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Comprehensive Spending Review
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff have contributed to his Department's input to the Spending Review. [68693]
Mr. Jamieson: A range of staff make a contribution to the Spending Review process.
Significant Accidents
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he defines a significant accident in the context of MAIB investigations. [68749]
Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport is guided by the criteria laid down in the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations 1999. These define "accidents" but do not categorise them in degrees of severity. There is no definition of "significant" accident.
Urban Bus Challenge
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 1 July 2002, Official Report, column 104W, on the Urban Bus Challenge Fund, if he will list the wards served by the projects which were given awards as part of the Urban Bus Challenge. [69181]
Mr. Jamieson: Over 120 wards will benefit from projects to be supported following success in last year's Urban Bus Challenge competition. The information on wards served contained in the bids submitted is as shown in the table. In some cases, as indicated, the area to be served is not specified in terms of ward boundaries.
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Bus Services, London
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average frequency of buses in London during (a) peak, (b) off-peak and (c) night bus services was in (i) 1998 and (ii) 1999. [69182]
Mr. Jamieson: Bus services in London are now the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London
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(TfL). I understand from TfL that the information regarding average service frequency is not available in the form requested.
Car Tax
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people whose cars were untaxed had enforcement action taken against them in each of the last five years. [69175]
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Mr. Jamieson: The table details the number of vehicle excise duty evaders against whom enforcement has been taken in each of the last five years. The table breaks down the enforcement action into three categories—those who have settled out of court, those who have been prosecuted, and those who have been encouraged to relicense as a result of enforcement action.
| Year | Out of court settlements | Prosecutions | Voluntary relicensing | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 268,163 | 233,036 | 110,074 | 611,273 |
| 1998–99 | 218,786 | 256,332 | 125,952 | 601,070 |
| 1999–2000 | 209,678 | 239,291 | 163,822 | 612,791 |
| 2000–01 | 303,665 | 226,643 | 169,542 | 699,850 |
| 2001–02 | 392,416 | 249,545 | 157,844 | 799,805 |
Search and Rescue Helicopter, Portland
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what risk assessment has been made regarding the safety of sub-aqua divers from Portland and Weymouth should the search and rescue helicopter at Portland be moved to Lee-on-Solent. [69072]
Mr. Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard agency has carried out an operational risk assessment with regard to the possibility of moving the Coastguard helicopter based at Portland to Lee-on-Solent.
This analysis has demonstrated that the national criteria for response to all incidents, including sub-aqua divers, would still be met for the very high, high and medium risk areas within the Portland and Weymouth area. However, no decisions have been made about the future location of the helicopter.
Vehicle Registration (Data Access)
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes have been recently made to restrictions on public access to the personal details of the registered owner of a vehicle; and if he will make a statement. [69428]
Mr. Jamieson: No recent changes have been introduced. The vehicle register remains a semi-open record.
The law allows keeper details to be made available to the police, to local authorities, for enforcement activities and to anyone who can demonstrate 'reasonable cause' for their request. All 'reasonable cause' applications must be in writing and be supported by witness details, police crime numbers, insurance claim details and repair bills.
Road Safety
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities have carried out child road safety audits as part of their road safety plans; and what measures have been taken to implement them. [69384]
Mr. Jamieson: We do not have information from local authorities categorically stating that they conduct child safety audits. However, it is unlikely that many do not conduct the principles of audit. At its simplest, it means that local authorities should know where their child casualties are occurring, take measures to address the problem and monitor the results. Authorities are required
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to set local casualty reduction targets which should reflect the national targets. How they meet those targets are for local determination and the precise measures employed will depend upon local circumstances.
M11
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans exist for a relief road between the A1055 and the M11 extension near Leyton; and if he will make a statement. [69122]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 11 July 2002]: There is a proposal for such a scheme, the Lower Lea Valley Spine Road. This is the London borough of Newham's responsibility, not the Government's. Further information may be obtained from:
- John Henman
Head of Environmental Engineering Services
The Environment Department
London Borough of Newham Council
25 Nelson Street
East Ham
London E6 6EH.
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