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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 16 January 1995
PRIME MINISTER
EC Referendum
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to public funds of the referendum in 1975 on membership of the European Community; what that cost would be at today's prices; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister: The cost to public funds of the 1975 referendum on membership of the European Community was approximately £6.1 million, equivalent to £25.5 million at today's prices.
Next Steps Agencies
Mr. Steen: To ask the Prime Minister how many Government agencies have regional offices in the west country and in Bristol; and how many jobs have been created in each area as a result.
The Prime Minister: At 1 October 1994, there were 43 Government Departments and next steps agencies with regional offices in the west country employing over 26,000 staff, and 45 offices in Bristol employing nearly 5,500 staff.
No. 10 Downing Street
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Prime Minister when was the last occasion that an item from the state property inventories maintained at No. 10 Downing street was discovered missing; what was the item; whether the item missing was discovered by the Cabinet Office internal auditors, or by one of his officials responsible for making periodic checks of the inventory; where the item missing was discovered; and if he will make a statement.
The Prime Minister: Since I became Prime Minister no item of state property has been found to be missing whenever a check has been made of an inventory.
Company Political Donations
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to ban company political donations.
The Prime Minister: No. The present policy is sufficient. The Companies Act 1985 requires companies to disclose, in the directors' report, political donations exceeding £200.
Peerages
Mr. William Powell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the peerages created since 30 November 1990, together with the dates on which the holders were introduced.
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The Prime Minister: Peerages created since 30 November 1990 are listed, together with the dates on which the holders were introduced.
Title |Created |Introduced --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lord Waddington |4 December 1990 |4 December 1990 Lord Sterling of Plaistow |17 January 1991 |23 January 1991 Lord White of Hull |25 January 1991 |29 January 1991 Lord Runcie |1 February 1991 |26 February 1991 Lord Palumbo |4 February 1991 |12 February 1991 Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach |5 February 1991 |20 February 1991 Baroness James of Holland Park |7 February 1991 |19 February 1991 Lord Laing of Dunphail |8 February 1991 |19 February 1991 Baroness Seccombe |14 February 1991 |26 February 1991 Lord Wolfson of Sunningdale |26 March 1991 |26 March 1991 Lord Desai |5 June 1991 |18 June 1991 Baroness Hamwee |6 June 1991 |12 June 1991 Lord Marlesford |7 June 1991 |11 June 1991 Lord Judd |10 June 1991 |25 June 1991 Baroness Denton of Wakefield |11 June 1991 |11 June 1991 Baroness Hilton of Eggardon |14 June 1991 |2 July 1991 Baroness Mallalieu |19 June 1991 |19 June 1991 Lord Hollick |20 June 1991 |25 June 1991 Baroness O'Cathain |21 June 1991 |3 July 1991 Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn |24 June 1991 |9 July 1991 Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish |26 June 1991 |26 June 1991 Lord Skidelsky |15 July 1991 |17 July 1991 Baroness Perry of Southwark |16 July 1991 |16 July 1991 Lord Cheshire |17 July 1991 |24 July 1991 Lord MacFarlane of Bearsden |29 July 1991 |15 October 1991 Lord Craig of Radley |30 July 1991 |16 October 1991 Lord Browne-Wilkinson (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary) |1 October 1991 |15 October 1991 Lord Mustill (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary) |10 January 1992 |11 March 1992 Lord Rix |27 January 1992 |12 February 1992 Lord Prentice |30 January 1992 |12 February 1992 Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank |12 February 1992 |25 February 1992 Lord Wilson of Tillyorn |14 February 1992 |15 July 1992 