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TRANSPORT
Maritime Skills Report
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the report of the study into the requirement for United Kingdom maritime skills. [38856]
Mr. Norris: The report, "A Study of the UK Economy's Requirements for People with Experience of Working at Sea" commissioned jointly by the Department of Transport, the Chamber of Shipping and the Marine Society has been published today. I have placed copies of the report in the Library.
The Government have long recognised the importance of trained seafarers for defence and economic reasons and provides targeted support for Merchant Navy training, principally through the Government assistance for training and the development of certificated seafarers schemes.
The Government will consider the report's findings very carefully. The shipping and related shore-based industries will also want to consider how best to meet the potential problems highlighted in the report.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much the subsidy requirements of the railway franchises which have so far been let fall below the claim made by British Rail for financial support less any administered profit; and if he will list the reductions for each franchise over the next seven years. [35986]
Mr. Watts:
The table shows the reductions in support for passenger rail services required by private sector franchisees compared with the BR budget, excluding budgeted administered profit. The grant figures for franchisees include costs associated with the substantial additional investment in rail services to which they are committed. Because the BR figures exclude administered profit, this comparison makes no allowance for the additional benefit to the taxpayer of transferring financial risk from the public to the private sector through franchising. Nonetheless, the figures show that, after an initial increase, the net financial burden on the taxpayer will fall by nearly £200 million by the seventh year.
| Franchise year | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR budget | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| South West Trains | 65,940 | -4.632 | -5.275 | -7.561 | -12.527 | -17.189 | -22.340 | -25.668 |
| Great Western | 45.690 | 15.185 | 10.943 | 6.279 | 0.409 | -5.146 | -8.180 | -10.456 |
| Inter City East Coast | 56.890 | 9.497 | -4.139 | -23.157 | -42.399 | -51.589 | -55.092 | -56.890 |
| Midland Main Line | 10.480 | 7.001 | -3.168 | -8.555 | -9.696 | -11.143 | -13.088 | -14.888 |
| Gatwick Express | -3.930 | -0.597 | 3.930 | -3.917 | -5.727 | -6.551 | -7.309 | -7.794 |
| Network South Central | 93.030 | -6.362 | -22.449 | -43.063 | -48.138 | -51.356 | -56.346 | -58.388 |
| London, Tilbury Southend | 30.670 | -1.180 | -4.064 | -6.673 | -8.143 | -9.523 | -10.819 | -12.035 |
| Chiltern | 16.470 | 0.052 | -3.474 | -4.613 | -7.870 | -10.896 | -12.348 | -13.600 |
| Total | 315.240 | 18.964 | -27.696 | -91.260 | -134.091 | -163.393 | -185.522 | -199.719 |
The BR budget is the latest available. For GW and SWT it is the revised 1995-96, for the others the preliminary 1996-97.
Positive numbers indicate price increases, negative numbers price decreases.
The BR budget figure for South West Trains and Great Western refers to the final 1995-96 budget, since these two franchises began operations during the financial year 1995-96. The remaining BR budget figures refer to the preliminary 1996-97 budget, which is still subject to negotiation between the BR Board and the franchising director.
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 657
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 657
Contracts
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number, nature and value of contracts awarded by his Department to Coopers and Lybrand, KPMG, Price Waterhouse, Ernst and Young,
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 658
Deloitte and Touche, Arthur Andersen, Grant Thornton, BDO Stoy Hayward, Pannel Kerr Forster, and Robson Rhodes and their subsidiaries and associates, during 1995 and 1996. [37320]
Mr. Norris: The information requested is set out in the following tables.
