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River Transport (London)
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has received concerning public river transport on the Thames in central London as an integral part of London's existing public transport system; and what consequent action he is planning. [39677]
Mr. Bowis: I recently met the hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Sir M. Neubert) with representatives of the group, Transport on Water.
Earlier this year, London First published "The Business Case for a Passenger Transport Service on the River Thames". Building on this report, the cross river partnership is examining the potential for a public transport service on the Thames and possible requirement for new piers. I look forward to the results of the cross river integrated public transport study in the new year.
I support the concept of passenger services on the Thames, but it is for the private sector to develop and operate these services. The Port of London Authority recently granted access to some of its piers to three companies that have expressed an interest in starting new passenger services on the Thames. This announcement is encouraging.
Mr. Dykes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory requirements exist for compulsory drug and alcohol screening for employees of transport companies;
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and what steps he is taking to encourage drug and alcohol screening amongst employees engaged in safety critical work. [39878]
Mr. Bowis:
There is no statutory requirement for drug and alcohol screening of employees of transport companies. It is a criminal offence to drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle or work on the railways in a safety-related capacity while under the influence of drink or drugs or above the permitted alcohol limit. It is also an offence to act as a member of the crew of an aircraft, an aircraft maintenance engineer or an air traffic controller while impaired through the influence of drink or drugs.
Railway operators may also be found guilty, where an employee has misused alcohol or drugs, if they fail to exercise "due diligence", which, in the Government's view, requires them to undertake some form of screening. A railway group standard sets out the rules and procedures for the screening of safety critical staff where there is suspicion that drug or alcohol may have been a factor in an accident, near miss, or in making an employee unfit for work.
Mr. Rendel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many visits (i) he and (ii) his Ministers made to (a) the Newbury constituency and (b) other constituencies in the last 12 months. [39869]
Sir George Young:
In the 12 months to July 1996, Transport Ministers have visited some 476 constituencies on official business. None of these were to Newbury.
Mr. Cash:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy with respect to the removal of or change of site of war memorials (a) throughout the country and (b) in the district local authority area of Stafford district council on the grounds of (i) planning and (ii) movement of traffic around the war memorial. [40007]
Mr. Bowis:
The removal or change of site of war memorials is essentially a matter for the local planning authority concerned. Before reaching their decision on whether to give planning permission, they are required to consider any representations received and to consult the local traffic authority, where this is a different authority, if the removal or re-siting of a memorial is likely to have traffic implications for the area. Where a war memorial is a listed building, listed building consent would also be required from the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Secretary of State for Transport has no role to play in the process.
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Multiple Births
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sets of (a) twins, (b) triplets, (c) quadruplets, (d) quintuplets and (e) sextuplets were born in Scotland in each year since 1990; how many maternities there were in each year; and how many multiple births in each category were conceived as a result of (i) in vitro fertilisation, (ii) gamete intra-fallopian transfer and (iii) other forms of assisted conception. [39971]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information is as follows:
| Type of birth | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twins: | ||||||
| 2 live | 711 | 682 | 790 | 751 | 762 | 780 |
| 1 live, 1 stillbirth | 15 | 22 | 11 | 25 | 13 | 31 |
| 2 stillbirth | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Triplets: | ||||||
| 3 live | 14 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 16 | 27 |
| 2 live, 1 stillbirth | 2 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| 1 live, 2 stillbirth | -- | 2 | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| Quadruplets: | ||||||
| 4 live | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 1 |
| 3 live, 1 stillbirth | -- | 1 | -- | -- | 1 | -- |
| Quintuplets: | ||||||
| Sextuplets | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Number of maternities | 65,556 | 66,630 | 65,307 | 62,946 | 61,224 | 59,271 |
Information on the number of multiple births in Scotland attributed to assisted conception is not available. Some information on these matters is published in the annual reports of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, copies of which are available in the Library.
Criminal Cases
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many criminal cases were dealt with by the procurators fiscal in each of the last 10 years; how many were marked no proceedings in each of these years; and if he will make a statement. [40176]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The number of criminal reports received by procurators fiscal, and the number of reports marked "no proceedings", are as follows:
| Criminal reports received | Cases marked no proceedings | |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 339,317 | 65,580 |
| 1986 | 343,488 | 71,228 |
| 1987 | 338,739 | 59,019 |
| 1988 | 335,304 | 52,497 |
| 1989 | 358,960 | 45,092 |
| 1990 | 357,704 | 40,096 |
| 1991 | 375,298 | 35,434 |
| 1992 | 353,776 | 34,345 |
| 1993 | 283,145 | 41,120 |
| 1994 | 268,722 | 40,614 |
| 1995 | 259,680 | 37,553 |
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Blind People
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a Scottish-wide free travel concession scheme for registered blind people; and if he will make a statement. [40032]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: In the light of representations made by organisations for the blind and disabled, my right hon. Friend last year sought the views of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about the possibility of COSLA either organising a national scheme for the blind and disabled, or alternatively a scheme which was restricted in scope to blind people only. COSLA has now established a task group to investigate the practicalities and costs of introducing a national scheme for the blind in the first instance. The task group has undertaken to inform the Scottish Office of its findings and we await its conclusions.
