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Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list for each of the 13 schools listed in his announcement of 26 April, the date when it will become a technology college, its current pupil roll and character, whether he has received an application for approval to a change in its admissions arrangements, how many sponsor governors are being appointed, what is the term of office of each sponsor governor and which of the sponsors are represented by a sponsor governor.
Mr. Robin Squire : The 13 schools announced on 26 April each plan to operate as technology colleges from 1 September 1994. None of the schools has applied to make a change in its admission arrangements constituting a change of character within the meaning of the Education Act 1993. Each school has confirmed its intention formally to apply to take on between one and four sponsor governors before September 1994. Which of the sponsors are represented by sponsor governors will be determined at that stage. The term of office for sponsor governors is required under the Education Act 1993 to be between five and seven years, with the exact term being specified in the instrument of government. The current pupil roll and character of each school is summarised in the table.
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School |<1>Pupil number |Age range and
|character
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applemore Technology School |764 |11-16 non-selective mixed
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School |925 |11-18 selective mixed
Denefield School |1,071 |11-18 non-selective mixed
John Kelly Boys Community School |511 |11-18 non-selective boys
John Kelly Girls Community School |739 |11-18 non-selective girls
Lancaster Royal Grammar School |876 |11-18 selective boys
Mill Hill County High School |1,199 |11-18 non-selective mixed
The Philip Morant School |1,257 |11-16 non-selective mixed
Rastrick High School |1,044 |11-18 non-selective mixed
Ravens Wood School for Boys |983 |11-19 non-selective boys
Sale Moor School |644 |11-16 non-selective mixed
Senacre Technology School |920 |11-17 non-selective mixed
Small Heath School |978 |11-19 non-selective mixed
<1>Provisional at January 1994 as returned to the Department for Education and subject to validation.
TRANSPORT
Overseas Consultancies
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the overseas consultancies undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory during the last five years, the value of each contract and the country it was dealing with.
Mr. Key : As the information requested by the hon. Member relates to operational matters of the Transport Research Laboratory I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. Wotton to Mr. Michael Meacher, dated 29 April 1994 :
PQ2035/93/94
The Minister for Roads and Traffic has asked me to reply to your Question about the overseas consultancies undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL).
I enclose a list of consultancies undertaken over the last five years. The list gives details of the nature of each consultancy, the total value of each contract and the country in which the consultancy work was carried out.
Consultancy Topic Total value of project
|£
------------------------------------------------------
1989-90
Sweden-Training |1,400
Tanzania-Highway Maintenance |2,000
Cyprus-Project Appraisal |2,000
Botswana-Road Materials |3,000
Zimbabwe-Pavement Design |11,000
Jamaica-Environmental Assessment |12,500
Botswana-Materials |8,200
1990-91
Zimbabwe-Pavement Design |55,000
Sri Lanka-Institution Strengthening |333,000
Indonesia-Institution Strengthening |846,000
Thailand-Urban Transport Planning |8,000
Zimbabwe-Road Safety |12,000
Lesotho-Road Safety |4,000
Laos-Road failure Study |22,000
Oman-Pavement Engineering |129,000
Singapore-Pavement Evaluation |37,000
1991-92
Cyprus-Training |12,000
Sri Lanka-Road Safety |18,000
Nigeria-Urban Transport |7,000
Tanzania-Pavement Evaluation |15,000
Botswana-Materials Study |11,000
Laos-Road Failure Study |69,000
Sudan-Economic Appraisal |5,000
Cyprus-Training |4,000
Nepal-Road Rehabilitation |28,000
1992-93
Kenya-Road Maintenance |4,000
Zambia-Road Maintenance |4,000
Cyprus-Training |3,000
Botswana-Materials Study |8,000
Namibia-Materials Study |7,000
Nepal-Road Rehabilitation |53,000
Mauritius-Pavement Evaluation |13,000
Jordan-Pavement Evaluation |169,000
Tanzania-Pavement Evaluation |4,000
Korea-Training |4,000
Bangladesh-Appraisal |34,000
China-Urban Transport |54,000
Zimbabwe-Urban Transport |30,000
Malaysia-Road Safety |8,000
Seychelles-Road Safety |24,000
Malta-Pavement Evaluation |22,000
Malta-Pavement Evaluation |15,000
Holland-Traffic Study |28,000
Central Europe-Road Safety |21,000
Europe-DRIVE Raporteur |36,000
1993-94
Mauritius-Traffic and Transport Study |20,000
Bahrain-Pavement Evaluation |32,000
China-Urban Transport |10,000
Mauritius-Pavement Evaluation |7,000
Yemen-Pavement Evaluation |6,000
Cyprus-Training |5,000
Zimbabwe-Feeder Road Study |123,000
Fiji-Road Safety |38,000
Malawi-Road Safety |7,000
China-Urban Transport |12,000
Vietnam-Appraisal |10,000
Argentina-Urban Transport |15,000
Zimbabwe-Feeder Road Study |110,000
Hong Kong-Airport Vibrations |5,000
Botswana-Pavement Evaluation |40,000
Europe-Tyre Noise Study |11,000
Europe-HGV Taxation |12,000
Vehicle Journeys
Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the average daily numbers of (a) commercial transport vehicle journeys and (b) the number of private motor car journeys undertaken in each English region in each year since 1979.
