| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the text of the agreement between himself and the consortia bidding to build the channel tunnel rail link especially as it relates to obligatory confidentiality.
Mr. Watts: The confidentiality agreements with consortia bidding in the channel tunnel rail link competition are strictly private and confidential documents and are not appropriate for publication.
Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his best estimate of the revenues to be derived from the European passenger services due to be transferred to the consortium chosen to build the channel rail link.
Mr. Watts: This information is commercially confidential.
Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the value of the financial assistance likely to be available from the European Union towards the cost of building the channel tunnel rail link.
Mr. Watts: The value of any assistance from the European Union for the channel tunnel rail link has yet to be determined. Potential sources of support are the trans-European networks programme, the European investment bank and the European investment fund.
Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the latest estimate of the value of the assets intended to be transferred to the successful
Column 405
consortium in the competition to build the channel tunnel rail link.Mr. Watts: The value of the assets to be transferred will be determined by the present competition to select the rail link promoter.
Traffic Calming
Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the designs of traffic calming measures; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris: The design of traffic calming measures is the responsibility of individual highway authorities. The Department of Transport works closely with authorities, offering advice on planning and design aspects and collaborating on the development of new techniques. Information on good practice is published in the form of traffic advisory leaflets, which are sent to all local authorities. Over the last few months, for example, we have produced leaflets on design aspects of entry treatments, speed cushions, thermoplastic road humps and road narrowings and chicanes.
Cyclists (Safety)
Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to increase the safety of cyclists.
Mr. Norris: As part of our efforts to achieve a one third reduction in road casualties by the year 2000 we will maintain our commitment to reduce cyclist casualties. Cyclist safety will be promoted through education and publicity measures, continued research projects, and the issue of technical advice to local highway authorities on the planning, design and construction of cycling facilities.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last session of Parliament were not answered on the ground that the information sought was not held centrally by the Department.
Lorry Drivers
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions have been taken out for each year since 1985 against haulage contractors and other firms employing long-distance lorry drivers for exceeding the permissible number of hours driving without a statutorily required break.
Mr. Norris: The information is not available in the form requested. The total numbers of drivers' hours prosecutions, including exceeding the permissable number of hours without a statutory break for United Kingdom and foreign heavy goods vehicle drivers/operators were as follows:
|Number
---------------------------
1984-85 |212
1985-86 |193
1986-87 |249
1987-88 |1,654
1988-89 |1,893
1989-90 |2,243
1990-91 |2,310
1991-92 |2,385
1992-93 |2,898
1993-94 |4,422<1>
<1> There was a change in
the method of recording
drivers' hours
prosecutions in 1993-94.
In the previous years the
numbers of prosecutions
referred to the number of
cases whereas the 1993-94
figures refer to the
number of offences.
Roll-on Roll-off Ferries
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many collisions have occurred involving roll-on roll-off ferries (a) in the Solent, (b) off the south coast of England and (c) in British coastal waters in each of the last 10 years.
(2) how many incidents have occurred involving roll-on roll-off ferries (a) in the Solent, (b) off the south coast of England and (c) in British coastal waters in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 8 December 1994]: The figures shown in the table relate to accidents involving one or more United Kingdom registered roll-on roll-off ferries where it has been established that the accident happened in (a) the Solent/Southampton Water, (b) elsewhere off the south coast and (c) in other stretches of United Kingdom coastal waters.
The figures are given only for the years shown as information relating to a particular sea area and type of accident can readily be obtained only from the marine accident investigation branch computerised accident database. The database contains data from 1991 onwards only. Information requested for the previous six years could be obtained only at disproportion cost.
