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Unresolved Crimes in Northern Ireland: Report of Judge Peter Cory
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect to receive the report of Judge Peter Cory, who has examined six unresolved crimes in Northern Ireland; and whether they will place copies in the Libraries of Parliament.[HL1101]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): Justice Peter Cory is independent of Her Majesty's Government and his work programme cannot therefore be determined. However, both the British and Irish Governments are committed to publishing the judge's report once completed.
Rail Freight Grants
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport to the Rail Conference on 21 January that "Next year a further £40 million grant will go to freight" means that the statement by the Strategic Rail Authority on 17 January of its intention to suspend all further rail freight grants for the present financial year and 2003–04 will be rescinded.[HL1238]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): It means that the SRA is providing £40 million in freight grants in the next financial year, as my right honourable friend said.
Non-industrial Civil Servants
Lord Lipsey asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many non-industrial civil servants they employed in each year of the 10 years to 2002.[HL1374]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The figures are shown in the table. They show the number of non-industrial civil servants employed by Her Majesty's Government reported to the Cabinet Office at 1 April 1993 to 2002.
The figures for 1993 to 2001 were previously published in the annual Civil Service statistics publication, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The 2002 figures were published in the press notice about Civil Service staffing levels released on 31 October 2002, a copy of which is also in the Library of the House.
The figures are on a full-time equivalent basis, non-industrial staff, and are rounded to the nearest 10.
| Number | |
| 1 April 1993 | 503,170 |
| 1 April 1994 | 488,420 |
| 1 April 1995 | 468,560 |
| 1 April 1996 | 456,440 |
| 1 April 1997 | 440,220 |
| 1 April 1998 | 421,080 |
| 1 April 1999 | 419,600 |
| 1 April 2000 | 432,000 |
| 1 April 2001 | 440,600 |
| 1 April 2002 | 447,600 |
Trains: Bridge Strikes
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 16 January (WA 51–52), whether any form of physical restraint measures such as horizontal barriers just in advance of bridges have been considered
- as a means of preventing delays and potential damage to trains from bridge strikes.[HL1492]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Network Rail advises that horizontal barriers in advance of bridges are not permitted by highway authorities due to their associated risk to other road users. Network Rail's new bridges are all constructed to withstand bridge strikes. Approximately 60 of its current bridges have integral crash protection beams which minimise the effect of bridge strikes on the structure to enable trains to proceed at caution over the bridge.
Air Transport
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have for the future development of air transport in the United Kingdom.[HL1497]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: We are developing a range of policies and proposals for a sustainable future for air transport and expect to announce our conclusions in a White Paper towards the end of the year. This will take into account representations received in response to consultation, including our current consultations on the future development of air transport. We plan to publish later this month a revised consultation document for the South East, including Gatwick options. The consultations throughout the UK will remain open until four months after the date of publication. We will also be carrying out discussions with stakeholders on the possible role of economic instruments to encourage appropriate environmental behaviour.
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much land has been compulsorily purchased for airport development since 1 June 1995.[HL1498]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: This information is not held centrally.
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many people are directly employed in the aviation industry in the United Kingdom, using the latest figures available.[HL1499]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: It is estimated that in 2001, 200,000 people were directly employed in the aviation industry in the United Kingdom.
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