Written Answers
Monday, 20th May 1996.
Search And Rescue Helicopters
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the interdepartmental group set up to review search and rescue helicopters has reported.
The review group has submitted its report. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.The group was set up in July 1995 to examine the national requirement for search and rescue helicopters, and how this might most efficiently and effectively be met, as part of an integrated approach to search and rescue. It has made six recommendations, listed in Chapter 6 of the report.The Government have accepted Recommendation 4, to set up a new joint advisory board for search and rescue helicopter provision. This board will consider further work on establishing a national database of emergency incidents and helicopter call-outs (Recommendation 1), on monitoring helicopter availability (Recommendation 3) and on examining the options for interdepartmental charging (Recommendation 6).Formal consultation on the report is being launched today with the UK SAR Committee and other interested parties. Views are particularly invited on the group's proposed additional coverage criteria (Recommendation 2) and on ways to strengthen the coordination and consultation machinery for search and rescue generally (Recommendation 5).The Government are considering the best location for the two aircraft currently based on the South Coast at Lee-on-Solent and at Portland. Our consideration will have regard to the search and rescue requirements along the South Coast and Mid Channel. Views on these additional issues have also been sought.Replies have been requested by Friday 28th June.
Railtrack Group Plc: Share Offer
asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the outcome of the sale of their shareholding in Railtrack Group plc.
I am pleased to report that the Government's UK Public Offer and International Offers of Railtrack shares were successfully completed this morning, when dealings in interim rights started on the London Stock Exchange.As a result of bids received in the International Offers, the price of the second instalment for all investors in the UK Public Offer and the International Offers were set at 190p per interim right.Accordingly, the price for Railtrack interim rights purchased in the United Kingdom Public Offer was 380p per share, comprising 190p paid on successful application and 190p to be paid by 3rd June 1997.The price for interim rights purchased in the International Offer of Railtrack shares was 390p per share, comprising 200p paid on successful application and 190p to be paid by 3rd June 1997.The Government offered for sale up to 434.8 million Railtrack shares in the UK Public Offer and the International Offers.Some 665,000 applications were received in the United Kingdom public offer for a total of some 391 million Railtrack shares. This represented some three times the shares initially expected to be sold in the UK public offer. In response to this demand the Government increased the total number of shares allocated to the UK Public Offer to 210 million shares. At this level, the number of shares applied for in the UK Public Offer represented some 1.9 times the shares available.Over 44 per cent. of applicants in the UK Public Offer received an allocation of shares. Over 97 per cent. of applicants had their applications met in full.One hundred and eighty million, four hundred thousand shares were allocated to bidders in the International Offers. This number does not include any shares that SBC Warburg may have over-allotted in connection with the International Offers. The extent of any such over-allotment will not be disclosed until later.Individual investors bidding in the United Kingdom retail tender bid for some 136 million shares in Railtrack. Of these numbers, some 32.5 million shares were in respect of PEP applications.In addition to the shares sold in the UK Public Offer and the International Offers, SBC Warburg, as Global Co-ordinators for the sale, hold an option to acquire from the Secretary of State for Transport up to a further 65.2 million Railtrack shares for the purposes of meeting any over-allotment made by them in connection with the International Offer. This option must be exercised by 14th June.Total gross proceeds from the UK Public Offer and International Offers are expected to amount to some £1.67 billion, of which some £849 million is expected to be received in this financial year.Total gross proceeds may be further increased by a maximum of £254 million to the extent that, if at all, the Global Co-ordinator, SBC Warburg, exercises its option to acquire further shares.The costs of the sale will be disclosed to Parliament in due course.Following the Offers, and assuming the exercise in full of the option over Railtrack shares granted by the Secretary of State for Transport to SBC Warburg Limited, the Secretary of State for Transport expects to hold not more than 1 per cent. of Railtrack Group plc's issued share capital. These amounts comprise principally shares that may be needed to meet share bonus entitlement under the UK Public Offer.The demand for shares in Railtrack gives me great confidence in the future of the railways.
Electric Vehicles: Excise Duty
asked Her Majesty's Government:What revenue they expect to raise in a full year by the reintroduction of vehicle excise duty on electric vehicles from 1st July 1995 at £35, and what is the anticipated cost of collection.
The annual revenue from vehicle excise duty on electric vehicles will be approximately £840,000. The cost of collection will be £53,000— which represents no change from the cost of issuing exempt discs to these vehicles previously.
