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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 24 January 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Court Accommodation

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to publish his Department's court accommodation plan for the next five years.

Mr. John M. Taylor: The Lord Chancellor's Department's accommodation plan, covering the next three years, will be published by the end of March 1995.

Court Rooms

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county court rooms and Crown court rooms are currently not in (a) full-time use and (b) part-time use in England and Wales, excluding London; and what percentage of the total number of court rooms these figures represent.

Mr. John M. Taylor: There are 98 county court rooms and Crown court rooms in England and Wales, excluding London, currently being used part time. This is 17 per cent. of the total number of court rooms in England and Wales, excluding London. There are 16 county court rooms and Crown court rooms in England and Wales,


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excluding London, currently not in use at all. This is 3 per cent. of the total number of court rooms in England and Wales.

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county court rooms and Crown court rooms in London are currently not in (a) full-time use and (b) part-time use; and what percentage of the total number of court rooms these figures represent.

Mr. John M. Taylor: There are five county court rooms and Crown court rooms in London currently being used part time. This is 3 per cent. of the total number of court rooms in London. There are no court rooms in London currently not in use at all.

Court Closures

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county court centres, court caller offices and Crown court centres he has decided to close in (a) the last five years and (b) the next five years.

Mr. John M. Taylor: Some 35 courts and offices have been closed in the last five years. One court is scheduled for closure.

Fees (Civil Business)

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the increases in the fees for civil business introduced by his Department in the last three years and the percentage rise in the cost of civil business that each increase represents.

Mr. John M. Taylor: In the last three years--1992, 1993 and 1994-- fees have been increased in the Supreme court and the county court. In the Supreme court, fees were increased once during this period, on 11 January 1994. In the county court, fees were increased twice, on 30 November 1992 and 15 August 1994. Details are given.


Supreme court fees                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

New                             |Fee                            |Brief description              |Pre                                                            |Percentage                                                     |Percentage                                                     |Percentage                                                     

fee                             |number                                                         |1992                           |1992                           |rise pre-                                                      |rise                           |1994                           |rise                                                           

                                                                                                |£                              |£                              |1992 to 1992                   |1993                           |1992-93                        |£                              |1993-94                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |Supreme court fees                                                                             

                                                                |Before 1992 Supreme                                                                                                                                                                            |(Amendment) Order                                                                              

                                                                |court                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                |fees (Amendment)                                                                                                                                                                               |1993 WEF 11 January                                                                            

                                                                |Order                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                |1990 WEF 1 September                                                                                                                                                                           |1994..Fee                                                                                      

                                                                |1990                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                |In Every Division of High Court                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                |Commencement                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                |1                              |On sealing writ of             |70.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |100.0                          |42.86                                                          

                                                                |summons, originating                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                |summons, origination                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                |notice of motion, or                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                |originating petition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                |On sealing originating                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                |summons for:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                |2(a)                           |approval of settlement         |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |15.00                          |50.00                                                          

                                |2(b)                           |Part 2 of Solicitors Act       |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |15.00                          |50.00                                                          

                                                                |1994 (taxation of costs)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                |2(c)                           |for discovery                  |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |15.00                          |50.00                                                          

                                |2(d)                           |examination of witness         |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |15.00                          |50.00                                                          

                                                                | abroad                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                |3                              |On presenting a petition of    |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |15.00                          |50.00                                                          

                                                                | course                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                |4                              |Leave to apply for judicial    |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |100.00                                                         

                                                                | review                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                |Progress of proceedings                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                |5A                             |On taking appointment          |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |100.00                                                         

                                                                |before master etc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                |5B                             |On lodgings summons            |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                                                |before judge or official                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                |referee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                |5C                             |On ex parte application to     |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                                                |judge or official referee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                |5D                             |On lodging a motion            |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                |5F                             |On setting down for trial      |30.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |50.00                          |66.67                                                          

