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5 Nov 2002 : Column 162W—continued
Recruitment (Over-50s)
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of new recruits to his Department in the past two years were aged 50 and over. [79305]
Mr. Jamieson: The percentage figures for each year for new recruits aged 50 and over in the period requested is as follows for DETR(C) April 2000 to March 2001 and DTLR(C) April 2001 to March 2002.
| Period | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 | 7.2 |
| 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 | 6.5 |
Secondments
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals have been seconded to senior civil servant positions in his Department, in each case listing (a) from which organisation, (b) duration to date and planned duration of the secondment and (c) source of current salary in the secondment post. [79160]
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior civil servants are seconded from his Department, in each case listing the (a) location, (b) duration to date and planned duration of the secondment and (c) source of the salary in the secondment post. [79161]
Mr. Jamieson: One member of my Department's senior civil servants has just taken up a six month secondment to the South East England Development Agency.
The Department normally expects the host organisation to cover the salary costs of staff on secondment.
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Train Services (Midlands)
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the reliability and punctuality of train services between Worcester and Birmingham via Droitwich Spa and Hartlebury. [79489]
Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority publish performance statistics for all train operating companies in their quarterly XNational Rail Trends" publication. The figures for each operator are not broken down to route level, but reflect the performance of their services in aggregate. The most recent edition was published on 12 September. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
Trains (Bicycle Carriage)
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1)how many bicycles were carried by train by each train operating company in each year since 1996. [79672]
- (2) how many bicycle spaces were provided on the railways (a) at the latest available date and (b) in 1996; and how many bicycles were carried by train by each train operating company in each year since 1996. [79671]
(3) which train operating companies have increased the number of bicycle spaces on board their rolling stock since 1996. [79673]
Mr. Jamieson: Information on the number of bicycles carried each year is not held. There is no method by which this can be monitored, as passengers with bicycles do not necessarily need a reservation, or in most cases even a ticket because the majority of train operators do not make a charge for the carriage of bicycles.
Transport Plan
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for his Department's forthcoming report on the Ten Year Transport Plan to include (a) a definition of congestion with benchmark figures and interim targets for its reduction, (b) a commitment for the multi-modal studies to be completed by March 2003 with a plan of action to be agreed within six months of completion, (c) interim targets for delivery of (i) new trunk and (ii) local road improvements to 2006 and (d) a commitment to publish annual progress reports on the implementation of the measures set out in the Plan; and if he will make a statement. [78896]
Mr. Jamieson: The report will include a full up-date on progress towards achieving the objectives set out in the 10 Year Plan.
HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Members' Access
David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the arrangements made to ensure hon. Members have access to the House at all times. [78754]
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Mr. Kirkwood [holding answer 4 November 2002]: Hon. Members have access to the House at all times. In recent months additional security measures have been adopted on the advice of the Security Service and the Metropolitan Police. These are designed to enhance protection for all those who use the building, commensurate with current threat assessments. The Serjeant at Arms is available at all times to discuss issues of access and security with hon. Members.
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Parliamentary Questions
Miss McIntosh: To ask the President of the Council, pursuant to his answer of 15 November 2001, Official Report, column 871W, if he will make a statement on the printing of answers to questions during the summer recess in a special edition of the Official Report; and what plans he has to repeat the exercise. [79555]
Mr. Robin Cook: The hon. Lady will recall that I welcomed her suggestion that answers normally given by letter during a recess should be printed in a special edition of the Official Report.
I am pleased to report that during the period of the summer recess, the Government answered a total of 1,418 questions, all of which were printed in Hansard for the convenience of all Members of the House.
I propose that, even with September sittings, we should continue this new system.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
ADSL
Mr. Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make it her policy to require the regulator to ensure that BT reduces the trigger thresholds for converting telephone exchanges to ADSL. [78760]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 4 November 2002]: The rollout of BTs ADSL services., including deciding on trigger levels for enabling its exchanges to provide these services, forms a commercial decision to be taken by BT, As ADSL is not a service that BT is required by its Licence to provide, Oftel has no power to set the conditions under which BT should enable exchanges.
Both Liberty Broadband (at http:/Mrww.briiigingbroadband2youco.uk/) and the East of England Development Agency (atttp://www.broadbandbrokerage.com/bbb/) are also running demand registration schemes.
British Printing Industries Federation
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial assistance has been given, broken down by financial year, to the British Printing Industries Federation; what future support they will enjoy; and if she will make a statement. [78309]
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Mr. Timms: DTI does not provide direct financial assistance to the British Printing Industries Federation but has worked with this organisation in partnership with other industry members to support initiatives aimed at raising this sectors competitiveness and productivity.
In particular, my Department is currently working closely with the British Printing Industries Federation to take forward actions from XPrint 21: coming of age?" the competitiveness study for the print industry, published in summer 2001.
Business Sector (West Midlands)
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the business organisations in the West Midlands with which she makes it her policy to consult on matters of relevance to the business sector. [79490]
Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry meets with the chairmen of regional development agencies regularly and consults them on matters of interest to them and businesses in their regions. RDAs (which are business led and have 50 per cent. of members with a business background) have widespread links with businesses in each region and are well placed to reflect the business view.
In addition, the Department of Trade and Industry consults widely on specific issues, most recently on the review of its structure and currently on the Review of Business Support. Organisations consulted—and invited to progress meetings (the West Midlands as in other regions) include the CBI, engineering, Employers Federation, RDA, Business Links, Cambers of Commerce, Learning and Skills Councils, local authorities, universities, local enterprise agencies, trade associations, research and technology organisations and other business support bodies.
Capita
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial tribunals involving Capita have taken place in the last five years. [78807]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 4 November 2002]: In the five-year period up to 30 September 2002 16 cases involving Capita came to a hearing at an Employment Tribunal in Great Britain
Source: Employment Tribunals Service
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the contracts for government work held by Capita. [78808]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 4 November 2002]: Central records indicate that the department currently has one live contract with Capita Business Services, for the administration of the Construction Quality Mark Scheme.
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