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Mr. Key : The information requested, from 1981-82, is as follows :
Year |Number of |Revenue |staff in local|raised |office network |(man years) |£ million ------------------------------------------------------------ 1981-82 |800 |6.5 1982-83 |833 |11.8 1983-84 |843 |15.6 1984-85 |908 |18.2 1985-86 |908 |21.0 1986-87 |945 |23.1 1987-88 |952 |23.6 1988-89 |943 |25.6 1989-90 |947 |25.9 1990-91 |922 |27.5 1991-92 |909 |34.3 1992-93 |936 |37.5 <1>1993-94 |948 |34.3 <1> Figures to end December 1993.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will happen to those staff in the Driving Standards Agency not affected by the market test of the booking of driving tests and the proposing of test fees ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The aim of the market test is to improve value for money. The precise effects on staff not directly involved will not be known until bids have been evaluated, but the agency will aim to minimise the disruption to staff.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost in the financial year 1992-93 of the booking of driving tests and the receiving and processing of the driving test fees.
Mr. Key : The agency's 1993-94 business plan, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, gives details of the total estimated costs of the agency's regional offices, which include the functions to be market tested.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the Police Federation was consulted on the proposals to change the rules relating to passenger and goods vehicle operating licensing.
Mr. Norris : The Department did not send a copy of its consultation document to the Police Federation. Following normal practice, consultation with the police was through the Association of Chief Police Officers.
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Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what maintenance checks, other than the regular Ministry of Transport test, are carried out by his Department before a minibus permit is issued to an organisation.
Mr. Key : Before a minibus permit is issued by the Traffic Commissioner, the person authorised by the body applying for the permit must sign a declaration on behalf of its members that "the body will make proper arrangements so that any vehicle used under the permit will comply with the appropriate construction requirements and conditions of fitness, will be kept fit and serviceable and that regular maintenance inspections will be carried out".
In addition, the person must provide the name and address of the person(s) or garage who will maintain and service the vehicle and attach a written maintenance contract or letter of agreement from the person or garage doing the work and indicate how often safety checks will be made on the vehicle.
The issuing of permits by designated bodies and local authorities is their own responsibility.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what checks are carried out by his Department on the conduct and repute of applicants for minibus permits before such permits are issued.
Mr. Key : Minibus permits are not issued by the Department. They may be issued from three sources : bodies designated by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument, which are national voluntary bodies and may issue permits only to their own branches and affiliated organisations ; local authorities which may issue permits to their own departments or schools under their control ; and the Traffic Commissioners who may issue them to other eligible local bodies concerned with education, religion, recreation or social welfare.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many minibus permits issued by the traffic area office network were revoked for poor maintenance during the last three years.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many minibus permits were issued by traffic area offices in 1993.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has initiated and concluded, and what proposals he has made, concerning the transfer of the functions and staff of the public carriage office of the Metropolitan police to his Department ; and if he will list those bodies and individuals from whom he has received support for this proposal.
Mr. Norris : This proposal is one of the matters covered by the consultation paper on the future of taxi and private hire services issued by my Department. About 4,500 copies were sent to organisations and individuals who have an interest in the subject. These include local authority
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associations and all individual county and district councils, local and national taxi and private hire vehicle organisations, the licensing officers organisation, the police, organisations concerned with people who have mobility problems and vulnerable members of society, consumer groups, transport interests, the press, car, taxi and taxi-meter manufacturers and those concerned with tourists. Copies were available in the Lobby of this House and in another place. The paper was also published in a trade newspaper. The consultation period last until 1 March 1994.It is not our practice to identify those organisations or individuals who responded to consultation exercises.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review his decision on the widening of the M25 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The national road programme is under review as part of our preparations for the setting up of the Highways Agency. Subject to anything that emerges from that exercise I have no reason to reconsider the policy for the M25 announced by my right hon. Friend last July.
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 January, 0fficial Report, column 601, how many official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by Ministers in his Department ; and how much these cards cost to buy.
