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Mr. Nicholas Baker: Ms Arnfield is one of a number of immigration officers employed in the enforcement directorate of the immigration service. One of her main tasks is to investigate allegations and information, from whatever source, about persons who may be working and/or residing in this country illegally. All information alleging breaches of the immigration laws is thoroughly researched both within the Department and with other agencies and is discounted wherever it is possible to identify the person(s) concerned as being lawfully resident here.

A number of allegations about persons from abroad working illegally at Hackney council have been received from various sources over a long period. It would not be appropriate to disclose these sources publicly, but the immigration service has never received a computer disk containing details of Hackney employees. Where it has been established that the subject(s) of the information was illegally in the United Kingdom, the council has been informed. So far, eight council employees--three finance officers, two teachers, an estate manager, a personnel officer and a cook--have been served with either notice of illegal entry or notice of intention to deport and three others were dismissed by the council after the immigration service asked to interview them.

Discussion have taken place between representatives from Hackney council and members of the immigration service and a further meeting scheduled for 28 June has been postponed at the council's request. At a meeting on 10 March, the assistant chief finance officer of Hackney council suggested that an inquiry into an alleged breach of the Data Protection Act 1984 concerning the unauthorised


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release of details of Hackney council employees was being considered. The draft minutes of this meeting were circulated to Hackney council on 17 March for approval, but the council has not responded.

Alleged breaches of council security are for the local authority to pursue with the police and/or the Data Protection Registrar. The general question of disclosure of sources of information made available to the immigration service is a matter for the Home Office. In these circumstances, it has been made clear that the Home Office would be happy to respond to any written inquiries but not to allow individual immigration officers to be interviewed about matters which go beyond their responsibilities.

Burglaries

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the information retrieval system used by the Metropolitan police to record burglaries; if information on burglaries is retrievable for (a) individual addresses, (b) persons or organisations burgled and (c) date of burglary; and if the information on crimes reported to individual police stations is recorded on a central database.     [30950]

Mr. Maclean: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police currently use two systems for recording crime information. The first is a paper based, manual system, and the second, which is replacing the first, is the crime reporting and information system, which is computerised. Information about individual addresses, names of persons or organisations involved and date of incident is retrievable on both systems at local level. Certain details of reported crimes are forwarded to a central database for statistical purposes, but as this database does not contain personal information, retrieval is not possible centrally.

Metropolitan Police (Race Relations)

Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what force-wide strategy the Metropolitan police have for community and race relations training; what progress has been made in implementing this strategy especially at local level; to what extent and in what ways contributors from local minority ethnic communities are involved in such training; and what use is currently made by the Metropolitan police of the services of his Department's funded specialist support unit.     [30723]

Mr. Maclean: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, to date, 73 police trainers and 13 training managers have attended the six-week course on these subjects at the Home Office specialist support unit and that a further nine officers have attended the condensed version of the course, enabling them to assist the trainers. Focused training sessions are held at the recruit school in Hendon, involving ethnic community representatives. In addition to this, local training is often organised at divisional or area level, involving members of local minority ethnic communities.

Police Training

Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) civilians and (b) lay


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contributors are currently employed or were used in the last four trainers' courses at the central planning and training unit; what subject areas they covered; and what was their ethnicity.     [30722]

Mr. Maclean: The last four trainers' courses held at the central planning and training unit were led by eight directors of study, one of whom was a white civilian. These courses are designed to train police officers to act as trainers generally but also include elements of equal opportunities and community and race relations training. In exploring these issues, 15 ethnic minority police officers were used as members of discussion groups or panels.

Wheelclamping

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 June, Official Report , column 134 , if he will introduce legislation to permit local authorities in areas affected by the activities of unscrupulous wheelclampers to introduce byelaws to ban or regulate their activities.     [30440]

Mr. Maclean: Byelaws are generally used to regulate behaviour in public places and cannot apply to private land without the consent of the landowner. In the context of wheelclamping, therefore, byelaws are unlikely to provide an effective means of regulation.

Post-natal Prisoners

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are given to magistrates concerning imprisoning women who have just given birth.     [30384]

Mr. Maclean: The Government do not issue guidelines to the courts as to how they should use their discretion in dealing with individual cases. The Magistrates Association does issue guidelines to its members, but we are not aware that the association has provided any advice on the treatment of women who have just given birth.

