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Diabetes
Mr. Parry : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was spent on research into diabetes by the Medical Research Council for the last year for which figures are available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Waldegrave : In the last financial year, 1992-93, the Medical Research Council's expenditure on research into diabetes was £3 million. The council is always willing to consider soundly-based scientific proposals in competition with other applications for research funding.
Science Research Establishments
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish for (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the United Kingdom, and for each year since 1964, the total amount of expenditure and the percentage of overall science research spending by (i) the Natural Environment Research Council, (ii) the Science and Engineering Research Council, (iii) the Medical Research Council, (iv) the Economic and Social Research Council, (v) the Agriculture and Food Research Council, (vi) the Royal Society and (vii) other public body, in constant prices.
Mr. Waldegrave : This information is not held in the form requested. The table gives a breakdown of total research council expenditure by region for the period 1983-84 to 1989-90 together with a breakdown by research council for 1991-92 and 1992-93. The two sets of data were compiled on slightly different bases.
Column 85
£ million at 1994-95 prices
|England |Wales |Scotland |N Ireland|UK Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93
AFRC |105.6 |8.6 |12.5 |0.7 |127.4
Per cent. |82.9 |6.8 |9.8 |0.5 |100.0
ESRC |39.9 |0.7 |4.3 |0.6 |45.5
Per cent. |87.7 |1.5 |9.4 |1.3 |100.0
MRC |204.3 |1.8 |25.6 |0.4 |232.1
Per cent. |88.0 |0.8 |11.0 |0.2 |100.0
NERC |107.7 |14.7 |13.9 |0.5 |136.8
Per cent. |78.7 |10.7 |10.2 |0.4 |100.0
SERC |389.7 |10.5 |43.9 |3.3 |447.4
Per cent. |87.1 |2.3 |9.8 |0.7 |100.0
Total |847.2 |36.3 |100.2 |5.5 |989.2
Per cent. |85.6 |3.7 |10.2 |0.6 |100.0
1991-92
AFRC |91.0 |7.7 |9.1 |0.2 |108.0
Per cent. |84.2 |7.1 |8.5 |0.2 |100.0
ESRC |32.1 |0.9 |4.0 |0.4 |37.4
Per cent. |85.7 |2.4 |10.7 |1.2 |100.0
MRC |186.0 |2.0 |27.8 |0.4 |216.2
Per cent. |86.0 |0.9 |12.8 |0.2 |100.0
NERC |102.8 |20.4 |11.5 |0.3 |135.0
Per cent. |76.1 |15.1 |8.5 |0.2 |100.0
SERC |341.4 |8.0 |37.9 |2.6 |389.9
Per cent. |87.6 |2.1 |9.7 |0.7 |100.0
Total |753.3 |39.0 |90.3 |4.0 |886.6
Per cent. |85.0 |4.4 |10.2 |0.5 |100.0
1989-90
Total |812.9 |30.1 |82.5 |1.5 |927.1
Per cent. |87.7 |3.2 |8.9 |0.2 |100.0
1988-89
Total |727.7 |25.6 |72.8 |0.8 |826.4
Per cent. |88.0 |3.1 |8.8 |0.1 |100.0
1987-88
Total |701.5 |29.2 |86.1 |2.6 |819.5
Per cent. |85.6 |3.6 |10.5 |0.3 |100.0
1986-87
Total |685.5 |25.9 |77.8 |2.6 |791.7
Per cent. |86.6 |3.3 |9.8 |0.3 |100.0
1985-86
Total |681.4 |25.5 |78.8 |2.7 |788.4
Per cent. |86.4 |3.2 |10.0 |0.3 |100.0
1984-85
Total |682.5 |25.4 |78.0 |2.5 |788.4
Per cent. |86.6 |3.2 |9.9 |0.3 |100.0
1983-84
Total |680.8 |27.2 |73.6 |3.0 |784.6
Per cent. |86.8 |3.5 |9.4 |0.4 |100.0
1990-91 No information is available.
Differences in totals are accounted for by rounding.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish for (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the United Kingdom, the total number and percentage of staff employed, and the total number of research establishments funded in whole or in part by (i) the NERC, (ii) the SERC, (iii) the AFRC, (iv) MRC, (v) the ESRC, (vi) the Royal Society or (vii) other public body, for each year since 1964.
Column 88
Mr. David Davis : The information is not available in the form requested.