Mr. Key : The information requested is not available. However, figures of the average daily flows of traffic, classified by vehicle type, in English regions, for 1991 and 1992, are published in "Road Traffic Statistics Great Britain" 1992 and 1993 respectively. Copies of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.
Rail Privatisation
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will define the role of Dewe Rogerson on behalf of his Department in relation to rail privatisation ; and how much it has been paid to date.
Mr. Freeman : Dewe Rogerson were appointed in March 1993 as advisers on the appropriate marketing strategy for ensuring the successful implementation of the Government's rail privatisation policy.
To date, Dewe Rogerson have been paid £520,000 excluding VAT for this advice.
Trunk Roads Review
Mr. John Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what fresh advice or representations he received on the strategic importance of the proposed improvements to the A64, the A19 and the A1237 during his recent review of trunk roads in England.
Mr. Key : During the recent review of trunk roads, schemes in the existing programme were prioritised on the basis of route importance, economic benefits, and
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environmental constraints. The case for the improvement of the A64 between York and Seamer has been accepted, but construction will be deferred until a later date. Similar considerations apply to the A19 Thormanby bypass and the Shipton by Beningborough bypass. The A1237 York northern bypass improvement has been withdrawn because of local opposition on traffic and environmental grounds.Strensham Services
Mr. Luff : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange to amend the notice north of junction 15 on the M40 to show the correct distance to Strensham services on the M5.
Mr. Key : This is a matter for the Highways Agency and the chief executive will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Luff, dated 29 April 1994 :
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in a written PQ, if he would arrange to amend the notice north of junction 15 on the M40 to show the correct distance to Strensham Services on the M5. As this is the responsibility of the Highways Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply.
The sign north of M40 junction 15 was recently amended as part of the West Midlands motorway box resigning. Unfortunately the distance to the Strensham Services on the M5 south had been incorrectly given as 17 miles instead of 45 miles. A cover plate giving the correct distance has now been made and you will be pleased to know that the sign was amended on 26 April.
BR Land (Trespass)
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used in making a decision as to whether or not to prosecute for trespass on BR land, including railway lines.
Mr. Freeman : Decisions on prosecutions are made in accordance with the Attorney-General's guidelines.
Mr. Robert Horton
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 April, Official Report, column 333, on which three weekdays Mr. Robert Horton is expected to work for Railtrack ; what hours are stipulated ; and what are his holiday entitlements and principal fringe benefits.
Mr. Freeman : Mr. Horton works on the days of the week which meet the requirements of Railtrack. His holidays and benefits are negotiated between him and the company.
Cherished Number Transfers
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report, column 82, on which visits the chief executive met administrative assistants or administrative officers.
Mr. Key : During his visits to the agency's local offices the chief executive tries to meet as many staff as possible of all grades.
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Departmental Transfers
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 4 February, Official Report , column 1004 , if he will make a statement regarding the various departmental transfers ; what they were ; and how much cost was involved.
