 House of Commons |
Session 2005 - 06 Publications on the internet |
13 October 2006 |
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SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM JOHN BAKER, CHAIRMAN OF FRIENDS OF THE CONQUEST AND OTHERS 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of John Baker, Chairman of Friends of the Conquest and others, Declares that the residents of Hastings and Rother, in the sixtieth year of the NHS, appreciate the services delivered at the local Conquest Hospital. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to direct Health Authorities to ensure that any reorganisations will not involve the downgrading of existing services at the Conquest hospital or in any way compromise the Accident and Emergency service now provided. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM NORTH RIDING INFIRMARY CAMPAIGN 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of the North Riding Infirmary Campaign, Declares that Middlesbrough has lost most of its historic buildings over the years and the North Riding Infirmary, intrinsically linked to the history of the town, could be next. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take action to save North Riding Infirmary. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF HEMEL HEMPSTEAD CONSTITUENCY 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of residents of Hemel Hempstead constituency, Declares that the Operator's "Master Plan" for Luton Airport must be rejected because:
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to ensure that Luton airport remains a medium haul, medium sized airport and to refuse permission for plans to make it second only in capacity to Heathrow. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM PETER PRICE AND OTHERS 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of Peter Price and others, Declares that the Petitioners vigorously oppose the excessive speeding along Evington Lane from the village to the junction of Wakerley road. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to ensure that speed notification signage is erected at appropriate points, a pedestrian crossing is created near Hawthorn Drive and speed monitoring equipment is installed without delay. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF OXFORDSHIRE 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of residents of Oxfordshire, Declares that the Petitioners are extremely concerned about the scale of the debt in the Oxfordshire NHS. The existing Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority receives one fifth less than the national average of NHS spending and if Oxfordshire was simply funded half way towards the national average there would be no debt. This means the NHS in Oxfordshire has one fifth less to spend on acute hospitals beds, drug provision, and staff. Further declares that of all Trusts in England, it is Oxfordshire which receives the lowest funding for treatment per patient. Government Ministers, including the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health, will be benefiting by funding above the national average to the tune of sums by which Oxfordshire PCTs will be under funded. Further declares that the blatant discrimination in the funding system for the NHS is not fair, cannot be justified, and means that in Oxfordshire NHS jobs are under threat, community care is under threat, mental health care is under threat, and operations and beds are under threat. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon the Government to urgently review the funding system for the NHS in England and Wales, to introduce fairer funding for the whole NHS, and to stop staff, patients and families in Oxfordshire and other parts of the country being penalised. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM RESIDENTS, FAMILY AND STAFF OF THE ROSENEATH RESIDENTIAL NURSING HOME IN STONE AND LEA HOUSE IN MADELEY 25th July 2006 To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The Humble Petition of the residents, family and staff of the Roseneath residential nursing home in Stone and Lea House in Madeley, Sheweth That the Petitioners object to the proposed closure of Roseneath and Lea House residential nursing homes. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House will urge the Government and Staffordshire County Council to hold a comprehensive consultation and reconsider plans to close Roseneath and Lea House residential nursing homes. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound will ever pray &c. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF SOUTH BEDFORDSHIRE AND OTHERS 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of residents of South Bedfordshire and others, Declares that the Petitioners object to the closure on 23rd June of Lewsey Road Occupational Therapy Work Shop for stroke patients and others. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Health to intervene on the Petitioners' behalf with the Luton and Dunstable hospital and the Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care Partnership Trust to reopen the Lewsey Road Occupational Therapy Work Shop, which is an important facility for stroke patients and others. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF THE BOROUGH OF DACORUM AND OTHERS 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of residents of the borough of Dacorum and others, Declares the Petitioners' serious concerns about the plans of West Hertfordshire Hospital NHS Trust to cut health provision, including the removal of all acute services from Hemel Hempstead Hospital. The Petitioners further declare that these cuts aim to generate financial savings and do not take into account clinical expertise and need. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Health to use her powers to reverse the proposed plans and visit Hemel Hempstead Hospital at her earliest opportunity in order to address residents' concerns. