Written Answers
Wednesday, 15th October 2003.
House Of Lords: Thursday Sittings
asked the Chairman of Committees:What procedure will be adopted to deal with the results of the questionnaire on the arrangements for Thursday sittings of the House. [HL4865]
Copies of the questionnaire agreed by the Procedure Committee were sent to all Members of the House, and 368 have been returned. Members were invited to choose one of three options, and the support expressed for each was as follows:
| Option 1 (Thursday sittings to continue as at present): | 63(17.1 percent) |
| Option 2 (House sits at 3.00 pm. rises by about 10.00 pm): | 100 (27.2 per cent) |
| Option 3 (House sits at 11.00 am with Starred Questions at the start, rises by about 7.00 pm): | 200 (54.3 per cent) |
| Other: | 5 (1.4 per cent) |
Immigration Controls
asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have to maintain effective immigration controls while ensuring that genuine passengers are able to pass through ports with little inconvenience. [HL4867]
The Government are firmly committed to maintaining effective immigration controls while at the same time ensuring that genuine passengers are able to pass through our ports with the least possible inconvenience. The number of people arriving at UK airports who are found to be inadmissible is unacceptably high. Certain nationals, who are required to hold a valid visa to enter the UK, may transit this country for up to 24 hours without a visa. This provides a relatively easy and inexpensive way for those who are intent on circumventing our immigration controls to do so. We have already introduced measures to tackle this problem with the introduction of a direct airside transit visa requirement for 16 nationalities on 24 June. We now need to take further action and have identified six nationalities (Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, India, Lebanon and Pakistan) as posing a particular problem. Therefore from 00.01 hours on Thursday 16 October nationals of those six countries wishing to transit the UK will require a visa to do so.To avoid undue hardship for those who had already made their travel plans, we have agreed to operate a grace period. Until 23.59 hours on Monday 20 October any transit passenger who bought their ticket on or before 15 October will not be refused entry solely on the basis of not holding a valid transit visa. Also, any person on the return leg of a journey they commenced before 16 October and who passed through the UK on the outward leg of their journey will be allowed to transit the UK without a visa until 23.59 on 12 November.In parallel with those measures we are introducing changes that will allow certain groups of low risk passenger who would normally require a transit visa to be exempt from such a requirement if they are in possession of specific documents. This will include those who are in possession of a valid US or Canadian visa or certain types of residence permits, long-stay visas for entry to an EEA state, or the EU common format residence permit.We have also decided to remove the requirement for nationals of Croatia, Libya and Slovakia to hold a visa when transiting the UK for up to 24 hours. Finally, holders of diplomatic or service passports issued by the People's Republic of China, and holders of diplomatic or official passports issued by India will also be exempt from the requirement to hold a visa when transiting the UK for up to 24 hours.
Warship Support Agency: Key Targets 2003–04
asked Her Majesty's Government:What key targets have been set for the Warship Support Agency for financial year 2003–04.[HL4832]
Key targets have been set for the chief executive of the Warship Support Agency for financial year 2003–04. The targets build on progress already made and are as follows:
Key Target 1: Quantity
To meet the 100 per cent available vessel days target.
Key Target 2: Timeliness
To meet the <6.5 per cent upkeep period timeliness target.
Key Target 3: Timeliness
To achieve the 95 per cent target for timely completion of the high priority upgrade programme.
Key Target 4: Quality
To achieve the operational support services target of providing the appropriate standard of single living accommodation to 35 per cent of naval personnel.
Key Target 5: Quality
To achieve the operational support services target of meeting the customers' needs ISO quality control comment form targets, as follows:
- Group 1–0 failures
- Group 2–0 failures
- Group 3— < 5 per cent failure
Key Target 6: Quantity
To generate the capacity to support the naval force generation plan target with green assessments against all elements.
Key Target 7: Cost/Efficiency
To make the necessary agency contribution to the Defence Logistics Organisation strategic goal of reducing output costs by 20 per cent by 2005 while ensuring that we continue to deliver and indeed where appropriate improve the quality of our outputs.
