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19 Nov 2003 : Column 921W—continued
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) received on alternative designs for the layout of aeroplane cabins to minimise the risk of deep vein thrombosis. [138979]
Mr. McNulty: The Government has neither commissioned nor received any such studies. Following the House of Lords Report on air travel and health, the Government is co-funding research through the World Health Organisation into the incidence and possible causes of deep vein thrombosis amongst air travellers.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of deep vein thrombosis in passengers on aeroplanes there were in each of the last 12 months. [139608]
Mr. McNulty: This data is not collated centrally. Such data would be difficult to obtain as any passenger developing thrombosis is usually likely to do so a number of days or weeks after the flight has taken place.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued to airline companies on informing passengers on (a) the risk of deep vein thrombosis and (b) drinking water during the flight to reduce the risk of DVT. [139694]
Mr. McNulty: In 2001 the Government issued advice on deep vein thrombosis and air travel. It identified groups of people with a higher risk of DVT and provided guidance on measures to reduce the risk, including a recommendation that passengers should drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. All UK airlines operating long-haul flights have based the information they give to passengers on this advice.
Website
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139371]
Mr. McNulty: The DfT web site, re-launched in July 2003, was developed to provide improved design, navigation and information retrieval. Following the launch of the site, we carried out an internal content review over the summer and commissioned a survey of
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external users designed by NOP. Further changes to improve customer focus are planned as a result of these exercises.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints were received by (a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (b) his Department and (c) other bodies about the process by which licence applications are processed by the DVLA, broken down by the nature of each complaint, in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04 to date. [139728]
Mr. Jamieson: The following table provides information about formal complaints received directly by DVLA about the driving licence application process. Figures are not available on complaints received by other bodies.
| Complaints category | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04(3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving licence applications | |||
| Non-receipt of a driving licence | 57 | 86 | 52 |
| Other driving licence complaints | 367 | 457 | 278 |
| Drivers medical complaint | 129 | 141 | 214 |
| Documents lost at DVLA | 92 | 120 | 96 |
| Processing time | 24 | 32 | 34 |
| Processing procedures | 189 | 211 | 156 |
| DVLA forms | 85 | 96 | 18 |
| Total | 943 | 1,143 | 848 |
(3) April to October
Environmental Impact Assessments
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has incorporated Directive 85/337/EEC on environmental impact assessment into its consideration of the future development of air transport in the UK. [138840]
Mr. McNulty: Directive 85/337/EEC makes it clear that environmental impact assessment is a matter for developers, as part of the procedure for seeking consent to any development. That said, we believe our strategic appraisal of airport options is consistent with the aims of the Directive.
Environmentally Sustainable Aviation
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce an environmentally sustainable aviation policy; and if he will make a statement. [138876]
Mr. McNulty: The Air Transport White Paper will be published before the end of the year and will address the issue of environmental sustainability in the context of aviation policy.
EU Committees
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the EC-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Joint Transport Committee met during the Danish and Greek presidencies. [132682]
Mr. McNulty: This information is not centrally available.
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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the EU Advisory Committee on transport met during the Danish and Greek presidencies; and if he will make a statement. [132719]
Mr. McNulty: This information is not centrally available.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of meetings of (a) the EU Committee for the establishment of conditions for the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system, (b) the EU Committee on the System of Charging for the Use of Transport Infrastructure and (c) the EU Advisory Committee on unfair pricing in maritime transport during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present on each occasion; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present at each preparatory meeting; and if he will make a statement. [132723]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is as follows:
- (a) During the period in question, there were four meetings of this Committee, on 3 July 2002, 30 September-1 October 2002, 4 February 2003, and 23–24 June 2003. The UK is represented on this Committee by the Strategic Rail Authority. The Committee is primarily responsible for assisting and overseeing the production, adoption and revision of Technical Standards of Interoperability. The purpose of these specifications is to technically harmonise the European railway supply market. The committee oversees the development of these TSIs for both the High Speed (96/48/EC) and the Conventional Interoperability (2001/16/EC) Directives. During the specified period, the Committee discussed principles for the drafting groups to adhere to in writing the TSIs and monitored the progress being made on the production of these TSIs. It also considered the cost-benefit analyses (including methodology) that accompany the TSIs and the co-ordination of notified bodies (organisations appointed in Europe to verify compliance with TSIs).
(b) This Committee did not meet during the period in question.
(c) UK involvement in this Committee is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.
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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) the EC-Bulgaria Joint Transport Committee, (b) the EEC-Slovenia Joint Transport Committee and (c) the EC-Romania Joint Transport Committee met during the Danish and Greek presidencies. [132728]
Mr. McNulty: This information is not centrally available.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates and locations of meetings of (a) the EU Advisory Committee on the definition and use of compatible technical and operating standards and specifications for the procurement of air-traffic management equipment and systems, (b) the EU Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions in the shipping industry and (c) the EU Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions in air transport during the Danish and Greek presidencies; what items were on each agenda; what representative of the Scottish Executive was present on each occasion; what preparatory meetings were held for each meeting; which officials were present at each preparatory meeting; and if he will make a statement. [132731]
Mr. McNulty: The information requested is as follows.
(a) This Committee did not meet during the period in question.
(b) and (c) UK involvement in these Committees is not the responsibility of the Department for Transport.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) the EC-Czech Republic Joint Transport Committee, (b) the EC-Slovak Republic Joint Transport Committee, (c) the EC-Hungary Joint Transport Committee and (d) the EC-Poland Joint Transport Committee met during the Danish and Greek Presidencies; and if he will make a statement. [132761]
Mr. McNulty: This information is not centrally available.
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