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Railway Property (Scotland)
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the (a) area and (b) asset value of (i) operational and (ii) non-operational land owned by the British Rail Property Board and other British Railways Board subsidiaries in Scotland. [19303]
Mr. Watts: This is a matter for the British Railways Board but it informs me that the total area owned by British Rail in Scotland is approximately 1,670 acres, the
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great majority being non-operational land. British Rail cannot differentiate accurately between operational and non-operational land. British Rail's assets are not analysed geographically in the board's annual accounts.
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the area of (a) operational land and (b) non-operational land owned by Railtrack plc in Scotland. [19304]
Mr. Watts: This is a matter for Railtrack but it informs me that the total area owned by Railtrack in Scotland is approximately 14,850 acres, of which the vast majority is operational land. Railtrack cannot differentiate accurately between operational and non-operational land.
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated asset value of the railway network owned by Railtrack plc in Scotland; and what is the division in value of these assets between (a) lines in use by train services, (b) stations, (c) other operational property and (d) non-operational land and property. [19299]
Mr. Watts: Railtrack's assets are not analysed geographically in its balance sheet.
HGV Licences (Eyesight Tests)
Mr. Marlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue clear guidance to lorry drivers on EU policy in respect of lorry drivers' eye tests without the use of spectacles; and if he will place a copy of such guidance in the Library. [19664]
Mr. Norris: The regulations including provisions on new eyesight standards for drivers of group 2 vehicles--lorries and buses--will be laid shortly. Full guidance on interpretation and introduction will be issued before the regulations become effective and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Driving Tests
Mr. Waller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to inform those who passed their car driving test before 1 December 1990 that they will need to take a compulsory basic training course to ride motor cycles of 50 cc and over from 1 July onwards. [20784]
Mr. Norris: A press notice was issued last August 1995 when the proposal was first announced, and a further press notice was issued in December when the plans were confirmed. Guidance on the amended position regarding CBT has been included in a revised factsheet on motorcycles that is made generally available, and will also be included in the advice leaflet planned to accompany vehicle excise duty reminders. Further, the Department is working with the motor cycle retailing and training industries on a media campaign involving press articles, interviews and public information announcements in national and local media.
Northern Line Trains
Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation GEC will be required to pay for the late delivery of trains for the Northern line. [20612]
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Mr. Norris: I understand that GEC Alsthom's contract with London Underground for the supply of new trains for the Northern line provides for full compensation in the event of late delivery of trains. The terms for payment of such compensation are commercially confidential.
Traffic Congestion
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken by his Department to discourage the use of private cars in town and city centres; and if he will make a statement. [20652]
Mr. Norris: It is for local authorities to determine the traffic management strategy most appropriate to their area, having regard to local circumstances. Some measure of restraint, for instance parking controls or restrictions on vehicular access, is likely to feature in an effective strategy. The Government encourage people to travel by means other than the private car--cycling, walking and public transport--where that option is open to them.
Public Transport
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps are being taken by his Department to promote public transport in and around traffic congested towns and cities; and if he will make a statement; [20737]
- (2) what provisions are being made by his Department to improve the quality of public transport; and if he will make a statement. [20728]
Mr. Norris: The Department's spending plans for 1996-97 provide extensive support for public transport. These plans include £1.6 billion for passenger rail services, nearly £1 billion for London Transport, some £79 million for local transport packages which focus on promotion of alternatives to the car and many of which include ambitious programmes of public transport priorities, and some £55 million for larger public transport schemes. Under my chairmanship, the bus working group, comprising representatives of bus operators, local authorities and bus users, has been considering ways to improve bus services. I announced on 8 January a number of practical steps to promote the use of the bus and a programme of further work, which is being actively pursued in co-operation with operators and local authorities. Finally, the Government are actively promoting the role of the private sector in the funding and operation of public transport, notably through rail privatisation, the aim of which is to improve the quality of rail services by giving the private sector the opportunity to bring about the further improvements to services that customers want.
Stretch Limousines
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures are in force to ensure that stretch limousines imported from the United States of America conform with all safety standards for use in the United Kingdom; [20573]
- (2) when the construction specifications for stretch limousines were established; and what advice was sought in their preparation; [20580]
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(3) what construction and use regulations apply to stretch limousines imported from the United States of America and operated in the United Kingdom. [20720]
Mr. Norris: There are no special regulations relating to stretch limousines imported from the United States of America: they have to comply, like other motor vehicles, with all applicable requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended, and of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended, which are subject to wide consultation with interested parties. All such vehicles have to be type approved unless they come into the UK as personal imports. Compliance with key safety and environmental standards is checked annually at MOT tests and also at the roadside by police.
Car Number Plates
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers on the visibility and legibility of the different print types used on car number plates. [20575]
Mr. Norris: The Association of Chief Police Officers was consulted by this Department recently on possible refinements in the character font for vehicle number plates to improve legibility. ACPO was also represented, along with this Department, on the British standards committee reviewing the standard for the physical characteristics--for example, visibility, strength, reflectivity--of the number plate.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the specifications of car number plates. [20574]
Mr. Norris: The relevant legislation is the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1971.
Seat Belts
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of car occupants who he estimates currently wear seat belts in (a) front seats and (b) rear seats; and if he will make a statement. [20864]
Mr. Norris: The latest survey by the Transport Research Laboratory, in October 1995, showed that 91 per cent. of drivers, 92 per cent. of front seat passengers and 64 per cent. of rear seat passengers in cars were wearing seat belts.
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes in the legislation regarding use of seat belts in respect of (a) those at present excluded and (b) enforcement of existing regulations; and if he will make a statement. [20865]
Mr. Norris: No changes are currently planned to the exemptions from seat belt wearing. Enforcement of the existing regulations is a matter for the police.
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