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Column 555
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 15 March 1995
TRANSPORT
School Transport
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that vehicles hired for the transport of children to and from school have the appropriate licence or that local education authorities be empowered to issue a new form of licence specifically for school transport purposes.
Mr. Norris: All motor vehicles, including those used for school transport, are subject to the requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and to annual roadworthiness testing. Public service vehicles must also satisfy additional construction requirements and be licensed through the operator licensing system under which their operators are subject to sanction by traffic commissioners if standards are not maintained. We do not consider further controls to be necessary.
Vehicle Pollution
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those sites where he is currently monitoring vehicle pollution stating in each case (a) what monitoring he is undertaking and (b) whether PM is counted.
Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked its chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Joan Walley, dated 14 March 1995:
The Minister for Local Transport and Road Safety, Steven Norris, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those sites where he is currently monitoring vehicle pollution stating in each case (a) what monitoring he is undertaking and (b) whether PM is counted.
We do not routinely monitor vehicle pollution but the Highways Agency has a number of monitoring stations in operation either for research purposes to aid the development of air quality techniques or to inform environmental assessment of specific highway proposals where appropriate. For most situations involving road schemes we use mathematical modelling to assess pollution levels. Where the modelling techniques cannot adequately reflect the characteristics of a particular location monitoring work is undertaken.
The table below contains our current active sites.
Road name |Location |Emissions monitored
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M4 |Theale |Carbon Monoxide
|Nitric Oxide
|Nitrogen Dioxide
|Total Oxides of Nitrogen
|Ozone
|Total Hydrocarbons
|Non-Methane Hydrocarbons
|Methane
|Range of Poly-aromatic
| Hydrocarbons
Victoria Street |London |Carbon Monoxide
|Nitric Oxide
|Nitrogen Dioxide
|Total Oxides of Nitrogen
|Ozone
|Total Hydrocarbons
|Non-Methane Hydrocarbons
|Methane
|Range of Poly-Aromatic
| Hydrocarbons
|Benzene
|Toluene
|Xylene
|Range of Carbonyl Compounds
M4 London |Between |Carbon Monoxide
| Junctions 3
| and 4B
|Nitric Oxide
|Nitrogen Dioxide
|Total Oxides of Nitrogen
|PM10
|Benzene
|Tolluene
|Xylene
M4 London |Junction 4 |Carbon Monoxide
|Nitric Oxide
|Nitrogen Dioxide
|Total Oxides of Nitrogen
M62 Manchester |East |Carbon Monoxide
| Junction 17 |Nitric Oxide
|Nitrogen Dioxide
|Total Oxides of Nitrogen
M2 Kent |Junction 3 |Carbon Monoxide
| Area |Nitric Oxide
|Nitrogen Dioxide
|Total Oxides of Nitrogen
|Benzene
|Tolluene
At present PM is measured at one location on the M4 but our intention is to commence monitoring of this
emission at new sites on the M62 (Manchester) and the M25 (Surrey) shortly.
Felixstone Port
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate claims that legitimate operators using EU crews and acceptable working practices have been blocked from using the port of Folkestone; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris: There is a disagreement between the harbour authority and a ship operator. I hope the parties will resolve the disagreement. I appear to have no locus to intervene.
Seat Belts (Minibuses and Coaches)
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to introduce compulsory fitment of seatbelts to minibuses and coaches used for the transport of children as foreshadowed in his announcement of 19 July 1994.
Dr. Mawhinney: I am today issuing for consultation draft regulations on the subject.
Column 557
Lorries (Accidents)
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the fatal accidents involving large lorries in 1993 were caused as a result of restricted vision on the near side.
Mr. Norris: This information is not available.
Disabled Drivers (Parking)
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he holds on the provision by other European Union countries of disabled drivers' parking permits similar to the orange badge; and if he will list all those that are recognised for parking purposes in this country in line with the decisions of 6 December 1977 European Conference of Ministers of Transport.