Year |Number of accidents|Collision
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Solent/Southampton water
1991 |Nil |Nil
1992 |1 |Nil
1993 |1 |Nil
1994 to date |Nil |Nil
Elsewhere off south coast
1991 |Nil |Nil
1992 |1 |1
1993 |2 |1
1994 to date |Nil |Nil
Other stretches of the United Kingdom coastal waters |1991 |18
1992 |12 |1
1993 |11 |1
1994 to date |5 |Nil
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will include in Her Majesty's Government's submission to the International Maritime Organisation's investigation into roll-on roll-off ferries the recommendation that all roll-on roll-off ferries be fitted either with transverse bulkheads on the car deck or sponsons;
(2) if he will take steps to require all roll-on roll-off ferries operating in British coastal waters to be fitted either with sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck;
Column 407
(3) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operation (a) in the Solent and (b) off the south coast currently conform to the Solas 90 regulations;(4) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating off the south coast of England have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons or (c) neither.
(5) how many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating the Solent have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons or (c) neither.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 8 December 1994]: These are operational matters for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. John Denham, dated 9 December 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about roll- on roll-off passenger ferries.
1. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating off the south coast have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck (b) sponsons, or (c) neither?
Of the sixteen United Kingdom registered ships operating off the south coast (including Dover) one has been fitted with sponsons. The information on foreign registered ships is not readily available. 2. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating in the Solent have fitted (a) transverse bulkheads on the car deck, (b) sponsons, or neither?
There are nine roll-on roll-off passenger ferries operating solely on the Solent. These vessels are not of the same design as ships operating on international voyages in that they do not have enclosed car decks spaces-- the car deck is open at both ends of the deck--and as such the devices are not appropriate.
3. How many of the roll-on roll-off ferries operating (a) in the Solent, and (b) off the south coast, currently conform to the SOLAS '90 Regulations?
An assessment of all ferries operating to and from ports in the United Kingdom is being processed. As soon as all the information is available, a full list will be published and a copy placed in the library of the House.
4. Will the Secretary of State take steps to require all roll-on roll-off ferries operating in British coastal waters to be fitted either with sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck? The enhanced survivability standard of roll-on roll-off passenger ferries operating to or from ports in the United Kingdom is already in place. That standard may require the fitting of sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck. further measures will be addressed when the report from the International Maritime Organisation's Panel of Experts investigating ferry safety is received.
5. Will the Secretary of State include in Her Majesty's Government submission to the International Maritime Organisations into roll-on roll- off ferries the recommendation that all roll-on roll-off ferries be fitted either with transverse bulkheads on the car deck or sponsons?
The results of the United Kingdom research which identified the fitting of sponsons or transverse bulkheads on the car deck as two of the means of increasing the survivability standard or ro-ro passenger ferries have already been submitted to the International Maritime Organisation.
EDUCATION
Schools, Islington
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information she has on shortages of state or private secondary school places in the Islington area.
Mr. Robin Squire: I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply today to my hon. Friend the Member
Column 408
for St. Ives (Mr. Harris). There were, 656 surplus places in maintained secondary schools in Islington in January 1994, 19 per cent. of total capacity. The Department does not collect information on the supply of independent school places.Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will meet the leader of Islington council and discuss the extent to which the council has not provided the range of educational choice required by all Islington residents.
Mr. Robin Squire: My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a meeting.
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of whether Islington council is meeting all the statutory requirements currently in force under the Education Acts.
Mr. Robin Squire: My right hon. Friend has made no such assessment. She has no reason to believe that Islington is not meeting the relevant statutory requirements.
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps she is taking to improve educational choice in Islington.
Mr. Robin Squire: The Government's White Paper of July 1992, "Choice and Diversity" (Cm 2021), set out a new framework for schools in England, opening the way to greater variety in education through the formation of new schools and by encouraging specialisation. The Government have also taken action to increase parental choice by enabling parents to express a preference for the school they wish their child to attend. Parents now have more rights, more information and access to a wider choice of different schools than ever before.
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many ballots for grant-maintained status have been conducted in Islington state schools in the last five years.
Mr. Robin Squire: Since grant-maintained status became available, to date no ballots have been held in Islington.
