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TRANSPORT
Smoked Glass Windows (Cars)
Mr. John Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to prohibit motorcars having smoked glass in their side and rear windows. [25408]
Mr. Norris: No. Regulation 32 of Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 already prohibits, with certain limited exceptions, the fitment of excessively dark or smoked glass in the windows of motorcars first used on or after 1 June 1978.
British Rail Employees (Statutory Rights)
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if former employees of British Rail working for a new railway contractor following the privatisation of British Rail will be entitled to statutory redundancy pay and statutory sick pay based upon their cumulative employment under both employers. [25806]
Mr. Watts: Provided a move from one employer to another is part of a transfer of an undertaking where employees are transferred with their existing contracts of service to the new undertaking--that is, a transfer to which the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 apply--then continuity of employment is maintained. This means that employment with both employers counts towards any statutory or contractual entitlements which have a minimum qualifying period or are based on length of service.
Road Accident Victims (Compensation)
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the Road Traffic Acts with a view to providing scope for compensation for the victims of driving offences. [26190]
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Mr. Norris: There are no plans for such a review.
Motor Cycle Tests
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many motor cycle testing stations there are in (a) Bradford and (b) Leeds; what is the current waiting list at each of these stations; how many test inspectors are employed at each station; how many hours and on what days each station holds tests; what contingency arrangements are to be introduced if motor cyclists are unable to be tested before the expiry of a provisional licence; and if he will make a statement; [26138]
(2) what action he is taking to facilitate motor cyclists living in (a) Bradford and Leeds and (b) other parts of West Yorkshire to take any tests they are required to take without undue delay. [26137]
Mr. Norris: These are operational matters for the Driving Standards Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from B. I. Herdan to Mr. Max Madden, dated25 May 1995: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your questions about motorcycle tests in Bradford and Leeds. The Agency offers motorcycle tests at the centres at Wibsey, Bradford and Horsforth, Leeds. At these centres local demand is such that current waiting times are 2 and 9 weeks respectively. These include test slots provisionally reserved by Approved Training Bodies where payment is required not later than 10 clear working days before the day of the test. Earlier dates may therefore become available at Horsforth if provisionally reserved slots are not taken up, or there are cancellations, and the centre is within reasonable travelling distance of Wibsey where current demand is not so great. There is one motorcycle examiner at each centre who conducts tests three days a week. At Wibsey this is on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and at Horsforth on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. These involve full daily programmes of 8 tests a day.
Where there is a specific need for an earlier test date, for example the expiry of a provisional licence, our Regional Office in Newcastle which currently deals with the books for West Yorkshire always endeavours to make additional programmes available to meet this need. This will obviously depend on the examiner resources available at the time and the method of notice given by the candidate.
Lorry Registration
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has that United Kingdom lorry firms are registering their vehicles elsewhere in the European Union; and what loss of revenue is involved. [26027]
Mr. Norris: I know of no such evidence.
A13
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest date when the construction of the new A13 road between the Heathway-Thames avenue and Mardyke-Wennington sections must commence before compensation or penalty payments may be invoked by the promoters of the channel tunnel rail link route; and if he will make a statement. [26026]
Mr. Watts: The competition to select the private section promoter is still under way, and the details of the contract between the promoter and the Secretary of State are not yet finalised. However, the environmental statement for the hybrid Bill assumed that these sections of the A13 would be completed before the relevant part of CTRL construction commenced.
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Taxis (Smoking Ban)
Mr. Bendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the Government's policy on allowing licensed taxi drivers to ban smoking in their cabs; and what plans the Government have to allow them to doso. [26184]
Mr. Norris: Taxi drivers may request passengers not to smoke in their cabs.
The courts, in interpreting the compellability law, have ruled that the fact that an intending passenger was smoking was not a "reasonable excuse" for the driver to refuse to carry him or her. The Government have already announced in "The Health of the Nation" White Paper that they propose to change the law to allow a taxi driver to designate his or her cab as a "no smoking" one and then to refuse passengers that are smoking. This proposal awaits a suitable legislative opportunity.
Driving Tests
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his letter M/PSO/5928/95 of 1 May, when he expects to complete his assessment of hazard perception tests and to reach decisions about heavy elements in driving tests as required by the second EC directive on driver licensing. [25761]
Mr. Norris [holding answer 24 May 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Eltham (Mr. Bottomley) on23 May, Official Report, columns 567 68.
Double Glazing Grails
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what grants his Department provides for double glazing of residential properties adjacent to motorways where noise levels are unreasonably high. [25033]
Mr. Watts [holding answer 23 May 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Chidgey, dated 25 May 1995:
The Minister for Railways and Roads, John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent question about the provision of double glazing adjacent to motorways where noise levels are unreasonably high. The Highways Agency does not provide specific grants for double glazing of residential properties.
