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Beacon Councils
5. Kali Mountford (Colne Valley): If he will make a statement on beacon councils. [123993]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Ms Beverley Hughes): We want all councils to take part in the beacon scheme because it gives them the opportunity to learn from those that are already achieving the best. More than 40 councils are now running learning events, which have already been attended by some 2,000 people, and 11 new service themes have been announced for the second year. We are now inviting councils that believe that they offer excellence in those themes to apply for beacon status.
Kali Mountford: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer. I am sure that she is aware than Kirklees council in my area has already achieved beacon status under a Labour administration, and I am now concerned to see that that scheme is properly evaluated to ensure that services remain at a high standard. Does my hon. Friend
have plans for a continuous evaluation scheme; and, if so, how will that benefit my constituents, and how can they ensure that there is continuous improvement?
Ms Beverley Hughes: Kirklees had an impressive bid through its strong partnership with tenants, upon which its repairs and maintenance service is based. My hon. Friend is right to say that the whole point of the beacon scheme, with other measures, is to improve the standard of public services. That is all the more necessary after the run-down of public services that took place under the previous Government. Evaluation is therefore vital.
We have appointed researchers jointly with the improvement and development agency and Warwick university to evaluate the dissemination that is taking place. Longer-term evaluation will ascertain the extent to which the beacon scheme improves public services. That improvement is our clear aim.
Mr. Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): Is it not ironic that the Minister is granting beacon status to councils when she is also diverting council funding, reducing councils' financial freedom through specific grants and capping, undermining their authority through an obsession with regional government and directly elected mayors, while simultaneously imposing structures that councils do not want? Is it not time that the Government left local government alone, encouraged local democracy and returned real powers and responsibilities to local councils?
Ms Hughes: If the criteria for leaving councils alone is the neglect of local government and public services that occurred in 18 years of Conservative Government, we would not want to compete with the Conservative party and we could not begin to do so. I have told the House on many occasions about the Government's extra funding for councils, but it is clear that Conservative Members do not want to listen. Our funding has increased by 8 per cent. in real terms in the past three years, compared with a 4 per cent. cut in real terms in the three years that led up to the general election. That is the measure of our support for local government. We are determined to make it strong, and provide good public services.
On the new regimes and political management, the best councils are doing that already; we are simply enabling the others to come up to speed.
Fishing Incidents
6. Dr. Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde): How many (a) commercial fishermen have been lost at sea and (b) fishing vessels have (i) capsized and (ii) foundered in each of the past three years. [123994]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Mr. Chris Mullin): Over the past three years, the total number of fishermen who died as a result of their vessel being lost or of falling overboard is 53, and the number of vessels that capsized or foundered is 60. This year, there have been 14 deaths up to May.
Dr. Godman: It is deeply regrettable, but given the hazardous occupation that those men follow and the seas that they are often in, men and vessels will be lost.
However, some of the terrible losses happen because of inadequate safety equipment, poor safety training and negligence. What will the Department do to reduce those dreadful statistics? Does my hon. Friend agree that there is a sharp discrepancy between the training programmes on safety that are offered to merchant navy personnel and those that are available to fishermen? Something needs to be done soon.
Mr. Mullin: I first pay tribute to my hon. Friend's long-standing interest, which, I recall, stretches back more than 30 years, to the time when we were at university together. We went to one of the elite universities--Hull.
Dr. Godman: I was a mature student, my hon. Friend was an immature student.
Mr. Mullin: I readily own up to that. My hon. Friend has also worn better than me over the years.
For a variety of reasons, the industry has a sad safety record. I am sure that my hon. Friend would agree with that. Part of that is due to the culture in the industry, which in the past tended to treat safety regulations as some sort of Government interference, whereas they should be the norm in an industry as dangerous as fishing.
We have introduced a safety code for vessels under 12 m. We also have a three-year joint initiative with the industry. Arising from that, one possibility under consideration is the provision of mobile training facilities. That would, I think, deal with my hon. Friend's point about taking training to fishermen rather than holding training sessions elsewhere.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who also takes the matter seriously--and who was at university with my hon. Friend and me--has so far held two meetings with representatives of the fishing industry this year to discuss safety.