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the state and private schools operating in Islington and within three miles of Islington and state for each state school whether it is grant-maintained.
Mr. Robin Squire: The Department's records do not enable us to identify which schools fall within three miles of Islington. The list which has been placed in the Library gives all schools by type, excluding schools for pupils with special educational needs, in Islington and the neighbouring boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Lambeth, Southwark, Waltham Forest and Westminster.
School Meals
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is (a) the cost per meal and (b) the price charged per school meal currently in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each local education authority in England.
Mr. Robin Squire: The information is not collected in the form requested. Some details of local authorities' charging arrangements for school meals were published in "Statistics of Education: Schools--1993", a copy of which in the Library.
Column 409
London Oratory School
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many children from Islington have applied and been admitted to the London Oratory school during each of the last six years; (2) how many children have applied to go to the London Oratory school in September 1995; how many of these children came from the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham; and how many of these children come from each of the other London boroughs.
Mr. Robin Squire: This information is not collected by the Department.
Examination Statistics
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the proportion of pupils in each school in Northamptonshire who obtained five GCSE grades A to C in each of the last five years, the national average during the same period, the shire county average during the same period and the average during the same period for (a) Northamptonshire, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Bedfordshire, (d) Buckinghamshire, (e) Oxfordshire, (f) Warwickshire, (g) Leicestershire and (h) Lincolnshire.
Mr. Forth: The table lists the proportion of 15-year-old pupils in each school, including the independent sector, in Northamptonshire, who obtained five GCSE grades A to C, in each of the last three years. Individual school data are not available prior to 1992, the first year in which school performance tables were published. The table also shows the national average during the same period, and the averages during the same period for maintained schools in shire counties and in (a) Northamptonshire, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Bedfordshire, (d) Buckinghamshire, (e) Oxfordshire, (f) Warwickshire, (g) Leicestershire and (h) Lincolnshire.
Percentage of 15-year-old pupils achieving five or more GCSE Grades A<1> to C in 1994 and five or more GCSE Grades A to C in 1993 and 1992 Schools in |1994 |1993 |1992 Northamptonshire ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beanfield School |24 |19 |34 Bishop Stopford School |66 |54 |53 Bosworth Tutorial College |22 |- |- Brooke College |58 |- |- Campion School |50 |47 |42 Chenderit School |57 |49 |50 Danetre School |38 |39 |34 Duston Upper School |33 |34 |38 Falcon Manor School |28 |14 |- Guilsborough School |48 |63 |47 Henry Gotch Comprehensive School |24 |20 |19 Huxlow School |35 |28 |27 John Lea School |20 |11 |50 Kingsbrook School |39 |53 |41 Kingsthorpe Upper School |39 |39 |42 Latimer School |31 |44 |48 Laxton