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Deregulation Appeals
Mr. Steen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress is being made towards the formulation of a model appeals mechanism as set out in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. [13645]
Mr. Roger Freeman:
Following consultation on policy options relating to the model appeals mechanism last year, I intend to issue shortly a draft statutory instrument setting out the model for a further period of public consultation.
9 Feb 1996 : Column: 372
Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the Government will undertake the independent study proposed by the deregulation task force into how the total burden of Government surveys might be reduced by up to 25 per cent. [14976]
Mr. Freeman:
I have appointed Edward Osmotherly, chairman of the Commission for Local Administration in England, to chair a steering board to look at ways of cutting the burden of surveys on businesses. The terms of reference for the study are:
To consider how Government survey compliance costs to business, particularly SMEs, might be reduced; to assess cumulative options for achieving reductions, in light of the Deregulation Task Force recommendation to examine a 25 per cent. saving; to consider any impact on the quality of essential Government statistics and associated policies; and to prepare advice by June 1996.
Internet
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will list all (a) Internet and (b) other computer network, sites or bulletin boards operated by his Department or containing information supplied by his Department, indicating for each site or bulletin boards (a) the inaugural date, (b) the timetable and policy in respect of updates, (c) the Internet, or other network address and (d) to whom the site or board is currently made available and the criteria which must be fulfilled by applicants for access. [14208]
Mr. David Willetts: CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems, which is part of the Office of Public Service, operates the CCTA Government Information Service on the Internet. This service was launched in November 1994 and provides front-end indexing and retrieval facilities to information from over 180 public sector organisations, of which 79 are based on the CCTA server. The Internet address is http://www.open.gov.uk/.
Within the CCTA Government information service, the Office of Public Service has home pages for the Cabinet Office (http://www.open.gov.uk/co/cohome.htm), the citizens charter unit, and the machinery of government and standards group. There is also information on open government, competitiveness, civil service personnel statistics and public bodies, and home pages for CCTA, the Buying Agency, the Central Office of Information, the Civil Service College, and HMSO.
The service is updated daily, although individual Departments are responsible for determining policy and practice for updating their own pages. Access to the service is freely available to all Internet users.
British Transport Police
Ms Short:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the British Transport police under rail privatisation. [14520]
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Mr. Watts:
As we have made clear on many occasions, the British Transport police will continue as a unified public force responsible for policing Britain's rail network.
Mr. Sutcliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost to public funds of investigating the option of the Saltaire tunnel on the A650. [14140]
Mr. Watts:
The answer is £915,000.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many spot checks were carried out on heavy goods vehicles and how many were found (a) not to have a valid heavy goods vehicle licence and (b) not to be insured in the last year for which figures are available. [14451]
Mr. Norris:
During 1994-95, the Vehicle Inspectorate carried out a total of 243,128 roadside traffic enforcement checks of UK registered vehicles and prosecuted 169 cases for various categories of offence relating to vehicle excise duty, such as expired or no vehicle excise duty or incorrect rate. The Vehicle Inspectorate takes forward a vehicle excise duty offence only where it is one of a number of offences found and the figures given relate to cases brought for prosecution by VI only. If a single VED offence is found, it is reported to the local vehicle registration office for action. I understand from the DVLA that in 1994-95, 800 such cases were pursued, of which 466 resulted in successful enforcement action.
We have no responsibility for the enforcement of insurance; this is a matter dealt with by the police.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects his Department's research into reducing water spray from heavy goods vehicles to be completed. [14488]
Mr. Norris:
The report on the work currently commissioned with Transport Research Laboratory is expected to be delivered to the Department by the end of March 1996.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of each organisational and structural review of (a) the Highways Agency and (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency since their creation. [14430]
Mr. Norris:
The Highways Agency, which was created in 1994, carried out an organisational and structural review in its first year and embarked on a further review, which is still in progress, in November 1995.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, which was created in 1990, carried out a pay and grading review in 1991-92; a senior structure review and reorganisation in 1993; job evaluation of senior posts in 1994; and a further reorganisation of its management structure in August 1994 in order to take forward its on-going change programme, including the restructuring of its local office network.
9 Feb 1996 : Column: 374
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if inspections of operating centres are undertaken by traffic examiners prior to the issue of a goods vehicles operator's licence. [14431]
Mr. Norris:
When considering an application for an operator's licence, a traffic commissioner will request an inspection of the operating centre by the Vehicle Inspectorate's traffic examiners where he has any doubts about the suitability of the proposed operating centre.
Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the royal train when privatisation of rail services is completed. [14417]
Mr. Watts:
The royal train will continue to be available for use by Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the royal family.
Mr. Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to seek private sponsorship for the cost of the royal train. [14342]
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what facilities are to be provided for residents of the Berwick and Alnwick areas to take the written part of the driving test. [14343]
Mr. Norris:
Facilities for residents of the Berwick and Alnwick areas to take the written part of the driving test will be provided by dedicated theory test centres at Galashiels and Morpeth respectively. Initially, daytime test sessions at Galashiels are planned to be available on Mondays and Saturdays, and evening sessions on Fridays. Daytime sessions at Morpeth area planned for Mondays, Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays, and evening sessions on Tuesday.
Mr. Coe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the franchise agreements and related documents for the LTS Rail, Great Western Trains and South West Trains passenger rail franchise. [13589]
Mr. Watts
[pursuant to his reply, 5 February 1996, c. 8]: On Thursday 8 February, the chairman of British Rail informed me that the British Railways Board had redeployed the managing director and finance director of LTS Rail. Their decision followed the completion by British Rail's internal auditors of an investigation into alleged ticket irregularities in the company. The investigation found no evidence that they had any involvement in the irregularities. Nevertheless, in the circumstances, the board believed that senior management changes were necessary.
In the light of this decision, the franchising director has told me that he will not proceed with the completion of the franchise agreement. It remains his intention to transfer the LTS franchise to the private sector as soon as practicable, and he intends therefore to give previously
9 Feb 1996 : Column: 375
shortlised bidders the opportunity to re-tender for the franchise. Consequently, a franchise agreement and other relevant documentation for LTS Rail will be placed in the Library once it has been completed.
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