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Road Salting
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effects of road salting on (i) roadside flora, (ii) roadside fauna, (iii) vehicles and (iv) bridges. [11644]
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 25 January 1996:
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The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has commissioned and evaluated on the effects of road salting on roadside flora, fauna, vehicles and bridges.
A comprehensive study of the effects of road salting on roadside flora was carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory in 1982. The subsequent report was "An Assessment of The Conditions For Shrubs Alongside Motorways" by Colwill, Thompson and Rutter, Laboratory Report 1061.
A study was also commissioned in April 1989 into the performance of concrete in bridges. Known as the "Maunsell Report", its findings have been included within the 15 year bridge rehabilitation programme.
There has not been any separate assessments on evaluating the effects of road salting on roadside fauna or on vehicles.
Absenteeism
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years (a) 1979-80, (b) 1989-90, (c) 1991-92, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95 and (f) 1995-96. [11349]
Mr. Norris: Information on sickness absence in the Department of Transport, which is available only for calendar years, is as follows:
| Year | Average working days of sickness per staff year |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 8.1 |
| 1990 | 9.4 |
| 1991 | 9.9 |
| 1992 | 10.2 |
| 1993 | 10.7 |
| 1994 | 9.4 |
| 1995 | (14)9.0 |
(14) Estimated.
In 1979-90 sick absence rates were not separately recorded for the Department.
Chiswick Flyover
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of refurbishment of the Chiswick flyover on the London A4, the cause of its deterioration and the time taken to repair it. [11645]
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Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 25 January 1996:
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he expects to be made in the eyesight test for public service vehicle and lorry drivers; and what number of these drivers he expects will fail the new test. [11897]
Mr. Norris:
From 1 July, all those who wish to drive large goods or passenger-carrying vehicles--whether for the first time or to continue doing so--will, when they apply for or to renew their licence, have to meet the minimum uncorrected vision standard in both eyes, rather than in one eye only as at present. We estimate that some 3,000 current licence holders will not meet this requirement.
Mr. Allen
: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport. what revisions of emission targets will be made to accord with the findings of the intergovernmental conference on climate control on human influence on the global climate. [10304]
Mr. Clappison:
I have been asked to reply.
The UK target for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions remains that set down for all developed countries in the climate change convention--to return emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000--although we now expect to surpass this. For the period after 2000, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has called for developed countries to agree to aim to reduce their emissions by a figure in the range of 5 to 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. He intends to take every opportunity to press his international colleagues to support that target and will be highlighting the important findings of the intergovernmental panel on climate change whenever he does so.
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Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has carried out and with what findings into what happens to claimants aged (a) 16 and 17 years and (b) 18 years and over who have become disentitled to state benefit; and if he will make a statement. [8069]
Mr. Roger Evans:
Vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds who meet the qualifying conditions have access to social security benefits including income support and housing benefit. In 1990, the Department of Social Security commissioned research by MORI into the circumstances of young people aged 16 and 17 who claimed income support via the severe hardship provision. This was published in 1991 and is in the Library. People who are aged 18 or over qualify for benefits if they meet the entitlement conditions. We have not conducted research into people who fail to meet those conditions.
Mr. Bradley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate savings since 1 October 1995 as a result of his measures announced on 30 November 1994 to limit or withdraw income support for mortgage interest payments indicating the figures for (a) 1994-95, (b) 1995-96 and (c) the projected figures for 1996-97; what further plans he has to (i) limit and (ii) restrict mortgage interest payments under income support; and if he will make a statement. [9391]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The estimated savings from the measures announced by the Secretary of State on 30 November 1994 and introduced on 10 April 1995 and 2 October 1995 to restrict the amount of mortgage interest met by income support are £30 million in 1995-96, £170 million in 1996-97 and £240 million in 1997-98.
We have no further plans of the kind described but all aspects of social security are kept under review.
Mr. Wicks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many and what proportion of (a) families with children, (b) one-parent families, (c) one-parent families headed by a divorced or separated person, (d) one-parent families headed by a widow or widower and (e) one-parent families headed by a single unmarried mother receive income support. [9605]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The available information is set out in the table.
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking him if he will estimate the cost of the refurbishment of the Chiswick flyover, the cause of its deterioration and the time taken to repair it.
My reply relates to work to the M4 elevated section which extends from Junction 1 (east of Chiswick roundabout) to Boston Manor playing fields.
It is too early to be precise about the cost of the refurbishment of the elevated section of the M4. In order to maintain access on this busy route between London, Heathrow and the west and to minimise disruption to road users, the work will have to be phased and could take up to ten years. Preliminary estimates suggest that the cost will be in the region of £30m.
The M4 elevated structure is some 30 years old. Repairs are required because over the years water containing de-icing salts has leaked from the road surface into the crossheads at the top of the piers. When this occurs steel reinforcement in the piers begins to rust loosening and pushing off the protective surface concrete.
There is an ongoing maintenance programme to install new bridge deck joints to prevent further deterioration of the structure and to review loose surface concrete. This work is being undertaken at night.
Investigations to prepare a programme a further repairs are still ongoing. There are no plans for weekday or daytime closures of this section of the M4 motorway.
Notes:
(15) denotes sample size too small to estimate percentage.
1. n/a denotes not available.
2. Due to rounding, recipient total does not tally.
Source:
Income Support 1 per cent. Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1993.
Estimates derived from the General Household Survey.
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Parents with Care
Ms Lynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of parents with care for whom good cause has not been accepted by the Child Support Agency have had a reduced benefit directive imposed,
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broken down by centre, since April 1995; and how he explains variations between centres. [10181]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell:
The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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