jobs created by modernising the west coast main line would depend in part on assumptions about the precise nature of the work to be done, which has yet to be finalised.
Heathrow (Regional Airlines)
Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for the protection of slots for regional airlines at Heathrow.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 17 May 1993] : I have at present no plans for measures in respect of Heathrow slots for regional air services. I note the operator's announcement that the service from Plymouth and Newquay to Heathrow will continue after Brymon Aviation has become a wholly owned subsidiary of British Airways.
Heavy Lorries
Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of licensed lorries of 38 tonnes gross vehicle weight for each year from 1985.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The figures for Great Britain are as follows :
Maximum weight (
38 tonne gross)
vehicles licensed
at end of year
|(000)
------------------
1985 |26.2
1986 |32.8
1987 |39.7
1988 |50.3
1989 |57.9
1990 |60.1
1991 |58.6
1992 |61.7
East London River Crossing
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available to hon. Members a copy of the reasoned opinion issued by the European Commission in connection with the complaint under EC directive 85/337 in relation to the east London river crossing and the threat to Oxleas wood in Woolwich.
Mr. Norris : Correspondence between the Commission and member states is regarded as confidential by both parties, and the United Kingdom will continue to respect this convention.
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the reasoned opinion from the European Commission in connection with the complaint under the European directive 85/337 in relation to the east London river crossing and the threat to Oxleas wood in Woolwich ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 91
Mr. Norris : The European Commission's reasoned opinion was received on 27 April. We are considering it carefully but remain confident that we will convince the Commission of the merits of our case.
Road Schemes (Grant)
Mr. Keith Hill : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, by London borough, and with totals for inner London, outer London and London as a
Column 92
whole, the amount of transport supplementary grant payable for 1993-94 for (a) major schemes over £1 million, (b) minor road safety schemes, (c) other minor schemes and (d) other schemes accepted for transport supplementary grant.Mr. Norris : The information is as follows :
Column 91
Borough |Major schemes |Local safety schemes|Other minor works |Structural
|maintenance of
|carriageways and
|bridges
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inner London
Brent |0 |390 |738 |898
Camden |0 |400 |372 |3,200
City |0 |50 |298 |1,696
Greenwich |0 |200 |433 |865
Hackney |1,334 |244 |296 |532
Hammersmith |0 |500 |740 |1,420
Haringey |371 |300 |495 |1,958
Islington |0 |440 |494 |1,004
Kensington |974 |200 |256 |298
Lambeth |0 |90 |495 |445
Lewisham |7,162 |390 |702 |250
Newham |5,324 |350 |799 |3,377
Southwark |4,068 |390 |459 |125
Tower Hamlets |0 |380 |292 |7,486
Wandsworth |610 |790 |562 |3,446
Westminster |974 |380 |381 |3,145
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |20,817 |5,494 |7,812 |30,145
Outer London
Barking |734 |290 |375 |1,155
Barnet |0 |390 |590 |270
Bexley |4,921 |300 |233 |1,144
Bromley |3,615 |280 |1,018 |627
Croydon |3,500 |490 |814 |1,570
Ealing |1,523 |290 |1,276 |677
Enfield |3,510 |370 |971 |1,505
Harrow |12,310 |230 |217 |747
Havering |0 |200 |321 |737
Hillingdon |10,334 |690 |1,212 |620
Hounslow |4,305 |244 |494 |485
Kingston |856 |210 |246 |988
Merton |1,238 |390 |906 |235
Redbridge |0 |350 |488 |988
Richmond |0 |290 |251 |657
Sutton |577 |330 |659 |790
Waltham Forest |1,167 |390 |666 |515
|------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |48,590 |5,734 |10,737 |13,710
Grand Total |69,407 |11,228 |18,549 |43,855
Note:All figures quoted are in £ thousands and represent gross accepted expenditure for transport supplementary grant
support. Grant is paid at 50 per cent. of accepted expenditure.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Escorted Prisoners
Mr. Blair : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the use of staff not trained as prison custody officers to escort prisoners in the east midlands and Humberside regions ; if he will list all cases where such staff have been used ; and whether the use of such staff breaks the terms of section H of the tender documents or his Department's contract with Group 4.
Column 92
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tony Blair, dated 15 May 1993 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply directly to your recent Parliamentary Question about the use by Group 4 of staff not trained as prisoner custody officers in the court escort service in the East Midlands and Humberside.
No untrained staff have been used by Group 4 to escort prisoners. All staff escorting prisoners have been prisoner custody officers certificated under the terms of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.
Column 93
On certain days during the first two weeks of the contract, Group 4 used persons other than prisoner custody officers to drive vehicles on which prisoners were being escorted by prisoner custody officers. This was in response to an unforeseen level of prisoner movements and was not Group 4's original intention, which was to use PCOs as drivers. At no time did these arrangements break the contract, nor are they different to current practice in some police forces and some parts of the Prison Service where civilians are used as drivers.Mr. Rajanathan (Gun Licence)
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the circumstances under which a gun licence was recently issued to the late Mr. Rajanathan of 58 Horsenden crescent, Greenford ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Mr. Rajanathan was granted a shotgun certificate on 3 April. An inquest into the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Rajanathan was opened on 30 April and has been adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Police, Staffordshire
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is in receipt of the submission from Staffordshire county council setting out the Staffordshire police authority's view of the need for the police authority to be accountable through a democratically elected police authority ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and learned Friend received a copy of the document referred to on 7 May. A reply will be sent shortly.
Mr. Brian Parsons
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on behalf of Brian Parsons, Ref. 089, Her Majesty's prison, Kingston ; and when he expects to respond.