The tables give a regional analysis by research council for the years 1983 to 1993 and 1986 to 1993 for the Medical Research Council. The Royal Society does not fund any research establishments.
Column 87
England
|1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NERC
Research establishments |14 |14 |14 |14 |13 |14 |14 |15 |14 |14 |15
Staffing
Number |2,489|2,249|2,085|1,985|2,177|2,155|2,125|2,292|2,346|2,455|2,531
Per cent. |78 |76 |78 |78 |77 |80 |79 |80 |80 |83 |84
SERC
Research establishments |3 |3 |3 |3 |3 |3 |3 |3 |3 |3 |3
Staffing
Number |2,359|2,164|2,084|2,064|2,107|2,034|2,012|2,000|1,992|1,864|1,830
Per cent. |95 |95 |95 |95 |95 |94 |95 |95 |94 |95 |95
AFRC
Research establishments |23 |23 |20 |15 |8 |8 |8 |8 |7 |7 |7
Staffing
Number |5,374|5,259|4,739|4,555|3,728|3,665|3,517|3,517|2,772|2,872|2,839
Per cent. |89 |89 |89 |89 |79 |80 |79 |80 |78 |82 |82
MRC
Research establishments |n/a |n/a |n/a |43 |43 |41 |41 |41 |41 |40 |39
Staffing
Number |- |- |- |2,309|2,274|2,405|2,322|2,422|2,432|2,429|2,226
Per cent. |- |- |- |85 |84 |84 |84 |84 |84 |84 |84
ESRC
Research establishments |4 |3 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staffing
Estimated number |160 |160 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Per cent. |100 |100 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Note: Staff numbers and percentages relate only to staff employed at the research
establishments.
Column 89
Wales
|1983|1984|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990|1991|1992|1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NERC
Research establishments |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4
Staffing
Number |273 |268 |173 |210 |202 |202 |198 |183 |185 |184 |185
Per cent. |10 |9 |7 |8 |7 |8 |7 |7 |7 |6 |6
AFRC
Research establishments |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
Staffing
Number |272 |266 |245 |224 |638 |630 |609 |527 |483 |321 |300
Per cent. |5 |5 |5 |4 |14 |14 |14 |12 |14 |9 |9
MRC
Research establishments |n/a |n/a |n/a |2 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
Staffing
Number |- |- |- |34 |24 |25 |21 |23 |25 |32 |15
Per cent. |- |- |- |2 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
Note:
Staff numbers and percentages relate only to staff employed at the research
establishments.
Column 89
Scotland
|1983|1984|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990|1991|1992|1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NERC
Research establishments |6 |6 |6 |6 |5 |6 |6 |6 |6 |6 |6
Staffing
Number |392 |440 |400 |400 |439 |328 |381 |382 |382 |310 |288
Per cent. |12 |15 |15 |15 |15 |12 |14 |13 |13 |11 |10
SERC
Research establishments |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
Staffing
Number |114 |108 |106 |105 |117 |122 |111 |112 |119 |106 |102
Per cent. |5 |5 |5 |5 |5 |6 |5 |5 |5 |5 |5
AFRC
Research establishments |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2 |2
Staffing
Number |388 |364 |343 |337 |327 |292 |330 |339 |308 |321 |314
Per cent. |6 |6 |6 |7 |7 |6 |7 |8 |8 |9 |9
MRC
Research establishments |n/a |n/a |n/a |8 |7 |7 |7 |7 |8 |7 |7
Staffing
Number |- |- |- |363 |404 |422 |412 |439 |444 |446 |389
Per cent. |- |- |- |13 |15 |15 |15 |15 |15 |15 |15
Note:
Staff numbers and percentages relate only to staff employed at the research
establishments.
Column 91
Northern Ireland
|1983|1984|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990|1991|1992|1993
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NERC
Research establishments funded |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1 |1
Staffing (all less than 1 per cent.)
Number |8 |9 |8 |8 |8 |8 |7 |8 |8 |8 |8
Note:
Staff numbers and percentages relate only to staff employed at the research establishments.