Mr. Norris : Some 650 official Christmas cards were sent out in 1993 by Ministers of the Department of Transport, at a cost of £645. All were cards for which a proportion of the cost went to charity.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 January, Official Report, columns 807-808, if he will tabulate the total number of reported signal failures on (a) the British Railways Board and (b) London Underground Ltd., together with the number of wrong side failures on (i) normal passenger lines and other lines, (ii) yards and (iii) sidings for each year since 1990.
Mr. Freeman : The information is not available in this format. However, the Health and Safety Executive's HM railway inspectorate is informed by the railway operator of all wrong side failures annually. A breakdown of these figures is available in the "Annual Report on Railway Safety in Great Britain", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 January, Official Report, column 29, concerning the financing of an international station at Stratford on the channel tunnel rail link, what is (a) the estimated cost of the rail route as presently planned from the River Lea to Maryland station and (b) the estimated cost of providing additional station facilities of at least four platform faces capable of dealing with intended tracks.
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Mr. Freeman : The cost of the London section of the route is estimated to be £670 million--fourth quarter 1992 prices--that is, £645 million for the base route plus £25 million for a package of options including a short box at Stratford. Union Railways estimates that the additional capital cost, including station works, access roads, parking, land and property and management costs, of providing a combined international and domestic station at Stratford is £105 million, while an international only station would cost £93 million. Further information is available in Union Railways' October 1993 report, published on 24 January 1994.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out his plans and targets for increasing the amount of (a) rail freight and (b) coastal shipping over the next five years.
Mr. Freeman : The choice of transport mode for moving freight is primarily a commercial matter. However, we encourage freight users to consider the merits of rail and water as an alternative to road where this is practical. As part of that commitment, we have announced measures, to be introduced shortly, which will assist rail-- Hansard, 2 February 1993, columns 164-65 --and shipping-- Hansard, 15 December 1993, columns 698-99 - -and we will monitor their progress closely.
Mr. Ottaway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will make available information to prospective purchasers prospectus details regarding the three successor trainload freight companies.
Mr. Freeman : The three successor trainload freight businesses will be vested as individual subsidiary companies of the British Railways Board in September 1994. The board will issue information to prospective purchasers of the new companies after a subsequent period of "shadow running". Further background information is available in the Department of Transport publication "Rail freight
privatisation--the Government's proposals", published in May 1993.
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what grounds he decided not to accept the proposal for a tunnel through the Boxley valley on the channel tunnel rail link route ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The Government considered very carefully the representations received and an updated comparative assessment by Union Railways' environmental consultants. The long tunnel option through the Boxley valley has significant environmental advantages, but the Government decided that these did not justify spending an additional £65 million, plus a further cost risk of £50 million.
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has made to implement the purchasing policy for properties within the safeguarded corridor of the channel tunnel rail link ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Freeman : The Secretary of State for Transport will issue directions to safeguard the route of the rail link in around three weeks' time. This will trigger Union Railways' voluntary purchase scheme for homes within the safeguarded zone. The scheme will be backed by statutory blight compensation provisions.
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of the construction of the bypass in the village of Spofforth in north Yorkshire.
Mr. Key : North Yorkshire county council estimates the cost of its Spofforth bypass proposal at £3.22 million.
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to enforce the installation of the traffic alerts and collision avoidance systems in all British-based commercial airliners and all similar aircraft using United Kingdom airspace ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The traffic alert and collision avoidance system is a complex safety device, which is currently being evaluated for use in United Kingdom airspace by National Air Traffic Services, part of the Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for air traffic safety. This evaluation is being undertaken as part of a Europe-wide evaluation programme, which is ultimately under the aegis of the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
As this is primarily an air traffic management issue, I have passed the hon. Member's question to the chairman of the CAA and asked him to send a comprehensive response to the hon. Member.
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Seymour inquiry report on the Severn tunnel accident was concluded ; what is the reason for the delay in publishing the Seymour inquiry report on the Severn tunnel accident : and when the inspector who conducted the Seymour inquiry retired.