Lord Slynn (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary) |11 March 1992 |11 March 1992 Lord Wakeham |24 April 1992 am |28 April 1992 Baroness Chalker of Wallasey |24 April 1992 pm |28 April 1992 Lord Taylor of Gosforth |27 April 1992 am |29 April 1992 Lord Rodger of Earsferry |29 April 1992 |29 April 1992 Baroness Thatcher |26 June 1992 |30 June 1992 Lord Finsberg |27 June 1992 |13 July 1992 Lord Parkinson |29 June 1992 am |7 July 1992 Lord Healey |29 June 1992 pm |1 July 1992 Lord Owen |30 June 1992 am |8 July 1992 Lord Howe of Aberavon |30 June 1992 pm |1 July 1992 Lord Lawson of Blaby |1 July 1992 am |6 July 1992 Lord Merlyn-Rees |1 July 1992 pm |7 July 1992 Lord Howell |2 July 1992 |9 July 1992 Lord Moore of Lower Marsh |3 July 1992 |6 July 1992 Lord Tebbit |6 July 1992 |9 July 1992 Lord Younger of Prestwick |7 July 1992 |14 July 1992 Lord Amery of Lustleigh |8 July 1992 am |8 July 1992 Lord Walker of Worcester |8 July 1992 pm |21 October 1992 Lord Archer of Sandwell |9 July 1992 |14 July 1992 Lord Ashley of Stoke |10 July 1992 |13 July 1992 Lord Eatwell |14 July 1992 |19 October 1992 Lord Weatherill |15 July 1992 |15 July 1992 Lord Ewing of Kirkford |17 July 1992 |26 October 1992 Lord Geraint |18 July 1992 |27 October 1992 Lord Stewartby |20 July 1992 |20 October 1992 Lord Clark of Kempston |21 July 1992 |28 October 1992 Lord Plant of Highfield |24 July 1992 |4 November 1992 Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare |27 July 1992 |20 October 1992 Lord Ridley of Liddesdale |28 July 1992 |28 October 1992 Baroness Jay of Paddington |29 July 1992 |21 October 1992 Lord Williams of Mostyn |30 July 1992 |26 October 1992 Lord Braine of Wheatley |10 August 1992 |2 November 1992 Lord Cooke of Islandreagh |11 August 1992 |3 November 1992 Lord Barber of Tewkesbury |12 August 1992 |2 November 1992 Lord Hayhoe |21 August 1992 |3 November 1992 Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar |25 August 1992 |4 November 1992 Lord Elis-Thomas |18 September 1992 |27 October 1992 Lord Woolf (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary) |1 October 1992 |11 November 1992 Baroness Williams of Crosby |1 February 1993 |17 February 1993 Lord Kingsdown |14 July 1993 |21 July 1993 Lord Dahrendorf |15 July 1993 |21 July 1993 Lord Menuhin |19 July 1993 |20 July 1993 Lord Attenborough |30 July 1993 |25 October 1993 Lord Lloyd of Berwick (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary) |1 October 1993 |12 October 1993 Lord Haskel |4 October 1993 |12 October 1993 Lord Dean of Harptree |5 October 1993 |13 October 1993 Baroness Gould of Potternewton |6 October 1993 |13 October 1993 Lord Dixon-Smith |11 October 1993 |19 October 1993 Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde |12 October 1993 |19 October 1993 Lord Lester of Herne Hill |13 October 1993 |3 November 1993 Baroness Miller of Hendon |14 October 1993 |20 October 1993 Lord Tugendhat |15 October 1993 |27 October 1993 Lord Nolan (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary) |14 January 1994 |18 January 1994 Lord Wright of Richmond |14 February 1994 |16 February 1994 Lord Nickson |22 March 1994 |4 May 1994 Lord Quirk |12 July 1994 |20 July 1994 Lord Phillips of Ellesmere |14 July 1994 |12 October 1994 Lord Sheppard of Didgemere |6th September 1994|26 October 1994 Lord Hambro |26 September 1994 |26 October 1994 Lord Dubs |27 September 1994 |19 October 1994 Lord Gladwin of Clee |28 September 1994 |18 October 1994 Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton |29 September 1994 |11 October 1994 Lord Shaw of Northstead |30 September 1994 |11 October 1994 Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary) |3 October 1994 |19 October 1994 Lord Tope |4 October 1994 |12 October 1994 Baroness Rawlings |5 October 1994 |18 October 1994 Baroness Thomas of Walliswood |6 October 1994 |2 November 1994 Lord Kingsland |7 October 1994 |2 November 1994 Lord Blaker |10 October 1994 |25 October 1994 Lord Steyn (a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary) |11 January 1995 |18 January 1995
Windsor Castle (Oil)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister who is entitled to revenues accruing from oil found in the grounds of Windsor castle.
