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Trucks
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the findings of his review of 44 tonnes operation; and what estimate he has made of the number of 44 tonne trucks currently operating. [39497]
Mr. Norris: We are considering the findings of the review. At the end of 1995, 713 six-axled vehicles were licensed to operate at up to 44 tonnes.
Heathrow and Gatwick Airports
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the percentage of delays which are attributable to runway slot limitations at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. [39513]
Mr. Norris: This is a matter for the operator of the airports, BAA plc.
Tachographs
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proposals he has to ensure that tachographs record a full 24-hour day; [39377]
- (2) if he will consider introducing a unique serial number on tachograph discs. [39376]
Mr. Norris: The Government share concerns that the records produced by drivers should be accurate. However, the requirements on drivers to record their time and the layout of approved records sheets are set out in an EU regulation. I am not convinced that amendment to the regulation along the lines proposed would be
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cost-effective or free of practical difficulties. We favour the use of digital recording equipment and drivers smartcards, as proposed by the European Commission, to overcome the acknowledged shortcomings of mechanical recording equipment.
Working Environment
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to promote better working environments in the transport industry; and if he will make a statement. [39397]
Mr. Norris: The Department of Transport pursues a number of initiatives which contribute to improved working environments in the transport industry, including enforcement of drivers' hours legislation and advice to operators on the protection from assault of bus crews.
Transport and Tourism
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the total number of jobs related directly and indirectly to transport and tourism; [39503]
- (2) what assessment his Department has made of the total earnings to the United Kingdom economy from transport and tourism. [39502]
Mr. Norris: The latest assessment of the contribution of transport to the UK economy are given in an article "Transport in the Economy" published in the 1994 edition of "Transport Statistics Great Britain". My Department does not make assessment for tourism.
Smoke Hoods
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to introduce compulsory smoke hoods for passenger aircraft. [39547]
Mr. Norris: A Civil Aviation Authority study has shown that, in many circumstances, the time required for passengers to don unfamiliar smoke hoods could delay the evacuation of aircraft. The authority therefore has no proposals to require the provision of smoke hoods. However, the authority will keep under review all technical developments in smoke hoods and other survival techniques.
Air Transport Industry
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department is taking to improve the competitiveness of the air transport industry in the United Kingdom. [39499]
Mr. Norris: My Department seeks the liberalisation of international air service arrangements wherever possible so as to increase competitive opportunities for UK airlines and UK airports.
Airbags (Child Seats)
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has given about the use of child seats in the front seats of cars where an airbag is fitted. [39252]
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Mr. Norris: The Department's advice is that rear-facing child seats must not be fitted to front seats of cars where an air bag is fitted and this message is contained in the publicly available "Choosing Safety" booklet. Following agreement between the Department and manufacturers, all new vehicles fitted with passenger side airbags and sold in the UK since 1 January 1996 have been voluntarily fitted with a warning label. In addition, the owner's handbook has carried further explanation of the dangers. The Department is continuing discussions with the UK motor industry to ensure that the public are fully aware of the dangers.
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 154
Children (Road Deaths)
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the death rate for children killed on the roads (a) other than in cars and (b) as passengers in cars per 1,000 child population in each of the last five years and for each EU country; and in the case of (b) what was the percentage of deaths where the children were not using seat belts. [39278]
Mr. Norris: Available information for EU member countries is shown in the table. No information is available on unbelted child passenger fatalities.
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| 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian | car passenger | Pedestrian | car passenger | Pedestrian | car passenger | Pedestrian | car passenger | Pedestrian | car passenger | |
| Austria | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 2.2 |
| Belgium | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| Denmark | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.7 |
| Finland | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 1.4 |
| France | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| Germany | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Great Britain | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 0.8 |
| Greece | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 1.5 | ||
| Ireland | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 1.0 |
| Italy | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | |||||||
| Luxembourg | ||||||||||
| Netherlands | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Portugal | 5.2 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 6.4 | 2.3 | 5.0 | 2.3 | ||
| Spain | 1.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 2.7 |
| Sweden | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 |
23 Jul 1996 : Column: 153
Child Car Seats
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has given in relation to the type and use of child car seats. [39251]
Mr. Norris: Guidance for the public on the type and use of child car seats is contained in the publications "Seat Belts and the Law" and "Choosing Safety". Both of these publications are produced by the Department of Transport and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the House of Commons Library.
Flight Guarantees
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require travel agents and tour operators to advise passengers at the time of booking a flight or flight-inclusive holiday, if there is a guaranteed and identifiable carrier authorised to operate from the United Kingdom and with guaranteed flight slots; and if he will make a statement. [39508]
Mr. Norris: No. Tour operators are already required by the terms of their air travel organiser's licence to inform customers before entering into a contract either which airline will operate the flight or that this information is not available. If customers are informed of the intended operator, they must also be told whether they can cancel their contract without penalty in the event of any subsequent change.
Airports
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the power of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to review the conduct of individual airports under the Airports Act 1986 to allow a review of the conduct of the owner of groups of airports; and if he will make a statement. [39504]
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Mr. Norris: No. Groups of airports can already be designated under section 40 of the Act for regular review by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. No separate need is seen to extend the MMC's powers to review the conduct of the owner of a group of airports.
Safety Evaluations
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to extend safety case evaluations applied to the channel tunnel to other forms of public transport. [39394]
Mr. Norris: The safety case approach is already used where appropriate in a number of industries, for example rail and aviation. I will consider the extension of the safety case approach where I am satisfied that this is an appropriate way to maintain and improve safety standards for the transport mode concerned.
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