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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 7 March 1994
TRANSPORT
Roads (Costs)
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost per mile for (a) porous asphalt road surface material and (b) concrete surfaces for (i) single carriageway road, (ii) two-lane dual carriageway roads, (iii) three-lane dual carriageway roads and (iv) four- lane dual carriageway roads.
Mr. Key : The approximate costs per mile of surfacing the various standards of road are shown in the table :
------------------------------------------ Single carriageway |90 |450 2 lane dual-all purpose |180 |900 -motorway |220 |1,100 3 lane dual-all purpose |250 |1,260 -motorway |275 |1,380 4 lane dual-all purpose |- |- -motorway |345 |1,750
These figures are indicative only because both site and choice of pavement design will cause them to vary. Further, the figures for porous asphalt are based on limited experience.
Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the average costs of constructing one mile of dual three-lane motorway (a) in a tunnel and (b) on the surface.
Mr. Key : The cost of building roads and tunnels varies considerably dependent upon location, topography and ground conditions. At current prices the average total cost of building one mile of dual three-lane motorway on the surface would be between £6 million and £10 million. Building the same length in tunnel would probably cost at least £60 million and possibly as much as £150 million.
Road Construction
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent investigations have been carried out into the relationship between link road and motorway buildings and employment and prosperity.
Mr. Key : Among recent United Kingdom studies into this issue of which I am aware are a study commissioned jointly by Glasgow development agency and Scottish Enterprise National on the "Economic Benefits of the M74 Norther Extension"--Kennedy McTavish Ltd., Oscar Faber TPA, and Cambridge Systematics Inc, August 1993 ; one by E. T. Judge on "Regional Issues and Transport Infrastructure : some reflections on the Lancashire-- Yorkshire Motorway" published in 1983 ; and an
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investigation by P. J. Mackie et al of the institute of transport studies, Leeds University into the likely effects of the second Severn crossing, 1986. The centre for transport studies of the university of London is currently embarking upon a study into the impact of the new A14 M1-A1 link road for the British Road Federation. There are a number of other recent studies carried out in the United States and Netherlands.Vehicle Congestion
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been made by his Department of work done by the Oxford university transport studies unit concerning the effect on congestion of vehicle mileage increases.
Mr. Key : I am aware of work on this topic carried out by the TSU. I am concerned about the impact of traffic growth on congestion. Failing to invest in road improvements will cause congestion to increase, which will damage the economy. It has been suggested that road improvement may itself make some contribution to traffic growth. The extent of this effect is being studied by the Department of Transport's standing advisory committee on trunk road assessment, which is due to report later this year. It is, however, clear that economic growth rather than road provision is the main determinant of demand.
Statutory Sick Pay
Mr. Ingram : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide figures for the amount his Department has been reimbursed by the Department of Social Security in respect of statutory sick pay provision for each of the past three years.
Mr. Norris : A figure for 1990-91 is not available. The sums reimbursed in 1991-92 were approximately £706,000 ; and £1.04 million in 1992-93. Reimbursements in the current financial year are expected to remain around £1 million.
Consultancies
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January, Official Report, column 496, what was the network referencing listed under the column headed "Service Required" ; and what KPMG provided.
Mr. Norris : The network referencing project concerned the review and possible re-development of the existing computer-based model of the trunk road and motorway network. This model is used by the Department's computerised network information system, which helps decisions on highway investment.
KPMG was commissioned in September 1992 to review the Department's business requirements for network-based data and to recommend an effective referencing system. KPMG's report in May 1993 recommended the simplification of the current network model, and provided a business case to justify the re-development.
Mrs Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31
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January, Official Report, column 496, what duties the temporary finance director, hired from Coopers and Lybrand, carried out ; and for how long that director was employed.Mr. Norris : The purpose of this appointment between 3 August 1992 and 31 January 1993 at the Transport Research Laboratory was to cover the delay in appointing a permanent finance director from the private sector ; and to assist in developing a culture of service that would encourage a more commercial orientation in the finance department.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January, Official Report, column 496, what was the study of EC directives under the column headed "Service Required" ; and what service Coopers and Lybrand provided.
Mr. Norris : The study by Coopers and Lybrand was into directive 91/440/EC on the development of Community railways. Coopers and Lybrand provided recommendations on, among other matters, accounting separation, track charging and mechanisms for access to the railway network arising from this directive.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January, Official Report, column 496, what was the OPRAF consultancy under the column headed "Service Required" ; and what service Ernst and Young provided.
Mr. Norris : The OPRAF consultancy was commissioned to identify the business objectives, business processes and information requirements of the rail regulator and the director of rail franchising, and to consider and evaluate these and future IT requirements. Ernst and Young performed this study, producing a formal report, and subsequently developed an implementation plan, more detailed specifications and recommendations for technical strategy options.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January, Official Report, column 496, what was the DISC network policy under the column headed "Service Required" ; and what service KPMG provided.
Mr. Norris : The DISC network policy project was set up to develop a technical strategy for wide area computer networking provision and network management services. KPMG provided business and technical expertise, and assistance in the preparation of policy guidance for the departmental information systems committee--DISC.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January, Official Report, column 496, if he will set out in detail the type of financial advice provided by Capita in 1993.
