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Mr. Gwilym Jones : A survey of contaminated land in Wales, including railway land, was undertaken on behalf of the Welsh Office and Welsh Development Agency in 1987-88. Its findings were published and a copy of the report is in the Library of the House.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales, has had no discussions to date with the chairman of Railtrack on this issue but, as is the case with other landowners, the company would normally be responsible for dealing with any dangerous contamination identified on its land.
In terms of resources, the Welsh Development Agency estimates that some £7 million of its land reclamation
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budget in 1994-95 will be devoted to dealing with contaminated land. Further resources will also be allocated through the strategic development scheme.Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount given to the non-state schools in Wales under the assisted places scheme since its inception ; what was the cash total in each recipient school since its inception ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Wyn Roberts [holding answer 18 April 1994] : The assisted places scheme has proved popular in Wales. Almost all available places have been taken up and more than a third of parents pay no fees. The information requested is as follows :
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Assisted places scheme: Payment to schools financial years 1981-82 to 1992-93 School |1981-82 |1982-83 |1983-84 |1984-85 |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ |£ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christ College, Brecon |7,986 |21,443 |36,063 |48,289 |62,116 |95,473 |131,470 |155,404 |189,033 |244,081 |321,779 |359,755 |389,754 Howell's School, Denbigh |11,011 |37,883 |70,107 |96,971 |132,971 |179,033 |225,465 |243,740 |237,474 |231,442 |254,759 |310,223 |353,064 Howell's School, Llandaff |17,774 |57,094 |106,799 |144,940 |209,858 |274,274 |314,274 |319,099 |334,290 |358,798 |328,763 |399,642 |430,751 Llandovery College |3,737 |9,217 |19,615 |31,013 |38,279 |45,440 |55,732 |75,308 |92,650 |140,381 |203,641 |250,671 |256,648 Monmouth School (Boys) |18,515 |52,035 |92,610 |134,170 |181,642 |233,684 |307,291 |277,352 |323,194 |303,951 |374,475 |434,416 |456,071 Monmouth School (Girls) |9,644 |21,677 |37,072 |52,598 |68,760 |90,225 |109,297 |114,422 |128,010 |140,618 |166,552 |200,729 |186,956 Penrhos College |5,108 |21,973 |38,489 |62,843 |81,089 |99,399 |140,459 |136,944 |156,617 |183,500 |225,688 |273,711 |295,428 Rydal School |4,194 |38,206 |53,896 |56,864 |67,768 |93,274 |110,254 |112,767 |128,121 |153,508 |189,153 |228,083 |252,589 Lowther College<1> |23,709 |15,244 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- Total |101,678 |274,772 |454,651 |627,688 |842,483 |1,110,805|1,394,242|1,435,040|1,589,389|1,756,279|2,064,810|2,457,230|2,621,261 <1> Lowther College closed in July 1982.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each district council area in Wales and for Wales as a whole his Department's estimate of (a) the number of people claiming housing benefit, (b) the number of people entitled to housing benefit who are not currently entering a claim and (c) (b) as a percentage of the total number entitled to claim housing benefit ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : Information on the estimated number of recipients of housing benefit is published in table 9.6 of "Welsh Housing Statistics No. 13, 1993", a copy of which is in the Library of the House. There are no estimates at local authority or Welsh level of the number of people entitled to housing benefit. However, estimates of housing benefit take-up in Great Britain are included in the Department of Social Security's publication "Income Related Benefits : Estimates of Take-Up in 1990 and 1991" which is also available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Richards : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will set out the conclusions of the review of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.
Mr. Redwood : I intend to give hospitals greater choice in obtaining their support services. More money will be released for direct patient care enabling a better standard of service to be provided.
The authority carries out a number of non-core NHS activities throughout Wales including estates, information technology, procurement, prescription pricing and personnel services. It also undertakes a number of additional functions for the Welsh Office.
