| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
5 Mar 2003 : Column 1020W—continued
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in each year since 1997. [100457]
5 Mar 2003 : Column 1021W
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is as follows:
| Year | Number of staff employed(full time equivalent) |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3,801 |
| 1998 | 4,124 |
| 1999 | 4,408 |
| 2000 | 4,773 |
| 2001 | 5,268 |
| 2002 | 5,264 |
Extra staff were required by the Agency for the following reasons:
(a) major new initiatives such as the Statutory Off-Road Notification photographs on driving licences and Graduated Vehicle Excise Duty (712 posts);
(b) projects to implement policy changes, safeguard delivery of the core business and improve internal processes (168 posts);
(c) increased workload such as the introduction of extended hours in the Agency's call centre, and growth of volume transactions. Between 1996–97 and 2001–02, driver and vehicle volumes increased by almost 20 per cent., from 81.8 million transactions to 97.8 million (583 posts).
London Underground
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost of investment is in the East London Extension; and if he will make a statement on its progress. [100271]
Mr. Jamieson: The business case for the project is being considered by Ministers. I hope a decision will be announced shortly.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated date is for the handover of responsibility for the London Underground to Transport for London; and if he will make a statement. [100996]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House on 4 February 2003, Official Report, column 10WS.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under franchise agreements, how many passengers the underground train operating companies have agreed to carry on each of their route groups; how many passengers in each group would constitute overcrowding; and if he will make a statement. [101000]
Mr. Jamieson: Under the PPP, London Underground will continue to be responsible for running the trains, working the signals and operating the stations. London Underground will also have responsibility for all aspects of safety. The public sector will remain responsible for the safe operation of a unified network.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what arrangements are being planned for compensation of Central Line passengers; who will qualify; how much money he estimates is involved; and if he will make a statement; [101001]
5 Mar 2003 : Column 1022W
- (2) how London Underground has informed Central Line passengers of their entitlement to claim refund of fares for the period of the line's closure; when such information was first displayed; and where it is displayed; and if he will make a statement. [100999]
Mr. Jamieson: The administration of customer refunds under London Underground's Customer Charter is an operational matter for London Underground. However, I understand from London Underground that they have actively contacted the season ticket holders they have been able to identify that have been directly affected by the closure, that they have written to all stakeholders (including MPs) and have put up posters across their network advising how those entitled to claim can go about it. London Underground have also included a comprehensive section on their website (www.thetube.com) and have used other media to spread this message. London Underground's Customer Service Centre has recruited extra staff in order to deal with the large volume of calls they have been receiving.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2003, Official Report, column 140W, on London Underground, what the information provided to him by London Underground was relating to (a) the standard of maintenance and safety of the London Underground track and (b) the standard of the rolling stock used; when he expects to receive the reports of the inquiries of (i) the Health and Safety Executive and (ii) London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [101021]
Mr. Jamieson: The interim report of London Underground's investigation into the derailment at Chancery Lane, published on 21 February, confirmed that the derailment was caused by a motor falling from the train, and that the ongoing investigation will examine the relevance or otherwise of the maintenance of the rolling stock and the underlying causes leading to the failure of the traction motor mountings. London Underground expects to complete most parts of the investigation by the end of March but cannot yet say with confidence when the technical investigation will be complete.
The independent Health and Safety Executive is conducting its own investigation into the causes of the derailment. HSE will take as long as it needs to complete its investigations.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the insurance policy relevant to the recent accident at Chancery Lane on the Central Line; what it covers; how much he estimates the claim by London Underground will amount to; and if he will make a statement. [101024]
Mr. Jamieson: London Underground inform me that the loss adjuster appointed to investigate their property damage claim has indicated that the insured loss (for reinstatement or replacement of assets damaged in the incident) will not exceed £3 million. Of this, some £2 million is self-insured by London Underground and the remaining £1 million will be covered by their own Guernsey based insurance company (London Transport Insurance Guernsey). No claim will be made against external insurers.
5 Mar 2003 : Column 1023W
London Underground does not insure either for loss of revenue or for increased costs of working.
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times since 2001 he has taken flights on departmental duties in the UK; how many of these were (a) charter flights, (b) first or club class and (c) by helicopter; and who accompanied him on each trip. [95388]
Mr. Jamieson: The Department was formed on 29 May 2002. Since its formation, the Secretary of State has taken three flights on departmental duties in the UK: none was on (a) a charter flight; one was (b) club class, travelling with two officials from my Department; and two were on (c) helicopters—once to fly over the route of the M6 toll road, the other on a helicopter operated by the Marine and Coastguard Agency for which the Secretary of State is responsible.
All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
Concessionary Fares
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on rail concessions for the elderly. [100460]
Mr. Jamieson: The national Senior Railcard is available to people aged 60 years and over. This costs £18 per year and offers one-third off most rail fares. The schemes is run by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), and all train operating companies are required to participate. Also, train operators are required by the SRA to participate in any local authority's concessionary travel scheme providing that there is no net loss to the train operator or to its budget. In London, the Freedom Pass also allows free rail travel for the elderly on the heavy rail network in the Greater London area. This scheme is funded by the local authorities and train operating companies are required to participate.
Rail Research UK
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Rail Research UK. [100228]
Mr. Jamieson: Rail Research UK has been established by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as a interdisciplinary centre for rail systems research. The £7 million centre involves twelve research groups from seven UK universities.
It aims to broaden the scope of rail research, to promote innovation, to strengthen the science base and to focus longer term research to help and achieve a safer and more reliable railway while reducing the impact on the environment. Rail Research UK was officially launched on 25 February 2003 and becomes operational from April 2003.
5 Mar 2003 : Column 1024W
Railways
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department gives to rail companies regarding the issuing of reduced price tickets. [100459]
Mr. Jamieson: About 44 per cent. fares are regulated. It is for train operators to decide other fares levels taking account of competition and market demand.
Road Gritting
Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the gritting of back roads in Lancashire during the winter. [100611]
Mr. Jamieson: There is currently no statutory duty obliging highway authorities in England to grit roads in order to prevent ice from forming. We shall, however, introduce such a duty at a suitable legislative opportunity.
In the absence of a statutory duty, we do, nevertheless, expect local highway authorities to grit their roads in accordance with the Code of Practice for highway maintenance "Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance", which was published in July 2001 by the Institution of Highways and Transportation. The Code recommends that a hierarchy of roads be established for winter maintenance treatment, in regular consultation with the local community. Back roads would not normally feature highly in these hierarchies.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |