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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 1 December 1994
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Late Payments
Mr. Betts: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months;
(2) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department how many are over the advised payments date (a) by up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (d) over six months, respectively.
Mr. John M. Taylor: The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments, however, are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. The last survey conducted in this Department showed that 89.4 per cent. of bills were paid in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice.
Domestic Violence
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will change the legal aid scheme to provide easier access to alleged victims of domestic violence especially in regard to injunction proceedings.
Mr. John M. Taylor: In urgent cases, an emergency legal aid certificate may be granted over the telephone. Many of those seeking injunctions already benefit from this service. Additionally, solicitors holding franchises are able to grant emergency certificates themselves on the spot.
TRANSPORT
Late Payments
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department of how many are over the advised payment date by (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months, respectively;
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(2) how many of the bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months.Mr. Norris: The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Rail Electrification (North London)
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects Railtrack to begin work on enlarging Hampstead tunnel and the electrification of the line between Mitre Bridge junction and Willesden high level junction.
Mr. Watts: The Secretary of State has instructed Railtrack to make sure that the necessary infrastructure is completed to allow Eurostar rail services from the regions to begin by the start of 1996. The timing of individual works to achieve this is a matter for Railtrack.
Channel Tunnel Rail Freight
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects Railtrack to begin and to complete its study into the feasibility of using the North Downs route for channel tunnel rail freight traffic; and if he will be making a statement on the findings of the study.
Mr. Watts: Railtrack reported to us in August 1994 that the North Downs route was not an option for channel tunnel freight trains. The scheme proposed would bring no environmental or operational benefit which might justify grant and the works required to upgrade the route would be very expensive. The proposal is therefore not being pursued.
Rail Privatisation
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory powers presently given to Railtrack and railway operators he intends to pass on to the private companies who purchase these shadow companies.
Mr. Watts: Our general policy is that all statutory powers transferred to Railtrack and railway operators from British Rail under the provisions of the Railways Act 1993, together with the statutory powers conferred by that Act, should be passed on when Railtrack and other railway operators move into the private sector. This will be reviewed in each case prior to disposal.
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current legal status of Railtrack and the railway operating companies.
Mr. Watts: Railtrack is a company limited by shares, incorporated under the Companies Act 1985; all the shares are owned by the Government. Six passenger train operating companies have been formed. One of these-- Gatwick Express Ltd.--is a wholly owned subsidiary of the board and is operating as a separate entity. The other five have not yet had the relevant parts of the board's undertaking transferred to them.
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In addition, five freight and parcel companies have been formed, but the relevant parts of the board's undertaking have not yet been vested in them.Rail Safety
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration British Rail gave in 1989 to implementing advice received from Mr. John Childs regarding the introduction for single-section track of two-way radios for train drivers and exit signals at either end of the track; if following the crash at Cowden on 15 October he will take urgent steps to implement it; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Watts: The comments Mr. Childs expressed will be considered by the inspector in the course of his inquiry into the accident at Cowden on 15 October. The arrangements relating to single lines will be considered carefully in the light of the inspector's report.
London Underground
Mr. Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budgetary provision has been made by London Underground Ltd. to maintain the Epping to Ongar section of the Central line over the next three years.
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for London Underground Ltd.
Minibus Seat Belts
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of all meetings or correspondence he has had with European officials and representatives in respect of his proposal to introduce regulations for minibus seat belts in advance of European action; and if he will place the minutes of meetings and copies of the correspondence in the Library.
Mr. Norris: The Department has had a number of contacts, both formal and informal, with the European Commission at meetings, in correspondence and by telephone on the proposal to act ahead of the European Union to introduce compulsory fitment of seat belts to all minibuses and coaches used specifically for the transport of children.
School Crossing Patrols
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the national criteria for the provision of school crossing patrols; and what discretion the police or local authorities have over providing patrols
Mr. Norris: The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 specifies that school crossing patrols may be provided at
"places where children cross roads on their way to or from school, or from one part of a school to another, during periods between the hours of 8.00 am in the morning and 5.30 pm in the afternoon when children are so on their way".
