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Mr. Atkins : The responses on all four assessment studies are being reviewed as quickly as possible and an announcement on the way forward will be made soon.
Transport Infrastructure
Mr. Leighton : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals have been made by the European Community Commission for (a) railway policy, (b) combined transport and (c) transport infrastructure.
Mr. Portillo : The European Commission's most recent proposals for railways policy and combined transport are
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contained in its document COM(89) 564 final (Council reference 4478/90), "Commission Communication on a Community Railway Policy", dated 5 February 1990.For transport infrastructure, the latest proposals are set out in COM(89) 238 (Council reference 7435/89), "Communication on the concentration of budgetary means in the field of transport infrastructure, including a modified Proposal for a Council Regulation for an action programme with a view to the completion of an integrated transport market in 1992", dated 16 June 1989. Copies of both of these papers have been deposited in the Library.
Channel Tunnel
Dame Peggy Fenner : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will institute a noise standard level for existing railways, before the opening of the Channel tunnel and the Channel tunnel links.
Mr. Portillo : I am about to establish a departmental committee to recommend a noise insulation standard for new railways which is comparable to the standard currently set by regulation for new highways. The aim is to provide equity of treatment for those affected by noise from railways and those affected by noise from roads. Since noise insulation is not provided for intensification of use in the case of roads, the committee's terms of reference will not take in the intensification of use of existing railways.
A6 Disley-High Lane Bypass
Mr. Tom Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many objections he has now received from individuals and organisations who are opposed to the line of route of the A6 Disley-High Lane bypass.
Mr. Atkins : Some 250 representations have been received from local councils and members of the public. Most expressed concern about the decision to proceed with the shortened brown route.
East London Roads
Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make it his policy urgently to implement and finance traffic calming and displacement measures in Bow, east London, proposed by his consultants in the east London assessment study ;
(2) what discussions he has had with the emergency services in London with regard to their policies on traffic calming and displacement measures in residential areas ; and what were the results ;
(3) what funds he will make available for traffic calming and displacement measures in Bow, London E3.
Mr. Atkins : All these matters must await decisions on the assessment studies.
Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on morning peak traffic flows westbound leaving the northern Blackwall tunnel approach road at its junction into Tredegar road.
Mr. Atkins : My Department does not collect data on the numbers of vehicles making these turning movements. However, the relevant local authority (Tower Hamlets) has estimated that in the morning peak period about 1,000 vehicles per hour turn from the Blackwall tunnel northern approach road, A102(M), into Tredegar road.
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A580
Mr. Lewis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) by how much it is intended to widen the A580 east Lancashire road envisaged in the recently published roads report ;
(2) what is the objective of the plan to widen the A580 east Lancashire road as outlined in the recently published roads report.
Mr. Atkins : We are considering widening the surface of each carriageway by about 1.5 m, without taking extra land, as one element of the £15 million improvement scheme. The other element covers work on improved drainage, lighting and accesses, further safety fencing, and refurbishment of the central reservation and the
cycleway/footpath.
The objective of these various improvements is to bring this heavily trafficked major route up to modern day standards and to improve its safety and traffic flow, particularly during maintenance operations.
Roads, Greater Manchester
Mr. Tom Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road schemes for which he has responsibility in the Greater Manchester county, and the stage which each has reached.
Mr. Atkins : The information is as follows :
Section 3, M62 to M66
The Department is also responsible for a number of minor improvement schemes in the area including the A6 Windlehurst road improvement scheme which is due to go out to tender soon.
Company Cars
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the results of his commissioned research concerning the proportion of car miles travelled in central London roads where costs are met by sources other than the taxable income of their owners or drivers referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South of 13 January 1989 on traffic in London, Official Report , column 800 ; and what information he possesses on that matter.
Mr. Atkins : I expect to receive the final report on the research into company-assisted travel within the next few months, and to publish the results shortly thereafter.
A428, Bedford
Sir Trevor Skeet : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the most recent figures available about the number of vehicles using the A428 in Bedford and destined (a) to pass through the town for destinations elsewhere and (b) to move within the town itself ; and if he will publish similar figures for the A6.
Mr. Atkins : The one-way traffic flows in autumn 1989 were of the order shown in the following table :
destination
Learner Drivers
Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures he has for the number of (a) fatal road accidents and (b) other road accidents involving learner drivers where the supervising driver has been (i) under 21 years of age, (ii) in possession of a full driving licence for less than three years or (iii) both.
Mr. Atkins : The police records of accidents, on which national statistics are based, do not include information on the qualifications of supervising drivers. However, I continue to receive letters about accidents involving learner drivers who were under the supervision of young and only newly qualified drivers.
Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he received in response to
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his consultation document on the qualifications of those accompanying learner drivers ; and when he expects to bring forward proposals for a change in the law.Mr. Atkins : I have received over 230 responses. I am now considering my proposals in the light of all the comments received from interested organisations and individuals.
Mr. Sumberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies have been undertaken by his Department as to the practice adopted in other European Community countries for the supervision of learner drivers.