Mr. Norris: Formal reciprocal parking arrangements exist with the following European Union countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden, and also with Switzerland. All these countries operate national schemes similar to the orange badge scheme. There are no formal reciprocal arrangements with Greece, the Republic of Ireland or in Spain, though concessions may be available in the Republic of Ireland and in Spain. Details of known parking concessions throughout Europe are set out in the Department's leaflet "Reciprocal parking arrangements for disabled and blind people in Europe". I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.
Temporary Contracts
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies supervised by his Department have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration for this year and each of the past five years, in each case specifying what percentage of the respective total work force these employees constitute.
Mr. Norris: The Department's personnel information system records the following number of temporary employees this year and in the last five years:
D
Department of Of which:
Transport Agencies
|Numbers |Percentage|Numbers |Percentage
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1 March 1995 |595.0 |4.3 |527.5 |4.7
1 April 1994 |452.0 |3.2 |389.0 |3.4
1 April 1993 |379.5 |2.6 |191.5 |2.2
1 April 1992 |457.0 |3.0 |229.0 |2.4
1 April 1991 |591.5 |3.7 |235.0 |2.5
1 April 1990 |716.0 |4.6 |280.5 |4.1
In addition, my Department employs some staff on a "call off" basis, for example to support short-term fluctuations in work load. My Department does not hold a central record which distinguishes between contracts of 51 weeks and less than 51 weeks.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for this year and each of the past five years how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible who have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration are re-employed in the same or similar position at a later date.
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Mr. Norris: The Department's personnel information system records the following number of temporary employees for this year and the last five years who have been re-employed in the same or similar position at a later date:
|Department of |Of which: Agencies
|Transport
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |35 |13
1991-92 |21 |7
1992-93 |23 |13
1993-94 |29 |21
1994-95 |33 |31
In addition, my Department employs some staff on a "call off" basis, for example to support short term fluctuations in work load. My Department does not hold a central record which distinguishes between contracts of 51 weeks and less than 51 weeks.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people he expects to employ in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which he is responsible on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration in the next three years, in each case specifying the number of employees who had previously been employed in a similar position on the same contract.
Mr. Norris: My Department employs staff on temporary contracts to meet its short-term needs and as such these needs are difficult to forecast. However, the total number of staff in the Department will reduce over the next three years as a result of its efficiency plans and it is expected that the need for temporary staff will also reduce. Nor is it possible to forecast whether previous temporary contracts will be renewed.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance has been issued in respect of the recruitment and appointment of non- permanent employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies supervised by his Department.
Mr. Norris: I have today arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what positions in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible are filled by employees who are employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration.
Mr. Norris: The Department's personnel system records in the following table the number of post by grade in the Department as a whole and executive agencies specifically which are filled by employees on temporary contracts of less than one year according to the Department's personnel information systems as at 1 March 1995. The length of the contracts lasting less than one year is not normally agreed in advance and separate records are not kept showing the length of the contracts.
|Of which:
Grade title |DOT |agencies
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grade 7 |3.0 |0
Senior Executive Officer |0.5 |0.5
Senior Professional and Technology
Officer |2.0 |2.0
Nautical Surveyor 1 |1.0 |0
Higher Professional and Technology
Officer |7.0 |7.0
Nautical Surveyor 2 |2.0 |2.0
Higher Executive Officer |1.0 |1.0
Professional and Technology Officer |2.5 |2.5
Driving Examiner |26.0 |26.0
Administrative Officer |121.5 |99.5
Assistant Vehicle Examiner |0.5 |0.5
Support Grade-Band 1 |1.0 |1.0
Administrative Assistant |385.5 |346.5
Support Grade-Band 2 |30.0 |30.0
Support Grade-Band 2A |4.0 |4.0
Typist |7.5 |5.0
Total |595 |527.5
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the full terms of employment as specified to employees in his Department and all executive agencies for which he is responsible who are employed on a temporary contract of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration.
Mr. Norris: I have today arranged for the information requested to be placed in the Library of the House.
Railway Facilities, Abbey Wood
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated total cost of the railway facilities at the procurement executive headquarters at Abbey Wood.
