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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 21 May 2003
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Companies Bill
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to introduce the proposed Companies Bill. [114379]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government are carefully considering the comments made in response to the White Paper 'Modernising Company Law' (Cm 5553), including those in the Trade and Industry Committee's report on the White Paper (HC 439) published last week. A further announcement will be made to Parliament in due course.
Mental Health
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of her staff have taken sick leave due to mental health problems in the last year. [111976]
Ms Hewitt: In the financial year 2001–02 164 staff took sick leave attributed to mental health problems.
Regional Development Agencies (Budgets)
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria she has used in determining the budget allocations to individual regional development agencies in 2003–04. [114899]
Alan Johnson: The budget for Regional Development Agencies is allocated between RDAs using a formula which takes into account nine weighted indictors of need and opportunity. Provision has also been made to ensure that no RDA will receive less in 2003–04 than in previous years.
- An allocation for each RDA to cover common administrative overheads;
Population size;
Gross Domestic Product per head, where the richest regions get zero;
Research and development expenditure per head with the weakest regions benefiting most;
Population in rural areas with low productivity;
The number of people living in the most deprived 10 per cent. of wards;
The 100 poorest authorities in terms of unemployment rate;
The amount of derelict land and pre-used land with planning permission;
The proportion of the working age population classed a partly skilled or unskilled.
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TRANSPORT
Low Cost Airlines
Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage the use of spare capacity at regional airports for low cost airlines. [114796]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government support the growth, subject to it being sustainable, of regional airports to meet local demand for air travel and we anticipate low cost airlines will make a major contribution to achieving this. Chapter 3 of our regional consultation documents sets out a range of possible policy mechanisms for delivering our objectives. The consultation closes on 30 June, and we will publish the Air Transport White Paper in late 2003.
Sizewell
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many aircraft have flown over the power stations since the airspace over Sizewell A and B power stations was invaded 18 months ago. [112883]
Mr. Spellar: Aircraft are not permitted to fly within two nautical miles of Sizewell below a height of 2000 ft. There have been no confirmed breaches of this restriction since November 2001.
Airport Security
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on plans to change overnight security arrangements at UK airports. [113524]
Mr. Spellar: The department's aviation security requirements do not differentiate between day time and night time operations. I will draw to the attention of colleagues in the relevant departments the hon. Member's particular concern about late hours coverage at airports by Customs and Immigration staff, so that they may respond direct.
Crossrail
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials within his Department are engaged in examining the Crossrail proposals; when he will announce the Government's preferred option for Crossrail line 1; and if he will make a statement on the Crossrail project. [113719]
Mr. Jamieson: Currently, around half a dozen Departmental officials are substantially engaged on Crossrail-related work, among other duties, involving a range of other officials within the Department as necessary. As regards an announcement on Crossrail, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Secretary of State for Transport to the hon. Members for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey), and for Ilford South (Mike Gapes), on 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 149.
Cyclists
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what regulations are in force governing cyclists' conduct when using joint cycle and pedestrian paths; [115044]
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- (2) what requirements there are for cyclists to warn other road users of their presence when using joint cycle and pedestrian paths. [115043]
Mr. Jamieson: On cycle tracks, cyclists and pedestrians may be segregated or they may share the same space. Highway authorities use signs and markings from the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 to indicate the part of the route which is allocated for cyclists and for pedestrians. On segregated tracks, cyclists must keep to the side intended for their use.
The Highway Code advises cyclists to take care when passing pedestrians, especially children, elderly or disabled people on cycle tracks, and allow them plenty of room. The code also advises that cyclists should slow down and stop for pedestrians if necessary. The law applying to dangerous and careless cycling applies on cycle tracks as it does on the road. Under the Road Traffic Act 1991, the two worst cycling offences attract maximum fines of £2,500 (for dangerous cycling) and £1,000 (for careless cycling).
There are no specific requirements for cyclists to warn other users of their presence on a cycle track. However, the Highway Code advises cyclists that they should be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians, and to let them know of their presence by ringing their bell. In April this year, the Pedal Bicycles (Safety) Regulations 2003 were published, coming into force on 1 May 2004. These will make it a requirement for a bell to be fitted on a bicycle by manufacturers at the point of sale. The Regulation will enhance the safety of pedestrians sharing space with cyclists, and had been requested for some time by groups representing pedestrians and disabled people.
Departmental Advertising
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total expenditure on advertising by the Department was in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and what the level of planned expenditure is for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [114436]
Mr. Jamieson: In 2001–02, my Department's total expenditure on advertising was £9.85 million to £8.62 million on the THINK! road safety campaign and £1.22 million to promote the Traveline public transport information line.
In 2002–03, the total estimated expenditure on advertising was £10.195 million to 9.5 million on the THINK! road safety campaign, £299,000 on the Airports consultation exercise, £274,000 on Traveline and £122,000 on the new Vehicle Identity Checking scheme. These figures are subject to final audit.
The planned expenditure for 2003–04 and 2004–05 is estimated at £10 million in each year.
Departmental Underspending
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce his Department's underspend in 2003–04 from that of 2002–03. [112771]
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Mr. Jamieson: We will continue to monitor budgets very closely to ensure the most effective use of resources. I expect that, once the figures have been finalised, my Department's outturn for 2002–03 will have been very close to budget.
Foreign Flag Vessels
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign flag vessels were inspected by the Maritime Coastguard Agency in each of the last five years. [114836]
Mr. Jamieson: The Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) has inspected the following numbers of foreign flag vessels in each of the last five years.
| Year | Number of foreign flagged vessels inspected under Port State Control |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 1,980 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,801 |
| 2000–01 | 1,803 |
| 2001–02 | 1,765 |
| 2002–03 | 1,744 |
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the criteria will be for inspecting foreign flag vessels in UK ports when the port state control directive comes into force. [114837]
Mr. Jamieson: The UK will inspect foreign flag vessels in UK ports according to the criteria set out in the new Article 7 of EU Directive 2001/106/EC which comes into force on 22 July 2003. High risk ships posing the greatest threat to the safety of crew and passengers and to the environment will be targeted for inspection.
The target factor is determined by ship type, Flag, Classification Society, ship age, and previous inspection record. High risk ships, based on type and age, such as oil tankers over 15 years of age with a high target factor, will have a mandatory expanded inspection every 12 months. Any ship with a very high target factor and one month since last inspection will also have a mandatory inspection.
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