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24 Jun 2003 : Column 656W—continued
TRANSPORT
Air Travel (Security)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on security arrangements for international air travel. [120657]
Mr. McNulty: The UK initiated and has played a leading part in the development of the new EU Regulation on civil aviation security, and we continue to be very fully engaged with EU partners and the European Commission at all levels over international aviation security requirements and arrangements.
Cycling
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding (a) targets for increasing the volume of transport by bicycle and (b) attainment of those targets. [120906]
Dr. Howells: The Department receives regular representations about these issues from a broad range of cycling interests and we have set ourselves, as part of our Ten-Year Transport Plan, a target of trebling cycle trips by 2010 (based on 2000 figures).
Driver Training
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he plans to report on the results of the consultation on his Department's document "Introducing A More Structured Approach to Learning to Drive"; and if he will make a statement; [121074]
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- (2) how many submissions he received responding to his Department's consultation document "Introducing a More Structured Approach to Learning to Drive"; how many of those submissions included reference to advanced learning focused on driving safely on motorways; and if he will make a statement; [121075]
(3) what representations he has received regarding the inclusion of motorway driving lessons in a revised approach to learning to drive; and if he will make a statement. [121076]
Mr. Jamieson: We are currently considering all the views expressed in the 320 responses to this consultation document and will announce the way forward as soon as possible. The consultation included a section on motorway training. A summary of the responses to the consultation will be published at the same time as an announcement is made and will be sent to all those who contributed.
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drivers involved in motorway traffic accidents in the last five years (a) have not taken a motorway driving lesson and (b) have taken a motorway driving lesson since passing their driving test; and if he will make a statement. [121077]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is not available. However, on-going Departmental research is considering the training undertaken by learner and novice drivers, and details of their driving experience and accidents in the first three years after the driving test has been passed.
Euro Roadshow
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the events he plans to attend as part of the Government's euro roadshow. [121398]
Mr. McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer from the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, given to the right hon. and Learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) of 20 June 2003 , Official Report, columns 458–59W.
M42
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the widening of the M42. [121291]
Mr. Jamieson: We are considering proposals for widening the M42 alongside other proposals emerging from the multi-modal studies and expect to make a statement before the summer recess.
M6
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost to business in the last 12 months of congestion on the M6 motorway around Birmingham. [121112]
Mr. Jamieson: To obtain a measure of congestion—and the resultant costs—on individual motorway links consistent with most congestion indicators, it would be necessary to measure journey times and speeds as they vary hour-by-hour and day-by-day. Regular measurement of journey times at this level of detail has
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not been carried out in the past, mainly because of the extremely high costs that would be involved. However, the opening of the Traffic Control Centre next year will greatly improve our knowledge of traffic conditions and will lead to comprehensive information on journey times and speeds being made generally available to the travelling public.
Motorcycle Strategy
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on (a) the inclusion of powered two-wheelers in the development of an integrated transport policy and (b) the development of a national motorcycle strategy.[R] [121490]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government's White Paper on the future of transport recognised motorcycling has a role to play in an integrated transport policy. It stated that motorcycling can provide an alternative means of transport for many trips, bring benefits to the individual including widening employment opportunities, and may offer benefits for the environment and congestion. It advised local authorities to take account of the contribution motorcycling can make and to consider specific measures to assist motorcyclists.
However the White Paper also acknowledged that the role of motorcycling in an integrated transport policy raises some important and complex issues. We have therefore established an Advisory Group on Motorcycling to address these issues. The key workstreams should be completed during 2004, when we intend to determine a strategy for motorcycling.
Rail Safety
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on major improvements to the incidence of slips and trips on the national rail network since 2001. [121244]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 23 June 2003]: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE's) Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) works with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) the rail industry's own safety body, on a number of initiatives to reduce the risk of 'slip and trip' incidents.
The HSE advises that provisional figures for 2002–03 show that compared with 2001–02 there has been an overall reduction of 4 per cent. in the number of 'slip and trip' injuries reported to the HSE on Britain's rail network.
Rural Transport
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been made available to Lancashire county council to encourage new public transport provision in rural parts of the county. [120471]
Mr. McNulty: Lancashire received a total of £12.051 million for integrated transport measures as part of the 2003–4 transport settlement. Lancashire's Local Transport Plan includes a range of measures to enhance public transport provision in rural areas of the county. It is for Lancashire to spend the allocation in
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accordance with local priorities. £476,873 was allocated from the fifth round of the Rural Bus Challenge, Garstang Super 8 scheme.
Traffic Congestion (School Run)
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to deal with congestion caused by parents dropping their children off at schools in cars. [120456]
Mr. McNulty: We have asked local authorities to develop strategies for reducing car use on the journey to school as part of their local transport plans. We provide support through bursaries for local authorities to employ school travel plan co-ordinators, through a programme of free site specific advice from consultants, and through publication of best practice guides. We are currently working with colleagues in the Department for Education and Skills to explore new ways of tackling this issue.