Mr. Freeman : I understand from the Health and Safety Executive's HM railway inspector that the inquiry into the Severn tunnel accident is now concluded and the report should be published by March. Mr. Seymour held two separate public hearings. This was due to the amount of evidence given and the need to hear winesses that were not available for the first session. He was not able to complete his investigations because of the reluctance of a key witness to give evidence.
Mr. Seymour retired in February 1993. However, he agreed to complete his inquiry on a consultancy basis.
Mr. Ingram : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a figure for the number of staff in his Department covered by statutory sick pay.
Mr. Norris : The total number of staff on the Department's payroll is at present 15,270 ; of that number, 14,370 are covered by SSP.
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Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest position in discussions between the West Yorkshire PTE, his Department and the franchising director over the PTE leasing new rolling stock for the west Yorkshire electrification project ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : It is for the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority to reach a decision on the leasing of new rolling stock for this project. My Department is assisting. For example, we are participating in discussions with the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising about the role which the franchising director might be able to play in giving assurances about the future use of the rolling stock.
Mr. Trotter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to clarify the procedures to be followed by
management-employee buy-outs for rail franchises.
Mr. Freeman : The British Railways Board has already provided guidance to its staff on how they might develop management/employee buy- outs, and will be issuing supplementary guidance very soon.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing, separately for men and women and as an overall total, the number of incidents of (a) violent crime and (b) sexual assault on London Underground for 1992 and 1993.
Mr. Norris : The figures for violent crimes and sexual offences on London Underground, for the years 1992 and 1993, are set out in the table. Figures for violent crimes are not normally differentiated by gender ; instead they are broken down into the two categories of robbery and assault. These are shown separately in the table.
Contracts or projects for which bidding is planned |Planned date |Length of |<1>Fee basis |Amount |Service required |for bid invitation |contract |Years |£ thousands --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Political consultants |- |- |- |- |- (ii) Public relations companies |- |- |- |- |- (iii) Management consultants |February 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Support to the in-house team in the market | testing of the driving test booking service |February 1994 |3 |N/a |120 |Professional adviser on working environment |March 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |User satisfaction survey (iv) Survey organisations |- |- |- |- |- (v) Other outside bodies |May 1994 |3 |N/a |N/a |Market testing of the driving test booking |service |February 1994 |3 |N/a |N/a |Space planning |1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Review of building regulations |1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Review of works advisers |1994 |3 |N/a |75 |Energy bureau services |1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Furniture quality assurance |February 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Legal advice on the form/content of DBFO |contracts | February 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Motorway charging:Technical consultant | N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |Motorway consultant:Specialist advice <1>Information could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing, by standard region, separately for men and women and as an overall total, the number of incidents of (a) violent crime and (b) sexual assault at major bus and coach stations for 1992 and 1993.
Mr. Freeman : I regret that the information requested is not available.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of all organisations to which his Department sent, and from which it has received responses regarding the consultation paper on proposed railway drink and drugs legislation, together with the addresses of each such organisation.
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Mr. MacGregor [holding answer 18 January 1994] : My Department initially issued copies of the consultation paper to 212 associations or individual organisations representing the aviation industry and users, environmental and related non-aviation bodies, local authorities, airports, aiport consultative committees ; and individuals. At least 1,000 further copies were distributed on request. We received 188 responses from organisations and 387 from individuals.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a full list of the names and addresses of all organisations to which his Department sent, and from which it has received, responses regarding the consultation paper on revised restrictions on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, together with the addresses of each such organisation.
