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Human Embryos

Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human embryos were used in treatment cycles from 1991 to 1994. [19787]

Mr. Horam: As recorded in the records of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the number of embryos used in treatment cycles between 1991 and 1994 was 140,410. This includes fresh and frozen embryos.

Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human embryos were destroyed between 1991 and 1994 at the request of their parents. [19788]

Mr. Horam: The number of embryos that were not frozen or used for treatment or for other purposes during the period in question was 90,756. As required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 decisions about these embryos would have been taken only with the consent of the couple involved.

Capita Managed Services

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) facilities management consortia, (b) private finance initiative bids, (c) management buy-out consortia, (d) contractorisation schemes and (e) market testing schemes in his Department in respect of which (i) Capita Managed Services and (ii) Lusis Business Solutions are currently involved in bidding. [19904]

Mr. Horam: There are none.

TRANSPORT

Road Maintenance (Funding)

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sum of money was transferred from revenue to capital in 1992-93 for structural maintenance on local authority roads in 1996-97; and for what reason the money was transferred. [19771]

Mr. Norris: A total of £100 million. The transfer reflected the importance the Government attached to the condition of local authority principal roads.

Foreign Aircraft

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the countries for which permission has been granted for aircraft to operate by his Department. [19082]

Mr. Norris: The United Kingdom has agreements with the following countries, in addition to those of the European Economic Area, for the operation of air services:


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In addition to these, the Department of Transport has issued permits to the airlines of Rwanda, Swaziland and Taiwan for the operation of air services to the United Kingdom.

Late Trains

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate how much money Railtrack has saved by cancelling timetabled services to avoid compensation payments for a delayed service. [19244]

Mr. Watts: Railtrack has agreed contracts with train operating companies to pay compensation for any cancellations of timetabled services. I understand from Railtrack that penalties have been set with the intention of ensuring that it does not gain financially by cancelling services to avoid paying compensation for delayed services.

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Mersey Crossing

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission a further evaluation of the proposed route for the new Mersey crossing having regard to strategic communications from Wales, Cheshire, the Liverpool airport and the Wirral area as a whole.[19324]

Mr. Watts: A study into such a crossing was completed in 1994 and copies of the study report were sent to MPs, MEPs and local authorities in the vicinity of the suggested crossing routes. It is not available generally. It was supplied to MPs and local authorities confidentially. The situation has not changed significantly since that time, when my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key) said that a publicly-funded crossing could not be justified either on environmental or economic grounds. There is no justification for a further study by the Government.

Airports

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the current runway capacity of each of the UK's major airports and in each case the projected date that this capacity will be reached; [18440]

Mr. Norris: This is a matter for individual airport operators.

Road Accidents

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents involving heavy goods vehicles have resulted in (i) personal injury and (ii) fatalities; and how many people were (a) injured or (b) killed in these accidents, (1) nationally and (2) in Berkshire in each of the past five years. [19666]

Mr. Norris: The information requested is shown in the following table.

Road accidents involving HGVs, and resulting casualties: Great Britain and Berkshire: 1990-94

19901991199219931994
Accidents involving HGVs
Great Britain
Fatal accidents791683650608540
Other injury accidents14,27212,93312,36612,56512,638
Total15,06313,61613,01613,17313,178
Berkshire
Fatal accidents810537
Other injury accidents125132146157165
Total133142151160172
casualties in accidents involving HGVs
Great Britain
Killed885782742699620
Injured20,04418,61017,73217,95618,528
Total20,92919,39218,47418,65519,148
Berkshire
Killed1020547
Injured163208213220223
Total173228218224230

Figures for 1991 include 10 killed and 8 injured in a multiple vehicle accident on the M4 in Berkshire.

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Road Maintenance

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what capital provision was made available for the structural maintenance of local authority roads in 1996-97; and for what reasons structural maintenance provision has been reduced. [19772]

Mr. Norris: A total of £86.7 million has been allocated to English local authorities in 1996-97, for the structural maintenance of their principal roads. Transport has had to make its contribution to the overriding need for strict control of public expenditure. There are joint arrangements with local authorities to monitor the condition of local authority roads. There is no evidence at present of any significant deterioration in the condition of local authority principal roads.

Oil Pollution (Sea Empress Incident)

Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to address any shortfall in the compensation funds available to those who have suffered from the Sea Empress disaster. [19785]

Mr. Norris: Assessments undertaken to date indicate that it is unlikely that there will be any shortfall in compensation funds from the ship's insurer or the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.

Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March, Official Report, column 755, if he will list the 67 member states involved in the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. [19480]

Mr. Norris: The 67 member states are:


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In addition, Tonga is expected to become a member of the fund from 1 May 1996.

Mr. Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what co-ordination arrangements he has established for claims for compensation arising from the Sea Empress disaster. [19438]

Mr. Norris: The Government have brokered an arrangement with the vessel's insurers and the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund to enable

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them to establish a joint claims handling office in Milford Haven. Interim payments will be made to individuals and small businesses suffering financial hardship.

Mr. Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amount will be available from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund for claims arising from the Sea Empress disaster. [19437]

Mr. Norris: Under the 1969 international convention on civil liability for oil pollution damage and the 1971 international convention on the establishment of an international fund for compensation for oil pollution damage, implemented in the United Kingdom by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, of the total of approximately £57 million available for claims for the Sea Empress, about £49 million will be available from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund and about £8 million from the Sea Empress insurers.

Mr. Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 1996, Official Report, column 755, who will meet costs associated with the Sea Empress disaster in the event that the special drawing rights are exhausted. [19481]

Mr. Norris: Assessments undertaken to date indicate that it is unlikely that there will be any shortfall in compensation funds from the ship's insurer or the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. Under the international convention on the establishment of an international fund for compensation from oil pollution damage of 1971, should the amount of established claims exceed the amount available, the compensation shall be distributed in such a manner that the proportion between any established claim and the amount of compensation actually offered shall be the same for all claimants. There are also voluntary industry schemes, which may provide further compensation for the damage. The Government have agreed not to press their claim until other compensation is agreed.

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