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Mr. Watts: The estimated cost of the new railway facilities at Abbey Wood is £1.056 million.
Fares, London
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the levels of fares a typical resident of Hornsey and Wood Green would pay for short one-mile and three-mile single bus journeys--Dickinson Road to Finsbury Park and Muswell Hill to Archway--three and six-mile single London Underground fares--Finsbury Park to Euston and Wood Green to Oxford Circus today covering zones 1, 2 and 1, 2 and 1, 2, 3 and a five- mile BR fare--Wood Green-Alexandra Palace to Kings Cross; and if he will list the percentage increase for every change compared with the percentage change in the cost of living index from 1 March and 1 September for each year since 1965; (2) what was the average price including promotional discounting of a gallon of petrol, the price of a one-mile single bus fare in Central London and a three-mile single underground fare, today covering zones 1 and 2, applying on 1 March and 1 September for each year since 1968.
Mr. Norris: The information requested on bus and London Underground fares, provided by London Transport, and on petrol prices is shown in the table.
The current BR single fare from Alexandra Palace to Kings Cross is £1.80. The return fare is £3.60. There is also a cheap day return fare of £2.00. The information requested on fares in previous years is not centrally held by the Department or British Rail.
Petrol iPercentage
increases compared
to the
Fares in pence pence retail prices
index
Bus LUL per Bus LUL
|1 mile |3 miles|3 miles|6 miles|gallon |1 mile |3 miles|3 miles|6 miles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1965 |2 |3 |5 |10 |26.5 |- |- |- |-
1966 |2 |3 |5 |11 |25.8 |-3.7 |-3.7 |-3.7 |6.0
1967 |2 |3 |5 |11 |27.5 |-2.4 |-2.4 |-2.4 |-2.4
1968 |2 |3 |5 |11 |27.9 |-4.6 |-4.6 |-4.6 |-4.6
1969 |2.5 |4 |5 |11 |31.5 |18.9 |26.8 |-4.9 |-4.9
1970 |2.5 |5 |7.5 |12.5 |32.5 |-6.1 |17.3 |40.8 |6.7
1971 |4 |5 |5 |15 |33.7 |46.5 |-8.4 |-38.9 |9.9
1972 |4 |5 |10 |20 |35.0 |-7.0 |-7.0 |86.1 |24.1
1973 |4 |5 |15 |20 |35.0 |-8.3 |-8.3 |37.5 |-8.3
1974 |4 |5 |15 |20 |42.0 |-13.8 |-13.8 |-13.8 |-13.8
1975 |4 |5 |15 |20 |72.5 |-19.5 |-19.5 |-19.5 |-19.5
1976 |6 |8 |20 |35 |76.5 |28.7 |37.3 |14.4 |50.2
1977 |10 |10 |25 |40 |79.5 |43.9 |7.9 |7.9 |-1.4
1978 |10 |12 |30 |45 |76.2 |-7.7 |10.8 |10.8 |3.9
1979 |12 |13 |30 |45 |79.6 |5.8 |-4.5 |-11.8 |-11.8
1980 |20 |20 |40 |60 |120.0 |41.3 |30.4 |13.0 |13.0
1981 |25 |25 |50 |80 |132.1 |11.7 |11.7 |11.7 |19.2
1982 |20 |20 |50 |80 |159.2 |-26.3 |-26.3 |-7.9 |-7.9
1983 |30 |40 |60 |100 |166.8 |43.4 |91.2 |14.7 |19.5
1984 |20 |30 |60 |100 |183.4 |-36.5 |-28.5 |-4.7 |-4.7
1985 |25 |30 |60 |90 |188.8 |17.8 |-5.7 |-5.7 |-15.2
1986 |30 |30 |60 |90 |189.2 |15.6 |-3.7 |-3.7 |-3.7
1987 |30 |35 |70 |100 |174.7 |-3.6 |12.5 |12.5 |7.1
1988 |30 |40 |80 |110 |167.2 |-4.7 |8.9 |8.9 |4.9
1989 |30 |40 |90 |120 |168.8 |-7.2 |-7.2 |4.4 |1.2
1990 |30 |45 |100 |130 |186.0 |-8.7 |2.8 |1.5 |-1.0
1991 |40 |50 |110 |140 |205.2 |26.0 |5.0 |3.9 |1.7
1992 |40 |60 |120 |150 |213.3 |-3.6 |15.7 |5.2 |3.3
1993 |40 |70 |120 |160 |233.1 |-1.5 |14.9 |-1.5 |5.1
1994 |40 |70 |130 |170 |252.3 |-2.5 |-2.5 |5.6 |3.6
1995 |50 |70 |130 |180 |270.4 |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
n/a = Not yet available.