Column 91
United Kingdom
|1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NERC
Research establishments |25 |25 |25 |25 |23 |25 |25 |26 |25 |25 |26
Staffing
Number |3,156|2,966|2,646|2,608|2,826|2,693|2,711|2,805|2,921|2,957|3,012
SERC
Research establishments |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4 |4
Staffing
Number |2,473|2,272|2,190|2,169|2,224|2,156|2,123|2,112|2,111|1,970|1,932
AFRC
Research establishments |26 |26 |23 |18 |11 |11 |11 |11 |10 |10 |10
Staffing
Number |6,034|5,889|5,327|5,116|4,693|4,587|4,456|4,383|3,563|3,514|3,453
MRC
Research establishments |n/a |n/a |n/a |53 |51 |49 |49 |49 |50 |48 |47
Staffing
Number |- |- |- |2,706|2,702|2,852|2,755|2,884|2,901|2,907|2,630
ESRC
Research establishments |4 |3 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Staffing
Estimated number |160 |160 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Note:
Staff numbers and percentages relate only to staff employed at the research establishments.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland, the names of all science research establishments which have been in operation at any time since 1964, together with the year of closure or removal if appropriate.
Mr. David Davis : The information is not available in the form requested.
The tables list establishments operated by the research councils since 1964 --1986 for the Medical Research Council. Establishments are referred to by their most recent name.
England
Natural Environment Research Council
Establishment |Year
|closed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Geological Survey
Keyworth
Exhibition Road, London |1984-85
Princes Gate, London |1981-82
Gorst Road, London |1985-86
Bashley Road, London |1985-86
Leeds |1985-86
Clerkenwell Road, London |1987-88
Grays Inn Road, London |1988-89
Sussex |1985-86
Newcastle
Hartland, Devon
Exeter
Wallingford
Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Taunton |1986-87
Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Deacon Laboratory
Wormley
The James Rennell Centre
Robert Hooke Institute, Oxford
|1991-92
Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
West Hoe, Plymouth
Citadel Hill, Plymouth
Institute of Hydrology
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Merlewood, Cumbria
Monks Wood, Huntingdon
Furzebrook, Dorset
Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology
Fisheries Helminthology Unit |1971-72
Water Resource Systems Research Unit |1990-91
Centre for Population Biology
Unit of Comparative Plant Biology
Unit of Behavioural Ecology
NERC/ESRC Land Use Programme
NERC Unit for Thematic Information Systems
Experimental Cartography Unit |1981-82
Institute of Freshwater Ecology
Windermere
East Stoke, Dorset
Coastal Ecology Research Unit |1978-79
British Antarctic Survey
Sea Mammal Research Unit
Column 93
Medical Research Council
(Information from 1986 only)
|Year
|closed
---------------------------------------------------------------
Anatomical Neuropharmacology Unit
Applied Psychology Unit
Biochemical and Clinical Magnetic Resonance Unit
Biochemical Parasitology Unit |1987
Biostatistics Unit
Blood Group Unit
Cell Biophysics Unit |1990
Cell Mutation Unit
Cellular Immunology Unit
Child Psychiatry Unit
Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy Unit
Clinical Pharmacology Unit
Clinical Research Centre
Cognitive Development Unit
Common Cold Unit |1990
Cyclotron Unit
Dental Research Unit
Development and Integration of Behaviour Unit |1991
Development Neurobiology Unit |1988
Dunn Nutrition Unit
Environmental Epidemiology Unit
Epidemiology and Medical Care Unit
Experimental Embryology and Teratology Unit
Human Biochemical Genetics Unit
Human Movement and Balance Unit
Immunochemistry Unit
Institute of Hearing Research
Institute of Molecular Medicine
Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Leukaemia Unit
Mammalian Development Unit |1992
Mineral Metabolism Unit |1988
Molecular Genetics Unit |1991
Molecular Haematology Unit
Molecular Immunopathology Unit
Molecular Neurobiology Unit |1992
MRC/ESRC Unit of Social and Applied Psychology
Muscle and Cell Motility Unit
Neural Mechanisms of Behaviour Unit |1987
Neuro-otology Unit |1989
Neurochemical Pathology Unit
Neurological Prostheses Unit |1992
National Institute of Medical Research
Perceptual and Cognitive Performance Unit |1988
Protein Function and Design Unit
Radiobiology Unit
Social and Community Psychiatry Unit
Social Psychiatry Unit |1989
Tuberculosis and Related Infections Unit
Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Unit |1986
Toxicology Unit
Trauma Unit |1986
Agricultural and Food Research Council
|Year
|closed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Institute of Animal Health
Compton
Pirbright
Houghton |1993
Babraham Institute
Institute of Food Research
Lanford
Norwich
Reading |1990