Owners of properties eligible under the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975 are offered a provision of insulation or grant in lieu in accordance with the relevant specifications set out in Schedule 1 of the Regulations. The regulations specify secondary glazing of existing windows or exceptionally a new replacement double window.
Bus Services (Complaints)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by traffic area office for each of the last five years the number of complaints received from members of the public regarding the operation of local bus services. [25912]
Mr. Norris: The available information is given in the attached table.
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Number of complaints received by Traffic Area Offices from the general public since 1990 Traffic Area |1990-91 |1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WTA |84 |53 |87 |101 |105 SEMTA |34 |40 |62 |42 |69 NWTA |41 |59 |52 |35 |32 SCOT |37 |63 |55 |95 |120 ETA |98 |103 |76 |71 |109 NETA |<1>220 |<1>230 |237 |321 |205 WMTA |n/a |n/a |90 |133 |109 SWTA |n/a |n/a |96 |60 |110 Note: <1> Estimated figures.
Road Scheme Acquisitions
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what Acts and statutory instruments road scheme acquisitions have or will have been made of (a) housing north and south of the A40 Western avenue in the London borough of Hammersmith and (b) housing on the north side of the A13 Newham way west of its intersection with the A112 Prince Regent land; and in respect of each scheme (i) what are the costs of housing acquisitions and compensations, (ii) what is the total cost of the scheme, (iii) what statutory procedures are outstanding and (iv) what are the firm dates of commencement and completion. [24481]
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Nigel Spearing, dated 25 May 1995:
I have been asked to write to you with the information you requested in your question in the house about the trunk road improvement schemes at A40 Western Circus and A13/A112 Prince Regent Land junctions.
The Secretary of State for Transport acquires properties for road construction under the Highways Act 1980, the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 and the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 and, in planning blight cases, under the Town and Country Planning act 1990. He pays compensation for the properties acquired under the Land Compensation Acts 1961 and 1973.
The Highways Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of State, requires (a) houses north and south of the A40 for the trunk road improvement scheme at Western Circus in the Borough of Hammersmith and (b) houses north of A13 Newham Way to the west of A112 Prince Regent Land for the improvement of the A13/A112 junction.
(1) The total cost of the housing and compensation for these properties is estimated for (a) at £3.1 million and for (b) £3.4 million.
(ii) The total estimated costs of the schemes are (a) £48 million and (b) £40 million; including costs already incurred of £10 million and £3 million respectively.
(iii) The statutory procedures for (a) are complete, and for (b) are awaiting a decision by the Secretaries of State whether the scheme should proceed, following the public inquiry held last year. The outstanding statutory procedures for (b) are:
the A13 Trunk Road (A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement, The Trunk Road and Slip Roads) Order 19;
the A13 Trunk Road (A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement, Side Roads) Order 19;
the A13 Trunk Road (A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement) Compulsory Purchase Order (No.) 19; and
the proposal to issue a certificate of exchange land; entitled, The Open Space Land at Canning Town Recreation Ground, former Beckton Lido Site and Prince Regent Lane Playing Field.
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(iv) The main construction of the A40 Western Circus scheme is planned to start in the first quarter of 1996; a firmer date for start of works will not be available until tenders for the project have been assessed. The improvement scheme for the A13/A112 junction will proceed to construction after the statutory procedures are completed, provided resources are available.TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Export Licences
Mr. Bennett: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) under which military list specifications, as specified in group 1 of part III of schedule 1 of Statutory Instrument 1992 No. 3092 goods for export to Argentina were refused five export licences in 1993; [25751]
(2) goods for export to China were refused three export licences in 1993. [25752]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The goods in question were classified under ML5, ML9 and ML10 in respect of Argentina and ML5, ML11 and ML15 in respect of China.
Mr. Byers: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 30 March, Official Report, column 777 if the exporters of goods with potential defence applications were required in every case to obtain end user certificates for the export of goods licensed under the military list. [25697]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 22 May 1995]: Where military list goods were to be exported to an overseas Government Department, no end -user certificate was required by the DTI export licensing unit, though a copy of the contract or purchase order was requested. For military list exports to companies and private consignees, exporters were required to submit sufficient information to enable the ELU to assess the export licence application. The guidance note on filling out an export licence application said that exporters should supply an end-user certificate, or an end-use statement or an international import certificate, but this was not insisted upon in all cases.
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the companies to which export licences were granted for the export of electronic batons in 1991. [25614]
Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 22 May 1995]: No licences were granted for these goods in 1991.
Iraq (Export Credit Guarantees)
Mr. Byers: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 30 March, Official Report , column 777 , if BMARC received support from the Export Credits Guarantee Department for contracts with Iraq between 1985 and 1990. [25684]
Instruments of Torture
Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will further regulate the sale of equipment which can be used, and has been designated, for use against persons in repressive conditions. [25693]
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Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 22 May 1995]: It is not feasible to control the export of the many innocuous goods that can be misused for torture. Exports of weapons, security and para-military police goods are controlled under the terms of the Export of Goods (Control) Order. Licences are granted only after careful consideration of the political and military implications of the proposed sale, with particular attention paid to the human rights record of the proposed recipient country. The Department would not knowingly give any support to promote sales overseas of torture equipment. I see no need for further regulation.
