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Rail Safety (Hidden Report)

Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to ensure the

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recommendations of the Hidden report are implemented throughout the rail industry. [24259]

Mr. Watts: As the enforcing authority for safety on the railways, the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate monitors closely the implementation of the recommendations contained in Sir Anthony Hidden's report.

A20 Roadworks, Aycliffe

Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on the completion and tidying up of the A20 roadworks in and around the Aycliffe area; and if he will make a statement on the proposed new car park for residents. [24242]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Shaw, dated 2 April 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question asking what progress is being made on the completion and tidying up of the A20 roadworks in and around the Aycliffe area; and if he will make a statement on the proposed new car park for residents.
The tenders for a contract to complete and tidy up the A20 roadworks were returned on 29 March. We expect work to commence this month.
The proposed new car park is a Dover District Council scheme which the Highways Agency has agreed to include in the contract subject to the Council's agreement to meet the additional cost.

Trunk Roads and Motorways

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of external legal advice he has received in respect of the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to his proposed new agency arrangements for trunk roads and motorways. [24103]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Joan Walley, dated 2 April 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about whether copies of the external legal advice we have received in respect of TUPE would be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.
We have not considered it necessary to seek such external legal advice in relation to our new agency arrangements for the management of the trunk road network. Our policy for dealing with TUPE has been developed in close liaison with departmental lawyers. We have consistently stated that we do not consider it appropriate for the Highways Agency to comment on whether TUPE would apply when the new agencies are introduced. We do however appreciate that tenderers for the new agencies will require employee information in order for them to assess the implications of the TUPE Regulations on their bids. We are considering how such information could be made available.

Speed Recording Cameras

Mr. Peter Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made to his Department regarding the safety hazard to oncoming

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drivers of the flashing lights associated with speed recording cameras when used on single carriageways, with particular reference to the A3 between Wandsworth and the underpass leading to the dual carriageway to the south and west. [24138]

Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Griffiths, dated 2 April 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the hazard to oncoming drivers of the flashing lights associated with speed recording cameras on single carriageways, and especially with reference to the camera positioned on the A3 between the Tibbets Corner underpass and Roehampton Lane.
No representations have been received about the safety hazards to oncoming drivers from the speed recording camera's flashing light at this particular location.
A speed camera takes two shots of the rear of a vehicle if it is travelling faster than a set speed. On a single carriageway road the camera will be pointing downwards towards the nearside. Oncoming traffic will be aware of the flashes but drivers should not be blinded, even if they are looking directly into the camera because of the downward direction of the light beam and because the brightness of the beam breaks down rapidly on either side of the focus. When selecting sites for speed cameras and when positioning them, one of the main factors under consideration is the possibility that oncoming drivers may be blinded. All steps are taken to make sure that this does not happen.
You will wish to know that I have arranged for this camera to be inspected to ensure that it is working properly.

Milford Haven

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the normal number of tugs ordered for (a) tankers berthing at Milford Haven and (b) tankers sailing from the port of Milford Haven. [17892]

Mr. Norris: The number of tugs ordered will depend on factors such as the size of the tanker, its manoeuvrability and the prevailing weather conditions. I understand that the Milford Haven port authority has issued the following general guidelines for tankers berthing and leaving Milford Haven.

Tanker deadweight (tonnes)	Number of tugs advised
Over 15,000	1 or 2
15,000-65,000	2
65,000-100,000	3 or 4
100,000-150,000	4
Over 150,000	5

Tankers under 15,000 tonnes deadweight do not generally take tugs unless weather conditions and berthing difficulties dictate.

Substandard Tankers

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers a port authority has to refuse (a) entry and

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(b) loading to tankers found to be substandard; and when such powers have been used since 1966. [17894]

Mr. Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) on 6 March, Official Report, columns 213-14. Records of the use made of these powers are not held by the Department.

Coastguard Buildings

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the amount paid to the HSB contractor for the care and maintenance of Coastguard agency buildings in each of the last five years. [22359]

Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from C. J. Harris to Ms Joan Walley, dated 2 April 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the amount paid to the HSB contractor for the maintenance of Coastguard Agency buildings.
PQ 1590/95/96
The Coastguard Agency contract with HSB began on 1 April 1993. Contract expenditure for the last three years has been as follows:
1993-94: £312,855
1994-95: £268,759
1995-96: £288,581.
These figures are exclusive of VAT, and do not include payments for work commissioned outside the terms of the contract as payments made to HSB for these unforseen/emergency works also include the sub-contractors fee.

Weather Reports

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current arrangements concerning payments to Coastguard personnel from the Meteorological Office in relation to the weather readings the Coastguard personnel provide. [22358]

Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from C. J. Harris to Ms Joan Walley, dated 2 April 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about arrangements concerning payments to Coastguard personnel for weather readings.
Volunteers on selected Coastguard stations, both permanent staff and Auxiliary Coastguards, receive a retainer from the Meteorological Office for the provision of weather observations. They are trained by and paid direct by the Meteorological Office.

Oil Tankers

Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake a study of the advantages of requiring any bulk oil tanker over a specific capacity bound for discharge at a port in the United Kingdom to be equipped with a bow thruster of minimum power related to its gross tonnage. [21138]

Mr. Norris: We are continually assessing the benefits of oil tanker design and specification, both within the Department of Transport and within the International Maritime Organisation, in which the Government take an

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active role. Although bow thrusters can improve the manoeuvring in port, we have no evidence to indicate that they offer sufficient advantages to justify a study into whether they should be a requirement for all oil tankers entering UK ports.

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