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Bus Companies (Privatisation)

Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage the privatisation of local authority-owned bus companies. [20449]

Mr. Norris: The great majority of bus services in the United Kingdom are now provided by private sector bus companies. Since 1988, 28 local authority-owned bus companies, including the eight largest, have moved

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successfully into the private sector. We welcome this, and are continuing to encourage the other bus company owners to consider seriously the options for privatisation.

At present there is a targeted relaxation in the set-aside rate for receipts by local authorities from sale of shares in their bus companies of 25 per cent.--and it had been intended that this would revert to the normal 50 per cent. rate with effect from 1 April. In order to assist local authorities planning to sell their bus companies in the next financial year, we have decided to extend the present set-aside rate of 25 per cent. for these sales to 31 March 1997.

Capita Managed Services

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [19898]

Mr. Norris: The information requested about current competitions cannot be disclosed on the ground of commercial confidentiality.

Rail Freight (London)

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many freight trains run along the Catford loop line towards London on Sundays between the hours of 11 pm and 9 am; and how many freight trains run along the Catford loop lines away from London on Sundays between the hours of 11 pm and 9 am; [19973]

(2) how many freight trains run along the Catford loop line towards London from Monday to Friday between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am; and how many freight trains run along the Catford loop line away from London from Monday to Friday between the hours of 11 pm and 7 am;[19971]

(3) how many freight trains run along the Catford loop line towards London on Saturdays between the hours of 11 pm and 8 am; and how many freight trains run along the Catford loop line away from London on Saturdays between the hours of 11 pm and 8 am. [19972]

Mr. Norris: The number of freight trains that are normally expected to run on the Catford loop line, in the direction and between the hours shown, are as follows:

Direction and time	Number of trains
Toward London between the hours of 11 pm (Sundays to Thursdays) and 7 am (Mondays to Fridays)	Up to 20
Away from London between the hours of 11 pm (Sundays to Thursdays) and 7 am (Mondays to Fridays)	Up to 21
Toward London between the hours of 11 pm Friday and 8 am Saturday	Up to 5
Away from London between the hours of 11 pm Friday and 8 am Saturday	Up to 15
Toward London between the hours of 11 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday	Up to 4
Away from London between the hours of 11 pm Saturday and 9 am Sunday	Nil

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There may be a need to run additional or replacement freight services due to diversions from other routes owing to night track maintenance or disruptions elsewhere. Similarly, fewer trains would run on the Catford loop line while track maintenance is carried out on that line.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make public the terms of the contracts he has signed with London and Continental Railways Ltd., the private sector promoter of the channel tunnel rail link; and if he will list the benefits of the channel tunnel rail link project to the nation. [20456]

Mr. Watts: Further to the undertaking given to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 29 February 1996, Official Report, column 1008, I have today placed in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office copies of a memorandum which summarises the most significant obligations of both London and Continental Railways and the Government under the terms of the contracts which were signed last week. Some of the aspects of the contracts are, and will remain, commercially confidential and have therefore been excluded. The memorandum provides further details of the benefits of the Channel tunnel rail link project to the nation.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Mr. Abdul Quaayum Raja

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of those convicted of similar offences to Mr. Abdul Quaayum Raja (c48348) who have (a) received reductions in their security categories, (b) been guaranteed home leave and (c) granted parole; and if he will make a statement. [19775]

Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 8 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for a list of names of those convicted of similar

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offences to Mr. Abdul Quaayum Raja who have (a) received reductions in their security categories, (b) been guaranteed home leave and (c) granted parole.
A prisoner's security category is reviewed on a strictly individual basis and decisions are taken in the light of all the particular circumstances of the individual case. Comparisons with the cases of other prisoners is not therefore appropriate or useful in determining the security category of an individual prisoner.

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will disclose to solicitors representing Abdul Quaayum Raja (C 48348) (a) reports and documentation on which the Security Category Review Committee reached conclusions about Mr. Raja's dedication to a political cause, (b) the full summary of the committee's June 1995 decision concerning Mr. Raja and (c) any new documentation available for Mr. Raja's 1996 review; and if he will make a statement. [19477]

Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 7 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 8 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about disclosure to solicitors representing Abdul Quaayum Raja of (a) any reports or documentation on which the Security Category Review Committee reached conclusions about Mr. Raja's dedication to a political cause, (b) the full summary of the Committee's June 1995 decision concerning Mr. Raja and (c) any new documentation available for Mr. Raja's 1996 review.
It is not the policy of the Prison Service to provide prisoners or their representatives with copies of reports prepared for the purposes of security category reviews. In accordance with the judgement, in December 1993, in the case of Regina v the Secretary of State for the Home Department, ex parte Duggan, a prisoner is, subject to any necessary exceptions arising out of the public interest immunity, informed of the gist of any matter of fact and/or opinion relevant to the determination of his security category; and given reasons for any decision which results in him remaining as a category A prisoner.
Mr. Raja's security category was last reviewed by the Category A Committee on 21 June 1995. The Committee's recommendation, which was subsequently approved by the Prison Service Director of Security, was that Mr. Raja should remain as a category A prisoner. The reasons for this decision were notified to Mr. Raja on 25 September 1995.
Arrangements for the 1996 review of Mr. Raja's security category are underway and reports have recently been requested from Long Lartin prison. He will in due course be provided with a gist of all information relevant to the determination of his security category and given an opportunity to comment before any decision is taken.

Thames Valley and Hampshire Police

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make additional resources available to Thames Valley and Hampshire police forces for the year 1996. [19780]

Mr. Maclean: Spending on the police in 1996-97 will increase in Thames Valley by 5 per cent. and in Hampshire by 3.9 per cent. over the previous year. This represents additional resources of £9.7 million and £6.6 million respectively.

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Newbury Bypass

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost of policing the construction of the Newbury bypass to date. [19974]

Mr. Maclean: Policing of the bypass site is a joint operation between Thames Valley police and Hampshire constabulary.

As at 8 March, additional policing costs have been estimated by Thames Valley police to be about £930,000 and by Hampshire constabulary at about £240,000.

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