Mr. Norris : Capita Management Consultants was asked to review the financial and management information systems used to plan, monitor, control and report
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expenditure on accommodation and office services ; to develop proposals for a computerised management accounting system ; to advise on time and activity recording systems ; to calculate the full economic costs of each service ; and to assist in developing service level agreements and baseline costings for market testing services.Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January, Official Report, column 496, what was the senior staff review under the column headed "Service Required" ; and what service Price Waterhouse provided.
Mr. Norris : The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency reviewed and revised its senior structure in order to further improve the management of its organisation. Price Waterhouse gave advice and assistance in that process.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) of 31 January, Official Report, column 496, what duties were carried out by the temporary accountant hired from Michael Page Finance ; and how long the accountant was employed.
Mr. Norris : The purpose of this appointment was to cover staff absence during the period 5 May 1993 to 27 August 1993 ; and to assist in the preparation of the first set of commercial accounts for the Transport Research Laboratory.
Fewston Transport
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many lorries from Fewston Transport of Skipton have been employed on motorway building or maintenance contracts ; whether Fewston's vehicles have ever been checked or prosecuted for safety infringements ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) whether he will exclude Fewston Transport of Skipton from all future and present motorway contracts ;
(3) what requirements on vehicle safety are imposed on contractors and subcontractors on motorway projects ; what inspection procedures are in place for vehicle safety ; and what sanctions are imposed on firms found running unsafe vehicles.
Mr. Key : All vehicles which use public roads must meet the relevant legal requirements, the enforcement of which is a matter for the police and the Department of Transport's vehicle inspectors. The vehicle inspectorate has conducted annual roadworthiness tests and roadside spot checks on vehicles belonging to Fewston Transport ; the operator has not been prosecuted under his current licence for any vehicle roadworthiness defects or for being overweight. The Department has no contracts directly with Fewston Transport although the firm may have been engaged as haulage contractors by other contractors or suppliers working on the Department's trunk roads and motorways.
The Department's contracts require compliance with the law generally. We are considering the practicality of a specific requirement that main contractors ensure all goods vehicles using the site are covered by a valid operator's
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licence. Persistent failure to do so would be a factor taken into account in offering future opportunities to tender for departmental contracts.The Department has also formed a joint working group on illegal operations to address the problem of illegal operators and to coordinate enforcement action against them.
A27
Sir Terence Higgins : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the price (a) paid to those who have to sell their property in connection with the development of the A27 in the Worthing area because of urgent personal problems and (b) of their or similar properties before the A27 schemes were announced ; and if he will now purchase properties whose owners need to move because of urgent personal problems under the blight conditions.
Mr. Key : The purchase price is the full market value of the property as agreed with the district valuer, calculated as if the scheme had never been proposed. The valuation basis is therefore the same as would have applied before the proposals were announced. The Department has already agreed to purchase, under discretionary powers, more than 90 properties in the Worthing area whose enjoyment would be seriously affected by the proposals and whose owners need to move because of urgent personal problems. It will continue to do so where the discretionary purchase criteria are met.
Seat Belts
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken into the effectiveness of seat belts in preventing injury in coach and minibus crashes, with particular regard to the relative merits of lap-only belts and three-point belts.
Mr. Key : My Department has carried out a good deal of research on seat belts, primarily in connection with cars, much of which can be used to inform policy decisions on seat belts on public service vehicles.
Both lap and three-point belts are effective in preventing ejection from the vehicle which is a major cause of injury in accidents involving coaches and minibuses.
British Rail
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each year since 1979 (a) British Rail line closures and (b) British Rail passenger and freight service reductions.
Mr. Freeman : Between 1981 and 1994 British Rail passenger services were discontinued on the lines listed. There were no closures in 1979 and 1980. There have of course been a number of new services introduced in this period.
1981
Kentish Town junction--Engine shed junction (north London) New Holland to New Holland pier (south Humberside)
1982
Dore West--Dore South junction (south Yorkshire)
Norwood Fork junction--Selhurst junction (south London)
Blaydon junction--Newcastle West junction (Tyne and Wear) March East junction--Spalding South junction (Cambs/Lincs)
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Sleaford South junction--Sleaford North junction (Lincs) Greetwell West junction--Pyewipe junction (Lincs)1983
Glasgow--Kilmacolm (Strathclyde)
Woodside--Selsdon (south London)
Clayton West junction and Clayton West and Denby Dale and Sheffield Nunnery junction (west and south Yorkshire)
Bidston junction--Seacombe junction (Merseyside)
1985
Tunbridge Wells West--Eridge (Kent)
Tottenham Hale--Stratford (east London)
1986
Broad Street--Dalston junction (east London)
Balloch Central to Balloch pier (Strathclyde)
1987
Goosehill--Wath Road (west Yorkshire)
1988
Agecroft--Brindle Heath (Greater Manchester)
Burton Lane--Rowntree Halt (north Yorkshire)
1989
Vale of Rheidol line (Dyfed)
1990
Wortley Curve (west Yorkshire)
Methley junction--Altofts junction (west Yorkshire)
Mexborough junction--Aldwarke junction (south Yorkshire) North Pole junction--Old Oak Common East junction (west London) 1991
West Parade North junction--Anlaby Road junction (north Humberside) 1992
Tilbury East and West junctions--Tilbury Riverside (Essex) Camden junction- -Camden Road junction and Navarino junction--Reading Lane junction (north and east London)
1993
Castleford-Milford junction (west and north Yorkshire)
1994
Philips Park No. 1 junction--Ashburys West junction and Denton junction-- Ashton Moss junction (Greater Manchester)
Comparable information is not available for freight-only lines, which have not been subject to statutory closure procedures. Details of alterations to levels of service on individual passenger and freight lines between 1979 and 1994 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Commercial Vehicles (Accidents)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take urgent action to seek a change in the law to make directors of firms, whose neglect of maintenance of commercial vehicles is the cause of road deaths, personally responsible for manslaughter.
