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NAAFI
Lord Dean of Beswick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the NAAFI, the armed forces trading organisation, has invested in Select Catalogues, and
- whether there are any connections between Select Catalogues and Lanica Trust which Her Majesty's Government regard as undesirable.
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Gilbert): The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) entered into a joint venture with a company, which later became Lanica Trust, to provide a mail order facility for British Service personnel and the vehicle for the venture was a newly created company, Select Catalogues Ltd. NAAFI purchased 30 per cent. of the equity and the remainder was purchased by Lanica Trust and the Managing Director of Select. Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any connections between the two companies which they regard as undesirable. No public money or facilities other than some small display stands at some facilities have been provided to Select by NAAFI.
Gulf War Illness: Research at DERA
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What research has been, or is being, conducted at DERA, Porton Down, into the causes of Gulf War Illness.
Lord Gilbert: The Chemical and Biological Defence sector of DERA, situated at Porton Down has not conducted any research into the causes of GWI in the past. However, it is intended that some of the new research, announced on 14 July, to investigate the possible health effects of having multiple vaccinations and taking other medication concurrently will be undertaken at CBD Porton Down. The results of this work will both provide scientific data with which to address Gulf veterans' concerns about the use of medical countermeasures during the Gulf War and also inform the Government's policy on the future use of such countermeasures.
Parked or Broken Down Vehicles: Accidents
Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of 14 July on motorway accidents (WA 102), what are the figures for the number of accidents and fatalities involving parked or broken down vehicles on A roads and all other roads respectively.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman): The information requested is shown in the following tables.
| 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Fatal Casualties | 128 | 136 | 115 | 102 | 97 | 95 | 86 | 73 |
| All injury accidents | 5,651 | 5,311 | 4,728 | 4,652 | 4,208 | 4,396 | 4,285 | 4,192 |
| 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Fatal Casualties | 133 | 128 | 129 | 89 | 85 | 83 | 74 | 86 |
| All injury accidents | 10,797 | 10,737 | 10,013 | 9,639 | 8,953 | 8,800 | 8,851 | 9,336 |
(1) B C and unclassified roads.
Lord Braine of Wheatley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to reduce traffic congestion as a result of the closure of the Blackwall Tunnel at weekends.
Baroness Hayman: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Braine of Wheatley from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. L. Haynes, dated 29 July 1997.
The Minister for Roads has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about the weekend closure of the A102 Blackwall Tunnel.
The closure of the northbound Blackwall Tunnel was necessary to enable demolition and finishing work to be carried out as part of the construction of a new escape ramp for over-height vehicles.
At present, despite advance warning signs and other preventive measures, over-height vehicles still attempt to enter the tunnel. These vehicles then have to reverse out up to 300 metres, a manoeuvre which not only causes severe delay and disruption to other road users, but is also potentially dangerous. The escape ramp will therefore benefit all road users and will allow the removal of vehicles quickly and safely and ease congestion. I enclose a copy of a press notice which announced the closures and the works.
To minimise disruption, the works were planned for overnight and weekend periods when traffic was at its lightest. This coming weekend (25-27 July) will be the last weekend closure, but there will be further nightly closures of the northbound tunnel from Sunday 27 July to Thursday 31 July, between the hours of 8.00 pm and 05.00 am. The closures from Sunday night to Wednesday night will be for work associated with the construction of the escape ramp, the other closures are for routine maintenance of the tunnel.
To help reduce congestion when the tunnel has been closed, traffic has been diverted via the southbound tunnel in a contraflow system with a single line operating in each direction. We have also put up signs either side of the tunnel to warn motorists of the closures and works. However, despite the measures, I regret that delays have occurred during the daytime weekend closures, although the traffic conditions have been closely monitored.
Finally, you might like to know that, as part of an ongoing biannual maintenance programme, the southbound tunnel will be closed at night over three consecutive weekend periods, starting on Friday 26 September.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: I understand that the litter on the tracks approaching Liverpool Street station will be cleared by Railtrack's contractor in about a fortnight's time. Her Majesty's Government intend later this year to lay orders clarifying the duty to clear litter and refuse from railway land. There are powers of enforcement in Sections 91 and 92 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Marlesford from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. L. Haynes, dated 29 July 1997.
The Minister for Roads has asked to reply to your request to publish in the Official Report a list of all motorway and trunk road schemes which are at present in the United Kingdom road programme, indicating in each case the primary purpose of the scheme, the estimated final cost, the stage reached where construction has not started and the start date and planned completion date of those under construction.
Ministers published on 28 July the consultation document, What Role for Trunk Roads in England?, which contains all the information you have requested. This is a substantial document, too large to be included in the Official Report. I am therefore arranging for a copy to be sent to you.
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hayman: I am considering what action is needed to ensure that all drivers are aware of the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving. There are, however, already requirements relating to bus and coach drivers which are relevant.
Bus and coach drivers, like all other drivers, are legally obliged to have full control of their vehicle at all times under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and to drive safely by the Road Traffic Act 1988, as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991. In addition, bus and coach drivers have a general duty of care under the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990.
Convictions for any driving offence committed under the 1988 Act or the 1990 Regulations are moreover regarded by the Traffic Commissioners as being relevant convictions for the purposes of the requirement that operators and their staff be of good repute as a condition of holding a public service vehicle operator's licence.
What is the reason for the closure of the Blackwall Tunnel at weekends; and when they expect the tunnel to operate normally; and
Whether they are satisfied that in respect of the approaches to Liverpool Street Station, Railtrack is fulfilling its statutory obligations to keep the railway lines free from litter and, if not, what action they propose to take.
Whether they will publish in the Official Report a list of all motorway and trunk road schemes which are at present in the United Kingdom road programme, indicating in each case the primary purpose of the scheme, the estimated final cost, the stage reached where construction has not started and the start date and planned completion date of those under construction.
What action they are taking to ensure that accidents do not occur on public roads arising from the use, while driving, of hand-held telephones by drivers of buses or coaches.
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