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Now that most hospital services are provided by trusts, the authority need no longer be the major provider of support services. Hospitals will be able to choose between WHCSA and others, and some functions of WHCSA will be privatised.The authority has management responsibilities for three clinical services : the artificial limb and appliance services, "Breast Test Wales" and the national blood transfusion service. These will be reviewed separately.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 9 February, Official Report, column 179, what were the estimated lamb losses attributed to fox predation for each of the past six years.
Sir Hector Monro : Information on which to base estimates of numbers of lambs lost or of losses prevented is not collected centrally.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Ramblers Association to discuss rights of public access to the countryside ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Hector Monro : My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet representatives of the Ramblers Association. On my right hon. Friend's behalf, I recently met representatives of the voluntary environmental sector, including the new chairman of Scottish Wildlife and Countryside Link, of which the Ramblers Association are members. The issue of public access to the countryside was raised at that meeting.
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Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of asthma were reported in each Scottish health region for each year since 1979 ; and if he will set out the figures in the same manner as the Secretary
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of State for Health in her answer to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North (Mr. Howarth) of 30 March, Official Report, columns 887-90.Mr. Stewart : Information on the numbers of discharges, by health board of treatment, with a principal diagnosis of asthma is shown in the table for calendar years 1979-1992.
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In-patient and day case discharges, including deaths, with a principal diagnosis of asthma by health board of treatment 1979 to 1992 Health board of |1979 |1980 |1981 |1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 treatment ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Argyll and Clyde |258 |274 |284 |261 |384 |413 |414 |503 |531 |583 |640 |724 |724 |689 Ayrshire and Arran |242 |245 |338 |367 |373 |482 |487 |532 |689 |671 |659 |662 |824 |773 Borders |47 |69 |73 |108 |98 |163 |141 |161 |177 |204 |202 |268 |177 |176 Dumfries and Galloway |69 |108 |121 |140 |170 |148 |158 |185 |190 |219 |195 |219 |231 |248 Fife |171 |260 |259 |293 |334 |383 |318 |382 |427 |486 |425 |408 |426 |424 Forth Valley |125 |155 |149 |158 |185 |184 |228 |279 |344 |343 |334 |403 |432 |362 Grampian |327 |375 |434 |489 |564 |562 |601 |677 |891 |825 |798 |1,115 |1,014 |1,005 Greater Glasgow |931 |1,050 |1,192 |1,229 |1,415 |1,504 |1,554 |1,505 |1,714 |1,790 |1,763 |2,043 |2,031 |2,188 Highland |123 |161 |183 |205 |236 |268 |235 |277 |293 |286 |281 |347 |332 |299 Lanarkshire |232 |364 |455 |406 |517 |571 |621 |583 |735 |801 |900 |958 |1,058 |995 Lothian |988 |1,115 |1,156 |1,140 |1,202 |1,231 |1,362 |1,305 |1,545 |1,528 |1,593 |1,624 |1,850 |1,750 Orkney |4 |5 |7 |10 |8 |12 |20 |11 |30 |17 |16 |16 |15 |19 Shetland |2 |4 |8 |15 |21 |18 |12 |16 |17 |14 |20 |25 |16 |11 Tayside |427 |427 |495 |478 |538 |581 |674 |591 |729 |787 |795 |811 |1,001 |921 Western Isles |10 |20 |21 |13 |26 |26 |20 |20 |13 |23 |17 |27 |30 |29 Scotland |3,956 |4,632 |5,175 |5,312 |6,071 |6,546 |6,845 |7,027 |8,325 |8,577 |8,638 |9,650 |10,161 |9,889
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to establish an independent body to investigate and take action on complaints against police officers ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : There are no plans to establish such a body. The Police and Magistrates' Courts Bill includes a new power for Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary to review how a complaint has been handled by the police and, in certain circumstances, to direct the chief constable to reconsider the complaint.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what regulations govern the promotion of (a) raffles, (b) pools and (c) totes in relation to (i) registration, (ii) operation, (iii) percentage payouts, (iv) distribution of funds and (v) administration costs ; which regulations specifically limit their use by political parties during and outwith election campaigns ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The operation of raffles or lotteries is regulated by the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976. Pool betting and totes are governed by the terms of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963. Provided that a lottery, pools or tote scheme is promoted in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions, there are no regulations which specifically restrict their use by political parties.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the location and owner or operator of each clinical waste incinerator in the Argyll and Clyde
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health board area ; whether these clinical waste incinerators comply fully with current pollution control legislation ; whether they are likely to comply with any known new standards ; when the most recent report on the operation of these incinerators were submitted to him ; and what action he has found it necessary to take.Mr. Stewart : The NHS in the Argyll and Clyde health board area owns and operates clinical waste incinerators at the Royal Alexandra hospital and Inverclyde Royal hospital. The plant at both hospitals meets current statutory requirements but will not comply with the statutes which come into force in October 1995.
