House of Commons Hansard Debates for 24 Feb 1993

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Publicity

Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 June 1992 to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras (Mr. Dobson), Official Report, columns 510-11, what is his Department's (a) current outturn estimate for publicity expenditure for 1992-93 and (b) budgeted publicity expenditure for 1993-94.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The current estimated outturn for publicity expenditure for 1992-93 by my Department is £8.78 million. The 1993-94 estimates will be considered by Parliament on 9 March, after which budgets will be published. The budget for 1993-94 is expected to be in line with 1992-93 expenditure in real terms. These estimates do not include publicity expenditure by the Department's executive agencies.

Cyclists

Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will introduce a public campaign on the need for cyclists to have both a front and rear light when riding a pedal cycle during the hours of darkness ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : My Department is planning to launch a cycling safety campaign in March and our publicity material will include advice on the use of lights by cyclists.

Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to introduce to stop motorists driving too close to motor cyclists and pedal cyclists.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Advice to motorists to give cyclists plenty of room is contained in the "Highway Code", "The Driving Manual", "Your Driving Test" and a leaflet currently being issued with vehicle excise duty reminders.

Pedestrian Crossings

Mr. Clifton-Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions the Transport Research Laboratory has come to for the criteria which need to be applied to the installation of pedestrian crossings and islands to meet the needs of vulnerable people ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Transport Research Laboratory has carried out research into pedestrians' use of crossings, the effectiveness of the crossings and accidents which occur. As a result, the assessment criteria for the provision of pedestrian crossing facilities are being revised to remove the existing numerical criteria and encourage more account to be taken of local needs.

The new Puffin pedestrian crossing which is being developed makes it easier and safer for all pedestrians. it automatically extends the crossing time as needed for elderly and disabled pedestrians. The TRL is continuing to monitor and assess the new crossing design. Advice has been issued to local authorities on the provision of dropped kerbs and tactile paving at pedestrian crossing points to improve the safe and independent mobility of wheelchair users and visually impaired people.

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Severn Crossing

Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received since May 1992 concerning developing (a) the current Severn bridge and (b) the second Severn crossing as toll-free bridges.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : We have received since May 1992 some 150 representations about the reduction or removal of the tolls specified in the Severn Bridges Act 1992. Very few of them distinguish between the two bridges.

Electric Cars

Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken by his Department on the possible use and development of electric cars in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The Transport Research Laboratory is soon to complete a review of worldwide research and experience in the use and environmental impact of alternative fuels including electricity. This covers various road vehicles including cars. It will draw on earlier TRL work on electric vehicles which included published reports on their market prospects, energy consumption and refuelling infrastructure.

The Department is also funding a study examining the feasibility of limited in-service field trials of vehicles using a range of alternative fuels including electricity.

In addition, engineers in the Department continue to keep abreast of electric vehicle developments worldwide, and I welcome the continuing efforts by manufacturers to develop advanced batteries and more competitive electric vehicles.

British Rail (Public Service Obligation)

Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the relationship between the public service obligation grant for 1993-94 and the 1988 public service obligation directive to British Rail ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman : Public service obligation grant is paid to meet the cost to British Rail of compliance with the obligation laid down, which is currently defined in the Secretary of State's direction of 30 March 1988. Payments made in the years since the direction was issued have varied according to need. The Government's initial estimate of grant needed for 1993-94 is £850 million, but the amount to be paid will be settled in the light of the board's budget, still in preparation, and may be subject to subsequent adjustment.

Coaches

Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the difference between the minimum standards of construction for coaches registered in the United Kingdom for coaches which do not exceed 60 mph and those for coaches which travel at speeds up to 70 mph ; and if he will exempt coaches which do not exceed 60 mph from the requirement to have seat belts fitted even in exposed seats.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Coaches and large buses that can exceed 60 mph are required to have anti-lock brakes and

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seat belts on exposed seats and, from 1 April 1993, to comply with European superstructure strength requirements.

These features are not required for large buses that cannot exceed 60 mph. They operate normally at low speed on short town and city routes. The need for belts and the likelihood of their being used are less than on faster long-distance coaches and we have no plans to make them compulsory.

Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to tighten up regulations on the construction of coaches registered in the United Kingdom which travel at speeds not exceeding 60 mph.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : No, but I intend to monitor the situation. If it becomes apparent that coach operators are generally using vehicles of lower than appropriate safety standards, I will consider new measures.

Mrs. Anne Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from what year coaches will be restricted to a maximum speed of 100 kilometres per hour (a) on the continent and (b) in the United Kingdom ; what effect these restrictions will have on the safety standards of coaches manufactured in the United Kingdom ; and what representations he has received from coach manufacturers on this subject.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : EC directive 92/6 requires speed limiters on new coaches to be set at 100 km/h from 1 January 1994. It will also apply to coaches registered after 1 January 1988 from 1 January 1995 if the coach is used for international transport and from 1 January 1996 if the coach is used for national transport. We will be consulting shortly on draft regulations to implement the directive. The safety standards applying to the construction of coaches are not directly affected by the directive.

I have been approached on the subject of safety by one United Kingdom coach manufacturer.

Rail Privatisation

Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the costs so far to (a) British Rail and (b) his Department of preparing for the privatisation of railways ;

(2) what are (a) the staff costs and (b) the consultancy fees he expects (i) British Rail and (ii) his Department to incur in 1992-93 and 1993-94 in preparing for privatisation ;

(3) what sums (a) British Rail and (b) his Department have budgeted for 1993-94 to meet the cost of preparing for rail privatisation.