School |96 |96 |- Lings School |18 |17 |13 Lodge Park School |28 |35 |27 Magdalen College School |46 |54 |51 Manor School (GM) |47 |50 |47 Mereway Upper School |17 |25 |20 Montagu School |33 |30 |30 Montsaye School |54 |55 |42 Moulton School |51 |48 |42 Northampton (GM) School for Boys |31 |35 |33 Northampton High School |98 |89 |89 Northamptonshire Grammar School |66 |100 |77 Oundle School |95 |94 |100 Our Lady and Pope John School |39 |33 |24 Parkside Independent School |78 |60 |- Prince William School |60 |49 |55 Queen Elizabeth (GM) School |17 |23 |18 Quinton House School |74 |71 |- Roade School |54 |40 |53 Rushden School |26 |27 |22 Sir Christopher Hatton GM School |39 |31 |28 Southfield School |39 |48 |43 Sponne School |44 |45 |41 St. Peter's Independent School |50 |77 |- St. Peter's School |60 |62 |- The Ferrers School |48 |48 |36 The Kingswood School |32 |34 |37 The Northampton School for Girls |41 |29 |31 Thomas Becket RC Upper School |36 |36 |39 Trinity School Northampton |21 |29 |20 Weavers Grant Maintained School |42 |30 |25 Wellingborough School |88 |90 |- Weston Favell Upper School |36 |42 |45 William Parker School |38 |38 |41 Wollaston School |49 |32 |38 Wrenn School (GM) |33 |45 |36
Percentage of 15-year-old Pupils achieving five or
more GCSE Grades
A<1> to C in 1994 and five or more GCSE Grades A
to C in 1993 and
1992
|1994|1993|1992
---------------------------------------------------
National Average (All schools) |43.3|41.1|38.3
(a) Northamptonshire |38.9|38.0|36.2
(b) Cambridgeshire |38.9|38.0|36.2
(c) Bedfordshire |40.3|38.1|34.9
(d) Buckinghamshire |49.4|46.8|45.0
(e) Oxfordshire |46.3|44.8|41.3
(f) Warwickshire |42.6|39.8|37.0
(g) Leicestershire |39.3|37.6|33.2
(h) Lincolnshire |42.6|38.9|36.6
Shire Counties |42.7|40.3|37.8
Graveny School
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what decision she has made on the application by Graveny school in Wandsworth to introduce a selective admissions policy.
Mr. Robin Squire: My right hon. Friend approved on 28 November the statutory proposals made by the governors of Graveny school, Wandsworth, significantly to change the character of the school by introducing 50 per cent. selection by reference to general ability.
Surplus Places
Mr. David Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the numbers and percentages of surplus places in each local education authority in England.
Mr. Robin Squire: The tables set out the numbers of surplus places, by local education authority area, and the proportion that these represent of total capacity, as at
Column 411
January this year. The data are drawn from the returns made this summer by local education authorities in respect of their schools and by the Funding Agency for Schools in respect of grant- maintained schools in stage 2 and 3 authority areas: data on surplus places in the 286 GM schools stage 1 authorities are not available. These returns indicate that there were just over 1 million surplus school places in England in January this year, representing 13 per cent. of the total capacity of 7.7 million places.The tables illustrate considerable variation in numerical and proportionate levels of surplus across the country. In some cases, combinations of pupil population growth and current rationalisation plans will probably reduce high levels of surplus to more acceptable levels. Where there is no indication of significant reduction in high levels of surplus, the Department will consult the authorities concerned about the extent to which any of that surplus is in practice removable. In the light of this consultation my right hon. Friend will decide whether surplus place removal targets should be set for any of these authorities.
