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Mr. Douglas Hogg: The main naval base in the Murmansk region is in Severomorsk, some 15 km to 20 km from Murmansk. Royal Navy officers visited Severomorsk on 5 June at the invitation of the commander of the Russian northern fleet. On 22 October officers of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and HM diplomatic service, and 11 British veterans visited Murmansk at the invitation of the regional governor.
UN Rapid Deployment Force
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) of 24 November, Official Report, column 305, if he will make it his policy to raise co-operation with a UN standby force planning team at any meeting of EU Foreign Ministers.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The United Kingdom's policy is to encourage all those member states of the United Nations which have been approached by the UN Secretary General to co-operate with his UN standby force planning team. We do not intend to raise this issue at any meeting of EU Foreign Ministers.
Peacekeeping
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the establishment of peacekeeping skills centres at certain African military staff colleges; which staff colleges are expected to be involved; and if his
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Department will provide financial or personnel resources for this initiative.Mr. Douglas Hogg: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary proposed in his speech to the UN General Assembly on 28 September that the international community should, working through the Organisation of African Unity and the UN, set up a structure of support systems running from early warning and preventive diplomacy through to peacekeeping deployments. As part of this framework, he mentioned that regional peacekeeping skills centres might be established in certain locations in Africa. These proposals have been enthusiastically welcomed by the UN and the OAU and by the African countries which we have consulted. We are working with African countries and other troop contributors on detailed proposals for discussion in both organisations. Decisions on the location of any skills centres will depend on the outcome of those discussions.
International Organisations (Financial Contributions)
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the United Kingdom's current financial contribution to the United Nations and to the Conference on Security and Co -operation in Europe.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: In the 1993 calendar year--the most recent figures available--the United Kingdom's
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financial contribution to the United Nations was £312,116,430. This included both assessed and voluntary contributions.The United Kingdom's current financial contribution to the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe is £1.5 million.
East Timor
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits to East Timor have been made by diplomatic staff attached to the embassy in Jakarta at any time since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Goodlad [holding answer 30 November 1994]: Since 1979, embassy staff in Jakarta have visited East Timor on the following occasions:
* Month |Year ------------------------------------------ October/November |1980 December |1984 January |1988 February; March; October |1989 February; September; November |1991 April |1992 March; May (twice); November |1993 January; August; September |1994
TRANSPORT
Aircraft Noise
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to implement a noise control scheme governing aerodromes.
Mr. Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Cunningham) on 30 November, Official Report , column 763 4 .
Fishing Vessels (Inspections)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many inspections have been completed, region by region, since 1 April 1994, in respect of fishing vessels over 12 m; how many vessels have been issued with a valid certificate; and how many are currently outside the three month validation period.
Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Ms Joan Walley, dated 6 December 1994:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the inspection and certification of fishing vessels.
In view of the reference to certification I have assumed that the first part of the Question refers to surveys, rather than inspections, of fishing vessels of 12 metres and over. The attached table shows, by District, the number of vessels of 12 metres and over which completed survey and in respect of which a UK Fishing Vessel Certificate (UKFVC) was issued during the period 1 April to 30 October 1994.
Turning to the final part of the Question, I am afraid I do not understand the reference to a "three month validation period". If you could clarify the request I would be happy to try to provide the information you seek.
United Kingdom Registered Fishing Vessels not holding a valid
UKFVC (as at 1 November 1994)
District |UKFVC expired 0-3 |UKFVC expired 3-6 |UKFVC expired over 6|Totals
|months |months |months
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
East of Scotland |17 |5 |13 |35
West of Scotland and Northern Ireland |29 |28 |14 |71
North West of England and Wales |6 |7 |11 |24
North East and East of England |9 |3 |6 |18
London |3 |6 |3 |12
South and South West of England |13 |3 |30 |46
|-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
Totals |77 |52 |77 |206
UK Fishing Vessel Certificates (UKFVCs) issued between
1 April and 30 October 1994
District |UKFVCs issued 1
|April 1994- 30
|November 1994
----------------------------------------------------------------------
East of Scotland |211
West of Scotland and Northern Ireland |85
North West of England and Wales |17
North East and East of England |53
London |13
South and South West of England |54
|--------
Totals |433
Fishing Vessel Safety Rules
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that copies of the fishing vessel safety rules of 1975 are (a) publicly available and (b) distributed to representatives of the South Western Fish Producers Organisation.
Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Ms Joan Walley, dated 6 December 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the public availability of copies of the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975.
The Rules were published as Statutory Instrument 1975 No. 330. Copies of Statutory Instruments are normally available to the public through HMSO Bookshops but SI 1975 No. 330 is now out-of-print. However, photo-copies of out-of-print Parliamentary, statutory and regulatory publications can be obtained through HMSO Books (Photocopies Section), PO Box 276, London SW8 5DT at a cost £4.70 (inc. VAT) per complete copy required.
I will arrange for this information to be passed on to the Chief Executive of the South Western Fish Producers Organisation and also to the Fishermen's Federations.
Northolt Airport
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the report of the Adam Smith Institute on Northolt airport; and if he will make a statement about the number of business, civilian and military flights.
Mr. Norris: I have taken note of the institute's report, "Plane Common Sense". We are considering responses to the recent consultation paper on increasing business use of RAF Northolt.
Building Refurbishment
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will itemise the refurbishment works undertaken on buildings housing departmental staff in the last three years, indicating the cost involved and the nature of the refurbishments.
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Mr. Norris: The list of refurbishment works undertaken by my Department is as follows:
Building and |Nature of |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Test Centre Hayes |Internal Alteration |15,000 |- |- Test Centre Barnet |Major Alteration |46,500 |- |- DSA Cardington |New Windows |42,000 |- |- Test Centre Hither Green |New Windows and Cladding |18,000 |- |- Test Centre Barking |Major Internal Alteration |- |23,000 |- Test Centre Nottingham |Major Internal Alteration |- |26,000 |- Test Centre Saltcoats |Major Alterations |- |- |20,000 AAIB Farnborough |New Windows in Computer Room |4,113 |- |- AAIB Farnborough |Update Flight Data Room |- |3,550 |- MSA Cardiff |Upgrade Toilets |- |24,500 |- MSA Newcastle |Upgrade Security System |- |4,000 |- MSA Orpington |Energy efficient lighting |- |- |6,500 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Swansea |Upgrade 16th Floor |445,000 |- |- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Swansea |Upgrade F Block and convert to stores |- |280,000 |- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Swansea |Upgrade Microfilm Library and post facilities |- |- |100,000 Vehicle Registration Office Gloucester |Major Internal Alteration |- |100,000 |- DOT HQ Lambeth Bridge House London |Office |14,000 |- |- DOT Eastcote Office Services |Accommodation Rationalisation |26,000 |- |- DOT HQ Romney House London |Record Service Rationalisation |17,000 |- |- Highways Agency St Christopher House London |Accommodation Rationalisation |- |723,000 |- DOT Personnel Unit Westgate House Newcastle |Accommodation Rationalisation |- |12,700 |- DOT Personnel Unit County House Bristol |Accommodation Rationalisation |- |22,400 |- DOT Personnel Unit 5 Ways House Birmingham |Accommodation Rationalisation |- |40,600 |- DOT Personnel Unit Howard St Bedford |Accommodation Rationalisation |- |1,500 |- DOT Personnel Unit City House Leeds |Accommodation Rationalisation |- |16,000 |- HMCG Ballywater |Conversion of CRE to garage and training room |24,000 |- |- HMCG Killough |Conversion of boathouse to IRT Station |16,500 |- |- HMCG Portrush |Conversion of Jackstay House to training room |6,000 |- |- HMCG Milford Haven |Replace felted roof with fibre glass |2,200 HMCG Swansea |Alterations to Operations Room |500 |- |- HMCG Forth |Operations Room |25,500 |- |- HMCG Dover |Operations Room and Office |50,000 |- |- HMCG Dover |Security Barrier |11,000 |- |- HMCG Deal |Office upgrade |22,000 |- |- HMCG Ventnor IoW |Renew floor, windows and ceilings |21,000 |- |- HMCG St Ives Gwennap Head |Enhance security |5,000 |- |- HMCG Penzance |Change garages to Sector Base |31,000 |- |- HMCG