Letcombe Laboratory |1987
Wood Research Organisation |1987
Commonwealth Bureau |1987
Horticulture Research International
East Malling
Littlehampton
Wellesborough |-
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research Hurley |1992
Institute of Plant Science Research
Norwich (John Innes Institute)
Brighton |-
Institute of Arable Crops Research
Long Ashton
Rothamstead |-
Silsoe Research Institute |-
Plant Breeding Institute |1987
Wye College, Hops Research Department |1987
Reproductive Physiology Unit, Cambridge |1985
Experimental Agronomy Unit, Oxford |1973
Plant Physiology Unit, Imperial College |1973
Systematic Fungicides Unit, Wye |1976
Flower Crop Physiology Unit, Shinfield |1973
Soil Physics Unit, Cambridge |1979
Structural Chemistry Unit, London |1978
Muscle Mechanisms Unit, Oxford |1979
Invertebrate Chemistry Unit |1987
Developmental Botany Unit |1979
Economic and Social Research Council
|Year
|closed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey Research Unit, LSE |1976
Race Relations Research Unit, Bristol |1976
Ethnic Relations Research Unit, Aston<1> |1983
Industrial Relations Research Unit, Warwick<1> |1984
Centre for Socio-legal Studies, Oxford<1> |1984
Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social
Structure |1984
Science and Engineering Research Council
|Year
|closed
-----------------------------------------------
Royal Greenwich Observatory
Cambridge
Herstmonceux |1988
Daresbury Laboratory
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Chilton
Astrophyics Research, Culham |1973
Appleton Laboratory, Ditton |1981
Atlas Computer Laboratory |1975
<1> Units marked <1> converted to designated
research centres within host universities.
@
Wales
Natural Environment Research Council
|Year
|closed
----------------------------------------------------------------
British Geological Survey Aberystwyth |-
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology Bangor |-
Institute of Hydrology Plynlimon |-
NERC Research Vessels Service Barry |-
Unit of Marine Inverterate Biology Menai Bridge |1981-82
Medical Research Council (
information from 1986 only)
|Year
|closed
----------------------------------
Epidemiology Unit |-
Pneumoconiosis Unit |-
Column 95
Agricultural and Food Research Council
|Year
|closed
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research,
Aberystwyth |-
Scotland
Natural Environment Research Council
|Year
|closed
------------------------------------------------------------
British Geological Survey
Murchison House, Edinburgh |-
Grange Terrace, Edinburgh |1993-94
Newbattle Abbey, Edinburgh |1993-94
Peffermill, Edinburgh |1993-94
Gilmerton Road, Edinburgh |1993-94
Eskdalemuir, Dumfries |-
Loanhead, Edinburgh |-
Institue of Hydrology
Balquidder |-
Stirling |-
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Banchory |-
Bush |-
Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory |-
Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory |-
Institute for Marine Environmental Research |1977-78
Institute of Marine Biochemistry |1986-87
Unit of Aquatic Biochemistry |-
Medical Research Council
Information from 1986 only
|Year
|closed
---------------------------------------------------------
Blood Pressure Unit |-
Brain Metabolism Unit |-
Epidemiological Studies in Psychiatry Unit |1991
Human Genetics Unit |-
Mammalian Genome Unit |1986
Medical Sociology Unit |-
Protein Phosphorylation Unit |-
Reproductive Biology Unit |-
Virology Unit |-
D
Agriculture and Food Research Council
|Year
|closed
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research,
Edinburgh |-
Edinburgh Computing Centre |1986
Statistics Unit, Edinburgh |1986
Institute for Animal Health, Edinburgh |-
Roslin Institute |-
Science and Engineering Research Council
|Year
|closed
-------------------------------------------
Royal Observatory, Edinburgh |-
Northern Ireland
Natural Environment Research Council
|Year
|closed
-------------------------------------------------
British Geological Survey, Belfast |-
Column 96
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Public Interest Immunity Certificates
34. Mrs. Roche : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the use of public interest immunity certificates.
The Attorney-General : I shall be giving evidence to Lord Justice Scott on 24 March.
37. Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish in a White Paper clarification as to the purpose of public interest immunity certificates and when they should be used along with any proposals for reform of the procedure.
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Attorney-General what plans he has to review the procedures on the use of public interest immunity as a reason for the non-publication of documents.
The Attorney-General : I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).
38. Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Attorney-General when judges in court have recently pronounced on the public interest immunity certificate process.
The Attorney-General : Decisions of the court are a matter of public record.
Lenient Sentences
36. Mr. Brandreth : To ask the Attorney-General how many sentences he has referred to the Court of Appeal as being unduly lenient in the last year ; and what the outcome has been in these cases.
The Solicitor-General : For the period 1 March 1993 to 28 February 1994, the Attorney-General applied for leave to refer a total of 32 sentences to the Court of Appeal of which one was to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland. Two cases were later withdrawn. Twenty-one cases have so far been considered by the court. In each case, leave was granted and in 16 the court substituted a higher sentence. Nine cases await hearing.
Mr. Paul Haley
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the conclusions to be drawn from the prosecution of Mr. Paul Haley of 28 Woodlands Park road, London SE10, following a motor vehicle accident on 12 January 1993.
The Attorney-General : The case was dealt with at all stages on its own merits and having regard to its particular circumstances in accordance with the general principles set out in the "Code for Crown Prosecutors". The outcome has no general implications.
TRANSPORT
Red Routes
17. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what benefits have been derived from the pilot red route project.
Column 97
Mr. Norris : The red route in north and east London has resulted in quicker and more reliable journey times, particularly for buses, and improved conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, bus patronage has increased, accidents have been reduced, and there has been less rat running through unsuitable residential areas.
Regional Airports
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of additional long-haul flights using regional airports.
Mr. Norris : We are continuing to seek to agree liberal air services agreements which give equal access to all United Kingdom airports for carriers of both sides. Since last February, we have reached agreements with seven countries allowing access to all United Kingdom airports and with a further two offering more access to some regional airports.
Paying For Better Motorways"
24. Sir Anthony Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what responses he has had from motoring organisations to his Green Paper "Paying for Better Motorways".
Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what responses he has had from motoring organisations to his Green Paper "Paying for Better Motorways".
Mr. MacGregor : The AA and RAC have publicly recognised the potential benefits that motorway charging could bring. Both organisations favoured electronic technology as the means by which charging should be implemented.
United Kingdom Vessels (Safety)
20. Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to improve the rules and regulations governing the safety of officers and crews of United Kingdom-registered merchant vessels and the skippers and crews of United Kingdom-registered fishing vessels.
Mr. Norris : My Department has just completed the development of a system of vocational qualifications--VOs--for all seafarers, including those on fishing vessels, in conjunction with the industry and trade unions. The VOs are designed to produce a better trained and therefore more safety conscious work force. My Department is also playing a leading role in the revision of the standards of training certification and watchkeeping convention at the International Maritime Organisation.
Motorway Use Surveys
21. Mr. Deva : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further plans he has for surveys of the proportion of car owners who regularly use motorways.
Mr. Key : Independent surveys last year broadly confirmed surveys carried out for the Department in 1992 and recorded in the Green Paper "Paying for Better Motorways". All show that about half of drivers regularly use motorways. We have no plans for further surveys.
Column 98
Channel Tunnel Rail Links
22. Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure the provision of a direct rail link between Liverpool and the channel tunnel.
Mr. Freeman : The provision of rail services through the channel tunnel is a commercial matter for British Rail and its successors. I understand that freight services through the tunnel will operate from Royal Seaforth and passengers from Liverpool will be able to join day and overnight services to the continent from Crewe.
M65-M6 Link
23. Mr. Gordon Prentice : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the traffic implications for Colne of the decision to link the M65 to the M6.
Mr. Key : None. However, our studies have shown that the opening of the link from the M65 to the M6 could increase traffic on the M65 east of Blackburn by some 11 per cent. There could be between 9,000 and 11,000 vehicles per day on the A56 east of Colne in 1997.
Rail Users, Harborough
25. Mr. Garnier : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance his Department is providing to rail users in the Harborough constituency.
Mr. Freeman : In the financial year 1993-94, the Government are providing £930 million through the public service obligation grant to assist British Rail to provide rail passenger services. The grant is not yet broken down by service or constituency. In due course, the total level of grant will be disaggregated by franchise.
Thames Passenger Traffic
26. Sir Michael Neubert : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of passenger traffic within the Greater London area he estimates is carried by the River Thames.
Mr. Norris : Less than one tenth of 1 per cent. The River Thames working group is examining the potential for greater use of the river.