Table 1: Surplus places by local authority area (excluding GM schools in
stage 1 authorities) at January 1994
Primary (see note Secondary
1)
Actual surplus Actual surplus
LEA |Number |Percentage|Number |Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon |7,342 |9 |11,596 |18
Barking |975 |7 |307 |3
Barnet |1,598 |7 |1,947 |<1>10
Barnsley |1,496 |7 |2,611 |17
Bedfordshire |7,272 |15 |9,021 |<1>17
Berkshire |5,946 |9 |7,754 |<1>14
Bexley |1,799 |9 |2,005 |<1>12
Birmingham |8,983 |9 |11,330 |<1>15
Bolton |2,187 |9 |2,000 |<1>11
Bradford |4,099 |11 |6,914 |<1>13
Brent |2,291 |11 |2,383 |<2>16
Bromley |1,442 |7 |891 |<1>5
Buckinghamshire |11,457 |17 |3,231 |<1>8
Bury |848 |6 |947 |9
Calderdale |2,722 |13 |2,221 |<1>14
Cambridgeshire |7,978 |13 |2,837 |<1>7
Camden |325 |3 |1,047 |<1>9
Cheshire |14,860 |15 |7,983 |12
Cleveland |7,426 |12 |8,276 |19
Cornwall |3,005 |8 |2,601 |8
Corporation of London |22 |10 |- |-
Coventry |5,133 |16 |4,236 |18
Croydon |2,442 |9 |1,716 |<1>11
Cumbria |6,104 |14 |6,169 |<1>17
Derbyshire |10,637 |13 |10,782 |<1>16
Devon |9,032 |10 |4,160 |7
Doncaster |6,632 |20 |6,439 |23
Dorset |3,242 |7 |3,964 |<1>9
Dudley |3,352 |11 |2,218 |<1>11
Durham |8,368 |14 |8,144 |18
Ealing |4,358 |17 |1,056 |<1>7
East Sussex |6,671 |12 |3,783 |10
Enfield |1,013 |5 |1,781 |<1>9
Essex |17,814 |<1>12 |18,008 |<1>16
Gateshead |4,887 |23 |2,695 |19
Gloucestershire |6,234 |13 |3,417 |<1>10
Greenwich |2,220 |11 |3,038 |18
Hackney |2,046 |12 |2,132 |23
Hammersmith |1,591 |16 |2,606 |<1>31
Hampshire |18,287 |13 |10,114 |<1>12
Haringey |1,240 |7 |1,515 |14
Harrow |998 |5 |278 |4
Havering |1,817 |9 |2,284 |<1>13
Hereford and Worcester |6,505 |11 |7,851 |15
Hertfordshire |14,517 |16 |13,552 |<1>17
Hillingdon |2,464 |<1>12 |1,336 |<2>9
Hounslow |1,656 |9 |435 |<1>3
Humberside |11,612 |13 |10,912 |16
Isle of Wight |384 |5 |1,093 |10
Isle of Scilly |67 |27 |223 |65
Islington |1,630 |10 |1,656 |19
Kensington |722 |12 |712 |<1>18
Kent |14,638 |11 |18,000 |<1>15
Kingston upon Thames |503 |5 |843 |<1>10
Kirklees |2,714 |8 |3,160 |12
Knowsley |3,277 |17 |1,635 |16
Lambeth |4,060 |20 |3,142 |<1>33
Lancashire |12,398 |9 |11,754 |13
Leeds |10,425 |15 |6,358 |13
Leicestershire |8,082 |10 |10,076 |15
Lewisham |999 |5 |1,587 |13
Lincolnshire |7,434 |<1>13 |4,864 |<1>12
Liverpool |11,436 |21 |7,687 |22
Manchester |5,657 |12 |12,294 |36
Merton |1,100 |8 |1,488 |17
Newcastle upon Tyne |3,704 |16 |4,421 |21
Newham |3,631 |14 |2,794 |17
Norfolk |7,383 |11 |4,041 |<1>9
North Tyneside |3,020 |18 |3,101 |18
North Yorkshire |9,048 |14 |6,304 |13
Northamptonshire |4,410 |9 |5,423 |<1>11
Northumberland |4,960 |21 |3,333 |11
Nottinghamshire |13,457 |14 |20,327 |25
Oldham |2,152 |9 |1,145 |7
Oxfordshire |8,237 |17 |6,858 |16
Redbridge |406 |2 |835 |6
Richmond-upon- Thames |686 |6 |288 |4
Rochdale |1,709 |8 |2,436 |17
Rotherham |3,423 |13 |2,875 |14
Salford |3,681 |15 |3,375 |23
Sandwell |1,857 |7 |3,445 |16
Sefton |2,884 |11 |3,956 |18
Sheffield |6,696 |14 |5,612 |18
Shropshire |4,902 |12 |4,947 |<1>17
Solihull |2,443 |12 |1,144 |8
Somerset |2,487 |7 |3,486 |11
South Tyneside |1,710 |11 |2,076 |18
Southwark |3,980 |18 |2,296 |<1>20
St. Helens |1,985 |12 |2,245 |16
Staffordshire |21,456 |20 |4,919 |7
Stockport |2,448 |9 |2,209 |12
Suffolk |4,559 |10 |6,000 |11
Sunderland |6,104 |18 |2,408 |11
Surrey |8,483 |11 |5,407 |<1>11
Sutton |1,110 |9 |367 |<1>3
Tameside |1,464 |7 |1,737 |<1>12
