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Mr. Hawksley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the inspectors' report into the Kidderminster, Blakedown and Hagley bypass.
Mr. Watts: The report is currently being considered by the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport. It will be published at the same time as their decision on the orders for the scheme.
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported accidents in the last 12 months involving cyclists resulted in injury following collision with vehicles fitted with bull bars.
Mr. Norris: The information requested is not available.
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what analysis he has made of research into the severity of injuries to cyclists from vehicles fitted with bull bars.
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Mr. Norris: The Department is currently carrying out research into accidents involving vehicles with bull bars to determine whether or not they are causing increased injuries to cyclists as well as pedestrians.
Mr. Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment.
Mr. Watts: We will publish our response, together with the report, in due course.
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will estimate the total reduction in costs of fatal and serious accident casualties in each year since 1986 at the 1993 values used in the table C.I of the 18th report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution; and if he will give the cumulative total;
(2) if he will estimate the effect on fatal and serious injuries of the national roads programme spending.
Mr. Norris: I will write to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will include piggyback lorries in the legislation allowing heavier lorries to be used in combined rail-road journeys; (2) if he will start work immediately on the upgrading of a rail route from Scotland to the channel tunnel to allow piggyback traffic.
(3) if he will make it his policy to press for standardisation of dimensions of containers, rail gauges and related matters; (4) what plans he has to increase the attractiveness of railways as an element in an inter -modal transport system.
(5) what plans he has to support the Piggyback Consortium plans as outlined in its final report published in April.
Mr. Watts: I will write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish the report on the generation of traffic submitted to him by SACTRA.
Mr. Watts: I will publish my response, together with the report, in due course.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many highway contracts with an estimated value of £1 million or more have been advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities, by each EU country, in each of the last three years.
Mr. Watts [holding answer 2 November 1994]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
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Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 3 November 1994:You put down a Parliamentary Question for answer by the Secretary of State about the number of highways contracts worth in excess of £1 million advertised in the Official Journal of the EU.
As the information requested relates to operational matters for which the Highways Agency is now responsible, as promised by the Minister, John Watts, I am replying to your Question.
However, I regret I am unable to provide the information you requested.
The Highways Agency voluntarily advertise all highways works contracts with an estimated value of £1 million or more in the Official Journal. The EU threshold for compulsory advertisement is those worth ECU 5 million (currently equivalent to about £3.7 million) or more. The Agency does not keep a central record of the number of such advertisements and the information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Regarding similar advertisements placed by other EU countries, it is not the Agency's policy to monitor these and I regret, therefore, that this information is not available within the Agency.
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed M11 link road's environmental barriers along all its route comply with the highest standard in his Department's design guide for environmental barriers; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 3 November 1994:
The Minister for Transport in London has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question about the design of environmental barriers on the A12 Hackney Wick to M11 Link Road since this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.
The design of the barriers which it is intended to provide on the Link Road complies with the Department of Transport's current standards which are contained in the Specification for Highway Works and Technical Memorandum H14/76.
The design guide to which you refer has been widely circulated in draft but will not emerge in its final form until the end of this year. Clearly it will be possible to take account fully of its recommendations only in future road designs, and there will be no requirement to revise existing designs or schemes retrospectively. However, we shall strive to provide the highest standard of environmental protection on the Link Road consistent with budget and programme.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in the Trans-European road network he has recommended to the European Commission as part of its 1995 review of the network; and if he will publish a map of the proposed TERN.
Mr. Watts: The amendments the Government have proposed to the European Commission as part of the review of the Trans-European road network were announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) on 30 June. They are listed in my Department's press notice of that date, to which was attached a map of the proposed network in the United Kingdom. A copy is in the Library.
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Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences were issued in 1992, 1993 and to date in 1994 to allow hunting on Forestry Commission land; what was the total income from such licences; and whether these were open to public tender.
Sir Hector Monro: The Forestry Commission issued 73 permits to allow hunting on its land in 1992, 78 permits in 1993 and 81 permits in 1994. The Commission makes no charge for hunting and permits are not subject to public tender.