                                |5J                             |On obtaining allocation of     |30.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |50.00                          |66.67                                                          

                                                                |cause of official referee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                |5K                             |On filing an order for         |30.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |50.00                          |66.67                                                          

                                                                |hearing of a cause                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                |6                              |On setting down a cause or     |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |15.00                          |50.00                                                          

                                                                |motion                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                |7                              |On examination of witness      |5.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |10.00                          |100.00                                                         

                                                                |before trial                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                |8(a)                           |On an inquiry etc. on          |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                                                |adjourned summons                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                |9                              |On sealing notice of appeal    |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                |11A                            |On filing notice of appeal to  |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                                                | High Court                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                |11B                            |On filing a case stated for    |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                                                |High Court                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                |11C                            |On filing a notice of cross    |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |15.00                          |50.00                                                          

                                                                |appeal to High Court                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                |11D                            |On filing respondent's         |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |15.00                          |50.00                                                          

                                                                |notice of appeal to High                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                |Court                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                |Enforcement of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

                                                                |Judgments                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                |12                             |On sealing a writ of           |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |100.00                                                         

                                                                |execution                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                |13                             |Application for a garnishee    |17.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |25.00                          |47.06                                                          

                                                                |order                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                |14                             |Ex parte application to        |17.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |25.00                          |47.06                                                          

                                                                |examine a judgment debtor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                |16(a)(i)                       |Ex parte application to        |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |100.00                                                         

                                                                |register incoming judgment                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                |16(a)(ii)                      |Providing certified copy of    |10.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |100.00                                                         

                                                                |judgment for use abroad                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                |16(b)(i)                       |Ex parte application to        |2.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |10.00                          |400.00                                                         

                                                                |register an outgoing order                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                |16(b)(ii)                      |Providing certified copy of    |2.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |10.00                          |400.00                                                         

                                                                |judgment for use abroad                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                |Miscellaneous                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                |21(a)                          |On filing document under       |5.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |10.00                          |100.00                                                         

                                                                |Bills of Sale Acts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                |21(b)                          |On filing a fiat of            |5.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |10.00                          |100.00                                                         

                                                                |satisfaction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                |22A                            |Certificate of search in       |2.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |5.00                           |150.00                                                         

                                                                |Bills of Sale Index                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                |22B                            |For continuation search if     |1.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |2.00                           |100.00                                                         

                                |within one month                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                |23(a)                          |On taking an affidavit or      |3.50                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |5.00                           |42.86                                                          

                                                                |affirmation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                |23(b)                          |For each exhibit to affidavit  |1.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |2.00                           |100.00                                                         

                                                                | or affirmation                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                |24                             |Per hour or part for search    |1.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |5.00                           |400.00                                                         

                                                                |for bills of sale                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                                                |Admiralty                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                |26(a)                          |On lodging a warrant for       |60.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |100.00                         |66.67                                                          

                                                                |arrest                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                |26(c)                          |On entering a reference for    |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |50.00                          |233.33                                                         

                                                                |hearing by registrar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                |Court of Appeal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                |27(a)(i)                       |filing notice of appeal from   |75.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |100.00                         |33.33                                                          

                                                                |county court                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                |27(b)                          |On filing notice of cross      |30.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |50.00                          |66.67                                                          

                                                                |appeal                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                |Companies/Insolvency                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                |30(a)                          |Presenting petitions to wind   |40.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |50.00                          |25.00                                                          

                                                                |up                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

                                |30(b)(i)                       |Presenting bankruptcy          |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                |1petition by debtor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                |30(b)(ii)                      |Presenting bankruptcy          |45.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |50.00                          |11.11                                                          

                                                                | petition by creditor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                |30(d)                          |On hearing of a public         |15.00                          |As previously                  |0.00                           |As previously                  |0.00                           |20.00                          |33.33                                                          

                                                                |examination                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what he estimates will be the total shortfall in fee income from civil business for (a) the current financial year and (b) the next financial year; and what the figure was for the previous financial year.

