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Local Councillors (Payments)
37. Mr. Davidson : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to address the level of payments to local authority councillors.
Mr. Stewart : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 22 June 1994, Official Report, column 239.
Higher Education (Access)
38. Mr. Fabricant : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department has made of the system of Scottish highers as a means of gaining entry to higher education in relation to systems in other EU countries.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him on 23 February 1994, Official Report, column 292. The report to which I referred then has now been published.
Environmental Information
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many requests for environmental information under the Access to Environmental Information Regulations 1992 have been received by his Department ; how many were answered within two months ; how many were refused ; and on what grounds in each case.
Sir Hector Monro : The Scottish Office does not keep records of the number of requests received under the environmental information regulations, nor when they were answered. However, we do keep records of any refusals to supply information and of the grounds on which they have been made.
In the period up to 30 June 1994, there have been no refusals. However, we have had one case where information was given in a manner which did not divulge specific information for reasons of commercial confidentiality.
EC Funds
Sir Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish an estimate, on the basis of the criteria operated by the EC, on whether Scotland would be
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a net contributor or a net recipient of funds in the event of an independent Scotland being a member of the European Community ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Stewart [holding answer 27 June 1994] : Estimating whether an independent Scotland would be a net contributor to, or a net recipient from, the EC budget would be a complex exercise which could not be undertaken except at disproportionate cost. In view of the hypothetical nature of the question, such costs would not be justified. In the unlikely event of Scottish independence, Scotland's net position would depend on its terms of membership of the European Union.
Prisoners (Northern Ireland)
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Northern Ireland prisoners have received transfers from Scotland to Northern Ireland since 1 January 1993 ; and how many were (a) permanent, (b) temporary, (c) male, (d) female, (e) loyalists and (f) republican transfers.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 5 July 1994] : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 6 July 1994 :
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question about the number of Northern Ireland prisoners who have received transfers from Scotland to Northern Ireland since 1 January 1993 ; and how many were (a) permanent, (b) temporary, (c) male, (d) female, (e) loyalists and (f) republican transfers.
Since 1 January 1993 a total of 5 male prisoners have received transfers from Scotland to Northern Ireland. Of those who were transferred 3 were permanently transferred and 2 were transferred on a temporary basis. No female prisoners have been transferred since 1 January 1993 to date.
I am unable to inform you whether the prisoners transferred were loyalist or republican as prisoners in Scotland are not classified by reference to the political or other motivation of their offences.
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the greatest, the shortest and the average length of time between application by prisoners for temporary or permanent transfer from Scotland to Northern Ireland and notification of the decision to accept or reject the application.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 5 July 1994] : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 6 July 1994 :
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question as to what was the greatest, the shortest and the average length of time between application by prisoners for temporary or permanent transfer from Scotland to Northern Ireland and notification of the decision to accept or reject the application.
Transfers of prisoners between Scotland and Northern Ireland have been effected since the introduction of the Criminal Justice
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Act 1961. Unfortunately, I am unable to provide you with the information you require as the information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland for how long a prisoner whose application for transfer from Scotland to Northern Ireland is refused must wait before reapplying.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 5 July 1994] : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Scottish Prison Service under its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzel. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from E. W. Frizzel to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 6 July 1994 :
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question as to the length of time a prisoner whose application for transfer from Scotland to Northern Ireland is refused must wait before reapplying.
There is no stipulated time which must lapse before a prisoner can reapply for transfer. Each application is considered on its own merits against the set criteria governing United Kingdom interjurisdiction transfers which was announced to Parliament on 23 November 1992.
NORTHERN IRELAND
31 Killinakin Road, Killinchy
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if 31 Killinakin road, Killinchy, County Down is currently classified as a dwelling house ; if it is currently occupied ; if he has issued any enforcement order to lease the use of this building as a dwelling ; and if he will make a statement about the future uses of this building.
Mr. Tim Smith : The property is not classified as a dwelling house and when inspected on 30 June 1994 was unoccupied. No enforcement notice has been issued regarding the use of this building. If the building is used for residential purposes the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, as planning authority, would have to consider whether it would be expedient to initiate enforcement action requiring a discontinuance of that use.
Bicycles
Mr. Robathan : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what facilities his Department provides for the parking of the bicycles of visitors to its offices in Westminster.
Sir John Wheeler : There are 40 spaces in the bicycle shed which visitors may use.
Environmental Information
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many requests for environmental information under the Access to Environmental Information Regulations 1992 have been received by his Department ; how many were answered within two months ; how many were refused ; and on what grounds in each case.
