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15 May 2003 : Column 338W—continued

Pay Costs

Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his Answer of 5 March 2003, Official Report, columns 1030–31W, on DVLA, what the total pay costs incurred by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency were in each year since 1997. [113381]

Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is as follows:

£000

Year	Total pay costs
1997	59,862
1998	61,068
1999	68,507
2000	75,845
2001	83,551
2002	95,634

Extra staff were required by the Agency over this period for major new initiatives, projects to implement policy changes and safeguard delivery of the core business and increased workload. The exceptional rise in pay costs for 2002, i.e. to a greater proportion than the staff employed, was due to the fundamental restructuring of the Agency's pay system as the first and most significant impact of a five year pay deal agreed with the Unions. The restructuring is designed to address a number of issues, including:

overcoming Equal Pay vulnerabilities

aligning with Modernising Government agenda on Civil Service pay

recruitment and retention of good quality staff and

support for the Agency in taking forward a substantial programme of change.

Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his Answer of 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 46W to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster), on railway staff, what the total pay costs incurred by the Office of the Rail Regulator were in each year since 1997. [113382]

Mr. Jamieson: The total pay costs incurred by the Office of the Rail Regulator since 1997 are as follows:

Year	£000
1997–98	4,099
1998–99	4,558
1999–2000	5,285
2000–01	6,204
2001–02	4,982
2002–03	5,440

15 May 2003 : Column 339W

Port Developments

Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will determine the applications for port developments at (a) Dibden Bay, (b) London Gateway (Shellhaven) and (c) Bathside Bay together. [113523]

Mr. Jamieson: These are separate applications running on individual timetables and there is no compelling reason why they should be determined together.

Public Service Vehicles

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what EU legislation sets out a safety framework for public service vehicles, with particular reference to (a) non-fluorescent lighting and (b) low floor access. [113476]

Mr. Jamieson: EC Directive 2001/85/EC covering the harmonisation of construction standards for the interior and bodywork design and accessibility for PSVs, includes the requirements for low floor access. The same directive also sets out the requirements for the internal lighting of these vehicles in respect of passenger safety and also the avoidance of reflective lighting for the driver. No distinction is made between fluorescent and non-fluorescent lighting.

Exterior lighting on public service vehicles is regulated under EC Directive 76/756/EC which relates to the installation of exterior lighting and light signalling devices. EC Directives 76/758/EC, 77/759/EEC, 76/760/EC, 76/761/EC, 76/762/EC, 77/538/EC, 77/539/EC, 77/540/EC and their corresponding UNECE Regulations set standards for the individual lighting components. For all lighting other than headlamps, no distinction is made between fluorescent and non-fluorescent sources.

UNECE Regulations 98 and 99 set specific standards for gas discharge headlamps.

Rail Services

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the major infrastructure developments are expected on the Cheltenham to London rail line, with special reference to resignalling. [112488]

Mr. Jamieson: Network Rail advises that it is working with the Strategic Rail Authority to jointly develop schemes that will increase the flexibility of the network by improving the signalling system as well as undertaking a combination of life extension works and like for like renewals.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on station re-opening, with special reference to parkways. [112865]

Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority has a responsibility to promote and secure the development of the rail network. Where appropriate, this will includes appraising proposals for the re-opening of railway lines and the development of new infrastructure such as stations, including parkway stations. The SRA considers all such proposals for investment on their merits, and in accordance with its robust

appraisal criteria.

15 May 2003 : Column 340W

Rail Strikes

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list payments made by the Strategic Rail Authority to train operating companies to compensate for income lost due to industrial action over the past year. [113237]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 13 May 2003]: In the past year, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) has made payments of £12.65 million to National Express in respect of revenue loss by ScotRail arising from industrial action. This follows the introduction of a clause into all franchise agreements allowing the SRA, at its discretion, to compensate train operators for such losses. Payments will be made only where the SRA is satisfied that operators have done all they reasonably could to settle disputes and the cost must be accommodated from within the SRA's agreed budget.

Road Safety

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents involving motor cycles there were resulting in (a) death and (b) serious injury in each of the last five years; and how many of those involved were (i) males and (ii) females under 25 years old. [113025]

Mr. Jamieson: The number of road traffic accidents in Great Britain involving motorcycles which resulted in (a) death and (b) serious injury in each of the last five years were as follows:

Fatal and serious accidents involving motorcycles:

	Accidents
Year	Fatal	Serious
1997	538	6,085
1998	523	6,102
1999	569	6,479
2000	649	6,910
2001	618	6,888

And the number of (i) male and (ii) female casualties among motor cycle users under the age of 25 are shown in the following table:

Motorcycle driver or rider casualties aged 24 and under, by gender and severity of casualty:

	Casualties
	Male		Female
Year	Killed	Serious	Killed	Serious
1997	138	1,696	14	229
1998	114	1,589	15	235
1999	132	1,703	17	185
2000	129	1,908	13	226
2001	136	1,921	7	204

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents caused by drivers under the age of 17 years resulted in (a) death and (b) serious injury in each of the last five years. [113030]

Mr. Jamieson: The table gives the number of fatal and serious accidents in Great Britain where at least one driver under the age of 17 was involved. We have no information on whether the accident was caused by a young driver.

15 May 2003 : Column 341W

Road accidents in which at least one driver under 17 was involved

	Accidents
Year	Fatal	Serious
1997	69	1,503
1998	52	1,353
1999	56	1,408
2000	56	1,275
2001	60	1,264

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents there were in each of the last five years; and how many resulted in (a) death and (b) serious injury. [113031]

Mr. Jamieson: The number of road traffic accidents in Great Britain in the last five years; and the number which resulted in (a) death and (b) serious injury are shown in the table:

	Accidents
Year	Total	Fatal	Serious
1997	240,287	3,298	36,330
1998	238,923	3,137	34,633
1999	235,048	3,138	33,267
2000	233,729	3,108	32,499
2001	229,014	3,176	31,588

Transport Statistics (London)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures he has collated on (a) average traffic speeds, (b) air pollution and (c) bus usage in central London since 17 February; and if he will make a statement. [113203]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department for Transport does not hold the specific figures requested. It is for Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor to do detailed monitoring of the London congestion charging scheme which started on 17 February. TfL are undertaking a comprehensive monitoring programme, using standard surveying techniques, covering relevant modes of transport. They are also proposing to examine wider economic and other impacts, including air quality. They have pledged to make all results available.

The Government will consider the evaluation of the scheme and if there are significant gaps in TfL's study programme then the Government will commission work to fill them.

Information on traffic levels and bus services since the scheme came into operation can be found on the TfL website at the following links:

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/buses/press 666.shtml


http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press cc news latest.shtml

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