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French Lorry Strike
Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total amount of compensation so far paid by the French Government to British road haulage firms following the French truck drivers strike in 1996. [106149]
Mr. Prescott: While the Department was pleased to assist claimants in lodging their claims with the French authorities, the claimants are under no obligation to inform the Government of the outcome. However, I understand that an offer of compensation has been made in respect of all eligible claims.
School Buses
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with local education authorities and his ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment about the contribution that school buses can make to reducing traffic congestion. [106164]
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 137W
Mr. Hill:
Congestion caused by the "school run" is one of the issues considered by the School Travel Advisory Group (STAG). The first report from STAG was presented to me and to colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Health on 13 January. A copy of the report and the Government response have been placed in the Library of the House. As recommended by STAG, we have commissioned consultants to identify and analyse examples of good practice in promoting bus use for travel to school and to produce a guide to best practice.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will discuss with the British Insurers Association measures to avoid the practice of including motorists with criminal convictions on company insurances in cases where personal insurance is not available to them. [106288]
Mr. Hill:
The main aim of our policy on motor insurance is to ensure that any driver who uses a vehicle on the road will be covered for their liabilities to third parties. To that end the motor insurance industry have agreed informally that they will always find a policy for anybody who holds a valid driving licence and is legally entitled to use a vehicle on the road. The premium charged reflects the risk attached to the driver and this includes driving history and any relevant convictions. This practice applies to both individual and company insurance policies. Seeking to prevent insurers from issuing any cover for valid licence holders would be likely to lead to an increase in uninsured driving.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2000, Official Report, column 210W, concerning the DVLA, how many people waited longer than (a) five, (b) eight, (c) 10, (d) 15 and (e) 20 weeks for car or motorcycle licences which required a medical investigation by the DVLA Medical Unit in each month of 1999. [106715]
Mr. Hill:
The information is not available in the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was the (a) total and (b) unit cost of the DVLA's payments to private medical practitioners to process driving licence applications where the applicant declared a medical condition, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [106572]
Mr. Hill:
In the financial year ended March 1999, a total of £2,576,233 was paid for 120,561 medical examinations (including opticians) an average payment of £20.98.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2000, Official Report, column 210W, concerning the DVLA, how many people waited longer than (a) seven, (b) 10, (c) 15, (d) 20 and
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(e) 25 weeks for a bus or lorry licence which required a medical investigation by the DVLA Medical Unit in each month of 1999. [106733]
Mr. Hill:
The information is not available in the form requested, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 17 January 2000, Official Report, column 249W, concerning the use of private opticians by DVLA, how the annual saving of £504,000 relates to the extra costs of £280,000 referred to in his answer of 10 January 2000, Official Report, column 5W. [106697]
Mr. Hill:
The DVLA Medical Unit refers some 8,000 applicants per annum for visual field tests. The cost for NHS Consultant Ophthalmologists was £98 per test, some £784,000 per annum. Using private Optometrists, the fee will be £35 per test, or £280,000 per annum which gives an annual saving of £504,000.
Mr. Gale:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the cost to (a) central and (b) local government to date, of each of the regional chambers. [106125]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
The costs of the voluntary regional chambers are a matter for their members. The Government have provided some support in-kind. In the East Midlands a member of the Government Office staff was seconded to assist with start-up arrangements, and in the South-East the Government Office has provided office space to the chamber.
Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will list by (a) date, (b) category and (c) outcome, the incidents recorded by Wiltshire Constabulary at Salisbury railway station in each year since 1995; [106553]
Mr. Hill:
The British Transport Police are responsible for policing, and recording the crime statistics, at Salisbury railway station.
(2) if he will list by (a) date, (b) category and (c) outcome, the incidents recorded by the British Transport Police at Salisbury railway station in each year since 1995. [106554]
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Ministerial Engagements
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list (a) which Government Ministers he met, (b) which outside organisations he met, (c) which outside individuals he had appointments with, (d) what outside visits he made together with the mode of transport used, (e) what overseas visits he made, (f) the Cabinet Committees he attended, (g) which
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English regions he visited together with the mode of transport used and (h) what other official engagements he carried out, on (i) 1 September, (ii) 2 September, (iii) 3 September, (iv) 4 September and (v) 5 September 1999. [105881]
Mr. Prescott:
Between 1 September and 5 September I was on holiday in the United Kingdom.
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