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF THUNDERSLEY AND BENFLEET 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of the residents of Thundersley and Benfleet, Declares that the proposal for a further change to the use of manor Trading Estate to allow the storage of hazardous asbestos waste would introduce unacceptable risk and increased pressure of use of local roads and is particularly inappropriate in view of the immediate proximity of residential homes and a primary school, the Petitioners further believe there are much more appropriate sites for this activity in the local area. The Petitioners therefore implore the House of Commons to call upon the Government to do all within its power to ensure that Essex county council reject the application as requested by the Member of Parliament for Castle Point. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM VILLAGERS FROM LEYSDOWN, WARDEN BAY, BAYVIEW, EASTCHURCH, MINSTER, BRAMBLEDOWN AND SHEERNESS IN THE CONSTITUENCY OF SITTINGBOURNE AND SHEPPEY 25th July 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of the villagers from Leysdown, Warden Bay, Bayview, Eastchurch, Minster, Brambledown and Sheerness in the constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Declares that there have been forty-one accidents since 1996 including at last six deaths on Jenkins Hill. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government and Kent County Council to re-examine the road layout and to redesign it to make it safer. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM RESIDENTS OF SITTINGBOURNE AND SHEPPEY 9th October 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of residents of Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Declares that there is considerable evidence indicating that the use of animals in medical research is having a detrimental effect on many humans who take the drugs that are produced by this method. It is noted that side-effects from prescription drugs are now one of the largest killers of human beings in the western world, and that many more humans are caused grievous suffering through the use of prescription drugs. It is also noted that in many legal cases where such patients seek monetary recompense for their suffering, the legal defence is frequently based on the fact that animal testing during the early stages of the drug trials did not indicate the likely problems that human beings might suffer from taking that drug. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to establish a Royal Commission to investigate the efficacy of animal testing in medical research, as promised in the 1997 Labour Party Manifesto, and halt the further use of animals in medical research until that Commission publishes its report. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSPETITION FROM USERS OF CUDDINGTON POST OFFICE IN CHESHIRE 9th October 2006 To the House of Commons. The Petition of users of Cuddington Post Office in Cheshire, Declares that the Petitioners believe that the post office network provides a vital service to local communities in both urban and rural areas which are threatened by the Government's withdrawal of services from local post offices. The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to reverse its announcement that it will end support for the Post Office Card Account in 2010 thereby threatening the viability of thousands of post offices and to immediately halt its activities designed to kill the account off in advance of that date. And the Petitioners remain, etc. SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on the Petition [13th July] from residents of South Bedfordshire for the retention of the three tier school system in Bedfordshire. Her Majesty's Government notes the views expressed in the petition and has the following observations. The Petition requests that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to keep the three-tier school system in Bedfordshire. Under current legislation, the organisation of maintained schools is a matter for the local authority. The Secretary of State has general oversight of the education system in England, but normally has no role in the planning of places in particular areas. In order to change from a three-tier to a two-tier system, the local authority would need to consult in the area then publish a notice in a local newspaper and put up a copy outside the affected schools. The notice would be required to give details of the proposed changes, and of how anyone could object to the proposals or comment on them. The proposals would normally be decided by the local school organisation committee or, if the committee could not decide unanimously, the schools adjudicator. The school organisation committee is independent of the local authority, and contains representatives of the local stake-holders, including schools and local dioceses, as well as the authority. The decision-maker would decide the proposals on their merits, in the light of statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State. There is no presumption either for or against either a three-tier or a two-tier system. Schools are funded according to the number of pupils on roll, irrespective of the system of which they are a part. Similarly, local authorities should prioritise capital funding on the condition and suitability of all schools in their area, whatever their age-range. The Education and Inspections Bill currently before Parliament makes certain changes to the arrangements for proposing changes to schools and the way they are decided, but the framework of local consultation, publication and decision will remain. At a meeting on 13th July 2006 Bedfordshire County Council agreed to retain the three tier system for the whole county. It further agreed to support the implementation of other initiatives by its Department of Children's Services and Bedfordshire schools to considerably improve school performance as recommended by the member Working Group and as they may be applied to a three tier structure. We are confident that there is a determination to achieve the objectives of substantial and sustained improvement of all Bedfordshire schools and thereby enhance the life chances of young people in South Bedfordshire and indeed the whole of Bedfordshire. The local authority is to establish a robust Performance Management structure with strong targets. Support and challenge will be provided by the Government Office and National Strategies. Progress will be monitored on a regular basis by the Children and Young People Select Committee and Executive with an annual report to the Council. The Council has resolved to formally review the progress made in late 2009 to determine the success of these policies and any further initiatives that may be required at that time. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Health on the Petition [12th June] from residents of Shropshire and Mid-Wales for legislation to remedy the financial crisis in the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust. •The NHS is in receipt of record resources are a result of this Government's policy on NHS funding. Funding of the NHS has increased from £34.7 billion in 1997/98 to £69.7 billion in 2004/05. By 2007/08 spending on the NHS will have increased to over £92 billion; •Given the levels of investment, to allocate more funding to one area would involve taking funding away from another; and •Strategic Health Authorities are responsible for the performance management of their NHS organizations and ensuring they achieve financial balance. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Health on the Petition [15th June] from supporters of St Leonards Hospital, Sudbury, Suffolk, against reductions in community hospital services. Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services (Cm 6737) sets out a vision for more care to be provided in local and convenient settings. Central to this vision is ensuring that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support this shift in services. Community hospitals and related smaller facilities will form an important part of this infrastructure. The White Paper makes clear that community hospitals currently under threat of closure should not be lost in response to short-term budgetary pressures that are not related to the viability of the community facility itself. To that end, the Department of Health wrote to Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) on 16th February 2006 about the need for SHAs to assure themselves that all Primary Care Trust (PCT) proposals for changes relating to community hospitals are consistent with the long-term strategy of the White Paper to move care closer to patients' homes and that local people are properly consulted. The White Paper Our health, Our care, our say (January 2006) reiterated a manifesto commitment to develop a new generation of modern NHS community hospitals over the next five years. Our health, our care, our community: investing in community hospitals and services (July 2006) takes forward these plans by making £150 million available in each of the next five years - a total of £750 million capital - for the development of the new generation of community hospitals. This investment is being supported from the Department's capital allocations and so no budgets are being cut as a result of this funding being available. Our health, our care, our community: investing in community hospitals and services makes it clear that funding will be available to support building new community hospitals, as well as other projects, ranging from remodelling acute hospitals, renovating existing community hospitals and polyclinics, to investing in home chemotherapy and mobile MRI scans. New potential sources of funding mentioned in the guidance include private companies or public private partnerships, with the private sector being encouraged to invest capital into the provision of capacity or services and then purchased by the NHS. Ultimately, however, the configuration of healthcare services in a particular area is a decision that needs to be taken at a local level. PCTs, with their perspective across hospital, community and primary care, are best placed to take such decisions. They have a responsibility under Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 to consult people for whom services are being or may be provided on the development and consideration of proposals for changes in the way those services are provided. Furthermore, Local Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committees have the power to review and scrutinise health services from the perspective of their local populations. NHS bodies are under a duty to consult Overview and Scrutiny Committees on any plans to make substantial variation to NHS services. Those committees have the powers to refer any proposal to the Secretary of State if they believe the plans are not in the interests of the health service. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the Petition [6th July] from citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland against the Draft Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The new arrangements for post-primary education in Northern Ireland will provide greater choice for parents and pupils, provide a more flexible curriculum to enable teachers to tailor teaching to pupil needs (while maintaining a focus on the basics), guarantee all pupils from age 14 access to a range of academic and vocational courses and keep pupils' options open by providing greater flexibility to support their needs as they develop and mature. They will provide Northern Ireland with an education system relevant to the needs of pupils in the 21st century and will raise standards for all pupils. The new arrangements are not about existing grammar schools becoming comprehensive schools. All existing school types will have a role in providing parents with a wider choice of schools ranging from those with an academic curricular emphasis to those with a more vocational style of curriculum, and specialist