Subject to these requirements, the appropriate authority has discretion over providing patrols.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the research projects undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory into school crossing patrols and the criteria for the provision or crossing patrols.
Mr. Norris: The only TRL research project on school crossing patrols was report No. 779, published in 1977.
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This looked at ways in which school crossing patrol officers instruct children about crossing roads.Rail Track Defects
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of railway track have speed restrictions imposed as a result of track defects or insufficient maintenance.
Mr. Watts: Railtrack does not keep a central record of track mileage bearing temporary speed restrictions.
Bridges and Viaducts
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the annual cost of maintaining railway bridges and viaducts in (a) north-west England and (b) England.
Mr. Watts: The cost of maintaining railway bridges and viaducts in Railtrack's north-west zone, which includes north Wales but excludes the west coast main line, is around £5 million a year. The cost for England and Wales is approximately £50 million. Figures excluding Wales are not available.
Motorway Signs
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used to justify the addition or the removal of towns and cities from motorway direction signs.
Mr. Watts: The main criteria are traffic importance, the requirement to maintain continuity of signing for long-distance traffic, and the number of destinations that can be read by drivers in the time available. The principles of directional signing are explained in "The Design and Use of Directional Informatory Signs"--Local Transport Note 1/94--published by HMSO.
Trains (Black Boxes)
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the black box revealed in respect of the cause of the train crash on the 2 November on the Thames line service at Slough, Berkshire; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Watts: The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate is still investigating this accident.
The results of the investigation and any recommendations made will be discussed with British Rail and/or Railtrack.
Special Advisers
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they (a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.
Dr. Mawhinney: The information sought is as follows:
(a) Political advisers to the Secretary of State for Transport: Miss E. Buchanan; from September 1987 to November 1990.
Mr. P. J. E. Miller; from January 1991 to March 1992.
Mrs. E. F. Laing; from April 1992 to July 1994.
Mr. M. G. E. Simmonds; from October 1994 to date.
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(b) Special advisers with expert knowledge in particular fields: Professor B. J. Hoskins, special adviser on the global environmental aspects of transport policies, from February 1990 to November 1990.Sir Christopher Foster, special adviser on British rail privatisation, from June 1992 to November 1993.
Sir Idris Pearce, special adviser on British Rail privatisation property issues, from June 1992 to July 1994.
Mr. R. B. Salmon, special adviser on British Rail privatisation, from January 1993 to November 1993.
Mr. J. Swift, special adviser on British Rail privatisation, from January 1993 to November 1993.
Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. They are however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine of 34 points, ranging from £19,503 to £67,609. Appointments are non-pensionable and the salary spine reflects this.
Ministerial Speeches
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions since 1979 civil servants in his Department have been asked to draft speeches of a constituency nature for use in a Minister's own constituency.
Dr. Mawhinney: None. Civil servants may provide briefing of a factual nature for Ministers on matters relating to their own departments. In addition, Ministers in preparing for a constituency speech can draw on material produced by their Department during the normal course of business.
M11 Link Road
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Coba 9 framework in respect of the M11 Link Road.
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 1 December 1994:
I have been asked to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Question about COBA 9 frameworks prepared for the A12 Hackney Wick to M11 Link Road since this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency.
I have had drawn to my attention the letter which Mr. Steven Norris MP wrote to you about COBA for this road scheme on the 1 September 1993. As the Minister explained then, the evidence given at the Public Inquiries showed that the cost benefit analysis for this urban scheme, although based on COBA methodology and values, was a complex one-off exercise. The last full assessment was prepared for the 1987 Public Inquiry. It consists of several volumes which are being copied especially to meet your request. I have therefore asked our office in Bedford to send the material direct to you at the House of Commons as soon as it is available.
