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Fire Service
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) pursuant to his answer of 13 March 2002, ref. 42923, on rescues by the Fire Service, if he will state from where this information can be obtained; [44616]
- (2) what was the total cost to the taxpayer of rescues by the Fire Service from (a) road traffic accidents and (b) for other rescues in each of the last three years. [44617]
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Dr. Whitehead: Chief Fire Officers may be able to provide this information relative to their own brigades.
Firefighters (Buckinghamshire)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average number of days lost through sickness absence was per firefighter at each station in Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years; and how many firefighters based in Buckinghamshire were on long-term sick leave in each of the last five years. [43292]
Dr. Whitehead: The average number of days lost through sickness is not available for each station. For the brigade the figures are given in the table with those for long-term absence.
| Average number of days lost due to sickness | Individuals on long term sick | |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 7.4 | 15 |
| 1997–98 | 7.9 | 20 |
| 1998–99 | 8.0 | 24 |
| 1999–2000 | 7.6 | 15 |
| 2000–01 | 9.5 | 27 |
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many retained firefighters there were at each fire station in Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years. [43293]
Dr. Whitehead: Figures by station are only available for the last year. Total figures are given for earlier years. The figures relate to individuals in post. Where these are "0" the station is day crew only and does not have a retained complement.
| Station | Staff in post 2002 |
|---|---|
| Amersham | 11 |
| Aylesbury | 18 |
| Beaconsfield | 7 |
| Bletchley | 13 |
| Brill | 7 |
| Broughton | 13 |
| Buckingham | 11 |
| Chesham | 9 |
| Gerrards Cross | 0(9) |
| Great Holm | 10 |
| Great Missenden | 10 |
| Haddenham | 8 |
| High Wycombe | 13 |
| Marlow | 13 |
| Newport Pagnell | 0(9) |
| Olney | 11 |
| Princes Risborough | 9 |
| Stockenchurch | 10 |
| Waddesdon | 10 |
| Winslow | 11 |
| Total | 194 |
| Earlier years | |
| 1997 | 214 |
| 1998 | 199 |
| 1999 | 187 |
| 2000 | 193 |
| 2001 | 200 |
(9) Station is day crew only and does not have a retained complement.
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False Alarm Emergency Calls
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm emergency calls were received in Buckinghamshire in each year since 1997. [43289]
Dr. Whitehead: The number of (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm emergency calls received in Buckinghamshire were as follows:
| False alarm emergency calls | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All calls | Malicious | Good intent | Due to apparatus | |
| 1997 | 9,164 | 879 | 1,466 | 2,087 |
| 1998 | 7,754 | 402 | 1,251 | 2,089 |
| 1999 | 8,641 | 505 | 1,306 | 2,154 |
| 2000(10) | 8,941 | 500 | 1,514 | 2,311 |
(10) Data for 2000 are provisional.
False fire alarms are categorised thus:
- (i) Malicious: the call was made with the intention of getting the brigade to attend a non-existent fire-related event. This includes 'deliberate' and 'suspected malicious' intentions.
- (ii) Good intention: the call was made in good faith in the belief that the brigade really would attend a fire.
- (iii) Due to apparatus: the call was initiated by fire alarm and firefighting equipment operating (including accidental initiation of alarm apparatus by person).
A21
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many accidents occurred on the A21 between (a) Lamberhurst and Flimwell and (b) Tonbridge and Pembury in (i) May to December 1997, (ii) January to December 1998, (iii) January to December 1999, (iv) January to December 2000, (v) January to June 2001, and (vi) July to December 2001. [43128]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 14 March 2002]: The figures requested are shown in the table:
| Year of accident | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 1997(11) | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| Lamberhurst—Flimwell(12) | 8 | 6 | 14 | 15 | — |
| Tonbridge—Pembury(13) | 15 | 25 | 22 | 26 | — |
(11) Figures relate to May to December.
(12) Figures relate to accidents on the A21 between the junction with the B2169 near Scotney Castle and the north end of the dual carriageway at Flimwell.
(13) Figures relate to accidents on the A21 between the junction with the A26 at Quarry Hill and the junction with the A264.
Note:
Statistics are not yet available for 2001.
Central Railway
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will announce a decision on the Central Railway project; and if the proposal will use the hybrid Bill route. [41399]
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Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, North (Mr. Hopkins) on 15 March 2002, Official Report, column 1276W.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what studies he has commissioned into reopening sections of the Great Central railway line. [41737]
Mr. Jamieson: None. However, the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan includes proposals to reopen to passenger services part of the Great Central alignment north of Aylesbury. The Government are also considering proposals by Central Railway plc. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, North (Mr. Hopkins) on 15 March 2002, Official Report, column 1276W.
Railtrack
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the date when bids will close for Railtrack in administration. [44239]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 18 March 2002]: This is a matter for the administrator.
Railway Fencing
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the state of fences alongside railway lines running into Romford. [42971]
Mr. Jamieson: Railtrack advise that appropriate repairs are carried out as part of the company's on-going maintenance programme.
London Underground
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the expected annual investment spending this year is by London Underground; and what the figure was in 1996–97. [41293]
Mr. Spellar: London Underground is currently forecasting that it will deliver investment expenditure of £422 million in 2001–02, against a Government target of at least £410 million. The equivalent investment figure for investment in the core underground network in 1996–97 at cash prices was £397 million.
Capital renewals accounted for £198 million of the £397 million expenditure in 1996–97. The estimated investment expenditure for 2001–02 reflects London Underground Ltd.'s adoption in 1999 of Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 15, which requires that such expenditure must now either be charged to cost of operations, or capitalised as an addition to fixed assets.
Seamen's Certificate Requirements
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he has proposed changes in the international seamen's certificate requirements to the relevant international organisations; and if he will make a statement. [43914]
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Mr. Jamieson: No such changes in requirements have been proposed. The modernisation of seafarer identity documentation is being considered within the International Labour Organisation, to which reference was made during the intersessional meeting in February of the International Maritime Organisation on maritime security.
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