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Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 24 June 1993] : The information requested is not held centrally.
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Forestry
Mr. Gallie : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed in forestry and forest nursery woodlands activities in each year between 1987-88 and 1991-92 in the United Kingdom.
Sir Hector Monro [holding answer 24 June 1993] : The estimated numbers of people employed in forestry in Great Britain are as follows. These include people working for the Forestry Commission, private estates, forest management companies, harvesting companies, forest nurseries and wood processing companies. Employment in Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Year ended 31 March |Full-time equivalent
|numbers
---------------------------------------------------------------
1988 |39,850
1989 |41,055
1990 |40,245
1991 |42,213
1992 |42,040
Assisted Areas
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings he had with the European Commission prior to the submission of the assisted areas map on 15 June ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 23 June 1993] : My officials, in concert with officials from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Welsh Office, held informal meetings with the European Commission prior to the submission being sent.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the criteria submitted by his Department to the European Commission in connection with the submission of the assisted areas map to the European Commission on 15 June ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 23 June 1993] : In order not to prejudice negotiation with the European Commission no information on the proposed assisted areas map will be released until approval has been received.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he had with regional and district councils prior to the submission of the assisted areas map to the European Commission on 15 June ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Stewart [holding answer 23 June 1993] : Discussions took place with a number of local authorities about the review of the assisted areas map. I had meetings specifically to discuss the review with delegations from Central region--including representatives from Central regional council, Clackmannan district council, Falkirk district council and Stirling district council--East Lothian district council and Midlothian district council. The views expressed at these meetings were noted and together with the written responses to our consultation paper, were taken fully into account in the review.
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Non-departmental Organisations
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the operating costs for non-departmental bodies in Scotland individually and cumulatively for each year since 1978.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 June 1993] : Information is not centrally available in the precise form requested. However details of staff numbers employed by each executive non-departmental public body are published annually in "Public Bodies" copies of which are available in the Library. This publication also contains the total expenditure of each executive non-departmental public body ; and details of numbers and remuneration of the chairman, deputy chairman and members of each non- departmental public body. Most such bodies also publish annual reports and accounts, again available in the Library.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce new mechanisms within the Scottish Office to ensure that non-departmental public bodies in Scotland are properly financially accountable, in terms both of their operating costs and their expenditure.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 June 1993] : The arrangements for ensuring the financial accountability of non-departmental public bodies and that they comply with the requirements of "Government Accounting" are kept under constant review. In particular both the internal controls operated by each executive body and the relationships with the department are examined in depth in formal financial management reviews. These reviews are on a rolling programme, with each body being dealt with every five years. Advisory bodies do not undertake expenditure on their own account.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what sums of money non-departmental public bodies have spent in Scotland in each year since 1978.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 June 1993] : Details of expenditure by executive non-departmental public bodies, that part of it funded by government, and other departmental expenditure on such bodies are published annually in "Public Bodies" copies of which are available in the Library. That publication also contains details of departmental expenditure on advisory bodies ; such bodies do not undertake expenditure on their own account.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appointments he has made each year since 1990 to non-departmental public bodies in Scotland ; and what were the financial consequences of these appointments.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 June 1993] : In 1990 I made 308 appointments to non-departmental public bodies, of which 48 were salaried and 73 fee paid. The total salary cost is £462,361. In 1991 I made 248 appointments of which 40 were salaries and 43 fee paid with a total salary cost of £421,218. Between 1 January and 1 September 1992 I made 267 appointments, 50 salaried and seven fee paid. The total salary cost is £289,998.
It is not possible to give the total amount paid in fees. The rates of fee for fee paid appointments is published in "Public Bodies", which is available in the Library. The remaining appointments were unpaid.
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The information held on the central database in my Department is as at 1 September 1992, and that is the date of the information I have just given. Because of the way in which the information is held, appointments made in 1990 and 1991 which had expired before 1 September 1992 are not shown and neither are appointments to children's panels, other than chairmen or deputy chairmen, or as justices of the peace, neither of which are held on the central database. Information on salaries and fees are also at 1 September 1992. Information on allowances and travel and subsistence costs are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what mechanisms exist within the Scottish Office to ensure that non-departmental public bodies in Scotland are financially accountable, in terms both of their operating costs and their expenditure.
Mr. Lang [holding answer 24 June 1993] : The financial accountability of non-departmental public bodies is assured by the provision of their governing statutes and the conditions set out for individual bodies in accounts directions, financial memoranda, and management statements under which they receive grants and other funding from my Department. These conditions apply the rules of "Government Accounting" and the provisions of "Non Departmental Public Bodies : a Guide for Departments" to the activities of such bodies. My Department also undertakes detailed monitoring of the activities of such bodies, the detailed arrangements depending on the individual circumstances of each body.