Stansted Airport: Aircraft Movements
asked Her Majesty's Government:What decision they have reached on options to increase the limit on aircraft movements at Stansted Airport.
Following consultation with interested parties, a draft order is being laid today to provide for an increase in the Aircraft Movement Limit from 78,000 per annum to 120,000 per annum. Based on the latest information about the average number of passengers per aircraft, a revised limit of 120,000 movements per year will allow a throughput of 8 million passengers per annum. This throughput is expected to be reached in around 2000/2001.This proposal is consistent with the planning inquiry's conclusion that the timing of the further development of Stansted to a capacity of 15 million passengers per annum should depend on the rate of growth of demand.The Government welcome the development of the less busy airports in the South East. The increase to 120,000 movements per year would permit the continued growth of Stansted, providing more jobs for the local communities, in line with the further development of the associated infrastructure. This new limit would also ensure that growth of the airport is phased, allowing BAA, the airport operator, to invest in new facilities at the terminal as business grows.
Foreign Registered Lorries In Uk
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will list, for each of the past 10 years, the number of non-United Kingdom registered lorries which entered the United Kingdom.
Figures are not available for the numbers of non-United Kingdom registered lorries entering the United Kingdom, as no counts exist of traffic crossing the Irish land boundary. However, the information requested is available for lorries leaving Great Britain. The figures are as follows:
| Year | Foreign registered lorries leaving Great Britain (thousands) |
| 1986 | 302.2 |
| 1987 | 305.7 |
| 1988 | 342.6 |
| 1989 | 392.9 |
| 1990 | 382.9 |
| 1991 | 362.9 |
| 1992 | 394.1 |
| 1993 | 394.6 |
| 1994 | 441.7 |
| 1995 | 463.9 |
M25/M23 Junction Roadworks
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are satisfied with progress with the roadworks in the region of the M.25/M.23 motorway junction and also with the arrangements for minimising the inconvenience to motorists while the work continues.
I have asked Mr. Lawrie Haynes, the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Trefgarne from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, dated 17th May 1996.
I have been asked by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport to reply to your parliamentary Question about the roadworks in the region of the M.23/M.25 motorway junction and about the arrangements for minimising the inconvenience to motorists while the work continues.
Although the possibility of delay is always present when carrying out major civil engineering works, we are disappointed with progress on these improvements, which are taking much longer to complete than we originally estimated.
This section of the M.25 is one of the busiest and, to cope with the volume of traffic it carries, it needed to be widened from three lanes each way to four. It is also one of the oldest sections of the M.25, having been in use for some 20 years. To minimise disruption we decided to carry out major maintenance work at the same time as the widening and this included renewing the road surface, upgrading bridges and the installation of lighting. We also set a tight programme.
After work started, we discovered that the original "capping layer", the lowest level of road construction about 1 metre deep, had deteriorated so severely that it would not support the new surface layers. We can only replace this capping layer in a piecemeal way to fit in with traffic phasings. With a scheme of this complexity, I am afraid that it is difficult to determine the precise extent of defective carriageway in advance of the works and in the event it has been necessary to renew more of the old carriageway foundations than was previously envisaged.
To add to our difficulties, we have had to contend with the premature forming of ruts in newly laid asphalt. The material in question has been widely used elsewhere on the motorway network. Reasons for the problem in this case are unclear. We suspect the cause to be an exceptional combination of site specific factors, which include the high number of lorries which use this section of the M.25, the temporary traffic management arrangements which concentrated the lorries into one lane and the exceptional heat of last summer, which could have affected newly laid asphalt materials.
The result is that, unfortunately, the works are taking longer to complete than was anticipated. Our best estimate of the likely finish is now late in 1996.
We have made every endeavour to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible through these roadworks. The contractor has been instructed to keep three lanes open in each direction during the day to try to minimise disruption and inconvenience to local people and the travelling public as much as possible.
Safety is of paramount importance and the traffic management measures on this busy stretch of the M.25 have been designed to protect the safety of both the travelling public and site staff. These measures have been very successful, resulting in an excellent safety record which is a tribute to the close co-operation operating between the contractor, the supervising consulting engineers and the local police. Unfortunately these measures do inevitably affect the flow of traffic through the works.
To help the travelling public plan their journeys and avoid delays, we have set up a round the clock phone line which drivers can call to get up-to-date news about various lane restrictions on the M.25 between Sevenoaks (Junction 5) and Chertsey (Junction 11). I have enclosed a leaflet about the service.