The regulation of firearms sales within Great Britain is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
Regional Airports
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent economic assessment he has made of the economic benefits of regional airports to regional economies. [24977]
Mr. Eggar: The Department of Trade and Industry has not made any such recent economic assessment. The Department is aware of a recent study by the Civil Aviation Authority entitled "The Economic Impact of New Air Services", which examines the impact of new long haul services from Manchester and Birmingham airports. This contains useful references to other similar studies.
Consultants
Ms Hodge: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which his Department is
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responsible for (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and what are the projected figures for 1995 96. [25542]Mr. Ian Taylor: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 10 February 1995, Official Report, column 429, which shows the fees paid by the Department for general consultancies for 1993 94. Corresponding provisional outturn figures for 1994 95, budget figures for 1995 96 and a breakdown of the 1993 94 figure between the Department and its agencies are detailed in the following table.
7
£000
|1993-94 |1994-95 |1995-96
-------------------------------------------------------
Department |3,345 |4,445 |<1>-
Executive Agencies |1,429 |1,734 |1,584
|--------|--------|--------
Total |4,774 |6,179 |1,584
Note:
<1> The Department's allocation for 1995-96 will be
set shortly in the light of the outcome of MINIS 95.
Retirements and Redundancies
Ms Hodge: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many staff of (a) the Department of Trade and Industry and (b) agencies for which the DTI is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy, (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and what are the projected figures for 1995 96. [25416]
Mr. Ian Taylor: The figures requested are shown in the following table. The 1995 96 projections represent current estimates which may be modified during the course of the year. In preparing these tables, redundancies have been taken as covering those cases which involve early severance on redundancy.
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|Current total
|projections 1995-96
Early retirement Voluntary Compulsory Medical (all categories)
redundancy redundancy retirement
|1993-94 |1994-95 |1993-94 |1994-95 |1993-94 |1994-95 |1993-94 |1994-95
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DTI |302 |64 |5 |28 |22 |16 |31 |34 |300
Agencies:
CH |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |0 |8 |13 |0
INSS |10 |18 |0 |0 |0 |7 |13 |11 |13
LGC |14 |7 |0 |10 |0 |1 |0 |1 |5
NEL |0 |0 |69 |44 |0 |0 |0 |0 |10
NPL |35 |1 |0 |0 |1 |0 |8 |0 |55
NWML |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |0
PATS |1 |7 |0 |0 |0 |1 |7 |13 |18
RA |10 |5 |0 |0 |4 |0 |5 |2 |6
Ms Hodge: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the annual cost to his Department of staff leaving under redundancy/early retirement schemes to incorporate (i) added years lump sum payments, (ii) redundancy payments, (iii) pension payments, including enhancements and, (iv) any other special arrangements for (a) 1993 94, (b) 1994 95, and projected for (c) 1995 96 and (d) 1996 97. [25635]
Mr. Ian Taylor: Most of the costs to the Department of early retirement and redundancies are borne from the Department's running costs provision. A detailed breakdown of the various costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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The total costs borne by the Department in 1993 94 and 1994 95 were £13,498,000 and £13,515,000 respectively. For 1995 96, the amount is estimated at £3,634,000. Projections for 1996 97 will be determined during the coming public expenditure survey.Contracting Out
Ms Hodge: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what work has been contracted out (a) by his Department and (b) by agencies for which his Department is responsible in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and what is projected for 1995 96. [25541]
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Mr. Ian Taylor: The following areas of work have been contracted out under the "Competing for Quality" programme. For those areas where work is shown as under way in 1995 96, contracting out will be dependent on the Department or agency receiving bids which offer value for money compared with keeping the activity in-house. (a) Areas of work contracted out by the Department in:
(i) 1993 94
Central Training
Offshore Geology
Stationery Supply
Translation
(ii) 1994 95
IT Services
Accounts Services Agency
Work is under way to contract out the following in 1995 96: Services Management Division Building Management
National Physical Laboratory
In addition, the following areas of work were contracted out in part under partnership arrangements between the private sector and in-house staff in 1994 95:
Mail and Messengers
Reprographics
Central File Store
Internal Audit
Oil and Gas IT Services
(b) Areas of work contracted out by agencies for which the Department is responsible in:
(i) 1993 94
Patent Office
Various Support Services
(ii) 1994 95
Radiocommunications Agency
Ships Radio Licensing
Work is under way to contract out the following in 1995 96: Companies House
London Office and satellites
Edinburgh Office
Cardiff Office; range of activities
Insolvency Service
Official Receivers' Administrative Functions
Patent Office
Various support services
Radiocommunications Agency
Various Support Services
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