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Christopher Muttukumaru
Mr. Janner: To ask the President of the Board of Trade how he responded to communications received from Mr. Christopher Muttukumaru; what were the dates of letters; and if he will deposit copies in the Library. [16554]
Mr. Lang [holding answer 22 February 1996]: My officials and I have responded to a number of letters from Mr. Muttukumaru. Sir Richard is free to publish any document he considers relevant to his report, consistent with his procedures. I understand that he proposes to do this as soon as possible.
Iraq (Export Credit Guarantees)
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list for each year since 1985-86 the proportions attributable to awards to Iraq of (a) the amount in default and (b) the amount written off relating to export credit guarantees. [16005]
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 19 February 1996]: The information is as follows:
| Year | Claims paid | Amounts written off |
|---|---|---|
| 1985-86 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986-87 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987-88 | 6 | 0 |
| 1988-89 | 28 | 4 |
| 1989-90 | 56 | 0 |
| 1990-91 | 193 | 0 |
| 1991-92 | 181 | 0 |
| 1992-93 | 104 | 0 |
| 1993-94 | 61 | 0 |
| 1994-95 | 46 | 3 |
| 1995-96(4) | 14 | 2 |
| Total | 696 | 9 |
(4) To 31 January.
The above table reports all claims paid by the ECGD on Iraq. For this reason, the total of £696 million is higher than the claims figure of £683 million which I cited in my written reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 15 January 1996, Official Report, columns 353-54. The latter figure excluded claims cases under the ECGD's now privatised credit insurance operations where the debt has been recovered in its entirety. All such cases predate the invasion of Kuwait in August 1990.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Scottish Grand Committee
Mr. Foulkes:
To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what has been the cost of each
26 Feb 1996 : Column: 318
meeting of the Scottish Grand Committee in the current session to date; and what is the estimated cost of each of those planned for the remainder of the Session. [12960]
Mr. Beith
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: The information is not readily available in the form requested, because not all costs are analysed to individual meetings. The extra costs which relate to travel, accommodation, communication and additional staff time for those meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee held in Scotland have been forecast at £102,000 for the financial year to 31 March 1996 and £162,000 for the financial year to 31 March 1997. Sums expended in the current Session, to 31 January 1996, amount to £28,501.
East Coast Main Line
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the amount of debt outstanding at the time of train operations being wound up by Stagecoach on the east coast main line; how much has been repaid to date; and at what times. [17131]
Mr. Watts: This is a commercial matter between British Rail and Stagecoach. I understand that BR allowed Stagecoach Holdings plc to withdraw without penalty from its contract or provide overnight seated train services from Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh to London and return.
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the members of his Department who saw the report of the Scott inquiry before it was presented to the House; and when each saw the report. [16535]
Sir George Young [holding answer 22 February 1996]: No member of my Department saw the report of the Scott inquiry before it was presented to the House.
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what hour and minute of which day the report of the Scott inquiry was delivered to this office. [16496]
Sir George Young [holding answer 22 February 1996]: During the afternoon of Friday 16 February.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for transport when he first saw the report of the Scott inquiry. [16582]
Sir George Young [holding answer 22 February 1996]: At 3.30 pm on Thursday 15 February, when I collected a copy from the Vote Office at the House of Commons.
Press Gallery Writing Rooms
Mrs. Jane Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Ministers in his Department entered the writing rooms of the Press Gallery on 15 February. [16472]
Sir George Young
[holding answer 22 February 1996]: None.
26 Feb 1996 : Column: 319
Ms Short:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 February, Official Report, column 273, what instructions he has issued since 1 January to the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising regarding the rate at which services are to be franchised. [17036]
Ms Short:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued to the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising and the chairman of the British Railways Board regarding the inclusion of additional recovery time in timetables. [16986]
Ms Short:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sanctions exist for refusal by private sector railway operating companies to affiliate to the Association of Train Operating Companies. [16981]
Mr. Watts:
Membership of ATOC is not mandatory. However, all passenger operators are required under the terms of their licences and/or franchise agreements to participate in a number of mandatory schemes which are administered by ATOC. These are the ticketing and settlement scheme, the London Regional Transport scheme, discount card schemes for the elderly, disabled and young, the telephone inquiry bureaux scheme and the staff travel scheme.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next plans to meet the rail regulator to discuss disabled persons' access to the rail network. [16781]
Mr. Watts:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the rail regulator on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of rail transport issues. His next meeting is planned for Tuesday 5 March.
Ms Short:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are currently employed at the head office of Railtrack; and how many he expects to be employed in the financial years 1996-97 and 1997-98. [16984]
Mr. Watts:
At 3 February, the headquarters directorates of Railtrack employed a total of 1,300 people; staffing levels for the company after it is privatised will be a matter for Railtrack.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each regulatory body for which he is responsible indicating for each the percentage of business people on the board. [15736]
Mr. Watts:
The table lists the agencies and authorities for which the Secretary of State is responsible and which could be defined as regulatory bodies.
26 Feb 1996 : Column: 320
| Agency or authority | Percentage of business representatives |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Certification Agency | 17 |
| Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency | 33 |
| Marine Safety Agency | 20 |
| Driving Standards Agency | 33 |
| Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency | 43 |
| Civil Aviation Authority | 36 |
Although not part of this Department, the Secretary of State, under the Railways Act 1993, also appointed an independent rail regulator, John Swift QC, to head the Office of Rail Regulation, which has no advisory board and is directly answerable to Parliament.
Gospel Oak to Barking Line
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many valentine cards he has received from users of the Gospel Oak to Barking line. [16230]
Traffic Congestion
Mr. Butterfill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish maps showing projections, at national and regional level, of future traffic congestion on the trunk road system as a basis for assessing likely requirements for improvement to the United Kingdom's infrastructure; and if he will undertake also to publish revised projections in future taking account of changes to economic and traffic forecasts. [13987]
Mr. Watts [holding answer 8 February 1996]: I am placing maps of current congestion, and projections of future congestion, in the Library of the House together with an explanatory note. The maps will be kept up to date as appropriate.
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