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South Down tourism developmentSt Patrick's country heritage centre
Strabane canal
A further 55 capital and 35 non-capital projects were under way at 30 June.
The European social fund is also supporting an on going programme of training for the tourism and hospitality industry. To date, a total of 1,162 people have benifited from this training.
Select Committees
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the views given by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to the Procedure Committee in its review of the working of Select Committees in Session 1989-90 on a Select Committee for Northern Ireland remain the Government's position.
Sir Patrick Mayhew : As the Government have repeatedly made clear, a Select Committee may, in principle, be desirable. But a number of issues, including the extent of support from elected representatives from both sides of the community in Northern Ireland, need to be considered. The Government keep the matter under review.
Sight Tests
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the estimated savings made in 1992-93 as a result of the introduction of a charge for sight tests.
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 21 July 1993] : The sum is £2.3 million.
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many national health service eye examinations have been undertaken since 1985 in each health and social services board and in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ancram [holding answer 21 July 1993] : The number of health service sight tests undertaken in each year is shown in the table.
Thousands
Health and Social
Services Board
Calendar year |Eastern |Northern |Southern |Western |Northern Ireland
|Total
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 |100.8 |55.0 |31.7 |31.8 |219.3
1986 |105.3 |57.2 |32.9 |33.2 |228.6
1987 |113.5 |61.3 |34.9 |35.2 |244.9
1988 |130.6 |67.2 |41.4 |40.4 |279.6
<1>1989 |86.0 |48.4 |28.3 |29.2 |191.9
1990 |45.1 |30.0 |20.0 |19.8 |114.9
1991 |52.3 |35.0 |23.9 |24.7 |135.9
1992 |62.0 |39.2 |27.4 |28.6 |157.2
<1>From 1 April 1989 health service sight tests were restricted to certain groups in the population. The 1989 figures
therefore include sight tests carried out under both the old and the new schemes. Consequently the 1989 figures are
not directly comparable with those in 1990.
Eye Disease
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the incidence of eye disease leading to blindness or hospital treatment in Northern Ireland giving the numbers of people involved.
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Mr. Ancram [holding reply 21 July 1993] : Information on the incidence of all eye disease is not available centrally.
Activity in the speciality of ophthalmology in Northern Ireland hospitals for the year from 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 is as set out below :
|Number
-----------------------------------
Admissions |5,992
Day cases |2,750
Outpatient referrals |21,832
Cases operated on |6,095
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were registered blind and partially sighted in each year since 1985 ; and what figures are projected for registrations in (a) five and (b) 10 years time.
Mr. Ancram [holding reply 21 July 1993] : The information is not available in the form requested. The numbers of blind and partially sighted people in contact with, or known to, health and social services boards are presented in the tables below. This includes some people who are not registered. Information on projected figures in five and 10 years' time is not available centrally.
Year |Number of blind |Number of partially
|people |sighted people
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985<1> |3,437 |1,285
1986<1> |3,534 |1,304
1987<1><3> |3,833 |1,383
1988-89<2> |3,568 |1,167
1989-90<2><4> |2,497 |869
1990-91<2> |2,974 |1,087
1991-92<2><5> |3,116 |1,254
<1>Blind and partially sighted people known to health boards.
<2>Blind and partially sighted people in contact with health boards.
<3>Includes estimated data.
<4>Boards were in contact with a further 579 visually impaired people who were
not categorised.
<5>Provisional data.
LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the achievements of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months ; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
Mr. Newton : The functions of the Privy Council Office do not include the provision of assistance to small businesses.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Salmon
Sir Cranley Onslow : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment she has made of the degree to which the provisions of section 14 of the Salmon
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and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, concerning the duties of proprietors of undertakings that take water to instal gratings of an approved type to prevent the passage of migratory fish, are being enforced ; what consideration she has given in this context to the report of the Salmon Advisory Committee on factors affecting emigrating smolts and returning adults ; and if she will make a statement.Mr. Jack : Responsibility for ensuring compliance with the requirements of section 14 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 rests largely with the National Rivers Authority. We will be discussing with it the question of enforcement of that provision in the light of the comments made by the Salmon Advisory Committee in its report.
Melatonin
Mr. Morley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will make a statement on the commercial use of melatonin in lamb production.
