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Trans-European Network
Sir Robert Hicks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his Department's application to the EU for funding for the feasibility study for the rail trans-European network route from Bristol to Plymouth and Penzance; and if he will make a statement. [3457]
Mr. Watts: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 16 July Official Report, column 440. We pressed the merits of the UK's TEN bid, including an allocation for a development study of the great western line, at the meeting of the TENs finance committee on 25 July. We now expect a formal Commission decision, in the light of that meeting and subsequent bilateral discussion, to be issued at the end of this month.
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Motorway Maintenance Contracts
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will update the information in his answer of 7 June 1995, Official Report, columns 232-34, regarding substructure motorway maintenance contracts administered for his Department by W. S. Atkins and Partners and Maunsell and Partners, to the latest date for which information is available. [2973]
Mr. Watts: An "update" of Official Report, 7 June 1995, columns 232-34 regarding substructure motorway maintenance contracts administered by W. S. Atkins and G. Maunsell and Partners is listed as follows.
| Contract reference | Viaduct | Contractor | Tender sum | Final account | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (£ million) | (£ million) | ||||
| W. S. Atkins | |||||
| R5 | Oldbury | R. M. Douglas | 0.809 | 1.040 | |
| R33 | Wigmore | Trafalgar House | 0.586 | (21)-- | |
| R35 | Bescot | Trafalgar House | 0.598 | (21)-- | |
| R53 | Oldbury | Taylor Woodrow | 2.760 | (21)-- | |
| R67 | Bescot | Curral Lewis Martin | 2.000 | (21)-- | |
| R89 | Bescot and Ray Hall | Dean and Dyball | 0.701 | (21)-- | |
| Routine Maintenance Contracts | |||||
| V | n/a | R and C Williams | (22)-- | 1.479 | |
| W | n/a | R and C Williams | (22)-- | (21)-- | |
| G. Maunsell and Partners | |||||
| R24 | Gravelly Hill Makers Industrial Ltd. | 0.674 | (21)-- | ||
| R60 | Bescot and Shephard Hill Ray Hall | 1.396 | (21)-- |
(21) Accounts not finalised.
(22) Schedule of rates contracts.
It is of note the concept of schedule of rates contracts was explained in the Minister's letter of 23 August 1995, reference W/PSO/10345/95.
Train Operating Companies
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of train operating companies operating on the UK rail network are currently owned by foreign companies. [1941]
Mr. Watts: All franchised train operating companies are owned by companies registered in the United Kingdom. The ultimate holding company of Connex Rail Ltd. and of Great North Eastern Railway Company Ltd. is CGEA Group, registered in France, and Sea Containers Ltd. registered in Bermuda, respectively.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
Mr. Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the spray suppression procedures for HGVs in (i) the Netherlands and (ii) the United Kingdom. [3094]
Mr. Bowis: No assessment of spray procedures in the Netherlands has been made by the Department of Transport. In the UK, research has been carried out by the transport research laboratory which centred on the measurement of spray and its effect on vision. Whilst the test work has been completed, the assessment of
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the results is not finished and it is too early to decide if any changes to current vehicle requirements are necessary.
North Wales to Crewe Line
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation his Department has undertaken of the effect of the imposition of the minimum passenger requirement on the north Wales to Crewe train service; and if he will make a statement. [1863]
Mr. Watts: The passenger service requirement will protect a guaranteed level of service on the north Wales to Crewe line for the first time.
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the observance of the 30 mph speed limit on urban roads; and if he will make a statement on the proportion of vehicles which exceed the 30 mph speed limit. [2390]
Mr. Bowis: Highway authorities are able to make changes ot the layout of roads through traffic calming to encourage observance of the 30 mph limit. We are considering, as part of the current consultation on road traffic regulation, the possibility of allowing 30 mph repeater signs along lit roads. Enforcement is a matter for the police. Our Kill Your Speed campaign is geared to the message that a great many casualties are caused by motorists travelling too fast--mostly by just a modest amount--in 30 mph limited roads, where two thirds of all road casualties occur.
New Drivers Legislation
Dr. Michael Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 will come into force. [2786]
Mr. Bowis: We intend to bring this Act into force by mid-1997.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Miss Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are proposed to mitigate noise levels along the rail link from Waterloo station to the channel tunnel. [2952]
Mr. Watts: There is no statutory requirement for railway operators to provide noise mitigation on existing railway lines. However, a number of voluntary, jointly funded noise mitigation schemes have been agreed between Railtrack and several London boroughs and local authorities in the south-east. Under these schemes, acoustic barriers, and in some cases secondary glazing, have been installed at certain locations worst affected by noise from existing lines to the channel tunnel. The Government have encouraged and supported these schemes by allocating supplementary credit approvals to the local authorities concerned.
As far as the new channel tunnel rail link is concerned, noise mitigation proposals were set out in the environmental statement that accompanied the CTRL Bill on introduction. Mitigation, at source, rather than relying simply on noise insulation of affected properties, will be provided in connection with the new works--the CTRL itself and the reinstated Gravesend west line. These
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proposals will be further developed during the detailed design of the project and will be subject to approval by the local planning authorities along the route of the CTRL.
