§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the results of the Civil Aviation Authority study into the safety aspects of helicopter offshore diversions.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerAviation safety is the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority, not of my right hon. Friend. I understand that in the study that the CAA has carried out, it analysed much complex statistical material hearing upon safety of offshore diversion by helicopters but found that the data so far pointed to no
Site Carriageway Mileage Start date Programmed completion date J1–5 Both carriageways 1.2 20 October 1986 14 November 1986 J8 Both carriageways 2.8 23 May 1986 3 November 1986 J14–15 southbound 1.5 19 August 1986 11 November 1986 J22–23 southbound 1.5 25 September 1986 30 November 1986 J24–25 southbound 0.3 24 September 1986 mid-November 1986 J31–33 northbound 5.3 mid-October 1986 end January 1987 In addition, minor repairs take place from time to time.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions, and for what periods and reasons junction 8 (a) north and (b) south on the M1 at Hemel Hempstead has been closed to traffic during the current year; and when it is anticipated that both junctions will be open for traffic.
§ Mr. MooreDuring the last 12 months, the northbound entry and southbound exit slip roads at junction 8 have been closed on two occasions, for about three weeks from 10 June and again since 13 September. The closures have been to permit reconstruction of the adjacent sections of both main carriageways, as part of a major contract covering a three mile length of the motorway. This is a lane rental contract and the contractor hopes to complete the work by 5 November, when the two slip roads should be re-opened.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions and for what periods and reasons there have been contraflow and other restrictions in the vicinity of junction 8 (a) northbound and (b) southbound on the M1 at Hemel Hempstead; and when it is anticipated that present roadworks will be completed.
§ Mr. MooreOn three occasions in the last six years: from October 1980 to November 1983 for the widening of M1 between junctions 5 and 8; from 2 to 16 July 1985 for the reconstruction of 200 yd of the northbound carriageway north of the widened section; and since 23 May 1986 for the reconstruction of a further three miles of both carriageways. The contractor hopes to complete the current work by 5 November.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish a list of programmed or planned roadworks in the vicinity of junction 8 of the M1 at Hemel Hempstead in the next 12 months, giving details of work involved, its cost and duration.
344Wfirm conclusions. The CAA now hopes to start a new round of discussions with interested parts of the industry in the very near future.