Privatisation

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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.     [29417]

Mr. Howard: In the Prison Service, three new-built prisons and half the prisoner escort services have been contracted out to the private sector without an in-house bid since 1992 under the "Competing for Quality" initiative. This reflected a policy decision that such activities should in future be carried out by the private sector and consequently in-house bids were not invited. In-house bids were not prevented by any absence of expertise. The Prison Service intends to pursue this policy by contracting out further new-build prisons and the four remaining geographical areas of prisoner escort services; again in-house bids will not be invited.


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Estate management in the Forensic Science Service has been contracted out to the private sector without an in-house bid. No such bid for this work was made, but, if one had been, it would have been considered on the same basis as bids from external contractors. The United Kingdom Passport Agency has invited outline proposals from service providers, including travel agents, banks and the Post Office with a view to these outlets receiving and checking completed passport applications. The aim is to enhance customer choice and convenience.

As I announced in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Sir M. Shersby) on 8 February, Official Report , columns 254-55 , a decision about the future management of the police national computer will be taken about the middle of 1996 when the likely nature, size and scope of the proposed new computer system is clearer.

Elsewhere in the Home Office, activities reviewed under the "Competing for Quality" initiative have been contracted out to the private sector only where an external bidder has won in competition with the in-house team. "Competing for Quality" reviews are in progress or are planned across a range of functions, but there are at present no plans to contract out any further functions of the non-prisons Home Office without the in-house team having had the opportunity to bid for the work against the private sector.

Organised Crime

Sir Ivan Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what form the November 1993 recommendation of the European ad hoc working group on organised crime for an annual report on the scale and trends of organised crime was fulfilled in respect of 1994; and how the information relating to the United Kingdom was compiled.     [30053]

Mr. Maclean [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted a situation report on organised crime in the European Union in 1993 at its meeting on 9 and 10 March 1995. This confidential report was prepared for Ministers by the German presidency of the European Union drugs and organised crime working group on the basis of member states' responses to a presidency questionnaire.

The United Kingdom contribution was compiled by the Home Office in consultation with the national criminal intelligence service. HM Customs and Excise and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Victims Charter

Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to update the victims charter; and when he will do so.     [27275]

Mr. Maclean [holding answer 8 June 1995]: We are hoping to publish a charter-style statement of service standards for victims of crime later this year.

Confiscation Orders

Sir Ivan Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update the figures on


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sums ordered to be confiscated and sums realised, given in his answer to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) of 1 February, Official Report , column 679 , to include the figures for 1994 95.     [30056]

Mr. Maclean [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested will not be available until the Autumn 1995.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

Arms Sales

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), of 19 June, Official Report , column 93, if he will now meet representatives of the World Development Movement to discuss the basis of its allegations regarding alleged links between aid and arms sales.     [30536]

Mr. Goodlad: I have no plans at present to meet World Development Movement representatives. Allegations regarding links between aid and arms sales are completely unfounded. Senior ODA officials met WDM representatives on 21 June to discuss recent WDM work on development issues. Discussions were useful and productive, and part of the process through which non-governmental organisations and the ODA regularly discuss help to the developing world.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Exports

Mr. Brandeth: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the results of the consultations that his Department has undertaken with the private sector about barriers to United Kingdom exports.

Mr. Heseltine: I set out in this year's competitiveness White Paper a new strategy for tackling barriers erected by other countries to our exports. Dossiers on 20 of our major markets have now been completed, and I have placed copies in the Library of the House. Copies are also being sent to the trade associations that have contributed to the study, and will be available from my Department on request. Dossiers on our other top markets will also be drawn up.

Telecommunications Council

Mr. Merchant: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council on 13 June.

Mr. Ian Taylor: The Commission made a presentation on progress within the Commission on drawing up a draft legislative framework for the single market in postal services, and undertook to produce proposals by July. The presidency adopted conclusions on the principles of terminal dues for the delivery of international mail,


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although there was no agreement at this stage within the Council. The Council agreed a resolution on a future regulatory framework for telecommunications, necessary to implement the full liberalisation of network infrastructure and services by 1 January 1998, agreed in principle at the last Council on 17 November 1994. A resolution on policy in the mobile and personal communications sector was also agreed.