Mr. MacGregor [holding answer 18 January 1994] : My Department initially issued copies of the consultation paper to a total of 284 local environmental and other groups, local authorities and local authority organisations, airports and other aviation bodies, airport consultative committees, airlines, airline organisations, airport users and other aviation interests and to about 1,500 individuals. Further copies were distributed on request. We have so far received 96 responses from organisations and 149 from individuals.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all (i) political consultants, (ii) public relations companies, (iii) management consultants, (iv) survey organisations and (v) other outside bodies or individuals currently employed by his Department together with the date on which the contract was awarded, the length of the contract and the total amount spent by his Department on each contract ; whether the contract was based on a fixed-fee or fee-plus man-hours basis ; what was the name of the individual or organisation to which the contract was awarded ; what are the services which were required by his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 20 January 1994] : I am placing the information in the Library.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a list of all contracts for which invitations to bid are planned to be issued by his Department from (i) political consultants, (ii) public relations companies, (iii) management consultants, (iv) survey organisations and (v) other outside bodies or individuals together with the date on which it is planned to issue invitations to bid, the length of the contract and the total amount allocated by his Department for each contract ; whether the contract is based on a fixed-fee or fee-plus man-hours basis ; what are the services which are required by his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 20 January 1994] : The information is as follows :
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Contracts or projects for which bidding is planned |Planned date |Length of |<1>Fee basis |Amount |Service required |for bid invitation |contract |Years |£ thousands --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Political consultants |- |- |- |- |- (ii) Public relations companies |- |- |- |- |- (iii) Management consultants |February 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Support to the in-house team in the market | testing of the driving test booking service |February 1994 |3 |N/a |120 |Professional adviser on working environment |March 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |User satisfaction survey (iv) Survey organisations |- |- |- |- |- (v) Other outside bodies |May 1994 |3 |N/a |N/a |Market testing of the driving test booking |service |February 1994 |3 |N/a |N/a |Space planning |1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Review of building regulations |1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Review of works advisers |1994 |3 |N/a |75 |Energy bureau services |1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Furniture quality assurance |February 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Legal advice on the form/content of DBFO |contracts | February 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Motorway charging:Technical consultant | N/a |N/a |N/a |N/a |Motorway consultant:Specialist advice <1>Information could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a list of all contracts for which bids are currently being considered by his Department from (i) political consultants, (ii) public relations companies, (iii) management consultants, (iv) survey organisations and (v) other outside bodies or individuals together with the date on which the invitations to bid for
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the contract were issued, the length of the contract and the total amount allocated by his Department for each contract ; whether the contract is based on a fixed-fee or fee-plus man-hours basis ; what are the services which are required by his Department ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Norris [holding answer 30 January 1994] : The information is as follows :
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Contracts or projects for which bids are currently being considered |Date of |Length of |Allocated |Fee basis |Service required |bid invitation |contract |amount |£ thousands --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (i) Political consultants |- |- |- |- |- (ii) Public relations companies |- |- |- |- |- (iii) Management consultants |20 September 1993 |N/a |42 |N/a |Specialist consultancy support for MSSD |October 1993 |6 months |N/a |Daily rates |Technical consultancy to inform VI's |IT strategy |October 1993 |6 months |N/a |Fixed fee |User requirements for VI's IS strategy |7 December 1993 |N/a |140 |N/a |Recruitment of a property consultant |December 1993 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Study into DBFO contracts |February 1994 |N/a |N/a |N/a |Market research into the accuracy of the |DVLA database (iv) Survey organisations |- |- |- |- |- (v) Other outside bodies |23 December 1993 |N/a |25 |N/a |Arbitration on user charges at United States |airports |17 December 1993 |N/a |120 |N/a |Channel tunnel rail link: Reporting |accountants |21 December 1993 |N/a |5 |N/a |Accident/incident database |30 November 1993 |N/a |200 |N/a |Channel tunnel rail link: Technical advisers |23 November 1993 |N/a |42 |N/a |The effective sealing of cracks and fissures in |pavements |27 October 1993 |N/a |20 |N/a |National roads network assessment system: |Software programs |23 July 1993 |N/a |760 |N/a |Birmingham northern relief road: Appointment |of financial and technical panels |13 July 1993 |N/a |110 |N/a |Cycle training |30 December 1993 |N/a |90 |N/a |LATS database: Appointment of marketing |agents |6 December 1993 |N/a |128 |N/a |Effects and elasticities of higher car fuel prices |19 November 1993 |N/a |200 |N/a |Appointment of a consultant to update and |survey the network using DOT's high |speed road monitor |26 November 1993 |N/a |10 |N/a |Insurance advice consultancy |18 November 1993 |N/a |17 |N/a |Trial audit of free issue equipment |29 September 1993 |17 months |N/a |Rates |Design and supervision of installation of new |national motorway communications system |(M1 J24 to J30) |30 November 1993 |1 year |N/a |Rates |Site supervision of installation of new |communications equipment(M1 J38 to | J42) |7 December 1993 |N/a |N/a |Rates |Monitor and survey of lighting on trunk roads |in London |10 November 1993 |3 years |N/a |Rates/ |West London trunk roads: Maintenance and |fixed fee |improvement |10 November 1993 |3 years |N/a |Rates/ |South London trunk roads: Maintenance and |fixed fee |improvement |6 January 1994 |N/a |393 |N/a |Alternative fuel trials extension 1 |6 January 1994 |N/a |26 |N/a |Revision and maintenance of technical |drawings for safety fences and barriers