Mr. Norris : The various interdepartmental transfers were : (
(i) £500,000 from the Department of National Heritage to cover the cost of archaeology surveys and excavations ;
(ii) £30,000 from the Department of the Environment, £473,000 from Property Holdings and £247,000 from Defence Research Agency for hard charged repayment services ; and
(iii) £1,376,000 refunded from the Department of the Environment in respect of the discontinuance of the scheme to improve Lower Road, Southwark.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 February, Official Report , column 81 , if he will state, against each date listed, the purpose of the visit by the DVLA chief executive to his Department's headquarters.
Mr. Key : These visits all involved discussions with Ministers or senior officials on matters concerning the management of the agency.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on when the trail of automated first registration and licensing by DVLA began ; where the trial is being conducted ; and what are its terms of reference, objectives, the evaluation process of the trial, the definition of what will be a successful trial and details of the implementation timetable.
Mr. Key : The automated first registration and licensing project will speed up the registration process for new cars, make significant cost savings for the motor trade and improve the quality of the DVLA vehicle record, which is vital to the police in the fight against crime. A total of 6,500 car dealers and 16 motor manufacturers are expected progressively to take advantage of the new facility from later this year onwards.
A two-stage pilot scheme has been developed to test two different methods of computer linkage between motor dealers and the DVLA system--direct connection and connection via the manufacturer's management system. The first phase will start on 23 May involving certain dealers in the Bristol area with the second scheduled for October.
The terms of reference for the pilot are to prove the technical integrity of the new system and to ensure that it delivers the required benefits to the motoring public, dealers, manufacturers, and other interests. Live operations will be carefully monitored to ensure that the systems and procedures can be implemented without compromising security or existing procedures.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 March, Official Report, column 4, if he will make a statement on how the senior management in DVLA was revised ; how this had improved management of the agency ; what advice and assistance was given by the consultants Price Waterhouse ; and at what cost.
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Mr. Key : Following a review of its management structure and operations DVLA revised its organisation into more focused executive groups, plus other changes. This has helped sharpen decision-making and reduced costs. Price Waterhouse provided expertise and advice to the agency's management, drawing on its experience of other organisations in both the public and private sectors. Its fees and expenses totalled some £72,000.
Receipts (Shortfall)
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 4 February, Official Report, column 1004, if he will make a statement regarding the shortfall of receipts from the recovery of administrative costs and various repayment services ; how large the shortfall was ; what the receipts were ; what administrative costs were involved ; and if he will list all the repayment services involved in the shortfall.
Mr. Norris : The shortfall in receipts on class VI, vote 2, was £4.2 million. It relates principally to payments made to the central Department for services provided to the Department's agencies. The agencies have been encouraged, in line with "next steps" principles, to assume direct responsibility for services such as personnel, finance and accounting, previously provided by the central Department. The lower receipts reflect their reduced demand for central services.
Expenditure Increases
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Dartford (Mr. Dunn) of 4 February, Official Report, column 1004, if he will make a statement regarding the increases in expenditure ; and what is the amount of the increased expenditure and its purposes.
Mr. Norris : The increases in expenditure are :
(i) £3,513,000 for Eurocontrol arising from increased activity by Eurocontrol subsequent to the initial agreement on and preparation of 1993- 94 provision ;
(ii) £1,750,000 in connection with the privatisation of the DVOIT ; and
(iii) £1,729,000 for capital expenditure mainly in connection with my Department's headquarters accommo-dation.
School Transport
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education concerning the introduction of a requirement to provide a seat for each school child travelling on school journeys using minibuses, buses or coaches, and a seat belt for every seat ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education as part of our review of the technical and cost implications of fitting seat belts to all seats in all minibuses and coaches.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the European directives which apply to the design and construction of minibus, bus and coach regulations ; and what action he intends to take to enable future harmonisation for the installation of seat belts in school minibuses, buses and coaches.
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Mr. Key : A proposal for a draft directive on bus, coach and minibus construction is currently being discussed in a European Commission experts group. Other directives applying to these vehicles are set out in annex IV of directive 92/53/EEC, amending directive 70/156/EEC.
