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Driving Test
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest situation in the Government's planning for a theory test as part of the driving test; and what assistance and information is available for driving instructors to enable them to prepare for the change. [29361]
Mr. Norris: I refer the hon. Member to a reply I gave on 23 May, Official Report , columns 567 68 .
Driving instructors are being kept abreast of significant developments as they happen. The Driving Standards Agency, which will have overall responsibility for this new test, plans to publish, in early spring, a handbook for candidates and their instructors about the new driving theory test which will include the official bank of questions.
Air Accidents Investigation Branch
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been made for continued pathology support to the AAIB in the event of an alteration to the RAF Institute; and if he will make a statement. [29888]
Mr. Norris: The RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine is to be disbanded, but the department of pathology is to be retained and co- located with the school of aviation medicine. They intend to continue to support the air accidents investigation branch in its accident investigation for the foreseeable future.
Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last five years the RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine has assisted the AAIB in its investigations; and if he will list these occasions on a year-by-year basis. [29887]
Mr. Norris: The RAF Institute of Pathology and Tropical Medicine has assisted the air accidents investigation branch on 103 occasions since 1 January 1990. The lists are as follows:
Civilian accidents attended by RAF IPTM 1990-95
Date |Aircraft |Location |Fatalities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 February 1990 |Christen Eagle |Pleshey Castle |1
18 March 1990 |Fournier Glider|Rattlesdon |1
24 March 1990 |Cessna F150M |Mere |2
28 March 1990 |Robinson R22 |Chinnor |1
5 April 1990 |Cessna 210 |Dunbrach |2
21 April 1990 |Microlight |Chirk |1
28 April 1990 |Rollason Condor|Tibenham |1
3 May 1990 |Grob G109 |Wolford Health |2
19 May 1990 |Piper PA28/
| Tiger Moth |Redhill |4
27 May 1990 |Ralleye Tobago |Stranraer |5
27 June 1990 |Augusta |Rocester |2
7 July 1990 |Piper PA28 |Cranfield |3
13 July 1990 |Bell 206 |Stanley |2
17 July 1990 |Cessna 150 |Skegness |2
25 July 1990 |Sikorsky |Brent Spar |5
4 August 1990 |Puchaez Glider |Usk |1
31 August 1990 |Hughes |Felsted |1
20 October 1990 |Partenavia |Castle |1
| Donnington |1
20 November 1990 |Piper PA28 |Dunbar |1
1 December 1990 |Air Commander |Lannocks Hill |2
27 December 1990 |Cessna F150F |Lasham |2
10 March 1991 |Cessna 175 |Goodwood |1
31 March 1991 |Piper Tomahawk |Coventry |2
13 April 1991 |Nieuport Scout |North Weald |1
12 May 1991 |Glider |Syresham |1
16 May 1991 |Cessna |Llangollen |3
20 May 1991 |Provost |Newbury |1
20 May 1991 |Piper PA28 |Lancaster |2
30 June 1991 |Dragon Rapide |Audley End |1
6 July 1991 |Taylor |Bristol |1
14 August 1991 |Microlight |Ashbourne |1
17 August 1991 |Christen Eagle |Ashampstead |2
8 September 1991 |Robinson R22 |Stratford |1
16 December 1991 |Cessna 210 |Goodwood |1
13 February 1992 |Piper Cherokee |Keswick |1
15 February 1992 |Cessna 172 |West Thurrock |2
23 February 1992 |Robinson R22 |Oldham |2
28 March 1992 |Robinson R22 |Telford |1
8 April 1992 |Piper |Teeside |1
28 April 1992 |Grob 115 |Loch Muick |2
4 May 1992 |Microlight |Colchester |2
29 May 1992 |Robinson R22 |Chesham |2
27 June 1992 |Spitfire |Manchester |1
27 June 1992 |Microlight |Chester |1
12 July 1992 |Piper |Kidlington |2
16 July 1992 |Piper Seneca |Clitheroe |1
14 August 1992 |Jet Ranger |Bracknell |2
22 August 1992 |Socata |Jura |4
22 September 1992 |Dauphine |Piper Oil |1
4 October 1992 |Cessna |Barnstable |1
6 October 1992 |Jestream |Prestwick |2
17 November 1992 |Pitts Special |Latimer |1
7 December 1992 |Cessna |Loxters Farm |2
9 December 1992 |Beechcraft |Berkhamstead |1
13 January 1993 |Bandierante |Sellafield |2
18 January 1993 |Piper Bravo |Ayr |2
21 March 1993 |Socata |Sevenhampton |1
8 April 1993 |Wassmer WA52 |Teignmouth |1