Mr. Atkins : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply given on 21 December 1989 ( Official Report, Vol. 164, column 359 ).
Local Traffic Area Offices
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to reach a decision on the future of the Leeds local traffic area offices and other such offices ; what representations he has received expressing opposition to the closure of local traffic area offices ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Snape : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any proposals to close the Birmingham local traffic area office at Five Ways, Birmingham.
Mr. Atkins : In view of the reducing workload for traffic area offices, the organisation is under review. Decisions on individual offices will be based on the need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation as a whole. A number of representations have been received about particular offices and I have explained that decisions are expected after Easter.
Road Building Programme
Mr. Malcolm Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made a quantifiable assessment of the increase in road traffic likely to result from the improved road conditions arising from the Government's road building programme ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Increased traffic demand is primarily a function of economic growth rather than road building. Given an established road network, the total amount of traffic growth is unlikely to be influenced measurably by road improvements. However, there will be redistribution effects as traffic transfers to the improved routes from other, less suitable roads.
British Rail (Grant)
Dr. Michael Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an announcement about the public service obligation grant to the British Railways Board for 1989-90.
Mr. Portillo : British Rail's 1989-90 claim for public service obligation (PSO) grant, which constitutes the central Government support for Network SouthEast and provincial services, has been settled at £488 million before adjustment. The cash ceiling on the final grant settlement for 1989-90, announced last April, will be increased from £496 million to £504 million. This additional £8 million
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will be available only to accommodate the grant-aided sectors' share of additional safety-related expenditure, particularly that arising from Sir Anthony Hidden's report on the Clapham Junction rail accident.East London River Crossing
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many residential properties his Department has so far acquired in connection with the east London river crossing ; how many are currently in use ; and how many more will need to be acquired before construction can be started.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : By 14 March 1990, the Department had acquired 111 residential properties in connection with the east London river crossing scheme. Of these 102 are currently let to local councils, housing associations and individual tenants. The Department is in the process of acquiring a further 11 properties. Another 150 will need to be acquired to enable construction of the scheme to start.
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the most up-to-date estimates of the cost of the east London river crossing for each of the individual elements of the project.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : The latest estimate of the total cost of the scheme at average 1984 prices is approximately £195 million, of which the Thames bridge would cost approximately £62 million. When converted to mid-1989 prices the estimates become £300 million and £98 million respectively.
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest anticipated starting date for the construction of the east London river crossing.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : Assuming the remaining statutory procedures are completed satisfactorily and without undue delay, construction could start in autumn 1992.
Mr. Cartwright : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the second public inquiry into the east London river crossing to be opened ; and how long he anticipates it will last.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : The public inquiries into the proposed design changes to the section of the east London river crossing between the A13 and A2016, including the proposed changes in the design of the Thames bridge, are planned to begin on 3 July 1990. The inspector plans to hold two pre-inquiry meetings in April and May to consider procedural and other arrangements for the inquiries. It would not be appropriate for me to speculate how long the inquiries will last.
Action for Cities"
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list in the Official Report for each of the "Action for Cities" target areas the amount of transport supplementary grant allocated for schemes in those areas in 1990-91.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : The amount of transport supplementary grant (TSG) allocated
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for major schemes over £1 million in each of the "Action for Cities" target areas in 1990-91 is given in the table. TSG for programmes for minor works is also listed.Transport supplementary grant for action for cities target areas in 1990-91 <1> Total grant for minor works, Avon county council. <2> Total grant for minor works, Devon county council. <3> Total grant for minor works, Shropshire county council. <4> Total grant for minor works, Lancashire county council. <5> Total grant for minor works, Cheshire county council. <6> Total grant for minor works, Cleveland county council. <7> Total grant for minor works, Humberside county council. <8> Total grant for minor works, Derbyshire county council. <9> Total grant for minor works, Leicestershire county council. <10> Total grant for minor works, Nottinghamshire county council.
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Cars (Pollution)
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department's representatives at the recent Geneva motor show obtained any new technological information on the use of electronic controls to reduce pollution discharges from cars.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : The Department was not formally represented at the Geneva motor show, although officials did visit while in Geneva on other business. No new technological information on this subject was obtained. However, electronic controls are likely to be used extensively in the future to reduce emissions, in conjunction with catalysts.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people in his Department are involved in planning and safety issues in (a) roads and (b) railways ;
(2) how many people in his Department, including regional officers, are involved in all matters relating to (a) roads, (b) railways and (c) other.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : I regret that the information is not available in precisely the form requested. However, the Department's staff are deployed broadly as follows :
Highways (including Buses/Taxi Policy) |550
Road Safety |100
Freight (including Traffic Examiners) |300
Regional Offices |1,500
Traffic Area Staff (excluding those counted elsewhere, for example driving examiners) |1,000
Railways (including Railway Inspectorate) |200
Transport and Road Research Laboratory |600
Driving Standards Agency |2,000
Vehicle Inspection Agency |1,600
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency |5,500
Aviation |350
Shipping |950
Others (includes senior staff; management support services, personnel, economics and statistics, international work etc.) |1,800
|-------
Broad Total<1> |16,500
<1>Rounded to nearest 500.
