House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 12 Feb 2002 (pt 19)

Departmental Meetings (Energy Industry)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what occasions he and his Department have held meetings since May 1997 with representatives from (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Exxon- Mobil, (d) Enron, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf; if he will state the purpose of each meeting; and if he will provide details of the outcomes and agreements reached as a result of each meeting. [33215]

Dr. Whitehead: Ministers and officials from this Department meet representatives from major oil companies regularly to discuss a range of issues. It is not the normal practice of the Government to release details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

Buses

Ms Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to allow longer buses to be used on UK roads. [32910]

12 Feb 2002 : Column 224W

Mr. Jamieson: The European Directive on the dimensions of certain categories of vehicles was amended on 17 January 2002 to allow increases in the length of buses and coaches. The changes include provisions to ensure that longer buses are compatible with UK road layouts. My Department will shortly be consulting on regulations to implement it into UK law.

At present it is planned to hold a trial of a number of coaches 12.8m in length (current UK maximum is 12m) that will be travelling between Bath, Swindon, London Heathrow airport and London. The purpose of this trial is to assess options for wheelchair accessibility.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what is the (a) current status of, (b) start date of and (c) expected completion date for the channel tunnel rail link phase one project. [32996]

Mr. Byers: Section 1 of the channel tunnel rail link, from the channel tunnel to Fawkham junction, is currently on time, on budget and approximately 78 per cent. complete. Work started in 1998 and is due for completion in 2003.

London Underground (Sickness Absence)

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action is being taken to reduce the number of working days lost through absence of staff on medical grounds on the London underground. [32914]

Mr. Jamieson: In response to what London Underground (LU) recognised was an unacceptable level of performance during 2000–01, they initiated a programme of activity to address this and get performance moving back to the levels which had been achieved in 1999–2000. A major focus of this activity was to reduce peak hour train cancellations due to the non-availability of train operators, as well as to better manage staff absences of all kinds.

The benefits of this work are now being realised, with the level of peak cancellations due to the non-availability of train operators now running at less than 20 trains per week, down by 80 per cent. since December 2000, and the level of employee attendance generally, improving. Details of the specific management actions being taken are a matter for LU.

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, (1) pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 50W, for what reason London Underground is not able to provide information on absence on medical grounds for (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; [32913]

Official Report

12 Feb 2002 : Column 225W

Mr. Jamieson: London Underground Ltd. advises that accurate and consistent figures for the period in question could be provided only by gathering information from individual staff records. This information can therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fair Trade Fortnight

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage participation by his Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March. [33545]

Dr. Whitehead: My Department is not a major direct purchaser of products that could be subject to fair trade, but I am encouraging the catering contractor in my headquarter buildings to attend.

Radioactive Materials (Transport)

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the incidents involving trains carrying (a) radioactive materials and (b) other nuclear materials which have resulted in the radioactive contamination of (i) vehicles and (ii) packaging in the north-west of England in the last six months. [33526]

Mr. Jamieson: Such incidents are reported on an annual basis in the review of accidents and incidents including the transport of radioactive material. These reports are placed in the Libraries of the House.

Council Tax

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of households in which the head of the household is registered as disabled paid at least (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent. and (c) 15 per cent. of their gross income in council tax in the last year for which figures are available. [33625]

Dr. Whitehead: This information is not available.

Secondments

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff were seconded between (a) PWC Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst & Young, (c) Deloitte & Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available. [33872]

Dr. Whitehead: There have been no secondments from DTLR to any of the companies listed within the dates given.

12 Feb 2002 : Column 226W

Since April 2001 there has been one inward secondment from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Rail Industry

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the European Union Transport White Paper for vertical integration of the UK rail Industry. [32653]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 5 February 2002]: EC Directive 2001/14, referred to in the EU Transport White Paper, requires the separation of infrastructure capacity allocation functions from the provision of railway transport services. This does not necessarily preclude vertical integration, and any proposals which meet EU requirements will be afforded due consideration.

Accountancy Services

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last four years. [34161]

Dr. Whitehead: Information as to the costs of accountancy services is not available due to disproportionate costs.