Fares information is for 1 March each year. Petrol prices are the typical cost of a
gallon of 4 star leaded petrol on 15 January each year.
Fares in Pence Percentage of
increases compared
to the cost of
living index
Bus LUL Bus LUL
|1 mile |3 miles|3 miles|6 miles|1 miles|3 miles|3 miles|6 miles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1965 |2 |3 |5 |10 |- |- |- |-
1966 |2 |3 |5 |11 |-3.7 |-3.7 |-3.7 |6.0
1967 |2 |3 |5 |11 |-2.4 |-2.4 |-2.4 |-2.4
1968 |2 |3 |5 |11 |-4.6 |-4.6 |-4.6 |-4.6
1969 |2.5 |4 |5 |11 |18.9 |26.8 |-4.9 |-4.9
1970 |2.5 |5 |7.5 |12.5 |-6.1 |17.3 |40.8 |6.7
1971 |4 |5 |5 |15 |46.5 |-8.4 |-38.9 |9.9
1972 |4 |5 |10 |20 |-7.0 |-7.0 |86.1 |24.1
1973 |4 |5 |15 |20 |-8.3 |-8.3 |37.5 |-8.3
1974 |4 |5 |15 |20 |-13.8 |-13.8 |-13.8 |-13.8
1975 |4 |5 |15 |20 |-19.5 |-19.5 |-19.5 |-19.5
1976 |6 |8 |20 |35 |28.7 |37.3 |14.4 |50.2
1977 |10 |10 |25 |40 |43.9 |7.9 |7.9 |-1.4
1978 |10 |12 |30 |45 |-7.7 |10.8 |10.8 |3.9
1979 |12 |13 |30 |45 |5.8 |-4.5 |-11.8 |-11.8
1980 |20 |20 |40 |60 |41.3 |30.4 |13.0 |13.0
1981 |25 |25 |50 |80 |11.7 |11.7 |11.7 |19.2
1982 |20 |20 |50 |80 |-26.3 |-26.3 |-7.9 |-7.9
1983 |30 |40 |60 |100 |43.4 |91.2 |14.7 |19.5
1984 |20 |30 |60 |100 |-36.5 |-28.5 |-4.7 |-4.7
1985 |25 |30 |60 |90 |17.8 |-5.7 |-5.7 |-15.2
1986 |30 |30 |60 |90 |15.6 |-3.7 |-3.7 |-3.7
1987 |30 |35 |70 |100 |-3.6 |12.5 |12.5 |7.1
1988 |30 |40 |80 |110 |-4.7 |8.9 |8.9 |4.9
1989 |30 |40 |90 |120 |-7.2 |-7.2 |4.4 |1.2
1990 |30 |45 |100 |130 |-8.7 |2.8 |1.5 |-1.0
1991 |40 |50 |110 |140 |26.0 |5.0 |3.9 |1.7
1992 |40 |60 |120 |150 |-3.6 |15.7 |5.2 |3.3
1993 |40 |70 |120 |160 |-1.5 |14.9 |-1.5 |5.1
1994 |40 |70 |130 |170 |-2.5 |-2.5 |5.6 |3.6
1995 |50 |70 |130 |180 |n/a |n/a |n/a |n/a
n/a=Not yet available.
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the increase or decrease in the average price including promotional discounting of a gallon of petrol, the cost of a one-mile single bus fare in Central London and a three-mile single underground fare, today covering zones 1 and 2, compared to the index of average wages on 1 March and 1 September for each year since 1965.