Brixham |Upgrade ventilation and domestic facilities |33,000 |- |- HMCG Looe |Conversion to include training room |6,000 |- |- HMCG Porthscatho |Upgrade to provide domestic facilities |15,000 |- |- HMCG Highcliffe |Window replacement |25,000 |- |- HMCG Benbecula |Convert garage to training room |- |22,000 |- HMCG Tarbert Harris |Convert garage to training room |- |16,000 |- HMCG Lamlash |Convert garage to training |- |12,000 |- HMCG Yarmouth |New rest area |- |6,100 |- HMCG Liverpool |Renew kitchen units and toilet floors |- |1,400 |- HMCG Liverpool |Replace windows |- |2,000 |- HMCG Aberdeen |Operations Room |- |30,000 |- HMCG Bawdsey |Security fence |- |5,000 |- HMCG Lee on Solent |Upgrade fire alarm system |- |5,000 |- HMCG St Mary's Scilly |Refurbish old tower and domestic facilities |- |50,000 |- HMCG Falmouth |Staff rest room and registry facilities |- |13,000 |- HMCG Highcliffe |Refurbish training area |- |45,000 |- HMCG Dover |Refurbish toilets and mess room |- |4,000 |- HMCG Dover |Conference Room |- |10,000 |- HMCG SAR Flight Solent |Kitchen, mess and showers |- |6,000 |- HMCG Thames |Internal refurbishment |- |25,000 |- HMCG Oban |Convert Station Office to Emergency Planning Room |- |- |7,000 HMCG Tobermory |Convert CRE storage to training room |- |- |16,000 HMCG Yarmouth |Heating and cooling system |- |- |29,400 HMCG Tyne Tees |Ceiling and lighting |- |- |13,500 HMCG Presili |Enlarge and modernise |- |- |15,000 HMCG Liverpool |Convert storeroom to office |- |- |5,000 HMCG Milford Haven |Improve acoustics in Operations Room |- |- |5,000 HMCG South Cumbria |Replace windows, upgrade kitchen and toilets |- |- |25,000 HMCG Shetland |Operations Room |- |- |33,000 HMCG Forth |Upgrade ventilation |- |- |10,000 HMCG Thames |New windows, fire alarm, toilets and showers |- |- |13,000 HMCG Thames |Air-conditioning to Operations Room |- |- |12,000 HMCG New Romney |Energy control switching |- |- |2,000 HMCG Totland IoW |Toilets and heating |- |- |5,000 HMCG Lee on Solent |Shower and conference room |- |- |7,000 HMCG Littlehampton |Improve security |- |- |2,000 HMCG St Austell |Improve facilities and partitioning |- |- |8,000 HMCG Brixham |Provide conference room |- |- |15,000 HMCG Highcliffe |Canteen and offices |- |- |50,000 Vehicle Inspectorate Berkeley House Bristol |Upgrade security of entrance and reception area |- |25,000 |- Vehicle Inspectorate Berkeley House Bristol |Ground floor toilets and disabled facilities |- |10,000 |- TAO Portcullis House Manchester |Resite and upgrade public counter |8,925 |- |- TAO Portcullis House Manchester |Ground floor entrance and foyer |40,496 |- |- TAO 83 Princess St Edinburgh |Finance and Admin offices |32,600 |- |- TAO 83 Princess St Edinburgh |Entrance, reception, personnel and passenger sections |18,000 |- |- TAO Caradog House Cardiff |Typing pool, Finance, Admin and Goods Operators Licensing|- |62,363 |- TAO Cumberland House Birmingham |Carpeting and blinds |- |29,112 |- TAO Cumberland House Birmingham |Furniture upgrade |- |69,804 |- TAO Hillcrest House Leeds |Double glazing, new doors, lights and ceiling |6,024 |- |- TAO Hillcrest House Leeds |Carpeting and blinds |6,316 |- |- TAO Hillcrest House Leeds |Partial interior reconstruction |4,714 |- |- TAO Hillcrest House Leeds |Traffic Commissioners, Clerks and Board Rooms |5,900 |- |- TAO Hillcrest House Leeds |Court Room, Typing Pool and glazing |- |- |53,660
Vehicles (Definitions)
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a definition of mowing machine as listed in the leaflet INF 27 issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Mr. Norris: A mowing machine, not defined in legislation, is considered to be a vehicle designed and constructed purely for cutting grass.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a definition of the terms digging machine, works truck, concessionary trailer and agricultural machines, listed in the leaflet INF 27 issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Mr. Norris: The information requested is as follows:
"digging machine" is a vehicle designed, constructed and used on public roads, only for digging trenches, or for any kind of excavating or shovelling work.