Mr. Tim Smith : The Environmental Information Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 came into effect on 31 March 1993. Between April and December 1993 a total of
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1,221 requests were received by central Government Departments. All were replied to within two months. Six were refused, five on the ground that the information was unavailable and one because it was not defined as within the regulations. Figures for the first half of 1994 are not yet available.TRANSPORT
Nationality Agreements
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the relationship of European Community regulations or directives to the action proposed by Her Majesty's Government to abolish the current nationality agreements for senior officers on vessels registered in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Norris : EC directives 89/48/EEC and 92/51/EEC govern the mutual recognition of certain regulated qualifications within the EC. Both permit the competent authority of a member state to satisfy itself that there is an equivalence of standards between its own qualifications and those awarded by the competent authorities of member states. Where there is a substantial difference, a competent authority is entitled to ask the applicant to make up that difference in a number of ways, including an aptitude test or an adaption period.
The proposed EC directive on the minimum level of training for seafarers will ensure that all member states comply with the international convention on standards of training certification and watchkeeping--STCW--and provides that mutual recognition of certificates held by nationals of member states will be subject to the provisions of directives 89/48 and 92/51.
The proposal to relax the current nationality restrictions on senior merchant navy officers, announced on 15 December last by my right hon. Friend will take full account of these developments.
Nudge Bars
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to amend the use and construction regulations for motor vehicles to deal with the construction and safety of nudge bars.
Mr. Key : We have taken steps to identify accidents where a pedestrian has been struck by a vehicle fitted with a bull bar with a view to determining whether bull bars are causing increased injuries. We do not expect to see results from this exercise before the end of 1994. It would not be sensible to legislate before considering those results.
Driving Test Centres (Closures)
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that there are no closures of driving test centres in the current and the next financial year beyond the 22 announced already.
Mr. Key : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive, Dr. John Ford. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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al year beyond the 22 announced already.Mr. Key : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief e
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Dr. Godman : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway passengers have (a) died or (b) suffered injury as a result of acts of vandalism or other such criminal activities on railway lines in each of the past 15 years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The available statistics show that, from 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1994 no railway passenger died as a result of vandals obstructing the line or throwing objects at trains, but the following injuries have been suffered as a consequence of such behaviour :
1990 2 minor injuries
1991 Nil
1992 1 minor injury
1993 Nil
1994 Nil (to 31 March)
Information for earlier years is not available.
British Airways
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from the chief executive of Manchester airport in regard to the decision made by British Airways to terminate its Los Angeles route from Manchester ; what reply he is sending ; what action he is taking ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 5 July 1994] : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has received a letter from the chief executive of Manchester airport concerning British Airway's decision to withdraw from the Manchester to Los Angeles route and will be replying to him shortly.
Railtrack
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all board members of Railtrack, together with their previous occupations and current lengths of contract and remuneration, including all bonuses, fringe benefits, allowances and additional payments over and above basic salary.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 5 July 1994] : Information available on these appointments, which date from 1 April 1994--other than Mr. Broadhurst's which dates from 1 July 1994--is as follows :
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Name |Previous or current |Expiry of |Salary
|appointment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chairman
R. B. Horton |BR vice chairman |31 March 1997 |<1>121,800
Chief Executive
J. C. P. Edmonds, CBE |BR employee/former |31 March 1997 |131,950
| member of BR Board
Finance Director
N. N. Broadhurst |Finance Director VSEL plc |Rolling contract with |150,000
|2 year minimum
Commercial Director
D. C. Moss |Seconded from DOT to BR |31 March 1999 |100,000
| staff
Director, Safety and Standards
D. E. Rayner, CBE |BR Board member |31 March 1997 |90,000
Non-executive members
Mrs. B. Anderson |Former Chief Executive, |31 March 1997 |<2>10,000
| Book Trust
Sir Christopher D. Foster |Partner, Coopers and |31 March 1997 |<2>10,000
| Lybrand
C. W. Jonas, CBE |Senior Partner, Drivers Jonas|31 March 1997 |<2>10,000
A. J. Norman |Chief Executive, ASDA |31 March 1997 |<2>10,000
| Group
Miss J. A. Page, CBE |Chief Executive, English |31 March 1997 |<2>10,000
| Heritage
Dr. D. H. Roberts, CBE |Provost of University |31 March 1997 |<2>10,000
| College London
<1>Three days per week.
<2>Plus £500 for each Board committee meeting attended.
A bonus scheme for executive members is in preparation. The award of any fringe benefits or allowances is a matter for Railtrack.
Rail Privatisation
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) of 3 May, Official Report, column 446, and to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras of 26 May, Official Report, column 284, if he will show for each separate invoice supplied to his Department by Dewe Rogerson for advice on his Department's marketing strategy for rail privatisation, (a) the date on which the invoice was received by his Department, (b) the date on which the invoice was paid by
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his Department and (c) the amount contained in each separate invoice, inclusive of value added tax ; whether he has now received the final invoice from Dewe Rogerson ; what is the total amount inclusive of the value added tax, which his Department will have paid to Dewe Rogerson by the time its contract expires ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Freeman [pursuant to his reply 5 July 1994] : The information requested in parts (a) , (b) and (c) is commercially confidential.
Dewe Rogerson's final invoice has not yet been received and it is not therefore possible to provide a figure for the total amount. To date Dewe Rogerson has been paid £658,000, including VAT, for this advice.
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