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|1993-94|1994-95|1995-96
|outturn|outturn|plans
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Motorway renewal (nlks<1>) |234 |277 |134
Other Trunk Road renewal
(nlks<1>) |293 |563 |261
Bridges assessed |1,793 |1,254 |820
Bridges strengthened |46 |164 |86
<1> Nearside lane kilometres.
Driving Tests
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 27 October 1995 to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice),
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Official Report , column 865 , what percentage of people taking the driving test fail after the (a) first, (b) second, (c) third, (d) fourth, (e) fifth, or (f) at their sixth or subsequent attempts. [41058]Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Driving Standards Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from B. L. Herdan to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 2 November 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the percentage of people taking the driving test who fail. We do not routinely collect this information as it does not directly affect the operation of the Agency.
For consistency of testing, and in fairness to the candidate, it is preferable if the examiner is not made aware of the number of previous attempts a candidate has made at a test. The overall failure rate on driving test in the last two financial years was:
1993 94: 52%
1994 95: 53%
As part of our third Customer Survey, completed in March this year--the results of which were published in July, we asked a random sample of all our customers whether it was their first test or a repeat attempt. Of 1,187 people in the sample who had recently taken their driving test, 29% (340) had just failed and of these failures 26% (88) were at the first attempt, 34% (114) at the second, 21% (72) at the third, 9% (30) at the fourth, 6% (19) at the fifth and 5% (17) were at their sixth or subsequent attempt.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the results of his survey on illegally operated heavy goods vehicles; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [41196]
Mr. Norris: A report on the Vehicle Inspectorate's survey of illegally operated heavy goods vehicles will be made available by the end of this year. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Artillery Ranges
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to his answer of 19 July 1995, Official Report, column 1323, when he will write to his hon. Friend; [41034]
(2) when his research project at the Transport Research Laboratory on the effects on drivers of sudden noise from artillery ranges will be completed. [41132]
Mr. Watts: The Transport Research Laboratory has completed its research programme and expects to finalise its report shortly. The Highways Agency will provide my hon. Friend with a copy of the report as soon as it is available.
Road Improvement Schemes
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of contracts awarded and their value for major improvement schemes on the trunk road and motorway network in each financial year since 1989 90, including plans for the current year. [41195]
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 2 November 1995:As you know, John Watts has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, to list the number of contracts awarded and their value for major improvement schemes on the trunk road and motorway network in each financial year since 1989 90 and our plans for the current year. The number and value of contracts for major improvement schemes awarded in each of the past 5 financial years is shown in the table below. The contracts included are those worth in excess of £5m and the total contract values are those at the time of contract award.
|Number of |Value of
Financial year |contracts |contracts
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1990/91 |27 |£515m
1991/92 |20 |£500m
1992/93 |14 |£543m
1993/94 |29 |£762m
1994/95 |13 |£555m
Our plans for the current year are set out in Annex B of the Agency's Business Plan for 1995/96 a copy of which I enclose for your information.
I also enclose a copy of the first Annual Report of the Highways Agency which sets out the progress made in the first full year of its existence.
Shipping (Waste Audit)
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce mandatory checks, by way of a waste audit, for all ships calling at British ports. [40412]
Mr. Norris [holding answer 1 November 1995]: 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. David Hinchliffe, dated 2 November 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about mandatory checks, by way of a waste audit, for all ships calling at British Ports.
Internationally agreed regulations within the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78) require that properly maintained oil record books are available for inspection on ships. Oil tankers are required to carry records of their cargo and bilge pumping operations whilst other ships are required to have a record of bilge pumping. To ensure that these requirements and other safety measures are met, the United Kingdom (UK), in co-operation with European neighbours, has introduced port state control procedures. Under these procedures port state control inspectors can, by examining the book, trace the fate of all oils loaded on board ships.
Recent amendments to the international regulations (MARPOL 73/78) include a requirement for garbage record books. The UK has been at the forefront of that development and it is anticipated that requirements will be transposed into UK statute when they come into effect in 1997. Other recent amendments to MARPOL 73/78 will call for additional monitoring of potentially polluting shipboard operations. The effects of those amendments will be audited to establish whether further controls are necessary.