Mr. Soames : Melatonin is a naturally occurring substance which controls the ovulation cycle in ewes. Products containing melatonin can be administered to ewes to enable them to be mated earlier in the season before the usual peak of reproductive activity. Melatonin is classified as a veterinary medicine and all products containing it must be licensed under the Medicines Act 1968 before they can be made commercially available. One such product has been licensed, following a rigorous scrutiny of its efficacy, quality and safety, including safety to the animal. Melatonin is available on prescription only and must be used under the direction of a veterinary surgeon. The Farm Animal Wefare Council is currently undertaking a study of the sheep industry. It will offer advice to the Government on the welfare of sheep and is expected to consider the use of substances such as melatonin. The results of the study are due by the end of the year.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many new cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been reported in (a) England and (b) Lancashire since the end of April.
Mr. Soames : From 1 May to 16 July 1993, 6,748 suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy have been reported in England to the Ministry. Of these, 327 have been reported in Lancashire.
Nuclear Waste
Mr Dafis : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the current and planned programmes undertaken by her Department to monitor the effect of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant's aerial and marine discharges on (a) seals and other marine mammals and (b) sea birds ; and if she will make it her policy to publish the results of the monitoring undertaken at regular intervals.
Mr. Jack : A decision on whether THORP should be allowed to operate will not be made until after the further
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consultation announced on 28 June by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has been completed. In the light of that decision, I will review the need, if any, for changes to my Department's already extensive environmental monitoring programmes. The results of these programmes are reported annually and copies are placed in the Library of the House.Pesticides
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met representatives from the Pesticide Exposure Group of Sufferers ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames : I met representatives of the Pesticide Exposure Group of Sufferers on 3 September 1992. A number of incidents relating to the safety of pesticides and sheep dips were discussed. I emphasised that it was important that those who discussed. I emphasised that it was important that those who believed themselves to have been adversely affected by exposure to pesticides should report the incident immediately to their local Health and Safety Executive office or, in the case of sheep dips, to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate--telephone No. 0932 336911 Ext 3040-- and provide as much evidence as possible. It was only in this way that an incident could be properly investigated.
Sheep Dips
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents arising from exposure to organophosphate sheep dips have been reported in (a) 1991 and (b) 1992 ; and what were the occupations of the people involved.
Mr. Soames : The following numbers of suspected adverse reaction reports to organophosphorus sheep dips involving humans have been received by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate :
|Number
---------------------
1991 |132
1992 |133
The occupations of the people involved were :
Farmer
Farm worker
Contract dipper
Lorry driver
Housewife
Animal health inspector
Builder
Police constable
Trading standards officer
A number of reports also involved children, while others did not include information on the occupation of the person involved.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the sheep dips currently granted approval by her Department, indicating which ones contain organophosphates.
Mr. Soames : The information requested is as follows :
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Product name |Product licence
|holder
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORGANOPHOSPHORUS SHEEP DIPS
1. Paracide Plus |Battle Hayward and Bower Ltd.
Also known as Paracide Plus when sold by:
Downland Marketing Ltd.
Chapman and Frearson Ltd.
Messrs J. Todd and Son
|2 |The Vale of Tivy Agriculture Society Ltd.
Messrs J. S. Hubbuck and Son
H&G Farm Feeds
Ray Green Animal Health
Colin Henderson
Metcalf Feed Formulations
Agripharm Animal Health
Yorkshire Animal Health
Also known as Summer Fly Dip when sold by:
Battle Hayward and Bower Ltd.
2. Diazadip All Seasons |Bayer UK Ltd.
Scab Approved Dip
3. Topclip Gold Shield |Ciba-Geigy Agriculture
Scab Approved Sheep Dip
Also known as Paracide Fly and Scab Dip when sold by:
Battle, Hayward and Bower Ltd.
Also known as Diazadip Scab Approved All-purpose Sheep Dip when
sold by:
Bayer UK Ltd.
4. Coopers Powerpack |Coopers Animal Health Ltd.
Winter Dip
5. Coopers Powerpack |Coopers Animal Health Ltd.
Summer Dip Scab
Approved
6. Osmonds Gold Fleece
Sheep Dip |Osmond and Son (Dublin) Ltd.
Also known as Golden Fleece Sheep Dip when sold by:
Bimeda UK Ltd.
Also known as Deosan Diazinon Sheep Dip when sold by:
Deosan Ltd.
Also known as Downland Scab Approved Fly Dip when sold by:
Osmond and Son (Dublin) Ltd.