Whilst there have been operational difficulties from time to time with the incinerators, I understand that currently the equipment is performing to specification.
A small amount of clinical waste is also burned at the Linwood municipal incinerator installation mainly as a back-up to the local NHS incinerators. This plant meets the present statutory requirements and is, I understand, scheduled to be closed by the end of this year.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the name, address and occupation and/or former occupation of each justice of the peace in Renfrew district ; which wards are under- represented as a proportion of the total ; when he next plans to make additional appointments ; what criteria he will apply in making these appointments ; what are the procedures for making nominations ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : As for other commission areas in Scotland, my right hon. Friend is advised on the need for new appointments as justices of the peace for the commission area of Renfrew by the advisory committee on justices of the peace for that area, which also advises him on the personal suitability of candidates. Recommendations for consideration by the advisory
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committee may be made on a form obtainable from the Secretary to the advisory committee. The criteria for appointment are, first, that candidates should be personally suitable in character, integrity and understanding ; and, second only to this, that the area of selection is wide so that justices are broadly representative of all sections of the community which they serve. Advisory committees are required to have regard to the availability of justices to members of the public and to the requirements of the district court duty rota. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible about the detailed information which he has requested.Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current position in his consideration of the application for the prerogative of mercy by Raymond Gilmour ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend wrote to the hon. Member on 18 April this year, informing him of his decision to reject the petition submitted on behalf of his constituent, Mr. Raymond Gilmour.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what channels exist for police officers to vindicate themselves following false accusations being brought against them ; if it is open to all ranks of officer to pursue civil actions against those who they allege have falsely accused them ; and what plans he has to review the current arrangements.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Anyone who knowingly makes a false accusation against a police officer may be prosecuted. It is open to all ranks of officer to take civil action against those who falsely accuse them. We consider that these arrangements are adequate.
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the procedure for making application to elevate the town of Paisley to city status ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : City status in Scotland can be achieved only through the granting of a royal charter. No royal burgh charter has been granted in modern times and there are no plans to revive the practice.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out his target for the sale of Forestry Commission land in Scotland in the current year and for the next five years.
Sir Hector Monro : As announced in the Government's expenditure plans 1994-95 to 1996-97, the Commission plans to sell 15,000 hectares of forest land in Britain in each of the next three years. The proportion of this that will be sold in Scotland will depend on the state of the market, particularly the demand for forest land in different parts of Britain, but the Commission estimates that it will be in the region of 70 per cent. As yet, no firm plans have been made for sales in subsequent years.
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Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to allowing the new police authorities to set their own pay and conditions ; and what were his conclusions.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Police pay and national conditions will continue to be prescribed by the Secretary of State under section 26 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, taking into consideration recommendations made by the police negotiating board which includes representatives of police authorities. The Government accept that there should be greater local discretion over job-related allowances.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his current proposals or policies for performance-related pay in the police force.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : My right hon. Friend is considering agreements reached in the police negotiating board on police pay structures and conditions of service for all ranks which include links between pay and appraisal of performance. The Government intend to introduce pay arrangements which depend on appraisal of performance as soon as practicable.