Motorways, Eastern England
27. Dr. Michael Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of motorways by length are in eastern England.
Mr. MacGregor : The Department's eastern region covers Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. The length of motorway in these counties is 316 km over 11 per cent. of the national motorway network in England.
London Transport
28. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about investment in London Transport.
Mr. Norris : My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from a variety of organisations and individual members of the public about investment in London Transport.
Column 99
Traffic Statistics
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish a table showing the number of road traffic accidents involving injury to (a) vehicle users and (b) pedestrians in the Doncaster town centre area in each year for the past four years ; (2) what was the average volume of commuter car traffic entering the central areas of (a) Doncaster, (b) Barnsley, (c) Rotherham and (d) Sheffield per day for each of the past 10 years ; and what are his Department's predictions for the next four years.
Mr. Key : The information requested in the questions is only available from the local authorities concerned.
Exhaust Fumes
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to reduce PM10 particulate emissions from exhaust fumes.
Mr. Key : The Government are supporting EC measures to cut particulate emissions from road transport which are produced mainly by diesel-engined vehicles. Limits were introduced in December 1992 for new cars and in October 1993 for new heavy trucks and buses. These will be reduced by over 40 per cent. for passenger cars from January 1997 under EC proposals, and by 50 per cent. for heavy vehicles from October 1996, under a directive already adopted. We are participating in discussions in the EC on further tightening of heavy diesel limits for the year 2000.
The limits apply to the total mass of particulates emitted and not just to PM10 in isolation. Evidence indicates however that this method is a reliable way of limiting PM10 levels.
Nuclear Materials (Transport)
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals the United Kingdom representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Sagstram special committee on nuclear materials transport plans to put to the Sagstram meeting on 21 to 25 March in Vienna ; and if he will place a copy of the United Kingdom submission in the Library.
Rail Privatisation
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimates were given to him by British Rail for the costs of reorganisation for rail privatisation in (a) the current financial year and (b) the forthcoming financial year ;
(2) if he will list the percentage of public funding to British Rail that has been used for restructuring of British Rail in preparation for privatisation in (a) 1992-93 and (b) 1993-94 ; what is his estimate for 1994-95 ; and if he will make a statement ; (3) what funds he has made available to British Rail for reorganisation in preparation for privatisation ;
(4) what funds he has made available to Railtrack to implement privatisation in 1993-94 ; and what is his estimate for 1994-95.
Mr. Freeman : These costs are primarily a matter for British Rail and, after April, Railtrack. In 1992-93 British
Column 100
Rail reported that around £10 million was spent on reorganisation. In 1993-94, we understand that British Rail expects to spend around £56 million. In 1994-95 British Rail and Railtrack have estimated that they will require an additional £50 million for running costs and up to £30 million for expenditure on new equipment and systems in support of reorganisation.Reorganisation costs will facilitate the biggest railway reorganisation for half a century that will bring substantial benefits to the travelling public. Reorganisation costs in 1992-93 represented around 0.5 per cent. of public funding to British Rail ; the comparable percentages in 1993-94 and 1994-95 are estimated to be 3.7 and 6.5 per cent. respectively.
Additional funds to meet the full costs of reorganisation have been provided within the public expenditure provision for the railway industry was set out in the transport report published on 10 March.
Lorry Ban, London
Ms Jowell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with the Metropolitan and City of London police on the enforcement of the London night-time and weekend lorry ban.
Mr. Norris : Enforcement of the ban is a matter for the London borough councils and the police. There have been informal discussions with the Metropolitan police concerning the proposal to amend the London-wide ban. They foresee no particular difficulty with the changes we propose. We have no reason to believe that the City of London police take a different view.
Taxis, London
Ms Jowell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in response to his consultation on the future of taxi services in London.
Mr. Norris : The consultation covered England and Wales, including London ; the consultation period ended on 1 March 1994.
My Department issued about 4,500 copies of the consultation paper to organisations and individuals who have an interest in the subject. These include local authority 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 taximeter manufacturers and those concerned with tourists. We have received some 700 responses.
Disabled People
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many registered disabled people are employed in his Department ; and what percentage this is of the total.
Mr. Norris : On 1 June 1993, the Department employed 186.5 registered disabled staff, which was 1.3 per cent. of its total staff. This information, together with information on other Departments is given in the Cabinet Office magazine, the "Independent" which was published on 18 March. A copy of the magazine is in the Libraries of the House.