The Prime Minister: The holder of the petroleum licence concerned-- CANUK Exploration Ltd.--is entitled to revenues accruing from oil found in the grounds of Windsor castle. The company will be liable to corporation tax on its profits.
Civil Servant Travel
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Prime Minister which airlines have been granted preferred carrier status for civil servant travel to overseas destinations.
The Prime Minister: The preferred carrier for any particular civil servant's travel will depend on the circumstances of the journey concerned and value for money. For civil servants travelling in connection with the Prime Minister's overseas visits on scheduled flights, preferred carrier arrangements have been made with: British Airways
British Midland
Virgin
Austrian Airlines
Lufthansa
Ministerial Visits
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Prime Minister when he last visited Paisley or Renfrewshire.
The Prime Minister: I have not had the opportunity to include Paisley or Renfrewshire in my visits to Scotland, since becoming Prime Minister.
Natural Disasters (Scotland) Bill
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Prime Minister if he will meet the hon. Member for Paisley, South to discuss the
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provisions of the Natural Disasters (Scotland) Bill; and if he will make a statement.The Prime Minister: I have asked my hon. Friend the Minister responsible for industry and local government at the Scottish Office to contact the hon. Member with a view to an early meeting.
TRANSPORT
Data Protection Register
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the list of file names registered with the Data Protection Register as requested by section 21 of the Data Protection Act 1984.
Mr. Norris: Details of the Department of Transport's registrations are held by the Data Protection Registrar in the Data Protection Register. The register is available for public scrutiny at the DPR's office.
Driving Standards Agency
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the future of collective pay bargaining in the Driving Standards Agency;
(2) if he will make it his policy that a Welsh language service will still be available following market testing of the driving test booking section of the Driving Standards Agency;
(3) if all bids for the contract for driving test booking work have taken account of the cost of possible redundancies;
(4) if he will make a statement on the applicability of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to staff in all regional offices in the event of the contract for driving test bookings being won by EDS;
(5) how many staff within the Driving Standards Agency have entered into individual pay contracts with the agency.
Mr. Norris: These are operational matters for the Driving Standards Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letters from L. M. Manley to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 16 January 1995 :
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question requesting a statement on the future of collective pay bargaining in the Driving Standards Agency.
I can confirm that the Driving Standards Agency is fully committed to the principles of collective pay bargaining both at the present and in future negotiations.
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about whether he will make it his policy that a Welsh language service will still be available following the market testing of the Driver Test Booking Section of the Driving Standards Agency. The Invitation to Tender for the driver test booking service specified that staff must have the skills necessary to provide the service required, which includes the provision of a Welsh language service.
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The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about whether all the bids for the contract of driver examiner booking have taken account of the cost of possible redundancies.The estimated cost of redundancies associated with each bid has been taken into account in the evaluation process.
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about whether TUPE will apply to staff in all regional offices in the event of the contract for the driver test booking being awarded to EDS.
No decision has yet been taken on the result of the market test. If the contract were awarded to EDS Ltd., then TUPE would apply to those staff wholly or substantially engaged in the provision of the booking service.
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of Driving Standards Agency staff who have entered into individual pay contracts with the Agency. No members of the Agency's staff have entered into individual contracts with the Agency. However at present 403 staff have signified their acceptance of the Agency's 1994 pay award.