Mr. John M. Taylor: The estimated shortfall in fee income from civil business for the current financial year is £71.1 million. We plan to meet our reduced income target in full next financial year. The shortfall in the financial year 1993 94 was £53.4 million.

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the increases in the fees for civil business that he plans to introduce in the next 12 months.


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Mr. John M. Taylor: We have no definite plans for increases yet, but we do propose to review the fee structure to introduce a daily hearing fee, and will need to revise the fee levels then.

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list all the new fees for civil business that his Department has introduced in the last three years; the levels at which they are currently set; and the percentage rise in the cost of civil business that these new fees represent.

Mr. John. M. Taylor: During the last three years 1992, 1993 and 1994 new fees were introduced in the county court on 1 April 1993 and 15 August 1994. Details are given.


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County Court fees-New fees                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

New fee number                  |Description                    |1992                           |1993                           |Percentage Rise                |1994                           |Percentage Rise                                                

                                                                |£                              |£                              |1992-93                        |£                              |1993-94                                                        

                                                                                                |County Court Fees                                              |County Court Fees                                                                              

                                |Before 1992 County                                             |(Amendment) Order                                              |(Amendment) Order                                                                              

                                |Court fees                                                     |1992                                                                                                                                                           

                                |(Amendment) Order                                              |(Article 4) WEF 1                                              |1994 WEF 15 August                                                                             

                                |1988. No                                                       |April                                                                                                                                                          

                                |new fees in 1992                                               |1993.....FEE                                                   |1994.....FEE                                                                                   

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                |Summons Production centre                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Fee 1(i)(b)                     |On issuing a summons at the                                                                                                    |10p per £ or part                                                                              

                                |  Summons Production Centre                                                                                                    | minimum fee £10.00            |New                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                |maximum fee £60.00             |New                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                |Setting Down for Trial                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Fee 2A                          |(i) On a request for                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                |  a date for trial                                                                                                             |50.00                          |New                                                            

                                |(ii) On filing a time estimate                                                                                                 |50.00                          |New                                                            

                                |(iii) On fixing a date                                                                                                         |50.00                          |New                                                            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                |Parking                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

4A(ii)                          |Warrant to enforce parking                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                |  penalty charge                                               |5.00                           |New                            |As 1993                        |0.00                                                           

TRANSPORT

Fennell Report

Mr. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress London Transport has made in implementing the

recommendations of the Fennell report into the King's Cross underground fire.

Mr. Norris: London Transport has implemented, either as one-off or on-going actions, over 90 per cent. of the report's recommendations. I have therefore agreed that the latest progress report submitted by LT, a copy of which


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has been placed in the Library of the House, should be the last one. Work on implementing the remaining recommendations is in hand and HM railway inspectorate will continue to monitor regularly the progress being made.

Fire Safety

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review fire safety arrangements in areas with (a) regional airports and (b) major chemical works; and if he will make a statement.


Column 93

Mr. Norris: The responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation, including the operational safety of airports rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. Airports operate under the terms of the Air Navigation Order 1989. Detailed guidance for aerodrome licence holders are given in CAA document CAP168--"Licensing of Aerodromes".

There are no plans to revise the current regulations but the authority is always willing to consider amendments to its instructions for regional airports in order to ensure the safety of aircraft operations is maintained.

The arrangements for areas with major chemical works is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

Salvage Tugs

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps were taken by his Department to ensure that the crew and officers on the vessels Brodispas Moon and Sun chartered by his Department were proficient in the English language.

Mr. Norris: The emergency towing study team from the Coastguard agency visited and assessed tugs from each of the shortlisted companies prior to the award of the contract. During those visits, discussions were conducted with the vessels' officers and crews and their proficiency in the English language was assessed. Both tugs have British liaison masters.

