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Ordnance Survey Trading Fund

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he

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will make it his policy to set up an independent regulator to ensure fair competition in the Ordnance Survey Trading Fund's competitive tendering. [30299]

Ms Keeble: No. As a Government Department and Executive Agency Ordnance Survey is already bound by the European Commission Public Procurement Regulations for all contracts over the agreed threshold. In addition, all tenders are subject to UK Government regulations on competitive tendering.

Construction Industry (Scotland)

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many accidents resulting in (a) fatalities, (b) serious injury and (c) minor injury have taken place in the construction industry in Scotland during (i) 2001, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 1999, broken down by geographical area. [30328]

Dr. Whitehead: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Local Authority Best Value Regime

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will publish the three-month reassessment of Best Value. [29904]

Dr. Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May).

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the review of Best Value will be completed; and for what reason the original deadline of 31 December 2001 was not met. [30215]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 25 January 2002]: I announced on 1 October 2001 a review of the Best Value regime for local authorities aimed at improving the quality of services. A review group, under the chairmanship of the Minister for Local Government, was set up to take this work forward. I asked the group to report by the end of 2001. In December 2001 the chair of the review group indicated that it had made good progress in a number of areas, but that it would like more time to consider carefully some significant proposals which had been put forward in mid December by members. I agreed to this and hope that the group can complete its work in the near future.

Speed Cameras

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how many fixed-site speed cameras operate in the Metropolitan police area. [31021]

(2) how many safety cameras operating at traffic lights to detect red light running there are in the Metropolitan police area. [31023]

Mr. Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Bus Contracts

Mr. Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many quality bus contracts have been approved and where. [30760]

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Ms Keeble: Powers under the Transport Act 2000 relating to quality bus contracts were brought into force in October last year. No local authorities have yet brought forward proposals for quality contract schemes.

Health and Safety Executive

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list each Health and Safety Executive office building by (a) location and (b) number of people employed. [30962]

Dr. Whitehead: HSE properties and staffing are as follows:

Building	Location	HSE staff
Rose Court	London	574
St. Hugh's House	Bootle	172
St. Anne's House	Bootle	127
St. Peter's House	Bootle	258
Magdalen House	Bootle	326
Daniel House	Bootle	320
Merton House	Bootle	92
Cherry Lane Warehouse	Bootle	0
Belford House	Edinburgh	119
Pegasus House	Glasgow	82
Lord Cullen House	Aberdeen	107
Longman Road	Inverness	5
Sovereign House	Sheffield	78
Marshalls Mill	Leeds	112
Arden House	Newcastle upon Tyne	78
Grove House	Manchester	155
Marshall House	Preston	50
Victoria Place	Carlisle	11
Belgrave House	Northampton	64
Stoneleigh	Warwickshire	8
McLaren Building	Birmingham	122
Pearson Building	Nottingham	83
Intercity House	Bristol	61
Ballard House	Plymouth	18
Darkgate Buildings	Carmarthen	11
Marches House	Newcastle under Lyme	50
Haswell House	Worcester	23
Crown Buildings	Wrexham	17
Government Buildings	Llanishen	92
East Grinstead House	East Grinstead	71
International house	Ashford	21
St. Dunstan's House	London	128
Priestley House	Basingstoke	84
Stinsford Road	Poole	6
Baddow Road	Chelmsford	60
Kiln House	Norwich	27
Thorpe Road	Norwich	32
Cardiff Road	Luton	95
Broad Lane (HSL)	Sheffield	(11)291
Harpur Hill (HSL)	Buxton	(12)137

⁽¹¹⁾ Including 258 HSL staff

⁽¹²⁾ All HSL staff

Notes:

1. The HSE staffing figures refer to the HSE permanent staff employed on 1 January 2002.

2. The figures do not include any contractors' staff or agency staff employed in the buildings.

Liverpool-Kirkby Tram Scheme

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the viability of Merseytravel's proposals for a tram scheme between Liverpool and Kirkby; and if he will make a statement. [30961]

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Ms Keeble: My officials are currently considering the appraisal submitted by Merseytravel for a light rail line between Liverpool and Kirkby. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

Drivers (Smoking)

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his policy is on action to deter or prevent people from smoking while driving a vehicle. [30741]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department has no evidence to indicate that smoking while driving is a significant cause of road traffic accidents. However, the police do have powers to deal with those who fail to maintain control of their vehicles at all times or who drive carelessly or dangerously. Failure to exercise proper control, and careless driving, carry maximum fines of £2,5000. The maximum penalties for dangerous driving are up to two years imprisonment, disqualification and an unlimited fine.

We will continue to educate drivers about the importance of remaining alert while driving. Rule 126 of the Highway Code deals with safe and responsible driving and highlights the need to concentrate and avoid distractions.

Bus Lanes

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what consultations he has had with organisations representing (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists and (c) public transport operators regarding the use of bus lanes by motor cyclists. [31002]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department has had no specific consultation about the use of bus lanes by motor cyclists but is aware of a range of concerns about this use, especially among cyclists' organisations. The Department's advice does not promote motorcycling in bus lanes but we are carrying out research to see whether this should be changed. We would expect to consult organisations representing various road user groups if, following trials, any changes are proposed.

Road Building Programme

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal accidents of the UK road building programme, for each year up to and including 2010; and if he will make a statement. [31004]

Mr. Jamieson: In England, the 10-Year Plan for transport provides the resources to enable central Government, the Highways Agency and local authorities, through their Local Transport Plans, to take action on road safety to support the Government's strategy for achieving its UK road safety targets. These targets are to reduce by 2010 the number of killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 40 per cent., and children by 50 per cent., compared with the average for 1994–98. Road building is expected to make a significant contribution towards achieving these targets. However, in England, local and central Government road building plans are not yet fully defined. In particular, on the strategic road network, the

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choice of specific schemes will depend on the outcome of the multi-modal studies currently being carried out. The road building programmes for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are devolved matters.

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the change in traffic as a result of the UK road building programme for each year up to and including 2010. [31005]

Mr. Jamieson: In England, the 10-Year Plan for transport includes significant investment in the strategic and local road network to tackle the problems of congestion, pollution, and safety. On the strategic road network in England, the choice of specific schemes will depend on the outcome of the multi-modal studies currently being carried out. But the increased level of investment in trunk roads in England is expected to result in 0.4 per cent. more traffic on all roads and 0.9 per cent. on inter-urban trunk roads in 2010. The 10-Year Plan as a whole is expected to reduce traffic growth in England between 2000 and 2010 from 22 per cent. to 17 per cent. on all roads and from 29 per cent. to 26 per cent. on inter-urban trunk roads. Responsibility for these matters has been devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Executive Committee respectively.

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