Mobile Telephones

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list, for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, the amount spent (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) its non-departmental public bodies on (1) providing mobile telephone equipment, including handsets and other associated equipment, (2) telephone calls made using such equipment and (3) telephone calls made using privately owned mobile telephones but subsequently reclaimed by (x) Ministers and (y) staff. [34319]

Dr. Whitehead: The exact answer required cannot be provided in the details asked for except at disproportionate cost. However, information is available as follows:

Mobile Phone expenditure for the Department is:

£

Fiscal Year Mobile phone spend by DTLR

1997–98 33,357.57

1998–99 157,764.96

1999–2000 244,623.72

2000–01 332,401.94

2001–02⁽²²⁾ 280,042.26

Fiscal Year	Mobile phone spend by DTLR
1997–98	33,357.57
1998–99	157,764.96
1999–2000	244,623.72
2000–01	332,401.94
2001–02⁽²²⁾	280,042.26

⁽²²⁾ Year to date

£

Mobile phone spend 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02⁽²³⁾

Agencies

Vehicle Inspectorate ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 247,395.00 297,960.00 215,175.00

Planning Inspectorate ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 5,400.00 4,705.25 2,943.82

DVLA ⁽²⁴⁾— 105.75 776.44 2,240.50 1,200.86

Vehicle Certification Agency ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 9,607.44 10,610.39

Highways Agency 126,739.00 127,716.00 119,246.00 139,300.00 83,631.00

Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 1,281.16 2,741.16 2,066.60 927.68 1,875.68

Maritime and Coastguard Agency ⁽²⁴⁾— 74,686.00 88,075.00 105,130.00 97,410.00

Fire Service College 3,591.00 3,517.00 4,183.00 1,404.00 2,525.00

Driving Standards Agency 13,226.00 10,791.00 16,134.00 21,357.00 16,504.00

The Rent Service ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 57,000.00 133,000.00 99,000.00

NDPBs

Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust 1,134.53 1,412.66 2,497.92 1,684.42 ⁽²⁴⁾—

Audit Commission ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 510.17 1,511.13

Health and Safety Executive ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 195,353.00 239,575.00 197,344.00

Housing Corporation 22,379.00 22,166.00 21,088.00 30,264.00 34.116.00

Liverpool Housing Action Trust ⁽²⁵⁾13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00 13,000.00

Northern Lighthouse Board 9,942.67 34,681.00 48,997.99 52,764.06 36,930.40

Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust 3,629.00 1,406.00 341.00 682.00 41.00

Castle Vale Housing Action Trust 16,700.00 18,200.00 13,300.00 17,300.00 12,000.00

Stonebridge Housing Action Trust 2,819.00 2,556.00 1,838.00 1,582.00 1,345.00

Standards Board ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— ⁽²⁴⁾— 2,202

Trinity House Lighthouse Service 46,000 47,000 45,000 46,000 ⁽²⁶⁾59,000

Mobile phone spend	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02⁽²³⁾
Agencies
Vehicle Inspectorate	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	247,395.00	297,960.00	215,175.00
Planning Inspectorate	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	5,400.00	4,705.25	2,943.82
DVLA	⁽²⁴⁾—	105.75	776.44	2,240.50	1,200.86
Vehicle Certification Agency	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	9,607.44	10,610.39
Highways Agency	126,739.00	127,716.00	119,246.00	139,300.00	83,631.00
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre	1,281.16	2,741.16	2,066.60	927.68	1,875.68
Maritime and Coastguard Agency	⁽²⁴⁾—	74,686.00	88,075.00	105,130.00	97,410.00
Fire Service College	3,591.00	3,517.00	4,183.00	1,404.00	2,525.00
Driving Standards Agency	13,226.00	10,791.00	16,134.00	21,357.00	16,504.00
The Rent Service	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	57,000.00	133,000.00	99,000.00

NDPBs
Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust	1,134.53	1,412.66	2,497.92	1,684.42	⁽²⁴⁾—
Audit Commission	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	510.17	1,511.13
Health and Safety Executive	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	195,353.00	239,575.00	197,344.00
Housing Corporation	22,379.00	22,166.00	21,088.00	30,264.00	34.116.00
Liverpool Housing Action Trust	⁽²⁵⁾13,000.00	13,000.00	13,000.00	13,000.00	13,000.00
Northern Lighthouse Board	9,942.67	34,681.00	48,997.99	52,764.06	36,930.40
Waltham Forest Housing Action Trust	3,629.00	1,406.00	341.00	682.00	41.00
Castle Vale Housing Action Trust	16,700.00	18,200.00	13,300.00	17,300.00	12,000.00
Stonebridge Housing Action Trust	2,819.00	2,556.00	1,838.00	1,582.00	1,345.00
Standards Board	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	⁽²⁴⁾—	2,202
Trinity House Lighthouse Service	46,000	47,000	45,000	46,000	⁽²⁶⁾59,000

⁽²³⁾ Year to date

⁽²⁴⁾ Figures unavailable

⁽²⁵⁾ Estimated figures

⁽²⁶⁾ Projection to end of fiscal year

Notes:

Figures do not reflect machinery of Government changes

Figures are unavailable from the remaining NDPBs, without incurring disproportionate cost

12 Feb 2002 : Column 227W

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