schools. Grammar schools can continue to offer an academic ethos by providing a mainly academic style of curriculum for their pupils. It is important to recognise the changing intake profiles of grammar schools. In 2005, only 64% of pupils had a Grade A in the Transfer Tests compared to 73% in 1998/99. Of pupils admitted to grammar schools in 2005, 10% had C or D grades, while 82% of grammar schools admitted pupils with those grades. The pattern of intakes varies from area to area, and it is unfair that in some places there is a much greater chance of being admitted to a grammar school with a lower transfer grade than in others. The latest available demographic trend projections (2004 figures) point to the 11-17 age population falling by 7% by 2010, 16% by 2020 and 21% by 2040, with the results that the intake profile of grammar schools will continue to widen. While it is true that Northern Ireland has a higher proportion than England and Wales of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who go on to university, the perception that the selective system is responsible for that result is not borne out by the evidence. Of grammar school pupils who go to higher education, only 20% are from lower socio-economic groups, compared to 32% from secondary schools and 36% from Further Education colleges. Overall, however, only 13 per cent of the Northern Ireland workforce has a degree or equivalent, compared to 16 per cent in the United Kingdom as a whole: and some 24 per cent of the province's working population has no qualifications whatsoever, compared with 15 per cent in the United Kingdom as a whole. Academic selection has been a feature of the Northern Ireland education system for over 50 years, during which time a number of different methods have been used, including different types of tests as well as combinations of tests and forms of teacher assessment. All of these were found to have significant weaknesses. The Costello Working Group, established to proved advice on new post-primary arrangements, was required to take account of the responses to the consultation on the earlier Burns Report, including the diversity of views expressed on the ending of academic selection. The Group concluded that no alternative form of academic selection would remove the high-stakes, high-stress element of the transfer tests and that in any case academic selection at age 11 is itself educationally unsound, as this age is too young to segregate pupils to particular pathways. Selection classes pupils as "academic" or "non-academic" types at an early age and closes down pupils' options to move between academic and non-academic schools and courses as they mature and develop. The Group also concluded that it was not right to assume that more able children should follow only an academic style of education. It recommended that future transfer arrangements should be based on informed parental and pupil choice operating in a system where parents have a wider range of schools from which to choose and all pupils have guaranteed access to a minimum number of academic and vocational courses irrespective of the school they attend. In England, the widespread use of academic selection was ended in the 1960s by a Labour Government, and the Education & Inspections Bill will ensure that no new academic selection is introduced. However, both the Bill and the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 recognise that existing grammar schools have a role to play in England and Northern Ireland. The review of post-primary education and the implementation of the Government's decisions have been characterised by wide-ranging consultations, and the Government considered all the responses carefully. It is important to emphasise both that these were consultations designed to elicit comments and arguments—they were not referenda, and consideration of the responses was on the basis of the strength of the arguments, not a head count of those who responded—and that in all the consultations there was a diversity of views on the issue of academic selection. The Government acknowledges that some media-sponsored opinion polls have taken place, but it is important to note that these surveys have concentrated on only one aspect of the package of reforms contained in the Education Order (academic selection). The yes/no format of the surveys tends to over-simplify what is a complex and inter-related set of issues. The Government is committed to seeing devolution returned to Northern Ireland, so that local politicians can take decisions about the local matters that affect them. I believe that if the institutions are restored later this year and Northern Ireland's politicians sit down to consider this issue, they will do what is best for the children of Northern Ireland and its economic future. They have a duty and a responsibility to their electorate to do so. I do not, however, think that it is right to assume that the local parties could not reach agreement. They know that the current system is failing too many children, and there is already agreement that the system needs to be changed. When the Assembly was sitting, its all-party Education Committee published a report on post-primary education in October 2001. The report noted that a clear majority of those submitting evidence to the Committee stated that formal selection as currently organised in Northern Ireland should be abolished, and the report concluded that "it has become increasingly apparent that change is both necessary and appropriate.". The report recommended that the current transfer tests should cease, and that a transfer profile combining current pupil performance, other aspects of pupil development, parental wishes and teacher guidance should be introduced as soon as possible to provide a fuller and broader picture of pupils' achievements during their primary years. It also recommended that all pupils should follow a core curriculum until age 13 or 14, that a broad skills based curriculum should be implemented