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Aircraft (Safety)
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by (a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority into the benefits of the introduction of (i) rear-facing seats and (ii) three-point seat belts in aircraft. [38590]
Mr. Norris: None. The Civil Aviation Authority considered undertaking research into rear-facing seats but this did not proceed beyond the feasibility study stage because of the practical difficulties involved with this seating configuration. However, this subject may be discussed by the international group for cabin safety research of which the CAA is a member.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority into the effect of water misting sprays in aircraft; and what assessment he has made of the effects on evacuation times of such systems. [38554]
Mr. Norris: The Civil Aviation Authority participated in the international cabin water spray research management group, which oversaw a programme of
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research in this area. The programme concluded that cabin water spray systems would be of benefit only in specific and rare circumstances and that the costs associated with the installation and operation of these systems cannot be justified when compared with the potential benefits. The conclusions of the research programme were published in June 1993--CAA paper 93012.
Emergency Towing Vessel Coverage
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to provide year-round emergency towing vessel coverage in (a) the Dover strait, (b) north-western Scotland and (c) the western approaches. [38557]
Mr. Norris: There will be trials in the Dover strait, north-western Scotland and the south-west approaches for a period of six months this winter. We will continue to assess the results of the emergency towing trials before deciding on future commitments.
British Railways Board
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he is making to ensure the British Railways Board maintains expertise in running trains against the event of a franchise being surrendered. [38529]
Mr. Watts: None. In the event that a franchise agreement is terminated and another agreement is not entered into at the same time, the franchising director is required under the Railways Act 1993 to secure the continued provision of passenger services. Generally, he would do this by transferring to another company the business in respect of which the franchise agreement had been terminated. It is expected that the staff of the business would also be transferred, ensuring that the expertise needed to run the passenger services safely, and with continuity, would remain available to the business. In the event that any staff of the business who were essential to its safe operation did not so transfer, arrangements are in place to ensure that they would quickly be replaced with suitably skilled staff.
Channel Tunnel (Safety)
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of a fire aboard a semi-open wagon of a freight train travelling through the channel tunnel; and what assessment he has made of the reduction in the risk to public safety from the introduction of enclosed wagons. [38593]
Mr. Watts: An assessment of the likely frequency and effects of a fire on board a semi-open heavy goods vehicle shuttle train formed part of Eurotunnel's formal application for an operating certificate for this service. The intergovernmental commission, having received advice from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and from the Maitre d'Oeuvre, independent project managers and advisers to the commission, granted the operating certificate on 14 May 1994.
The Intergovernmental Commission has not been asked to examine any further risk assessments resulting from the use of enclosed wagons on HGV shuttle trains.
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Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the results of the tests relating to the evacuation of trains travelling through the channel tunnel. [38592]
Mr. Watts:
Tests relating to the evacuation of trains in the channel tunnel have been carried out by the operator, Eurotunnel. The methodology and conclusions of these tests were examined and found acceptable by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority. Publication is a matter for the operator.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the average construction cost per mile of the electrification of railways together with rate of construction per mile of new roads built since 1980. [38546]
Mr. Watts:
The information is not available in the form requested. However, the cost of upgrading the east coast main line, including electrification, was around £360 million at current prices, equal to around £1 million per mile.
Information on the construction cost per mile of new roads is available only since 1989-90. For the period 1989-90 to 1995-96, the average construction cost per mile of all-purpose dual carriageway trunk roads was around £6 million and the average construction cost per mile of motorways was around £14 million, both at current prices. These figures exclude design fees, VAT, land and other compensation costs, site supervision and contractual claims.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new rail vehicles and of what type are currently stored in sidings awaiting Railtrack approval for use. [38589]
Mr. Watts:
This is a matter for the vehicle owners and Railtrack.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department has taken to implement the recommendation of the first report of the Home Affairs Committee, HC Paper 23 of Session 1991-92, in respect of the separation of elderly and disabled passengers from coaches aboard Le Shuttle. [38591]
Mr. Watts:
The Government response to the Home Affairs Committee made it clear that the tunnel had been built to provide full access for all passengers, whatever their mobility problems, and that procedures would be devised for routine travel and emergency evacuation for people with mobility problems. These procedures are now complete and are contained in Eurotunnel's safety arrangements.
When Eurotunnel made its formal application to the Intergovernmental Commission for an operating certificate to enable it to carry coaches in single-deck wagons on tourist shuttle trains, it included supporting evidence showing the results of evacuation tests carried out with the participation of elderly and disabled passengers.
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The Intergovernmental Commission, on advice from the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and from the Maitre d' Oeuvre, independent project managers and advisers to the commission, gave approval to the application in June 1995.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if additional information required by his Department on induced traffic for the Leicester A46/A47 link road will cover the wider area set out in the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment report. [38918]
Mr. Watts:
The additional information requested by my officials on the A46/A47 link road relates specifically to the issue of induced traffic as highlighted in the SACTRA report. My Department has issued guidance to all local highway authorities on how best the effects of induced traffic may be assessed. The information, to be provided, by Leicestershire county council, should be in line with that advice.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the management of the A69 by Road Link Ltd. [38635]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
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