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a list for each of the past five years and as a total over the same of all (i) political consultants, (ii) public relations companies, (iii) management consultants, (iv) survey organisations and (v) other outside bodies or individuals employed by his Department together with the date on which the contract was awarded, the length of the contract and the total amount spent by his Department on each contract ; whether the contract was based on a fixed-fee or fee-plus man-hours basis ; what was the name of the individual or organisation to which the contract was awarded ; what are the services which were required by his Department ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 20 January 1994] : I am placing the information in the Library.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the incident involving a contractor's vehicle which took place on 17 January, on railway lines in the area of Burton-on-Trent and Clay Mills.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 28 January 1994] : I understand from the Health and Safety Executive's Her Majesty's railway inspectorate that it has received a report of an incident involving a contractor's road- rail vehicle at Elford which occurred on 16 January 1994. British Rail is investigating the incident and the inspectorate is holding discussions with BR to seek means of preventing a recurrence.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made as to the adequacy of levels of training given to the employees of private contractors before they are allowed to operate vehicles on public railway lines ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 28 January 1994] : Primary responsibility rests with the railway operator. However, the Health and Safety Executive's Her Majesty's railway inspectorate monitors safety on the railways, and as part of its routine inspections programme undertakes random checks on contractors.
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Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the environmental organisations consulted on the proposals to deregulate goods and passenger operator licensing.
Mr. Norris : The following environmental organisations were consulted during our consultation last year :
Council for the Protection of Rural England
The Environment Council
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
Rural Development Commission
Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of staff employed on the cones hotline.
Mr. Key : No staff are engaged exclusively on the cones hotline. Two additional staff have been temporarily employed since December to assist the hotline but are not working solely on that activity. All follow-up work related to hotline inquiries has been undertaken within existing resources.
Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is (a) the current cost of operating the cones hotline and (b) how many calls have been made to it since its inception.
Mr. Key : The cost of operating the cones hotline has been met within existing budgets. Two additional staff have been temporarily employed since December to assist the hotline but are not working solely on that activity.
Since its introduction in June 1992 until 25 January 1994, 478 calls registered as formal inquiries have been received by the cones hotline. Until recently other calls received by the hotline have not been recorded, but they are currently running at two to three times the number of formal inquiries about specific schemes.
Mr. Madel : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce the date for the beginning of the public inquiry into the A5 north-south Dunstable bypass ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : The need for a public inquiry will depend on the weight and nature of objections to draft orders for the
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scheme which, subject to the present review of the trunk road programme, we hope to publish this autumn. An inquiry would not be held before 1995.Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last published and next intends to publish a detailed report on the achievements towards the target of reducing the road deaths and serious injuries by a third by the year 2000 ; and whether he will reconsider the setting of the same targets for slight injuries.
Mr. Key : The road safety report 1990-91 was published in November 1991 and we intend to issue a new report towards the end of this year. The casualty statistics for the third quarter of 1993, published on 13 January, included a table showing the progress made towards achieving the road safety target. The basis for the target is widely understood and I would therefore be reluctant to change it.
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing, by standard region, separately for men and women and as an overall total, the number of incidents of (a) violent crime and (b) sexual assault at British Rail stations for 1992 and 1993.
Mr. Freeman : The information is not available in the form requested. However, the following tables show, by BR business sectors, the recorded incidents of violent crime and sexual assault at British Rail stations for 1992
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