Mr. Key : The Law Commission is currently reviewing the law on manslaughter and expects shortly to publish a consultation paper.
Minibus Drivers
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current licensing requirements for minibus drivers ; and what plans he has to review them, with particular regard to those drivers transporting children.
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Mr. Key : Passenger-carrying vehicle driving entitlement is required to drive any minibus over eight passenger seats when driven for hire or reward. A public consultation on changes arising from the second EC directive on driver licensing, which requires stringent medical and driving test standards for drivers of these vehicles, will include proposals for volunteer drivers of minibuses with up to 16 passenger seats.
Under current legislation drivers who hold ordinary car licences have entitlement to drive vehicles of up to eight passenger seats. If they are 21 years of age or over they are also allowed to drive a minibus with up to 17 seats, including the driver's, provided it is not for hire or reward.
Nature Conservation
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he intends to operate the Transport and Works Act 1992 so as to comply with the requirements of the European Union directive 92/43 EEC on the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Macgregor : Compliance will be achieved by appropriate amendments to the 1992 Act by means of regulations to be made under powers conferred by section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972.
Trunk Road Schemes
Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each region all proposals for trunk road widening or construction that are (a) now due to proceed in the course of the next three years, (b) deferred from the next three years following his recent review of the roads programme, but still due to proceed at some future date and (c) originally intended to commence in the next three years but now cancelled completely ; and if he will indicate the estimated cost in each case.
Mr. Key : I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) on 28 February, Official Report, columns 565-66, concerning trunk road schemes due for start of works in 1994-95.
A prioritisation review of the national trunk road programme is currently under way, the conclusions of which will be published shortly.
Coach Crashes (Children)
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all coach crashes involving the transport of children for the period since 1984, together with a breakdown of fatalities, serious injuries and lesser injuries.
Mr. Key : The table shows the number of coach accidents in which a child occupant was injured, and the consequent number of child occupant casualties in each of the three injury severity groups.
Coach accidents in which a child occupant was injured, and consequent
child occupant casualties: GB 1984-1992
Accidents/casualties
Child casualties
by severity
|Accidents|Fatal |Serious |Slight |Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1984 |1,067 |1 |129 |1,418 |1,548
1985 |999 |2 |87 |1,311 |1,400
1986 |978 |1 |86 |1,248 |1,335
1987 |824 |0 |70 |1,173 |1,243
1988 |929 |0 |63 |1,256 |1,319
1989 |1,015 |2 |93 |1,472 |1,567
1990 |926 |2 |70 |1,369 |1,441
1991 |850 |1 |65 |1,117 |1,183
1992 |879 |1 |49 |1,303 |1,353
New Roads and Street Works Act
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the groups employed by Nynex Cable Comms in Bolton are working in accordance with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 ; when he intends to respond to the representations from local authorities concerning this Act ; what plans he has to change the current legislation ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : Assessments in relation to particular local roads are a matter for the local highway authority rather than for me. I have received a number of representations about the operation of the Act, including two letters from my hon. Friend to which I shall reply shortly. We have no plans to change the Act itself but much of its detailed effect is contained in regulations which we are reviewing at present and will change if it is appropriate to do so.
Road Construction Programme
Mr. Harvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each year since 1979 (a) the proposed schemes in the Government's road forward construction programme and (b) any deletions or additions to the forward construction programme ; and which of those schemes were at the planning stage, at the consultation stage, in construction or to be completed by April 1994.
Mr. Key : I refer the hon. Member to the information contained in the following White Papers and road reports, copies of which are in the Library :
Policy for Roads : England 1980--(Cmnd 7908).
Policy for Roads : England 1981--(Cmnd 8496).
Roads in England 1982.
Policy for Roads in England : 1983--(Cmnd 9059).
National Roads England 1985.
Policy for Roads in England : 1987--(Cm 125 I-II).
Roads for Prosperity (1989)--(Cm 693).
Trunk Roads, England : Into the 1990s (1990).
A prioritisation review of the national trunk road programme is currently under way, the conclusions of which will be published shortly.
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