"works truck" is a goods vehicle designed for use in private premises and is used on public roads only for carrying goods in the immediate vicinity of premises or the site of road works. "concessionary trailer" is an administrative term referring to trailers hauled by showmen's vehicles as opposed to trailers pulled by other heavy good vehicles (HGVs).
"agricultural machine" is an umbrella tax class for the following: locomotive ploughing engines
tractors
agricultural tractors
agricultural engines
fisherman's tractors
Vehicle Excise Duty
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had with local authority associations to discuss the imposition of vehicle excise duty on local authority vehicles, including mowing machines, gritters and snowploughs.
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Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the meetings he has had with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on the imposition of vehicle excise duty on lifeboat haulage vehicles; and what consideration has been given to the increased financial and administrative burden this will place on the RNLI.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide an estimate of the number of vehicles in each of the new tax classes, special vehicles, special concessionary and emergency vehicles, set out in leaflet INF 27 issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Mr. Norris: The number of vehicles in each of the proposed new tax classes is as follows:
special vehicles class 92,000
special concessionary 281,000
emergency vehicles class 39,000
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the extra financial burden on the farming industry as a result of his decision to introduce vehicle taxation for agricultural machines.
Mr. Norris: Taxation is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In his Budget statement, he announced no change to the rate of duty for agricultural machines, which remains at £35.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of meetings he has had with representatives of the emergency services to discuss the imposition of vehicle excise duty on some emergency vehicles; and what consideration has been given to the increased financial and administrative burden.
Passenger Rolling Stock
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the number of units, class and age of all passenger rolling stock used on (a) Kent coastal lines, (b) the former Network SouthEast south- eastern division and (c) the former Network SouthEast area as a whole in November 1989, November 1991, currently and the expected age profile in November 1995.
Mr. Watts: The full set of information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Motorway Lighting
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent cost benefit research his Department has carried out for lighting on motorways.
Mr. Watts: 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. David Chidgey, dated 6 December 1994:
You asked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent cost benefit research his Department has carried out for lighting on motorways. As this is an operational matter for the Highways Agency, I am replying to your question.
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Current policy on motorway and trunk road lighting rests on a statement in 1986 by the then Minister for Roads and Traffic, on which I attach a copy. You will see that the decision whether lighting should be provided is always based on an economic assessment of the costs and benefits throughout the life of the proposed lighting scheme, together with a full assessment of environmental factors. Account is also taken of any significant unquantifiable road safety factors.The cost benefit appraisal is similar in form to those conducted for other highway investment proposals, and takes into account the same values, for example on the costs of accidents. No specific research on road lighting appraisal has been undertaken recently, although the effectiveness of road lighting and other measures in reducing accidents is kept under review.
Vehicle Safety
Mr. Alison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the monitoring and preventive measures carried out directly or indirectly by his Department, or other agencies, giving their locations and frequency for the routine safety testing of commercial and heavy goods vehicles.
Mr. Norris: The Vehicle Inspectorate conducts checks on the adequacy of commercial and heavy goods vehicle operators' maintenance arrangements every five years prior to the renewal of licences. Other ad-hoc checks on maintenance are made when the operator seeks a variation to his licence or when a vehicle is prohibited following a roadside spot check and there is evidence of a significant
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failure of maintenance. About 60,000 vehicles each year are inspected for roadworthiness as part of these checks.Commercial and heavy goods vehicles are tested for roadworthiness each year at the Vehicle Inspectorate's heavy goods vehicles testing stations or at other premises designated for annual testing. About 150,000 other roadworthiness enforcement spot checks are carried out on vehicles in service either at the roadside or in the inspectorate's heavy goods vehicle testing stations.
Mr. Alison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish figures, derived from the Vehicle Inspectorate or elsewhere showing the extent to which vehicle mechanical faults or defects were significant contributory factors in the cause of serious road accidents involving lorries and other heavy goods vehicles in each of the last full five years.
Mr. Norris: Data on accidents involving heavy goods vehicles with likely contributory defects were obtained from all Vehicle Inspectorate examinations at the request of the police where a contributory defect was alleged or suspected. The inspectorate's sample is, therefore, biased towards vehicles with defects and includes slight injury and damage only as well as fatal and serious accidents. For comparison purposes, the column "All reported HGV accidents"--data taken from the Department's annual publication, "Road Accidents Great Britain"--also includes slight injury and damage-only accidents.