Air Passenger Duty
Mr. Kenneth Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect on (a) the number of passengers using the various airports and (b) the revenue raised of increasing the air passenger duty by £5 at Heathrow and Gatwick, and reducing it by £5
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at the regional airports and at Stansted; and how much additional revenue would be raised.Mr. Mawhinney: There are no detailed estimates available, and air passengers duty is not an airport charge. However, work done for the RUCATSE working group suggests that if applied to the whole of 1995 the effect of increasing airport charges by £5 at Heathrow and Gatwick, and reducing it by £5 at the regional airports and Stansted, would be to leave passenger numbers at Heathrow unaltered, slightly reduced at Gatwick and at Stansted, and the regional airports for traffic to increase by some 2.5 per cent. It is not possible easily to assess the revenue effects.
Mr. David Hernandez-Purnell
Mr. Austin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the contents of his press statement of 29 April 1994, concerning a constituent of the hon. Member for Woolwich on abiding by the statute strictly and his subsequent statement on the options open to his Department;
(2) if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. David Hernandez-Purnell.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 28 November 1994]: These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. John Austin-Walker dated 1 December 1994:
The Minister promised that I would write to you about the matter you raised in your two Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State concerning Mr. David Hernandez-Purnell.
This has proved to be a difficult case but it does appear that we are now very close to reaching an agreement with Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez- Purnell on the level of compensation for the property and its development value. That would leave claims under the heading of disturbance to be agreed, or failing agreement to be referred to the Lands Tribunal. The Treasury Solicitor has now written to Mr. Hernandez-Purnell on our behalf offering to settle at a price Mr. Hernandez-Purnell has already suggested subject only to Mr. Hernandez-Purnell agreement to legally completing the sale to the Secretary of State. I understand Mr. Hernandez-Purnell is prepared to proceed on this basis.
You referred to a press statement by the Secretary of State. I am not aware of any press statement by the Secretary of State on 29 April or any other date in connection with Mr. Hernandez-Purnell's case. Mr. Hernandez- Purnell has invited comment on a statement he quotes in his letter of 13 November addressed to the Treasury Solicitor and which he has, I understand, copied to you. That statement is part of a fuller briefing note which was supplied on or around 29 April to a member of the press at her request by the Highways Agency. I enclose a copy of the full note from which you will see that we are dealing with the question of Mr. Hernandez- Purnell's mortgages. The strict legal position is that the Highways Agency on making an advance payment of compensation to Mr. Hernandez-Purnell (or any one else for that matter) did not, nor does not, have to discharge any existing mortgage before completion. However, in order to facilitate a practical and sensible resolution to that part of the dispute between Mr. Hernandez-Purnell and the Highways Agency, we were prepared to redeem Mr. Hernandez-Purnell's mortgages in this exceptional case. The use of the word "illegal" in briefing already referred to is unfortunate, when what was meant of course was extra statutory.
National Road Programme
Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the parliamentary constituency or
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constituencies in which each scheme in the national road programme lies.Mr. Watts [holding answer 29 November 1994]: 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. Roy Hughes, dated 1 December 1994:
The Minister for Roads and Rail has passed to me your request for a list of parliamentary constituency or constituents for each scheme in the national programme. This is an operational matter for which the Highways Agency is responsible.
The enclosed list includes all schemes in the Agency's preparation programme as listed in Trunk Roads in England 1994 Review.
TREASURY
Special Advisers
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department in each of the last five years indicating when they (a) joined and (b) left his Department and the annual salary they received.
Mr. Nelson: The following have been employed as special advisers in the Treasury during the last five years:
Name |Joined |Left -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. Ross Goobey |1 April 1986 |10 April 1991 W. M. Lightfoot |1 September 1989 |10 April 1992 P. W. Robinson |11 April 1992 |27 May 1993 D. W. D. Cameron |11 May 1992 |21 June 1993 R. Darwell |8 February 1993 |27 May 1993 Mrs. A. T. Keswick |28 May 1993 to date D. L. Ruffley |28 May 1993 to date
Salaries for special advisers are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings, and are confidential. They are, however, normally paid on a special advisers' salary spine, ranging from £19,503 to £67,609. Appointments are non-pensionable, and the salary spine reflects this.