Kingsmeadow School, Haddington
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Kingsmeadow primary school in Haddington has been destroyed by fire ; and what arrangements he will make to help Lothian regional council to safeguard the education of pupils in Haddington and to rebuild the school.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 24 June 1993] : Both my right hon. Friend and I were saddened to hear of the destruction caused by the recent fire at Kings Meadow primary school and understand the distress which the loss of the building will cause to everyone associated with the school. We understand that the preliminary assessment is that the fire was malicious and is subject to further police investigation. Lothian regional council, as education authority, is responsible for alternative arrangements for the pupils and for decisions about the future rebuilding of the school.
TRANSPORT
Rail Freight
11. Mr. Clapham : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives he is taking to increase the volume of freight carried by rail.
Mr. Macgregor : We have authorised British Rail investment of over £400 million in preparation for channel tunnel freight services and have asked British Rail to explore opportunities for involving the private sector to develop them further. Open access for freight will break
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British Rail's monopoly and allow new operators to provide the services the customer wants. I have also announced three important new measures to boost the prospects for rail freight-- improvements to the existing freight facilities grant scheme ; the introduction of a new grant scheme to assist with Railtrack's charges ; and consultation on a proposal for a lorry weight incentive of 44 tonnes for vehicles delivering to railheads.Bus Accidents
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatalities and (b) injuries have occurred involving buses and (i) other buses, (ii) other road vehicles and (iii) pedestrians in each year since 1986.
Mr. Key [holding answer 24 June 1993] : Casualties in accidents involving buses are not readily available for the accident groupings requested. The table shows pedestrian casualties, and casualties in other vehicles and in buses, in those accidents involving at least one bus for the years requested.
Casualties in accidents involving at least one bus with other road
user groups, by casualty type and severity: Great Britain 1986-1991
Casualties
Road user group
|Pedestrian<1>|Other road |Bus<3>
|vehicles<2>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1986
Fatal |78 |125 |0
Injured |2,160 |3,784 |373
Total |2,238 |3,909 |373
1987
Fatal |81 |103 |2
Injured |2,134 |4,012 |430
Total |2,215 |4,115 |432
1988
Fatal |87 |84 |0
Injured |2,127 |3,924 |438
Total |2,214 |4,008 |438
1989
Fatal |83 |120 |0
Injured |2,149 |4,226 |483
Total |2,232 |4,346 |483
1990
Fatal |96 |110 |0
Injured |2,171 |4,126 |675
Total |2,267 |4,236 |675
1991
Fatal |91 |73 |1
Injured |1,883 |3,680 |296
Total |1,974 |3,753 |297
<1> Excludes bus user and driver casualties and casualties from other
road vehicles which may be involved in the accident.
<2> Excludes bus user and driver casualties and pedestrian casualties
involved in the accident.
<3> Casualties in accidents involving at least two buses. Excludes
casualties in other vehicles and pedestrians which may also be
involved in multi-bus accidents.
British Rail Pension Fund
12. Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to provide that the British Rail pension fund will be used for no other purpose than the provision of pensions.
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Mr. MacGregor : Yes. BR pension funds will be used for no other purpose than the provision of pensions.
Bicycles (Rail Journeys)
13. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what future plans he has for regulating the charging of the conveyance of bicycles on short rail journeys.
Mr. Freeman : We have no plans for regulation of charges but where there is a reasonable level of demand, we expect privatisation franchisees to encourage cyclists to use the Railways.
Trains (Leasing)
14. Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects orders to be placed for rolling stock using the £150 million leasing fund made available in the 1992 autumn statement.
Mr. MacGregor : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) earlier today.
Wild Flowers (Highways)
15. Mr. Fishburn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on wild flowers along highways.
Mr. Key : We carry out and encourage the planting of native species of wildflowers wherever appropriate. Last Thursday I launched the wild flower handbook. This will act as a welcome stimulus to road planners and designers in carrying out work which I regard as very important.
A13 (Improvements)
17. Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what date he expects the three road improvement schemes for the A13 in the London borough of Newham to be completed.
Mr. Norris : The Canning Town flyover and Ironbridge improvement schemes are expected to be completed by 1998. The junction improvements A13/A112 and A13/A117 are expected to be completed in 1997.
The progress on all these schemes is subject to satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and to the necessary funds being available.
West Coast Main Line
18. Ms Coffey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the chairman of British Rail to discuss services on the west coast main line.
Mr. Freeman : My right hon. Friend regularly meets the chairman of British Rail to discuss a variety of railway issues.
26. Ms Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support his Department has given to British Rail's request to improve the rolling stock on the west coast main line.
