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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 25 November 1993
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
A New Framework for Local Justice"
Mr. Tracey : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his assessment of the costs of implementing the decisions under the White Paper, "A New Framework for Local Justice".
Mr. John M. Taylor : The cost of implementing the White Paper reforms will largely depend on decisions taken locally by magistrates courts committees. However, we estimate the cost of implementing the package of reforms to be in the region of £5 million. These transitional costs will be more than offset in due course through increased efficiency, but in the meantime the Government will ensure that the overall funding of the service takes account of any additional costs.
Chief Justices' Clerks
Mr. Tracey : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his assessment of the cost of the establishment of the office of chief justices' clerk across the country.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The cost of the establishment of the post of chief justices' clerk will largely depend on decisions taken locally by magistrates courts committees, and by the size of particular areas and organisations. The indicative start-up costs of the changes planned for the magistrates courts were referred to in the Government's White Paper "A New Framework for Local Justice" as around £5 million. It is expected that some of the costs attributable to the appointment of chief justices' clerks will be met by a reallocation of resources rather than additional expenditure. Inquiries made in several areas where shadow chief justices' clerks have already been appointed indicate that the resulting savings can exceed the costs.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Gapes : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals his Department has for achieving further progress towards the goals set out in article VI of the non- proliferation treaty.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : We have demonstrated our readiness to reduce our nuclear force levels wherever we can. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for defence announced on 16 November that each Trident submarine would carry no more than 96 warheads compared with the previous intention to carry no more than 128, and that the actual number might be significantly fewer. We believe that a comprehensive test ban and a convention prohibiting the production of fissile material for weapons purposes
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could, if widely applicable and effectively verifiable, make a valuable contribution to non-proliferation and we have made clear that we are prepared to work for the conclusion of such agreements.Mr. Amanullah Khan
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times to date, since May 1990, Mr. Amanullah Khan, a Pakistani national, has applied to enter the United Kingdom as a visitor ; and how many times any such applications have been (a) granted and (b) refused.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : In the absence of any information in London about visa applications by Mr. Amanullah Khan, I have asked posts in the sub- continent to let me have a report. I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.
Medical Precursors
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the question of lifting the ban on the importation of medical precursors into Serbia and Montenegro was last discussed by the United Nations Security Council sanctions committee ; what decision was taken ; and what was the position of Her Majesty's Government.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The question of lifting the ban on the importing of medical precursors into Serbia and Montenegro was last discussed by the United Nations sanctions committee on 21 May 1993 following an approach to the committee by the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Agreement in the committee could not be reached. The United Kingdom Government representative to the sanctions committee has never raised an objection to applications put to the committee for imports of medical precursors, but as the committee works on the basis of consensus we recognise that if any member of the committee wishes to hold or block a request they have the right to do so.
Bosnia
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has received from the Bosnian Muslim authorities ; what replies he has given ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Douglas Hogg : The only recent communication we have had with the Bosnian Government was about the know-how fund. We welcome the opportunity to meet representatives from all the Bosnian parties at the European Union meeting in Geneva on 29 November.
Gas
Mr. Wareing : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the importation of gas from Russia to Serbia was last discussed by the United Nations Security Council sanctions committee ; what was the result of that discussion ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Douglas Hogg : The importing of gas from Russia to Serbia was last discussed at the United Nations sanctions committee meeting on 23 September 1993. The application was for gas to produce fertilisers. The committee blocked the request as it considered the gas an input to industry.
The question of the export of energy-related items to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for humanitarian purposes has been regularly discussed by the sanctions committee. The committee has ruled that it will consider applications for these items only when full details of the stocks of such items currently held by the Serbians are provided to the committee. Despite receiving this request in October 1992 the Serbians have yet to provide such details. No imports have therefore been agreed.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Overseas Visits
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many visits abroad he has made during 1993 ; and what was (a) the cost to the taxpayer and (b) the purpose of each visit.
Mr. Brooke : During 1993 I have twice visited Paris, on the first occasion accompanying the chairman of the Arts Council to look at French approaches to public architecture and participative public education about it, the second to open the British Tourist Authority's "Maison de la Grande Bretagne". The cost of these visits was £536.10 and £516.09 respectively. I have also been to Brussels for two meetings of EC culture Ministers ; the cost of the first of these visits was £701.95 and of the second will be in the region of £700.