The Council also agreed a common position on the resubmitted directive applying open network provision to voice telephony. In addition, the Commission reported to the Council on the amendments made by the European Parliament at its second reading to the Council's 22 December 1994 common position on a directive on standards for digital television. The draft directive was referred back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further discussion.

Following a short debate, the Council agreed conclusions on a draft Commission directive on the use of cable television networks for the provision of telecoms services already liberalised by the Community The Commission made representations on the progress of multilateral negotiations on basic telecommunications, and on its communication on the status and implementation of Commission directive 90/338/EEC on competition in the markets for telecoms services. There was also a Commission presentation and a short debate on a Commission communication on a methodology for implementation of the information society application areas identified by the Bangemann group, and a draft proposals for a decision on guidelines for the development of telecoms Trans-European networks.

No formal vote was taken at this Council.

Mr. Allen: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the minutes of the meeting of the Council of Telecoms Ministers in the week beginning 12 June.     [30243]

Mr. Ian Taylor: The minutes of the Telecommunications Council have not yet been produced. The outcome of the Telecommunications Council is summarised in the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Mr. Merchant) and the Council secretariat press release giving an account of it has been deposited in the Library of the House. The procedures set down in Council decision

93/731/EC--printed in the Official Journal of 31 December 1993 also deposited in the Library of the House--provide for public access to Council documents. The hon. Member may request access to the minutes from the Council secretariat.

Private Finance Initiative

Mr. Betts: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994 95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and


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what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved.     [30820]

Mr. Heseltine: My Department has a number of major exercises underway which will involve the use of private sector finance in the delivery of services. Private finance is being used in the refurbishment of 1 Victoria street and the Radiocommunications Agency's relocation to docklands initiated in 1993 94 and 1994 95 respectively. No specifically PFI projects were approved during 1994 95. Procedures have recently been introduced to consider PFI for all DTI's capital projects but it is too early to estimate the number or value which may be approved in 1995 96. My Department is also pursuing a major programme of privatisation and contracting out involving almost all the executive agencies, which themselves account for around half of my Department.

Offshore Installations

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the findings of his Department's oil and gas abandonment review body on the issue of the disposal of redundant installations; and if he will make a statement.     [31251]

Mr. Eggar: The work of the review body is reflected in a consultation document entitled, "Guidance Notes for

Industry--Abandonment of Offshore Installations and Pipelines under the Petroleum Act 1987" which was published by my Department on 4 May 1995. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Solar Technology

Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies have been undertaken on the potential for deploying solar photovoltaic technology and/or solar water heating on (a) Government buildings and (b) other public sector-buildings.     [30081]

Mr. Page: No studies have been carried out specifically into the potential for solar technologies on Government or public sector buildings, although general potential resource estimates have been made. The potential for photovoltaics has been investigated by the University of Northumbria and published in ETSU S/1365; the potential for solar water heating has been investigated by Halcrow Gilbert Associates and published in ETSU S/1337. Copies of both publications are being placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. O'Neill: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates his Department has made of the maximum potential contribution to the United Kingdom's energy requirements from (a) solar photovoltaic technology and (b) solar water heating.     [30080]

Mr. Page: Technical resource estimates, for photovoltaics and solar water heating were published in "New and Renewable Energy, future prospects for the UK", Energy Paper 62;"An Assessment of Renewable Energy for the UK (R.62)"; and "An Appraisal of UK Energy Research, Development Demonstration and Dissemination"--Energy Paper 61. Copies are available in the Library of the House.


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Nuclear Holding Company

Mr. Salmond: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Untied Kingdom nuclear holding company will be properly constituted and established in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.     [31257]

Mr. Eggar: The new nuclear holding company will be established to a timetable which will enable the Government to secure the privatisation of the United Kingdom's advanced gas-cooled reactor and pressurised water reactor stations during 1996.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the President of the Board of Trade who is to be appointed chief executive of the new United Kingdom nuclear holding company; and if he will make a statement.     [31256]

Mr. Eggar: Further appointments to the new nuclear holding company will be announced in due course.