7. Young's Scab Approved |Robert Young and Co. Ltd.
Summer Dip
8. Young's Scab Approved
Flyte 1250 Sheep Dip |Robert Young and Co. Ltd.
Also known as Seraphos Scab Approved Sheep Dip when sold by:
Crown Vet Pharmaceuticals
Also known as Downland Seraphos when sold by:
Downland Marketing Ltd.
9. Rycovet Sheep Dip |Robert Young and Co. Ltd.
(Scab) Approved
NON-ORGANOPHOSPHORUS SHEEP DIPS
1. Bayticol Scab and Tick
Dip (Scab Approved) |Bayer UK Ltd.
2. Coopers Green Label Scab |Coopers Animal Health Ltd.
and Tick Dip
3. Taktic |Hoechst UK Ltd.
Farmers (Suicides)
Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is she will publish figures showing the number of suicides occurring monthly within the farming population in the United Kingdom within each of the last four years.
Mr. Sackville : I have been asked to reply.
The information shown in the tables is for England and Wales. Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and Learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
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Suicides among farmers and farm workers by month of occurrence,
sex and age, 1989
------------------------------------------------------------------
January |7 |7 |- |- |- |-
February |4 |4 |- |1 |1 |-
March |2 |2 |- |- |- |-
April |2 |2 |- |- |- |-
May |3 |3 |- |- |- |-
June |6 |3 |3 |- |- |-
July |5 |2 |3 |1 |1 |-
August |5 |3 |2 |- |- |-
September |7 |5 |2 |- |- |-
October |7 |7 |- |- |- |-
November |6 |5 |1 |- |- |-
December |4 |3 |1 |1 |1 |-
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |58 |46 |12 |3 |3 |-
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Suicides among farmers and farm workers by month of occurrence,
sex and age, 1990
Males Females
|16+ |16-64 |65+ |16+ |16-59 |60+
------------------------------------------------------------------
January |7 |4 |3 |- |- |-
February |3 |2 |1 |- |- |-
March |5 |5 |- |- |- |-
April |7 |6 |1 |- |- |-
May |2 |1 |1 |2 |2 |-
June |5 |2 |3 |- |- |-
July |4 |3 |1 |- |- |-
August |5 |5 |- |- |- |-
September |8 |6 |2 |- |- |-
October |3 |3 |- |- |- |-
November |2 |1 |1 |- |- |-
December |- |- |- |- |- |-
|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------
Total |51 |38 |13 |2 |2 |-
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TRANSPORT
Motorways
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects (a) the M65 to M6/M61 link, (b) the widening of the M6 betwa) construction is planned to start early next year and is expected to take three years to complete ; for (b) work is in progress and is expected to be completed by December 1994 ; and for (c) work is again in progress with completion expected in spring 1996.
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Continental Freight Depots
Mr. Spellar : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which sites have been designated as continental freight depots ; and when construction will commence.
Mr. Freeman : British Rail has selected nine sites, at Glasgow (Mossend), Teesside (Wilton), Wakefield, Manchester (Trafford Park), Liverpool, Birmingham (Landor Street), Cardiff, London (Stratford) and London (Willesden).
Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool and Teesside are existing terminals. Trafford Park and Willesden are all but
completed. Work at Glasgow is expected to start within the next two months. Construction of the terminal at Wakefield will commence once agreement is reached
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between BR and its development partners. Stratford will come on stream once demand warrants a second terminal to serve London and the south-east.Disabled Passenger Scheme
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what are the expected savings to be made from the repeal of the disabled passenger scheme.
Mr. Key : I understand the saving will be in the region of £500,000 in the first year, based on the approximate annual number of new applications.
Current beneficiaries under this scheme will not lose their entitlement to exemption from vehicle excise duty as a result of the repeal.
Severn Bridge
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the changes in transport movements across the Severn bridge in each of the last three years ; and what assessment he has made on the effects of price increases.
Mr. Key : The following figures are for traffic crossing the bridge westbound from England to Wales :
It is not at present possible to isolate the effects of toll increases. The increases in April 1992 coincided with the introduction of one-way tolling. It is likely that this will have reduced westbound traffic and increased eastbound traffic. Arrangments are in hand to monitor traffic from Wales to England.
World Heritage Sites
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new roads have been built across world heritage sites in Britain in the past five years.
