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Blue Bell Hill Tunnel
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of the tunnel under Blue Bell hill that forms part of the channel tunnel rail link project. [13904]
Mr. Watts:
Union Railways' estimate is just over £70 million at 1994 Q3 prices. The actual cost will depend on detailed design by the successful bidder.
6 Feb 1996 : Column: 157
Mr. Wilson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes the Health and Safety Executive has recently authorised in working hour arrangements for safety critical staff in the railways industry. [13805]
Mr. Watts:
None. The Health and Safety Executive is not required to authorise working hour arrangements on the railways. However, under the Railways (Safety Critical Work) Regulations 1994, employers have a duty to ensure that any staff who undertake safety critical work do not work such hours that would be liable to cause fatigue which could endanger safety.
The Health and Safety Commission has recently consulted on a draft approved code of practice which would give practical guidance to employers on their duty, including guidance on carrying out a risk assessment before making any changes to existing working time patterns.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the report of the chairman of the round table conference on the A303 at Stonehenge; when he will publish it; and if he will make a statement. [13498]
Mr. Watts:
The chairman has not yet submitted his report. The report will be published as soon as it is received.
Ms Quin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated about the costs of traffic congestion. [13158]
Mr. Watts:
The Department has not commissioned research to estimate the national cost of traffic congestion. The cost of congestion at a national level is a very difficult concept to pin down. Estimates have been made of the UK cost of congestion on the basis of work carried out by the OECD some six years ago. However, the method used contains a number of gross simplifications and the figures are consequently unreliable.
Our own traffic and economics assessments focus on appraisal of individual transport projects. They start from the baseline of current congestion levels and estimate the reduction in congestion costs in the area concerned that can be achieved by implementing the project. These estimates are backed up by an on-going extensive programme of research on methodology.
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the existence of a relationship between traffic accidents and poor eyesight; and what statistics it maintains. [13752]
Mr. Norris
[holding answer 6 February 1996]: There are no specific statistics on the relationship between poor eyesight and road traffic accidents because drivers do not have their eyes tested after accidents unless required to do
6 Feb 1996 : Column: 158
so by the police on suspicion that they cannot meet the legal eyesight standard. The Department however accepts the view of medical experts that poor eyesight is a danger to road safety, and follows their advice in setting minimum eyesight standards for driving.
Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of staff employed by his Department or related agencies in each of the travel-to-work areas of Carmarthen, South Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Cardigan on (a) 31 March 1979, (b) 31 March 1990, (c) 31 March 1992, (d) 31 March 1995, (e) the latest available figure and (f) the estimate for 31 March 1997. [13299]
Mr. Norris
[holding answer 5 February 1996]: Details of the numbers of staff recorded in departmental computer records as employed in the Department and its agencies in the travel-to-work areas of Carmarthen, South Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Cardigan for the years 1990, 1992, 1995 and February 1996 are set out in the following table. Figures for 1979 are not available except at disproportionate cost. Estimates for 31 March 1997 are yet to be formulated.
| 31 March 1990 | 31 March 1992 | 31 March 1995 | 2 February 1996 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carmarthen | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| South Pembrokeshire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Haverfordwest | 26 | 30 | 25 | 25 |
| Fishguard | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Cardigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Railtrack Staff
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed by Railtrack; how many have been made redundant in each year since Railtrack was set up; and if he will make a statement. [13219]
Mr. Watts [holding answer, 5 February 1996]: On 1 February, Railtrack employed 11,382 staff. During the financial year 1994-95, six employees were made redundant; to date, no employees have been made redundant in 1995-96.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list those police forces which run units dedicated to enforcing heavy goods vehicle safety; and what were the staff numbers in each of those units; [13243]
- (2) if he will list by police force the current budget dedicated to enforcement legislation relating to heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles. [13275]
Mr. Maclean: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
6 Feb 1996 : Column: 159
Central Community Relations Unit
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list all organisations in receipt of funding from the central community relations unit in 1995 giving, in each case, the amount of funding. [12334]
Mr. Ancram: The central community relations unit provided funding in 1994-95, the last complete financial year for which figures are available, totalling £4,642,941.54. Details of the organisations funded, together with the amount of funding they received in 1993-94, are set out in the following table. It does not include payments from the European regional development fund and the European social fund in respect of European Union measures administered by the central community relations unit.
6 Feb 1996 : Column: 160
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