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17 Jul 2003 : Column 610W—continued
Information Technology
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what major IT projects with a value in excess of £10,000 he authorised expenditure on in each of the last three financial years. [125721]
Mr. McNulty: The Department was formed on 29 May 2002. The information is as follows:
The word "authorised" has been interpreted to mean projects with an approved business case.
In some areas of the Department the thresholds for major IT projects are significantly higher than £10,000. Projects below this threshold will have been locally funded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
IT Contracts
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many outsourced IT contracts have been signed by his Department in each year since 1997; how much each of these contracts is worth; with whom they are signed; how many have been renegotiated; how many are still in place; and if he will make a statement. [126195]
Mr. McNulty: Since 1997, the Department for Transport has signed nine outsourced IT contracts, with a total value of £637 million. These contracts were let with:
Two of these contracts have been renegotiated; seven are still in place.
London Underground
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 2 July 2003, Official Report, column 270W, on underground (masks), how many drivers on the London Underground have asthma; what research has been undertaken on the effect of tunnel dust on those drivers who suffer from asthma; and if he will make a statement. [125376]
Mr. McNulty: This is an operational matter for London Underground.
Marine Environment
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what environmental safeguards have been put in place to protect the marine environment from damage due to incidents involving uncrewed ships being transported from the United States to the UK to be broken up; what notification he has received of proposals to bring ships to the UK for this purpose; and what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on this issue. [125803]
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Mr. Jamieson: The UK has had no notification of this proposal but is aware of articles in the press. Officials in the Department for Transport and the Scottish Executive have considered the implications but understand, however, that commercial arrangements for this towage have yet to be confirmed.
If such proposals mature there are conditions that the UK will insist upon to mitigate risks of operations. The passage of such ships under tow would be the object of a risk assessment, with particular regard to the towing vessel suitability and capacity, the type of towage gear and the dimensions and nature of the object to be towed.
In that event the MCA would insist that international requirements were adhered to. They would include interim conditional load line certification and towage certification, linked to classification society and insurance requirements. All would be a clear requirement on the operator before the tow was allowed into the UK Pollution Control Zone (UKPCZ).
Such an assessment would include likely risk of significant pollution. Ships or tows with significant risk would not be allowed in a UKPCZ and the UK has powers to restrict or ban such movements, through intervention.
Ministerial Meetings
Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved administrations about concessionary travel schemes; [126517]
(2) how often he met his counterparts in the devolved administrations in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [126519]
Mr. McNulty: Ministers meet their counterparts from time to time to discuss a range of issues.
Ministerial Travel
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions (a) he and (b) each of his ministerial colleagues has used (i) the railways and (ii) a ministerial car in association with official ministerial duties since their appointment. [126819]
Mr. McNulty: Arrangements for official travel are made in line with guidance set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code and the accompanying guidance document travel by Ministers, using the most efficient and cost-effective mode of transport, and bearing in mind security considerations.
An initial check of the diaries show that Ministers have used (i) the railways 34 times and (ii) ministerial cars 13 times in association with ministerial duties outside London in the period since being appointed.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) he and (b) each of his ministerial colleagues next plan to use the railways in association with official ministerial duties. [126820]
Mr. McNulty:
Ministers travel by rail on a regular basis in the course of their official duties and will continue to do so.
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Mobile Phone Masts
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many planning applications have been made to site mobile telecommunications masts on land owned by the Department. [124807]
Mr. McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mobile Phones
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was to his Department of mobile phones supplied to Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [123143]
Mr. McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Motorway Accidents
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 9 July 2003, Official Report, column 805W, on motorway accidents, how many of these accidents resulted in the death of a driver or passenger. [126931]
Mr. Jamieson: The numbers of accidents on UK motorways during the hours of darkness which resulted in the death of a driver or passenger in each year since 1997 are shown as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 69 |
| 1998 | 69 |
| 1999 | 76 |
| 2000 | 64 |
| 2001 | 71 |
| 2002 | 72 |
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