Salaries
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the (a) lowest and (b) highest full- time salary paid to any employee in his (i) Department,
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(ii) agencies and (iii) non-departmental public bodies in (1) 1994 95 and (2) 1995 96. [40869]Mr. Norris [holding answer 1 November 1995]: It is the Government's normal policy to publish civil servants' salaries in bands. Accordingly the highest and lowest full time salaries fell within the following bands:
L
|1994-95 |1995-96
|£ |£
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Central Department
Highest |95,000 to 99,999 |95,000 to 99,999
Lowest |under 5,000 |5,000 to 9,999
Agencies
Highest |100,000 to 104,999|100,000 to 104,999
Lowest |under 5,000 |under 5,000
Information for non-departmental public bodies is not immediately available and I will write to you separately with those figures.
Annual Remuneration
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals in (a) his Department, (b) agencies and (c) non- departmental public bodies received annual remuneration including benefits in kind exceeding (i) £100,000, (ii) £200,000 and (iii) £300,000 in each year since 1985 86. [40868]
Mr. Norris [holding answer 1 November 1995]: Other than pension contributions, benefits in kind are not normally paid to staff in the department, agencies and NDPBs. As members of the principal civil service pension scheme, staff receive benefits in accordance with the scheme rules which have been deposited in the Library of the House. In the Department and its agencies only one person currently receives an annual remuneration above £100,000. This was also the case in 1994 95 and 1993 94. Before that no-one received £100,000 or more. No one has received £200,000 or above.
Information for non-departmental public bodies is not immediately available. I will write to the hon. Member separately with those figures.
Oil Dumping at Sea
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to prevent tankers dumping oil at sea following the recent pollution incident at Flamborough Head. [39337]
Mr. Norris [holding answer 27 October 1995]: 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 2 November 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the recent pollution incident at Flamborough Head.
The UK operates routine aerial surveillance to detect and deter illegal discharges. This was identified by Lord Donaldson in his report on the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping as an important tool in deterring vessels from discharging illegally.
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The UK, as a member of the Bonn Agreement, works closely with other contracting States to conduct joint surveillance of the North Sea. At the forth North Sea Conference in June, Ministers agreed to work on ways of making aerial surveillance a more effective deterrent against illegal discharges. The UK is also committed, together with other North Sea states, to the aim of designating the North Sea a special area for the purposes of oil pollution. Special area status will mean that all oil discharges in the North Sea will be illegal once the agreement is implemented.Ferry Safety
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been killed while travelling on board United Kingdom ferries over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [40303]
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are employed on ferry safety inspections; and if he will make a statement. [40304]
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. Graham Allen, dated 2 November 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of staff employed on ferry safety inspections.
All Marine Safety Agency (MSA) surveyors, with the exception of fishing vessel surveyors, are available to carry out port state and flag state inspections, but the number of surveyors engaged on inspections will vary from district to district according to the availability of ships for inspection and other duties. Surveyors are not restricted to carrying out inspections within one district. Concentrated inspections involve surveyors from outside the region in which the inspection takes place and the team inspecting fish factory ships anchored off Lerwick may be comprised of surveyors from regions outside Scotland. For this reason, it is more accurate to give figures not by district, but for the MSA as a whole.
In 1994/95, 75 MSA surveyors were engaged in survey and inspection work, out of a total of 129 surveyors in post.
Night Flights
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he has taken to limit night flights in the south-east; what is (a) the current and (b) the proposed fine for flying at the wrong hours and on the wrong course. [40712]
Mr. Norris: My right hon. Friend may specify restrictions on aircraft taking off or landing at aerodromes designated for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. The only airports so designated are Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. For all other airports, such as Luton and London City, night restrictions may be imposed voluntarily by the airport operator or may be imposed by planning conditions.
Since 24 October 1993, night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted have comprised a maximum number of movements which can be made at each airport each season with a quota, related to an aircraft's noise classification on take-off or landing, as a supplementary control designed to encourage the use of quieter aircraft. The movements limits and quotas apply during the night quota period from 2330 to 0600. There are also restrictions on the noisiest types of aircraft from 2300 to
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2330 and from 0600 to 0700 to provide further protection. Further details are set out in the annex to my announcement of 16 August 1995, a copy of which was placed in the House Library. Monitoring returns are provided by the airport companies to their respective airport consultative committees.At the designated airports, my right hon. Friend also prescribes noise preferential departure routes and sets noise limits for departing aircraft. There are no statutory powers to penalise poor track keeping on the noise preferential routes. Financial penalties for infringements of the noise limits are imposed by the airport companies under their charging powers. The financial penalties for breaches of the night noise limit--102 PNdB, 89 dBA--are £500 for exceeding the limit by 3dB or less and £1,000 for breaches of more than 3dB. On 3 October, we published a consultation paper proposing a 2dB reduction in the night limit and a 3dB reduction in the daytime limit plus an improvement in monitoring efficiency by increasing the number of noise monitors and improving their location.
