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Decommissioning (American Ships)

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2003, Official Report, column 436W, on decommissioning (American ships), what steps he is taking to ensure further US ships follow the advice of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. [139949]

Mr. Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has approved passage plans for the ships in question and will do so in future transits of this kind, as well as monitor ship movements against the approved plans. Flexibility must be provided for legitimate and safe alterations to the precise routes followed when circumstances justify such amendments. The Secretary of State can intervene only if the ships are in UK waters. At that point, he may give a direction only if it is necessary for securing the safety of the ship, other ships, persons or property or for preventing or reducing significant pollution.

Departmental Expenditure (Official Residences)

Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department spent on (a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [134701]

Mr. McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. It does not have any residential properties used by Ministers. A small number of residential properties are used by officials—for example coastguards—as an essential part of their operational duties. Details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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Driving Licences

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 30 June 2003, Official Report, column 2W, on driving licences, if he will make a statement on the nature of the detailed research to ensure ease of completion of the driving licence application form; what process was used to undertake the research; what the results were; and what measures he has taken to implement its findings. [140355]

Mr. Jamieson: To improve customer service a new driving licence application form, fulfilling the functions of two previously separate forms, was introduced in May 2003. As part of its development research was conducted to assess the effectiveness and ease of use of the form and its accompanying information leaflet. Testing was supported by a specialist research organisation and the Plain English Campaign. DVLA 'road tested' the literature using a wide variety of suitable organisations in both the public and private sector, a cross section of members of the general public and, a selection of school children approaching driving age. Over 90 per cent. of participants found the form easy to complete. A number of suggestions from test subjects were also adopted helping to improve layout and content.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of meetings of the EU Committee for senior labour inspectors 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. [132727]

Mr. Pond: I have been asked to reply.

The Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC) met in Denmark from 5–7 November 2002

The meeting considered the following matters: progress with the SLIC Work Programme including progress with several working groups dealing with specific topics, the assessment of health and safety systems in EU and Applicant Countries, future co-operation with Applicant Countries and the role of SLIC in the future health and safety at work European strategy.

The Senior Labour Inspectors Committee met in Greece from 21–23 May 2003

The meeting approved the 2002 SLIC Annual Report and considered the following matters: all of the items listed for the Danish meeting, cross border enforcement of labour inspection matters and European Commission health and safety activities.

No preparatory meetings were held and no representative of the Scottish Executive attended either meeting.

M6 Toll

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the operators of the M6 toll will be required to contribute towards the policing costs of the road. [139996]

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Mr. Jamieson: Midland Expressway Limited will not be required to contribute towards the policing costs of the M6 Toll.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 13 November, Official Report, column 436W, on Decommissioning (American Ships), (a) for what reasons and (b) in what circumstances advice is given by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to vessels navigating United Kingdom waters; and in what circumstances the Agency can enforce its guidance. [139916]

Mr. Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has approved passage plans for the ships in question and will do so in future transits of this kind, as well as monitor ship movements against the approved plans. Flexibility must be provided for legitimate and safe alterations to the precise routes followed when circumstances justify such amendments. The Secretary of State can intervene only if the ships are in UK waters. At that point, he may give a direction only if it is necessary for securing the safety of the ship, other ships, persons or property or for preventing or reducing significant pollution.

Market Research

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on (a) opinion polling and (b) market research in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement. [139984]

Mr. McNulty: I shall write to the hon. Member placing a copy of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mobile Telephones

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines and advice he has issued to business employers on the ban on the use of mobile telephones while driving; and which business and employers' organisations received such information. [140148]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department has not issued guidelines and advice specifically for business employers. The Department has however e-mailed 1,000 large employers drawing their attention to the new regulations and to the Department's general advice and publicity materials, which are relevant to all road users.

That general advice is in the form of Frequently Asked Questions which is available on-line at http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_025216.hcsp.

That includes a specific question and answer that is relevant to employers.

National Travel Survey

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Bath of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 72W,

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on the National Travel Survey, if he will break down the information provided by household income quintile. [139791]

Mr. McNulty: A summary of the information will be placed in the Libraries of the House. The sample sizes of the National Travel Survey are too small to provide a full breakdown at the requested level of detail.

Off-road Cycleways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of off-road cycleways there are in each county in England; and what the projected increase in off-road cycleways is over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years for each county in England. [140361]

Mr. Jamieson: Information about the lengths of off-road cycle tracks away from the road is not held centrally.

We are encouraging all local highway authorities to increase the provision of cycle facilities both on and off the road through their Local Transport Plans and monitoring their progress through the English Regional Cycling Development Team.

Overflight Restrictions (Germany)

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made by his Department to (a) the German Government, (b) the European Commission and (c) the Council of Ministers in relation to the recent decision by the German Government to impose overflight restrictions into Zurich airport; and what assessment he has made of its effect on (i) British interests and (ii) bilateral British-Swiss trade and investment. [140103]

Mr. McNulty: The Department has made no such representations. The German decision is the subject of a complaint by the Swiss Government to the European Commission, which may be followed by an application to the European Court of Justice. We are currently assessing possible effects of the overflight restrictions on UK interests.

Pilotage

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is informed when pilot services are offered to vessels about to navigate United Kingdom waters. [139917]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department is not informed when pilot services are offered to vessels about to navigate United Kingdom waters.

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules govern pilotage in United Kingdom waters. [139918]

Mr. Jamieson: Pilotage in United Kingdom waters is governed by the Pilotage Act 1987. The Act places a duty on Competent Harbour Authorities to keep under consideration whether any, and if so what, pilotage services need to be provided to secure the safety of ships navigating in or in the approaches to its harbour. Ships

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navigating in UK waters outside the jurisdiction of a competent harbour authority are not subject to pilotage.

Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what liaison took place between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and their French counterparts concerning the route taken by the US ships (a) Canister and (b) Caloosahatchee through the English Channel. [139998]

Mr. Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency agreed the passage plan for these ships in consultation with the French maritime authorities, who were kept up to date throughout the ships' transit.

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