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Ford UK
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he first met Ford UK to discuss the implications of the closure announcement at Halewood; and when he last met representatives of the company prior to the announcement. [15105]
Mr. Lang [holding answer 10 February 1997]: I met Jac Nasser, president of Ford Europe, to discuss future investment at Halewood on 16 January. Prior to that I met Sir Alex Trotman, chairman, president and chief executive of Ford Motor Company, on 2 March 1996.
My officials have frequent contact and meetings with the company.
Iveco Ford
Mr. Ingram: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the Iveco Ford company at Langley; and if he will make a statement.[15106]
Mr. Greg Knight [holding answer 10 February 1997]: Officials from my Department's automotive directorate have regular discussions with Iveco Ford's UK management, as well as with representatives of the company's parent organisation. The subjects under discussion are treated as confidential.
Prior Options Reviews
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost of the prior options reviews; and if he will make a statement. [15082]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
The estimated total cost of conducting the prior options reviews, excluding the costs for the preparation of the privatisation of ADAS, the establishment of the health and safety laboratory as an internal agency of the Health and Safety Executive, and the conversion of three establishments into new executive agencies, is likely to be in the region of £1.5 million. This cost is small compared with the sum devoted to the establishments--some £690 million a year. The
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Government believe that to achieve further efficiency gains, which can only benefit the science base, this is a worthwhile investment.
Mr. Loyden:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the percentage change in manufacturing output between (a) 1996 and 1995 and (b) 1995 and 1994. [15160]
Mr. Greg Knight
[holding answer 10 February 1997]: Manufacturing output was 2.2 per cent. higher in 1995 than it was in 1994. Last year it rose by a further 0.5 per cent. to reach its highest ever level. The Confederation of British Industry expects manufacturing output to grow by 3.4 per cent. in 1997.
Mr. Meacher:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the oil discharged into the North sea derives from United Kingdom licensed offshore oil rigs and platforms. [14866]
Mr. Page
[holding answer 10 February 1997]: Figures from the Oslo and Paris commissions North sea quality status report, last published in 1993, indicate that the United Kingdom licensed offshore oil rigs and platforms were responsible for between 4 and 10 per cent. of the total oil input to the North sea.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is (a) the cost to date of each of the investigations currently being carried out under the Insurance Companies Acts, (b) the amounts which have been paid to each of the inspectors and (c) the basis on which they have been paid. [14913]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
Investigations carried out under the Insurance Companies Acts are not announced and are confidential. Current inquiries are being carried out by departmental staff at no appreciable cost.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information his Department collects about the involvement of United Kingdom accountancy firms in facilitating money laundering. [14843]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
Any information received by the Department in relation to money laundering is passed to the national criminal intelligence service.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to introduce legislation to reverse the Caparo judgment. [14790]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
I have no such plans, but continue to keep this issue under review.
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was his Department's expenditure on staff
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employed full-time or part-time to provide (a) publicity and (b) work on domestic press and media for inward investment in each year since 1979-80. [15367]
Mr. Greg Knight:
Publicity in respect of inward investment is carried out by staff in various parts of the Department such as the Invest in Britain Bureau, information division and sector divisions but records are not kept at the level of detail required to provide the information requested.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current situation regarding Konver grant for the Royal Ordnance site in Chorley. [15375]
Mr. Greg Knight:
The Royal Ordnance site in Chorley has received European structural fund grants for projects from Konver I and Perifra. The Konver II working group for the north-west has been asked to consider the scope for offering some grant to support a further project on this site. I shall write to the hon. Member when this issue has been settled.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the average time taken to complete major road schemes. [14572]
Mr. Watts
[holding answer 10 February 1997]: Reducing the time taken to complete road schemes is an objective of the Highways Agency. Figures taken from the agency's annual report for 1995-96 are given in the table. They show the average time taken, from programme entry to completion, for schemes completed in each year.
Mr. Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the longest time recorded to complete a road scheme begun after 1979. [14573]
Mr. Watts
[holding answer 10 February 1997]: The longest time recorded to complete a road scheme begun after 1979 is 15 years. The A65 Burley-in-Wharfdale bypass in west Yorkshire entered the programme in 1980 and was completed in 1995.
Mr. John Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential for third party revenue benefits from London Transport's prestige project. [15463]
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Mr. Bowis:
London Transport is responsible for the prestige project and is currently in negotiation with a private sector consortium on a potential deal. Third party revenues are one of the matters subject to negotiation, but London Transport believes that the project has the potential to generate significant third party revenues from smart-card ticketing.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes have been permitted in the dimensions of heavy goods vehicles since the increase in lorry weights to 38 tonnes was implemented. [15348]
Mr. Watts:
The maximum permitted weight of lorries increased to 38 tonnes in 1983. Since that date, the maximum permitted length of an articulated vehicle increased from 15.5m to 16.5m in 1990 and the maximum length of a lorry and trailer increased from 18.0m to 18.35m in 1991. The maximum width for refrigerated vehicles increased from 2.5m to 2.58m in 1986 and then to 2.6m in 1988. The maximum width of other types of lorry increased from 2.5m to 2.55m in 1996.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in respect of a code of conduct for Railtrack; and if he will make a statement. [15343]
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the total costs incurred by the British Railways Board in the privatisation process in 1996-97 to date. [15400]
Mr. Watts:
Details of the costs incurred by the British Railways Board in the privatisation process are a matter for the board itself. However, I understand from the board that up to 4 January 1997 the total costs incurred in 1996-97 were £40 million.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amount was paid to Railtrack in level crossing grant for 1996-97; and what is the forecast level of the grant for 1997-98. [15347]
Mr. Watts:
No level crossing grant was paid to Railtrack for 1996-97 and no such grant is forecast to be paid in 1997-98. With effect from 1 April 1996, level crossing grant ceased to be payable to Railtrack, which recovers the costs of maintaining level crossings through the access charges paid by train operating companies.
Of the 21 schemes analysed in 1995-96, five entered the programme over 20 years ago, one in 1969. If these schemes are taken out of the analysis, the average time reduces to 10.6 years, showing a gradual fall over the four-year period.
1992-93: 15.0 years
1993-94: 11.9 years
1994-95: 11.4 years
1995-96: 13.4 years.
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