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Deaths at Work
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many deaths at work were recorded in the most recent available year; and if he will make a statement on recent trends. [70053]
Mr. Meale: In 1997-98 there were 261 fatalities to workers.
The fatal injury rate for all workers in 1997-98 was 1.0 per hundred thousand workers, which represents a return to the level seen in 1995-96, the lowest since the introduction of the reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations in 1986. The rate has fallen from 1.4 per hundred thousand five years ago and 1.8 per hundred thousand ten years ago.
The information for 1997-98 is provisional.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the Biosafety Protocol negotiations in Colombia, with specific reference to Article 1; and if he will make it his policy to support the inclusion of the precautionary principle as regards human health. [70346]
Mr. Meale:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 9 February 1999, Official Report, columns 153-54.
Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many and what percentage of local authorities in England and Wales use length of service as the basis for housing allocation to ex-service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [69795]
Mr. Raynsford:
The Department does not hold this information. Many local housing authorities require applicants for housing to have been resident in their area for a specified period before they will place them on their housing registers. This sort of requirement can cause difficulties for ex-service personnel and the Department's Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness advises authorities to give sympathetic
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consideration to applications from ex-service personnel who have close connections with their district or lived their prior to enlisting.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will introduce a mandatory rate relief system for voluntary sports clubs; and if he will make a statement. [70541]
Ms Armstrong:
We are currently reviewing the arrangements under which non-profit making sports clubs may receive relief from non-domestic rates at the discretion of local authorities. We intend to issue a consultation paper in the near future.
Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when he will announce the Government's intentions as to which roads will make up the GLA road network, for which Transport for London will be the highway and traffic authority; [71002]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Our White Paper, "A Mayor and Assembly for London", made clear that we start from the presumption that the GLA Road Network should be based on the primary route and red route networks. This base network is made up of some 220 miles of trunk roads and 105 miles of borough roads. We issued a consultation document last summer on whether roads might be added to or deleted from this base network to form the GLA Road Network. We received 93 responses to this consultation exercise. A summary of the responses has been placed in the Library. Copies of individual responses are available from the library of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
We have carefully considered the representations received and we have concluded that there should be some adjustments to the network as envisaged by the White
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Paper. Those are set out in the table and shown on the two maps which have today been deposited in the Library. In outer London, there are some small adjustments primarily to reflect the construction of new roads. In central London, we propose the addition of roads which act as key distributor routes for the area within the Inner Ring Road.
The resulting network gives Transport for London a clear and coherent set of roads to manage. The Mayor's Integrated Transport Strategy will set the framework within which Transport for London and boroughs will work. It is important that the Mayor, through Transport for London, should be responsible for key roads to help facilitate improved co-ordination in the movement of people and goods. In particular, direct involvement in roads in the central area will help the Mayor ensure there is a balanced approach to accessibility and traffic management not only to and from the City and West End but also for the developing south bank of the Thames.
This GLA Road Network is broadly the same size as the base network and the transfer of about 220 miles of trunk roads from the Highways Agency to Transport for London represents a significant shift of responsibility from central Government.
Subject to Parliamentary procedures, we intend that the network will be formally defined by Order to come into effect when Transport for London is brought into being. In defining the network, we are minded to include those small sections of side roads which are necessary to ensure that the main road is managed safely and efficiently.
We have looked carefully at the powers Transport for London should have as highway authority in relation to planning applications which affect GLA roads. Our conclusion is that Transport for London should be consulted by the local planning authority where the proposed development would materially affect the volume or type of traffic on a GLA road; require direct access to a GLA road or be likely to prejudice the improvement or construction of a GLA road. We do not envisage that the Mayor should have the power to direct the planning authority over highway related matters.
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(2) what role Transport for London will have in relation to planning applications which affect GLA roads. [71003]
| Additions to base network | Deletions from base network | |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustment for new road | New A13 (West of Heathway to Wennington) | Old A13 (West of Heathway to Wennington) |
| A12 (Hackney Wick--M11 link) | A11 (Bow interchange--Green Man Roundabout) | |
| A1203/A1261 (Limehouse Link/Aspen Way) | A106 (Lea Interchange--A11 at Leytonstone) | |
| A1020 Royal Docks Road | A117 Woolwich Manor Way (from A13 to A1020 | |
| Deletions of primary routes | A307 (Kew Green--Richmond Circus) | |
| A308 (Hampton) | ||
| A503 (Waterworks Corner--Tottenham Hale Gyratory) | ||
| Additions within the Inner Ring Road | A201 Kings Cross--Elephant and Castle (via Blackfriars Bridge) | |
| A200/A3200/A3036 Tooley Street, St. Thomas Street, Southwark Street, Stamford Street, York Road, Lambeth Palace Road, Albert Embankment | ||
| A3211 Tower Hill, Lower and Upper Thames Street, Victoria Embankment | ||
| Westminster Bridge | ||
| Lambeth Bridge, Millbank (from Vauxhall Bridge to Lambeth Bridge) |
10 Feb 1999 : Column: 247
WALES
National Assembly
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what leisure facilities are planned to be made available for members of the National Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [69218]
Mr. Michael: I have asked for a review of leisure facilities available to Welsh Office staff in Cardiff and elsewhere. Most of the staff to be employed by the Welsh Assembly will transfer from the Welsh Office in Cathays Park where the leisure facilities available to staff are quite limited. There is a fitness suite in Cathays Park, known as the Welsh Office Crown Building Fitness Centre, opened in May 1992, on the initiative of a number of staff. The suite is run as a private club by a committee of staff and its use is restricted to club members. The Department provides the accommodation in the mezzanine of Cathays Park but the equipment is funded by members' subscriptions and loans from the Civil Service Sports Council.