Magnox

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the reason underpinning the estimate of a 10 per cent. saving in total Magnox liability costs in the table setting out Magnox liabilities in his Departmental press notice P/95/310;     [31119] (2) what discount rate was adopted to calculate the present value of the net cash receipts for further operations in the table on Magnox liabilities issued in his Departmental press notice P/95/310 of 9 May; and what is the justification for its use.     [31120]

Mr. Eggar: The decision to assume a 10 per cent. figure for potential savings in the costs of Magnox liabilities was taken in the light of the views of advisers--KPMG--who looked at the specific question of nuclear liabilities for the nuclear review.

A discount rate of 3.5 per cent. was used to calculate the present value of net cash receipts for further Magnox operations, and is based on the current yield from 25 year index-linked gilts.

Nigeria

Mr. Spellar: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money Nigeria owes to the Export Credits Guarantee Department; which steps are being taken to recover this money; and what action is being taken to prevent further losses.     [30435]

Mr. Needham: Amounts due to ECGD have been rescheduled under bilateral agreements between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Nigeria signed under the auspices of the Paris Club. This is the normal mechanism for the recovery of sovereign debt. Since 1986 three agreements have been signed with Nigeria. Nigeria is currently in substantial arrears under these agreements. The total amount outstanding, excluding delay interest, is £2.3 billion. The Paris Club collectively, and individual creditors including HM Government, continue to press Nigeria to adopt policies aimed at economic reform and to regularise its relations with the international financial institutions. Sustained


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economic reform is regarded as the best method of promoting economic growth which in turn will allow Nigeria to meet its obligations under these agreements.

The debts covered by these agreements relate to contracts signed before 1 October 1985. ECGD has been off cover for new medium term business since 1 February 1984.

BMARC

Mr. Byers: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 June, Official Report , column 595 97, on what date his Department made available to Customs and Excise all the information which emerged from its inquiry into possible breaches of export control offences by BMARC.     [29260]

Mr. Ian Taylor [holding answer 19 June 1995]: Information which emerged from our researches into BMARC export licences was passed to Customs and Excise as and when it became available over a period between late April and early June.

Civil Service Retirement Packages

Mr. Milburn: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 May, Official Report , column 132 , if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on the ground of inefficiency.     [29295]

Mr. Heseltine [holding answer 19 June 1995]: Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. An immediate lump sum payment of up to two years' salary may be made where a Department judges payment of compensation to be appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over age 55, this may be foregone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age. There have been six departures from the Department of established staff on inefficiency grounds in the past five financial years. None received an early retirement package, although five officers were awarded immediate compensation, totalling £30,890. There is one award pending. Details are as follows:


                                      |Total compensation                   

                   |Number of cases   |£                                    

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

1990-91            |1                 |86                                   

1991-92            |1                 |21,212                               

1993-94            |3                 |9,592                                

1994-95            |1                 |<1>-                                 

<1> Pending.                                                                

Domestic Housing Market

Mr. Barry Field: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of retail sales and manufacturing output is attributable to the domestic housing market.     [30416]

Mr. Nelson: I have been asked to reply.

Information detailing annual retail sales is published in the CSO "Business Monitor SDA25--Retailing". In 1992 the percentage of retail turnover attributed to sales of


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furniture, domestic appliances and other household goods was 16.8 per cent.

The percentage of manufacturing output attributable to the domestic housing market is unavailable.

TRANSPORT

A1

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects to announce starting dates for the three dualling schemes on the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick as set out in the roads programme;     [30620]

(2) when he expects consultants to be appointed to prepare for work on the Morpeth-Lanehead section of the A1.     [30619]

Mr. Watts: Dualling of the section between Hitchcroft and Cawledge is due to start this year.

A decision to proceed with dualling between Willowburn and Denwick was published on 5 June. Additional design work will be required to comply with the inspectors' report.

The dualling proposals for Morpeth to Lanehead are in the early stages of preparation and will be taken forward as quickly as resources permit.

Capital Spending

Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994 95; and what is the latest budget figure.     [30873]

Mr. Norris: The Department of Transport's capital spending figure for 1994 95 on a national accounts basis is expected to be £5,106 million. The latest capital budget figure available for 1995 96 is £3,592 million, excluding local authority capital which is a matter for determination by individual local authorities.

