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TRANSPORT
Braer Disaster (Compensation)
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legal action the Government are taking against (a) the insurers of the Braer and (b) the international oil compensation fund in respect of the Braer disaster. [21482]
Mr. Norris: Under the international convention which establish the international oil pollution compensation fund, which are implemented in United Kingdom legislation in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, rights to compensation are extinguished unless legal action is commenced within three years of the date on which the pollution damage occurred. The Government have initiated a legal action against the owners and third party liability insurers of the Braer and the international oil pollution compensation fund to protect the Government's claim for compensation for eligible costs incurred by the Department of Transport and the Scottish Office following the Braer incident.
Aircraft Safety Standards
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 7 March 1996, Official Report, column 309, if he will make a statement on the measures taken by his Department to assess whether aircraft are operated in accordance with international safety standards. [21362]
Mr. Norris: My answer of 7 March detailed the particular steps taken by the Department to check that aircraft for which permits are required to operate to the UK have the necessary safety certification. In addition, my noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping
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announced on 10 January a package of new measures to increase the oversight of safety standards of foreign aircraft operating to the UK.
In brief these measures are as follows:
The Department, in consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority, is arranging for more inspection of foreign aircraft where the observance of international safety standards is in doubt.
The UK is providing experts to the International Civil Aviation Organisation to assist in its recently commenced safety oversight programme.
As a result of a recommendation by the air accidents investigation branch, new procedures will clarify which airline is responsible for safety in operations where aircraft are leased with crew (wet-lease).
Induced Traffic
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which schemes in the national roads programme have been reviewed to estimate the effects of induced traffic; and for each of these schemes by how much this review has changed the 30-year traffic level predictions and the net present value of the scheme. [22759]
Mr. Watts: The Highways Agency is carrying out Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment for all schemes in the national programme. So far, a total of 64 schemes have been provisionally assessed by the agency. These are listed in the schedule at annex A.
The volume of additional traffic induced by schemes is generally expected to be less than 10 per cent. and in many cases below 5 per cent.
The economic assessment process for induced traffic is developing and current appraisal techniques are being improved for the future. For now, where induced traffic
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is a significant factor, the agency is undertaking sensitivity tests which impose a fairly severe test of scheme economics. For example, in some cases tests have been undertaken with significantly higher volumes of induced traffic than are expected in practice. So far none of the schemes assessed has failed the tests; even where unrealistically high levels of induced traffic have been assumed all have remained good value for money.
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Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current speed limits for (a) Park lane, (b) the Embankment, (c) the Mall and (d) Birdcage walk; and if he will make a statement. [23109]
Mr. Norris:
The speed limit on these roads is 30 mph.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many (a) coaches and (b) heavy goods vehicles have been found to be unsafe in each of the last five years; and how many prosecutions have resulted; [23302]
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 28 March 1996:
HGV figures include prohibitions for both motor vehicles and trailers.
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representatives of the motor manufacturing industry to discuss research being undertaken into the relative safety of different types of vehicle involved in side impact collisions; [23377]
(3) if he will make it his policy to release immediately public research undertaken by the Transport Research Laboratory into the relative safety of different types of vehicles involved in side impact collisions; [23376]
(4) for what reasons his Department has not released information relating to the relative safety of different makes of vehicle in side impact collisions; and what discussions officials of his Department have had with representatives of vehicle manufacturers relating to this research. [23378]
Mr. Norris:
Research on the feasibility of a new car assessment programme, in which the safety of new models would be evaluated, is being done at TRL and was commissioned by the vehicle standards and engineering division of the Department. It includes side protection and is to see if the results give a reliable indicator of relative performance.
It is not possible readily to separate the costs of individual tests but the overall cost of the programme is £1.58 million over three years--1995 to 1998.
Schemes Assessed for Induced Traffic
Scheme Title
A1 Gateshead Western Bypass
A120 Stansted--Braintree Improvement
A13 Ironbridge--Canning Town Improvement
A13/A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement
A13/A117 Junction Improvement
A14 M11--A10 Widening
A19 Norton--Parkway Interchange Improvement
A1 (M) Alconbury--Peterborough
A1 (M) Baldock--Alconbury
A1 (M) Ferrybridge--Hook Moor Improvement
A2 Lydden--Dover Improvement
A205 Catford Town Centre Improvement
A21 Lamberhurst Bypass
A23 Handcross--Warninglid Improvement
A249 Iwade Bypass--Queenborough Improvement
A259 Bexhill and Hastings Western Bypass
A259 Guestling Thorn and Icklesham Bypass
A259 Winchelsea Bypass
A27 Worthing--Lancing Improvement
A2/A282 Dartford Improvement
A3 Hindhead Improvement
A30 Honiton to Exeter Improvement
A303 Amesbury--Berwick Down Improvement
A303 Sparkford--Ilchester Improvement
A30/A303 Marsh Honiton and A35 Honiton Eastern Bypass
A34 Chieveley/M4 Junction 13 Improvement
A34 Newbury Bypass
A35 Chideock/Morcombelake Bypass
A35 Tolpuddle--Puddletown Bypass
A36 Salisbury Bypass
A40 Western Circus Junction Improvement
A417 North of Stratton--Nettleton Improvement
A419 Blunsdon Bypass
A419 Latton Bypass
A419/A417 Cirencester and Stratton Bypass
A43 Geddington Bypass
A43 Moulton--Broughton Improvement
A449/A456 Kidderminster, Blakedown and Hagley Bypass
A453 Clifton Lane Improvement
A46 Alcester--Stratford Improvement
A5225 Wigan--Westhoughton Bypass
A556(M) M6--M56 Link Improvement
A564 Derby Southern Bypass Contract A
A564 Doverridge Bypass
A595 Parton--Lillyhall Improvement
A6 Clapham Bypass
A63 Castle Street Hull Improvement
A65 Hellifield and Long Preston Bypass
A65 Manor Park Bends Improvement
A69 Haltwistle Bypass
A6(M) Stockport North/South Bypass
Western Orbital Route
M1 Junctions 10-15 Widening
M1 Junctions 25-28 Widening
M1 Junctions 6A-10 Widening
M11 Junction 5 North Facing Slip Roads
M2 Junctions 1-4 Widening
M23 Junctions 8-9 Widening
M25 Junction 15-16 Link Roads
M25 Terminal 5 Spur (HEATHROW)
M4 Junctions 8(9)-10 Widening
M6 Junctions 11A-16 Widening
M6 Junctions 16-19 and 19-20 Widening
M63 Junctions 6-9 Widening
(2) if he will list by police force area, the number of wide prohibition notices issued for each year since 1992.[23301]
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he or his fellow Ministers at the Department of Transport have had meetings with
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions on the number of coaches and heavy goods vehicles found to be unsafe in each of the last 5 years, and the number of "wide" prohibitions notices by police force area.
The number of prohibitions issued in each of the last 5 years to vehicles inspected for their roadworthiness is shown in the attached table. There is no information for the past 5 years on any resulting prosecutions as we have not kept a separate register of roadworthiness prosecutions until this financial year.
I would be grateful if you could clarify your second question; I am not sure what is meant by "wide" prohibitions. I should also explain that we do not record data by police force area.
HGV PSV
1990-91 19,998 2,991
1991-92 21,284 3,445
1992-93 22,067 3,026
1993-94 22,260 3,295
1994-95 23,304 3,921
(2) what research has been commissioned by his Department from the Transport Research Laboratory on the relative safety of different types of vehicle in side impact collisions; which agency stipulated the terms of the research; and how much this research has cost his Department; [23375]
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