Tower Hamlets |1,522 |7 |2,239 |17
Trafford |1,562 |8 |2,067 |<1>15
Wakefield |3,924 |13 |4,728 |19
Walsall |3,556 |13 |3,565 |<1>16
Waltham Forest |1,422 |7 |1,737 |<1>13
Wandsworth |6,111 |30 |2,308 |<1>21
Warwickshire |7,966 |15 |6,607 |<1>21
West Sussex |6,951 |12 |6,051 |13
Westminster |621 |7 |938 |12
Wigan |5,734 |17 |2,969 |14
Wiltshire |7,604 |14 |5,812 |<1>14
Wirral |4,398 |13 |4,064 |18
Wolverhampton |4,412 |17 |3,638 |<1>19
|-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
Total |540,729 |12 |475,628 |14
<1> Stage two for planning purposes
<2> Stage three for planning purposes
Note 1: Primary figures show surplus after taking account of any summer entry
Note 2: Stage 1 = less than 10 per cent. of pupils in the GM sector
Stage 2 = between 10 per cent. and 75 per cent. of pupils
in the GM sector
Stage 3 = 75 per cent. or more pupils in the GM sector
Table 2: Distribution of surplus between LEA and GM schools in stage 2 and 3 authorities (all figures
refer to the secondary
sector unless otherwise indicated)
LEA GM Total
|Surplus |percentage|Surplus |percentage|Surplus |percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barnet |1,202 |12 |745 |7 |1,947 |10
Bedfordshire |8,126 |19 |895 |9 |9,021 |17
Berkshire |6,477 |14 |1,277 |15 |7,754 |14
Bexley |1,871 |15 |134 |4 |2,005 |12
Birmingham |9,796 |17 |1,534 |9 |11,330 |15
Bolton |1,599 |11 |401 |13 |2,000 |11
Bradford |6,683 |14 |231 |5 |6,914 |13
Brent |395 |12 |1,988 |17 |2,383 |16
Bromley |207 |4 |684 |6 |891 |5
Buckinghamshire |2,744 |10 |487 |5 |3,231 |8
Calderdale |1,606 |19 |615 |9 |2,221 |14
Cambridgeshire |1,840 |7 |997 |6 |2,837 |7
Camden |1,041 |12 |6 |0 |1,047 |9
Croydon |991 |10 |725 |11 |1,716 |11
Cumbria |3,881 |16 |2,288 |18 |6,169 |17
Derbyshire |9,071 |18 |1,711 |10 |10,782 |16
Dorset |3,154 |10 |810 |8 |3,964 |9
Dudley |1,891 |12 |327 |7 |2,218 |11
Ealing |784 |10 |272 |4 |1,056 |7
Enfield |1,403 |10 |378 |6 |1,781 |9
Essex - primary |15,754 |13 |2,060 |9 |17,814 |12
Essex - secondary |6,918 |19 |11,090 |14 |18,008 |16
Gloucestershire |1,511 |12 |1,906 |8 |3,417 |10
Hammersmith |2,606 |36 |0 |0 |2,606 |31
Hampshire |8,834 |13 |1,280 |8 |10,114 |12
Havering |2,266 |17 |18 |0 |2,284 |13
Hertfordshire |10,485 |18 |3,067 |13 |13,552 |17
Hillingdon - primary |2,340 |13 |124 |4 |2,464 |12
Hillingdon - secondary |560 |22 |776 |6 |1,336 |9
Hounslow |372 |3 |63 |3 |435 |3
Kensington |712 |22 |0 |0 |712 |18
Kent |10,697 |18 |7,303 |13 |18,000 |15
Kingston-upon-Thames |403 |8 |440 |14 |843 |10
Lambeth |2,466 |45 |676 |17 |3,142 |33
Lincolnshire - primary |6,761 |14 |673 |10 |7,434 |13
Lincolnshire - secondary |3,131 |13 |1,733 |10 |4,864 |12
Norflok |3,529 |10 |512 |6 |4,041 |9
Northhamptonshire |4,462 |12 |961 |9 |5,423 |11
Shropshire |4,820 |18 |127 |3 |4,947 |17
Southwark |1,907 |22 |389 |12 |2,296 |20
Surrey |4,122 |12 |1,285 |10 |5,407 |11
Sutton |175 |4 |192 |3 |367 |3
Tameside |1,709 |14 |28 |1 |1,737 |12
Tafford |1,711 |17 |356 |10 |2,067 |15
Walsall |2,673 |16 |892 |14 |3,565 |16
Waltham Forest |1,697 |15 |40 |2 |1,737 |13
Wandsworth |1,129 |33 |1,179 |15 |2,308 |21
Warwickshire |5,368 |21 |1,239 |21 |6,607 |21
Wiltshire |4,159 |17 |1,653 |11 |5,812 |14
Wolverhampton |3,278 |20 |360 |13 |3,638 |19
Notes:
(1) The GM column includes schools which became grant-maintained on or before 1 April 1994.
(2) LEA and GM percentage columns show the actual number of surplus places as a proportion of total
capacity within that sector.
DEFENCE
Ceremonial Swords
