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ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND
THE REGIONS
Workplace Parking
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many workplace car parking spaces are available at the buildings used and controlled by his Department. [116757]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 30 March 2000]: The number of workplace car parking spaces available at buildings used and controlled by my Department is contained in the DETR Greening Operations Annual Report 1998-99, dated December 1999. We have prepared travel plans for all our key buildings in line with the commitment set out in the Transport White Paper and are reviewing the scope for reducing our car parking requirements in that context.
HSE (Field Operations Division)
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many of the (a) operational managers and (b) principal inspectors of health and safety in the Field Operations Division of the Health and Safety Executive possess qualifications in management. [118407]
Mr. Meacher: The number of operational managers in HSE's Field Operations Directorate with externally recognised management qualifications is three.
The number of principal inspectors in HSE's Field Operations Directorate with externally recognised management qualifications is 11.
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on management among the principal inspectors of health and safety in field offices of the HSE; and what action is planned as a result of the report. [118388]
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Mr. Meacher: It is assumed that the report referred to is an internal study on the workload of operational managers in the Field Operations Directorate. The study was commissioned by the Director of Field Operations and reported to him in June 1998. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library. Action on the specific recommendations in the report has been taken forward by the Directorate in consultation with the managers concerned, and is nearing completion.
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that all HSE field offices of the Field Operations Division have staffed reception areas for members of the public in easily-accessible ground floor locations. [118387]
Mr. Meacher: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires the Health and Safety Commission to provide an "information and advisory service" to help the public. While the Health and Safety Executive ensure that members of the public have access to the information and advice they require, it cannot be guaranteed that staffed reception areas in ground floor locations will be available. In light of the relatively small number of personal callers to offices, a judgment has to be made as to whether a permanently staffed reception area is the most efficient use of resources.
Hospital Infections
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance the Health and Safety Executive has issued, or plans to issue, on hospital-acquired infection relating to employees and patients of the NHS. [118406]
Mr. Meacher: HSE has not issued any guidance on hospital-acquired infections to patients, and has no plans to do so. The primary responsibility for issuing such guidance rests with the Department of Health (DoH) although HSE is consulted where appropriate.
HSE has, however, produced guidance which is relevant to certain aspects of the control of infection in health services, notably the Health Services Advisory Committee's guidance "The safe disposal of clinical waste" and "The safe working and prevention of infection in clinical laboratories, mortuaries and post mortem rooms".
HSE's guidance and the code of practice under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 cover general precautions against infection risks, although they do not specifically address hospital- acquired infection.
HSE is also planning to produce a leaflet on the risks from blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis and HIV, which will be applicable to a number of occupational groups including the healthcare sector.
HSE (Travelling Expenses)
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the travelling expenses were of the NW regional director of the Health and Safety Executive in the last two and the current financial years. [118384]
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Mr. Meacher: The travelling expenses for the NW regional director of the Health and Safety Executive are as follows:
- 1997-98--£2,146.18
- 1998-99--£1,064.97
- 1999-20000--£4,489.57
Mr. Meacher: The estimated increase in travelling claims as a result of the closure of the Health and Safety Executive Office at the Triad, Bootle is £36,518 per annum in the first three years following the closure of the office, and £26,136 in the fourth year, with further reductions thereafter as Inspectors retire or move to other locations.
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the total travelling expenses of inspectors of health and safety in field offices of the Field Operations Division were in financial year 1999-2000. [118409]
Mr. Meacher: In financial year 1999-2000, the total travelling expenses of the inspectors in field offices of the Field Operations Directorate were £2,899,965.
HSE (Manchester Office)
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be the allocation of space per employee at the proposed new location for the Manchester office of the Health and Safety Executive; what is the current allocation; and if the new premises comply fully with the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 as regards (a) toilet provision and (b) space standards. [118386]
Mr. Meacher: The allocation of space at the proposed new location for the Manchester office will be 18.5 sq m per employee. The current allocation at the existing Manchester office is 22.5 sq m. The new (proposed) premises will comply fully with the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 as regards (a) toilet premises and (b) space standards. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 replaced the relevant sections of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963.
HSE (Principal Inspectors)
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the average age is of principal inspectors of health and safety in HSE field offices. [118405]
Mr. Meacher: The average age of principle inspectors of health and safety in HSE field offices is 49 years calculated as at today's date.
HSE (Meetings)
Mr. Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the NW
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regional director of the Health and Safety Executive last met (a) the NW TUC and (b) the NW Regional Development Association. [118385]
Mr. Meacher: The NW regional director of the Health and Safety Executive last met the NW TUC on 3 February 1999 and the NW Health Partnership, under the auspices of the NW Regional Development Agency, on 9 February 2000.
Index of Local Deprivation
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which independent academic experts have been consulted over his proposals for changes to the index of local deprivation. [118554]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The index review team benefited from the advice of an advisory panel of 40 academic and other experts. The panel included academics from number of universities including Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Cambridge, Lincolnshire and Humberside, the London School of Economics, Warwick and York and members of other organisations including the Policy Studies Institute, the Local Government Association, the Improvement and Development Agency and members of the Central and Local Government Information Partnership sub-group on deprivation statistics.
Housing
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his oral statement of 4 April 2000, Official Report, column 811, on housing, how much of the money he announced has been allocated to Wales; how much of this is additional money; and if he will make a statement. [118486]
Mr. Mullin: The money referred to by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions was for investment in housing in England. The allocation of resources for housing in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
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