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Royal Family (Official Cars)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who (a) owns and (b) has responsibility for operating the official cars used by the royal family for their public duties. [21476]
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: I have been asked to reply.
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The costs of cars used for official purposes by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are met from the Queen's civil list and from His Royal Highness's parliamentary annuity respectively. They may be owned or leased and are operated by the Royal Mews. The costs of cars used for official purposes by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother are met from Her Majesty's parliamentary annuity. They are the responsibility of her staff and may be owned or leased. Cars are also owned privately for private use.
Costs for other members of the royal family are not paid for from public funds.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 6 March 1996, Official Report, column 215, if he will make a statement on the action his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of ice balls falling from aircraft. [21364]
Mr. Norris:
The aviation industry and the Civil Aviation Authority are aware of public concerns and practical steps are being taken to reduce the number of occurrences of ice falling from aircraft. These steps include:
the fitting of manufacturers' modification kits to improve resistance to water leaks at servicing points;
enhanced maintenance requirements to ensure the continued integrity of water sealing systems in service;
routine visual inspections of aircraft after landing, by airline engineers checking for evidence of ice accretion;
unannounced inspections by CAA surveyors checking airworthiness standards which include evidence of ice accretion/water leakage; and
recording of occurrences by the CAA and investigation of serious events by the air accidents investigation branch.
Freightliner
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has entered into an agreement under section 137 of the Railways Act 1993 in connection with the proposed sale of Freightliner. [21719]
Mr. Watts: I expect to do so shortly.
Vehicle Inspectorate
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the sources of legal advice obtained by the Vehicle Inspectorate; [21772]
- (2) how many vehicles were found not to be displaying a valid operator's licence in each spot check undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate in the last year; [21961]
(3) how many vehicle spot checks were undertaken by the police or the Vehicle Inspectorate on tankers used to transport oil from south Pembrokeshire beaches to oil refineries in Milford Haven in the last year; and how many prohibition notices were issued; [21960]
(4) if he will place in the Library the results of the Vehicle Inspectorate staff attitude survey. [21775]
Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 25 March 1996:
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of additional enforcement staff employed as a result of the recent £495,000 increase in the Vehicle Inspectorate's budget. [22348]
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning:
(1) the sources of legal advice obtained by the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI);
(2) the number of vehicles found not to be displaying a valid operator's licence in each spot check undertaken by the VI in the last year;
(3) the number of vehicle spot checks undertaken by the police or the VI on tankers used to transport oil from South Pembrokeshire beaches to oil refineries in Milford Haven in the last year, and the number of prohibition notices issued; and
(4) the Vehicle Inspectorate's Staff Attitude Survey.
The Vehicle Inspectorate seeks legal advice from one of three sources: the Department of Transport's own Legal Branch, the Treasury Solicitors and from contracted solicitors. Contracted solicitors are based around the country to deal with regional prosecution cases.
With regard to (2), this information is not collected as the non-display of a disc does not necessarily indicate an operator operating outside the "O" licence system.
Four tankers have been examined, three by our Traffic Examiners and one by Vehicle Examiners, at normal roadside checks. None of the vehicles were issued with prohibition notices.
A copy of the Survey has been forwarded to the Library.
Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 25 March 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question concerning the number of additional enforcement staff employed as a result of the increase in the Vehicle Inspectorate's budget.
The additional £495,000 funding will allow the Inspectorate to maintain frontline staff numbers in 1996/97 including the additional 14 posts created in 1995/96.
Railway Stations (Disabled Access)
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sums were spent on measures to improve access for disabled people within local railway stations in Wales in the last three years. [22231]
Mr. Watts: No central record is maintained of amounts spent on facilities for disabled people at individual stations.
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures Railtrack is taking to address the needs of wheelchair users and other disabled persons in local railway stations in Wales. [22233]
Mr. Watts: It is for each train operating company providing train services in Wales to produce its own plans as to how it will improve access facilities for disabled people on trains and at the stations operated by it. These plans will be set out in its disabled persons protection policy which each TOC has to have approved by the Rail Regulator.
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Of the seven TOCs operating in Wales, Great Western Trains Co. Ltd, which is now a private sector company, has received approval for its DPPP from the Rail Regulator. The remaining TOCs involved are all at an advanced stage in obtaining approval from the Rail Regulator for their own DPPPs.
Railfreight (Sale)
Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the units, goods depots and land in the care and ownership of Railfreight that will not be included in the sale of Railfreight; [22215]
- (2) if Europort's rail freight terminals are included in the privatisation of Railfreight; [22217]
(3) what estimate he has made of income to the Government from the sale of Railfreight; [22205]
(4) how many bids have been made by potential purchasers for Railfreight. [22216]
Mr. Watts: Railfreight Distribution has not yet been offered for sale. The Government and the British Railways Board are currently considering the options for its privatisation.
Railway Companies
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that hon. Members are informed of all track, renewal, maintenance, operating freight and other non-British Rail companies that are operating in, or serving, their constituencies and that this information is issued with regular revisions. [22555]
Ferry Safety
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetables have been agreed for ferries operating in (a) British waters and (b) Norwegian waters to comply with the new 50 cm limit for flooding of the car decks. [22807]
Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Marine Safety Agency to write to the hon. Member.
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