I apologise for the inconvenience caused and, although this contract seems to be having more than its fair share of difficulties, I can assure you that we remain fully aware of the adverse effects the prolongation of the works is having on the travelling public and we are continuing to press for the earliest possible finish. But, once the scheme is finished, drivers will find that the widened carriageways, the improved signing and communication arrangements and the new street lighting provide much improved driving conditions.
Nato Multi-National Formations: Uk Participation
asked Her Majesty's Government:To list the multi-national forces to which British military units are committed, and the formal agreements into which the UK has entered with other governments for joint military units and command structures.
The UK currently commits forces to the following NATO multi-national formations: the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) (AMF(L)), Multi-National Division (Central) (MNDC), the Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED), the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), the Standing Naval Mine Countermeasures Force (STANAVMINFOR), NATO Airborne Early Warning Force (NAEWF), Immediate Reaction Force (Air) (IRF(A)).The formal basis for the commitment of HM Forces to these multi national formations and to NATO's integrated military command structure is the 1949 Washington Treaty and the 1954 Paris Agreements. The Paris Agreements provide the framework for the commitment, command and control of national military units assigned to the multi-national formations listed above. Within these agreements, nations have agreed detailed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with NATO's military authorities to formalise the manning, administrative and support arrangements. Records of MoUs are not held centrally and a comprehensive list of MoUs involving the UK could only be provided at disproportionate cost.On 9th May 1973 the UK and Netherlands signed an MoU creating the UK/Netherlands Amphibious Landing Force (UK/NL LF). This MoU was re-adapted in 1979 and 1987 and is currently being revised again.
Warsaw Pact Countries: Joint Exercises With British Troops
asked Her Majesty's Government:In which countries formerly members of the Warsaw Pact British troops have taken part in exercises over the past two years, and in which of these countries it is currently planned that British troops will participate in exercises in the coming year.
The information requested is contained in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995 (page 20) and the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1996 (page 7), copies of which are in the Library of the House.
Warsaw Pact Countries: Uk Military Advisers
asked Her Majesty's Government:In which countries formerly members of the Warsaw Pact British military or civilian personnel are currently acting as advisers to defence ministries and armed forces.
One British officer currently has an appointment as the Deputy Chief of Staff in Latvia; and one officer is serving as an adviser to the Czech General Staff.
Children: Employment In Tv Programmes And Advertising
asked Her Majesty's Government:Under what circumstances it is legal to employ children in television programmes and advertising and whether the law is enforced.
Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the law in this area and may license children to take part in such activities in any 12-month period for up to 40 days for those under 14 years of age and up to 80 days for those who are over 14.
Prison Service: Plans And Performance Indicators
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Prison Service will publish its plans for 1996–99 and what key performance indicators will measure the service's performance in 1996–97?
The Prison Service is today publishing its plan for 1996–99. The six strategic objectives of the period are:
- recognise that the service has achieved some of its key performance targets in full;
- reflect the merging priorities for the services in the coming years: and
- take account of the recommendations made by Sir John Learmont on performance indicators.
For 1996–97 my honourable friend has decided that the service should drop two of its existing KPIs. These are:
- KPI4 (access to sanitation): the service achieved its target of ensuring that all prisoners have 24-hour access to sanitation on 12th April 1996: and
- KPI7 (access to minimum visits): all prisoners have had the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement for the last two years, so KP17 has been fully achieved.
In their place, the service has three new KPIs, covering:
- the proportion of random drug tests that prove positive. This new indicator was recommended by Sir John Learmont and will measure the service's performance in achieving one of its key priorities, dealing with drug abuse in prisons;
- the number of prisoners who complete programmes accredited as being likely to reduce the risks of re-offending. This new indicator will measure the service's performance in fulfilling one of its primary functions: preparing prisoners for release;
- the number of days per year staff spend in training. This new indicator was recommended by Sir John Learmont. It will encourage the service to improve its performance on staff training, which in turn will lead to improvements in performance across the board.