TRANSPORT
Road Traffic Forecasts
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next proposes to review his Department's national road traffic forecasts.
Mr. Key : The current forecasts, published in 1989, remain the Government's best view of the likely future growth in traffic. The forecasts and the methodology behind them are, however, kept under regular review. The Department is currently commissioning research to examine possible improvements to the methodology, and has made arrangements for experts in traffic modelling and other relevant fields to provide advice for the same purpose.
Rail Privatisation
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage employees of BR to bid for franchises on management buy-out for services in East Anglia.
Mr. Freeman : Financial assistance will be available towards the costs of formulating MEBO bids. British Rail will reimburse costs on a scale of 85 per cent. of the first £10,000 of costs and 75 per cent. of the remainder, up to a maximum of £100,000 for each bid team.
While the Railways Act 1993 enables BR to be franchisee, it also empowers the franchising director not to
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invite BR to bid if he considers that desirable for the purpose, inter alia, of promoting the award of franchises to MEBOs.Vehicle Excise Duty
Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of people who evade vehicle excise duty each year ; and what is the cost of this evasion to Her Majesty's Treasury.
Mr. Key : The number of unlicensed vehicles in use on the public roads at the end of December 1992 was estimated at just under 1.3 million. The latest information indicates that over 96 per cent. of VED payable is collected. The revenue loss to the Exchequer through VED evasion for 1992- 93 was estimated at around £130 million.
Sir Christopher Foster
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what criteria Sir Christopher Foster was appointed to the Board of Railtrack ; at what salary ; how many days work per week is involved ; and for how long the appointment will last.
Mr. Freeman : My right hon. Friend announced on 16 November the names of a number of prospective non-executive members of the Railtrack board, including Sir Christopher Foster. They are to be appointed when the company is incorporated at the end of February 1994. Sir Christopher has extensive relevant experience in transport economics, and has recently been special adviser to my right hon. Friend on rail privatisation, a position which terminated upon the announcement of his forthcoming appointment to Railtrack. His terms of appointment will be settled in due course, when the formal appointment is made.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what remuneration has been paid by his Department to Sir Christopher Foster in each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Freeman : Sir Christopher Foster was a special adviser to the Secretary of State from 1 June 1992 until 16 November 1993. During that time his employers, Coopers and Lybrand, were paid at a rate of £5,000 per annum for his services.
Coopers and Lybrand
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that there is no conflict of interest between Sir Christopher Foster's role as adviser to his Department and his position as a director of Coopers and Lybrand.
Mr. Freeman : Sir Christopher Foster ceased to be my right hon. Friend's special adviser on 16 November. The need to avoid potential conflicts of interest was covered in the terms of his original appointment.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of the consultancy contract awarded to Coopers and Lybrand, to establish a charging regime for track users under the proposed reorganisation and privatisation of British Rail ;
(2) if he will list the consultancy commissions, and value thereof, of contracts awarded to Coopers and Lybrand in connection with the re- organisation and proposed privatisation of British Rail.
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Mr. Freeman : Good progress has been made. Detailed proposals on the structure of access charges and calculation methods have been made and are being implemented. The breakdown of contract costs is a matter of commercial confidentiality. As I said in my answer of 3 November to the Member for Devon, North (Mr. Harvey), the Department has paid approximately £1.6 million to Coopers and Lybrand for work on access and charging since December 1991. Sums for the most recent work have yet to be settled.
Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many of the contracts awarded to Coopers and Lybrand in connection with the reorganisation and proposed privatisation of British Rail were (a) on the basis of competitive tendering and (b) by invitation ;
(2) from what sources his Department sought advice on Coopers and Lybrand's suitability to carry out that work where consultancy contracts were awarded to Coopers and Lybrand in connection with re-organisation and proposed privatisation of British Rail on the basis of invitation.
Mr. Freeman : Two contracts have been awarded to Coopers and Lybrand in this connection on the basis of competitive tendering. Following the completion of work under the first contract, further work was carried out by invitation between April and August this year on an interim basis while a second tendering exercise was carried out. Coopers and Lybrand's suitability for this interim contract was determined by the Department's evaluation of their work on access and charging up to that point.
