§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether special checks on motorway and trunk road bridges have been ordered by his Department; if he is satisfied that all these bridges have an adequate margin of safety under all loading conditions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo special checks have been ordered on motorway and trunk road bridges.
A revised traffic loading standard for the longer span highway bridges will be available by the end of the year. These bridges will then be assessed in priority order over a period of time.
Rail Business Manpower Footplate Salaried Staff Guards and other Train Staff Signalling Staff including Crossing Keepers Stations Yards and Depots Conciliation Engineering Workshops Miscellaneeous Wages Total (Rail Business without Corporate HQ and Police 1972 28,325 51,781 13,570 12,812 29,053 36,124 22,527 2,563 196,755 1973 27,935 51,290 13,073 11,616 31,165 31,591 21,984 2,324 190,978 1974 28,304 52,450 13,561 11,072 31,812 32,931 22,405 2,445 194,980 1975 27,872 41,838 13,171 10,909 29,873 32,035 22,070 2,243 190,011 1976 26,895 50,355 12,647 10,466 28,167 30,842 21,223 2,100 182,695 1977 36,326 48,709 12,580 9,958 27,111 30,638 20,880 2,037 178,239 1978 26,253 48,435 12,617 9,638 26,922 31,144 21,123 1,981 178,113 1979 26,279 48,712 12,717 9,296 26,697 31,053 21,301 1,859 177,914 1980 25,963 48,052 12,617 8,934 25,148 30,535 21,034 1,696 173,979 1981 24,350 46,126 12,017 8,667 22,948 30,119 20,533 1,602 166,362
§ Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many jobs have been lost in British Rail undertakings in Wales during the past 10 consecutive years.
§ Mr. EyreI understand from the British Railways Board that the information is not available in the form requested. However the total manpower employed in the Cardiff division of British Rail, which contains approximately 85 per cent. of railway staff in Wales has fallen from 9,890 in January 1974 to 7,738 in December 1981, a reduction of 2,152.