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Speed Cameras
13. Tony Wright (Cannock Chase) (Lab): What assessment he has made of the casualty reduction associated with speed cameras. [152283]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. David Jamieson): On 11 February 2003, my Department published an independently produced evaluation report of the two-year trial of the safety camera cost recovery system. That showed a 35 per cent. reduction in those killed or seriously injured at camera sites, equating to some 280 people, and a 4 per cent. reduction in those killed and seriously injured across the pilot areas, equating to some 530 people. The report of the scheme's third year of operation will be published shortly.
Tony Wright : I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. He mentioned a figure of 35 per cent., but he will know that in Staffordshire the figure is 65 per cent., which is an extraordinary achievement in reducing the numbers of people killed or injured. I remind those people who think that cameras are a great infringement of human liberties that lives are being saved.
Mr. Jamieson: I congratulate the Staffordshire partnership on its success, which is way above average. For example, my hon. Friend will know the A460. In the three years before a camera was introduced on that road, five people were killed or seriously injured: in the three years since, nobody has been killed or seriously injured. I commend the partnership on the work that it does and we look forward to further success in the future.
Mr. Andrew Mackay (Bracknell) (Con): As someone who shares the view of the majority of motorists that all too often speed cameras are introduced to increase revenue rather than to improve safety, I have a specific example, as requested by the Secretary of State. I would appreciate the Minister's comments on the speed camera on the dual carriageway in and out of Heathrow airport, which is completely safe. The camera is unnecessary and must be there purely for revenue purposes, and that is a bad example to show to people who have just entered the country.
Mr. Jamieson: As with all fines, the revenue comes back to the Government, except in the case of cameras
run by a partnership, where a large proportion of the money goes into keeping the cameras running and to the police. That money supplants what the police would have used to support the cameras in any case. The Heathrow area is sensitive and sometimes congested. People may be fatigued after flights—[Interruption.] If the right hon. Gentleman would stop chuntering and listen for a moment, it would help. The area is especially sensitive and I hope that the right hon. Gentleman would not condone people breaking the law and using excess speed in that area.West Coast Main Line
15. Ms Sally Keeble (Northampton, North) (Lab): What consultation will be carried out with rail user groups on the new timetables for services using the west coast main line. [152285]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tony McNulty): The Strategic Rail Authority aims this month to provide detailed timetable proposals for comment. Consultees will include rail user groups such as the Northampton rail user group.
Ms Keeble : I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. The Northampton rail user group, which I chair, looks forward to receiving the timetable proposals. Will he ensure that all the rail user groups receive copies, because—at a difficult time, with work being done and much concern about timetables—it is important that those with an interest in the success of the industry have a chance to see and comment on the proposed timetables?
Mr. McNulty: I fully accept the points that my hon. Friend makes and I know that she has worked keenly with the SRA and the Northampton rail user group to ensure reform. The consultation meeting with that rail user group will be held in the Guildhall later this month, and I will ensure that my hon. Friend's comments are passed on to the SRA.
Mr. Peter Pike (Burnley) (Lab): Does my hon. Friend agree that when the users of the west coast main line are consulted on the timetable, it will be important to take into account links with local services at stations such as Preston, which feed the west coast main line?
Mr. McNulty: The timetables that emerge will be rooted in the overall strategy for the west coast main line, and part of that strategy includes how local services interface with the main line. However, I will ensure that my hon. Friend's comments are passed on to the SRA in terms.
Bus Regulation
17. Andy Burnham (Leigh) (Lab): If he will make a statement on the regulation of bus services. [152287]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Tony McNulty): While we have no plans for major changes to the regulatory system for buses, we
continue to consider key aspects of the regime established by the Transport Act 2000 and will report shortly, especially on issues such as quality contracts.
Andy Burnham : I am grateful for that reply. Bus services are vital to my constituents because, as I may have said once or twice before, Leigh is the largest town in the UK without a railway station. The current regime does not serve my constituents well, especially elderly people who do not have access to private transport. Recently, a bus service between Leigh and Warrington was unilaterally withdrawn, at very short notice. I urge my hon. Friend to give serious consideration to representations made by Greater Manchester passenger transport authority and others for a more effective regulatory regime that better protects the travelling public.