Court Waiting Times
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average length of time in criminal cases between the charging of a suspect and the subsequent bringing of the case before (a) district courts, (b) sheriff courts and (c) high courts in the last year for which figures are available. [40174]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information requested is not readily available. In summary cases, the average period between the police charging a suspect and the case calling in court will depend on the time taken by the police to submit a report to the procurator fiscal, the time taken by the procurator fiscal to serve a complaint on the accused and the availability of a court diet. If the police detain the accused, he must be brought before the court on the next lawful day. If the accused is released for report, the time taken to submit the report will vary according to the complexity of the case and other factors. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has calculated that between 50 and 75 per cent. of such reports are submitted within 28 days. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate informs me that, between June 1995 and June 1996, the average period between receipt of a report by the procurator fiscal and service of a complaint was 5.1 weeks in the sheriff court and five weeks in the district court. In custody cases, the complaint will be served on the accused on the same day as the report is received by the procurator fiscal. The information requested is not available for solemn cases prosecuted in the sheriff or High Courts.
Procurator Fiscal Service
Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total budget for procurator fiscal offices in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [40202]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Expenditure on salaries and running costs for the procurator fiscal service in each of the last 10 years was as follows:
| Year | Amount £000 |
|---|---|
| 1986-87 | 12,589 |
| 1987-88 | 13,678 |
| 1988-89 | 14,947 |
| 1989-90 | 16,536 |
| 1990-91 | 18,403 |
| 1991-92 | 20,821 |
| 1992-93 | 22,119 |
| 1993-94 | 25,138 |
| 1994-95 | 25,607 |
| 1995-96 | 27,799 |
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Ms Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total spending on staff salaries in procurators fiscal offices in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [40175]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Total spending on staff salaries in the procurator fiscal service in each of the last 10 years was as follows:
| Year | Amount |
|---|---|
| £000 | |
| 1986-87 | 9,331 |
| 1987-88 | 10,046 |
| 1988-89 | 11,202 |
| 1989-90 | 12,461 |
| 1990-91 | 14,365 |
| 1991-92 | 15,727 |
| 1992-93 | 16,888 |
| 1993-94 | 19,842 |
| 1994-95 | 20,332 |
| 1995-96 | 21,089 |
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Ms Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (i) procurators fiscal and (ii) deputy procurators fiscal have been employed in each district in each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement.[40203]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The total number of procurators fiscal, assistant procurators fiscal, senior deputes and deputes employed in each district since 1985 is as follows:
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| 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 10.5 | 9.5 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 |
| Banff | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dingwall | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dornoch | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elgin | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fort William | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Inverness | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Kirkwall | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lerwick | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Portree | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lochmaddy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peterhead | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Stonehaven | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Stornoway | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tain | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wick | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Alloa | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.6 |
| Arbroath | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Cupar | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Dundee | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
| Dunfermline | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Falkirk | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4.5 |
| Forfar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kirkcaldy | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4.5 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| Perth | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| Stirling | 1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Duns | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Edinburgh | 23 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27.5 | 28.9 |
| Haddington | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Jedburgh | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Linlithgow | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Peebles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Selkirk | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Campbeltown | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dumbarton | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6.6 | 6 |
| Dunoon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Greenock | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Kilmarnock | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8.7 | 7 |
| Oban | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Paisley | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 11.5 | 11.4 | 12.4 |
| Rothesay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Airdrie | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7.2 | 6.8 |
| Ayr | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.6 |
| Dumfries | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Hamilton | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17.5 | 18 | 18 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.4 | 19.4 |
| Kirkcudbright | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lanark | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Stranraer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Glasgow | 56.5 | 58.5 | 57 | 59 | 57 | 60.5 | 62.5 | 58.5 | 63 | 62 | 62.3 | 61.5 |
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There is a procurator fiscal for each of the districts listed. However in Dornoch, Kirkwall, Tain, Duns, Peebles, Rothesay, Lochmaddy and Kirkcudbright the procurator fiscal also has responsibility for a neighbouring district.
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