The European Commission announced in February its strategy for improving bus and coach safety : their objective is to agree the technical requirements for fitting seat belts to all seats in vehicles which do not carry standing passengers.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the research he has commissioned relating to future installation of seat belts in school minibuses, buses and coaches used to transport school children ; and what further research he intends to commission.
Mr. Key : The Department has conducted a good deal of research into the fitment of seat belts mainly in relation to cars. Much of this research has been published and can be used to inform policy on the fitment of seat belts in other vehicles. Further research projects into various aspects of bus and coach safety are planned for the near future, but contracts have not yet been let.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the current regulations which exist to regulate the driving of public service vehicles, including their drivers, and from which buses, minibuses or coaches transporting school children, could be exempt.
Mr. Key : The driving licence arrangements for passenger-carrying vehicles are contained in the Motor Vehicle (Driving Licences) (Large Goods and Passenger-Carrying) Vehicles) Regulations 1990 SI 1990 No. 2612.
Drivers of buses, minibuses or coaches transporting school children are only exempt from PCV licensing if they drive under the terms of permits granted under regulations made under section 19 of the Transport Act 1985. These are the Minibus and Other Section 19 Permit Buses Regulations 1987 SI 1987 No. 1230, the section 19 Minibus (Designated Bodies) Order 1987 SI 1987 No. 1229, and the Section 19 Minibus (Designated Bodies) (Amendment) Order 1990 SI 1990 No. 1708. But, in practice, most drivers of vehicles transporting school children do not make use of these permits as they are contracted-in from bus operators whose drivers hold full PCV entitlement.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit Strathclyde to discuss with Strathclyde council its reasons for banning the practice of seating three school children to a two-seater seat on buses and coaches used for school journeys.
Mr. Key : No. The Carrying Capacity Regulations permit three seated children under the age of 14 to share a double seat and count as two passengers. This is a concession and authorities and operators may take advantage of it as they think fit.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the research he has commissioned in respect of the retrospective fitting of seat belts to minibuses, buses and coaches used to transport school children.
Column 467
Mr. Key : The diversity of vehicle types used for school transport and the way in which they are constructed are such that research of this kind could not be undertaken economically.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the installation and enforcement of the wearing of seat belts in minibuses, buses and coaches used as school buses.
Mr. Key : I have received a great many representations on this subject.
We are currently reviewing the full technical and cost implications of fitting seat belts to all seats in all minibuses and coaches, not just those used as school buses.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the Belt Up School Kids organisation to discuss seat belt safety in buses, coaches and minibuses used for school journeys.
Mr. Key : Yes. I have agreed to meet representatives of the originating BUSK group.
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what records he maintains of school buses checked and found not roadworthy ; and if he will publish the results of such adverse tests (a) by local education authority area and (b) for each year since 1985.
Mr. Key [holding answer 28 April 1994] : There are no special arrangements for testing vehicles contracted to carry children to and from school. Like all coaches, buses and minibuses with more than eight passenger seats they must be tested one year after first being registered and annually thereafter. The arrangements for annual testing have not changed since 1985.
In addition VI staff also conduct roadside spot checks on all vehicle types. In 1992-93, the last full year for which figures are available, the vehicle inspectorate carried out almost 25,000 roadside spot checks on public service vehicles and issued immediate prohibitions, for dangerous defects, in 5.2 per cent. of cases. About one third of the PSV fleet is checked in this way annually and there are no plans to change that figure.
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how frequently his Department's inspectorate carries out tests on vehicles contracted to transport children to and from school ; what changes have been made to the arrangements for such tests since 1985 ; what reports of adverse results from spot checks he has received in 1994 ; what changes he plans ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key [holding answer 28 April 1994] : This information is unavailable. School buses are not a separate class of vehicle. Consequently the vehicle inspectorate, which is responsible for roadworthiness enforcement, does not maintain a separate record on the roadworthiness of these vehicles.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to bring the United Kingdom into line with other EC member states in regulations relating to drivers' records and tachographs in relation to school buses and minibuses ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key [holding answer 29 April 1994] : The United Kingdom applies the EC regulations on drivers' hours and tachographs in respect of school buses and minibuses. I have no plans to change the present position.