Mr. Freeman : An order for new InterCity 225 trains for the west coast main line is one of two options currently
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being considered to utilise the £150 million leasing facility made available to British Rail in last year's autumn statement. The choice between the two options is entirely a matter for British Rail in the light of their negotiation with the suppliers and their lessors.22. Mr. Dickens : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the need for replacement of the rolling stock on the west coast main line ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : It is for British Rail to decide when rolling stock should be replaced. New trains for the west coast main line are one of the options they are pursuing for the £150 million leasing facility announced in last year's autumn statement.
M5 Widening
19. Mr. Thomason : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the widening of the M5 between junctions 6 and 8.
Mr. Key : Widening will relieve congestion on this important link and holiday route between the midlands, south Wales and the south west. Use of the parallel widening technique has avoided the need for contraflows and caused minimal disruption to traffic with the work being substantially complete within two years of the start of construction. I visited the site last week to unveil a commemorative plaque and was pleased to see that both three-lane carriageways will be open to traffic within three to four weeks.
Jubilee Line Extension
20. Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to start on the Jubilee line extension ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend, the Member for Castle Point (Dr. Spink).
Coastal Waters (Safety)
21. Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in the European Transport Council regarding safety in British coastal waters.
Mr. Norris : At the June Transport Council, a resolution was adopted with the strong support of my right hon. Friend, which sets out an action programme of priority measures to improve the safety of shipping throughout the community, including our own coastal waters. We shall seek speedy implementation of the measures proposed. At the same council, my right hon. Friend announced that the United Kingdom will unilaterally pursue higher safety standards for ferries serving United Kingdom ports.
Railways (Service)
23. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many stations or railway lines won a cup from British Rail for service to customers last year.
Mr. Freeman : British Rail, in consultation with user groups and others, organises several categories of award to
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stations in recognition of quality and service to customers. In addition to the British Railways best station competition, there is the Glasdon award for environmental excellence, the Geoffrey Farr award for community involvement, the London Regional Passengers Committee award for best London termini, the Anglo-Irish best station award, and the Lord Mountevans trophy. A total of 24 such awards were made in 1992.Channel Tunnel Rail Link
24. Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit Thurrock to meet householders and representatives of industry affected by the alteration in the proposed line of route for the channel tunnel link which he announced in March.
Mr. Freeman : Union Railways is taking the lead in a full public consultation process on the channel tunnel rail link, including in Thurrock. A report will be prepared when consultation has been completed and so the Government will be properly informed on local opinion in reaching final decisions on the route.
Ms Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the next Union Railways report on the channel tunnel rail link consultation will be published ; and if he proposes to publish it in full.
Mr. Freeman : At the end of October Union Railways will submit a report to the Government on the options for refining the rail link identified during public consultation. Decisions will then be reached and most of the report will be published, but excluding commercially confidential material.
Ms Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the railway inspectorate started work in examining the possible safety risks concerning the channel tunnel rail link running at high speeds through residential areas of the London borough of Barking and Dagenham.
Mr. Freeman : Discussions have already taken place between British Rail and the Health and Safety Executive's HM railway inspectorate about the various safety issues relating to the channel tunnel rail link. The assessment of safety risks for the route proposed by Union Railways is being carried out in a structured fashion. Union Railways intends to maintain a programme of discussions with the inspectorate and other authorities and is expected to present a safety case at key stages of the development of the project.
Ms Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were applied to the compensation and purchase schemes in respect of the channel tunnel rail link in (a) Kent and (b) the London borough of Barking and Dagenham ; and what reasons underlie the differences in the criteria in (a) and (b) .
Mr. Freeman : The proposed arrangements for the route of the rail link as a whole are set out in the paper "DOT Paper for the High Level Forum : Property Purchase and Compensation Policy". Copies have been placed in the Library and I also sent one to the hon. Member. Earlier purchase schemes, which covered broader zones, were applied to Kent and the then affected part of London--mainly Peckham. The reasons for the proposed change in coverage are explained in the paper.
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Ms Richardson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if a full environmental impact assessment has been carried out on the proposed channel tunnel rail link ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Environmental appraisal is a continuing process throughout the development of the project. The results of the most recent stage in the process are described in the appendix "The Union Railway and the Environment" to the Union Railways' March 1993 report. Additonal appraisal is being undertaken which will enable the environmental statement to be produced, in accordance with standing orders, when statutory approval for the project is sought.
Concessionary Fares (London)
25. Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current cost of the statutory London concessionary fare scheme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : This year the cost of the London boroughs' scheme is £116 million.
Franchised Passenger Services
27. Mr. Tredinnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he has had from British Rail management and staff to running franchised passenger services.
Mr. MacGregor : There has been a very positive response. Management- employee buy-out teams have expressed interest in bidding for most of the 25 franchises we have announced.