Oil And Pipelines Agency: Quinquennial Review
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the first stage of the quinquennial review of the Oil and Pipelines Agency has been completed. [HL4833]
The first stage of the quinquennial review (QQR) of the Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA), an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB), has been completed. The review focused on the OPA and its role as managing agent of the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS).The stage 1 report found general satisfaction in the performance of the OPA since its inception and that customers both military and commercial were generally content with its stewardship of the GPSS. The report also established that there is a continuing need for the GPSS and hence for it to be managed. Having established this need, the review concluded that the OPA was best placed to discharge this role and, after examining a range of alternative status options for the OPA, considered that it should continue to operate as a NDPB for the present time.The review also concluded that there were a number of improvements that should be taken forward into stage 2 of the review, the most significant of which are:developing the OPA's management and business plans;revising the managing agency agreement between the Secretary of State for Defence and the OPA; revising arrangements for corporate governance; andreviewing the OPA support structure and communications.We have given my endorsement to the report's recommendations and stage 2 is now underway with the aim of completing this work by the end of 2003. A copy of the executive summary of the QQR Stage 1 report has been placed in the Library of the House.
Code Of Practice On Access To Government Information: Monitoring Report 2002
asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Code of Practice on Access to the Government Information monitoring report for 2002 will be published. [HL4834]
The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information monitoring report for 2002 is published today. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Private Foreign Language Schools
asked Her Majesty's Government:What plans they have for regulating private foreign language schools. [HL4707]
The Education Act 2002 provides a regulatory framework for the registration and monitoring of independent schools which provide full-time education for pupils of compulsory school age. Any private foreign language school which meets the definition of an independent school would be subject to the same system of regulation.There are no plans to extend the legislative arrangements to private foreign language schools catering for pupils above compulsory school age.
Universities: Admissions
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many undergraduate places at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the year 2001 were awarded to pupils from each of the following institutions:
How many undergraduate places in the year 2001
in the Russell Group of universities as a whole were awarded to pupils from each of the following institutions:
The available information, which covers applicants accepted through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses, is given in the table.
| Applicants(1) accepted via UCAS for entry in autumn 2001 | ||
| Previous educational establishment | Oxford and Cambridge | Russell Group(2) |
| Comprehensive schools | 1,063 | 16,760 |
| Grammar schools | 422 | 3,169 |
| Independent schools | 2,615 | 15,770 |
| Sixth form colleges | 523 | 7,138 |
| Other maintained schools(3) | 1,016 | 8,857 |
| FE/HE Colleges | 191 | 5,921 |
| Other establishments | 16 | 1,179 |
| Not known | 222 | 5,711 |
| Total | 6,068 | 64,505 |
| (1) Covers applicants domiciled in the UK. | ||
| (2) The Russell Group consists of the University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, Cambridge University, the University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, King's College London, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Manchester, University of Newcastle, University of Nottingham, Oxford University, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University College London. University of Warwick, and University of Cardiff. | ||
| (3) Includes former grant-maintained schools. | ||
Camelids
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they plan to recognise domesticated camelids as agricultural animals and introduce a formal registration and tagging system. [HL4734]
Camelid keeping in the UK is a niche market and most are kept as pets or hobby animals. The Government see no need at present to require these animals to be formally identified or registered given their relatively small numbers. Movement controls only become necessary during a disease outbreak and the Government have the necessary powers to implement identification and movement controls at such times. In addition, the high value of camelids means that their owners tend to keep their own very good records relating to each animal.
Scenes Of Crime: Roads And Railways
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many occasions in the past five years a police force has declared a "scene of crime" on:
The Highways Agency does not keep detailed records of all the incidents that occur on its roads. The police handle any accident scene in accordance with their road death investigation manual. This does not require a declaration of a scene of crime, but requires that incidents be treated as such until the cause of the accident is determined. This ensures that the scene is kept sterile and preserves; it in order to capture and record evidence.On the railways, the British Transport Police are required to establish if any incident may have occured through a criminal act and protect and preserve the evidence. This standard approach is applied to all incidents they deal with.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Which police force declared that the slow speed derailment of a train at Kings Cross Station on 16th September was a "scene of crime"; and for how many hours this remained in force; and [HL4604]How the declaration of a "scene of crime" at Kings Cross Station on 16th September following a slow speed derailment contributed to re-establishing normal rail services in the shortest possible time. [HL4605]
No "scene of crime" was declared for this incident. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was the first organisation to attend the incident and it was decided by all the agencies involved that the HSE would have primacy in this investigation. The British Transport Police provided assistance to HSE through their crime scene investigators to preserve and examine the scene and gather evidence. This assistance was provided to facilitate the HSE operation and ensure the site was returned to Network Rail at the earliest opportunity.