27 April 1993 |Boeing 707 |India |1
11 May 1993 |Hawker Hunter |Sheffield |1
23 June 1993 |Microlight |Sandown |1
20 July 1993 |Beechcraft
|Bonanza |Ashford |1
13 August 1993 |Glider |Buxton |1
15 August 1993 |Piper Navajo |Guildford |1
15 September 1993 |Piper PA28 |Dumfries |1
3 October 1993 |Stardust III |Bridport |1
16 October 1993 |Glider |Ruthin |1
15 November 1993 |Auster |Orpington |1
20 November 1993 |Robinson R22 |Abergavenny |1
11 December 1993 |Autogyro |Almer |1
8 January 1994 |Mooney |Telford |2
15 January 1994 |Bell Ranger |Luton |1
17 January 1994 |Cessna 182 |Keswick |2
20 January 1994 |Socata |Walsall |4
25 February 1994 |Viscount |Stafford |1
20 March 1994 |Yak |Warwick |1
22 May 1994 |Bell |North Wales |3
30 May 1994 |Glider |Dunstable |1
8 June 1994 |Robinson R22 |Hampshire |2
9 June 1994 |Glider |Cheddar |1
25 June 1994 |Steen Skybolt |Penzance |2
30 June 1994 |Airbus |Toulouse |1
21 July 1994 |Microlight |Stadbrooke |2
1 August 1994 |Morane Saulnier|Parham |2
3 August 1994 |Glider |Norwich |1
26 August 1994 |Glider |Hereford |1
9 October 1994 |Grunman AA5 |Louth |1
2 November 1994 |Cessna 187 |Worthing |2
7 December 1994 |Squirrel |Ballacuish |1
21 December 1994 |Boeing 737 |Coventry |5
26 December 1994 |Robin |Stableford |4
14 February 1995 |Harvard |Maldon |1
13 March 1995 |Harvard |Andover |1
21 March 1995 |Cessna 150 |Wakefield |1
15 April 1995 |Glider |Buxton |1
28 April 1995 |Microlight |Bromyard |1
30 April 1995 |Piper Cherokee |Ipswich |1
5 May 1995 |Glider |Leicester |1
5 May 1995 |Squirrel |Glasgow |1
7 May 1995 |Glider |Parham |1
25 May 1995 |Bandierante |Leeds |12
11 June 1995 |Glider |Abergavenny |1
Privatisation
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those parts of his Department or departmental agencies which were privatised without an in-house bid; if he will indicate the expertise which was absent in his Department or departmental agencies which prevented an in -house bid taking place; which future parts of his Department or departmental agencies he intends to privatise; and which of them do not have the necessary in-house expertise to mount an in-house bid. [29431]
Mr. Norris: No part of the Department has been privatised without an in-house bid. The following services have been contracted out without an in -house bid, as part of the competing for quality programme:
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Internal audit services
Waste collection
Vehicle Inspectorate
Workshop
Building and estate management
IT Strategy
Roller brake testing
Library services
Weighbridge maintenance
Coastguard Agency
Property management
Central Transport Group
File storage
Procurement of office machines
Reprographics
Computer bureau services
Stationery supplies
Books and periodicals
Vehicle Certification Agency
Microfilm, data storage and retrieval
Providing information on expertise not available to the Department in relation to individual bids would involve disproportionate cost. Contracting out without an in-house bid can occur, for example, where the Department judges that the private sector is clearly better equipped to deliver a specific service, has a better understanding of market needs or has a capacity to invest in new technology. Where an activity is relatively small and peripheral to a
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Department's functions, a strategic decision to contract out can also be taken.For the future, my right hon. Friend intends to privatise the Transport Research Laboratory and has announced his readiness to consider, among other sale options, an in-house bid from management and staff to take over the laboratory as a non-profit distributing company. The Department proposes to contract out the following services without an in-house bid, as part of the competing for quality programme:
Central Transport Group
Library services
Inquiry services
Publication services
New Headquarters:
building management and maintenance
telecoms
catering
security
post and messengers
Central services (IT communications network)
DOT publications
Highways Agency
Road surface and strength testing unit
Topographical and architectural model making unit
