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Written Answers to Questions

Friday 13 December 1996.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

Maize

Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what actions he is taking to ensure that genetically modified maize is not marketed in the United Kingdom without the express authority of the Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. [8879]

Mrs. Browning: Decisions on marketing of genetically modified organisms are taken on an EU-wide basis. The advice of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes was taken into account in formulating the United Kingdom position on genetically modified maize and has been passed on to the EU Scientific Committee for Food which is currently advising the Commission on this matter.

Mr. Morley: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government are taking to ensure that genetically modified maize is not mixed with normal maize gluten feed; and if he will make a statement. [8880]

Mrs. Browning: Importers and distributors of maize and maize products have been informed that it is currently illegal to market unprocessed genetically modified maize in the United Kingdom.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Employment Schemes

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people after leaving (1) national training awards, (2) new workers scheme, (3) North Norfolk Action, (4) other education initiative, (5) old job training scheme, (6) open learning credit, (7) other occupational training, (8) open tech learning, (9) one-to-one, (10) placing, assessment and counselling teams, (11) placing and advisory service, (12) Professional and Executive Recruitment, (13) promotion of tourism scheme, (14) Prince's Youth Business trust, (15) Remploy, (16) Skill Choice, (17) sheltered-supported employment, (18) Small Firms Advisory Service, (19) small firms employment subsidy, (20) small firms information service, (21) small firms loan guarantee scheme, (22) small firms service, (23) single regeneration budget, (24) special schemes for disabled, (25) Skills Training agency, (26) special temporary employment programme, (27) short-time working compensation scheme and (28) training access points, (a) went into employment and (b) went on to further schemes, including those who left before completion of the scheme, in each year of each scheme's operation; and

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what type and level of qualification each leaver obtained for each year of the scheme's operation up to the latest available year for which data are available. [8741]

Mr. Paice: The information requested can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Voluntary-aided Schools

Mr. Jacques Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will announce allocations of credit approvals to local education authorities and capital grant to the governors of voluntary-aided schools. [9401]

Mrs. Gillan: Details will be placed in the Library on Monday 16 December.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Westminster Hall (Official Functions)

Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee how many official functions were held in Westminster Hall during the past year; at what cost; and if he will make a statement on their purpose. [8845]

Mr. Michael J. Martin: Two official events have been held in Westminster Hall this year. The President of the Republic of South Africa addressed Members of both Houses of Parliament on Thursday 11 July and the Lord Chancellor's annual breakfast, following the judges' service in Westminster Abbey, was held on Tuesday 1 October. The cost to the House of Commons works services vote of the event on 11 July was £48,000.

TRANSPORT

Road Signs

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to commence the upgrading of the primary route road signs within the M25; and what projections he has made as to the cost of the programme.[8419]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 13 December 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question on what estimate he has made of the percentage of road signs which need replacement or repair on the United Kingdom primary route network.
The Highways Agency is responsible for the trunk road network in England. We do not have an estimate at any one time of the number of signs needing repair or replacement for the reasons explained below.
Under the requirements of our Code of Practice for Routine Maintenance our maintenance agents (currently over 80 in number) carry out regular inspections of the highway infrastructure including signing and record defects. These defects will be assessed and a prioritised programme of treatments developed. The agents will attempt to coordinate the programme of treatments for small items such as road signs with other works to secure economies of scale and reduce disruption on the network.

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From these investigations our agents will produce a rolling programme of works contracts in the form of both maintenance and improvements to effect any necessary restoration of sign quality. On a network of some 6,500 miles these programmes will be updated very regularly. I can say that our budget over the last 5 years for all road sign and road marking maintenance, but not improvement, has varied between about £10m and £16m per year.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the condition of road signs in the United Kingdom for which his Department has responsibility; [8417]

(2) what representations he has received in the last year on poor and inadequate road signing in the United Kingdom for which his Department has responsibility.[8421]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 13 December 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your questions on the condition of road signs on trunk roads in England and representations received in the last year on poor and inadequate road signing.

Signs on the Trunk Road network in England are provided to high standards set out in our Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and proactively maintained to similarly high levels defined in our Code of Practice for Routine Maintenance. In general the condition of our signs is good, they play a full part in the delivery of a safe and efficient network. Safety is always the Agency's foremost consideration and even though funds are limited our maintenance and improvement programmes afford safety measures the highest priority.
Representations about the condition or adequacy of signs may be made to the Agency or directly to our maintenance agents. These are varied and cover both general and local issues. The total number of representations to the Agency this year on all signing matters is approaching some 200, but the number cannot be confirmed precisely at short notice. All of them are investigated promptly and acted upon as necessary. Issues shown to relate to safety are given immediate attention, other longer term measures are prioritised according to wider programme and funding considerations.

Public Transport

Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what notification he receives on the progress of co-ordination provided for in section 88 of the Transport Act 1985. [8803]

Mr. Watts: None. The exercise by local authorities of their duties under section 88 of the Transport Act 1985 is not subject to a requirement to report to my Department.

Local Roads and Transport (Capital Allocation)

Mr. Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the allocation of capital resources for expenditure on local roads and transport in England for 1997-98. [9469]

Sir George Young: A total of £746 million will be allocated to local highway authorities and passenger transport authorities for capital expenditure on their transport infrastructure in 1997-98. This is in addition to the sums provided for transport schemes that are successful in the capital challenge competition.

Full details of the allocations will be placed in the Library of the House on Monday 16 December.

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Vehicle Inspectorate

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the report produced as part of the prior options review of the Vehicle Inspectorate, evaluating its performance since its establishment as an executive agency, and copies of the revised framework document. [9431]

Mr. Bowis: I have arranged for copies of these documents to be placed in the Library.

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