Mr. Andrew George (St. Ives): Given that 11 lives have been lost in my constituency during the period under discussion, I am sure the Minister accepts the seriousness of the problem. It is particularly serious for smaller and single-handed vessels. In view of his earlier reply, would the Minister be prepared to expand on the timetable for the introduction of a safety code for vessels measuring less than 12 m?
Mr. Mullin: The code is being introduced this year.
Mr. Bob Blizzard (Waveney): Is my hon. Friend aware that, although there may not be many fishermen left in the country, in a fishing community like Lowestoft everyone knows a fishing family, and everyone knows a family who has suffered a bereavement at some point? Ties are strong, and it is an emotive issue.
I am concerned about the seaworthiness of, in particular, small fishing boats in Lowestoft harbour. Fishermen are hard-pressed because of general difficulties affecting fishing. Will my hon. Friend give special consideration to safety grants for smaller vessels? I think that that is the way in which we could save the most lives.
Mr. Mullin: We think that what is most needed is safety training, rather than grants.
I feel that skippers and employers--although I know that many fishermen are self-employed--could take more interest in the risks to which their crews are exposed. It should, for instance, become the norm for fishermen to wear life jackets when on deck. Unfortunately it is not the norm, thus far at least.
Mr. Robert Syms (Poole): This is a serious subject for all of us who represent fishing constituencies. Why, in the light of the tragic figures that the Minister has given, have the Government--as an economy under the comprehensive spending review--cancelled fishing vessel safety equipment grants? Surely they should consider that decision seriously, and, if necessary, reverse it.
Mr. Mullin: The money spent on safety equipment should have been spent on vessels in any case. That is why we are concentrating on promoting safety training for crews. We made the change because we think that it will be more effective.
Cyclists (London)
7. Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham): What steps he is taking to ensure the safety of cyclists in London. [123995]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Mr. Keith Hill): We are supporting London local authorities in the creation of the London cycle network, which aims to develop 2,900 km of cycle routes that are safe and convenient. As part of that initiative, a design manual has been produced by the boroughs to assist in achieving high standards of cycling safety.
Mr. MacShane: That is jolly good, but there is not one secure bicycling lane in Trafalgar square, Parliament square, Whitehall, Millbank, Victoria street or any of the access roads leading to this place. Why is that the case, after 18 years of Conservative government and three years of Labour government?
Mr. Hill: I know that my hon. Friend takes a deep interest in this matter. Indeed, he has just tabled no fewer than 16 questions on it, which I am delighted to say were answered before this Question Time.
The latest available figures suggest that cycling in London is increasing, especially in the central area. Moreover, I am pleased to say that the figures for cycling accidents continue to show a slight decrease in London, against a background of increasing cycle usage. My hon. Friend is right, however: a key aspect of cycling safety is the separation of the cyclist from traffic. Nearly half the London cycle network is now in place, and I am also pleased to say that this year we have increased the allocation to London boroughs for the network to £6 million.
Mr. Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): As a regular cyclist--unlike Ministers in their chauffeur-driven limousines--and while acknowledging that the Minister has been a cyclist in the past, may I ask whether he agrees that one of the contributors to risks for cyclists is the condition of the roads? The roads in London are in their worst condition since the 1970s, with 70 per cent. of local authorities complaining that the condition of the roads is
a risk to road users. At the present spending rate, it would take 70 years to resurface all London's roads. When will the Government admit that they are spending less on road maintenance and, indeed, less on the London cycle network than the previous Government?
Mr. Hill: Of course, the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that the condition of roads is an essential aspect of successful and expanding cycling. That is why the Government are taking pains to compensate for the Conservative party's deplorable record in government and why, in the first four years of this Labour Government, we will have spent an extra £2 billion in total on the condition and improvement of our roads. Let me not be wholly curmudgeonly about the matter by saying that, of course, I look forward to the hon. Gentleman joining me in our wobble to Westminster next Tuesday as part of national bike to work day, along with no fewer than 75 other Members of the Houses of Parliament.
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