Marine Safety
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has, following the findings of the recent report into seaworthiness by the Marine Safety Agency, to bring forward further regulations aimed at (a) tightening existing laws and safety standards and (b) giving greater powers of detention to the Marine Safety Agency; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris: The Government believe that proper enforcement of existing international conventions is the key to securing better standards. The Department of Transport will continue both to operate an effective programme of port state inspections and to publish details of substandard ships. We shall also maintain our efforts within the International Maritime Organisation to ensure that all flag states exercise proper control over their ships. We are considering the scope of the United Kingdom's powers of detention as part of our response to Lord Donaldson's report into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping.
Doncaster Relief Road Scheme
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the cost to public funds on (a) the design and (b) the pre-planning work his Department carried out into the north bridge relief road scheme at Doncaster.
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. Martin Redmond, dated 16 January 1995:
I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the cost of planning and designing the Highways Agency's A638 Doncaster North Bridge Relief Road scheme which is currently under construction.
Up to the start of construction at the beginning of February 1992, the cost of planning and design work for this scheme was £467, 738.
I hope this is helpful.
Rail Ticketing Services (Scotland)
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the proposed introduction of core railway stations for
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through-ticketing purposes on rail services in the Scottish Highlands; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Watts: None. The proposal for core stations is just one option for ticketing arrangements at railway stations on which the Rail Regulator is currently consulting.
Donaldson Report
Mr. Macdonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish his full response to the Donaldson report recommendations.
Radioactive Freight (Stratford Station)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about circumstances of the train carrying radioactive spent fuel rods from Bradwell power station in the last week of November; for how long the train was halted at Stratford station in east London; for how long it was left unattended; and what assessment he has made of the implications for public safety.
Mr. Watts: On 1 December 1994 a train carrying irradiated nuclear fuel was delayed for 21 minutes at Stratford by the action of two trespassers on the track, who were removed by British Transport police. At no time was the train left unattended. There was no radiological hazard to the public from this irresponsible action. The trespassers themselves risked fatal injury by interfering on an electrified track.
Cargo Boats
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for new or amended regulations governing the maximum number of people allowed on non-passenger cargo boats.
Mr. Norris: The maximum number of passengers permitted on non- passenger cargo ships is 12. This limitation is accepted nationally and internationally through long-standing safety conventions and there are no plans to change it.
M25
Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has yet received a report from the Highways Agency on the options for increasing the capacity of the M25 between junctions 10 and 12.
Mr. Watts: The Highways Agency has been working on options for increasing capacity between junctions 10 and 12 but I am not yet in a position to make an announcement.
Railway Tracks (Drainage)
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his estimate of the extent of the use of tin slag as drainage material under railway tracks.
(2) what is the level of radioactivity in tin slag used as drainage material under railway tracks.
Mr. Watts: Tin slag is not used by Railtrack as a drainage material under railway tracks, nor was it used previously by British Rail.
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Air Travel (Pollution)
Mr. David Porter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the research being done or commissioned by his Department into pollution caused by expanding air travel in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the European Union and (c) worldwide.
Mr. Norris: My Department is supporting collaborative European research into the effect of aircraft emissions of oxides of nitrogen upon processes such as global warming and ozone depletion. Further joint projects to develop this work and examine other pollutants are being considered. Results are being fed into the major international scientific assessments under the auspices of the intergovernmental panel on climate change and the United Nations environment programme. In turn, these assessments inform deliberations within the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which is the appropriate body for setting emission standards for aircraft worldwide.
Radioactive Material (Air Transport)
Mr. Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the revised International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines on air transportation of radioactive material over the United Kingdom will be issued; and if he will prohibit such activity until the guidelines are in place.
Mr. Norris: The next edition of the IAEA regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material is due for publication in 1996. Meanwhile, there is no reasons for prohibiting the air transport of radioactive material on safety grounds.
West Coast Main Line
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now publish the full west coast main line feasibility study, including costings, recommendations and conclusions, submitted to him by Railtrack and West Coast Main Line Development Co. Ltd. in December 1994.