Mr. McNulty: As I have said, we are keeping these matters under constant review. Many local authorities have not perhaps explored as fully as they might the total breadth and depth of the regulatory regime in the Transport Act 2000. We shall shortly examine the issue of quality contracts and how they prevail under the system. My hon. Friend's observations are not unique to Leigh or to the north-west, but if he considers all that we have recently reported on—such as the urban bus challenge, the rural bus challenge and the local transport plan settlement, which was reached just before Christmas—he will see that for this Government, the bus is absolutely central to an integrated transport system.
CABINET OFFICE
The Minister was asked—
Alcohol Consumption
21. David Taylor (North-West Leicestershire) (Lab/Co-op): What work the strategy unit has carried out on the social aspects of alcohol consumption. [152263]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Douglas Alexander): The Prime Minister's strategy unit published an interim analytical report on the harms associated with alcohol misuse on 19 September last year. The findings of the report are being used to inform the development of the Government's alcohol harm reduction strategy, which will be published shortly.
David Taylor : Given that the recent youth lifestyles survey revealed that only one in three under 18-year-olds who try to buy alcohol is refused, and that in 2002 just 162 people were convicted or cautioned in respect of under-age sales, should not our national alcohol harm reduction strategy involve a more rigorous approach to law enforcement and the provision of more alcohol-free places in which younger teenagers can enjoy themselves? I am thinking, for example, of the Hub, in Ashby de la Zouch, of which I am a patron. It was officially opened last Friday and it would benefit from a ministerial visit.
Mr. Alexander: I shall certainly bear in mind that invitation and pass it on directly to the sponsor Minister
who is developing this project. My hon. Friend raises a very important point. One reason why we wanted to undertake this study is the correlation between alcohol use and violent crime; indeed, criminal justice is one of the areas that are being explored. The study has not been published so I cannot go into detail, but I can assure my hon. Friend that it will address education and communication—issues of particular interest to younger people—health and treatment, supply and pricing, delivery, and the issues of community safety and criminal justice that he raises.
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York) (Con): Will the Minister undertake to place a copy of the study in the House of Commons Library once it is published, and will he consider authorising a similar study on the social aspects of cannabis use and its potential for causing road accidents?
Mr. Alexander: Of course the study will be published, and I shall pass on the hon. Lady's views directly to the Minister in charge of sponsoring it. Consideration will be given to what studies should be undertaken by the strategy unit in due course, but I have certainly noted the point that the hon. Lady raises.
Public Appointments
22. Mr. Wayne David (Caerphilly) (Lab): What action the Government are taking to ensure there are more people from the ethnic minorities appointed to public bodies. [152264]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Douglas Alexander): This Government are committed to achieving greater diversity in public appointments. As of 31 March 2003, people from ethnic minorities held 5.3 per cent. of appointments—an increase from the 3.6 per cent. figure of 1997. Individual Departments have developed action plans to ensure that even more progress is made in this important area.
Mr. David : I thank the Minister for his reply, but can he tell the House to what extent the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, which gives authorities a new statutory duty to promote race equality, is assisting the work of his Department and of other public bodies?
Mr. Alexander: My hon. Friend's point about the 2000 Act is an important one. It came about as a result of a very important public inquiry into racism affecting a group across society. In that sense, the legislation is already forming a key part of the thinking not just of one Government Department—my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has made a recent announcement in this regard—but of a range of Departments, including the Cabinet Office.
Mr. Richard Allan (Sheffield, Hallam) (LD): The Government deserve some credit for the progress made since the 2000 report, "Quangos: Opening up Public Appointments", but does the Minister recognise that there are still some very weak Departments, particularly the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs, and the Ministry of Defence? Can he say whether progress has been made on including tribunals in the diversity programme that he oversees?
Mr. Alexander: There are certain restrictions—age restrictions, for example—for tribunals, which do not apply to other public bodies. However, I acknowledge the point that Departments are at different stages in moving forward the diversity agendas and I am happy to communicate the points raised today and ensure that the hon. Member receives a direct reply.
Brian White (Milton Keynes, North-East) (Lab): The Minister will be aware that the Public Administration Committee's report suggested innovative ways of appointing people to various bodies. Will he assure the House that Departments will examine those innovative ways forward rather than carry on appointing in the same old way?
Mr. Alexander: I understand my hon. Friend's point about the Publication Administration Committee's report "Government by Appointment", which was published on 10 July 2003. The Government responded to the proposals on 17 December last year, but I understand that only this morning the Chairman of the Select Committee made further comment, so these matters continue to be a feature of public debate.
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