CABINET OFFICE
Civil Servants
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many new entrants to the Civil Service were employed in the Office in each of the last five years; and how many in each year were aged 50 or over. [119811]
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Mr. Alexander: The figures for the Cabinet Office, based on headcount for the number of permanent staff, are as follows:
| 50+ | Other | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 14 | 76 | 90 |
| 1998–99 | 19 | 62 | 81 |
| 1999–2000 | 20 | 129 | 149 |
| 2000–01 | 28 | 149 | 177 |
| 2001–02 | 24 | 153 | 177 |
The figures shown in the following tables represent the data reported to Mandate during the years from 1997–98 to 2001–02, based on headcount, for the number of permanent staff in each department. The figures shown are the overall figures for Departments including any Departmental Agencies. The Tables will also be placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Mandate database consists of data collected electronically from Departments and agencies and covers about 98 per cent. of civil servants in Great Britain. Some Departments and agencies are unable to supply data to Mandate for technical reasons and provide summary data instead.
The figures are based on the Departments as they were after the structural changes made following the 2001 election.
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| 2000–01 | 2001–02 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50+ | Other | Total | 50+ | Other | Total | |
| COI | 8 | 59 | 67 | 3 | 53 | 56 |
| Security and Intelligence Services | 18 | 262 | 280 | 13 | 223 | 236 |
| DCMS | 6 | 46 | 52 | 3 | 50 | 53 |
| MOD | 1,307 | 6,159 | 7,466 | 1,157 | 5,050 | 6,207 |
| DfES | 44 | 462 | 506 | 36 | 323 | 359 |
| Ofsted | 15 | 80 | 95 | 69 | 347 | 416 |
| Defra | 132 | 1,110 | 1,242 | 79 | 857 | 936 |
| Home Office | 248 | 3,418 | 3,666 | 206 | 2,134 | 2,340 |
| Charity Commission | 5 | 67 | 72 | 5 | 55 | 60 |
| HM Prison Service | 296 | 2,179 | 2,475 | 357 | 2471 | 2,828 |
| DfID | 7 | 94 | 101 | 9 | 92 | 101 |
| Crown Prosecution Service | 18 | 260 | 278 | 70 | 907 | 977 |
| Legal Secretariat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Treasury Solicitors | 2 | 48 | 50 | 3 | 88 | 91 |
| LCD | 442 | 1,177 | 1,619 | 242 | 1,149 | 1,391 |
| HM Land Registry | 23 | 360 | 383 | 39 | 550 | 589 |
| Public Record Office | 11 | 83 | 94 | 9 | 87 | 96 |
| DTI | 110 | 666 | 776 | 112 | 843 | 955 |
| ACAS | 11 | 34 | 45 | 9 | 28 | 37 |
| ECGD | 1 | 45 | 46 | 3 | 18 | 21 |
| Office of Fair Trading | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OFGAS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OFER | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OFGEM | 4 | 49 | 53 | 2 | 51 | 53 |
| DTLR | 121 | 861 | 982 | 140 | 1,046 | 1,186 |
| Health and Safety Executive | 16 | 279 | 295 | 30 | 381 | 411 |
| OFWAT | 6 | 45 | 51 | 2 | 39 | 41 |
| OS | 13 | 125 | 138 | 5 | 104 | 109 |
| HM Treasury | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 55 | 59 |
| National Investment and Loans Office | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| OGC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Customs and Excise | 49 | 1,067 | 1,116 | 44 | 990 | 1,034 |
| GAD | 2 | 13 | 15 | 2 | 12 | 14 |
| Inland Revenue | 432 | 4,259 | 4,691 | 541 | 4,659 | 5,200 |
| DNS | 1 | 34 | 35 | 1 | 23 | 24 |
| ONS | 40 | 410 | 450 | 21 | 259 | 280 |
| Registry of Friendly Societies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Royal Mint | 2 | 74 | 76 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| DWP | 969 | 8,729 | 9,698 | 1,902 | 16,52 3 | 18,42 5 |
| Northern Ireland Office | 4 | 55 | 59 | 2 | 24 | 26 |
| Privy Council Office | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| Scottish Executive | 52 | 686 | 738 | 77 | 963 | 1,040 |
| Crown Office and PFS | 7 | 108 | 115 | 14 | 134 | 148 |
| General Register Office [Scotland] | 5 | 14 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| National Archive for Scotland | 5 | 15 | 20 | 1 | 15 | 16 |
| Office SOS for Scotland | 1 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 12 |
| Welsh Office | 44 | 354 | 398 | 33 | 195 | 228 |
| OHMCI | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 |
| Wales Office | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
24 Jun 2003 : Column 663W
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