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether future police authorities will be able to choose their own chair.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Yes. Joint police boards established after reorganisation of local government in Scotland will appoint their chairman from among their members, who will all be councillors of the constituent authorities.
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days work have been lost by teachers due to illness in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : Information on teacher absences is not held centrally.
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will undertake a study of the adequacy of safety standards that currently obtain in the transportation of children to school in Scotland ;
(2) what plans he has to meet representatives of education authorities in Scotland to discuss safety in school transport ; (3) if he will publish the current rules relating to safety belts and other safety equipment on school transport vehicles in Scotland ;
(4) what plans he has to make individual seats and safety harnesses obligatory on all school transport vehicles in Scotland ; (5) if he will estimate the additional cost of making individual seats and safety harnesses obligatory on all school transport vehicles in Scotland ;
(6) if he will consider introducing members of staff as monitors on any double-decker buses used to transport children to school in Scotland ;
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(7) what consideration he has given to requiring manufacturers of minibuses for school transport to reinforce areas of the floor to enable seat belts to be fitted ;(8) what plans he has to impose stricter safety standards on education authorities involved in transportation of children to school ;
(9) if he will consider making finance available to Scottish education authorities to enable them to finance safety improvements in school vehicles ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Scottish Office has a policy interest in terms of the general provision by local authorities of a school transport service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has responsibility for vehicle safety matters and the relevant legislation on a United Kingdom basis, including policy on vehicle construction, the provision of seat belts in all vehicles and the three for two concession in respect of school children on school transport.
The Department of Transport has recently completed a survey on the full technical and cost implications of fitting seat belts nationally in minibuses and coaches and matters such as the three for two concession. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Scottish Office to conduct a separate survey in Scotland or to comment in advance on the outcome of the Department of Transport's review. With regard to the provision of supervisors on school transport in Scotland, education authorities already have a duty of care, in law, for the safety of pupils when under their charge. It is therefore for them to decide how supervision should be provided for on school buses. We shall consider whether further measures need to be taken in the light of such decisions as may follow the Department of Transport's review.
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On the question of financial assistance, in advance of, and without prejudice to, the Department of Transport's review, my right hon. Friend has agreed to a request from Strathclyde regional council for a capping disregard for additional current expenditure in 1994- 95 in respect of additional costs to the council of school transport in dropping the three for two concession on dedicated school transport and requiring the fitting of seat belts on all contract minibuses. Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have any immediate plans to meet representatives of Scottish education authorities to discuss safety in school transport. We will, however, consider whether any such meeting might be appropriate in the light of the conclusions of the Department of Transport review.Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what records and research findings are held within his Department of the number of homeless people who are registered on electoral registers ; and if he will make a statement.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : The Department does not collect this information.
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the budgeted expenditure to date for (a) publication and (b) distribution of the school performance tables.
Mr. Lang : I refer the hon. Member to the information set out in the table :
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Title |Cost of |Cost of |Cost of |Total |production |printing |distribution|cost |£ |£ |£ |£ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1992 Examination results in Scottish schools 1990-92 (published November 1992) |- |7,672.50 |567.60 |8,240.10 1993 Examination results in Scottish schools 1991-93 (published November 1993) 2,575.00 5,056.00 7,631.00 Scottish schools: Costs 1993-94 (published December 1993) |2,371.00 |9,895.00 |388.00 |12,654.00 Leaver destinations from Scottish Secondary Schools 1992-93 (published December 1993) |1,353.00 |5,313.00 |259.00 |6,925.00 |------- Overall total 35,450.10
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards the provision of a network of independent advice and law centres throughout Scotland ; and what response he has made to the aims of the Advice 2000 initiative launched by the Advice Services Alliance.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 19 April 1994] : I recognise the good work carried out by existing advice and law centres in Scotland. It is local authorities which are best placed to decide whether there is an unmet need for advice in particular areas. Where there is urban deprivation, however, start-up funding can be provided through the urban programme.
