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Staff Clothing
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which offices of his Department have dress codes for administrative staff; [14413]
- (2) if male staff in his Department are allowed to wear earrings; [142395]
(3) if he will make a statement on the factors which led to the decision not to include staff at grade 7 and above in the dress guidelines issued to staff of the north eastern traffic area office on 29 January; [14400]
(4) what are the requirements on female staff in the dress guidelines issued to staff of the north eastern traffic area office on 29 January; [14396]
(5) what representations he has received in the last 12 months from members of the public with regard to the dress and appearance of staff of the north eastern traffic area office; [14443]
(6) what plans his Department has to introduce a dress code for the administrative staff employed in the north eastern traffic area office; [14414]
(7) if female staff of the north eastern traffic area office are allowed to wear leggings; and if he will make a statement; [14398]
(8) which traffic area officers were visited by the clerk of the north eastern traffic area office in his assessment of the dress guidelines issued on 29 January; [14399]
(9) what instructions he has given to the clerk of the north eastern traffic area office on the matter of a dress code for staff below grade 7 in that office; [14442]
(10) what financial assistance he plans to make available to staff of the north eastern traffic area office to meet the costs of appropriate clothing set out in the dress guidelines issued on 29 January. [14397]
Mr. Norris: The Department's position on dress code is that staff who are required to wear a uniform while on official duty are provided with such uniforms. For other staff, there is no formal dress code nor instructions as to male earrings or leggings for females. This is left as a matter for discussion between local management and the individuals concerned.
The dress guidelines for clerical staff in the North Eastern traffic area office have been suspended pending discussions with the trade union side. There are separate guidelines for staff in the management grades, which include the grade 7 clerk, agreed with the Public Services, Tax and Commerce Union locally.
The dress guidelines had been prepared to give staff an indication of what is considered suitable in the light of the TAO's wish to improve the image and service that it presents to the public. There are no plans to provide additional financial support.
13 Feb 1996 : Column: 487
Mr. Chris Davies:
To ask the Secretary of state for Transport how much will be paid by the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising to the British Railways Board for the operation and marketing of passenger rail services in Greater Manchester in 1996-97; and how much in 1996-97 prices was paid by Greater Manchester passenger transport executive in 1995-96. [14614]
Mr. Watts:
The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising is currently negotiating a contract with the British Railways Board for the provision of passenger rail services including those currently supported by Greater Manchester PTE for 1996-97. When this is completed it will be possible to indicate only the amount of support paid for each train operating company, not the amounts paid for specific areas. The amount paid by Greater Manchester PTE is a matter for it or for the British Railways Board.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisation will become responsible from 1 April for the services for the (a) marketing, (b) promotion and (c) provision of information about passenger rail services currently provided by Greater Manchester passenger transport executive; and what sums will be allocated for these purposes in 1996-97. [14615]
Mr. Watts:
From 1 April 1996, the train operating company, North West Regional Railways, will be responsible for these activities, and for funding them.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations will be responsible for the compilation of timetable information for Greater Manchester passenger rail services after 1 April. [14613]
Mr. Watts:
From 1 April 1996 North West Regional Railways and Railtrack will become responsible for the compilation of timetable information on local rail services formerly supported by Greater Manchester passenger transport executive.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in the responsibilities of the British Railways Board and North West Regional Railways for the provision of passenger rail services in Greater Manchester are planned to be introduced from 1 April. [14612]
Mr. Watts:
From 1 April 1996 the franchising director will assume responsibility for the financial support of local rail services in the Greater Manchester area. The franchising director will also become responsible for determining the future level of services formerly secured by the Greater Manchester PTE.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising has to enforce the contract held by North West Regional Railways, for providing Greater Manchester passenger rail services from 1 April. [14616]
Mr. Watts:
The Office of Passenger Rail Franchising will have a legally enforceable contract with the British Railways Board for 1996-97 which will include the timetable for Greater Manchester services to be operated by North West Regional Railways.
13 Feb 1996 : Column: 488
Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the introduction of the piggyback principle for freight to the west coast main line. [14742]
Mr. Watts:
Railtrack is examining costs and technical feasibility.
Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the re-opening of the Great Central Railway; and how many were opposed to it. [14740]
Mr. Watts:
Up to Friday 9 February, we have received 465 letters from Members of Parliament, local authorities, other outside organisations and the general public about the project being promoted by Central Railway plc, including letters about the recent waiver applications. All but five of these letters expressed opposition to, or reservations about, the scheme in whole or in part, or opposition to waivers.
Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what surveys his Department has undertaken into the number of homes and businesses that would be affected by the resurrection of the Great Central Railway. [14743]
Mr. Watts:
None. The promoters of the project, Central Railway plc, are required under the Transport and Works Act procedures to survey all land that would be compulsorily acquired, for the purpose of listing all affected owners and occupiers in a book of reference. The book of reference must be provided with the application.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail facilities which received freight facilities grant since the inception of the grant are now no longer in operation. [15005]
Mr. Watts:
More than 200 grants have been made since the scheme started in 1975. The Department undertakes monitoring of the tonnage moved through a grant-aided facility for a period equal to the commitment made by the grant applicant to move goods through that facility. This period is normally in the region of five to 10 years. Information on the current use of the relevant facilities is not held centrally.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the costs of transporting low value, high bulk goods over long distances (a) by road and (b) by rail. [14981]
Mr. Watts:
My Department makes such estimates when assessing applications for the grants which are available to encourage freight to be moved by rail rather than road transport.
13 Feb 1996 : Column: 489
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many pages of evidence were provided by his Department to the Scott inquiry. [14835]
Mr. Hanley:
A total of 16,234.
Mr. Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department provided all documents requested by Lord Justice Scott in the furtherance of his inquiry. [14838]
Mr. Hanley:
All documents requested by Sir Richard Scott and in our possession were provided to his inquiry.
Mr. Cyril D. Townsend:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official ministerial visits have been paid to the Republic of Cyprus in each of the last five years; and what further such visits are planned. [14764]
Mr. David Davis:
Since 1991, there have been five such visits: two in 1992 and three in 1993. These visits all took place in a multilateral context. There are no present plans for further visits.
Mr. Townsend:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to support current proposals for the demilitarisation of the island of Cyprus. [14763]
Mr. Davis:
Moves by both sides to reduce deployment of troops and levels of military equipment on the island can only help to improve the climate for a settlement. This is an issue that we discuss regularly with both communities in Cyprus.
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