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what actions he took to secure British crewing of the salvage tug vessels charted by his Department prior to his decision to award the contract to Croation crews; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Norris: Tenders for the contract were invited from a wide range of salvage and towing companies against a tight specification. In accordance with Government policy, no limitation was placed on flag or crew nationality as such, subject to vessels meeting international safety requirements. Only two of the 34 vessels offered by tenderers for this contract were both UK crewed and registered. The contract was awarded on the basis of performance against the specification and value for money, to a company with good salvage back-up facilities. The selected tugs are managed in the UK by a UK company and have been employed in the North sea working for major oil companies for the last three years.

Mr. Charles Kenndey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement outlining the circumstances which led to the coastguard tug, Brodospas, being stationed at Stornoway, with specific reference to its (a) sailing under a flag of convenience, (b) being registered in St. Vincent, West Indies and (c) carrying a Croatian crew; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Norris [holding answer 17 January 1995]: The Brodospas Sun is one of the two tugs currently under contract to the Coastguard agency and which are stationed at Stornoway and Dover for a trial period this winter. This meets Lord Donaldson's recommendation that there should be interim emergency towing arrangements this winter: the inquiry recommended that priority should be given to the Dover strait and north- west Scotland. Tenders were invited from a wide range of salvage and towing companies against a tight specification. In accordance with Government policy, no restriction was placed on flag or crew nationality as such, though the vessels proposed were expected to meet international safety requirements


Column 94

such as the safety of life at sea convention. The contract was awarded on the basis of performance against specification and value for money.

Aircraft Security

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute an inquiry into how British Airways security allowed a representative of ICL Technical Plastics to carry on a British Airways aircraft from Glasgow to London an electro-shock weapon.

Mr. Norris: From the scant details given, we are unable to trace this incident.

Double-decker Buses

Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 17 January, Official Report, column 414, what proposals are being considered by the European Commission which would prohibit the manufacture and use in the United Kingdom of double-decker buses; and what response has been made by Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Norris: None.

Train Cancellations and Delays

Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains were cancelled; how many of those cancellations were attributable to (a) train breakdowns, (b) signal failures, (c) track/points failures, (d) leaves on the line, (e) staff shortage, (f) adverse weather conditions and (g) other factors; and what percentage of timetabled trains was cancelled in each of the Network SouthEast divisions in each four-week period during (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1994.

Mr. Watts: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the causes of train delays and cancellations that are (a) recorded and (b) not recorded in British Rail's four-weekly track record on punctuality and reliability under the terms of the citizens charter.

Mr. Watts: All train delays and cancellations are recorded in British Rail's track record figures apart from those caused by circumstances outside British Rail's control. Examples of the types of delays and cancellations included and excluded from the track record figures are as follows:

a) Recorded delays and cancellations

Delays and cancellations resulting from:

--Derailments

--Locomotive or train failures

--Infrastructure failures

--Engineering work

--Accidents and incidents

--Staff Shortages

--Leaf Fall

--Bad Weather


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b) Non-recorded delays and cancellations

Delays and cancellations resulting from:

--Acts or threats of vandalism/terrorism

--Suicides/Accidents to trespassers

--Motor vehicles striking bridges or level crossings

--Line closures at the request of police or emergency services --Gas leaks or fires in lineside buildings not caused by rail industry employees or agents

--Fire or failure due to electrical failure or defect not caused by rail industry employees or agents

MOT Certificates (Fraud)

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what new measures he plans to introduce to reduce fraud in the issue of MOT certificates for (a) cars and (b) other vehicles.

Mr. Norris: I have no such immediate plans.

Vessel Registration

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) Spanish, (b) Dutch and (c) Danish-owned vessels registered as British there are in each of the major ports and by total.