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I note that the Advice 2000 initiative is intended to improve further the quality and availability of advice.Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the level of funding from the Scottish Office for voluntary advice services for the financial year 1993-94 and each of the previous 10 years ; and how many schemes received funding in each year.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 19 April 1994] : Figures for 1993-94 are not yet available. Figures for the financial years 1989-90 to 1992-93 are given in the table. These indicate the level of funding from the Scottish Office for schemes run by voluntary
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organisations where the main aims included the provision of advice and information. Figures for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Financial year |Number of |Level of |schemes |funding |£ ------------------------------------------------------------ 1989-90 |53 |1,307,447 1990-91 |49 |1,217,851 1991-92 |39 |879,119 1992-93 |52 |1,460,923
Mr. George : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many private security firms have been employed by his Department for each of the last 10 years ; what has been the annual value of the contracts ; and if he will estimate how many guards have been employed for each of those years.
Mr. Norris : The Department's property managers have been able to provide the following information. Complete records are not available for the earlier years.
|Contracts |Guards |Annual value |£ ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1994-95 |<1>23 |<1>35 |<1>758,709 1993-94 |27 |40 |796,274 1992-93 |22 |32 |729,085 1991-92 |19 |35 |724,579 1990-91 |18 |33 |540,165 1989-90 |10 |20 |565,165 1988-89 |n/a |n/a |456,242 1987-88 |n/a |n/a |334,180 1986-87 |n/a |n/a |296,191 1985-86 |n/a |n/a |244,394 1984-85 |n/a |n/a |190,521 <1> Estimate for 1994-95.
Ms Eagle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the percentage of Inmarsat C distress calls received by the United Kingdom Marine regional control centre are false alarms ; and what inquiries he has made as a response.
Mr. Norris : No representations have been received on false Inmarsat -C distress calls.
Ms Eagle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to monitor the effectiveness of the global maritime distress and safety system.
Mr. Norris : The United Kingdom monitors the effectiveness of the global maritime distress and safety system by maintaining a record of distress calls received by our search and rescue authorities and their response. One outcome of this has been the identification of an unacceptable level of false alerts. This has been brought to the attention of the International Maritime Organisation.
Ms Eagle : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with unions and owners on the effectiveness of the global maritime distress and safety system.
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Mr. Norris : The introduction of the global maritime distress and safety system was thoroughly discussed with representative bodies of the ship owners and seafarers at all stages of its development. The implementation of the requirements and their effectiveness is discussed at the Maritime Radio Advisory Committee where these organisations are fully represented.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) under what authority the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising is seeking to appoint marketing communication advisers to promote investor interest in passenger rail franchises ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the compatibility with the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising's statutory obligations of seeking to promote investor interest in the privatisation of rail franchises ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Seeking to promote investor interest in rail franchises is an integral part of the Franchising Director's statutory duties to designate railway passenger services as eligible for provision under franchise agreements and to invite tenders for the right to provide these services from such persons as he sees fit. The Franchising Director's intention to draw on the expertise of marketing advisers is consistent with the Secretary of State's objectives set for him under section 5 of the Act to secure that railway passenger services in Great Britian, other than exempted services, are provided under franchise agreements as soon as reasonably practicable ; and to secure an overall improvement in the quality of railway passenger and station services available to railway passengers.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the 20 contractors who have received the largest share of motorway and trunk road contracts in each of the last two years giving, for each contractor, the value of the contracts received ; (2) if he will list for each of the last two years to date major construction contracts awarded by his Department worth over £250,000 at current prices indicating, in each case, which construction company was awarded the contract ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : Since 1 April, responsibility for managing, maintaining and improving the national road network in England now lies with the Highways Agency. As the information requested by the hon. Member relates to operational matters of the Highways Agency, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Laurie Haynes to Ms Joan Walley, dated 21 April 1994 :
You put down 2 Parliamentary Questions for answer by the Secretary of State concerning major construction contracts awarded during the last 2 years.