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|HGVs examinded with
|defects considered
|HGVs edaminded by |likely to have |Percentage of
|All reported |Vehicle Inspectorate|contributed to the |HGVs with likely
Year |HGV Accidents |after accidents |accident<1> |contributory
|defects<1>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989 |17,894 |710 |176 |24.7
1990 |16,524 |707 |154 |21.7
1991 |15,235 |725 |184 |25.3
1992 |14,496 |(616) |111 |18
|- |725 (109) |<1>9 |<1>8.2
1993 |14,416 |565 |<1>23 |<1>4.1
<1> Since late 1992 Vehicle Examiners have been asked to state specifically where in their judgement the defect definitely
contributed to or caused the accident.
Mr. Alison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what co- ordination of policy exists between his Department and the metropolitan and county police authorities for the random roadside checks on heavy goods vehicles for ascertaining their operational safety; and what uniformity of practice obtains in this area.
Mr. Norris: All police forces support Vehicle Inspectorate roadside enforcement checks by providing police officers to stop vehicles. At the start of each year, the inspectorate's area managers liaise locally with forces to agree road check programmes. Most police forces also employ specially authorised officers who can prohibit vehicles with defects which render them dangerous. Many of these officers have been trained by the Vehicle Inspectorate and all use the same manual for deciding which defects are prohibitable.
Smoking
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce tobacco smoking (a) on public transport and (b) in restaurants.
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Mr. Norris: The Government continue to support and encourage the voluntary introduction of smoking policies on public transport and in public places, including restaurants. When a suitable opportunity arises, we will also bring in legislation to allow taxi drivers to refuse a passenger who is smoking. The provision of no-smoking areas is becoming more widespread in line with changing public attitudes to smoking and the dangers of passive smoking.
Dulwich College Toll Road
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutes govern the management of the toll road on the Dulwich college estate; what representations she has received about them; and if she will bring forward proposals to amend them to provide for greater participation by local residents in decisions on the management of the toll road and decisions affecting local residents whose homes are subject to the scheme of management.
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Mr. Norris: College road, Dulwich, is a private road managed under the royal charter which established the estate in 1619. It is not the responsibility of the Department of Transport or of the local highway authority and I understand that no statutory provisions apply specifically to its management. We have no plans to alter that situation.
Taxis
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for any deregulation of the taxi trade.
Mr. Norris: These matters were covered in the report of the Transport Select Committee on taxis and private hire vehicles. The Government hope to reply to the Select Committee very shortly.
Shipping (Safety)
Mr. Loyden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents' report following the investigation by Oceaneering Technologies into the wreck of M V Derbyshire.
Mr. Norris: My right hon. Friend is considering the chief inspector's submission. His deliberations will include consideration of placing relevant material in the Library in due course.
Mr. Loyden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the frequency of inspection of United Kingdom merchant ships by the underwriters.
Mr. Norris: The frequency of inspection by underwriters of merchant ships of any flag is a commercial decision for the organisations involved.
Mr. Loyden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to raise the standards of safety on United Kingdom merchant ships; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris: We believe that the standards of safety on United Kingdom registered merchant vessels are among the highest in the world. We shall continue to maintain and, where necessary, to raise those standards by national or international action.
Mr. Loyden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions with the European Transport Ministers on the loss of the Estonia and related matters including safety standards of roll-on roll-off ferries.
Mr. Norris: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport's statement on the Transport Council, of 30 November Official Report columns 659 60. The Government will play an active role in the development of the detailed initiatives on ferry safety both in the European Community and at the International Maritime Organisation.
Channel Tunnel Rail Freight
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to ensure that railway wagons running to and from the channel tunnel are not overloaded.
Mr. Watts [holding answer 1 December 1994]: Prime responsibility for this matter rests with the railway operators concerned. The design, construction and
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designated use of wagons assists proper loading. Weighing equipment is provided at the loading points for bulk materials whose density can give rise to loading problems.The goods carried on international freight services do not come into this category. Before such services are handed over to the driver, the train is signed off by a railway loads inspector. Drivers can decline to accept the train if they are not satisfied that weights have been properly declared.
Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to prevent channel tunnel freight trains from exceeding speed limits within the United Kingdom.
Mr. Watts [holding answer 1 December 1994]: Prime responsibility for this matter rests with the railway operators concerned. The train reporting system shows the time trains pass certain signals, and radar equipment can be deployed if there is a suspicion of speeding. The Railway (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994 prohibit an employer from allowing any of his employees to carry out safety critical work unless they are competent and fit. Exceeding vehicle or line speed limits is also a severe disciplinary offence.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Household Incomes
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average equivalent household income at April 1994 prices for (a) the poorest 20 per cent. and (b) the richest 20 per cent. from the latest households below average income analysis, before and after housing costs, in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1988 89, 1990 91, 1991 92, according to economic status categories (i) single or couple self-employed, (ii) single, in full- time work, (iii) couple, both in full-time work, (iv) couple, one in full- time, one in part-time work, (v) couple, one in full-time work, one unemployed or not employed, (vi) couple, one or both in part-time work, (vii) single retired pensioner, (viii) couple, both retired pensioners, (ix) single, unemployed or non-employed, (x) couple, both unemployed or non -employed, (xi) three or more adults, all unemployed or not employed and (xii) others.
Mr. Burt: The information is provided in the tables. It should be noted that the results do not track the income of individuals over time but compare the average median income for each group in each year shown. Changes in the average for each group over the whole period --1979 to 1991 92--are more reliable than those over shorter periods.
Care should be taken in the use of these single estimates as some are based on a small number of cases. Estimates which are particularly uncertain are shown in brackets. These are based on a sample of less than 100 benefit units.
Median equivalised household income of bottom and top quintiles for selected groups (in £'s per week in April 1994 prices)
|1979 |1979 |1981 |1981 |1987 |1987
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before Housing Costs
Single or couple self-employed |<3>(91) |<3>(412)|92 |414 |89 |522
Single in full-time work |143 |328 |140 |348 |163 |462
Couple both in full-time work |187 |378 |172 |374 |202 |500
Couple one in full-time work one in part-time work |132 |277 |127 |294 |154 |379
Couple one in full-time work one unemployed or not employed |113 |272 |108 |285 |121 |346
Couple one or both in part-time work |<3>(72) |<3>(243)|<3>(63) |<3>(260)|<3>(88) |<3>(335)
Single retired pensioner |91 |227 |96 |231 |99 |269
Couple both retired pensioners |90 |207 |94 |224 |103 |291
Single unemployed or non-employed |79 |213 |85 |226 |89 |242
Couple both unemployed or non-employed |<3>(60) |<3>(168)|<3>(56) |<3>(148)|<3>(82) |<3>(174)
Others<1> |<3>(87) |<3>(242)|<3>(96) |<3>(261)|97 |301
Three or more adults all unemployed or not employed<2> |<3>(58) |<3>(208)|<3>(85) |<3>(175)|<3>(79) |<3>(243)
After Housing Costs
Single or couple self-employed |<3>(75) |<3>(358)|74 |388 |61 |458
Single in full-time work |125 |301 |122 |314 |140 |420
Couple both in full-time work |158 |324 |149 |328 |172 |430
Couple one in full-time work one in part-time work |110 |241 |108 |258 |129 |334
Couple one in full-time work one unemployed or not employed |95 |234 |91 |247 |97 |294
Couple one or both in part-time work |<3>(57) |<3>(217)|<3>(53) |<3>(230)|<3>(69) |<3>(311)
Single retired pensioner |83 |213 |86 |222 |88 |276
Coupled both retired pensioners |75 |188 |81 |205 |88 |274
Single unemployed or non-employed |63 |190 |69 |203 |66 |210
Couple both unemployed or non-employed |<3>(39) |<3>(143)|<3>(43) |<3>(124)|<3>(56) |<3>(153)
Others<1> |<3>(75) |<3>(217)|<3>(76) |<3>(239)|75 |290
Three or more adults all unemployed or not employed<2> |<3>(39) |<3>(145)|<3>(68) |<3>(157)|<3>(57) |<3>(160)
Notes:
<1> This group includes singles in part-time work and some pensioners.
<2> This group is selected on the basis of individuals in such households whereas all others are based on individuals in
benefit units.