Signposting (Isle of Wight)
28. Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about signposting on the Isle of Wight.
Mr. Key : My predecessor saw a deputation from the county council in March and I have received representations from my hon. Friend which I am looking forward to discussing with him shortly.
Channel Tunnel (Rail Freight)
29. Mr. Spellar : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the construction of rail freight depots to take advantage of the opening of the channel tunnel.
Mr. Freeman : The Government welcome the new opportunities presented by the channel tunnel for rail freight. Decisions about the number and location of terminals are commercial matters for British Rail and the private sector. British Rail has selected nine sites for intermodal terminals in the light of independent market research.
Traffic Congestion
30. Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the pollutant effects of stationary and slow- moving traffic ; and what plans he has to relieve congestion in urban areas.
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Mr. Key : The quality of urban air review group--QUARG--a group of independent experts, issued its first report in January of this year, and copies have been placed in the Library.
The Government are considering a number of initiatives which could have the effect in the longer term of reducing the rate of traffic growth.
Pensioners' Travel Passes
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to ensure pensioners using London Transport continue to have a free travel pass when London's public transport is deregulated.
Mr. Norris : When we bring forward legislation to deregulate London bus services we shall include provisions to ensure the continuation of a London-wide concessionary fares scheme after deregulation. The level of concessions offered will, as now, be for the London boroughs to determine.
Environmental Policy
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's policy on the purchase and use of (a) recycled paper, (b) low-energy light bulbs, (c) tropical hardwoods, (d) peat and (e) cars with catalytic converters.
Mr. Norris : Subject to securing best value for money, the Department's procurement policy is to promote the use of recycled paper, low energy light bulbs, sustainable alternatives to tropical hardwoods, peat free compost and cars with catalytic converters.
Rail Services (Portsmouth)
Mr. David Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements are in his Department's present plans for rail services between Portsmouth and London.
Mr. Freeman : Rail services between Portsmouth and London are at present operated by Network SouthEast's south western division. We announced in February of this year that the south western division is to be one of the first franchises to be offered to the private sector. We expect the franchise to start some time in 1995. We believe that giving the private sector the opportunity to operate existing services and introduce new ones is the best way to bring about the improvements to services which passengers want.
Blackwall Crossing
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations underlay his decision to publish only section 12 of the cost -benefit analysis used in selecting his Department's preferred option of a bridge, rather than a tunnel, for the A102 Blackwall third crossing ; if he intends to publish this analysis in full before the end of the consultation phase ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : Copies of the full technical appraisal report for the A102 Blackwall third crossing river bridge are available for inspection at the Department's London docklands division, South Quay Plaza II, 183 Marsh wall, London, E14 9SH. As he requested, I sent the hon.
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Member an advance copy of section 12 which deals solely with the cost benefit analysis. He is now being sent a copy of the full report.Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 17 May, Official Report, column 4 , at what stage of a scheme a formal environmental assessment is prepared ; when he expects to have one completed on the preferred option of a bridge for the A102 Blackwall third crossing ; if he intends to make public this assessment ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : Environmental assessments are carried out throughout the development of highway schemes. The formal environmental impact assessment is prepared and published with the draft orders for the chosen scheme. In the case of the proposed third river crossing at Blackwall, this is expected to be in about two years time.
Road Signs
Mr. David Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy on keeping road signs clear of foliage ; and how it is enforced.
Mr. Key : The trunk roads and motorways for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is the highway authority are regularly inspected. We have issued instructions to our maintenance agents on the need to cut back vegetation where this obscures sight lines for drivers or their view of traffic signs. We have strongly advised local highway authorities to follow the Department's guidance and standards for maintenance of signs on other roads, and similar standards have been incorporated into the Local Authority Associations' "Code of Good Practice on Highways Maintenance", but we do not have powers to force local highway authorities to comply with them.
Motor Insurance
Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State of Transport what consideration he is giving to the introduction of a legislative requirement that motorists display proof of insurance on windscreens.
Mr. Key : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 June 1993 at column 171 to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan).
East-west Trunk Route
Mr. Walden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department is giving to an alternative east-west trunk route to the A418 in Buckinghamshire.
Mr. Key : I expect to make an announcement this summer about alternative corridors for the east-west route to the west of Aylesbury. Elsewhere in Buckinghamshire a planning inquiry has just been completed into the county council proposals for an A418 bypass of Wing and we expect to consult the public about the A418 west of Aylesbury to Wing bypass section of the east-west route later this summer.
Rail Travel Costs
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the likely change in the cost of travelling to work in London under rail privatisation ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Norris : The franchising director will be able to control fares through franchise agreements, and we have announced our intention to bring forward amendments to the Railways Bill to place a statutory duty on him to care for the interests of passengers using his judgment of what is a reasonable level of fares.
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