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Railway Assets
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been undertaken by his Department of the valuation of railway assets within British Rail Telecommunications plc sold by the Government to Racal Telecom in December 1995. [34944]
Mr. Jamieson: British Rail Telecommunications Ltd. was sold by the British Railways Board for £132.75 million. My Department has made no such assessment since the sale.
Staff Retention
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff left the service of his Department and its agencies in the year ended 31 March 2001; how many left before attaining the formal retirement age of 60; and in respect of how many his Department and agencies assume responsibilities for making payments until retirement age. [34787]
Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 8 February 2002]: The number of staff who left the service of this Department in the year ended 31 March 2001 is 318: 277 left before attaining the formal retirement age of 60: and DTLR(C) have assumed responsibility for making payments until retirement age (60) for nine ex-members of staff, who left during the financial year 2000–01.
Parallel information on the Department's executive agencies is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Housing Corporation
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to ring-fence the funding for the Housing Corporation's rural programme. [35058]
Ms Keeble: We have no plans to do so. We have doubled the target for the number of dwellings which the Housing Corporation's rural programme will deliver in small rural settlements (those with a population of 3,000 or less), from 800 approvals in 2000–01 to 1,600 a year by 2003–04.
Affordable Housing
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional funding he intends to provide to support the building of affordable housing on brownfield sites (a) in England and (b) in rural areas. [35057]
Ms Keeble: We are increasing investment in affordable housing in England through the Housing Corporation to over £1.2 billion by 2003–04, almost double the level in 2000–01. The Corporation has a target to deliver 65 per cent. of this housing in regeneration areas.
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Any additional funding to support the building of affordable housing in England will be considered as part of the Spending Review 2002.
Working Conditions and Practices
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [35934]
Dr. Whitehead: The number of alleged cases identified as work related stress over the last three years in my Department are:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 13 |
| 1999–2000 | 20 |
| 2000–01 | 39 |
There have been two cases, which were the subject of a stress-related claim against the Department; both are now closed, as the cases were unproven. No compensation has been paid to date for claims of work related stress. The Department does not have details of the days lost and associated cost for work related stress absence.
The Department has a Stress at Work policy in place, which is supported by practical guidance issued to all staff on dealing with the issue. DTLR is committed to meeting the targets for reducing the number of working days lost due to work related injuries and ill health arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.
The reply does not include the Department's agencies.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people are employed in his Department on a job share contract; and what percentage of vacant positions was advertised on this basis in the last 12 months. [35351]
Dr. Whitehead: The information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made of the effect of the Working Time Directive on his Department's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps he is taking to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement. [35882]
Dr. Whitehead: There are currently 33 members of DTLR(C) staff (out of 3,532 as at 1 January 2002) who have signed agreements to disapply the 48 hour per week working hours limit.
Officials are currently involved in assessing the effect of the Working Time Regulations on my Department's staff. In addition, my Department is carrying out a staff survey, part of which focuses on work loads/stress etc. The results from these two surveys will inform the discussion on any action that may be appropriate.
The reply does not include the Department's agencies.
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Cyclists (Safety)
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the requirements for cyclists to (a) use lights after dark and (b) wear cycling helmets. [35295]
Mr. Jamieson: The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 require any pedal cycle used on the roads between sunset and sunrise to have a front lamp, a rear lamp and a red rear reflector. The lamps must be lit and unobscured. There is no legal requirement for cyclists to wear a cycle helmet. However the Highway Code advises cyclists wear a cycle helmet.
Passenger Transport Authorities
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the commitment required by members of passenger transport authorities in terms of frequency of attendance and hours. [35312]
Ms Keeble: It is up to Passenger Transport Authority members to determine the frequency of their meetings and the consequent time commitment required.
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on recommended methods of selection of local councillors to sit on Passenger Transport Authorities. [35311]
Ms Keeble: Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs) are composed of councillors from districts within the PTA area. The members of each council nominate representatives from among their number.
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the Passenger Transport Authorities' performance in consulting passengers and their representatives about their plans. [35313]
Ms Keeble: Passenger Transport Authorities are required by the Transport Act 2000 to prepare, in conjunction with the relevant Metropolitan district councils, a joint local transport plan (LTP) for their area.
Our guidance to authorities on LTPs makes clear the importance of participation with both the local community and key stakeholders in the development of the objectives and strategies for the LTP. Our guidance on LTP Annual Progress Reports (APRs) also refers to the need for on-going consultation during the implementation of the LTP. Evidence of authorities' efforts in this respect forms part of our consideration of the overall quality of LTPs and APRs.
Railway Industry (State Aid)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he has received a response from the European Commission on the Railtrack State Aid application; and if he will make a statement. [35799]
Mr. Jamieson: The European Commission announced on 13 February that State Aid clearance has been given for Government to make loans or to guarantee commercial loans made to Railtrack plc in administration.
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The Government intend to notify Railtrack plc that it should use reasonable endeavours to secure commercial banking facilities, guaranteed by the Secretary of State, to refinance the outstanding advances made under the loan facility, together with interest, thereby removing the direct call on taxpayers' money.
Departmental Resources and Initiatives (Surrey)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the financial resources and initiatives sponsored by his Department in the last 12 months for Surrey which are additional to Government SSA grants. [35804]
Dr. Whitehead: Government Grant Support to Surrey county council for Revenue Expenditure in addition to General Grants distributed by formula in 2001–02 consists of:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Rural Bus Subsidy Grant | 779,797 |
| Rural Bus Challenge | 150,000 |
| Supporting People Implementation Grant | 354,881 |
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