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many licences to shoot birds and game on Forestry Commission land were issued in 1992, 1993 and 1994; to which bodies or organisations; and what was the total income from such licences;
(2) which hunts have licences to hunt on Forestry Commission land; and in which areas.
Sir Hector Monro: I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
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Mrs. Maddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of public appointments made by his Department were held by women at the most recent date for which figures are available.
Mr. Lang: I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Roy Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences have been granted in Scotland for interference with badger setts following the Badger Act 1991, now the Protection of Badgers Act 1992; and for which purposes listed in section 10 of the 1992 Act such licences were issued.
Sir Hector Monro: Eight licences to interfere with badger setts in Scotland have been issued by the Agriculture Department. I am advised that Scottish Natural Heritage has issued 42 such licences. A detailed breakdown including the purposes for which these licences were issued is set out in the following table:
|Preventing serious |Scientific, |Development under |possible offence or |educational |Agricultural or |damage to land, |or conservation |Town and Country |the gathering of |crops |Forestry operations|etc. |purposes |Planning (S) Act |evidence |1972 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1992 |2 |1 |1 |1 |1 1993 |- |3 |4 |1 |23 1994 |- |2 |3 |1 |7
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, (1) pursuant to his answer of 26 October, Official Report, column 722, how much regional selective assistance has been paid up to date to Health Care International in Clydebank;
(2) whether there have been regular consultations between Health Care International in Clydebank and his Department over nurse recruitment and training; and what was the outcome;
(3) whether Health Care International in Clydebank is now free to tender for any NHS work anywhere in Britain;
(4) if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms under which his Department undertook to give regional selective assistance to Health Care International in Clydebank.
(5) what reimbursement of nurse training costs has been made by Health Care International in Clydebank in respect of the authorisation he gave to the hospital in 1987;
(6) what contacts there have been at ministerial level between the Ministry of Defence and his Department over the future of Health Care International in Clydebank; and what was the outcome;
(7) whether Health Care International in Clydebank now has exactly the same competitive status as the Western infirmary, Glasgow royal infirmary and Gartnavel general hospital when the Greater Glasgow health board seeks bids for its works.
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Mr. Stewart: I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are currently employed, and were employed in the last four years in each health board, as (a) speech and language therapists, (b) clinical psychologists, (c) hospital pharmacists, (d) medical laboratory scientific officers, (e) estate officers, (f) community and psychiatric nurses, (g) hospital physicists, (h) radiographers, (i) medical technical officers, (j) chiropodists, (k) occupational therapists, (l) physiotherapists, (m) dieticians and (n) district nurses.
Mr. Stewart: I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Macdonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the consultants report on the future of Caledonian MacBrayne.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: I shall write to hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to allow banks
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and other institutions in Scotland to give effect to instructions regarding the disposal of assets in Scotland belonging to a deceased person in respect of whose estate a court in England and Wales has granted probate to a person resident in England and Wales without having to have grant of probate resealed in Scotland.Mr. James Douglas-Hamilton: The Administration of Estates Act 1971 already makes provision for the reciprocal recognition in any one part of the United Kingdom of grants and confirmations issued in any other part, without the need for resealing.
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation he has had with the British Geological Survey over proposed super-quarries in Harris.
Mr. Stewart: On 28 February 1994 my right hon. Friend directed that Redland Aggregates Ltd, should provide a written statement further to illustrate the visual impact of working the proposed Lingarabay quarry in South Harris to different contour levels. In an official letter dated 21 July 1994, the British Geological Survey was invited to comment on the written statement produced. This letter and the associated replies were subsequently circulated to the parties to the current public local inquiry. My right hon. Friend has not otherwise consulted the British Geological Survey about proposed super-quarries in Harris.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new homes were completed by local authorities in Scotland in 1978 79 and 1993 94; and how many he expects will be completed in 1994 95 and 1995 96.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Scottish local authorities reported the completion of 6,131 dwellings in 1978 79 and 440 dwellings in 1993 94. Local authorities are free to decide what proportion of the substantial capital resources at their disposal for 1994 95 and future years for investment in housing in their area should be used for new building.