Private Finance Initiative

Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994 95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered, and at what value; for how long have they been considered, and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) 6 months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved.      [30822]

Mr. Norris: The information is as follows:


Schemes approved 1994-95                 

                     |Value              

Schemes              |£ million          

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

Northern Line trains |400                


Expected to be approved 1995-96                                        

                         |Estimated value                              

Schemes                  |(£ million)                                  

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

Channel Tunnel Rail Link |2,700 (Q4 1992 prices)                       

DBFOs                    |500                                          

Croydon Tramlink         |160                                          

Midland Metro Line 1     |150                                          


Schemes under consideration                                                 

                                          |Estimated value                  

Schemes                                   |(£ million)                      

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

Crossrail                                 |2,800                            

Thameslink 2000                           |Under assessment                 

East London Line extension                |83                               

WCML signalling                           |50                               

Leeds Supertram                           |95                               

LT global revenue strategy                |75                               

LUL power supplies                        |120                              

LUL track repair maintenance machine      |0.5                              

Manchester Metrolink extension to Salford                                   

  Quays                                   |100                              

New Scottish ATC Centre                   |200                              

Oceanic Flight Data Processing System     |25                               

The wide diversity of scheme types and their expected procurement routes mean that figures for the length of time they have been under consideration could not be provided on a consistent basis. However, the average length of time taken to progress schemes so far approved from invitation to tender to award of contract was 16 months.

Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much has Government spending changed in 1994 95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1994 95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995 96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative.     [30823]

Mr. Norris: There is no direct correlation between Government spending in a given year and the level of private capital levered in through the private finance initiative. Information on the employment consequences of private finance schemes is not available.

Buses

Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations have been made to the traffic commissioners with regard to bus companies failing to fulfil their established timetables; which companies have been involved; and in which areas of the country.     [30858]

Mr. Norris: The information is not available in the form requested.

A3

Mr. Peter Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of (a) the justification and (b) the management of restrictions to traffic during the last five years by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford;     [30803]


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(2) what assurances have been received by his Department from (a) the Highways Agency, (b) the county council and (c) other bodies of free passage for vehicles during the next three years when the current roadworks on the A3 where it bypasses Guildford are completed;     [30806]

(3) what estimate his Department has made of the economic cost in the last five years to businesses in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area of delays caused by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford;     [30805]

(4) during how many days in the last five years has free passage for vehicles been restricted by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford.     [30807]

Mr. Watts: These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Griffiths, dated 18 June 1995:

The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr John Watts, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about roadworks on the A3 at Guildford.

The works that have been carried out on the A3 over the past 5 years have been necessary because much of this 20 30 year old and heavily used road has reached the end of its design life and therefore requires urgent attention. Left too long, structural damage would have occurred and would have been much more costly and difficult to rectify.

Restrictions to traffic during the works have been necessary in the interests of both the workforce and road users. I am satisfied that the restrictions have been managed as efficiently as possible bearing in mind the difficulty of operation on this busy road. No assessment has been made of the economic cost of these works on businesses in Portsmouth.

Data showing daily lane restrictions on the A3 in the Guildford area for the past 5 years is not available. However, major maintenance was undertaken between Burpham and Wisley during the period November 1993--May 1994 and between Abbotswood and the A31, work started in January this year and is due for completion in July. In addition, some lane restrictions and local diversions were necessary for about six weeks last Summer whilst temporary supports for the A31 bridge over the A3 were put in place.

The Agency has given no assurance that there will be no further roadworks on the A3 in the vicinity of Guildford over the next 3 years. Major maintenance is planned next year between Burpham and Abbotswood. Strengthening work is also planned for around the end of this year on the bridge which carries the A3 southbound slip road to the A31 Hogs Back, although we do not expect this to cause undue disruption to A3 traffic.

When the A3 roadworks are complete we do not expect the road to require major maintenance for another 15 20 years from completion of each section. Some routine maintenance will of course be required from time to time, but this can be dealt with at off-peak periods with little disruption to traffic.

I hope this is helpful.

London Fort William Sleeper

Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations have been received by (a) his Department, (b) the Rail Regulator and (c) the Office of the Passenger Rail Franchising Director in support of the retention of the London-Fort William sleeper.     [31087]


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