My honourable friend has also decided that the service's existing KPI on time unlocked should be amended. Currently this measures the proportion of prisoners held in establishments that unlock all prisoners for at least 12 hours per weekday. The Director General has advised her that some establishments have experienced problems, including drugs trafficking and intimidation of vulnerable prisoners, where prisoners are unlocked in the evenings without constructive activities being available to keep them occupied. My honourable friend judges a lower threshold more appropriate. Therefore, from 1996–97, the KPI will measure the proportion of prisoners who are held in establishments that unlock all prisoners on standard or enhanced regimes for more than 10 hours per weekday. This will maintain pressure for improvement in those establishments unlocking only for eight or nine hours. There will be an increased target for purposeful activity of 26.5 hours per week for 1996–97 compared with 25.5 hours per week for 1995–96.
In addition, the plan will include additional performance information covering:
- a breakdown of assaults showing separately those on staff and on prisoners and others;
- the number and distribution of self inflicted deaths;
- staff turnover and sickness rates; and
- the rate of reduction in the headquarters overhead.
Taken together these changes will give the Prison Service a challenging set of targets across the range of its activities, while allowing it to focus on its top priorities of custody, control, tackling drug abuse and working to reduce re-offending.
The targets my honourable friend has set for 1996–97 will require the service to improve performance against most of its indicators, including escapes, the rate of assaults, the rate of positive testing for drug misuse, the amount of purposeful activity for prisoners, investment in staff training and cost per prisoner place.
Foreign Nationals In Uk Prisons
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish, for the latest convenient date, a list of foreign nationals in the prisons of England and Wales and of Scotland giving the name of the country and the number of prisoners who are citizens of that country.
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt, dated 20th May 1996.
Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the number and nationalities of foreign nationals in the prison population.
Information for England and Wales is given in the attached table. Information for Scottish prisons is available from the Scottish Office.
Foreign nationals in the prison population of England and Wales on 30th April 1996 1, by nationality and sex | |||
Nationality
| Males
| Females
| Males and Females
|
All Nationalities
| 52,061 | 2,181 | 54,242 |
British
| 47,354 | 1,848 | 49,202 |
Foreign nationals
| 3,956 | 287 | 4,243 |
Europe
| 1,391 | 69 | 1,460 |
| Albania | 6 | — | 6 |
| Austria | 5 | — | 5 |
| Azerbaijan | 1 | — | 1 |
| Belgium | 28 | 4 | 32 |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | 2 | — | 2 |
| Bulgaria | 5 | — | 5 |
| Croatia | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Cyprus | 70 | 1 | 71 |
| Czechoslovakia | 5 | — | 5 |
| Denmark | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Finland | 3 | — | 3 |
| France | 44 | 1 | 45 |
| Georgia | 2 | — | 2 |
| Germany | 55 | 5 | 60 |
| Gibraltar | 1 | — | 1 |
| Greece | 17 | — | 17 |
| Hungary | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Iceland | 1 | — | 1 |
| Irish Republic | 612 | 25 | 637 |
| Italy | 83 | 4 | 87 |
| Kirgizstan | 1 | — | 1 |
| Latvia | 1 | — | 1 |
| Lithuania | 9 | — | 9 |
| Luxembourg | 1 | — | 1 |
| Malta | 11 | 1 | 12 |
| Netherlands | 122 | 17 | 139 |
| Norway | 2 | — | 2 |
| Poland | 29 | 3 | 32 |
| Portugal | 38 | — | 38 |
| Romania | 17 | — | 17 |
| Russia | 11 | 1 | 12 |
| San Marino | 1 | — | 1 |
| Serbia | 2 | — | 2 |
| Sweden | 3 | — | 3 |
| Slovakia | 1 | — | 1 |
| Spain | 24 | 1 | 25 |
| Switzerland | 3 | — | 3 |
| Turkey | 140 | 1 | 141 |
| Turkmenistan | 2 | — | 2 |
| Yugoslavia | 23 | 1 | 24 |