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what properties are owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers; what was the total running cost for each property for the latest year available broken down into (a) furniture and fittings, (b) maintenance, (c) staffing, including the number of butlers, cooks and housekeepers, (d) food and hospitality and (e) other costs; what is the estimated value of each property; and how many times in the latest year the property was stayed in overnight by a Minister.
Mr. Lang: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much private capital has been invested in public investment projects within his Department's responsibility since the 1992 autumn statement.
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Mr. Lang: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Ron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers have not yet received payment of their advance payments with respect to the 1994 sheep annual premium scheme.
Sir Hector Monro: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the average household electricity bill for each Scottish electricity company for each year since 1985, and the combined average for England and Wales, (a) in cash terms and (b) real terms;
(2) what was the percentage change in average household electricity bills for each Scottish electricity company for each year since 1985; and the combined average for Scotland;
(3) what was the change in the average household electricity bill for each Scottish electricity company for each year since 1985, and the combined average change each year (a) in cash terms and (b) real terms;
(4) what was the price charged in pence per kWh by each Scottish electricity company to typical standard-tariff domestic customers for each year since 1985, and the combined figure for Scotland.
Mr. Stewart: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts his Department or Government agencies responsible to his Department have entered into with Spencer Stuart consultants in the last two years.
Mr. Lang: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will specify for each local authority in Scotland the amount of accumulated capital receipts.
Mr. Stewart: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the number of households and (b) the percentage of all households supplied by each Scottish electricity company.
Mr. Stewart: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of the signed letter in the Libraries of the House.
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Mr. Donhoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when, and at what cost, the post of chief executive of the new water boards in Scotland will be advertised;
(2) pursuant to his answer of 26 October, Official Report , column 728 , how much the Scottish Office has spent in employing Andrew Rait Ltd. to assist the Scottish Office in recruiting the chief executives and chairmen of the new water and sewerage authorities; (3) pursuant to his answer of 26 October, Official Report , column 728 , when the Scottish Office appointed Andrew Rait Ltd., to assist in the search for chief executives of the water authorities.
Mr. Stewart: The three chief executives posts will be advertised after Royal Assent has been obtained to the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Bill. Andrew Rait Ltd. was appointed on 24 August 1994 to assist in identifying potential chief executives. The cost of the exercise, including cost of advertisement, is estimated to be about £50,000.
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 26 October, Official Report , column 728 , if the Scottish Office has now decided on the names of the chief executives and the chairmen of the new water and sewerage authorities; and when these names were decided upon.
Mr. Stewart: These decisions have not yet been made.
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans there are for extending licensing laws to allow shops to sell alcohol on a Sunday.
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Provisions permitting off-sale premises in Scotland to sell alcoholic liquor on Sundays between 12.30 pm and 10 pm are contained in section 22 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. An announcement about commencement of the provisions will be made shortly.
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and which have been commenced since November 1993.
Mr. Lang: Contracts for the following projects have been signed since November 1993:
Ayrshire and Arran Health Board: elderly care beds.
Dundee Teaching Hospitals Trust: biochemical analysing equipment.
Lothian and Forth Valley Trusts: clinical waste disposal. Lothian Health Board: Western General Hospital Molecular Medicines Centre.
Northern Trusts Consortium: clinical waste disposal.
There may also be projects which have been started by, for example, health trusts which have not been notified to the Scottish Office because they are within delegated spending limits and so the information is not held centrally.
There are also around 10 projects started before November 1993. In addition, many projects undertaken by bodies such as Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Homes and the New Towns attract private capital.
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Mr. Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance he has given Scottish Natural Heritage over the grant of financial assistance to voluntary bodies; and if he will list those areas of work undertaken by voluntary organisations which are eligible for such assistance.
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