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Mr. Freeman : Although the revenue element of PSO grant is taxable, and is taken into account as income in calculating BR's liability for corporation tax, none has been payable for the last few years because BR has had a trading loss even after taking the grant payment into account. The capital element of PSO grant is also taxable, but is taken into account by reducing the amount of expenditure which would otherwise have qualified for tax depreciation allowances.
Network SouthEast Stations
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of all the stations under the Network SouthEast operational area indicating whether they are (a) staffed at all times when rail services are operating, (b) unstaffed at certain times of day, (c) unstaffed at weekend or (d) unstaffed at all times, and listing the number of (i) reported assaults, (ii) other reported crimes, (iii) other incidents, (iv) complaints relating to the availability of tickets and (v) other complaints that have occurred at each station over the past year.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested is not held centrally and, therefore, is not available in the form requested.
Within the operational area of Network SouthEast, which includes five stations belonging to InterCity, there is a total of 948 stations. Of these, as at June 1993, 191 were totally unstaffed, 104 were staffed at all times when rail services were operating, with the remaining 653 being staffed at certain times during the day. I am placing a list of staffed and unstaffed stations in the Library of the House.
The British Transport police keep statistics of crimes by category rather than by station. The Network SouthEast operational area falls within two of the BTP's operational areas, London north and London south. The total reported crime for the London north area in 1993 was 14,680 and 17,826 for London south. There were a total of 645 reported assaults throughout Network SouthEast in 1993 together with 800 reported robberies.
Agency Chief Executives
Mr. Radice : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many agency chief executives in his Department are currently paid more than £82,925, excluding performance-related bonuses ; and whether such chief executives were recruited directly to their present post from outside the civil service.
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Mr. Norris : One. Mr. L. J. Haynes took up post on 14 February as chief executive designate of the Highways Agency. He was recruited from outside the civil service following an open competition.
New Road Schemes
Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which his proposed new procedures for expediting new road scheme approvals will be compatible with existing European Union rules.
Mr. Key : The proposed changes to the Highways Inquiries Procedure Rules 1976 and the Compulsory Purchase by Ministers Inquiry Procedure Rules 1967 are compatible with existing European Community rules.
HGVs (Taxation)
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to amend the criteria for restricted HGV taxation class to exclude all vehicles with a plating certificate ; what are the reasons for these plans ; and if he will ensure that no amendments are made until the next licence renewal or the end of 1994 whichever is the later.
Mr. Key : The restricted HGV taxation class is for vehicles with no plated weight. After April 1994 and only when current licences expire, a small number of vehicles which have been issued with a plating certificate specifying a plated weight but which are currently exempt from plating and testing will, on legal advice, be excluded from the restricted HGV tax class.
Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to narrow the criteria for heavy and light locomotives and motor tractors, as defined in the Road Traffic Act 1988, in relation to the equipment that may be carried, to qualify for showman's concessionary HGV licensing class ; what are the reasons for these plans ; and if he will allow a phasing in period to allow showmen and others to adapt their vehicles to meet the Department's new criteria.
Mr. Key : There are no plans to change the definitions of a heavy or light locomotive or a motor tractor in the Road Traffic Act 1988. For the purposes of the Road Traffic Act none of these vehicles, by definition, is designed itself to carry a load--though a crane, a dynamo or welding plant or other special appliance or apparatus which is an essentially permanent fixture, is not regarded as a load. Under the Vehicle Excise Act, if operated by a travelling showman, they should be licensed in the showman's haulage tax class, or else, if carrying any of the equipment mentioned above--which would, for vehicle excise purposes, be considered goods or burden--the showman's HGV tax class.
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken to avoid potential danger to the public through usage of under- strength bridges by coaches which exceed the current United Kingdom weight limit.
Mr. Key : The Department has a clear enforcement policy in respect of coaches and other vehicles which do not comply with current weight restrictions in the United Kingdom. The safety and protection of the public is fundamental to this policy.
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Railway Rolling Stock (Brakes)
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has received from British Rail on the safety of freight wagon brakes.
