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Entry Clearance Fees (Bangladesh)
Mr. Shore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current level of fees charged in pounds sterling for applications for entry clearance in Bangladesh; what was the level of fees charged on (a) 1 January 1996 and (b) 1 January 1994; and if he will make a statement. [20428]
Dr. Liam Fox: Entry clearance fees are set in sterling at rates which apply worldwide. The fees which applied on the dates in question can be found in the Consular Fees Order 1989 No. 152 (as amended), the Consular Fees Order 1995 No. 1617 and the Consular Fees Order 1996 No. 1915. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
Somali Nationals
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications have been received at British missions from Somali nationals seeking family reunion in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [20929]
Dr. Liam Fox: The number of family reunion applications at the British embassy in Addis Ababa from Somali nationals in 1996 was 603. Neither figures for previous years nor applications from Somali nationals at missions in other countries are held centrally. They could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
PRIME MINISTER
Thomas Hamilton
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister when Ministers were informed that Thomas Hamilton of Dunblane was a police informer. [20656]
The Prime Minister: Lord Cullen's inquiry looked very closely into Thomas Hamilton's background and his relationship with the police and no information came to light to suggest that he had ever been a police informant. Inquiries of the four forces in whose area Thomas Hamilton ran boys' clubs and of the Scottish crime squad have confirmed this.
Organophosphates
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that organophosphates will not in future be used to protect British troops. [20336]
The Prime Minister
[answer 18 March 1997]: The Ministry of Defence aims to provide the best available means to protect its military personnel, including, where appropriate, the use of pesticides for environmental health purposes. I am advised that pesticides in the services' inventory are kept under review to ensure that appropriate products are available for use in a variety of situations. Some organophosphate pesticides will continue to be included in the inventory as long as these are judged to provide the best available protection in particular areas of actual or potential deployment.
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Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Prime Minister in how many cases in the past 12 months he was advised that the cost of answering a parliamentary question would exceed £450; and in how many of those cases he declined to provide an answer on grounds of disproportionate cost. [20651]
The Prime Minister
[holding answer 18 March 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clywd) on 27 February, Official Report, column 320.
Mr. Butler:
To ask the Prime Minister what changes there are in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of the Western European Union. [21454]
The Prime Minister:
Following the recent death of Martin Redmond, who served as a member of the United Kingdom delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Assembly of Western European Union from 1987, the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Cunliffe) has been appointed as a representative in place of Mr. Redmond and the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) has been appointed as a substitute.
Worcester Transport Package
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide guidance to Hereford and Worcester county council on the steps it needs to take to demonstrate that it has consulted local people in respect of its next package bid for Worcester; and if he will make a statement. [20808]
Mr. Watts: If Hereford and Worcester county council needs guidance on any aspect of developing the transport package for Worcester, including the adequacy of its public consultation arrangements, they should consult officials at the Government office for the west midlands or my Department.
Croydon Tramlink
Mr. Congdon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the passenger forecasts for Croydon tramlink. [21049]
Mr. Bowis: This is a commercial matter for Tramtrack Croydon Ltd., the private sector consortium which has won the concession to build, operate and maintain Croydon tramlink.
Driving Test Centre, Aylesbury
Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the driving test centre in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. [21024]
Mr. Bowis:
The lease for the present driving test centre in Aylesbury expires on 21 June 1997. The Driving Standards Agency is negotiating a short-term lease to
19 Mar 1997 : Column: 615
remain at the centre until an alternative property, offering better facilities for candidates and examiners, can be found within the town.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of future funding plans for the Jubilee line extension on the safety of the line. [21025]
Mr. Bowis:
There has been no change in the position on safety, which remains the first priority for London. Underground Ltd. in all aspects of its undertaking, including the Jubilee line extension.
Mr. Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal road traffic accidents occurred in Hemsworth in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1996. [20720]
Mr. Bowis:
Information is not readily available by parliamentary constituency. Information is available by local authority, and I list the figures for Wakefield metropolitan district council.
| Year of accident | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accident severity | 1st road class | 1979 | 1990 | 1995 |
| Fatal | 'A' road | 15 | 7 | 6 |
| Other | 17 | 16 | 8 | |
| All roads | 32 | 23 | 14 | |
| Serious injury | 272 | 330 | 221 | |
| Slight injury | 830 | 849 | 981 | |
| All roads | 1,102 | 1,179 | 1,202 | |
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20933]
Mr. Bowis: Following are the answers for each of the Department of Transport's executive NDPB's.
- (a) The Traffic Director for London, the Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) and the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB).
(b) None.
(c) The Traffic Director for London, the London Regional Passengers' Committee (LRPC), THLS and NLB.
(d) None.
(e) The Traffic Director for London, THLS and NLB.
(f) The Traffic Director for London.
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of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests; and if this in each case is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20891]
Mr. Watts: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 July 1996, Official Report, Volume 281, column 682-83.
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Office of the Rail Regulator which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [20936]
Mr. Watts: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 July 1996, Official Report, column 682.
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department publish (a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members interests; and if this is in each case (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [20895]
Mr. Bowis: Following are the answers for each of the Department of Transport's executive NDPB's.
- (a) The Traffic Director for London and the London Regional Passengers' Committee (LRPC), under statutory requirement. The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) and Trinity House Lighthouse Authority (THLB), as a consolidated report under statutory requirement.
(b) The Traffic Director for London, under statutory requirement and the LRPC, voluntarily. The NLB and THLB as a consolidated report, under statutory requirement.
(c) The LRPC, voluntarily.
(d) The LRPC, voluntarily.
(e) None.
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