HC Deb 16 February 1988 vol 127 cc551-3W
Mr. Janman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will publish their response to the special report of the Select Committee on the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Bill, Session 1987–88: HC 213; and if he will make a statement.

Area Taxis Hire Cars
London 14,200(1986) Not licensed
Scotland 6,358(1985) 2,956(1985)
Essex 629(1986) Not available
Basildon 63(1986) 141(1985)

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total number of taxis licensed in(a) the United Kingdom, and (b) the Basildon area, for each of the last five years.

Mr. David Mitchell

The available figures are as follows:

Mr. Quentin Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will publish their response to the special report on the Select Committee on the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Bill, Session 1987–88: HC 213; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The response has been published today. Copies have been sent to members of the Select Committee and the Standing Committee, are available in the Vote Office and have been placed in the Library.

The Government appreciate that the task which the Select Committee was called upon to perform was exceptionally difficult, raising issues of great technical complexity. We are grateful to the members, and particularly to the Chairman, my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet, (Mr. Chapman) for their very thorough examination of all the issues put to them.

The response addresses all the matters to which the Select Committee made reference. Since receiving its report the Department has reviewed the effects of wind on vehicles using the bridge, the traffic management measures available, and the effect of imposing a requirement for full windshielding on the bridge. The re-examination of the evidence put to the Select Committee and the results of further work commissioned since then have led us to conclude that the provision of full windshielding on the bridge is not justified. The Government will therefore seek to have the requirement deleted from the Bill at the Report stage.

However, the discussions leading up to the Select Committee, and the proceedings themselves, have helped to establish the benefits to be gained from local windshielding near the bridge towers. I am informed that this can be accommodated in the existing design and that Dartford River Crossing Ltd. will be providing it.

The Select Committee asked me to inquire into the way in which the case on windshielding was presented. I am pursuing that. Difficult issues arise about the way in which commercially confidential information should be presented.

The Government accept the Select Committee's recommendation about road access to Dartford and maintains their neutral attitude to naming of the bridge.

Finally, the response notes the recommendation on compensation for Mr. Michie and his neighbours at Rose Villas. The Department will make every effort to assist in the speedy assessment and payment of compensation.

This is an urgent and badly needed project. The Government hope that the extra capacity at this crossing will be provided as quickly as possible.

Postneonatal mortality for selected causes (numbers and rates) England and Wales 1986
Cause of death ICD Sex Number Rate1
All causes 000–999 Male 1,693 5.00
Female 1,131 3.51
Total 2,824 4.27
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 798–000 Male 798 2.36
Female 494 1.53
Total 1,292 1.95
Diseases of the Respiratory System 460–519 Male 195 0.58
Female 116 0.36
Total 311 0.47
Congenital Anomalies 740–759 Male 249 0.73
Female 240 0.74
Total 489 0.74
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period 760–779 Male 137 0.40
Female 66 0.20
Total 203 0.31
Injury and poisoning 800–999 Male 58 0.17
Female 46 0.14
Total 104 0.16
Other Remainder 000–999 Male 256 0.76
Female 169 0.52
Total 425 0.64
1 Rate per 1,000 live births.

Postneonatal deaths: deaths at ages 28 days and over, but under one year.