Shotgun Deaths
Mr. Robert McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were killed by shotguns over the last five years. [1203]
Sir John Wheeler: The following list shows the number of deaths caused by shotguns in each of the past five years:
| Homicides | Suicides | Accidents | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6 | 8 | -- |
| 1992 | 14 | 10 | -- |
| 1993 | 10 | 15 | -- |
| 1994 | 7 | 10 | -- |
| 1995 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
Permaculture
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to encourage permaculture within national parks in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [2355]
Mr. Moss: Permaculture is a system of natural agriculture, requiring generous mulching, no artificial fertilisers, use of natural resources and only minimal weeding. It is an ecosystem-based method of production, with some similarities to organic methods.
The Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 provides for national parks to be established, but none have been, nor are there any plans to introduce them.
The Secretary of State is recommended to make the following statement:
Mr. Ancram:
There are no UK registers of farms or holdings operating on permaculture principles. There are 10 UK-registered organic producers in Northern Ireland.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the investigation by the chairman of the Police Authority into allegations relating to the conduct of Mr. Trevor Wilson in July. [1990]
Sir John Wheeler:
I am content with the manner in which the chairman of the Police Authority dealt with this matter.
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Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the members of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland who decided that Mr. Trevor Wilson's conduct during July required no further action. [1991]
Sir John Wheeler:
I am advised by the Police Authority that 12 members, including the chairman and vice-chairman, were present at the special authority meeting held on 30 July. Those attending were Mr. P. J. Armstrong, Professor H. Wallace, Mr. R. Empey, Mr. B. R. Johnston, Mr. T. A. Kerrigan, Mr. W. R. Martin, Mr. S. J. McCammick, Mrs. R. A. McCormick, Mr. J. O. McDonald, Mr. R. A. J. Spence, Mr. T. J. Wilson and one other member who did not wish to be named.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the report of the police investigation into the activities of Mr. Trevor Wilson in July was made available to the Police Authority. [1992]
Sir John Wheeler:
I am advised by the Police Authority that the report of the police investigation into Mr. Wilson's involvement in events in Cookstown on 9 and 10 July 1996 was not made available to the Police Authority.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the statement of the Police Authority of 31 July 1995, if he will make a statement on the advice received by the authority that no criminal proceedings were to be taken against Mr. Trevor Wilson. [1993]
Sir John Wheeler:
I do not intend to make a statement as the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, having heard from Mr. Wilson on the matter, regards the matter as being closed.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what actions or inquiries were undertaken by the Police Authority for Northern Ireland to establish the truth of allegations about the conduct of Mr. Trevor Wilson in July. [1994]
Sir John Wheeler:
Following references in the press to the alleged conduct of authority member, Mr. Trevor Wilson in the Cookstown area on 9 and 10 July 1996, Mr. Wilson spoke to the chairman of the authority and asked for an opportunity to discuss the matter with his fellow members. Subsequently, the authority chairman wrote to the Chief Constable of the RUC about the matter and was advised that no criminal proceedings were to be taken against Mr. Wilson.
During the special authority meeting held on 30 July 1996, Mr. Wilson gave members of the authority a full explanation of his actions and answered a range of forthright questions put to him. Members accepted Mr. Wilson's account of events and agreed that no further action was necessary.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what explanation of his conduct Mr. Trevor Wilson provided to the special meeting of the Police Authority on 30 July; and what factors underlay the decision of the RUC to investigate his conduct. [1996]
11 Nov 1996 : Column: 69
Sir John Wheeler:
I am advised by the Police Authority that Mr. Wilson gave his explanation of his conduct to the authority at its meeting on 30 July 1996 on the basis that it would remain confidential.
Mr. Wilson was observed by a police officer in close proximity to, but not part of, a group of people who were blocking a road in the Cookstown area on 9 July 1996.
In pursuit of investigations into this activity, Mr. Wilson was interviewed by police. No evidence was disclosed which warranted any further police action.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will instruct the Police Authority to publish the minutes of the special meeting of 30 July. [1997]
Sir John Wheeler:
I have no plans to instruct the Police Authority to publish the minutes of the special meeting of 30 July.
Dr. Hendron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he (a) called for and (b) considered (i) reports of the RUC criminal investigation and (ii) proceedings of the Police Authority on 30 July into the conduct of Mr. Trevor Wilson; and when he consulted the chairman of the Police Authority to discuss the allegations concerning Mr. Trevor Wilson. [1998]
Sir John Wheeler:
I had no need to call for the reports specified in the question as I was kept informed of Mr. Wilson's request for a meeting of the authority, the authority's subsequent meeting and its decision that no further action was necessary.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimates he has made of how many farms or holdings are operating on permaculture principles; and if he will make a statement. [2361]
There are no plans to encourage permaculture in national parks in Northern Ireland as there are no such parks.
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