There is also a Welsh Office Sports and Social Association (WOSSA) funded by subscription from staff, for which the Welfare Department provides the secretariat. However this has not been very active in recent years and any social and sporting activity carried on within the Department is generally organised by individual staff members, sometimes with the help of grants from WOSSA. Other than the support given in the form of basic accommodation, in the case of the fitness suite, the Department does not provide staff leisure facilities in Cardiff or elsewhere.
Members and officials working in Crickhowell House will be provided with an induction pack which will list the leisure facilities in the Bay and surrounding area. There is no room at present in Crickhowell House to provide any facility similar to that at Cathays Park, but as additional space becomes available, in due course, it may be possible to provide leisure facilities. Following the review, recommendations will be prepared for consideration by the Assembly.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 21 January 1999, Official Report, column 549, on the National Assembly, when he expects to lay the draft of the Order relating to disqualification of persons from membership of the National Assembly before Parliament. [69690]
Mr. Michael:
Section 12 of the Government of Wales Act 1998 deals with disqualification from membership of the National Assembly. It provides that certain individuals and classes of person may not be members of the Assembly:
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Having considered the comments received, I have set out in a draft Order-in-Council which has today been laid before both Houses of Parliament, a list of the proposed disqualifying offices and employments. The draft Order- in-Council is subject to affirmative resolution procedure in both Houses before being put to Her Majesty in Council.
The draft Order proposes the following disqualification from membership of the Assembly:
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There will be separate arrangements outside the Order-in-Council to cover the disqualification of members of the Boards of Training and Enterprise Companies in Wales, Career Companies in Wales and the Welsh European Programme Executive Ltd.
I have decided not to take forward the suggestion contained in the consultation paper that staff of the bodies listed in the draft Order should be disqualified. However,
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where an employee of such a body is elected as a member of the Assembly, I would expect that person to resign their paid employment immediately following election.
by applying section 1(1) of the House of Commons (Disqualification) Act 1975, judges, civil servants, members of the armed forces, members of the police forces and members of foreign legislatures;
those disqualified from being a member of a local authority;
the Auditor General for Wales and the Welsh Administration Ombudsman;
criminals in detention and those who have escaped; and
Lords-Lieutenants and High Sheriffs for areas in Wales who are disqualified from representing those areas in the Assembly.
Section 12 also provides for an Order-in-Council to designate further offices and employments, the holding of which would be incompatible with membership of the Assembly. A consultation exercise invited views on the offices and employments that might be covered by the Order.
(a) Members of
National Park Authorities in Wales
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
Rent Assessment Panel in Wales
Registered Inspectors Appeal Tribunal
Sianel Pedwar Cymru
Arts Council for Wales
Audit Commission for Local Authorities and National Health Service in England and Wales
Broadcasting Standards Commission
Channel Four Television Corporation
Commission for Local Administration in Wales
Competition Commission
Council of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
Countryside Council of Wales
Environment Agency
Forestry Commissioners
General Teaching Council for Wales
Independent Television Commission
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales
Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales
Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority
Pensions Compensation Board
Radio Authority
Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales
Sports Council for Wales
Wales Tourist Board
Welsh Language Board
Council of the National Library of Wales
Council of the National Museum of Wales
(b) Members (not also being employees) of
Further Education Funding Council for Wales
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales
Welsh Development Agency
Certification Officer or assistant certification officer
Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting
Health Authority in Wales
NHS Trust in Wales
Special Health Authority in Wales
(c) other disqualifying offices
Chief Adjudication Officer appointed under section 39 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992
Chief Child Support Officer appointed under section 13 of the Child Support Act 1991
Civil Service Commissioner
Commissioner for Public Appointments
Commissioner for Protection against Unlawful Industrial Action
Commissioner for the Rights of Trade Union Members
Commissioner or assistant Commissioner of the Boundary Commission for Wales
Director General of Electricity Supply
Director General of Fair Trading
Director General of Gas Supply
Director General of Telecommunications
Comptroller and Auditor General
Governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation
Health Service Commissioner for Wales
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools in Wales
Member of a Medical Appeal Tribunal appointed under section 50 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992
Member of a panel appointed under section 6 of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992 of persons to act as chairmen of Child Support Appeal Tribunals
Member of a panel appointed under section 6 of the Tribunal and Inquiries Act 1992 of persons to act as chairmen of Social Security Appeal Tribunals, Medical Appeal Tribunals and Disability Appeal Tribunals
Member of a panel of persons appointed under section 6 of the Social Security Act 1998
Member of a panel of persons who may be appointed to serve on a Vaccine Damage Tribunal
Member of the Council of the National Library of Wales
Member of the Council of the National Museum of Wales
Staff of the Auditor General for Wales
Staff of the Forestry Commissioners
Staff of the National Audit Office
Pensions Ombudsman
Staff holding politically-restricted posts in local government and National Park Authorities in Wales (unless exemption is obtained under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989)
President of appeal tribunals appointed under section 5 of the Social Security Act 1998
President of Social Security Appeal Tribunals, Medical Appeal Tribunals and Disability Appeal Tribunals
Regional or other full time chairman of a child support appeal tribunal established under section 21 of the Child Support Act 1991
Regional or other full time chairman of Social Security Appeal Tribunals, Medical Appeals Tribunals or Disability Appeals Tribunals
Rent Officers appointed under the Rent Act 1977
Returning Officers in Assembly elections
Social Fund Commissioner.
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