Mr. Key : None in England. Roads in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales respectively.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Mr. Stern : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 July, Official Report column 587 , what is the average cost to the DVLA of supplying a printout to a magistrates court of a driver's licence history needed to assist in sentencing ; what is the average delay between receipt of a requests from a magistrate's court and the printout being supplied ; and what would be the capital and running costs of supplying magistrates courts with live terminals to enable them to obtain the information themselves.
Mr. Key : The current average cost to DVLA for a driver licence printout is £1. Most printouts are despatched from DVLA within five working days of receipt of the request. The cost of supplying magistrates courts with terminals to enable them to obtain the information direct is a matter for My right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor. Such a system would add approximately £0.5 million to DVLA's annual running costs.
Airports
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he received the report of the RUCATSE working group into south-east runway capacity ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MacGregor : I have now received the report. It is a thorough and useful piece of work which will help set the framework for an informed debate on this important subject. The report deals with the issue of the possible need for more runway capacity in the south-east ; the timing of that need ; and sets out the advantages and disadvantages of development at a number of sites. It makes no recommendations about which site should be developed.
A feature of the working group was its particularly wide-ranging membership. Local area representatives, environmental groups and the air transport industry have all been associated with the analysis set out in the report. I am sure that this diversity will make the report all the more useful. I therefore want to thank all those involved for the time and energy they have devoted to the work.
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I am today putting a copy of the report in the Library of the house and will send copies to members with constituencies near those sites subject to detailed assessment.Given the importance of this subject, I will attach particular weight to the consultation process which begins today. I invite all those with an interest in the subject to let my Department know their views on the issues raised in this report by the end of May 1994.
Motorway Charging
Mr. David Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made by his Department in technological methods of charging cars for the use of motorways, with particular reference to electronic charging on motorways funded by the private sector ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The Green Paper, "Paying for Better Motorways" (Cm 2200), which was published on 26 May, describes a number of possible systems of electronic charging for motorways. We keep in close contact with technological developments in this country and abroad. In particular Department of Transport representatives participate in the relevant European bodies undertaking research and development standards for possible future applications.
M25
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has anything to add to his answer of 19 July concerning the additional flows of vehicles on the M25 motorway expected from the construction of a single additional lane ; and what approximate increase he expects in vehicle flows in vehicles per hour and in overall percentage terms.
Mr. Key : I have nothing to add to my answer of 19 July, Official Report, columns 75-76.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies he has made of delays on motorways occasioned by various factors, other than traffic demand ; and if he will now make a comprehensive study of all causes of delay on the M25 before authorising public expenditure on additional lanes or new parallel roads.
Mr. Key : Studies have been made of roadworks sites from which estimates of delays can be made. We also currently have a research contract running to study the effects of incidents, for example, accidents and breakdowns, on the operation of motorways generally which will enable delays due to such incidents to be estimated. I have no plans for a study of delays for the M25.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measurements have been made of delays to vehicles wishing to join the M25 motorway between its intersections with the M3 and M40, other than those occasioned by accidents, shed loads, roadworks or other non-demand factors.
Mr. Key : No measurements have been made of delays to traffic wishing to join the M25 between its junctions with the M3 and M40 from any causes.
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Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about his plans for improving the M25.Mr. MacGregor : The M25 is the hub of the national motorway network. Many other motorways--M1, M40, M4, M3, M23, M20, M11 and A1(M) lead off it. It is, therefore, a key component in the movement of long-distance national and international traffic, in particular by enabling traffic from the midlands and the north of England to reach the south-east and the channel without going through London. It is essential for our industry and commerce, upon which we depend for our further economic prosperity, that it should work effectively. Besides its national importance, it is also very important at the regional level, playing a major part in the economic development of the south-east.
This importance is reflected in its very heavy use. The White Paper "Roads for Prosperity", published in May 1989, announced plans to widen the whole of the motorway to dual four-lane standard as part of the motorway widening programme. Work on this is proceeding. Widening between junctions 15 and 16 is currently in progress and earlier this year we consulted local interests on our proposals for widening within existing highway boundaries between junctions 7 and 8 and 10 and 11.
However, it has become clear that on certain sections in particular traffic volumes have been rising and will continue to rise to the point where dual four lanes will not be enough to prevent chronic congestion. This problem is particularly acute on the section between junctions 12 and 15--between the M3 and the M4. That is why, as a first phase, we published in June 1992 proposals for dual three-lane link roads to augment the existing dual four- lane road. Although these proposals were welcomed in some quarters, they attracted understandable concern in others, particularly from those living near the motorway. I have, therefore, considered very carefully all the issues raised by those who question the justification for these proposals. My conclusion is that the balance of public interest lies in taking these proposals forward and that the link roads should proceed to the next stage in the statutory process.