<3> Bracketed figures are particularly uncertain as they are based on less than 100 samples benefit units. Ninety-five
times in 100, the true value will lie within a given range. As an example, for the bottom quintile of single or couple
self-employed in 1979 this will be £76 to £100, before housing costs, in April 1994 prices. For the bottom quintile of
three or more adults all unemployed or not employed in 1979 the range is £40 to £94, before housing costs, in April 1994
prices.
Median equivalised household income of bottom and top quintiles for selected groups in (£'s per week in April 1994 prices)
|1988-89 |1988-89 |1990-91 |1990-91 |1991-92 |1991-92
|Bottom |Top |Bottom |Top |Bottom |Top
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before Housing Costs
Single or couple self-employed |87 |565 |76 |581 |84 |575
Single in full-time work |173 |467 |168 |497 |172 |494
Couple both in full-time work |210 |518 |222 |584 |226 |588
Couple one in full-time work one in part-time work |162 |396 |161 |409 |162 |433
Couple one in full-time work one unemployed or not employed |126 |387 |124 |424 |126 |441
Couple one or both in part-time work |<3>(84) |<3>(358)|<3>(77) |<3>(397)|<3>(77) |<3>(339)
Single retired pensioner |96 |289 |98 |319 |101 |335
Couple both retired pensioners |101 |295 |100 |336 |107 |351
Single unemployed or non-employed |83 |249 |83 |269 |86 |265
Couple both unemployed or non-employed |67 |204 |<3>(67) |<3>(201)|68 |198
Others<1> |101 |334 |94 |355 |97 |356
Three or more adults all unemployed or not employed<2> |<3>(78) |<3>(210)|<3>(73) |<3>(172)|<3>(74) |<3>(179)
After Housing Costs
Single or couple self-employed |56 |494 |41 |511 |50 |510
Single in full-time work |150 |424 |144 |454 |147 |455
Couple both in full-time work |183 |452 |185 |517 |192 |521
Couple one in full-time work one in part-time work |135 |348 |135 |359 |134 |377
Couple one in full-time work one unemployed or not employed |103 |337 |96 |371 |99 |381
Couple one or both in part-time work |<3>(70) |<3>(324)|<3>(43) |<3>(370)|<3>(50) |<3>(313)
Single retired pensioner |86 |299 |90 |333 |93 |346
Couple both retired pensioners |88 |283 |87 |329 |89 |346
Single unemployed or non-employed |57 |229 |60 |242 |56 |240
Couple both unemployed or non-employed |51 |172 |<3>(38) |<3>(170)|34 |169
Others<1> |85 |321 |80 |341 |79 |349
Three or more adults all unemployed or not employed<2> |<3>(49) |<3>(186)|<3>(53) |<3>(142)|<3>(49) |<3>(148)
Notes:
<1> This group includes singles in part-time work and some pensioners.
<2> This group is selected on the basis of individuals in such households whereas all others are based on individuals in
benefit units.
<3> Bracketed figures are particularly uncertain as they are based on less than 100 sample benefit units. Ninety-five
times in 100, the true value will lie within a given range. As an example, for the bottom quintile of single or couple
self-employed in 1979 this will be £76 to £100, before housing costs, in April 1994 prices. For the bottom quintile of
three or more adults all unemployed or not employed in 1979 the range is £40 to £94, before housing costs, in April 1994
prices.
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average equivalent household income at April 1994 prices for (a) the poorest 20 per cent. and (b) the richest 20 per cent. from the latest households below average income analysis, before and after housing costs, in 1979 and 1991 92 for (i) single, unemployed, no children, (ii) couple both unemployed or not employed, no children, (iii) single, unemployed with child(ren), (iv) couple, unemployed with child(ren), (v) three or more adults, all unemployed or not employed, no children, (vi) three or more adults, unemployed or not employed, with child(ren) and (vii) others with children.
Column 186
Mr. Burt: The information is in the tables. It should be noted that the results do not track the income of individuals over time but compare the average, median, income for each group in each year shown. Changes in the average for each group over the whole period--1979 to 1991 92--are more reliable than those over shorter periods.
Care should be taken in the use of these single estimates as some are based on a small number of cases. Estimates which are particularly uncertain are shown in brackets, these are based on a sample of less than 100 benefit units.
In some cases, sample numbers are too small to make any estimate. The second table shows the sample numbers for each group.
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