Sports Clubs
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of VAT illegally charged by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on sports clubs subscriptions since 1 January 1990 which has been (a) claimed back to date by sports clubs, (b) paid back to date by sports clubs and (c) estimated in total as due back to sports clubs; and if he will provide details for (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: Customs and Excise estimated that repayment of VAT on sporting services in respect of the period 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1994 would amount to some £42.5 million. Between 1 April 1994 and 30 September 1994, £42 million VAT plus £5 million interest was repaid to non-profit-making organisations supplying sporting services.
To apportion this information between England, Wales and Scotland would involve disproportionate time and expense. The extent to which clubs have passed any of the repayment to their members is not a matter for the Government.
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Building Society Merger
Mr. Darling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the proposed merger between the Halifax building society and the Leeds building society; if he proposes to refer the merger to the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading for inquiry; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nelson: I have discussed the proposed merger with representatives of the Halifax building society and the Building Societies Commission, in my capacity as Minister responsible for the building society sector. The decision on whether to refer the proposal to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973 is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in the light of advice from the Director General of Fair Trading, who is currently considering the matter.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Banqueting Rooms
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee what was the operating surplus or deficit of the banqueting rooms for the last full 12 months for which figures are available.
Mr. Colin Shepherd: A net profit of some £230,000 was made from the use of private dining facilities in 1993 94.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee (1) if he will publish the names of organisations that used the banqueting rooms in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available indicating the numbers who are perceived to be (a) political, (b) commercial, (c) charitable and (d) others;
(2) if he will list the political affiliations of all hon. Members who booked the banqueting rooms in the months of October and November.
Mr. Colin Shepherd: It has not hitherto been the practice to publish information of this nature. The matter is currently being reviewed by the Catering Committee.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Listed Hospitals
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made by the task force on listed hospitals formed by his Department and the Department of Health.
Mr. Dorrell: The working group on historic hospitals was established by the Department of Health and by English Heritage in Autumn 1992 to provide a forum to identify and assist in resolving problems concerning historic buildings and conservation matters in the NHS. It has commissioned the preparation of good practice guidance for NHS managers in respect of both listed hospitals that will continue in use, and those that will close; this guidance is due for publication at the end of 1994. A study to review the listing of NHS institutions has been commissioned from English Heritage.
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Internet
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to provide information via Internet; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 22 November 1994, Official Report , column 110 .
Television Licence Fees
Mr. Michael Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will announce the television licence fees which will take effect from 1 April 1995.
Mr. Dorrell: Following a study by Touche Ross, my predecessor, my right hon. Friend the Member for City of London and Westminster, South (Mr. Brooke) announced on 4 November 1993, Official Report , column 309 10 , that the Government had decided to link increases in the television licence fee with the retail prices index for the remaining three years of the BBC's current royal charter. Licence fee increases are based on the annual RPI figure as at the previous September, in the same way as pensions and other state benefits. Application of this year's RPI figure of 2.2 per cent. for the year to September 1994 to the current unrounded figures produces new rounded totals of £86.50 for a colour licence and £28.50 for a black and white licence. The necessary regulations to bring these fees into force will be laid before the House in due course.
County Hall
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when officials from English Heritage last inspected the riverside building in the County hall complex; and what were their findings on the condition of the building.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 29 November 1994]: The riverside building at County hall was last visited by English Heritage staff on 15 November 1994. They found the building to be in good condition.
Late Payments
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many of the bills paid by his Department during the last month for which figures are available were paid within (a) up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months from receipt of invoice; and how many were over the date for payment by (i) up to one month, (ii) up to two months, (iii) up to three months, (iv) up to six months and (v) over six months;
(2) of the bills currently awaiting payment in his Department how many are over the advised payment date (a) by up to one month, (b) up to two months, (c) up to three months, (d) up to six months and (e) over six months, respectively.
Mr. Dorrell: The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Departments, however, are required to provide details of their annual payment performance in their departmental reports. For 1993 94, the Department of National Heritage paid over 85 per cent. of its bills in accordance with agreed contractual conditions or, where no such contractual conditions existed, within 30 days of
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