Vehicle Weights
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken by his Department to determine how many roads are capable of supporting a gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes.
Mr. Key : The design of road pavements is related to the amount of wear and tear caused by the different types of vehicle. Current design standards take account of both current and agreed future changes in gross vehicle weight limits. The Department's roads are already capable of supporting a gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes.
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road bridges in the United Kingdom are not capable of supporting a gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes ;
(2) what action is being taken by his Department to determine how many road bridges are capable of supporting a gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes ; and what proportion of these are owned by British Rail ; (3) how many road bridges in the United Kingdom will require strengthening in order to safely take coaches with gross vehicle weight of 18 tonnes ; and what proportion of these are owned by British Rail.
Mr. Key : In 1988 the Department commenced a programme of assessing its structures on the English trunk road and motorway network in accordance with the bridge assessment code which covers the effects of higher vehicle and axle weights which will be permitted in the United Kingdom from 1999, including those of 18 tonne two-axled vehicles. To date approximately 700 structures have been assessed as being unable to carry the future loading in full. When all assessments have been completed, it is expected that approximately 1, 100
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structures will be shown to require strengthening. The strengthening of structures carrying the English trunk road and motorway network is programmed to be completed by the end of 1988. Very few structures carrying the English trunk road and motorway network are owned by British Rail, and none of them is expected to need strengthening.Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations underlie the maintenance of the gross vehicle weight limit for coaches of 17 tonnes ; and what consideration has been given to raising it to 18 tonnes.
Mr. Key : The main considerations in setting weight limits for all classes of vehicle are road wear and the strength of bridges. The agreement reached in the European Community in 1989 on gross weights for coaches on international journeys was based on the use of an 11.5 tonne rear-drive- axle. We are at present engaged in an exercise to assess and upgrade all the bridges in the United Kingdom to accept this heavier axle load. We therefore have a derogation from the directive to retain our existing axle limit of 10.5 tonnes until 1999.
Increasing the gross weight to 18 tonnes while retaining the existing maximum rear axle load would result in all the additional weight going on the front axle. That weight is effectively limited at present by the availability of suitable tyres for safe operation. Furthermore, such a vehicle would have to depend on perfect load distribution to avoid overloading either axle. We cannot therefore now increase gross weights.
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to exclude the weight of safety equipment, including TELMA and double glazing, when calculating the gross vehicle weight for coaches ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Key : Our weight limits are designed to protect the infrastructure and bridges in particular. The weight of a vehicle will be felt on a bridge regardless of whether certain equipment is included in a definition of weight or not. Consequently we cannot exclude the weight of any equipment, safety related or otherwise, from the gross weight of the vehicle.
British Rail Managers
Ms Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Rail managers, having taken early retirement, have been re- employed on short-term or consultancy contracts by British Rail or associated rail organisations, during 1992-93.
Mr. Freeman : The information is not readily available in the form requested.
British Rail has re-engaged some retired staff but only on a limited basis and for specific short term talks tapping their knowledge and experience.
Schools (Road Safety)
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the existing guidelines regarding car parking restrictions outside schools ; how the restrictions are enforced ; what changes are planned to ensure more effective road safety outside schools ; and in what timescale.
Mr. Key : Traffic conditions outside schools vary widely, from busy main roads to quiet back streets. Our
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advice to local authorities is that road safety measures need to be tailored to the individual circumstances. Such measures may include traffic calming techniques or 20 mph speed limits. Mandatory parking or stopping restrictions may sometimes be appropriate and enforcement of them would be the responsibility of the police, except in London where increasingly the boroughs are taking this on. In most cases however advisory "keep clear" markings on the road are sufficiently effective. Comparatively few accidents happen outside school entrances, and we have no plans for new central initiatives on this subject.Passengers (London)
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing his Department's latest estimate of the number of passengers travelling into, out of and within London each day on (a) each of the divisions of British Rail, (b) London Underground and (c) London Buses ; and what are the comparable figures for each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Norris : The available information is given in the following tables.
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In table 1, it is not possible to split the bus and underground figures to show the number of journeys into and out of London. The figures in table 2 do not include journeys which did not terminate in central London, and cannot be split to show the number of passengers who started their journey outside London. The numbers leaving central London are likely to be very similar to those arriving.
