203
Written Answers
Committee appointed by her
17 DECEMBER 1981
and Safety
Commission. Advisory Committee members have commented on the draft and will consider it again in Marchi 1982. If the draft is accepted it will be passed to the Health and Safety Commission with a.recommendation that-it should be published as guidance. No date for publication can be given.
Metre T
TRANSPORT
Fylde Coast Eastern Bypass
Mr. Edward Gardner asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make plans for the immediate construction of the Fylde coast eastern bypass in order to save villages such as Esprick, Greenhalgh and Little Singleton from the damage which is being caused to them by heavy lorries, and to alleviate the dangers to people, especially children and the elderly who live in these villages.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: The proposed Fylde coast eastern bypass is the responsibility of Lancashire county council. I am afraid it is not possible for the Government to accept the bypass as a trunk road project at the moment.
Railway Bridge, Bedford (Cost)
Mr. Skeet asked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the costs of the work undertaken on the railway bridge at St. John's station, Bedford, over the A6; and whether he now proposes to dismantle the bridge since the line to the Goldington power station is not used.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke: The reconstruction of the bridge carrying the A6 trunk road over the railway line near St. John's station, Bedford was completed in 1975 and cost £415,000. We have no intention of removing the bridge. There is no rail connection between the station and Goldington power station but British Rail still makes occasional use of the line under the bridge for stabling wagons and reversing trains.
Heavy Lorries
Mr. Iain Mills asked the Secretary of State for Transport of what research and development activity he is aware which could result in a reduction in the dynamic effect of truck axles on road damage and on ground transmitted vibration.
Mr. David Howell: Research into the problem is being conducted by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. The latest report on its work entitled "Dynamic Pavement Force Measurements With A Two- Axle Heavy Goods Vehicle"-Supplementary Report 688 has just been published.
The implications for the design of vehicle suspensions are being considered by my Department with experts from research institutions and the motor industry.
Bottesford Bypass
Mr. Latham asked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Under-Secretary of State's reply on 23 July, what have been the results of his investigations of possible alternative routes for a bypass on the A52 road round Bottesford, Leicestershire; and when he envisages further progress on this matter.
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Mr. Kenneth Clarke: Preliminary investigation is not yet complete. Consulting engineers have now been appointed and we expect them to submit their report on alternative routes in the spring of next year.
are
British Rail
Mr. Spearing asked the Secretary of State for Transport what the criteria, or basis for his requirements, that individual electrification schemes proposed by the British Railways Board shall produce a return of at least 7 per cent.
Mr. David Howell: The requirement to produce a 7 per cent. real rate of return is the standard test used by my Department in appraising all types of transport investment, and it has been accepted by the Railways Board as the appropriate test for investment in electrification.
Port of Bristol (Financial Assistance)
Mr. Roy Hughes asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether approaches have been made to him for financial aid for the port of Bristol from central Government funds; if so, what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Howell: On 10 December, acting on the Bristol city council's instructions, Coopers and Lybrand Associates sent me and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, a submission outlining the financial position of the port of Bristol and of the city council and requesting Government financial assistance. No substantive reply has yet been sent to the city council because my right hon. Friend and I are still considering their submission.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
China-Hong Kong (Economic Co-operation)
40. Sir Anthony Royle asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the development of economic co-operation between agencies of the Chinese Government and Hong Kong corporations and business men, both within the Colony and the Guangdong Province.
Mr. Humphrey Atkins: Economic cooperation between Hong Kong and China is developing steadily. A growing number of Hong Kong firms are engaged in co- operative ventures in China, particularly in Guangdong and the Shenzhen special economic zone. Chinese Government agencies continue to foster trading and other economic links. I find this very satisfactory.
El Salvador
Mr. Clinton Davis asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement setting out the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the joint Franco-Mexican declaration on the political situation in El Salvador.
Mr. Luce: The Franco-Mexican declaration was a bilateral initiative by the countries concerned. We were not consulted. There is much in the declaration with which we agree: we support the holding of free democratic elections under appropriate conditions, and would welcome the participation of those parties who believe in the democratic process, and who forswear violence.