As the information you asked for concerns operational matters for which the Highways Agency is now responsible, as promised by the Minister, Robert Key, I am replying to your Questions.
You asked firstly about major construction contracts awarded during the last 2 years and which companies had won them.
Annex A attached gives the information you asked for in relation to contracts valued in excess of £1 million.
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Your second question concerned the 20 contractors who had won the largest share of motorway and trunk road contracts. Annex B attached gives this information in relation to contracts worth in excess of £1 million.The Agency does not currently keep central records of contracts below £1 million and this information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Annex A New construction and motorway widening contracts awarded between 1 April 1992 and 31 March 1993 |£ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Balfour Beatty M4/M5 Second Severn Crossing |65,119,651 M6 Preston Junctions 30-32 |37,458,986 Tarmac Construction M25 Junctions 15-16 |24,446,155 M3 Bar End-Compton |25,405,525 M6 Junctions 20-21A |52,512,897 Alfred McAlpine A5 Tamworth |25,955,498 M56 Widening Junctions 4-6 |11,820,083 Birse Construction A16 Spalding to Sutterton |22,639,443 A568 Widnes Eastern Bypass |14,557,492 Alfred McAlpine/AMEC in joint venture A46 Leicester Western Bypass |35,981,698 Taylor Woodrow A27 Brighton Bypass Contract 4 |19,526,438 John Mowlem A564 Foston/Hatton/Hilton Bypass |19,367,370 Fitzpatrick Contractors A23 Pease Pottage to Handcross Bridge |8,160,560 Amey Construction A650 Park Road, Bingley |4,054,039 Crown House Engineering A20 Folkestone-Courtwood (M & E) |3,858,042 May Gurney A11 Thetford to Bridgham Heath |2,223,422 Charles Gregory A42 Construction of 32 Laybys |1,239,028 |------- Total value of all contracts awarded |374,326,327
New construction and motorway widening contracts awarded between 1 April 1993 and 31 March 1994 |£ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tarmac Construction A30-A39 Indian Queen junction between Bodmin and Redruth |12,695,070 M65 Blackburn southern bypass |65,861,695 Balfour Beatty A13 Thames avenue-Wennington |71,273,666 Amec Civil Engineering A13 West of Heathway (A1240), south east of Wennington |11,785,847 A249 between Bobbing and north of Iwade, Kent |35,721,035 A406 Silver street-Hall lane, Angel road |19,785,316 Amey Construction A27 Patching between Worthing and Arundel |6,402,673 A4-A46 Batheaston-Swainswick bypass |44,953,293 A65 Burley in Wharfedale bypass |5,547,467 Alfred McAlpine/Amec Civil Engineering in joint venture A1 Walshford-Dishforth |53,795,508 Wimpey Construction A31 Ringwood and St. Ives (Ashley heath) |6,696,391 A417 Brockworth bypass |35,142,101 M5 junction 18, Avonmouth |7,926,340 Edmund Nuttall A406 North circular road, east of Falloden way |27,013,720 A406 Silver street-Hall lane, Lea Valley |21,761,735 John Laing M25 between junction (Merstham) and junction 8 (Reigate) |45,979,928 Alfred McAlpine Construction A11 Wymondham southern bypass |16,940,943 A435 Norton Lenchwick bypass |19,226,966 John Mowlem M25 widening junctions 10 and 11 |35,097,353 Birse Construction A50 Blythe bridge |23,072,304 M62 improvement junction 14-17 |10,223,164 Norwest Holst A12 Hackney Wick to Redbridge flyover |31,558,185 May Gurney and Co. A17 Leadenham bypass improvement |3,322,890 A17 Wigtoft-Sutterton |4,402,863 A17 Walpole-Tilney bypass |23,455,738 Christiani and Nielson-Kier in joint venture A50 Blythe bridge-contract 1B |28,414,397 Costain Building and Civil Engineering M66 Denton-Middleton |19,237,248 Roadworks (1952) All Stump Cross and Four Wentways |18,149,454 Tilbury Douglas A45 Stonebridge D and B |8,447,149 Kier Construction A66 east of Brough to Palliard |7,636,582 Matthew Hall Mechanical and Electrical A27 Kingston-Hangleton, Southwick hill tunnel |4,561,802 Shephard Hill M1 junction 1. Barnet viaduct slip roads |4,235,912 |------- Total value of all contracts awarded |739,919,909
