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Women (Promotion)
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department has implemented during the last 12 months, to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions with his Department and its executive agencies; and what progress his Department has made in encouraging the promotion of women over the last five years. [31536]
Mr. Norris: The Department advertises all promotions, internal vacancies and open competitions on an equal opportunity basis. During the last 12 months, women have been among those particularly encouraged to apply. Over the last five years, the Department has run courses designed to specifically develop the potential of women in management positions. The Department is actively involved in Opportunity 2000.
National Rail Network
Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of the future of the national rail network; and if he will make a statement.[30615]
Sir George Young: The future of the national rail network is more assured than ever as a result of our privatisation programme. Railtrack, now in the private sector, has published a 10-year plan to spend well over £1 billion per annum on the network. Passenger services are being transferred to the private sector, with, for the first time, key services and network benefits legally guaranteed through franchise contracts.
European Union Flag
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions were issued to his Department's offices and agencies in respect of flying the European Union flag on 8 May; and if he will make a statement. [31513]
10 Jun 1996 : Column: 26
Mr. Norris: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6 June, Official Report, column 518, by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Boothferry (Mr. Davis).
Recruitment
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use his Department and its executive agencies have made of executive search agencies or employment companies in filling vacancies within his Department or executive agencies administered by his Department during the financial years 1994-95 and 1995-96; what agencies were employed; what was the cost in each case; how many staff were recruited in each case; and what was the total cost in each financial year of these contracts. [31415]
Mr. Norris: My Department has used Recruitment and Assessment Services and other specialist recruitment agencies for external recruitment. The total number of staff recruited using these services was 19, for the 1994-95 financial year, and 223 for 1995-96. The overall estimated recruitment costs including agency costs--which are not separately identified--in each financial year was in the order of £300,000. The following agencies were employed in the period in question:
Recruitment and Assessment Services
Link-up Recruitment
Murray and Co.
Harrison and Willis
Saxton Bampfylde International plc
NB Selection Ltd.
Sanders and Sidney Outplacement Consultant Beechwood Executive Search
Prospect Recruitment Ltd.
Comtex Solutions
Principal People
PTC
Mr. Norris: The figures requested for recruitment in my Department are contained in the following table.
10 Jun 1996 : Column: 25
| CTG | DSA | DVLA | VCA | TCA | HA | MSA | VIEA | TRL | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1994--April 1995 | ||||||||||
| Number of permanent staff recruited (FTA (7) incl.) | 30 | 62 | 45 | 3 | 29 | 7 | 23 | 36 | 63 | 298 |
| April 1994--April 1995 | ||||||||||
| Cost | £269,182 | £34,000 | nil | £4,983 | £26,352 | £36,450 | £17,102 | £54,000 | £75,000 | £517,069 |
| April 1995--April 1996 | ||||||||||
| Number of permanent staff recruited (FTA (7) incl.) | 37 | 240 | 97 | 1 | 45 | 27 | 23 | 68 | 114 | 652 |
| April 1995--April 1996 | ||||||||||
| Cost | £188,965 | £104,500 | £9,100 | £1,609 | £28,085 | £46,944 | £23,428 | £58,000 | £103,000 | £563,631 |
| Total permanent recruitment (for both periods)/FONT> | 67 | 302 | 142 | 4 | 74 | 34 | 46 | 104 | 177 | 950 |
| Total costs (for both periods) | £458,147 | £138,500 | £9,100 | £6,592 | £54,437 | £83,394 | £40,530 | £112,000 | £178,000 | £1,080,700 |
(7) FTA (Fixed Term Appointments) not including casual recruitment.
CTG = Central Transport Group.
DSA = Driving Standards Agency.
DVLA = Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
VCA = Vehicle Certification Agency.
TCA = The Coast-Guard Agency.
HA = High-Ways Agency.
MSA = Marine Safety Agency.
VIEA = Vehicle Inspectorate.
TRL = Transport Research Laboratory privatised April 1996.
10 Jun 1996 : Column: 27
10 Jun 1996 : Column: 27
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances his Department or its executive agencies uses an executive search or employment agency to recruit staff in preference to using personnel staff within his own Department or its executive agencies. [31528]
Mr. Norris: The Department and its executive agencies use executive search or employment agencies where it is felt that this provides a better and more cost-effective service than the normal recruitment methods.
Railway Investment
18. Mr. Rowlands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on future likely levels of investment in Britain's rail network. [30619]
Mr. Watts: Investment in the rail network has been at record levels in recent years and is expected to rise following the privatisation of railtrack and other rail businesses.
Rail Freight
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of rail privatisation on the amount of freight carried by rail rather than road. [30612]
Mr. Watts: I expect rail freight privatisation to be a resounding success. Both North and South Railways and the new owners of Freightliner have ambitions to develop the rail freight market.
Railway Research Projects
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed by British Rail on railway research projects; and if he will list the current projects. [31591]
Mr. Watts: The number of people employed by BR on railway research projects, and the nature of those projects, is a commercial matter for BR.
Motorway Lighting
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the locations of all sections of motorway which have overhead lighting, by parliamentary constituency. [31599]
10 Jun 1996 : Column: 28
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
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