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8 Sept 2003 : Column 272W—continued

Work Force Development Confederations

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to Workforce Development Confederations on staff training on the (a) recognition and (b) response to autism spectrum disorders. [127853]

Dr. Ladyman: We have not issued specific advice on autism to national health service workforce confederations. However, the learning disability White Paper, "Valuing People", points out the need for local NHS workforce confederations to take account of workforce requirements in learning disability, which often occurs in association with autism.

"Valuing People" also requires learning disability partnership boards to develop local workforce and training plans. Local bodies with interests in staff training should be aware of the learning disability awards framework, which contains two vocational qualifications—a level 2 certificate and a level 3 certificate in working with people with learning

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disabilities, both of which include a module about autism. These modules cover both recognising and responding to autistic spectrum disorders.

Working Time Directive

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that casualty departments are adequately staffed after the implementation of the European Working Time Directive. [128214]

Mr. Hutton: The Department has issued guidance on implementing the Working Time Directive (WTD), HSC 2003/001, "Protecting Staff, Delivering Services, Implementing the European Working Time Directive for Doctors in Training", and also on configuration of services, "Keeping the NHS local". Together, these emphasise the importance of innovative solutions to maintain local access to services while achieving compliance with the WTD. This is a local national health service responsibility, supported by the 7.4 per cent. per annum real term increase in funding over the next five years.

To assist trusts in meeting the WTD and to support increases in consultant numbers the Department has increased significantly the number of specialist registrar (SpR) training opportunities, including 80 in accident and emergency. I announced on 17 July 2003 that postgraduate deans will be instructed to give priority to hospitals facing WTD challenges when considering the allocation of 1,500 additional locally funded SpR training opportunities available this year. This will ensure that training posts are focused on those hospitals under the greatest pressure in complying with the WTD. Further training posts will also be approved where this can help trusts with compliance.

Successful implementation of the WTD will mean staff working differently. A programme of 19 pilot projects has been set up to develop and test innovative solutions to implementing the WTD. The "Hospital at Night" pilot project utilises a central multi disciplinary emergency team to provide cover across the hospital at night.

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with doctors' representatives regarding the implementation of the European Working Time Directive. [128215]

Mr. Hutton: The Department regularly discusses Working Time Directive (WTD) implementation with representatives of the medical profession both formally and informally. A WTD) implementation with representatives of the medical profession both formally and informally. A WTD expert group meets regularly with members from several medical Royal Colleges, the joint consultants committee, the British Medical Association junior doctors committee and the Department of Health.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Royal College of Physicians report on the Working Time Directive. [127709]

Mr. Hutton: The Department is committed to working with the Royal College of Physicians and other bodies to achieve compliance with the European

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Working Time Directive (EWTD). To assist trusts in meeting the EWTD and to support increases in consultant numbers, the Department has increased significantly the number of specialist registrar (SpR) training opportunities.

I announced on 17 July 2003 that postgraduate deans will be instructed to give priority to hospitals facing EWTD challenges when considering the allocation of 1,500 additional locally funded SpR training opportunities available this year. This will ensure that training posts are focused on those hospitals under the greatest pressure in complying with the EWTD. Further training posts will also be approved where this can help trusts with compliance.

TRANSPORT

Blue Badge Scheme

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the action he intends to take in respect of each of the recommendations from the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee on the future of the Blue Badge Scheme; and if he will make a statement; [127981]

Mr. McNulty: As my colleague the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson) announced on 18 December 2002 a summary of our responses to each of DPTAC's recommendations has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

We will be taking forward the majority of the recommendations through changes to primary and secondary legislation, research and in new guidance to local authorities on the scheme. As we progress our work we will be consulting and involving major disability organisations, many of which act as umbrella organisations representing people with a range of disabilities. Copies of consultation material will additionally be made available to any individual or group who requests it.

We are pursuing a suitable legislative slot for those changes requiring primary legislation. In the meantime we have begun work on those recommendations which require changes to secondary legislation and will also be embarking on a number of research projects over the next few months. The new guidance, which will cover all aspects of the scheme will be issued when changes have been introduced.

The Department's publication, "The Blue Badge Scheme: Parking concessions for disabled and blind people" will be amended to reflect those changes and will be issued in tandem with the guidance.

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Timing for introduction of the changes will be subject to the outcome of the research, consultations and the parliamentary process as appropriate. I am not able at this stage to give a firm timetable, but would reassure my hon. and learned Friend that we are firmly committed to introducing the changes at the earliest possible opportunity.

Bus Services (Merseyside)

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change in (a) the number of passenger journeys and (b) passenger mileage has been on supported bus services in Merseyside from 2000–01 to 2002–03. [128582]

Mr. McNulty: The Department does not collect information on the number of passenger journeys on supported services or passenger mileage on those services in Merseyside.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age of buses in Merseyside is; and whether there has been a change in the average age of buses in Merseyside over the last two years. [128583]

Mr. McNulty: DVLA records for Public Service Vehicles registered in Merseyside showed an average age of 8.4 years in 2000. The average age was 8.7 years in 2002.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many CCTVs are in use on supported buses in Merseyside. [128584]

Mr. McNulty: The Department does not collect information on the number of CCTV cameras or recording equipment fitted to buses.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many low floor wheelchair accessible vehicles are used on supported services in (a) Merseyside and (b) Sefton. [128585]

Mr. McNulty: Merseytravel advise that all the vehicles used on their supported services are low floor and wheelchair accessible. This equates to approximately 270 vehicles across the county of Merseyside, of which approximately 60 are used on routes which, at some point, pass through the district of Sefton.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the rate of (a) punctuality and (b) reliability of Merseyside supported bus services was in the last year for which figures are available. [128586]

Mr. McNulty: The Department does not collect information on bus punctuality. Bus reliability is measured in a quarterly survey through a panel of large bus operators, but was not designed to show reliability in each Passenger Transport Authority area or to distinguish the reliability of supported bus services from the reliability of commercial bus services.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to reduce environmentally harmful emissions from supported bus services in Merseyside. [128587]

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Mr. McNulty: The Government's measures to promote the shift to environmentally clean low-carbon vehicles and fuels include the 'TransportEnergy' programmes, which include financial support for bus and other transport operators to purchase or convert to cleaner fuels or vehicle technology.

TransportEnergy has supported the purchase of four CNG (compressed natural gas) buses and the retrofitting of 80 buses with pollution reduction devices by the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive.

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