Annex B Motorway and Trunk road contracts in excess of £1 million top twenty contractors-1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 |£ ----------------------------------------------------- Balfour Beatty |118,915,055 Tarmac Construction |114,069,649 Tarmac Quarry Products |59,623,689 Amey Construction |53,897,813 Birse Construction |50,139,207 Alfred McAlpine Construction |37,775,581 A. McAlpine/AMEC |35,981,698 Edmund Nuttall |35,818,406 John Mowlem |24,452,021 Associated Asphalt |24,221,730 Fitzpatrick |20,041,476 Taylor Woodrow |19,526,438 Tilcon Ltd. |13,369,582 Costan B & CE |8,885,621 A. F. Budge |8,223,235 Galliford (UK) |7,480,336 ARC Ltd. |7,077,074 Thos Ward |5,410,751 Eden Construction |5,176,851 Colas Construction |4,976,294 |----- Total of all contracts awarded
Motorway and trunk road contracts in excess of £1 million Top twenty contractors 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 |£ ----------------------------------------------- Tarmac Construction |112,592,231 Balfour Beatty |73,690,960 Amec Civil Engineering |71,491,041 Amey Construction |61,924,277 John Laing |54,536,714 A. McAlpine/AMEC |53,795,508 Edmund Nuttall |50,023,149 Wimpey Construction |49,764,741 John Mowlem |45,636,804 Birse Construction |41,973,189 Alfred McAlpine |36,167,909 May Gurney |33,789,967 Norwest Holst |32,492,061 Costain B & CE |32,059,989 Christiani/Kier |28,414,397 Tarmac Quarry Products |26,943,630 Roadworks (1952) |19,247,959 ARC Ltd. |18,888,667 Galliford (UK) |15,612,134 Tilbury Douglas |15,570,088 |------- Total of all contracts awarded
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comparisons he has made of airport charges levied by the BAA and those levied in the United States of America and other countries.
Mr. Norris : None. I refer the hon. Member to the airport charges index produced by TM Economics, discussed at pages 55-56 of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on BAA plc--a report on the economic regulation of the south-east airports companies including Heathrow Airport Ltd., Gatwick Airport Ltd. and Stansted Airport Ltd.--presented to the Civil Aviation Authority in June 1991. The Commission noted the difficulties of undertaking "fair" comparisons when the level of service offered by different operators varies. TME considered 40 airports ; charges at Heathrow and Gatwick, for example, fell within the middle of the range of average charges.
TME produce this index annually ; the most recent edition--1993--has shown that the charges at Heathrow and Gatwick have fallen relative to other airports.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comparisons he has made of the cost of domestic air fares in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and other countries.
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Mr. Norris : Comparisons of fare levels in different countries are subject to wide margins of error. The CAA recently published a range of fares comparisons in its document "Airline Competition in the Single European Market" (CAP 623). The broad conclusion was that fully flexible United Kingdom domestic fares were comparable with France, lower than Germany but higher than in some other EU states. The reasons for such differences are not at all clear. The position in the United States depended very much on the airline operating the service. Where a low-cost airline such as Southwest Airlines operated, fares were exceptionally low not only by the standards of the United Kingdom and Europe but also compared to other United States routes, on which fares were sometimes higher than in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to bring United Kingdom domestic air fares down.
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