along the lines recommended by CCEA, that there should be flexibility to reflect the needs and circumstances of individual pupils and that where necessary schools should explore collaborative arrangements to ensure that pupils experienced a sufficiently diverse range of opportunities before deciding on their course mixes. There is a significant degree of consensus between the Education Committee's recommendations and the recommendations of the Costello Working Group to which the Education Order will give effect. Both were composed of Northern Ireland people so there appears to be a much greater degree of local consensus than is often portrayed. The changes reflect the views of Northern Ireland people rather than being imposed by direct rule Ministers. The Government is committed to seeing devolution returned to Northern Ireland and the Assembly taking decisions on key issues such as education. But in the absence of the Assembly, which has not been functioning since October 2002, the Government must proceed in the best interests of all the people of Northern Ireland. Vital issues like these education reforms—which have been under consideration for over 6 years—cannot be allowed to drift. Where academic selection is concerned, if the Assembly has not been restored by 24th November, the Government has a duty to the children and young people of Northern Ireland to bring the issue to a conclusion. Work to restore the Assembly has begun and the Government has acknowledged this by providing that if the Assembly is restored by 24th November, a vote in the Assembly will be required to end academic selection. A key element of the new post-primary education arrangements in Northern Ireland is that they will be developed locally rather than imposed from the centre. Schools in any area are best placed to determine the arrangements that will meet the needs of the pupils in that area. Until such local arrangements are developed, however, it will not be possible to determine what changes—and any associated costs—will occur in any given area, and nor, therefore, across Northern Ireland as a whole. Three factors are, however, relevant. The first is that the implementation of the reforms is being supported by extra investment. A total of £24.7 million has been allocated for planning, piloting and initial implementation over the period of the current spending review (2005/06 to 2007/08). Pilot schemes and any early proposals emerging will assist the Department of Education to estimate the future costs beyond March 2008 and will be the subject of further consideration during the next spending review. A further £9 million is being made available for the implementation of the revised Curriculum, and will provide training and support material for teachers. The second is that schools have been encouraged to carry out an audit of their existing provision against the requirements of the Entitlement Framework and to consider future provision in the context of what is available within their local area. The education and library boards and other school authorities have been allocated additional resources to support and facilitate schools in developing appropriate local arrangements using the information from the audit. Thirdly, the review of the funding of the education system being carried out by Professor Sir George Bain, which will focus on the strategic planning and organisation of the schools' estate, will take account of the decisions to introduce a revised curriculum, to end academic selection and to provide all pupils from age 14 with access to a greater range of academic and vocational courses. The Government is looking forward to working with education partners in Northern Ireland to implement these changes, providing Northern Ireland with an education system relevant to the needs of pupils in the 21st century and raising standards for all pupils. 25th July 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Transport on the Petition [19th July] from Anthony Lucas, Anne Martin and others against the closure of the driving test centre at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The Wisbech driving test centre (DTC) serves a rural community and is co-located in government buildings at Albion House, Albion Place, Wisbech. It is nearly 14 miles from Kings Lynn and 22 miles from Peterborough, just off the A47. Albion House is near the centre of the town and is not ideally located as it is sited next to a major roundabout but does have ten usable test routes. Wisbech is an outstation of the King's Lynn DTC, but is used for testing every day. A total of 2,325 tests were conducted at Wisbech during the period 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006, against a total of 4,945 at King's Lynn during the same period. DSA is building 70 new multi-purpose test centres (MPTC) over the next two years to accommodate changes to the motorcycle practical test that will be introduced from October 2008. The changes flow from European Directive 2000/56 which require motorcycle test candidates to perform certain manœuvres at a minimum speed. DSA carried out a full public consultation, evaluated the responses and recommended that these manœuvres would be carried out more safely off-road. There is no provision within DSA's current estate for off-road motorcycle manœuvring areas. As part of the process of searching for 70 new MPTC sites, the Agency has to consider its current test centre network, and how that might fit with the new MPTC network. The distance/population density criteria that DSA now uses for locating a test centre are detailed below. Wisbech falls into the second category. •equal to or more than 1,250 people per square kilometre, a test centre should be available within seven miles; •between 1,250 and 100 people per square kilometre, a test centre should be available within 20 miles; •equal to, or fewer than 100 people per square kilometre, a test centre should be available within 30 miles. The Agency has announced that it intends to open a MPTC in King's Lynn. This centre would replace the existing King's Lynn test centre, and would be close enough to Wisbech to serve those who live there according to DSA's distance/population density criteria. The opening of a MPTC at King's Lynn is not dependant on the closure of Wisbech test centre, and it is DSAs' current intention to open the MPTC and assess the impact it has on nearby centres while it is in operation. DSA is currently meeting with local customers, including Approved Driving Instructor groups, and will take these views into account, as well as the rural location of the centre, before making any decision on the future of Wisbech DTC. DSA is considering all the options available for the future of testing in this part of the country. DSA has not made any final or binding decision on this matter, nor is any decision imminent. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Transport on the Petition [19th July] from BHASVIC Lights Action Group for measures to improve pedestrian safety at the junction of Old Shoreham Road and Dyke Road in Hove, East Sussex. The junction of the Old Shoreham Road and Dyke Road in Hove is the point at which the existing A270 Old Shoreham Road (east-west) meets the C class Dyke Road (north-south). The A270 was originally the A27 Trunk Road through the city, prior to the new Brighton and Hove bypass being built; thus the design of the junction is somewhat outdated. The A270 remains a Major Distributor in the city's highway network. It carries a significant number of movements totalling approximately 22,000 vehicles and 3,000 pedestrians throughout the day (from 7am - 7pm). The junction is used by a significant number of pedestrians, the majority of whom are BHASVIC (Brighton Hove and Sussex 6th Form College) students, aged 16 to 18. The College is located directly on the junction. BHASVIC request a traffic free phase at this junction to facilitate the passage of pedestrians. Local authorities would usually consider such a request in the context of their local transport strategies, policies and targets and, if considered to be warranted, take appropriate action utilising the resources and funding available to them. Since the Action Group raised their concerns, Brighton and Hove City Council's Chair of Environment and her officers have been in constructive dialogue with the Action Group for a number of months to better understand the problems and consider how these could be addressed. Petitions and delegations have also been received and considered by the City Council and its Environment Committee. Although the primary concern of the Action Group is road safety, the junction is a lower priority when considered against other sites across the city and in the context of achieving the City Council's stretched casualty reduction target for 2010. Only three slight accidents (none involving pedestrians) have occurred at this site in the 3-year period (2002-2004), compared to nearly ten or more accidents at nearly twenty other sites in the city in the same period. (At the nearly 20 sites with 10 or more injury accidents there were a total of 274 injury accidents, of which 4 were fatal, 37 serious, and 233 slight between 2002-2004). The Environment Committee has recently agreed that officers should assess the costs of possible options to improve the movement of pedestrians across the junction and they will be reporting on their conclusions at a future meeting for further consideration by Members. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Transport on the Petition [19th July] from London residents for the proper staffing of overland railway stations during their hours of operation after dark. It is very important that passengers using the rail network feel safe from crime. Ministers remain determined to tackle crime and the fear of crime, both generally and in specific locations including railway stations. The Government continues to invest unprecedented sums on the railway and is spending on average around £88 million a week over the next three years. This will benefit passengers in a number of ways including improved safety and security measures. In recent years, much of that expenditure has been devoted to the basics of achieving a safe and reliable service. The Government believes that solutions need to be tailored to the circumstances of individual stations and that this can best be achieved by wider adoption of the Secure Stations Scheme. The Scheme involves the British Transport Police and operators in ensuring that stations meet national standards on design and management to reduce crime. Crucially, it also provides for periodic surveys of passengers to ensure that they feel safe at the station concerned. The forthcoming South West franchise will incorporate a requirement that stations accounting for 80% of the total franchise footfall must be accredited under the Scheme. All future franchises are likely to include comparable provisions on passenger safety. At the same time, CCTV coverage at stations continues to increase, as does British Transport Police (BTP) strength. As at 30th June, the BTP had 2781 officers (up 11% on 2004/5) as well as 211 Police Community Support Officers and 258 Special Constables. Following the recent review of the BTP, Ministers have concluded that its specialist expertise is a valuable asset and that the BTP should be retained rather than amalgamated with other police forces. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Transport on the Petition [19th July] from supporters for a unified Blue Badge Parking scheme for a unified Blue Badge disabled parking scheme covering England and Wales. The Blue Badge Scheme provides a national arrangement of on-street parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers. The Scheme also applies to registered blind people and people with very severe upper limb difficulties who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand. The Scheme has never fully applied to the Cities of London and Westminster, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and part of the London Borough of Camden due to concerns about the particularly severe problems with traffic flow and pressure on parking space in these parts of London. This exemption came under scrutiny during the most recent review of the Scheme and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC, the Department's statutory advisers on the transport needs of disabled people) recommended that it be removed. Consequently, we have developed a research project to look at the grounds for the exemption to see if it can still be justified. The results of the research project, which is due for completion towards the end of the year, will inform our decision as to whether there is any need for a legislative change. The Directgov website (www.directgov.gov.uk) has recently launched a new service to help Blue Badge holders find out where they can use their Blue Badge in 64 towns and cities across the UK including London. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Transport on the Petition [20th July] from residents of Saltaire and the surrounding area for measures to improve road safety at Saltaire roundabout. The Saltaire is a purpose-built "model" Victorian industrial village, just to the north of Bradford in West Yorkshire. The village itself was built in the nineteenth century by the Victorian philanthropist Sir Titus Salt, to provide self-contained living space for the workers at his woollen mills. The whole complex is now a World Heritage Site. The village is bordered on the south side by the A650 Trunk Road, and Saltaire roundabout is at the western end of the village. There are in total six roads off the roundabout, which includes two junctions with the A650 trunk road, and also a major local road the A657. Uncontrolled crossings, inadequate signing, and lining, can confuse drivers and cause tailbacks on the major arms, thus exacerbating the congestion. The A650 corridor through Shipley, Saltaire and North Bradford is a constrained arterial link through the Aire Valley, connecting Airedale with Bradford and Leeds. The route leads via the city ring road to M606 and the M62, giving motorway connections to the west (Greater Manchester) and east (Hull) and to the north and south via the M1 and A1(M). In the 1988 White Paper 'A new Deal for Trunk Roads in England' the Government identified the A650 as a non-core route suitable for de-trunking, following the construction off the Bingley Bypass. The HA and Bradford Metropolitan District Council have been in discussions about de-trunking the A560 since the bypass was opened in December 2003. The Post Opening Project Evaluation Report of the Bingley Bypass showed that a significant amount of traffic has been re-routed from the 'old' A650 and other parallel / alternative routes to the 'new' A650 Bingley Relief Road, removing approximately half of the demand from Main Street Bingley, and from the residential areas to the south of the town centre. However the opening of the bypass, whilst removing traffic from Bingley Main Street, has increased traffic levels in the Saltaire/Shipley Area, and along the A650, which in turn has led to increased congestion at the A650/A657 Saltaire roundabout. The HA employed JMP Consulting to undertake an A650 Shipley Area Transportation Study, to help facilitate the discussions on de-trunking. That report was completed earlier this year, and discussions are now underway between my Department, the HA and Bradford Council to clarify certain issues and funding arrangements, with a view to a report going to the Council's Cabinet meeting in September to agree the way forward. Once these final issues are resolved we hope to take forward the programme for de-trunking very quickly. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Petition [18th July] from users of Post Offices in the Ludlow area against the withdrawal of Post Office Cards Accounts. The Post Office card account contract runs between 2003 and 2010. The card account will be funded by the Government until 2010 as always planned. Some customers may think that the Post Office card account is the only account which can be used at post office branches. Around 25 different accounts can be accessed at post offices, as well as the Post Office card account, and we hope there could be more in the future. People can still choose to get their benefits and pensions at the post office. There are around 20 million people who could access their bank account at a Post Office, but only around 10 per cent (2 million) per week actually do so. There is no real difference in accessing money at the post office via a bank account compared to a Post Office card account. Customers can collect the same money, on the same day, at the post office, just as they have been with the Post Office card account. There is no reason why Post Office Ltd should not be able to retain the business of existing Post Office card account customers if it offers them the services they want, or, indeed, if it improves on what is currently available via a Post Office card account through its new products. Post Office Ltd is developing savings and banking products which are likely to be more suitable for many of its customers than the current Post Office card account which has limited features. For example, it has already introduced one new savings account which will pay customers interest on their balances - something the Post Office card account does not offer. These new products will still generate income and other business for the sub-postmaster. We will also ensure there are suitable arrangements in place for those vulnerable customers who we are unable to pay into an account. Government is backing the efforts of the management of Post Office Ltd to turn the business around and create a network fit for the 21st century. Government has invested over £2 billion in total since 1999 to help them to do so. The Government wants to see a Post Office network that can prosper on the basis of today's and future needs. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Petition [19th July] from Robert Sears and others for measures to prevent the closure of village Sub Post Offices. The Post Office card account contract runs between 2003 and 2010. The card account will be funded by the Government until 2010 as always planned. Some customers may think that the Post Office card account is the only account which can be used at post office branches. Around 25 different accounts can be accessed at post offices, as well as the Post Office card account, and we hope there could be more in the future. People can still choose to get their benefits and pensions at the post office. There are around 20 million people who could access their bank account at a Post Office, but only around 10 per cent (2 million) per week actually do so. There is no real difference in accessing money at the post office via a bank account compared to a Post Office card account. Customers can collect the same money, on the same day, at the post office, just as they have been with the Post Office card account. There is no reason why Post Office Ltd should not be able to retain the business of existing Post Office card account customers if it offers them the services they want, or, indeed, if it improves on what is currently available via a Post Office card account through its new products. Post Office Ltd is developing savings and banking products which are likely to be more suitable for many of its customers than the current Post Office card account which has limited features. For example, it has already introduced one new savings account which will pay customers interest on their balances - something the Post Office card account does not offer. These new products will still generate income and other business for the sub-postmaster. We will also ensure there are suitable arrangements in place for those vulnerable customers who we are unable to pay into an account. Government is backing the efforts of the management of Post Office Ltd to turn the business around and create a network fit for the 21st century. Government has invested over £2 billion in total since 1999 to help them to do so. The Government wants to see a Post Office network that can prosper on the basis of today's and future needs. Although many rural communities with post offices attach great value to them, they are not being used as much as they used to be. The rural network consists of 8,000 offices of which the least used 800 offices average 16 customer visits per week at an average loss to Post Office Ltd of £17 per visit. The rural network overall makes losses of £3 million every week and could not be sustained in its current form without financial support. The Government initially made available £450 million (£150 million a year) for the 3 years 2003/04 to 2005/06 to help the Post Office to maintain the rural network. We have now made available a further £300 million to extend financial support until April 2008 and the no avoidable closures policy for rural post offices has been extended. The National Federation of SubPostmasters recently published a report on post office earnings based on research carried out by Ipsos MORI. This report highlights that the Post Office card account provides for only 8% of rural subpostmaster's income. 9th October 2006 SUPPLEMENT TO THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGSObservations by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Petition [24th July] from residents of Northampton South against changes to the Post Office Card Account. The Post Office card account contract runs between 2003 and 2010. The card account will be funded by the Government until 2010 as always planned. Some customers may think that the Post Office card account is the only account which can be used at post office branches. Around 25 different accounts can be accessed at post offices, as well as the Post Office card account, and we hope there could be more in the future. People can still choose to get their benefits and pensions at the post office. There are around 20 million people who could access their bank account at a Post Office, but only around 10 per cent (2 million) per week actually do so. There is no real difference in accessing money at the post office via a bank account compared to a Post Office card account. Customers can collect the same money, on the same day, at the post office, just as they have been with the Post Office card account. There is no reason why Post Office Ltd should not be able to retain the business of existing Post Office card account customers if it offers them the services they want, or, indeed, if it improves on what is currently available via a Post Office card account through its new products. Post Office Ltd is developing savings and banking products which are likely to be more suitable for many of its customers than the current Post Office card account which has limited features. For example, it has already introduced one new savings account which will pay customers interest on their balances - something the Post Office card account does not offer. These new products will still generate income and other business for the sub-postmaster. We will also ensure there are suitable arrangements in place for those vulnerable customers who we are unable to pay into an account. Government is backing the efforts of the management of Post Office Ltd to turn the business around and create a network fit for the 21st century. Government has invested over £2 billion in total since 1999 to help them to do so. The Government wants to see a Post Office network that can prosper on the basis of today's and future needs. The National Federation of SubPostmasters recently published a report on post office earnings based on research carried out by Ipsos MORI. This report highlights that the Post Office card account provides on average only 10% of a sub-postmaster's net pay. 9th October 2006
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