Management of land and property acquired for roads programme Administrative arrangements for public inquiries into road schemes
Cones hotline
Coastguard Agency
Accommodation support services
Training facility
Marine Safety Agency
Survey and certification
Equipment approvals and seafarers sight testing
Fishing vessel safety equipment inspections
Cycle Lanes
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle lane have been provided in each of the last five years. [29645]
Mr. Norris: This information is not available centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Driving Licences
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times per year the information contained in a driving licence can be changed; and how many prosecutions have been undertaken over the last three years of individuals who have failed to provide an up to date address. [29767]
Mr. Norris: There is no limit to the number of times per year the information contained in a driving licence can be changed. Information on the number of prosecutions against drivers who have not notified the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency of a change of address is not available.
Column 161
Brent Spar
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information was received by the Coastguard Agency in respect of the arrangements for the towing of the Brent Spar. [29246]
Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Coastguard Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from C. J. Harris to Ms Joan Walley, dated 20 June 1995: The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question as the question deals with an operational matter, for which I have responsibility as Chief Executive.
On 6 June 1995 the Regional Controller of HM Coastguard's North and East Scotland Region met with the installation operators, Shell, and Grampian Police to discuss the towage of the Brent Spar. At this meeting he explained that HM Coastguard's responsibility was to monitor the sea safety of all concerned in the operation, and to coordinate any search and rescue action that might be required. Aberdeen Coastguard received a fax from the towage contractors on 6 June in accordance with the normal procedures for moving offshore installations, giving notice that the tow was due to proceed on 8 June. A second fax was received on 12 June giving notification that the tow had commenced.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Public Gallery Queue
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what plans he has to provide shelter for the queue for the public gallery; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Martin [holding answer 19 June 1995]: Space currently exists in St. Stephen's Hall to provide shelter for some 80 visitors awaiting entry to the Public Gallery of the House. There are no plans to augment this at present.
EDUCATION
Tuition Fees
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total costs per Oxford and Cambridge colleges of the tuition fees top- up. [29360]
Mr. Boswell: The Department estimates that total public funding payable through the mandatory awards system in the current academic year for undergraduate college fees at Oxford and Cambridge colleges to be approximately £56,000,000. The Higher Education Funding Council for England takes account of the Oxbridge colleges' fee income in determining the level of grant payable to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and abates those universities' grants accordingly.
Charter Week
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the main events she is proposing for
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Charter Week; what is the total cost to public funds; and how many (a) civil servants and (b) other public officials will be playing a part. [29881]Mr. Forth: Public service events planned by the Department for Education to coincide with the fourth anniversary of the citizens charter are likely to include the announcement of the content of the 1995 school and college performance tables and a briefing paper on value added for schools and colleges. There will be no additional cost or staff resources as a result of these events. The officials concerned will be working on them as part of their normal duties.