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 657
| Coopers and Lybrand | KPMG | Price Waterhouse | Ernst and Young | Deloitte and Touche | Arthur Andersen | Grant Thornton | BDO Stoy Hayward | Pannel Kerr Forster | Robson Rhodes | Total number | Total value £ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privatisation | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 2,680,250 | ||||||
| Market testing | 1 | 1 | 17,900 | |||||||||
| Management advice | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Accounting | 1 | 1 | 2 | 17,600 | ||||||||
| Audit | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 198,776 | |||||||
| Consultancy | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 196,316 | ||||||
| Other | 1 | 1 | 80,000 | |||||||||
| Total | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 3 | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | 26 | 3,190,842 |
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 657
| Coopers and Lybrand | KPMG | Price Waterhouse | Ernst and Young | Deloitte and Touche | Arthur Andersen | Grant Thornton | BDO Stoy Hayward | Pannel Kerr Forster | Robson Rhodes | Total number | Total value £ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Privatisation | 2 | 2 | 202,000 | |||||||||
| Market testing | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Management advice | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Accounting | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Audit | 1 | 1 | 37,541 | |||||||||
| Consultancy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | (20)3,526,150 | |||||||
| Other | 1 | 1 | 35,000 | |||||||||
| Total | 2 | 2 | -- | 1 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7 | 3,800,691 |
(20) One contract includes a joint award with a contractor not listed in the question.
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 657
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 657
Rail Ticket Sales
Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute a review of rail ticket sales following the research findings of the Consumers Association relating to the compliance of train operators with their licence obligations in respect of ticket advice, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will fine those companies found to be in breach of their licences. [37845]
Mr. Watts: The enforcement of licence obligations is a matter for the independent rail regulator. He has said that the intends shortly to launch a wide-ranging consultation exercise on the practical application of train operators' obligations on impartial ticket retailing.
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 658
Heavy Goods Vehicle Licences
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if "grandfather rights" under the requirements of the second EC directive on licences will be revoked from 1 January 1997 for all existing lorry licence holders when they apply to renew a licence. [38182]
Mr. Norris: We propose that existing holders of group 2 driving licences should be able to renew their licences as long as they continue to meet present eyesight standards. Drivers who cannot meet these standards, but who have been allowed to continue driving under "grandfather rights" will also be able to renew their licences if they are regular drivers and have not been involved in an accident where eyesight might have been a factor. These proposals will shortly be the subject of consultation.
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 659
Trans-European Transport Network
Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in reaching the necessary European Parliament and Council co-decision on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. [38857]
Mr. Watts: Negotiations to agree a suitable text for the transport TENS guidelines have reached a successful conclusion. The text of the agreement was deposited before the Scrutiny Committee of the House, and that of another place, on 12 July. It was adopted formally by the Council by means of the written procedure on 16 July, and on the same day by the European Parliament after a formal debate.
Adoption of the guidelines means that member states can now proceed to decide on the allocation of the TENS funds available for transport projects in 1996. The TENS financial assistance committee, which is composed of representatives of member states, is to meet to determine this allocation on 25 July.
North Circular Road
Ms Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the various contracts to upgrade the A406--north circular road--at Sterling way, Fore street, Angel road and Lea valley viaduct to be completed; what steps he is taking to overcome the delays announced on some of them; and if he will make a statement. [36843]
Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Clare Short, dated 18 July 1996:
Ms Short:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how far negotiations have proceeded with the London borough of Enfield regarding compensation for the removal from Pymmes park, N18 of a cedar tree as part of the compulsory purchase of licence land relating to the widening of the A406 at Sterling way--north circular road; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current replacement offer from the Highways Agency; what further compensation is due as a result of the compulsory purchase order procedures and carrying out of highway and other works in the vicinity of Pymmes park; and if he will make a statement. [36844]
As you know I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the A406 London North Circular Road.
There are three adjoining contracts to improve this road between Stirling Way and Hall Lane. Contract A, the Fore Street Underpass section, is expected to be completed in December 1997, Contract B, the Angel Road Viaduct section, is scheduled for completion in December 1996 and Contract C, the Lea Valley section should be finished in August this year.
Delays have been caused by several factors including having to contend with uncharted essential utility service pipes and cables, unexpected ground conditions and unforeseen obstructions encountered during piling work. To try to overcome some of the problems, the Contractors are working longer hours, increasing resources and reviewing their methods and sequence of construction.
Mr. Norris: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
18 Jul 1996 : Column: 660
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