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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 27 January 2003
TRANSPORT
Airport Security
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with airport authorities regarding security at British airports. [92837]
Mr. Jamieson: My right hon. Friend meets regularly with airport management, and security issues are prominent amongst the topics discussed. There is in addition a very active dialogue at official level.
British Transport Police
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy to increase the number of British Transport Police; and if he will make a statement. [91671]
Mr. Jamieson: The number of BTP officers has increased from 2,095 in 1998 to 2,123 in 2002. It is a duty of the BTP Committee, not of the Secretary of State, to secure the maintenance of an adequate and efficient police service and determine the number of persons of each rank in the force.
A180
Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Habrough to Stallingborough section of the A180 will be resurfaced with low-noise material. [93310]
Mr. Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from T. Matthews to Shona McIsaac, dated 27 January 2003:
- I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when the Harborough to Stallingborough section of the A180 will be resurfaced with low noise material.
- As I said in my letter of 28 November 2002, it is not possible to provide a better idea of timing until the review of the maintenance programme is complete. I shall write to you as soon as the results of that review are known.
- If you require any further information, please contact Mick Spink, the Highways Agency's Area Manager for the A180. He can be contacted on 0113 283 5397 or by e-mail mick.spink@highways.gsi.gov.uk. For further information on resurfacing of concrete roads, visit our website at www.highways.gov.uk and use our search facility to find 'concrete roads'.
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Airports
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on the public funding of airport infrastructure development. [93285]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government's approach to the funding of future airport development schemes is described in paragraph 15.3 of 'The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East' consultation document. This states that the Government expects the current pattern of private sector financing to continue and that it does not expect to commit public funds to future airport developments.
Civil Servants
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants have been employed by (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies and non-departmental bodies in each year from 1994–95 to 2000–03; and if he will make a statement. [92385]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, Mr. Alexander, on 22 January 2003, Official Report, columns 333–34W.
Coastal Shipping Freight
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the freight carried by coastal shipping was in UK flagged ships (a) in the year to May 1992, (b) the year to May 1997 and (c) the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [91760]
Mr. Jamieson: Statistics of freight traffic carried by coastal shipping in UK flagged ships are compiled on an annual basis only. The percentages carried in UK flagged ships for years 1991, 1996 and 2001 (the latest available year), in terms of goods lifted (tonnage) and goods moved (tonne-kilometres), were as follows:
| Year | UK flag share (percentage of goods lifted) | UK flag share (percentage of goods moved) |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 36 | 24 |
| 1996 | 24 | 16 |
| 2001 | 13 | 9 |
Computer Misuse
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of computer misuse there were in his Department in each of the last five years, broken down by each category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action. [93036]
Mr. Jamieson: Coinciding with the creation of the Department for Transport in May 2002, a new policy was introduced dealing with the use/misuse of the Department's ICT resources. This policy was brought to the attention of staff in a departmental Bulletin and is contained within the departmental Staff Handbook.
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No cases of misuse have been raised since the introduction of the new policy. Similarly, there are no identifiable cases relating to the Department for Transport in the previous four years.
Congestion Charges
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) the Metropolitan Police regarding the impact of congestion charging on traffic police; and if he will make a statement. [92836]
Mr. Jamieson: This is a matter between the Mayor of London, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police.
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward regulations under paragraph 11 of Schedule 23 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to extend exemptions from the Central London road user charge; and if he will make a statement. [93352]
Mr. Jamieson: Exemptions from the central London congestion charge are primarily a matter for the Mayor. We are committed to providing a uniform minimum standard of exemptions or concessions from local road user charges in England. In considering the scope of these we will take into account experience gained in London and Durham.
External Consultants
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) his Department and (b) each agency and non-departmental public body spent on external consultancy in each year from 1995–96 to 2002–03 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [92248]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 January, given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), Official Report, column 698W.
Foreign Commercial Vehicles
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2003, Official Report, column 30W, on foreign commercial vehicles, what plans he has for implementing routine checks at ports of entry. [93212]
Mr. Jamieson: Each European member state is required by law to ensure that vehicles bearing its registration are covered by motor insurance. Routine checks on foreign vehicles at ports would be illegal. Random checks involving all vehicles, foreign and domestic, are allowed and are carried out, away from the ports, by police forces and vehicle inspectors.
Health and Safety Strategy
Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department and its agencies have met the commitment arising from Action Point 13 of the June 2000 strategy Statement on Revitalising Health and Safety to summarise health and safety performance and plans in Annual Reports from the year 2000–01 onwards. [89508]
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Mr. Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Work on 20 January 2003, Official Report, columns 85–86W, in respect of Revitalising Health and Safety.
In addition to including a section on health and safety issues in the Department's Annual Report, separate annual reports on Occupational Health and Safety have been produced for the past four years. These detail performance for the Department and each of its Agencies and identify key occupational health and safety issues for action in the following year.
Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information he has collated on the application to his Department and its agencies of the checklist, circulated by letter by Sir Richard Mottram, referred to under Action Point 12 of the revitalising health and safety strategy statement; and if he will make a statement; [89510]
- (2) which senior officials within his Department and its agencies take responsibility for health and safety at board or equivalent level; and where their names are publicised. [89509]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Work on 20 January 2003, Official Report, columns 85–86W.
Heritage Assets
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sales of heritage assets and antique assets have been made by his Department since May 1997; if he will list such assets; and if he will estimate the total sales proceeds. [92387]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department came into being in May 2002. No heritage assets or antiques have been sold by my Department.
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