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A.12: Fatal Accidents
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many fatal accidents have occurred during the progress of the current works on the A.12 trunk road between the Wickham Market bypass and Saxmundham.[HL340]
Lord Whitty: There has been one fatal accident during the course of the current resurfacing works at Little Glemham.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list all the fatal accidents which have occurred over the last 20 years on the section of the A.12 trunk road between the northern end of the Wickham Market by-pass and the southern end of the dual carriageway at Benhall; what proposals they have for improving the safety of that section of road; and whether they will consider the reinstatement of the by-pass for the four villages on that section of the A.12 which was withdrawn from the road programme on 26 November 1996.[HL341]
Lord Whitty: The total number of accidents recorded as having resulted in a fatality on the 4½ mile length of the A.12 between the dual carriageways of Wickham Market by-pass and at Benhall is nine. These are listed below:--
| 1. 11-11-78 | Little Glemham | Loss of control |
| 2. 15-10-81 | Stratford St. Andrew | Loss of control |
| 3. 22-12-82 | Benhall | Head on collision |
| 4. 28-11-85 | Marlesford | Failed to give way |
| 5. 2-9-86 | Little Glemham | Head on collision |
| 6. 19-9-87 | Stratford St. Andrew | Head on collusion |
| 7. 26-6-93 | Little Glemham | Loss of control |
| 8. 20-8-93 | Marlesford | Head on collision |
| 9. 4-9-93 | Marlesford | Right turn movement |
The accident history of this, as with all trunk roads is routinely monitored but accidents are not closely clustered anywhere along the route. In consequence, there are no safety schemes currently planned, but studies are under way at Little Glemham and the A.12/A.1094 junction at Benhall.
When the Government announced the year-long review of trunk roads, as reported in A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England, it did not consider there was a case for reintroducing the previously withdrawn proposal for a by-pass. Any move now to reintroduce that or other by-pass options on that stretch would fall to Suffolk County Council as part of its Local Transport Plan, since this section of the A.12 is one which we have announced is due to be detrunked.
A.13 Completion
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Whitty: Work on the remaining section of the new A.13 trunk road between west of Heathway and Thames Avenue is well under way and is expected to be open to traffic in autumn this year.
Lord Marlesford asked the Chairman of Committees:
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham): The Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are not exempt from the provisions of the Resolutions of the House of 7 November 1995 which establish the Register of Interests and the categories therein. However, no Lord of Appeal has an interest in either of the mandatory categories. Declarations in Category 3 ("Other particulars relating to matters which Lords consider may affect the public perception of the way in which they discharge their Parliamentary duties") are discretionary for all members of the House, including Lords of Appeal. None of the current Lords of Appeal in Ordinary has made a declaration in category 3.
Lord Marlesford asked the Chairman of Committees: What has been the total cost to date of the Parliamentary Data and Video Network (PDVN), showing separately the capital and annual running cost; and what is the planned cost over each of the next three years.[HL377]
The Chairman of Committees: The cost of the PDVN to the Houses jointly is as follows:
Lord Marlesford asked the Chairman of Committees:
The Chairman of Committees: The number of accounts active on PDVN at December 21 1998 was as follows:
The Chairman of Committees: The PDVN started as a small pilot system in 1993 to evaluate solutions to Parliament's communications needs. The scope of the pilot was limited and no central organisation existed to plan or manage its development. The Parliamentary Communications Directorate (PCD) did not exist at that time. The success of the pilot stimulated rapid expansion. None of the hardware or software that was available then was year 2000 compliant and a compliant network could not, therefore, have been built. As the pilot grew into an operational system, it was recognised that the existing network needed to be rationalised and at the same time made year 2000 compliant. Any recent purchase of hardware and software has been specified to be year 2000 compliant. This rationalisation has already involved, and will still involve, significant replacement of the hardware and software that make up the PDVN or are connected to it.
It is not possible to guarantee an uninterrupted service during all these changes; however, PCD and
In common with any service provider, PCD must interrupt service on a periodic basis to ensure that systems are running as efficiently as possible. Unlike commercial providers, PCD believe that they should, where possible, give their users notice of possible interruptions in service. PCD estimates of downtime include any contingency that is appropriate.
There is no way of defining the absolute cost of the year 2000 effort. Equipment is being replaced as part of a programme to upgrade and converge the disparate parliamentary systems. As this equipment is being replaced, year 2000 compliance is part of the specification. This does not increase the cost of the PDVN.
Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Dubs): The British-Irish Council is to be formally established at the moment of devolution of powers to Northern Ireland, and at the same time as the other institutions set up under the Belfast Agreement.
The Belfast Agreement provides for meetings of the British-Irish Council in shadow form, after the formation of the Shadow Executive but before the devolution of powers. The timing of the first meeting has not been decided.
Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Dubs: As set out in the Belfast Agreement, the British-Irish Council will promote harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships between the British and Irish Governments, devolved institutions within the UK and representatives of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. A joint Secretariat will be provided by the two governments.
Members of the British-Irish Council will exchange information, discuss, consult and use best endeavours to reach agreement on co-operation on matters of mutual interest. It will be for members to develop the specific programme of work.
When they expect to open to traffic the remaining section of the new A.13 trunk road which is under construction in the Dagenham area.[HL342]
Whether Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are exempt from the provisions of the Resolution of the House of 7 November 1995 on the establishment of a Register of Interests maintained under the authority of the Clerk of the Parliaments; and, if so, when and by whom such authority was given.[HL344]
Actual Spend Actual Spend Estimate Allocated Estimate Bid PES Forecast PES Forecast
PDVN 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02
Non-Capital Expenditure Total 1,080,000 1,954,139 2,539,900 2,021,800 2,141,700 2,061,900
Capital Expenditure Total 1,205,000 1,268,227 2,536,600 1,650,000 2,450,000 1,450,000
Grand Total 2,285,000 3,222,366 5,076,500 3,671,800 4,591,700 3,511,900
How many individuals are now linked to the Parliamentary and Data Video Network (PDVN), showing separately the number of members of both Houses.[HL378]
House of Commons:
Members : 188
Members staff : 1,176
House staff : 1,235
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Total : 2,599
House of Lords
Peers : 148
Peers staff : 41
House staff : 184
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Total : 373
Externals e.g.
IPU31
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Total : 3,003
Lord Marlesford asked the Chairman of Committees:
When the Parliamentary and Data Video Network (PDVN) first went on-line; why it was not designed to be Year 2000 compliant from the start; what is the estimated cost of making it compliant now; how long the necessary modifications will take; and what steps will be taken to ensure a continuity of service for those of its clients who need access to e-mail during the modification period.[HL379]
When the proposed Council of the Isles will come into existence.[HL363]
What will be the functions and structure of the proposed Council of the Isles.[HL362]
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