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Chiltern Trains
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the cancellation of rail tours in Wales by Chiltern Trains; and if he will make a statement. [473]
Mr. Watts: The Department received a number of representations about Chiltern Trains last year. The cancellation of rail tours is a commercial matter for Chiltern Trains.
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Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total cost of chauffeur driven cars used by this Department for each of the last five years. [419]
Mr. Norris:
Expenditure on chauffeur driven cars was as follows:
| Financial Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1990-91 | 236,746 |
| 1991-92 | 280,200 |
| 1992-93 | 340,846 |
| 1993-94 | 345,138 |
| 1994-95 | 356,599 |
Figures include VAT.
Deregulation
Mr. Dover: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effects of bus deregulation in the last ten years. [2833]
Mr. Norris: Bus deregulation continues to be a great success. Recent statistics confirm the continuing trend of more operators running more bus miles at lower cost and involving significantly less public subsidy than previously. In addition, the long term decline in bus patronage appears to have begun to flatten out.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what were the costs involved in preparing the cost-benefit assessment contained in the explanatory memorandum for the Deregulation (Parking Equipment) Order 1995; [2880]
(2) what is the estimated annual saving to business from the Deregulation (Parking Equipment) Order 1995. [2882]
Mr. Watts: The assessment of benefits to business and administrative cost savings was developed in the course of consultation. The cost of preparing this assessment cannot be identified separately.
The order will bring savings in costs and other benefits to business as a result of reduced delay in introducing new equipment and the removal of a disincentive to innovation. However, it has not been possible to quantify these benefits.
Executive Agencies
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Driving Standards Agency's annual income from (a) fees, (b) charges and (c) fines; what was the total number of staff employed (i) part-time and (ii) full-time; and what contribution his Department has made towards the annual running costs in each of the past three years in respect of (1) the Driving Standards Agency, (2) the Civil Aviation Authority, (3) the Vehicle Inspectorate, (4) the Vehicle Certification Agency, (5) the Traffic Commissioners office and (6) the Surveyor Generals Organisation. [2744]
Mr. Norris: In 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95 the Driving Standards Agency's income from fees and charges was £47.2 million, £50.2 million, and £54.8 million respectively. This income is treated as extra
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 549
receipts payable to the Consolidated Fund. DSA does not receive income from fines. In the same years the agency employed 1,867, 1,783, and 1,728 full-time staff; 267, 285 and 289 part-time staff; and, in 1994-95, 31 driving examiners on a contract basis.
The size of the running costs contributions made by the Department depends on the nature of the financial regime under which the organisations operate. VI, DSA and VCA cover most of their expenditure through fees collected from services provided. My Department's contributions in 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95 were nil in the case of VCA and VI, although the Department did purchase enforcement and other services from VI and VCA at a cost of £16.1 million, £15.3 million, and £15.1 million respectively. My Department made contributions of £1.6
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 550
million, £1.5 million, and £1.5 million to DSA; £11.9 million, £12.0 million and £11.4 million to the Traffic Commissioners' offices; and £14.1 million, £14.9 million and £14.9 million to the Surveyor General's Organisation which became an executive agency on 1 April 1994 under the new title of the Marine Safety Agency.
The Civil Aviation Authority is a nationalised industry and my Department makes no contribution towards its running costs.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency (a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2359]
| Agency | Total gross cost of overseas travel in 1994-95 | Countries visited | Grade of staff involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | |||
| Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency | 31,632 | Sweden Latvia USA Holland Germany France Belgium Spain Finland | Grade 3 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 SEO HEO |
| Driving Standards Agency | Nil | None | n/a |
| Highways Agency | 142,386 | EC countries Austria Sweden Hungary Poland Finland Iceland Australia USA | Various but usually Senior Professional and Technical Officer level or above |
| Marine Safety Agency | 295,546 | Various | Various but generally all staff except clerical grades |
| Transport Research Laboratory | 564,395 | Bangladesh Belgium Botswana China Colombia Ghana Hong Kong India Indonesia Kenya Malawi Malaysia Austria Czechoslovakia Norway Japan Italy Luxembourg Sweden France Germany Denmark Singapore Iceland Switzerland Australia Mauritius Nepal Pakistan Papua New Guinea Philippines South Africa Tanzania Thailand Turkey USA Vietnam Zambia Holland Spain Portugal Finland Greece Jordan | Various, from G3 to Scientific Officer |
| Jordan Dubai Jamaica St. Lucia Egypt New Zealand | |||
| Vehicle Certification Agency | 103,183 | Belgium Sweden France Italy Spain Switzerland Holland Greece Poland Hungary Portugal Hong Kong Singapore Malaysia Korea China USA Canada Japan | Various but mostly Senior Professional and Technical Officer and Higher Professional and Technical Officer |
| The Coastguard Agency | 33,709 | France Denmark Sweden USA Canada Uruguay Germany Belgium Norway Holland Portugal Spain Iceland | Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 SEO HEO EO AO |
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 551
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 551
The Vehicle Inspectorate records of travel expenditure are not separated between United Kingdom and overseas travel and so the answer to this question for VI could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Road Programme
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those schemes in the national road programme for which statutory pre-construction procedures have been completed and orders have been
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 552
made, the dates on which the orders were made and the dates on which they will expire. [1809]
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
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