Mr. Norris: The information requested on bus and London Underground fares and petrol prices in relation to the index of average wages are shown in the table.
Percentage changes in fares and
petrol prices compared to the
index of average wages
|Bus |LUL |Petrol
-----------------------------------
1965 |- |- |-
1966 |-3.9 |-3.9 |-6.3
1967 |-6.2 |-6.2 |-0.1
1968 |-8.0 |-8.0 |-6.6
1969 |15.8 |-7.4 |4.7
1970 |-12.8 |30.7 |-10.2
1971 |47.8 |-38.4 |-4.1
1972 |-13.2 |73.5 |-10.0
1973 |-7.5 |38.8 |-7.5
1974 |-25.0 |-25.0 |-10.0
1975 |-17.6 |-17.6 |42.2
1976 |35.2 |20.2 |-4.9
1977 |52.2 |14.2 |-5.1
1978 |-10.5 |7.4 |-14.3
1979 |-0.4 |-17.0 |-13.3
1980 |40.6 |12.5 |27.2
1981 |12.8 |12.8 |-0.7
1982 |-26.5 |-8.1 |10.8
1983 |40.2 |12.1 |-2.1
1984 |-37.6 |-6.4 |2.9
1985 |15.4 |-7.7 |-5.0
1986 |11.6 |-7.0 |-6.8
1987 |-7.7 |7.7 |-14.8
1988 |-8.4 |4.6 |-12.3
1989 |-8.5 |3.0 |-7.6
1990 |-8.4 |1.8 |0.9
1991 |24.6 |2.8 |3.1
1992 |-4.4 |4.3 |-0.5
1993 |-3.5 |-3.5 |5.5
1994 |-2.7 |5.4 |5.3
1995 |n/a |n/a |n/a
n/a=Not yet available.
Fares information is for 1 March
each year. Petrol prices are the
typical cost of a gallon of 4 star
leaded petrol on 15 January each
year.
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the relative increase or decrease compared with the retail prices index of the average price including promotional discounting of a gallon of petrol compared with the cost of a one-mile single bus fare, in central London and a three-mile single London Underground fare today covering zones 1 and 2, on 1 March and 1 September for each year since 1965;
(2) if he will list the relative increase or decrease in cash terms of the average price including promotional discounting of a gallon of petrol compared with the cost of a one-mile single bus fare in central London and a three-mile single London Underground fare, today covering zones 1 and 2, on 1 March and 1 September for each year since 1965.
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Mr. Norris: The information requested is shown in the table.
Percentage changes in petrol prices compared to fares
|Cash terms Bus|LUL
------------------------------------------------------------
1965 |- |-
1965 |-2.4 |-2.4
1967 |6.5 |6.5
1968 |1.5 |1.5
1969 |-9.6 |13.0
1970 |3.0 |-31.3
1971 |-35.1 |55.7
1972 |3.8 |-48.1
1973 |0.0 |-33.3
1974 |20.0 |20.0
1975 |72.6 |72.6
1976 |-29.7 |-20.9
1977 |-37.6 |-16.9
1978 |-4.2 |-20.1
1979 |-13.0 |4.4
1980 |-9.5 |13.1
1981 |-11.9 |-11.9
1982 |50.7 |20.6
1983 |-30.1 |-12.7
1984 |64.9 |9.9
1985 |-17.6 |2.9
1986 |-16.5 |0.2
1987 |-7.7 |-20.9
1988 |-4.2 |-16.2
1989 |1.0 |-10.3
1990 |10.2 |-0.8
1991 |-17.3 |0.3
1992 |4.0 |-4.7
1993 |9.2 |9.2
1994 |9.2 |9.2
1995 |8.3 |-0.1
Fares information is for 1 March each year Petrol prices
are the typical cost of a gallon of 4 star leaded petrol on
15 January each year.
For each year and change in petrol relative to fares is the
same whether real or cash values are used.