Mr. Norris: The information available relates to ships of 100 gross registered tonnes and more. The figures are taken from Lloyd's Register of Shipping and are given in the table:


Foreign parent owned vessels registered in British 

ports                                              

Port of Registry |Vessels                          

---------------------------------------------------

(a) Spanish                                        

Unknown          |1                                

Brixham          |8                                

Plymouth         |1                                

Falmouth         |7                                

Penzance         |2                                

Milford Haven    |12                               

Fleetwood        |1                                

Ayr              |6                                

Peterhead        |1                                

Aberdeen         |6                                

North Shields    |1                                

Grimsby          |1                                

Lowestoft        |3                                

                                                   

Total            |50                               

                                                   

(b) Dutch                                          

Southampton      |2                                

Hull             |2                                

London           |6                                

                                                   

Total            |10                               

                                                   

(c) Danish                                         

Newcastle        |1                                

Lowestoft        |1                                

London           |1                                

                                                   

Total            |3                                

Source:                                            

Lloyd's Register of Shipping.                      

M65-M6 Link

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the daily


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increase in the number of vehicles leaving the M65 at Colne following the completion of the M65-M6 link.

Mr. Watts: We expect an extra 2,000 vehicles per day eastbound on the M65 to junction 7 when the link to M6 is completed. There are no forecast of how much of this additional traffic would continue along the motorway to leave the M65 at Colne.

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of construction of the M65-M6 link.

Mr. Watts: Some £145 million, excluding VAT.

Heavy Goods Vehicles (Accidents)

Mr. Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents in each of the past five years leading to the death or serious injury of (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists, (c) motor cyclists and (d) other motorists involved a heavy goods vehicle; and what proportion this represents of all road traffic accidents affecting each category.

Mr Norris: The information requested is shown in the table.


Number of accidents involving an HGV and a pedestrian, where                                         

the pedestrian was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989-93                                           

Accidents/percentage                                                                                 

Vehicle type           |1989        |1990        |1991        |1992        |1993                     

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pedestrians            |139         |128         |104         |107         |97                       

Percentage of all                                                                                    

  pedestrian accidents |0.24        |0.22        |0.20        |0.22        |0.21                     


Number of accidents involving an HGV and a pedal cycle, where                                         

the cyclist was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989-93                                               

Accidents/percentage                                                                                  

Vehicle type            |1989        |1990        |1991        |1992        |1993                     

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pedal cyclists          |299         |229         |223         |218         |196                      

Percentage of all pedal                                                                               

  cycle accidents       |1.03        |0.86        |0.89        |0.87        |0.81                     


Number of accidents involving an HGV and a TWMV<1> where the                                    

TWMV user was killed or seriously injured: GB 1989-93                                           

Accidents/percentage                                                                            

Vehicle type      |1989        |1990        |1991        |1992        |1993                     

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TWMV              |471         |381         |270         |252         |215                      

Percentage of all                                                                               

  TWMV accidents  |1.09        |0.96        |0.87        |0.92        |0.85                     

<1> Two wheeled motor vehicle-includes scooters and mopeds.                                     


d

Number of accidents involving an HGV and an other motor                                             

vehicle<1>, where the other vehicle user was killed or seriously                                    

injured: GB 1989-93                                                                                 

Accidents/percentage                                                                                

Vehicle type          |1989        |1990        |1991        |1992        |1993                     

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Motor vehicle   |2,609       |2,381       |2,077       |1,940       |1,816                    

Percentage of all OMV                                                                               

  accidents           |0.99        |0.91        |0.86        |0.81        |0.77                     

<1> Exludes HGVs.                                                                                   

Rail Privatisation

Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all those passenger and freight train operating companies, or other bodies, which will be responsible for providing or using motive power after full implementation of his plans for rail privatisation, showing which of them will be responsible for (a) recruitment, (b) training, (c) certifying competence, (d) route learning and passing, (e) inspection and (f) disciplining of motive power staff.

Mr. Watts: The arrangements to be made by the successor companies to the British Railways Board cannot be listed before full implementation of the privatisation plans.