Asia
| 806 | 24 | 830 |
| Bangladesh | 67 | 2 | 69 |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | 2 | — | 2 |
| Burma | 2 | — | 2 |
| China | 26 | 1 | 27 |
| Hong Kong | 11 | — | 11 |
| India | 281 | 5 | 286 |
| Indonesia | 3 | — | 3 |
| Korea (south) | 1 | — | 1 |
| Lao Peoples Democratic Republic | 1 | — | 1 |
| Malaysia | 13 | — | 13 |
| Maldives | 1 | — | 1 |
| Nepal | 2 | — | 2 |
| Pakistan | 311 | 7 | 318 |
| Philippines | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Singapore | 8 | — | 8 |
| Sri Lanka | 30 | 1 | 31 |
Foreign nationals in the prison population of England and Wales on 30th April 1996 1, by nationality and sex | |||
Nationality
| Males
| Females
| Males and Females
|
| Thailand | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Vietnam | 34 | 2 | 36 |
| Yemen (north) | 5 | — | 5 |
| Yemen (south) | 1 | — | 1 |
West Indies
| 589 | 75 | 664 |
| Anguilla | 1 | — | 1 |
| Antigua | 7 | — | 7 |
| Barbados | 19 | 2 | 21 |
| Bermuda | 1 | — | 1 |
| Cuba | 2 | — | 2 |
| Dominica | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Dominican Republic | 5 | — | 5 |
| Grenada | 13 | 1 | 14 |
| Guyana | 33 | 13 | 46 |
| Jamaica | 463 | 56 | 519 |
| Montserrat | 3 | — | 3 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | 1 | — | 1 |
| St. Lucia | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 4 | — | 4 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 23 | 1 | 24 |
| Virgin Islands | 1 | — | 1 |
Central/South America
| 110 | 14 | 124 |
| Argentina | 1 | — | 1 |
| Belize | 2 | — | 2 |
| Bolivia | 1 | — | 1 |
| Brazil | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| Chile | 1 | — | 1 |
| Colombia | 65 | 7 | 72 |
| Costa Rica | — | 1 | 1 |
| Ecuador | 3 | — | 3 |
| Honduras | 1 | — | 1 |
| Mexico | 1 | — | 1 |
| Nicaragua | 6 | — | 6 |
| Panama | 1 | — | 1 |
| Peru | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| Uruguay | 1 | — | 1 |
| Venezuela | 9 | 1 | 10 |
North America
| 73 | 17 | 90 |
| Canada | 27 | 2 | 29 |
| USA | 46 | 15 | 61 |
Middle East
| 113 | 3 | 116 |
| Afghanistan | 17 | — | 17 |
| Egypt | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| Iran | 31 | — | 31 |
| Iraq | 13 | — | 13 |
| Israel | 10 | — | 10 |
| Jordan | 6 | — | 6 |
| Kuwait | 2 | — | 2 |
| Lebanon | 13 | — | 13 |
| Oman | 1 | — | 1 |
Foreign nationals in the prison population of England and Wales on 30th April 1996 1, by nationality and sex | |||
Nationality
| Males
| Females
| Males and Females
|
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | — | 3 |
| Syria | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| United Arab Emirates | 3 | — | 3 |
Africa
| 827 | 79 | 906 |
| Algeria | 102 | — | 102 |
| Angola | 14 | 2 | 16 |
| Benin | 1 | — | 1 |
| Burundi | 1 | — | 1 |
| Cameroon | 2 | — | 2 |
| Central African Republic | 5 | — | 5 |
| Congo | 1 | — | 1 |
| Djibouti | 1 | — | 1 |
| Ethiopia | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Gabon | 1 | — | 1 |
| Gambia | 27 | 1 | 28 |
| Ghana | 94 | 14 | 108 |
| Guinea | 1 | — | 1 |
| Ivory Coast | 6 | — | 6 |
| Kenya | 39 | 3 | 42 |
| Liberia | 9 | — | 9 |
| Libya | 14 | — | 14 |
| Madagascar | 1 | — | 1 |
| Malawi | 4 | — | 4 |
| Mauritania | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Mauritius | 12 | 1 | 13 |
| Morocco | 31 | — | 31 |
| Moza | |||
| mbique | 2 | — | 2 |
| Namibia | 1 | — | 1 |
| Niger | 4 | — | 4 |
| Nigeria | 245 | 42 | 287 |
| Rwanda | 1 | — | 1 |
| Seychelles | 2 | — | 2 |
| Sierra Leone | 12 | — | 12 |
| Somalia | 44 | 2 | 46 |
| South Africa | 26 | 2 | 28 |
| St. Helena | 1 | — | 1 |
| Sudan | 6 | — | 6 |
| Tanzania | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| Togo | 3 | — | 3 |
| Tunisia | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Uganda | 31 | 2 | 33 |
| Zaire | 40 | — | 40 |
| Zambia | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Zimbabwe | 9 | — | 9 |
Oceania
| 47 | 6 | 53 |
| Australia | 34 | 2 | 36 |
| Fiji | 1 | — | 1 |
| New Zealand | 12 | 4 | 16 |
Unrecorded
| 751 | 46 | 797 |
1 Provisional data. | |||