In reaching my conclusion, I have looked particularly carefully at alternatives to the link road proposals. I do not believe that any of these would be an adequate response to the magnitude of the problem. Even with improved traffic management, such as the pilot scheme I have recently announced for controlled motorway operation, additional capacity will be needed. Without it, heavy lorries and other long-distance traffic will increasingly divert to the local road network to the point where conditions become intolerable for local people. Nor is increased use of rail transport a feasible option ; there are no existing lines able to cope with the variety of journeys of those using the motorway and it is unrealistic to consider building new lines, nor would they match up to requirements. The link roads, moreover, are designed for purposes other than commuting and other journeys into London.
Junctions 12 to 15 present the most pressing problem, which we have addressed first. But junctions 15 to 16 between the M4 and the M40 will also present a serious congestion problem in future, even after current widening to four lanes is completed. I am therefore today launching a public consultation on link roads on this stretch as well.
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However, in deciding to proceed to public inquiry for junctions 12 to 15 and to launch a public consultation for junctions 15 to 16, I can give a number of assurances.First, I have no plans for similiar link roads around the whole of the motorway. I forsee no need at all for widening beyond D4 between junctions 3 to 10 and junctions 21 to 30. I cannot rule out the need for widening beyond D4 on the remaining stretches--junctions 10 to 12, junctions 16 to 21 and junctions 30 to 3. The need for this will not become clear until future work has been carried out by consultants and any proposals would not necessarily be in the form of dual three-lane link roads. A solution involving fewer additional lanes might be acceptable.
Secondly, I am determined that the greatest attention should be given to the environmental aspects of the proposals. The fact that we are intending to devote some two thirds of the land taken on junctions 12 to 15 to mitigation measures, including extensive landscaping and planting, not only shows my enthusiam for this but means that there will be considerable landscaping and noise barrier improvements over the existing section. And the proposals will naturally be subject to a very full environmental impact assessment in conformity with EC directives and the Department's new manual of environmental assessment, which can be considered at the inquiry. Thirdly, my intention to proceed with the link roads does not imply any diminution in the Government's committment in the regional strategy for the south-east to encourage investment to the east of London. We have a very substantial programme of investment in road improvements to the east to which we shall continue to give high priority within the public spending constraints we face. For example, work is starting this year on the £200 million Hackney-M11 link. Fourthly, the Government continue to be strongly committed to improving conditions for rail users on Network SouthEast and users of other public transport. Last year, investment in London Transport and Network SouthEast was running at three times that in roads in London. The citizens charter commits us to improving conditions for both road and rail users and I intend to honour this commitment.
The Government are currently consulting on the introduction of charges or tolls for the motorway network--"Paying for Better Motorways", Cm. 2200. No decisions have yet been taken, but if the Government decide to pursue a policy of charging or tolling and the necessary legislation is passed by Parliament, the M25, including the link roads, could be part of the charged network. I do not expect any motorway charging system that might be introduced in the future to remove the urgent need to increase the capacity of these already over-used sections of the M25. Depending on the results of the consultation exercise and subsequent decisions and legislation, these and other motorways widening schemes could also be candidates for private financing.
A copy of the detailed departmental response to the proposals for junctions 12 to 15 has been placed in the Library. Copies have already been circulated to those who commented and other interested parties. Copies of the public consultation document on junctions 15 to 16 are also available.
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CrossrailMr. Livingstone : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the reactivation, or construction of additional stations on the proposed alignment of the Crossrail link between Westbourne Park and Wembley Park, with particular reference to those providing interchange with main bus routes.
Mr. Norris : It is for the promoters of the CrossRail Bill to consider whether such stations would be justified in operational and financial terms. I understand that several possible station sites are being considered.
Land Compensation Act 1973
Sir Keith Speed : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much compensation has been paid by his Department under part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 for each of the past five years.
Mr. Key : The amounts paid in recent years are £9.6 million in 1989-90, £36.1 million in 1990-91, £31.1 million in 1991-92 and £36.5 million in 1992-93. I regret that information for 1988-89 and earlier years is not readily available.
Rail Tracks
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety training is given to contractors' staff working on British Rail tracks ; and what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of these arrangements.
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