Railways: Cumbria
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Strategic Rail Authority's threat to reduce funding to "rural lines" will not include the Cumbrian coast line. [HL4703]
The Strategic Rail Authority's Specification of Network Outputs strategy proposes that, in order to achieve better value for money, maintenance and renewal should be commensurate with the requirements of differently used lines. The strategy views the network in terms of two high-level groups, with the first prioritised for expenditure. The two groups are: (i) primary/ London and south-east commuter/main secondary; and (ii) other secondary/rural/freight only. The Cumbrian coast line is classed as an "other secondary" route. The SRA, the Rail Regulator and Network Rail will be taking forward the implementation of the strategy in the next few months.The Strategic Rail Authority wants to improve the performance of rural lines and secure their future on a sustainable basis. The authority has recently appointed an executive director of community rail development to work to this end.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the approximate 40 minutes extra journey time included in the recently published autumn and winter timetable for the West Coast Main Line journey from Cumbria to London is not principally intended to reduce the scale of financial liability for late arrival. [HL4704]
The increased journey time is due to engineering works to improve the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Stafford. Passengers will benefit from these works once they are completed. Under the proposed winter 2004 timetable the Oxenholme to London journey time will be reduced to just over three hours.
| A. Traffic Enforcement | ||||||
| Year | Number Examined(inc the number weighed) | Prohibited for drivers hours, tachographs & records | Prohibition rate | Number weighed | Prohibited for overloading | Prohibition rate |
| 2002–03 | 11,421 | 1,460 | 12.8% | 5,540 | 701 | 12.6% |
| 2001–02 | 13,122 | 1,618 | 12.3% | 5,430 | 691 | 12.7% |
| 2000–01 | 12,204 | 865 | 7.1% | 5,426 | 515 | 9.5% |
| 1999–2000 | 13,790 | 853 | 6.2% | 5,800 | 504 | 8.9% |
| 1998–99 | 13,288 | 841 | 6.3% | 4,842 | 589 | 12.2% |
| B. Roadworthiness | |||
| Year | Number examined | Immediate prohibitions issued | Prohibition rate |
| 2002–03 | 3,018 | 485 | 16.1% |
| 2001–02 | 3,213 | 422 | 13.1% |
| 2000–01 | 3,951 | 391 | 9.9% |
| 1999–2000 | 3,684 | 314 | 8.5% |
| 1998–99 | 3,498 | 301 | 8.6% |
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many foreign goods vehicle operators have been reported to their own licensing authorities regarding vehicle prohibitions acquired in the United Kingdom in the past five years. [HL4765]
The details of all traffic enforcement prohibitions issued to foreign vehicles/ drivers are reported to the licensing authority in the operator's home member state, hence the figures are
Goods Vehicles
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many foreign registered goods vehicles were stopped in the United Kingdom for vehicle checks in each of the past five years. [HL4763]
| Year | Roadworthiness Checks | Traffic Enforcement Checks |
| 2002–03 | 3,018 | 11,421 |
| 2001–02 | 3,213 | 13,122 |
| 2000–01 | 3,951 | 12,204 |
| 1999– 2000 | 3,684 | 13,790 |
| 1998 –99 | 3,498 | 13,288 |
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many foreign registered goods vehicles stopped in the United Kingdom for vehicle checks in each of the past five years received immediate prohibitions. [HL4764]
:the same as those given in the "prohibited" columns of table A provided for the response to question [HL4764].For roadworthiness prohibitions, there was no requirement for the UK to notify licensing authorities in other member states prior to the introduction of European Directive 2000/30/EC. Since the Vehicle Operator and Services Agency began reporting in February 2003, a total of 144 reports have been sent.
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many goods vehicle prohibitions acquired in the last convenient 12-month period were not reported to either (a) a United Kingdom vehicle operator's licensing authority; or (b) a foreign vehicle operator's licensing authority. [HL4766]
(a) Nil: details of all prohibitions issued to UK operators and/or drivers of HGVs were reported to Traffic Commissioners.(b) Nil: details of all prohibitions issued to foreign operators and/or drivers of HGVs were reported to vehicle operator's licensing authority in the countries of origin of the offenders.