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Staff Numbers

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by his Department on (a) 2 May 1997 and (b) 31 May 2002. [60918]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 13 June 2002, Official Report, column 1402W.

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Performance Targets

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the (a) cost and (b) saving from the pursuit of the Department's Public Service Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced. [61050]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department's Public Service Agreement sets out the key outcomes it is committed to deliver with the resources provided, and its Service Delivery Agreement sets out the key steps towards delivery of those targets. Every year the Department publishes performance against its targets—including on value for money and the resources it has used, in its departmental report.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) cost and (b) saving has been from the Department's pursuit of Service Delivery Agreement targets in each year since they were introduced. [61635]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department's Public Service Agreement sets out the key outcomes it is committed to deliver with the resources provided, and its Service Delivery Agreement sets out the key steps towards delivery of those targets. Every year the Department publishes performance against its targets—including on value for money and the resources it has used, in its departmental report.

Departmental Expenditure Limit

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 had been spent by 31 May; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [61007]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Boateng) on 17 June 2002, Official Report, column 130W.

Small Businesses

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many regulations which cause additional burdens for small businesses have been introduced in the field of health and safety in the last three years. [61143]

Mr. Jamieson: During the period June 1999 to June 2002, 55 statutory instruments containing regulations relating to health and safety have been introduced. Not all of these will affect all firms, of whatever size; much depends on the nature of the business and the risks it creates. Some new legislation may indeed reduce burdens on small firms by simplifying existing legal requirements.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department intend to take to reduce administrative burdens in the field of health and safety for small businesses; and if he will make a statement. [61142]

Mr. Jamieson: HSE has long recognised the special needs of smaller businesses and the importance of ensuring that administrative requirements placed on them in the field of health and safety are kept to the minimum, while ensuring that they recognise and act on their duties to protect the safety and health of their own workers and others.

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HSE consults widely on proposed regulations and guidance, although it recognises the need to ensure that small businesses are properly involved in developing its policies and practices and is currently looking at a variety of ways that will make it easier for small businesses to communicate with them.

Many of the problems come from incorrect interpretation of regulations, companies often believing that they need to take more complicated action than is actually necessary or not understanding what needs to be done. HSE, therefore, produces extensive guidance on most of its regulations, much of it targeted towards small firms.

HSE also continually looks for innovative ways to broaden its support to small businesses. For example, a pilot grant scheme is due to be launched shortly to provide some financial assistance for small businesses to access health and safety mentoring and training.

Women at Work (Pregnancy)

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to monitor and improve awareness of pregnancy complications among women at work. [58251]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 13 June 2002]: The Health and Safety Executive published "New and Expectant Mothers at Work—A guide for employer" in 1995. The guide highlights the hazards and risks in relation to chemical, biological and physical agents, and working conditions and advises employers of possible pregnancy complications. A revised version is due to be launched in autumn 2002. To support this, HSE is planning to produce two additional leaflets—one for new and expectant mothers who work and the other for their health professionals.

Health Promotion England has also published, on behalf of the Department of Health, the "Pregnancy Book" that is given (free) to all first time mothers. The book provides comprehensive guidance and information to women for a healthy pregnancy.

Members of Parliament (Personal Data)

Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information is held by his Department on each hon. Member in relation to (a) personal relationships, both current and past, (b) financial status and dealings, (c) connections with companies and interest groups, (d) connections with Governments and (e) published works; and what was held in January 2002. [61826]

Mr. Darling: Ministers and officials in the Department have access to published reference sources, as well as to the information about hon. Members made publicly available by the House authorities, for the purpose of parliamentary business.

Employees Injured at Work

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of British companies which have in place policies on rehabilitation for employees injured at work. [58053]

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Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 13 June 2002]: Although HSE has recently commissioned two surveys which have addressed rehabilitation at work in varying ways, neither asked whether a company has a policy on rehabilitation specifically for employees injured at work.

One of these surveys has suggested that: approximately 25 per cent. of employers surveyed knew how to access rehabilitation support.

Emerging findings from the other suggest that: 1,759 of the 4,950 companies surveyed provide rehabilitation programmes after illness.

Departmental Grants

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations and outside bodies which were in receipt of grant in 1997–98 are no longer; what the annual saving is (a) individually and (b) in aggregate; which organisations and outside bodies which were not in receipt of grant in 1997–98 now are; and what the annual cost is (i) individually and (ii) in aggregate. [62046]

Mr. Jamieson: The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Road Accidents

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were involved in road accidents while riving within one year of receiving their driving licence in each year since 1995. [62946]

Mr. Jamieson: Information on the length of time for which drivers have held a licence is not collected as part of national road accident statistics. However, we do know from research that as many as one in five newly qualified drivers have some sort of accident in the first year of driving.

Competitive Tendering

Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in the last 12 months the requirement to engage in a competitive tendering process has been waived by his Department due to national security obligations under paragraph 6(h) of the supply regulations. [62823]

Mr. Jamieson: There have been no occasions.

Passive Smoking

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has received since 29 October 1999 from the Health and Safety Commission on its proposed Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking at Work; and when he intends to approve the Code of Practice. [62849]

Mr. Jamieson: The chair of the Health and Safety Commission wrote on 5 October 2000 to the Minister with responsibility for health and safety advising about the commission's decision to favour the introduction of an Approved Code of Practice (ACoP). The Government are giving careful consideration to the commission's proposals. As part of this process, the commission has been asked to consider further both the implications of an ACoP on the hospitality sector and small businesses generally, and the role the Public Places Charter could

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play. I have not yet been formally asked to give consent for the introduction of an ACoP as this work is still in hand.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Health and Safety Executive revised the regulatory impact assessment which was contained in the Health and Safety Commission consultative document, "Proposals for an Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking at Work"; and if he will publish it. [62848]

Mr. Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) partially revised the draft regulatory impact assessment (RIA) in August 2000. It would be inappropriate to publish this version because the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has been requested to carry out further work on the proposals that it underpins.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Health and Safety Executive revised the draft Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking which was consulted on in the Health and Safety Commission consultative document, proposals for an Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking at Work; and if he will publish it. [62847]

Mr. Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) partially revised the text of the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) in August 2000. It would be inappropriate to publish this version of the ACoP because the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has been requested to carry out further work on the proposals.

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a summary of responses to the Health and Safety Commission consultative document, proposals for an Approved Code of Practice on Passive Smoking at Work. [62846]

Mr. Jamieson: A brief summary of responses was included in the press release issued by the Health and Safety Commission on 5 September 2000. Individual responses, subject to respondents' requests for confidentiality, are available for inspection at Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Information Centres.

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