City of Nottingham Authority
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes will take place on transport matters when the city of Nottingham becomes a unitary authority; and if he will make a statement. [40914]
Mr. Norris: On becoming a unitary authority, the city of Nottingham would become a highway and traffic authority, with direct responsibility for the local roads in its area. In exercising these and its existing responsibilities we would expect the new authority to work closely with its neighbours at the strategic level to deliver improved local transport services.
Robin Hood Railway Line
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on the Robin Hood railway line of price competition between bus companies covering the route; and if he will make a statement. [40913]
Mr. Norris: I am aware of the very keen price competition between bus operators covering the route of the Robin Hood line, in particular between Hucknall and Nottingham. Nottinghamshire county council, which has sponsored the reopening of the Robin Hood line, is closely monitoring the position.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money (a) his Department, (b) the EC, (c) the county council, (d) local councils and (e) other partners have put into the Robin Hood line to date; and what amounts will have been paid by the completion of the line. [40987]
Mr. Norris: The capital cost of constructing stages 1 and 2 of the Robin Hood line has been around £23 million. My Department has so far provided £6.5 million from the coal regeneration fund towards the construction of stage 2 and £367,000 towards the construction of Bulwell station in stage 1. Around £4.5 million is expected from the EC and the majority of the remainder
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has been provided by Nottinghamshire county council, which is the sponsor of the scheme, with contributions from the district councils. My Department is currently considering the case for further resources to cover capital cost increases on stage 2.Traffic Wardens
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what policies exist or are proposed to transfer the functions of traffic wardens to local authorities. [40983]
Mr. Norris: The Road Traffic Act 1991 provided for the decriminalisation of most non-endorsable on-street parking offences and for local authorities to take over enforcement responsibilities from traffic wardens. The new arrangements apply in all London boroughs, although traffic wardens continue to enforce parking controls on red routes. The Government published guidance in May this year for local authorities outside London on how to apply to the Secretary of State to take on this responsibility.
Local Authority Transport Policy Funding
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes have taken place in the Government's policy on financing local authority transport policies since 1979. [40981]
Mr. Norris: The most recent change in the Government's approach to the financing of local transport was the introduction of the package approach to funding in 1994 95. This enables local authorities to submit bids for packages of measures covering all forms of transport, and to do so in partnership with each other if they wish. Information on earlier changes to the local transport financing system could be produced only at disproportionate cost. My Department publishes guidance on funding to local authorities in its annual transport policies and programme circulars, copies of which are deposited in the Library of the House.
Nottingham Light Rapid Transit System
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions are outstanding by his Department that are delaying the building of the light rapid transit system in Nottingham. [40984]
Mr. Norris: My Department has, at present, no outstanding decisions to make on the Nottingham express transit scheme. DOT officials have provisionally agreed Nottingham's section 56 appraisal and look forward to working closely with the recently appointed NET project development group over the coming year. Government funding for this scheme will of course depend on confirmation of the case for funding, the resources available at the time and the quality of competing bids for other local transport schemes.
Grants
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what grant-giving funds his Department is
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responsible, requiring a private sector contribution, where the use of national lottery funds is not allowed to count towards that private sector portion. [38610]Mr. Norris: I refer to the answer given by the Minister for National Heritage on 31 October 1995, Official Report , columns 186 87.
Severn Bridge
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what monitoring is in place to ensure that any fracturing of the strata due to compressive forces, or from other causes, as a result of the construction and subsequent use of the new Severn bridge is brought to (a) his Department's and (b) public attention; what investigations were undertaken prior to its construction to determine the risk of damage to underlying strata and fresh water resources; and what indemnity has been agreed to cover any such damage and for the Government to undertake corrective measures. [40139]
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. William Ross, dated 2 November 1995:
As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what guarantees or undertakings for compensation where given by the Government to (a) contractors, (b) companies and (c) consultants involved with the construction and use of the new Severn Bridge crossing in respect of (i) pollution and (ii) future pollution to the supply of fresh water from the aquafissure Big Spring Severn Tunnel for supply to industrial and commercial undertakings.
No guarantees or undertakings for compensation were given by Government to any of the contractors, companies or consultants involved in the construction and use of the new Severn Bridge in respect of pollution or future pollution to the supply of fresh water from the Great Spring.