Mr. Freeman : I understand from the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate that freight wagon brakes are subject to planned preventative maintenance, visually examined at regular intervals, and tested at each change in the make-up of a train.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will meet the chairman of British Rail to discuss the safety of brakes on BR rolling stock ;
(2) if he will discuss with the chairman of British Rail the safety of simplified braking systems on freight wagons.
Mr. Freeman : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular meetings with the chairman during which various railway safety matters are discussed. I understand from the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate that it is continuing its discussions with British rail on these matters.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will forbid the introduction of European braking systems on British Rail rolling stock until they have received clearance from the Chief Inspecting Office of Railways.
Mr. Freeman : The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate advise me on matters of railway safety. The inspectorate is continuing its inquiries into the proposed changes to a simplified brake testing system on certain freight wagons. It has requested both statistical and technical information from British Rail--Trainload Freight, in order to give detailed consideration to the proposal.
Traffic Cones Hotline
Mr. Stevenson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints have been received by the traffic cones hotline ; how many have been followed up ; how many have resulted in the removal of cones ; and what publicity the hotline has been given.
Mr. Key : Some 2,500 calls have been answered by the cones hotline between its introduction in June 1992 and 9 March 1994. Of these, some 1,200 have been followed up as formal complaints or observations. In three cases inquiries have led directly to the removal of cones. The cones hotline telephone number is displayed at the end of each set of major roadworks on the motorway and trunk road network. It has also been registered with directory enquiries. A press notice about the hotline was issued by the Department on 1 March 1994.
A1
Ms Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with representatives of public transport groups in Gateshead prior to his decision on the preferred route for the A1 western bypass through Gateshead.
Mr. Key : The Department met Tyne and Wear passenger transport executive and the local highway
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authority Gateshead metropolitan borough council to discuss public transport issues as part of the consultation on the A1 Gateshead western bypass scheme.Specialist sub-consultants in transportation were appointed to carry out an appraisal of the public transport issues involved and their report was fully considered before a decision was made on the preferred route.
A review of existing information regarding current public transport services and future proposals in Tyne and Wear was carried out. Consultations were held with the local authorities in the area including Gateshead MBC.
The final report concluded that
"the impact of public transport improvements on the A1 corridor is likely to be small, even with the best possible system".
Further, the final conclusion indicated that
"they (public transport improvements) are not an alternative to improving the road network at this particular location".
Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in the programme to dual carriageway the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : Two sections of dual carriageway have been completed and opened to traffic at Marshall Meadows and Brownieside. Two schemes to complete the dualling of the Alnwick bypass are in preparation. A scheme to complete the continuous dualling between Newcastle and north of Alnwick is in the road programme currently under review. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport expects to announce the results of the review shortly.
In Scotland proposals have been published for dualling between Tranent and Haddington and two small schemes south of Dunbar. A further five dualling schemes are in preparation.
Further progress on the upgrading of the A1 will depend upon potential schemes meeting environmental, economic and safety objectives, the overall availability of resources and the relative claims of potential schemes elsewhere in the country.
Traffic, Hastings
Mrs. Lait : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what weighting has been given in his Department's traffic projections for the bypasses along the A259 through Hastings and Rye, to the full and successful completion and operation of the Hastings shopping centre ;
(2) what weighting has been given in his Department's traffic projections for the bypasses along the A259 through Hastings and Rye, to the full production by current industry along the Rye Harbour road and to the successful and operating development of the industrial area along that road ;
(3) what weighting has been given in his Department's studies of the traffic along the A21 to the full and successful completion and operation of the Hastings shopping centre.
Mr. Key : The effects of existing and projected development and of a range of assumptions about economic growth have been fully taken into account in the forecasts of traffic which have been used for the A21 and A259 scheme appraisals.
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Entrance Project, Southampton
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reconsider his refusal to fund the Entrance project in Southampton.
Mr. Key : Not at this stage. We are considering the issues raised by this project with Hampshire county council.
British Rail Pension Fund
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the future of the British Rail pension fund.
Mr. Freeman : There have been frequent detailed discussions on the future pension arrangements between officials from the Department, the BR board and the BR pension trustees. In addition, since the beginning of the year, I have met representatives from the three main railway trade unions and the British Transport Pensioners Federation.
We expect to bring forward proposals shortly for the future of BR pensions funds.