Safety at Sea
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will investigate the implications for safety of life at sea arising from the effects on crew fatigue of a rota of two months on and two months off on cross-channel ferries;
(2) which classification societies are currently undertaking work on behalf of the Marine Safety Agency.
Mr. Norris: There are operational matters for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letters from R.M. Bradley to Ms Joan Walley, dated 15 March 1995:
The Secretary of Sate has asked me to reply to your Question about the crew fatigue effects of a two months on/two months off rota on cross-Channel ferries.
The Agency is not intending to investigate the implications of the crew rota to which you refer. It considers that the regulatory and inspection framework which I describe in this letter are sufficient to ensure that crewing arrangements on UK-flagged ships do not impair safety.
Crewing arrangements on UK-flagged ships are primarily the responsibility of the ship-owner or operator to determine, within the requirements of the law. The minimum manning levels for these ships are laid down by the Department under the Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning Document) Regulations 1992. Broadly speaking, every UK ship of 500 GRT or more must carry a Safe Manning
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Document issued by this Agency and the manning of the ship must be maintained at all times to at least the levels specified in the document. These levels take account of a range of considerations, including the Department's concern that ships should be sufficiently manned for their safe operation having regard to the area in which they will be trading and the nature of the service for which they are intended. The Department has also just introduced the Merchant Shipping (Hours of Work) Regulations 1995 which place a duty on ship operators to ensure that crews do not work more hours than are safe in relation to the safety of the ship. In addition, Section 31 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 places a duty on shipowners to ensure that their ships are operated in a safe manner.As part of its flag state responsibilities, the Agency inspects UK-flagged ships on a regular basis to ensure, amongst other things, that they are crewed in accordance with the safe manning document. The inspectors will also now ensure that the crews' working arrangements comply with the 1995 regulations. If crewing arrangements do not meet legal requirements, the ship may be detained until the matter has been resolved to the Agency's satisfaction. Foreign-flagged ships working into UK ports come under the jurisdiction of the state with which they are registered and must therefore comply with these states' requirements in respect of crewing arrangements. However, these ships are subject to portstate control inspections by the Agency. If the inspector considers that the manning of a foreign-flagged ship is unsafe, the ship can be detained until the matter is resolved with the flag state administration and the ship's owners to the Agency's satisfaction. The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about Classification Societies undertaking work on behalf of the Marine Safety Agency.
The Marine Safety Agency authorises five Classification Societies to undertake work on its behalf, namely:
Lloyd's Register of Shipping
American Bureau of Shipping
Bureau Veritas
Det Norske Veritas and
Germanischer Lloyd
Train Services, Wales
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with representatives of the rail operators the frequency of train services on Welsh main lines; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Watts: The frequency of train services is, at present, an operational matter for British Rail. The franchising director is currently consulting on the passenger service requirements to be included in the Great Western franchise. He will be consulting on passenger service requirements for other franchises providing services in Wales in due course.
Water and Sewerage
Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost of his Department's expenditure on water and sewerage in (a) the current year and (b) each of the three previous years.
Mr. Norris: The information is as follows:
(a) 1994 95 (up to 1 February): £541,429
(b) 1993 94: £654,043
1992 93: £626,800
1991 92: £592,829
Cap Bon
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when inspections of the Cap Bon were carried out; who carried them out; what was the assessment; how
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many deficiencies were found; when he expects the boat to resume the carrying of livestock; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Elliot Morley, dated 15 March 1995:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about the inspection of the cargo ship `CAP BON'.
The ship was last inspected by the French port state control authorities in Dieppe on 1 March 1995. Their inspection identified fifty-six safety deficiencies and the ship was detained. The ship was subsequently released after fifty-one of the deficiencies had been rectified. The ship has not visited a UK port recently but if she were to, she would be subject to the UK's port state control regime.
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The carrying of livestock on the vessel is a matter for the owners and the authorities of the port to which the ship operates.CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Borrowing
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will list the amounts borrowed (a) directly and (b) via group companies by the Church Commissioners and the total interest paid for each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Alison: This information is set out in the following table. Since 1990, considerable progress has been made in reducing borrowings.