Mr. Jack : We received a number of representations between March 1991 and January 1993 suggesting that Mr. Parsons had been wrongfully convicted. These have all been the subject of detailed inquiries carried out on behalf of the Home Office by Devon and Cornwall police. However, in the light of the results of those inquiries and all the information available to me, I have not been able to find sufficient grounds to justify referring the case back to the Court of Appeal. Those who made representations to the Home Office have been informed accordingly.
Car Crime
Mr. Whittingdale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with (a) insurance companies and (b) vehicle manufacturers about measures to reduce car crime.
Mr. Jack : Both the insurance industry and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders are represented on my advisory committee on car crime prevention. This committee met in October last year and in March this year. A further meeting is scheduled for later in the summer. One of the central concerns of the committee is the measures that should be taken--by the motor manufacturers and the insurance industry, among others--to reduce the opportunities for car crime.
Column 94
I have also held separate discussions with senior representatives of the Association of British Insurers to consider what more the insurance industry could do to help combat car crime. The most recent meeting was on 10 May.In addition, I have attended numerous motoring events around the country, where I have discussed the question of car security with individual motor manufacturers.
Mr. Whittingdale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to encourage the fitting of immobilisers to cars.
Mr. Jack : The Home Office has for some time been seeking to encourage motor manufacturers to improve vehicle security and, in particular, to fit effective immobilisers which would prevent the unauthorised use of vehicles. I welcome recent progress in this area, and will continue to encourage the fitting of immobilisers as standard equipment.
The police scientific development branch of the Home Office is providing significant support in this area through its work on examining and testing the effectiveness of vehicle immobilisers, in conjunction with the motor manufacturers and the insurance industry, and through its technical input into the emerging British standards on vehicle immobilisers.
It is equally important that the security of vehicles already on the road should be upgraded and encouraging motorists to fit security devices, such as immobilisers, is a central feature of our extensive car crime prevention campaign, which is being continued this year to build on the success achieved in 1992.
Prison Escort Services
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory provisions apply to the use of mechanical restraints such as handcuffs by private security firms carrying out prison escort services ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Gerry Steinberg, dated 15 May 1993 :
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply directly to your recent Parliamentary Question about the use of restraints by contractors carrying out prisoner escort duties under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.
There are no statutory provisions relating to the use of mechanical restraints by prisoner custody officers.
Section 82(1) of the 1991 Act gives prisoner custody officers (PCOs) powers of search. Section 82(3) gives PCOs duties to prevent the escape of prisoners from lawful custody ; to prevent the commission by prisoners of other unlawful acts ; to ensure good order and discipline on the part of prisoners ; and to give effect to any directions as to their treatment which are given by a court. Section 82(4) gives PCOs on court premises in which the Crown court is sitting the duty to give effect to any order of that court made under Section 34A of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 (power of Crown court to order search of persons before it).
Section 82(5) states that the various powers mentioned above shall include power to use reasonable force where necessary and it follows that force may include, in appropriate circumstances, the use of restraints.
Column 95
Bosnian Refugees
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are currently being undertaken by his Department to ensure that families of Bosnian refugees are entitled to join refugees who have settled within the United Kingdom.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Spouses and minor children are admitted to join those recognised as refugees under the terms of the 1951 convention on the status of refugees. In such cases Bosnian family members would need first to obtain visas from a British diplomatic post. Close dependants are also admitted to join former detention camp inmates evacuated to the United Kingdom, and we are in close liaison with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate their entry.
In common with all other nationalities, Bosnian asylum applicants may not bring their families here while their applications are under consideration.
Column 96
Immigration
Mr. Dicks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants and refugees have been admitted into the United Kingdom in each year since 1987.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Information on persons accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom in the years 1987-91 is given in table 9 of the 1991 volume of the annual Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration : Statistics United Kingdom" (Cm 2063). Information for 1992 is given in table 3 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue 14/93 "Control of Immigration : Statistics--Third and Fourth Quarters and Year 1992". These figures are of persons subject to immigration control who are granted indefinite leave to remain here. Copies of the publications are in the Library.
Information on the number of applicatiother fraudulent claims.
Column 95
Applications<1> received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and decisions<2>, 1987 to
1992
Number of principal applicants
|1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total applications received |4,256 |3,998 |11,640|22,000|44,840|24,610
Decisions<2>
Total decisions |2,432 |2,702 |6,955 |4,015 |5,965 |34,900
Recognised as refugee and granted asylum<3> |266 |628 |2,210 |900 |505 |1,115
Not recognised as refugee, but granted exceptional leave<4> |1,531 |1,578 |3,860 |2,400 |2,230 |15,325
Refusals
Total refused |635 |496 |890 |710 |3,240 |18,465
Refused asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration |635 |496 |890 |710 |2,185 |2,680
Refused on safe third country grounds<5> |- |- |- |- |270 |595
Refused under paragraph 101 of Immigration Rules<6> |- |- |- |- |785 |15,195
<1> Includes applications made at ports on arrival and those made in-country.
<2> Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the same period.
<3> Excluding South East Asian refugees.
<4> Where it would have been unreasonable or impractical to seek to enforce return to country of origin.
<5> Figures from 1 January 1991 only. Prior to this, these refusals are included in the column "Refused asylum
and exceptional leave after full consideration".
<6> For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure
to respond to two invitations to interview to establish identity.
<7> Figures from 1 December 1991 only. Prior to this, these refusals are included in the column "Refused
asylum and exceptional leave after full consideration".
Civil Defence
Mr. Dowd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he intends to publish the draft Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The regulations were laid before Parliament today.
| Next Section
| Home Page |