Any claims for compensation arising out of a breach of the Concessionaire's obligations under the Concession Agreement would be met by the Concession Company, Severn River Crossing Plc, under the terms of its Concession Agreement with the Secretary of State. This situation applies both during the construction period and for the duration of the subsequent operation period which under the terms of the Concession Agreement is for a maximum of 30 years from April 1992.
Guarantees, undertakings and assurances in relation to monitoring and/or compensation were however given during the passage of the enabling legislation, the Severn Bridges Act 1992, to third parties who could be adversely affected by any pollution to the fresh water in the Great Spring that was attributed the construction of the new Severn Bridge. Such parties included British Rail, Welsh Water, NRA and Messrs Whitbreads.
Mr. Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guarantees or undertakings for compensation were given by the Government to (a) contractors, (b) companies and (c) consultants involved with the construction and use of the new Severn bridge crossing in respect of (i) pollution and (ii) future pollution to the supply of fresh water from the aquafissure Big Spring Severn tunnel for supply to industrial and commercial undertakings. [40142]
Mr. Watts: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. William Ross, dated 2 November 1995:As you know, John Watts has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport what monitoring is in place to ensure that any fracturing of the strata due to compressive forces, or from other causes, as a result of the construction of, and the subsequent use of the new Severn Bridge is brought to (a) his Department's and (b) public attention; what investigations were undertaken prior to its construction to determine the risk of damage to underlying strata and fresh water resources; and what indemnity has been agreed to cover any such damage and for the Government to undertake corrective measures. Monitoring systems are in place to monitor the effects of the new bridge on both the Severn Rail Tunnel and the Great Spring. These are provided by Severn River Crossing (SRC) Plc under the terms of the Concession Agreement. The regular and frequent results of the monitoring exercise are provided to all parties concerned including their Government Agent on behalf of the Secretary of State. There are no specific arrangements to bring the results of the monitoring to the attention of the public.
The Government commissioned consultants to report on the risks and likelihood of damage to the Great Spring prior to the project being put out to tender. The Consultant's view that the risks would be minimal was accepted.
It would be for SRC to take corrective action should any damage occur as a result of a breach of their obligations under the Concession Agreement. The Concessionaire is required to hold the Secretary of State fully protected and indemnified in respect of any such damage.
If no breach was involved then the onus and cost would fall on the Government.
Traffic Generation Report
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road schemes evaluated or re-evaluated so far in the light of the traffic appraisal unit's guidance following the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment report on traffic generation have been treated as complex or less complex in terms of guidance. [40588]
Mr. Watts: So far, the Highways Agency has considered 56 schemes in the light of the SACTRA report on induced traffic. The provisional assessments indicate that 12 are complex, 26 are intermediate and 18 are simple.
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes currently in the national road programme he expects to categorise as complex when they are evaluated in the light of the guidance from the traffic appraisal unit following the SACTRA report on traffic generation. [40590]
Mr. Watts: In respect of the national road programme as a whole, the Highways Agency is undertaking SACTRA-induced traffic assessments for all schemes at the appropriate stage in their preparation. So far, 12 of the 56 schemes considered have been provisionally assessed by the agency as complex. But it would not be right to extrapolate that trend to the whole programme, in which there are approximately 300 active schemes. The induced traffic assessments have to be done on a scheme-by- scheme basis and we will not know the overall picture until this work has been completed.
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Solent Light Dues
Mr. Barry Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers the inspector considering the Western Solent inquiry has, if the Western Solent comes under the control of a competent harbour authority, to direct that authority to make arrangements for the transfer of buoyage and the waiving of light dues for Isle of Wight ferries and other vessels. [40369]
Mr. Norris: The inspector would have no powers to direct any harbour authority to arrange for the transfer of buoyage responsibilities or the waiving of light dues for any vessel.
Fishing Vessels
Mr. Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vessels on the United Kingdom register of fishing vessels are owned by interests based in the Netherlands. [39364]
Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from R. M. Bradley to Dr. Gavin Strang, dated 2 November 1995:The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about he number of UK registered fishing vessels owned by interests based in the Netherlands.
Unfortunately this information is not available. When the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993 came into force on 21 March 1994, the only eligibility requirement for companies wishing to register fishing vessels on the UK register was that they be incorporated in a member state of the European Economic Area with a place of business in the UK. It is therefore no longer necessary for the Register of Shipping and Seamen to know the nationality of shareholders and thus the information you require is not collected.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will respond to the sixth report from the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, "The Channel Tunnel Rail Link and Exceptional Hardship", HC270. [41506]
Sir George Young: The Government responded yesterday to the Chairman of the Committee. A copy of the response has been placed in the Library.
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