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Church Commissioners Amounts borrowed and interest paid
£ million
|1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993 |1994
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borrowings in Church
Commissioners' name |- |- |116.2|234.4|311.8|429.7|330.0|244.4|184.9|173.2
Borrowings by subsidiaries |4.7 |10.7 |53.1 |80.2 |136.1|88.3 |52.7 |35.7 |39.6 |17.5
Total borrowings |4.7 |10.7 |169.3|314.6|447.9|518.0|382.7|280.1|224.5|190.7
Total interest paid |0.5 |0.6 |3.4 |13.4 |35.9 |50.0 |52.2 |37.8 |19.4 |12.9
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Green Forms
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many green form legal advice and assistance payments were made to solicitors in each year since 1991, and if he will make a statement;
(2) what were the total sums paid out in respect of green form legal advice and assistance claims by solicitors in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor: The volume of bills paid and total paid out in respect of green form legal advice and assistance claims by solicitors between 1991 92 and 1993 94 was as follows:
|Total payments
Year |Number of bills paid|£000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92 |1,230,472 |100,434
1992-93 |1,434,661 |124,533
1993-94 |1,640,593 |147,233
Legal Aid
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many appeals to the Legal Aid Board against the refusal to grant legal aid for civil cases there were in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor: The number of appeals against refusal of legal aid certificates for civil cases for the years 1991 92 to 1993 94 was as follows:
Column 566
Year |Appeals received|Appeals granted -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1991-92 |22,073 |8,804 1992-93 |28,053 |14,118 1993-94 |42,089 |21,991
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the estimated cost to the legal aid fund of the defence of Mr. Craig Charles, and what statement of income and capital he produced for the Legal Aid Board.
Mr. John M. Taylor: I consider it inappropriate to speculate as to the final cost to the legal aid fund of the proceedings involving Mr. Craig Charles. Details of the financial means of applicants for legal aid are confidential.
Divorce Law Reform
Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he intends to publish his White Paper on divorce law reform.
Mr. John M. Taylor: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to him on 13 January 1995, Official Report , column 213 .
NATIONAL HERITAGE
BBC
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the current proportion of BBC network television production which emanates from the regions and national regions; and what target figure he has set or accepted.
Column 567
Mr. Dorrell: Statistics on programme production should be sought direct from the BBC. I expect the BBC to include in its statement of promises to audiences quantifiable targets for increasing the proportion of network programmes made outside London and south-east England.
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects to appoint a replacement for Sir David Scholey as a governor of the BBC; and what criteria he intends to apply to this appointment.
Mr. Dorrell: BBC governors are appointed by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. I hope that the vacancy created by Sir David Scholey's resignation will be filled without delay. In seeking a successor, regard will be had to the range of qualities and experience which the board of governors as a whole needs to possess in order to carry out its responsibilities.
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if it remains the policy of his Department that the agreement document between the BBC and Government will contain an undertaking on regional network production.
Television Licences
Mr. Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his latest estimate of the evasion rate for television licences; how much lost revenue this represents; what measures are being taken to help those who have difficulty paying for a television licence; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell: The estimated rate of television licence evasion as at January 1995 was 6.8 per cent. which represents approximately £152 million in lost revenue. The television licensing regulations provide for quarterly and monthly payment schemes to enable people to spread the cost of their licence fee. There is also a television licence savings stamps scheme.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Regional Selective Assistance
Mrs. Lait: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for assisted area status are completed in 60 working days from date of final application to offer of grant; and how many are not.
Mr. Eggar: Of the 1,215 offers of regional selective assistance made in England during 1994, 984 were processed within 60 working days from receipt of application.
Shipbuilding
Mr. Lidington: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the home shipbuilding credit guarantee scheme.
Mr. Eggar: In order to assist the competitiveness of the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry, I am introducing a new facility whereby the scheme can guarantee loans of up to 12 years duration for the purchase of new commercial ships from UK shipyards. Small vessels of less than £1 million contract cost will carry shorter credit
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