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Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions exist to ensure that the safety of minibuses conforms to an agreed standard, with particular reference to safe seating. [11097]
Mr. Norris: All minibuses are subject to the general safety requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. Minibuses first used on or after 1 April 1988 must comply with the seating standards laid down in schedule 6 to these regulations.
I intend to lay regulations in February which will require minibuses used specifically for the carriage of children to be fitted with a minimum of a lap belt on a forward facing seat for each child carried.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the recommendations of the technology foresight panel on transport; if he will list the organisations involved; and what funding his Department is providing. [11317]
Mr. Norris: My Department welcomes the findings of the technology foresight initiative, particularly the recommendations of the transport panel. The Department's research activities already reflect a reasonable alignment with the transport panel's recommendations, and will develop taking its findings fully into account.
The Department aims to lend support as far as possible to the panel's two infrastructure projects: the informed traveller and urban clear zones. My officials are actively pursuing, with the members of the transport panel, how these projects can best be supported.
My Department will be announcing shortly a new LINK research programme which will reflect the technology foresight recommendations. In addition, my Department is participating with other public and private sector organisations in a project which has been submitted for support under the foresight challenge scheme--launched by my hon. Friend the Minister for Science and Technology on 25 September 1995. However, I am not yet in a position to list any organisations or the resources involved.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the result of the channel tunnel rail link competition; and if an international and domestic station will be built at Stratford as part of the channel tunnel rail link project. [10879]
Mr. Watts:
We expect to make an announcement soon about the choice of private sector promoter for the channel tunnel rail link project. We hope to make an announcement about a station at Stratford to a similar time scale.
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 179
Mr. Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number and locations of railway freight handling facilities in and around London which (a) can handle containers and (b) are warehouses where goods carried by train can be broken down and forwarded by road. [10881]
Mr. Watts:
This information is not held centrally.
Sir Roger Moate:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about new EC sight testing regulations for lorry drivers; if under these regulations moderately sighted drivers wearing glasses would be permitted to drive; and if he will make a statement. [10672]
Mr. Norris:
In response to a public consultation on implementing the eyesight requirements of the second EC directive on driving licences, a wide range of representative bodies and individuals offered comments. The directive introduces a higher standard of vision without glasses for lorry, and bus drivers who need to wear them for driving, in that both eyes must have an uncorrected acuity equivalent to at least 3/60 on the Snellen scale, rather than, as at present, one eye only. On that basis, the overwhelming majority of moderately sighted drivers wearing glasses would continue to be able to drive.
Mr. Allason:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to make driving licences issued in the Republic of South Africa directly exchangeable for licences issued by the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [10681]
Mr. Norris:
We shall shortly be consulting on proposed changes in the law which would enable most South African driving licences to be exchanged for British ones. Subject to a satisfactory outcome, we expect these changes to come into force later this year.
Sir John Gorst:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions for vehicle excise duty evasion there were in 1994 and 1995 in the Greater London area. [10833]
Mr. Norris:
The information requested is as follows:
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budget provisions exist for light rapid transit schemes in 1994-95; and what is planned for 1995-96. [11038]
Mr. Norris:
There is no specific provision for the funding of light rapid transit schemes; these schemes are funded from the local transport capital budget, in
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 180
competition with other types of local transport scheme. Some £60.2 million was allocated to light rapid transit schemes in 1994-95, and £67.7 million in 1995-96.
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support his Department has given for the greater use of buses in the North-west region. [11039]
Mr. Norris:
In the local transport settlement for 1996-97 my Department has allocated £9 million to the Greater Manchester transport package, and a total of £1.05 million to packages in Macclesfield, Northwich, and Preston and South Ribble. All these proposals put emphasis on measures to promote the use of buses. We shall continue to fund these initiatives in future as far as resources allow.
Mr. Loyden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the size of Her Majesty's Government's shareholding in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company; and if he will make a statement. [10332]
Mr. Norris:
The Government hold 12,411,795 ordinary shares in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company. This shareholding is one of a number of residual holdings held by the Government in privatised companies. Her Majesty's Treasury announced on 19 September 1995 that it had appointed a financial adviser in connection with proposals, in 1995-96 and 1996-97, of residual equity holdings in these privatised companies. No decision has yet been taken on the timing or method of sale of the Government's shareholding in the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company.
Mr. Loyden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial support Her Majesty's Government have given to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company since 1989. [10333]
Mr. Norris:
No direct financial support has been given by the Government since the financial reconstruction of the company in 1989.
However, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company is in receipt of grant aid from several schemes with the backing of the European regional development fund. Since 1989, some £13.3. million has been made available to the company for various infrastructure and regeneration projects.
Mr. Wilson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if it remains his policy that Railtrack should dispose of 13 independent stations; and if he will make a statement. [10310]
Mr. Watts:
No. All stations owned by Railtrack, including the 14 major stations which it operates, will pass into the private sector with the company when it is floated in May.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the use of porous asphalt for road surfacing motorways and A roads. [9904]
23 Jan 1996 : Column: 181
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 23 January 1996:
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proposals he is considering for further efficiency cuts in the Coastguard service; [9557]
Mr. Norris:
No further efficiency measures for the Coastguard agency, other than those contained in the agency's published 1995-96 business plan, have been decided. The process of considering the 1996-97 budget is currently under way.
1994-95
(a) prosecutions--43,229, (b) successful convictions 40,396.
1995-96 (April--December)
(a) prosecutions--34,190 (b) successful convictions 32,063.
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 plans he has to increase the use of porous asphalt for road surfacing motorways and 'A' roads.
The Highways Agency has developed with industry a general specification to permit the use of porous asphalt. Its adoption is encouraged where conditions are suitable and where the benefits can be shown to outweigh the higher costs associated with its use.
(2) which Coastguard offices or stations are under consideration for closure. [9558]
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