Mr. Watts: We expect that Railtrack will publish a summary of its findings.
Operation Sea Fire
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, at what time during Operation Sea Fire a call was received by HM Coastguard from the chief fire officer of West Glamorgan fire service requesting 10 firefighters urgently.
Mr. Norris [holding answer 23 November 1994]: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Nick Ainger, dated 16 January 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as the question deals with an operational matter, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.
10 firefighters were requested by the Chief Fire Officer of West Glamorgan Fire Service at 0744 during exercise Seafire on 10 October 1994.
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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Ministerial Talks
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the Spanish Foreign Minister, Mr. Solana; and what issues were discussed.
Mr. Baldry: Mr. Solana visited Chevening on 19 to 20 December. He and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had very useful discussions covering a wide range of issues including the future of Europe and the 1996 EU inter-governmental conference, future enlargement of the EU, relations between the EU and the Mediterranean, and future European security arrangements. We also held a Brussels process meeting on Gibraltar in London on 20 December. A joint statement was issued, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
Arms Embargoes
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries currently subject to embargoes on the export of British military equipment.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We observe mandatory embargoes imposed by the United Nations on Iraq, the former Republic of Yugoslavia, Somalia, Liberia, Libya, Rwanda and UNITA in Angola.
We also observe embargoes imposed by the European Union on China, Burma, Zaire and Sudan.
We observe a voluntary embargo agreed by the Conference on Security and Co- operation in Europe on Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In addition, as a matter of declared national policy we refuse to supply military equipment to Argentina and Iran.
Algeria
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to protect British diplomats and other British nationals in Algeria.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We have reduced the number of our diplomats in Algeria. Those that remain benefit from the protection of a team of Royal Military police. Other improvements have been made to the security of the embassy. The embassy remains in close touch with the remaining members of the British community in Algeria, who have been advised to leave unless they have effective protection. British nationals are strongly advised not to travel to Algeria.
Constituency Party Correspondence
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report his letter to Conservative constituency parties setting out the benefits of EEC membership.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The article to which the hon. Member refers was prepared for Conservative party use and can be obtained from Conservative central office.
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Kuwaiti Prisoners of War
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what international initiatives are under way to resolve the dispute between Iraq and Kuwait about Kuwaitis missing since the Gulf war.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: The Tripartite Commission--composed of the ICRC, Iraq and former coalition countries--chaired by the ICRC is the key forum for discussion of the cases of Kuwaitis missing since the Gulf war. At its December meeting, the commission agreed to the establishment of a technical sub-commission to speed up the substantive review of ICRC case files. We attach great importance to the fate of missing Kuwaitis and take every opportunity--for example, at the Security Council's reviews of sanctions-- to remind Iraq of its obligations under Security Council resolutions.
Pirates, Brazil
Mr. Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Brazilian authorities regarding the threat to British shipping from pirates around Brazilian ports.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: British embassy staff made representations to the Brazilian authorities about security problems off Brazilian ports, either on a bilateral basis or with our European Community partners, on four occasions in 1994.
The Brazilian authorities have acknowledged that problems exist but have yet to find the resources to allocate to improving the situation.
Nuclear Waste
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of proposals by western nations to send nuclear waste to Russia for reprocessing in respect of (a) environmental concerns and (b) nuclear weapons proliferation; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We are not aware of any proposals by western countries to send their nuclear waste to Russia for reprocessing.
Weapons Conventions
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government expect to ratify (i) the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions and (ii) the 1981 inhumane weapons convention.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We have made clear our intention to ratify the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions at an early opportunity. This depends, however, in part on securing parliamentary time for domestic legislation which will be required for ratification.
We expect to ratify the 1981 inhumane weapons convention within the next few weeks - in good time to be states parties for the review conference of the convention due to take place in September of this year.
Departmental Responsibilities
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the division
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of responsibilities and relationship between his departmental Ministers and agencies.
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