| Previous Section | Home Page |
Column 649
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
Column 650
budget in 1994-95 will be devoted to dealing with contaminated land. Further resources will also be allocated through the strategic development scheme.Assisted Places 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 :
Column 649
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.
Housing Benefit
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.
Health Common Services Authority
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.
Column 650
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.
SCOTLAND
Lambs
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.
Access to the Countryside
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.
Column 651
Asthma
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
Column 652
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.
Column 651
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
Police Complaints
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.
Gaming Regulations
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.
Clinical Waste Incinerators
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
Column 652
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.
Public Appointments
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
Column 653
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.Raymond Gilmour
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.
Police Complaints
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.
Paisley (City Status)
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.
Forestry Commission
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.
Column 654
Police Pay and Conditions
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.
Police Authorities
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.
Teachers (Illness)
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.
School Transport
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 ;
Column 655
(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.
Column 656
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.Electoral Registers
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.
School Performance Tables
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 :
Column 655
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
Legal Advice
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.
Column 656
I note that the Advice 2000 initiative is intended to improve further the quality and availability of advice.Voluntary Advice Services
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
Column 657
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
TRANSPORT
Private Security Firms
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.
Maritime Distress and Safety Systems
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.
Column 658
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.
Rail Franchises
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.
Contractors
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.
Column 659
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
Airport Charges
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.
Domestic Air Fares
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.
Column 662
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.
| Next Section
| Home Page |