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Staff Reporting Practices
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list which parts of his Department's guide for staff reporting officers are mandatory ; in cases where reporting officers do not comply with all the notes, whether his Department's personnel management officers must make a judgment as to whether or not compliance with the notes would have led to a different marking or other comments ; and whether the individual concerned is informed of judgments.
Mr. Norris : The Department required all reporting and countersigning officers to study the staff appraisal and reporting notes for guidance before completing any staff reports. The notes, which are advisory, aim to achieve the greatest possible consistency of approach across a wide ranging and diverse group of staff. Personnel officers review all completed staff reports, and where necessary, return completed reports to the reporting officers for clarification or amendment. Personnel officers would query a report which had been completed in a way which conflicts with the guidance. However, judgments on standards are for reporting and countersigning officers. Personnel officers may draw attention to marks which appear inconsistent, but, except in a few cases where officers are on secondment to other organisations and reports are being completed by non-civil servants, decisions or marks awarded are for reporting and countersigning officers, who have had the opportunity to observe and oversee an officer's work.
Vocational Drivers
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, by traffic area office, the number of vocational drivers called to disciplinary hearings over the last 12 months ; and how many of these drivers would not have been called under the arrangements he intends to introduce shortly.
Mr. Key : Approximately 9,000 driver disciplinary hearings took place nationally in the last 12 months, but the figures for individual traffic area officers are not readily available. We estimate that under the new arrangements. the total will fall to about 3,000 disciplinary hearings a year.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the impact on the staffing levels of (a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (b) the traffic area offices of the changes to the criteria for calling vocational drivers to disciplinary hearings.
Mr. Key : We estimate that staffing requirements in each of the traffic area offices will be reduced by about one post. There are no staffing implications for the DVLA.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the financial savings he estimates will be made by his Department following the changes to the criteria for calling vocational drivers to disciplinary hearings.
Mr. Key : We estimate that the changes to the criteria for calling vocational drivers to disciplinary hearings will achieve savings of about £160,000.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations with which he had
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consultations before announcing the introduction of the guidelines for calling vocational drivers to disciplinary hearings.Mr. Key : The Department's consultation document on proposals for passenger and goods vehicle operator licensing, circulated in May 1993, also sought views on the necessity for a separate disciplinary regime for drivers of lorries and coaches. The majority of organisations consulted were in favour of maintaining a separate conduct regime. The guidelines for calling drivers to disciplinary hearings are an administrative matter and there was no outside consultation.
Agency Chief Executives (Pay)
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the chief executives covered by his Department, their salaries, dates of appointment and when their contracts expire ; and whether they will be eligible to apply for re-appointment to the posts when their contracts expire.
Mr. Norris : There are currently five agencies in the Department of Transport. They are :
(1) Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency
(2) Vehicle Certification Agency
(3) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
(4) Transport Research Laboratory
(5) Driving Standards Agency
Mr. R. J. Oliver, chief executive VI, first took up his post on 1 August 1988 and was re-appointed in April 1991. His current appointment expires on 31 March 1993. His salary is currently £52,286 per annum.
Mr. D. W. Harvey, chief executive VCA, took up his post on 2 April 1990. His initial appointment expired on 1 April 1993 but has been extended. His salary is currently £43,836 per annum.
Mr. S. R. Curtis, chief executive DVLA, took up his post on 12 March 1990. His appointment expires on 1 April 1995. His salary is currently £51,360 per annum.
Mr. H. J. Wootton, chief executive TRL, took up his post on 11 November 1991. His appointment expires on 16 November 1996. His salary is £66,503 per annum.
Dr. S. J. Ford, chief executive DSA, took up his post on 1 September 1993. His appointment expires 22 August 1996. His salary is £47,900 per annum.
They will all be eligible to apply for reappointment when their contracts expire.
On 1 April 1994, three further agencies are being created : Highways Agency
Coastguards Agency
Marine Safety Agency
Mr. L. J. Haynes will be appointed as chief executive of the Highways Agency from 1 April 1994 to 13 February 1999. His salary is currently £100,000 per annum.
Mr. C. J. Harris will be appointed as chief executive Coastguard Agency from 1 April 1994 to 19 May 1997. His salary is currently £47, 994 per annum.
Mr. R. M. Bradley will be appointed as chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency from 1 April 1994 until 31 December 1995. His salary is currently £45,675 per annum.
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