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ceremonial swords have been bought or repaired and at what cost during the last five years; and how many such swords are now in circulation in the armed forces.
Mr. Soames: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency under the
Column 414
terms of his framework document. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.Letter from Richard Kirby to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 8 December 1994: I have been asked by the Minister for Armed Forces to reply to your Parliamentary Question about ceremonial swords. Truly ceremonial swords are only issued to the most senior officers and are very few in number. In replying to your question I have assumed, therefore, that you required information on all swords.Our records indicate that, during the past 5 years 560 swords have been procured at a cost of £365,700 (including scabbards where appropriate). We have also had refurbished some 576 swords at a cost of £156,700. At present it is estimated that there are
Column 415
approximately 2,500 swords in use or held in pools for use by the Armed Forces.These figures exclude the many swords which are procured privately by officers and regiments and for which we hold no records.
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the use of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps for possible use in Bosnia in the event of a United Nations withdrawal; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Soames: NATO and the United Nations have undertaken contingency planning for a wide range of possible scenarios, including withdrawal. It would not, however, be appropriate to comment on the details of these plans.
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what period of time is required for the NATO allied rapid reaction corps to be mobilised for operational use;
(2) in what current state of readiness is the NATO allied rapid reaction corps.
Mr. Soames: The multinational allied Europe rapid reaction corps was established to provide NATO with a capability to respond quickly, drawing on an appropriate level of forces determined by SACEUR, to a range of contingencies. It will achieve full operational capability in 1995 although the HQ is already operational in Rheindalen in Germany. Details of the readiness states of the units assigned to the ARRC and the period of time required to deploy the ARRC for operations are classified for operational reasons.
Departmental Cars
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many cars were (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department in each of the last five years;
(2) what makes of cars were (a) owned and (b) leased by his Department in each of the last five years.
Mr. Freeman: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
SA80 Rifles
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost to his Department to make the necessary modifications to the SA80 rifle to bring it to operational standards.
Mr. Freeman: Following negotiations with Royal Ordnance plc on outstanding pricing, we now estimate the cost of the SA80 modification programme to be £13 million at long-term costing 94 prices, inclusive of VAT.
Sergeant John Gilders
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department first learned of the location of the remains of Sergeant John Gilders of the RAF; if the family were duly notified once the information was known to the authorities; and what action is being taken to ensure that the remains of other airmen who died in action within the United Kingdom are located and given a proper burial.