The Railway (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994 place a duty on employers to ensure that employees carrying out "safety critical work" are competent and fit


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to carry out that work. The regulations also enable the Health and Safety Executive to approve specific assessments and standards to be achieved.

Roads Programme

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to carry out an assessment of the economic impact of the roads programme.

Mr. Watts: The economic impacts of schemes in the national roads programme are assessed.

The national roads programme has consistently shown good economic rates of return.

Marine Pollution

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has ratified annexe IV of the marine pollution convention; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Norris: We have not yet ratified annexe IV of the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships--MARPOL 73/78--but we are taking action to do so soon.

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Government have made, following the case of Colonel Owen in Cirencester, of whether devaluation is a sufficient cause for blight to be registered against a home or business when a motorway is to be constructed; and what are the implications for such a course in relation to those constructing the Birmingham northern relief road.

Mr. Watts: The full implications of the decision by the Court of Appeal in the Lt. Col. Owen case are being reviewed. An announcement about future policy on discretionary purchase of property affected by motorway and trunk road schemes will be made as soon as possible.

Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Highways Agency provided figures for traffic flows under the new 2011 AADT figures in relation to the Birmingham northern relief road; for what reasons they were not available earlier; and if the Government will provide compensation for objectors who may have employed professional help or been involved in expenditure of time and energy because of the delay in provision of the figures.

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 Laurie Haynes to Mr. Mike O'Brien, dated 24 January 1995:

I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Highways Agency provided figures for traffic flows under the new 2011 AADT figures in relation to the Birmingham Northern Relief Road; for what reasons they were not available earlier; and if the Government will provide compensation for objectors who may have employed professional help or been involved in expenditure of time and energy because of the delay in provision of the figures.

The revised traffic flows result from updating assessments which have only recently been completed. They will provide the current inquiry with up to date information, but are unlikely to give rise to significantly changed effects. In consequence, there is likely to be little effect on the substance of objections already placed before the inquiry.


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Coventry Airport

Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received about noise and nuisance at Coventry airport over the past 12 months.

Mr. Norris: A total of 14.

Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy in respect of prosecuting all those involved with each flight of calves from Coventry airport during November and December 1994 for not having the required export permit under the Air Navigation Order 1989.

Mr. Norris [holding answer 20 January 1995]: An urgent inquiry is being conducted by my Department into the series of livestock flights by Air Algerie aircraft from Coventry airport in November and December last year. The inquiry will seek to determine whether there was any breach of the Air Navigation Order 1989. The question of further action will be decided once the outcome of the inquiry has been considered.

Search and Rescue

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the costs of operating search and rescue services by helicopters using private contractors, relative to the cost of providing such services through the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Mr. Norris: The three search and rescue helicopters under contract to the Coastguard agency cost approximately £7.5 million per year. Ministry of Defence helicopters which are provided primarily for military purposes are also made available for civil SAR. The Coastguard agency does not pay for civil use of Royal Air Force helicopters; it pays for the use of Royal Navy helicopters only out of working hours. The agency's estimate of using contracted helicopters to replace all the MOD SAR helicopters units is some £22.5 million. Those figures do not include the cost of SAR for incidents on land for which the Coastguard agency has no responsibilities.

Parking Enforcement, London

Mr. McAllion: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies have been given the task of yellow line parking enforcement in each London borough following the removal of this task from the Metropolitan police traffic warden service from July 1994 under the Road Traffic Act 1991.

Mr. Norris: This is a matter for the borough councils concerned.

Railway Station, Ebbsfleet

Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date Eleanor Laing, a special adviser in his Department, was briefed by representatives of Decision Makers Ltd. on Ebbsfleet either formally or informally.

Dr. Mawhinney [holding answer 23 January 1995]: I understand from Eleanor Laing, who was a special adviser


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at the Department of Transport until 20 July 1994, that she was briefed formally on Ebbsfleet by Decision Makers on 29 July 1993 and 3 May 1994.


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