Ofsted
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of establishing Ofsted. [18608]
Mr. Boswell [pursuant to his reply, 5 April, column. 1195]: The establishment of Ofsted was contained within the existing departmental running costs, and was not separately identified. The £8.225 million transferred to Ofsted by DFE in 1992 93 was used to establish a new vote for Ofsted from which running costs later in the year were covered. None of the set-up costs fell to this vote.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the total running costs of all non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department, including the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and OFsted for each year since 1987. [17248]
Mr. Boswell [pursuant to his reply, 18 April 1995 columns. 50 52]: The net running costs of OFsted in 1992 93 were £13.917 million and not £22.145 million.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Micro-enterprise Development
Mr. O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will be announcing his decision on the request for support by the Grameen Trust; and if he will make a statement. [29671]
Mr. Baldry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson) on 23 May at column 511.
Aid and Trade Provision
Miss Lestor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the additional projects to be funded, and the sums allocated, by the 31 million returned to the aid budget for 1995 96 from (a) the Pergau dam project and (b) three other aid and trade provision projects. [29342]
Mr. Baldry: The reimbursed funds were fully integrated into ODA's planning and were thus not reallocated on an individual basis. Details of a breakdown of the aid budget planning allocations for 1995 96 can be
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found in table 30, page 61 of the ODA's departmental report.Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the estimated rate of return on the Cigading/Serpong railway ATP project in Indonesia at the time of appraisal; what is the actual post-completion rate of return; on what date the project was approved by the sub-committee for aid and trade; and on what date the project was approved by the Minister for Overseas Development. [28297]
Mr. Baldry: A rate of return for the Cigading/Serpong railway project was not calculated at the time of appraisal. The developmental justification for the project was based on the use of rail as the least cost mode to transport coal from Cigading port to cement works at Cibinong. It is not possible to provide a post-completion rate of return because the line is still under construction. The project was approved by the sub- committee for aid and trade, and by the then Minister for Overseas Development, in November 1986.
Family Planning
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's reports on the monitoring of the work of the UNFPA and IPPF. [28952]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 19 June 1995]: The Overseas Development Administration's recent case studies in certain countries on the work of the United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation were carried out using material and documents provided on the basis that the information and findings would be treated in confidence.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what written information was supplied to his Department prior to, at and following the last meetings of the UNFPA's governing body and the IPPF's annual donor's meeting. [28953]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 19 June 1995]: In respect of the United Nations population fund papers were supplied on the following: financial matters; policy and strategy; country programmes; and responses to the United Nations General Assembly resolutions on United Nations systems reform.
In respect of the International Planned Parenthood Federation the principal document provided was the annual report supplement, copies of which have already been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the Chinese Family Planning Association's response to the Chinese Government's eugenics law. [28960]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 19 June 1995]: We understand that the China Family Planning Association has made no public statements on the new maternal and child health law.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received
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on the number of Chinese officials convicted of abusing their powers in implementing the Chinese programme of population control. [28961]Mr. Baldry [holding answer 19 June 1995]: We understand that no such records are available.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters have been discussed at meetings between officials from the British embassy in Peking and representatives of UNFPA in China. [28955]
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 19 June 1995]: Officials from the British embassy in Peking have periodic contact with representatives of the United Nations population fund to discuss UNFPA's work in China as well as a range of issues relating to China's population policy and its implementation.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what sum of money has been provided by the UNFPA to population control projects in China over the last 10 years; [28957]
(2) what sums of money have been provided to (a) the Chinese Family Planning Association and (b) other Chinese population control initiatives by the IPPF over the last 10 years. [28956]
Mr. Baldry [holding answers 19 June 1995]: Neither the United Nations population fund nor the International Planned Parenthood Federation provides funds for population control projects. The IPPF has provided US$ 7.776 million to the China Family Planning Association since 1986 and the UNFPA has allocated US$ 152.451 million since 1979, for its programmes in China.
Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sums of money were donated by the UNFPA and IPPF from their core budgets to countries worldwide for the last year for which figures are available; and if he will list the recipient countries together with the amounts received from each
organisation. [28959]
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