Column 416
Mr. Soames: My Department was notified by the Coroner in Ashford, Kent on 22 April 1994 that what were believed to be the remains of Sergeant J.S. Gilders RAF had been discovered. My Department first notified Sergeant Gilders' family on 27 April and a letter of confirmation was sent on 3 May once the Coroner had confirmed the identity of the body.
It is long-standing policy not to disturb crash sites where a member of crew is listed as missing, as such sites are considered an appropriate last resting place for aircrew killed in action. This is a view shared by ex- service organisations who agree that the digging up of wreckage after so many years could be upsetting for next of kin. There is also the possibility of a difference of view between next of kin over what action should be taken where more than one member of crew is listed as missing.
Rwanda
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent to which the British troops who have recently returned from Rwanda had completed the task they had been sent to fulfil.
Mr. Soames: The British contingent was sent to Rwanda to provide specialist support for a three-month period in the initial stages of the United Nations operation. They were withdrawn having accomplished this task.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he had given to the replacement of the British troops recently in Rwanda and for what reasons he rejected that option.
Mr. Soames: The British contingent was sent to fulfil a specific role over a three-month period. That task is now complete. The United Nations has not requested a further deployment.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received, and from whom, against the withdrawal of British troops from Rwanda.
Mr. Soames: I am not aware of any representations received by my Department against the withdrawal of British troops from Rwanda.
Gulf War Syndrome
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if disclosure of allergies was required of British service personnel prior to their being offered chemical and biological warfare vaccines during the Gulf war; if severe asthma or hay fever was regarded as a contra-indication for vaccination; and what changes to guidelines to medical personnel about the administration of counter-CBW vaccines or preparations have been made since 1991.
Mr. Soames: The armed forces medical services, in line with Department of Health guidelines, regard a history of anaphylaxis as the only absolute contra-indication to vaccination. A previous severe reaction to the same vaccine may also be a contra-indication to be considered on its merits. The Department of Health guide on immunisation against infectious disease states that asthma, hay fever or a history of non-anaphylactic allergy are not contra-indications for
Column 417
vaccination and consequently disclosure of allergies was not required prior to vaccination during the Gulf war.However, during the medical selection process for entry into the Armed Forces all candidates are required to disclose, by direct questioning, all aspects of their medical history. Among other things, candidates are required to disclose whether they suffer from "asthma or wheezing", "hay fever or allergies" and "any severe reaction to drugs or injections". A severe reaction to drugs or injections may indicate an anaphylactic episode, which is very rare, but is generally an absolute bar to employment in the armed services. Similarly, known asthmatics would not normally be accepted for service, and if already serving would be in a reduced medical category which would in general preclude operational service. Apart from routine updating to take account of new vaccines, no changes to guidelines for medical personnel regarding vaccine or drug administration have been made since 1991.
Defence Industry
Mr. Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government are taking to protect jobs in the defence industry by assisting in a transition from the manufacture of weapons to non-military manufacture.
Mr. Freeman: I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollock (Mr. Dunnachie) on 22 November 1994, Official Report, column 462 63.
Search and Rescue Helicopters
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of search and rescue helicopters in the Royal Air Force; and where these aircraft are based.
Column 418
Mr. Soames: The RAF search and rescue helicopter fleet comprises 19 Sea King and nine Wessex helicopters. These are based at RAF Chivenor, RAF Leconfield, RAF Boulmer, RAF Lossiemouth, Wattisham airfield and in the Falkland Islands. Training is carried out at RAF Valley and RAF St. Mawgan and deep maintenance at RAF St. Mawgan.
Empty Property
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make use of his Department's empty residential property.
Mr. Soames: The majority of our empty properties are undergoing or awaiting major maintenance, held for future developments, or form part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families. Empty properties which are surplus to requirements, however, are sold. Properties which are not surplus to long- term requirements but which are not needed immediately for service families are leased to local authorities, housing associations or civilians.
| Next Section
| Home Page |