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Public Service Vehicles
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library details of the recent investigations undertaken by the traffic commissioners on the extent to which current public service vehicle regulations are being met.
Mr. Key : The annual reports of the traffic commissioners include commentary on investigations concerning public service vehicle operations. The latest set of reports covering the 1992-93 period were placed in the Library when published on 2 August last year.
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Spellar : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Eurotunnel regarding the delay in opening the channel tunnel ; and what are the reasons for the delay.
Mr. Freeman : Opening of the tunnel for commercial services is a matter for Eurotunnel subject to authorisation by the
Intergovernmental Commission under the terms of the concession agreement. I understand from the IGC that Eurotunnel has yet to complete some testing and commissioning work before a service can be authorised.
Lighthouses
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of personnel employed by (a) the Northern Lighthouse Board and (b) Trinity House on 1 January in (i) 1985, (ii) 1989, (iii) 1993 and (iv) 1994 ; and if he will indicate the distribution of employees between (1) headquarters administration, (2) lighthouse keeping and (3) providing logistical support for manned and automatic lighthouses, including service on lighthouse board vessels.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 27 April 1994] : The numbers are :
|Headquarters |Lighthouse |Logistical
|administration|keepers |support
|(including
|light vessel
|personnel)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Lighthouse Board
1 January 1985 |58 |231 |225
1 January 1989 |51 |202 |207
1 January 1993 |44 |98 |172
1 January 1994 | 42.5 |87 |163
Trinity House
1 April 1985 |184 |438 |806
1 April 1989 |30 |145 |517
1 April 1993 |27 |117 |511
1 April 1994 |28 |98 |485
DEFENCE
AWE, Aldermaston
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the fires which occurred at the atomic weapons establishment, Aldermaston on 10 and 20 October 1993, listed as incident numbers 13390 and 14095 by Berkshire fire and rescue service.
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Mr. Aitken : AWE does not hold a record of the incident numbers used by the Berkshire fire and rescue service, but, on 10 October 1993, a glove in contact with a laboratory hot plate smouldered causing activation of an automatic fire detection system. On 20 October 1993, a small high voltage electrical unit split resulting in an oil fire. Both incidents were quickly dealt with by the AWE fire service. Berkshire fire and rescue service was informed as a matter of routine.
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress being made in negotiations with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution regarding the cleaning up of the north area ponds at AWE Aldermaston ; and if he will place in the Library copies of the reports detailing the extent of contamination of these ponds.
Mr. Aitken : AWE holds regular discussions with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on a range of environmental issues. The development of engineering options for water management, as well as cleaning up the contamination in the North Ponds, form part of these discussions. AWE safety division has undertaken a detailed radiological survey of the ponds which details the nature and the extent of the contamination, which is not of radiological concern and exists only in an access-controlled location. This survey is one of many that AWE undertakes for its own management purposes. It is not appropriate to place a copy of this report in the Library.
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the policy of the AWE Aldermaston fire service towards providing reports of all fires that have occurred at the site to Berkshire fire and rescue service.
Mr. Aitken : The policy of the AWE Aldermaston fire service is to notify Berkshire fire and rescue service of all calls it receives. In addition to fires this will include automatic detection equipment false alarms and mistaken call-outs. Reports are provided to the Berkshire fire and rescue service where appropriate.
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for carrying out and paying for all decommissioning works carried out at AWE Aldermaston ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : The MoD is responsible for the costs of
decommissioning works carried out at AWE Aldermaston. Management of the decommissioning task is performed by Hunting-BRAE plc on behalf of the MoD, and decommissioning activities may be undertaken either by Hunting-BRAE directly or by suitable sub-contractors.
Mutual Defence Agreement
Mr. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he next expects to conduct negotiations to amend or renew the agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the United States of America for co-operation on the uses of atomic energy for mutual defence purposes, originally agreed on 3 July 1958, treaty series No. 41 (1958), Command 537 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Aitken : Discussions over an amendment to extend the validity of those articles of the agreement which expire on 31 December 1994 are currently taking place between officials.
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Press Office, Plymouth
Mr. Jamieson : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the circumstances that led to the suspension from duty of Steven Wilmott and David Harris from his Department's press office in Plymouth.
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