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Investors in People
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to achieve Investor in People status; when they started the process; when they expect to achieve Investor in People status; and if he will make a statement. [2982]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 30 November 1995]: The Scottish Office, associated departments and agencies has been committed to becoming an Investor in People since 1991. The "whole Department" approach to meeting the standard has proved to be both challenging and beneficial; preparations have included a self-assessment exercise; and a wide-ranging staff survey on development and communications.
When I came to the Scottish Office, I set a target of obtaining Investor in People status by December 1996. I am confident that the Scottish Office will achieve this.
TRANSPORT
Stowaways
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he makes for the safe passage and safe return of ship stowaways. [7702]
Mr. Norris: There is currently no international agreement on dealing with stowaways. The UK, however, is concerned about the increase in the number of stowaway incidents and is currently taking the issue forward in the International Maritime Organisation. We are developing international guidelines on the responsibilities of all parties involved in dealing with stowaways.
I understand that a stowaway arriving in the United Kingdom is examined by the immigration service and that the arrangements for his or her removal, where applicable, are usually made by the agents for the vessel following directions given to them under the Immigration Act.
Toll Bridges (Deregulation)
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the results of his consultation on deregulation of charging on toll bridges; and if he will make a statement. [8223]
Mr. Watts: I hope to make an announcement shortly.
Railways (Grants)
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the estimated predicted levels of
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public service obligation grant payable to the railways in each of the years from 1995-96 to 2003-4. [7772]
Mr. Watts: Support for passenger rail services is now paid by the franchising director under section 52 of the Railways Act 1993. He expects to pay grant of some £1,600 million in 1995-96. The Government remain committed to providing grant to support passenger services. The grant level in 1996-97 and beyond will depend on the outcome of competitions for passenger franchises. The Government are confident that private sector franchises will offer better value for money for passengers and taxpayers, as clearly indicated by the first three franchises announced in December.
Road Improvement Schemes
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each of the proposed road improvement schemes which were due to be started in (a) South Yorkshire, (b) West Yorkshire, (c) North Yorkshire and (d) Humberside which have now been (i) abandoned or (ii) suspended; and if he will make a statement. [8447]
Mr. Watts: Following the recent review of the trunk road programme the list of schemes placed in each category is set out:
Longer-term programme schemes
A1 (M) Leeming-Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire
A1 (M) Dishforth-Leeming, North Yorkshire
A65 Coniston Cold Bypass, North Yorkshire
A650 Shipley Eastern Bypass, Bradford MB.
Withdrawn schemes
A19 Thormanby Bypass, North Yorkshire
A19 Shipton by Beningborough Bypass, North Yorkshire
A64 York-Malton Bypass Improvement, North Yorkshire
A64 Malton-Seamer Bypass, North Yorkshire
A65 Ilkley Bypass, North Yorkshire
A616/A628 Salters Brook-Stocksbridge Improvement, Barnsley MB, Sheffield MB
A1079 Shiptonthorpe Bypass, Humberside.
EU Transport Council
Mr. Riddick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 7 and 8 December 1995. [8944]
Sir George Young: The Transport Council met in Brussels on 7 and 8 December. My noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping represented the United Kingdom.
The Council reached a common position on a directive to introduce greater competition in ground handling services at European Community airports. The directive includes a provision suspending its application to Gibraltar until arrangements agreed between the UK and Spain in 1987 in relation to Gibraltar airport have been implemented. The UK will enter a statement in the Council minutes emphasising that in principle the
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directive applies to Gibraltar, and that the suspension does not affect the position on sovereignty over the territory in which the airport is situated.
The Council also reached a common position on a directive allowing member states to issue driving licences in the form of a plastic card. The Council accepted an amendment, proposed by the UK, which reserves space in the licence for member states to record information of their own. The amendment would make it possible for the driving licence, with additional identity information, to be used as a voluntary identity card in the UK, although the Government have not yet taken any decision on this issue.
The Council agreed to amend the regulation governing state aids for combined transport, extending its application until the end of 1997.
The Council agreed conclusions noting a communication from the Commission on a package of measures to reform the inland waterways industry in the Community.
The Council agreed mandates for the Community to negotiate a road goods transport agreement with Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania, and a road passenger transport agreement with up to 14 central and eastern European states.
The Council reached political agreement on a directive to provide a framework for harmonising the standards applying to safety and environmental protection equipment carried by merchant ships for EC member states. This will help to improve safety and promote a single market for marine equipment.
The Council adopted a resolution on measures to promote short sea shipping and related ports services.
The Commission reported that the Council on the impact of the regulation and maritime cabotage adopted by the Council in 1992.
The Council discussed the conclusions of the recent International Maritime Organisation conference on ferry safety. The UK and other member states welcomed an invitation from Sweden to a meeting next month to secure higher safety standards for roll-on roll-off ferries in north-west Europe.
Other issues raised at the Council included air transport relations with the United States, on which the Commission gave an initial presentation of the economic analysis requested at the June 1995 meeting of the Transport Council.
The only vote at the Council was on the ground-handling directive, which Germany and Austria opposed.
Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to amend the Highways Agency's 1995-96 key business plan targets. [8534]
Mr. Watts:
As a consequence of the change to the trunk road programme announced on 28 November and published in "Managing the Trunk Road Programme", and the need to avoid over-committing funds for 1996-97, a number of business plan targets for the current financial year need to be amended. These include
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reducing the length of motorway and trunk road to be renewed from 134 and 262 nearside lane kilometres--nlks--to 110 and 220 nlks respectively, and deferring a number of milestone targets for the preparation of individual schemes. A full list of amendments has been placed in the Library.
The following 1995-96 targets are deferred, reflecting the new timing or priority of these schemes announced on 28 November:
Mr. Batiste:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the Civil Aviation Authority's external finance limit. [8966]
Mr. Norris:
The Civil Aviation Authority's external finance limit for 1995-96 will be £35.954 million. This amount is made up of the following:
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The above schemes feature in table 3 of "Managing the Trunk Road Programme" as schemes now due to start by the end of the financial year 1996-97.
Start of Works
A12 Hackney--M11 (Contract 1)
A12 Hackney--M11 (Contract 3)
A40 Gypsy Corner Improvement
A40 Western Circus Junction Improvement.
The following 1995-96 targets are withdrawn, reflecting the schemes' changed status:
A406/A1/A598 Regents Park Road Junction improvement
Preferred Route
M1 Junctions 25-28 Widening
M11 Junctions 8-9 Widening
A6 Kibworth Bypass
Public Inquiry
M1 Junctions 10-15 Widening
M6 Junctions 11-16 Widening
M6 Junctions 16-20 Widening.
Start of Works
A65 Manor Park Bends Improvement (now Regional Programme)
A65 Hellifield and Long Preston Bypass (now DBFO)
Preferred Route
A59 Bank Hall Diversion (withdrawn).
The CAA's external finance limit for future years will be as follows:
(i) the original external finance limit of £27.9 million as agreed in the 1994 public expenditure survey;
(ii) plus £8.054 million, in respect of;
(a) the carry forward of an underspend of £5.975 million from 1994-95 under Treasury end-year flexibility rules, which will be funded from the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure; and
(b) £2.079 million, resulting from a one-off cash transfer from the CAA to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. The cash transfer relates to the transfer of ownership of HIAL from the CAA to the Scottish Office, and is in respect of HIAL liabilities expected to arise in this financial year.
1996-97: £13.4 million
1997-98: £22.9 million
1998-99: £22.9 million.
The limits are negative because in these years the CAA's repayment of past Government loans will exceed its new borrowing.
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