Table 1
Passengers journeys per year
on London Buses and London Underground
1982 to 1992-93
Millions
|London Buses |London Underground
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982 |1,039 |498
1983 |1,089 |563
1984-85 |1,153 |672
1985-86 |1,146 |732
1986-87 |1,158 |769
1987-88 |1,211 |798
1988-89 |1,206 |815
1989-90 |1,183 |765
1990-91 |1,180 |775
1991-92 |1,149 |751
1992-93 |1,127 |728
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Table 2
Arrivals per weekday in central London on British Rail<1>
1982 to 1992
Thousands
Network SouthEast InterCity
divisions
|South East<2> |Central<2> |South West |Thames and Chiltern|Thameslink (North) |North |West Anglia and |Great Eastern |London Tilbury and
|Great Northern |Southend
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1982 - - - - - - - - -
1984 148 <3>95 95 <3>33 <3>19 <3>35 <3>109 32 -
1985 159 <3>100 93 <3>23 <3>21 <3>22 <3>106 31 -
1986 168 99 95 19 17 15 98 33 65
1987 177 107 105 22 21 19 107 35 65
1988 183 109 106 22 23 20 110 38 67
1989 |186 |110 |115 |22 |24 |23 |51 |62 |37 |71
1990 |179 |114 |110 |21 |25 |22 |50 |58 |38 |70
1991 |163 |106 |104 |21 |24 |20 |47 |57 |33 |67
1992 |153 |107 |100 |20 |22 |19 |47 |53 |29 |65
<1>Based on surveys conducted in the autumn of each year.
<2>Includes Thameslink (South).
<3>Includes arrivals on InterCity trains.
Factory Ships
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what inspections he has made of Russian Klondyke factory ships in United Kingdom coastal waters ;
(2) what assessment he has made of the risks to human life of Russian Klondyke factory ships.
Mr. Norris : As with other merchant vessels, these factory ships are liable to inspection as part of the port state control regime when they are in port. Ships at sea are not usually inspected not least because of the problems of access. Following recent incidents it has become clear that there is cause for concern about these particular vessels. and my Department is taking special steps to carry out an intensified programme of inspections of these vessels this week if weather conditions permit. We shall also be considering what further steps can and should be taken to
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ensure that these vessels do not pose a danger in terms either of potential calls on our rescue services, or as a pollution threat to the United Kingdom coastline.Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the risks of oil spillage from Russian Klondyke factory ships ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) how many Russian Klondyke factory ships are currently in United Kingdom coastal waters ;
(3) how many Klondyke factory ships in each of the last five years have required assistance from (a) the coastguard rescue, (b) the Lerwick lifeboat and (c) Lerwick harbour.
Mr. Norris : On 22 November 1993, 98 Klondykers were known to be in United Kingdom waters. Of these about 60 are Russian.
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In each of the last five years the number of occasions when assistance was given to Klondyke factory ships by (a) coastguard, (b) Lerwick lifeboat, and (c) Lerwick harbour was :
|1989|1990|1991|1992|1993
-----------------------------------
(a) |2 |8 |8 |7 |16
(b) |1 |0 |4 |1 |9
(c) |1 |0 |0 |1 |3
On the basis of eight incidents in the last four years resulting in pollution from Klondykers following accidents the risk is significantly greater than for other types of ship in United Kingdom waters.
Inspections carried out on these vessels when they are in port have included consideration of their compliance with the international convention for the prevention of pollution from ships. These inspections have not indicated a particular risk of illegal oil discharges from these vessels.
PRIME MINISTER
Dartmouth (Visit)
Mr. Steen : To ask the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Dartmouth, South Devon.
Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has no immediate plans to do so.
Nuclear Tests (Radiation)
Mr. McMaster : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the current position on his consideration of the report by the National Radiological Protection Board into the effects of radiation on British service personnel involved in nuclear tests.
The Prime Minister : I understand that a follow-up report by the National Radiological Protection Board--NRPB--on cancer and mortality among nuclear test veterans is now undergoing peer review prior to publication. The Government know of no new evidence to change the position from the previous NRPB report, which showed that the total incidence of death and malignant disease among test veterans has been no greater than among people generally. We will of course study the follow-up report once it is published.