East London River Crossing
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by address all properties acquired by his Department along the line of the proposed east London river crossing and which are (a) occupied by tenants of his Department, (b) vacant but available for letting, (c) vacant but awaiting repair and renovation prior to letting, (d) vacant but unsuitable for letting and which could not be renovated at reasonable expense, (e) let or leased to the London borough of Greenwich and (f) let or leased to housing associations.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 11 March 1994] : I will write to the hon. Member to supply him with the addresses of the 158 properties along the original route of the east London river crossing acquired by the Department.
The bare facts are that, of those, 133 are currently let, four are vacant but available for letting and 21 are vacant awaiting assessment for repairs and renovations. It is probable that some properties could not be renovated at reasonable expense and in such cases letting will not be possible.
Of the 133 properties currently let, 49 are let to the London borough of Greenwich and 30 to housing associations.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Commercial Organisations
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will list all commercial organisations that have been allocated space in the Palace of Westminster, giving in each case details of space allocated, rent and other charges paid per annum, the procedures that govern such arrangements and the dates on which they started.
Mr. Ray Powell : Accommodation in the Palace has been allocated to commercial organisations as follows :
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|m<2>
--------------------------------------
Press Gallery |350
Post Office |150
British Telecom/TRG Telecom |150
BBC |130
Press Association |80
Transport Office |35
Susan Hamilton Agency |20
Reuters |20
Rediffusion |10
Florist | 7.5
The accommodation of these organisations within the Palace derives from long-standing agreements and decisions reached by the relevant authorities and Committees of both Houses. It is not possible to identify in any meaningful way the dates on which the respective agreements began. No revenue is received in respect of the provision of this accommodation.
Divisions
Mr. Allen : To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hours were spent on Divisions in each of the last five Sessions.
Mr. Newton : Because precise timings are not available for individual divisions, any figure must be an approximation. It may be assumed that divisions take, on average, 14 minutes each. On that assumption, the following shows, by Session, the number of divisions ; the total hours taken ; and, since the length of the Sessions varies widely, the average time per day in each Session.
|Number of |Hours taken|Per day
|Divisions
------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 |409 |95.26 |0.33
1989-90 |345 |80.30 |0.29
1990-91 |233 |54.22 |0.20
1991-92 |114 |26.36 |0.19
1992-93 |402 |93.48 |0.23
Register of Members' Interests
Sir Ralph Howell : To ask the Lord President of the Council what are the percentage changes between the most recent and the previous HMSO published editions of the Register of Members' Interests in respect of (a) number of pages, (b) cover price and (c) costs of printing and publishing.
Mr. Newton : The percentage increase between the most recent and the previous edition of the Register of Members' Interests, HC 205 (93-94) and HC 325 (92-93) respectively are :
|Percentage
--------------------------------------------------------------
Page content |<1>+47
Price |+30.5
Estimated printing and publishing costs |<2>1.4
<1> Calculated on printed pages.
<2> Calculated per printed page.
HMSO regrets that the estimate of printing and publishing costs included in HC 325 (92-93) was incorrect. The figure should be £15, 009.
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EMPLOYMENT
Agency Chief Executives
Mr. Radice : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many agency chief executives in his Department are currently paid more than £82,925, excluding performance-related bonuses ; and whether such chief executives were recruited directly to their present post from outside the civil service.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : There is no agency chief executive in this Department who is currently paid more than £82,925.
Mines (Accidents)
Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of serious accidents and fatalities in (a) British Coal pits and (b) private licensed mines for each year since 1987.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : The table shows the number of fatal and major injuries from that date :
British Coal Licensed mines
Year |Fatal |Major |Fatal |Major
|injuries|injuries|injuries|injuries
------------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |15 |952 |3 |30
1987-88 |9 |729 |3 |27
1988-89 |18 |685 |2 |25
1989-90 |18 |587 |1 |23
1990-91 |11 |501 |1 |13
1991-92 |10 |469 |2 |17
1992-93 |3 |326 |3 |7
Note: The introduction of the Reporting of Injuries,
Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations on 1
April 1986 further widened the coverage of the major
accident category and therefore figures from 1986
onwards are not directly comparable with earlier
years.
Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of serious accidents and fatalities per 100 miners employed in (a) British Coal pits and (b) private licensed mines for each year since 1987.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : I refer the hon. Member for to the answer I gave him on Monday 24 January, Official Report, column 13.
Unemployment Benefit
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the cost of administering unemployment benefit in the Doncaster area in each of the past four years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 14 March 1994.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the cost of administering unemployment benefit in the Doncaster area over the last four years.
It may be helpful if I explain that the Employment Service (ES) has responsibility for delivering a number of benefits in
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addition to unemployment benefit, as well as a range of other services to people seeking employment and training opportunities. Since 1990 the ES has been pursuing a policy of bringing together Unemployment Benefit offices and Jobcentres, with the aim of providing a more efficient and effective service to our clients. Individual ES staff are responsible for all aspects of ES work and it is not possible to provide accurate or meaningful breakdowns of the costs of specific activities after 1990. Therefore, I have provided figures, for the most recent years, relating to the costs of delivering the full range of our services in Doncaster. But I have additionally provided an estimated breakdown of the cost of administering unemployment benefit for you, but I must stress this is an estimate and can only be used as a guide. The figures for 1990-91 are before the Doncaster Unemployment Benefit Offices and Jobcentre costs were merged, and are actual data.The figures also exclude fixed premises costs, ie the costs of leasing and purchasing premises and the associated running costs. The various methods of collecting this information over the years makes it time consuming and costly to trace those costs relating to the Doncaster offices.
Given these provisions, the relevant costs, which include staff salary and other running costs, such as fuel and telecommunications, are in the attached table.
I hope this is helpful.
Year |Total cost(£)|Administering
|unemployment
|benefit (£)
--------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |1,596,296 |<1>1,291,148
1991-92 |2,226,527 |<2>1,424,977
1992-93 |2,543,453 |<2>1,627,810
1993-94<3> |2,754,376 |<2>1,707,713
<1> Actual.
<2> Estimate.
<3> Projected.
Job Club Contracts
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the training companies which currently have job club contracts in the Doncaster area.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 14 March 1994 :
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Jobclub contracts in the Doncaster area.
The attached table lists those organisations operating Jobclubs on behalf of the Employment Service as of 10 March 1994.
I hope this is helpful.
Organisations holding jobclub contracts in the Doncaster area
March 1994
Name of organisation |Type |Number of
|contracts
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doncaster
Prospect Training (Yorkshire) Ltd. |PR |2
Instant Muscle Ltd. |CH |2
Roger Worth Training |PR |1
Microcom |PR |1
Thorne<1>
Prospect Training |PR |1
Key PR-Private Provider.
CH-Charity.
<1>The Doncaster area information includes Thorne as this forms part of Doncaster's travel to work
area.
Column 516
Employment Service
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many females occupy senior officer positions in the Employment Service in Wales (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of all such posts.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Barry Jones, dated 14 March 1994 :
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the numbers of women occupying senior officer positions in the Employment Service in Wales.
There are nine posts at Grade 7 level and above in the Employment Service in Wales, one of which is filled by a woman. This represents 11 per cent of the total.
You will wish to know the Employment Service in Wales, along with Employment Service nationally, aims to be an Equal Opportunities employer.
We have produced an Equal Opportunities Policy, signed by my Director in Wales and the Trade Union Side, which has been copied to all my people in the Principality.
There is, too, a five year equal opportunities action plan which sets out targets for disabled, ethnic minority and women representation at various grades.
Particular attention is paid to the development of those who work part- time, the majority of whom are women, as it has been recognised that alternative working patterns are a key element in the retention and development of a valuable, fully trained workforce.
I hope this is helpful.
DEFENCE
Ministerial Receptions
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of receptions held by Ministers in his Department in 1993-94.
Mr. Hanley : The cost of such receptions is included in the entertainment expenditure for my Department which is published in the supply estimates.
Ministerial Offices
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bottles of (a) whisky and gin and (b) sherry and port were consumed by his private offices in 1993-94.
Mr. Hanley : Entertainment expenditure for my Department is published annually in the supply estimates.
Jet Provost Aircraft
Mr. Cann : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Jet Provost aircraft have been sold in the current financial year ; and if he will list the associated equipment sold with the quantity and the price received for each item.
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