The numbers of staff engaged in safety or planning-related work cannot readily be assessed. However, it should be borne in mind that in addition to its general policy responsibilities the Department has an executive function in relation to trunk roads which it does not have for railways and other forms of transport, for which the operators are themselves responsible.
Consultation
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations which he or his officials regularly meet to discuss road transport matters.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : Road transport matters concern a wide range of interests, with which there are regular contacts. The list of such interests is long but includes industry associations such as the Bus and Coach Council, CBI, freight transport, motor manufacturers, road haulage and chemical industries
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associations, the police, British Standards Institution, trade unions, training board and the local authority associations, various road safety and environmental organisations and the motoring associations.Road Tolls
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which European countries have implemented a policy of charging tolls for use of public roads.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : European countries which have recently constructed toll-financed roads, bridges or tunnels, or are planning to do so, include Austria, France, Irish Republic, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. In Switzerland, access to the motorway network requires a supplementary licence (vignette), which may be regarded as a form of toll.
Road Numbers
Mr. Corbett : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will take urgent steps to ensure that all road signs indicating the former A361 road from junction 25 of the M5 through Taunton to Barnstaple now show its new road number of B3227.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : Following the completion of the new north Devon link road in July last year, the fomer A361 trunk road from junction 25 on the M5 through Taunton to Barnstaple was reclassified and renumbered B3227. Signs on this road are the responsibility of the highway authorities--Devon and Somerset county councils--which assure me that all signs on it now show its new number.
Speed Limits
Mr. Burns : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects a decision to be taken on Essex county council's highway committee's application of October 1988 to extend the 30 mph and 40 mph speed limit zones in Danbury ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : Following a protracted correspondence with Essex county council we now have all the information that we require. We expect to be able to process the application shortly.
Road Programme
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received regarding funding of his Department's road programme.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : We received a steady stream of representations about the programme and its funding, and the Transport Select Committee has commented on the subject in its recent report, "Roads For the Future".
Vehicle Excise Duty
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent studies his Department has undertaken on the possibility of transferring vehicle excise duty to petrol.
Mr. Atkins [holding answer 19 March 1990] : The arguments for and against replacing vehicle excise duty with an additional duty on fuel are well understood and are kept under review.
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HEALTH
Abortifacient Drug
10. Mr. Ken Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning the abortifacient drug RU486.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Some in favour, some against and nearly as many seeking information.
103. Mr. Nicholas Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy not to license for use in the United Kingdom the abortifacient drug RU486.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : All medicinal products in the United Kingdom are subject to the provisions of the Medicines Act 1968. Before licensing any individual product the licensing authority must be satisfied as to its safety, quality and efficacy.
Dental Charges
26. Mr. McKelvey : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now review his policy of charging for dental checks.
64. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now review his policy of charging for dental checks.
107. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now review his policy of charging for dental checks.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Rutherglen (Mr. McAvoy).
104. Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received about charges for dental treatment.
Mr. Freeman : Over the period from December 1989 to the end of February 1990, we have received 32 letters from Members of the House raising questions about charges for dental treatment, and have answered six questions in this House. In the same period, we have received 15 letters from members of the public on the same subject, and one from the chairman of the general dental services committee of the British Dental Association.
Residential Care
16. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of local authority residential care for the elderly.
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of local authority residential care for the elderly.
45. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of local authority residential care for the elderly.
140. Mr. Cunliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of local authority residential care for the elderly.
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Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We have always stressed that we are seeking a mixed economy of care and within that local authority residential care for the elderly has a vital part to play. With private and voluntary residential accommodation, this will provide a wide choice for clients and a value for money service.
70. Mr. Clelland : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that individuals in need of care are not asked to leave residential homes because of their inability to meet the required fees.
76. Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that individuals in need of care are not asked to leave residential homes because of their inability to meet the required fees.
109. Mr. Clay : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that individuals in need of care are not asked to leave residential homes because of their inability to meet the required fees.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that individuals in need of care are not asked to leave residential homes because of their inability to meet the required fees.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : For people under pension age, local authorities can already top up other sources of income to meet fees in independent residential homes. They can also at present sponsor people of any age and meet the full fees in such homes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced in the House on 13 March that he is considering whether there are further steps he could take in relation to social security payments towards the cost of residential care in independent homes.
GP Budgets
18. Mr. Butler : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what indications he has as to the proportion of eligible general practices which is applying for budget-holding status.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Over 850 practices have registered their interest in the practice funding scheme. While not all of these practices are likely to meet the full eligibility criteria and opt to take part in the scheme, we are clearly on course to meet our target of a few hundred practices choosing to participate from April 1991.
134. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of general practitioners have applied to manage their own indicative budgets ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : All general practitioners are intended to have indicative prescribing budgets from 1 April 1991 unless they choose to become practice fund holders and meet the eligibility criteria for that scheme.
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