Identity Cards
Mr. Spellar : To ask the Prime Minister which Department will be conducting the investigation into the feasibility of a national identity card scheme.
The Prime Minister : The Government keep the question of a national identity card under review. The Department of Social Security is considering whether identity cards can contribute to the fight against benefit payment fraud.
Letters
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Prime Minister how many officials in his office are currently involved in drafting replies to letters for him to sign.
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The Prime Minister : Officials provide drafts as necessary.
Higher and Further Education
Mr. Madel : To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to introduce a national awards scheme to recognise outstanding achievement by higher and further education institutions.
The Prime Minister : I am pleased to inform the House that Her Majesty the Queen has given her approval to the introduction of a national awards scheme to be known as the Queen's anniversary prizes for higher and further education.
The proposal for these prizes was initiated by the Royal Anniversary Trust. This trust was formed to fund certain celebrations of the fortieth anniversary of the Queen's accession in 1992. The awards scheme will be funded and operated by that trust, using the residue of money remaining in it at the end of 1992, in collaboration with Her Majesty's Government.
The purpose of the scheme is to recognise projects of the widest scope which are judged to be of outstanding excellence in service and benefit to the nation. It will be held every two years commencing in 1994, when applications will be sought in January. The prizes will be presented by her Majesty the Queen at a ceremony, which on the first occasion will be in February 1995.
The scheme is a free-standing initiative but obviously draws much on the experience of the existing Queen's awards arrangements. There are, of course, other awards schemes for further and higher education institutions and there continues to be a place for them in their particular fields. This new and distinctive scheme complements those activities and usefully provides a new focus for a vital part of the nation's endeavour.
The Government regard it as essential that the substantial expansion of further and higher education opportunities should be accompanied by increases in attainment and quality. I pay tribute to the many colleges and universities across the country which continue to work hard for these ends. Success brings its own reward, but it is right that particular excellence should receive particular recognition.
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway : To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 25 November.
The Lord President : I have been asked to reply.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is attending the Anglo-German summit in Cologne.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Patents
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what criteria are being adopted by the Patent Office to determine whether there is a significant inventive step in establishing the structure and function of any given gene ; and what will be the arrangements
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Mr. McLoughlin : The Patents Act 1977 requires the Patent Office to assess whether an invention is obvious to a skilled person or involves an inventive step. The Patent Office must make a judgment based on all the information submitted by the applicant for a patent and what is known about a particular area of technology. In making any judgment in a case relating to a particular gene the degree of difficulty in locating it would be a factor to be taken into account in assessing whether isolation of a gene amounted to an invention. Until such time as the existing law is modified or appropriate case law has been established by the courts it would be wrong for the Patent Office to circumscribe the ability of companies or individuals to apply for patents relating to genes.Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the extent to which assurances given to him by Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. about its treatment of lessees since 1991 are being met ; and what action he is taking to monitor compliance.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : The assurances were given to Ministers in 1991 by all major brewers. They related to the sympathetic treatment of tenants who might have real difficulties in taking on a long-term lease, such as those nearing retirement, and to the introduction of independent arbitration procedures. None of the representations made to my Department has revealed that the assurances are not being met, but the Department has, where appropriate, sought IEL's comments on particular cases.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received about the activities of Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : My officials and I have received a number of letters from, and on behalf of, Inntrepreneur lessees. My officials held a meeting with representatives of the National Association of Inntrepreneur Lessees (NAIL) on 23 September. As the hon. Member knows, following my meeting with him on 22 July, I met him again on1 November, together with a representative of NAIL, to discuss these matters.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received expressing concern at the policies of Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd. has within the brewing industry ; what has been the thrust of such representations ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 5 July 1993, Official Report, column 35. Since answering this question 54 letters have been received from, or on behalf of, Inntrepreneur lessees. In addition, as the hon. Member is aware, I met him and a representative of the National Association of Inntrepreneur Lessees earlier this month. These representations have mainly been about rent levels.
Mr. Wareing : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent discussions he has held with Inntrepreneur Estates Ltd with a view to bringing about a meeting between them and representatives of the National Association of Inntrepreneur Lessees ; and what response he has received.
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