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Delegated Driving Examiners

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many checks have been undertaken by his Department on delegated driving examiners; and which organisations have been allocated delegated examiners. [2644]

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Ms Glenda Jackson: Delegated driving test examiners have been authorised for the Ministry of Defence (MOD), 26 Police Forces and 53 Fire Brigades, the Royal Mail, Birmingham City Council and 50 bus company groups.

Delegated examiners are normally trained by the Driving Standards Agency, the part of the Department responsible for conducting driving tests generally. The Agency aims to carry out standards supervision visits to the bus companies on a quarterly basis, and has close technical co-operation with the Ministry of Defence on test standards matters. The Agency is currently initiating discussions with the relevant police and fire authorities about test standards issues.

A40

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the objections received to the orders for the de-trunking of the A40 through Cheltenham. [2538]

Ms Glenda Jackson: There are 32 outstanding letters of objection to the draft order to de-trunk the A40 through Cheltenham and to trunk the A436 from the A40 at Shipton Solers to the A417 at Air Ballon roundabout. All object to the trunking of the A436. The objections mainly concern: the unsuitability of the A436 to take extra traffic; the need for improvements to be carried out to the A436; the effects of more traffic using the unimproved A417 at Crickley Hill and congestion at Air Balloon roundabout.

Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce whether there will be a public inquiry into the de-trunking of the A40 through Cheltenham. [2539]

Ms Jackson: The Department is at present considering objections received following the publication of a draft order to de-trunk the A40 through Cheltenham and to trunk the A436 from the A40 at Shipton Solers to the A417 at Air Balloon roundabout. Until this process is complete I cannot predict whether a public inquiry will be necessary. An announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Tachographs

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many silent checks aimed at detecting drivers interfering with tachograph records there were in each of the last 12 months; [2655]

Ms Glenda Jackson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 10 June 1997:


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    Data on the percentage of HGV spot checks undertaken (a) between 1900 and 0600 on weekdays and (b) at weekends is not available separately. The total percentage of out-of-hours spot checks carried out between 1900 and 0600 and at weekends (against an agreed 5% minimum target) for each of the last two financial years is:
    1995-96: 7.49
    1996-97: 8.25

Channel Tunnel

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence between Eurotunnel and the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority regarding the decision to re-open the channel tunnel. [2651]

Ms Glenda Jackson: I am not in a position to do so. This would be a breach of Clause 33 of the Concession Agreement of 1986, covering intellectual property and confidentiality, which includes a requirement on all parties to that Agreement, and also the Intergovernmental Commission and Safety Authority, to hold in confidence all documents supplied to them by, or on behalf of, any other party.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if tests will be carried out by Eurotunnel on all rolling stock operated through the channel tunnel to ensure that smoke will not penetrate during a fire or similar incident. [2658]

Ms Jackson: The Concession Agreement requires that all safety arrangements will apply to any trains using the tunnel. The authorisation given by the Intergovernmental Commission bringing the tunnel into service states that Eurotunnel are responsible for ensuring that all trains using its infrastructure meet the required safety standards, including the efficacy of smoke dampers.

The Safety Authority monitors maintenance of all rolling stock through direct examination by its inspectors and working groups and through monitoring audits carried out by Eurotunnel's Health Safety and Quality Directorate.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how the channel tunnel safety authority will ensure that the maintenance procedures for the ventilation dampers in Le Shuttle wagons are regularly reviewed. [2659]

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Ms Jackson: The Channel Tunnel Safety Authority is required under the Treaty of Canterbury to advise and assist the Intergovernmental Commission of all matters concerning safety in the construction and operation of the Fixed Link.

The Safety Authority monitors all aspects of Eurotunnel's operations to ensure that safety standards are met. This is achieved through examianton of detailed incident reports and regular operational reports from Eurotunnel and by the actions of Safety Authority appointed inspectors and specialist working groups.

Safety Authority inspectors recently witnessed smoke penetration tests carried out by Eurotunnel to verify the smoke tightness of amenity coaches used in the HGV shuttle service.

Rail Driver Fatigue

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what procedures his Department has in place to ensure that the research undertaken by British Rail on the effects of driver fatigue will be disseminated to all rail operating companies. [2657]

Ms Glenda Jackson: British Rail's report into this research was disseminated to the Train Operating Companies (TOCs) within its ownership at the time of the report's production, and to Railtrack Plc, who undertook to disseminate the relevant findings of the report to the other TOCs.

In carrying out its function of monitoring compliance with safety regulations, the Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate will take account of this report's safety recommendations.

Rail Journey Statistics

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list, for each franchise holder, the most recent statistics relating to the percentage of rail journeys delayed and cancelled. [2458]

Ms Glenda Jackson: The Franchising Director has today published the third quarterly OPRAF Performance bulletin which contains the information requested. I have placed a copy in the Library.

Trunk Roads Programme

Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to review the trunk roads programme. [2475]

Ms Glenda Jackson: We intend to announce details of the review shortly.

Minimum Wage

Mr. Tom King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research has been commissioned and what estimates have been made by his Department, and what information presented to him, regarding the costs per annum to the Department of Transport budget of the introduction of a minimum wage at (a) £3.50 an hour, (b) £4 an hour and (c) £4.40 an hour; and if he will make a statement. [2125]

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Ms Glenda Jackson: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him in the Official Report, Monday 9 June, column 310, by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

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