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Helicopters (Portland)
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to maintain permanent helicopter coverage for Portland and the mid-channel area; and if he will make a statement. [13378]
Mr. Norris: The interdepartmental helicopter review group, established to examine the national requirement for helicopter for search and rescue and how this might most effectively and efficiently be met, is due to submit its report to Ministers shortly. On the basis of its conclusions, further consideration will be given to future deployment. This will include the future of the Coastguard helicopter provided at Portland.
British Rail (Safety)
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects each of the British Rail infrastructure service units to complete the preparation of its contractor's safety case. [13231]
Mr. Watts: Each of the six track renewal companies and seven infrastructure maintenance companies, successors to the infrastructure service units, has completed the preparation of its contractors' safety cases. Railtrack plc, as the employer for the contracts, has accepted them.
Driving Licences
Mr. Marlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect of European Union proposals on (a) the form and (b) the valid period of future United Kingdom driving licences. [13482]
Mr. Norris: The second directive on the driving licence requires the inclusion of additional information on the current United Kingdom licence and the repositioning of some of the existing material. A current EU proposal, if adopted, would allow the introduction of a plastic credit card style-licence containing a photograph. There are no proposals to change the validity periods of driving entitlement, but a card licence would be renewable every 10 years.
London Lorry Ban
Mr. David Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further measures he plans to exclude heavy lorries from central London between the hours of 7 am and 11 pm. [13759]
6 Feb 1996 : Column: 154
Mr. Norris:
None. The number of heavy goods vehicles crossing the central cordon dropped from 32,000 in 1983 to 10,000 in 1993, the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he will take to ensure access for the disabled to public bus services in the Greater Manchester area. [13480]
Mr. Norris:
The Government will be bringing forward regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to require that all new buses coming into service from the date determined in the regulations must be fully accessible to disabled people, including those who travel in wheelchairs.
These regulations will apply to buses in the Greater Manchester area, as they will throughout the country.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to bring forward amendments to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations. [13676]
Mr. Norris:
Amendments are made regularly to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, some to reflect changes in European type approval standards, others for the benefit of road safety or environmental protection.
Sir Graham Bright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guaranteed level of service will be required on the London to Luton inter-city route after privatisation; what is the current level of service; and what assessment he has made of the level of service which will be provided after privatisation. [13627]
Mr. Watts:
Services between London and Luton are predominantly provided by Thameslink, rather than the inter-city service, which is provided by Midland main line. Accordingly, it will be the passenger service requirement for Thameslink which will safeguard the level of service. That PSR has yet to be set. The PSR for Midland main line leaves the level of services to the commercial judgment of the franchisee.
At present on weekdays, Thameslink operates 136 trains per day between London and Luton and 133 trains per day between Luton and London, Midland main line operates 16 trains per day between London and Luton and 15 between Luton and London.
The level of service above the PSR to be provided after privatisation will be a matter for the franchise operator. In evaluating bids for franchises the franchising director is required to take account of bidders' commitments to providing service levels beyond those specified in the PSR. Franchisees for the first three franchises have committed themselves to provide service levels over and above the PSR and the Government expect bidders for other franchises to offer similar commitments.
6 Feb 1996 : Column: 155
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the road building programme in the Greater Manchester area. [13481]
Mr. Watts:
Following the recent review of the trunk road programme the list of road schemes in the Greater Manchester area is as follows:
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding his Department has provided for maintenance of the trunk roads network in the Greater Manchester area between 1992 and 1995. [13479]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. James Callaghan, dated 6 February 1996:
Mr. David Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for avoiding traffic congestion in central London. [13736]
Mr. Norris:
Improvements to the M25 and to the north circular road will encourage traffic to avoid passing through inner and central London. Within the central area itself a range of measures is being pursued, including tight controls over the provision of parking within new developments, improved signalling and traffic control,
6 Feb 1996 : Column: 156
better co-ordination of streetworks, stricter enforcement of on-street parking, and improved signing on the inner ring road.
Mr. Hardy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions have been pursued during the last five years in response to criminal or irresponsible action leading to oil pollution of seas and coastal waters; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current regulations and sanctions. [13117]
Mr. Norris:
I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 24 January, Official Report, column 270, and on 31 January, Official Report, columns 807-8.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with British Airways in connection with its planned relocation of its cargo centre on the north-west fringes of Heathrow airport. [13302]
Mr. Norris:
British Airways' cargo centre is currently located on the southern side of Heathrow airport and is being redeveloped on that site. The Department's transport security division has been in contact with British Airways to discuss the incorporation of aviation security requirements in this project.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which bridges crossing the M25 will have to be widened to accommodate the additional lanes planned between junctions 12 and 16; and if he will make a statement. [13301]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
The longer-term programme comprises those schemes, which, although required, are not of the highest priority nationally. They will be taken forward only as the main programme is completed.
Schemes under Construction
M66 Denton to Middleton Contract 2 (Advance Side Roads)
M66 Denton to Middleton Contract 4 (M66/M62 River Irk)
Schemes expected to start 1995-96 to 1996-97
M66 Denton to Middleton Contract 1 (Denton to River Medlock)
Main Prgoramme Schemes
M63 junctions 6-9 widening
M66 Denton to Middleton Contract 3 (River Irk to River Medlock)
A6 (M) Stockport North/South Bypass
A6 (M)-M56 Manchester Airport Link-West
A57/A628 Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass
A62 junctions 12/18 improvement (replaces M62 Relief Road scheme withdrawn from the programme)
Longer Term Programme
A6 Disley and High Lane Bypass
A5225 Wigan-Westhoughton Bypass
As you know, the Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what funding his Department has provided for maintenance of the trunk road network in the Greater Manchester area between 1992 and 1995.
Expenditure on maintenance was as follows:
1992-93: £38.194 million
1993-94: £27,513 million
1994-95: £31,395 million
1995-96: £17,771 million (to date).
Maintenance programmes are determined to meet needs on the basis of continuous review of the condition of the network.
I hope this is helpful.
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