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Training Schemes
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been allocated to the crew relief costs scheme, the Government assistance for training scheme for British officer trainees and the development certificated seafarers scheme for 1996. [12467]
Mr. Norris: Allocation for the financial year 1996-97 have yet to be finalised.
Marine Safety Agency
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many surveyors have left the Marine Safety Agency in the last year; and how many have been recruited. [12194]
Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. Bradley to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 26 January 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of surveyors who have left the Marine Safety Agency and the number who have been recruited in the last year.
Between 1 January and 31 December 1995, 22 surveyors left the Agency, and 9 new recruits joined. A recent recruitment campaign for marine surveyors selected 20 successful applicants. These will be appointed to current vacancies, and any forthcoming vacancies over the next year.
Lorry Drivers (Convictions)
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department takes in respect of British lorry drivers who are convicted in other member states of the European Union of carrying prohibited substances or articles of which they claim to have no knowledge. [12096]
Mr. Norris:
Such matters are the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs advises that any British citizen convicted of an offence in a foreign country will have full access to normal consular support. However, the British consulate has no authority to interfere with the due process of law in a sovereign state.
26 Jan 1996 : Column: 464
Mr. Allen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which sites of special scientific interest in England will be affected by trunk road and motorway schemes for which preferred routes have been announced. [11229]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Laurie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 26 January 1996:
(21) Scheme under construction on 30 November 1995.
(22) Scheme expected to start main works during Spring of 1996.
(23) This scheme was transferred to the Network Enhancement Programme as part of the 1995 Review and the Preferred Route will be reviewed.
26 Jan 1996 : Column: 465
26 Jan 1996 : Column: 466
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the minimum requirements for the refurbishment of the west coast main line (a) for signals, (b) for track and (c) for rolling stock. [11632]
Mr. Watts:
Railtrack is developing modernisation proposals for the west coast main line which include the introduction of an in-cab signalling system and improved track and power supply equipment. All enhancements will be carried out in accordance with Railtrack's statutory duties, its rigorous safety standards, and its contractual obligations to the train operating companies. All new or altered works, which includes rolling stock, have to be approved by HM railways inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, under the Railway and Other Transport Systems (Approval of Works Plant and Equipment) Regulations 1994, before they can be used on the railway.
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) in England that will be affected by trunk road and motorways schemes for which preferred routes have been announced.
I enclose a list of Trunk Road and Motorway schemes in England, for which preferred routes have been announced, that are likely to involve permanent or temporary landtake from a SSSI, a list of schemes that may have an impact on a SSSI but do not involve landtake and a list of those schemes which remain under review following the 1995 Review which may affect a SSSI.
You will, I hope, appreciate that the lists are therefore dynamic and will be subject to change as, and when, scheme, designs are developed.
I hope this is helpful.
Scheme SSSI
Road programme schemes:
M6 J11a-16 Widening Doxey and Tillington (Indirect)
A27 Lewes to Polegate Improvement Southern Grey Pit (Possible Landtake) Milton Gate Marsh (Possible Landtake)
F16 Aircraft
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) the Deputy Prime Minister concerning the proposed leasing of American F16 aircraft. [12115]
Mr. Arbuthnot: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 January, Official Report, column 430. Discussions between Ministers are confidential.
Dr. Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the remit of Mr. David Hart in respect of providing advice on the proposed leasing of American F16 aircraft. [12116]
Mr. Portillo:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 October 1995, Official Report, column 360, and that from my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 15 January, Official Report, column 430.
26 Jan 1996 : Column: 467
Mr. Stern:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the name and addresses of the independent advisers appointed by him, or by the relevant agency, in the procurement of (a) the department of experimentation and research into Aviation Farnborough's most current super-computer, (b) the Meteorological Office Bracknell's current super-computer and (c) the atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston's recent super-computer. [12157]
Mr. Arbuthnot:
The competition for a super-computer for the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston is being run by the AWE operating contractor. It is being assisted in the competition by an independent consultancy company, details of which are commercially confidential.
The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the Meteorological Office are executive agencies and matters of this nature fall to their chief executives. I have asked the chief executives of both agencies to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Michael Stern, dated 26 January 1996:
Letter from Julian Hunt to Mr. Michael Stern; dated 25 January 1996:
I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the appointment of independent advisors on procuring supercomputers. I am responsible for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which through its Defence Research Agency (DRA) division has recently procured a supercomputer at Farnborough, Hampshire.
The procurement of a massively parallel supercomputer by DERA acting on behalf of the members of the Farnborough Supercompter Centre (FSC) followed from a feasibility study carried out by Smith System Engineering Limited, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey GU12 5YP.
The FSC, which was opened in January 1995, is a Dual-Use Technology Centre (DUTC) with members from leading defence manufacturers together with DERA.
I hope this information is helpful.
I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the procurement of the Meteorological Office's current supercomputers this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.
The Meteorological Office's current supercomputer has been procured in accordance with normal Ministry of Defence practice. The procurement was agreed with the Department's DGICS organisation, in the course of which advice was taken from appropriate independent sources.
The identity of the provider of the relevant advice must remain commercially confidential.
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