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11 Feb 2004 : Column 1454W—continued
Speed Cameras
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there were in Wales in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) police force, (b) constituency, (c) safety camera partnership and (d) local authority area. [151748]
Mr. Jamieson: We do not hold information centrally for camera operations other than those operated within the Safety Camera Partnerships. The figures from the South and Central Wales safety camera partnership, which joined the scheme from April 2000 and the North Wales partnership, which joined the scheme in October 2001, are as follows.
| 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Wales (7) | (8)— | 28 | 45 | 66 |
| South and Central Wales (9) | 33 | 80 | 313 | 357 |
(7) Covers the North Wales police authority area
(8) Prior to joining the safety camera programme
(9) In 2000–01 and 2001–02, covered the South Wales police authority area; from 2002/03, joined by Gwent and Dyfed and Powys police force areas
Notes:
1. For 2003–04 the number of sites shown are those approved in the operational cases for 2003–04, not all of which may yet be operational.
2. These figures exclude red traffic-light cameras.
3. Police authorities also have operational discretion to deploy cameras exceptionally at other locations, including "community concern sites", where there is evidence of speeding causing concern to local residents.
We do not record this information specifically by police force, constituency or local authority area.
Uninsured Vehicles
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed or seriously injured in accidents involving uninsured cars in the last year for which figures are available. [153939]
Mr. Jamieson: Information on the number of people killed or seriously injured in accidents involving uninsured vehicles is not held by my Department.
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Data on accidents collected centrally in the Home Office do not identify the circumstances surrounding the offence.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the average additional cost to car insurance premiums resulting from damage from uninsured vehicles involved in accidents. [154101]
Mr. Jamieson: The Motor Insurers' Bureau estimates that the average cost to each motorist's insurance premium as a result of uninsured drivers involved in accidents is between £15 and £30.
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on (a) the provision of loans and grants to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and (b) the maximum annual percentage uplift by which the agency may increase its fees and charges. [153203]
Mr. Jamieson: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), as a Trading Fund, may receive loans or grants to accomplish its objectives that are agreed with the Department. Fees and charges are set periodically, based on the costs and commitments in undertaking functions.
There is no maximum ceiling for the VOSA's annual fee increases, but all proposals are subject to a thorough series of consultations and submissions both with the Driver, Vehicle and Operator group, the Department for Transport, Ministers and the Trade before any increase in fee levels is agreed. Ministers have to approve all fee increases to be included in Statutory Instruments (SI) and have to sign SIs prior to them being presented to Parliament.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency's contribution to the improvement of road safety and environmental standards and (b) failure rates on checks and tests of (i) heavy goods vehicles, (ii) public service vehicles and (iii) light goods vehicles reported in the Vehicle Inspectorate's Effectiveness Report for 2002–03; and what targets he has set for these checks and tests for 2003–04 to 2005–06. [153205]
Mr. Jamieson: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency's contribution to road safety and environmental standards is made through its range of licensing, testing (including emissions testing), enforcement, education and training services, and through its supervision of MOT testing. Fleet compliance checks are carried out regularly to assess the base-line condition of vehicles and to compare them against our targeted checks. Failure rates at annual test for heavy goods vehicles, public service vehicles and light goods vehicles remain unsatisfactory. Slightly higher fail rates for heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles in 2002–03 over previous years is mainly due to a new item in the test.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency is increasingly targeting bad practice among operators and owners of vehicles through improved knowledge and intelligence systems. The responsibility for test
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failure rates lies with operators and owners, and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has not been set specific targets. The Agency has been set effectiveness improvement objectives for its enforcement activities during 2003–04. Enforcement effectiveness is measured by Performance Gain points, and the Agency is to achieve at least a 2 per cent. improvement across all its activities, including for enforcement of HGV and PSV roadworthiness and environmental standards. No objectives have yet been set for enforcement effectiveness in 2004–05 or 2005–06.
Performance Gain is an agreed indicator of the outcome value in road safety compliance terms of each of VOSA's specific enforcement activities and has been operating for several years during which annual performance objectives have been met.
Vehicle Excise Duty
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to ensure that the owners of untaxed illegal foreign cars are traced and brought into the United Kingdom car tax regime; and if he will make a statement. [153431]
Mr. Jamieson: A vehicle which is registered and taxed in its home country may be used by a visitor to Great Britain for up to six months in 12 without being subject to domestic requirements. To qualify for this exemption the visitor must have their normal residence outside GB.
If at any time a vehicle being used in Great Britain on foreign plates is stopped by the police, it is the responsibility of the keeper to demonstrate that they are eligible to use the vehicle without licensing and registering it here. If they are not eligible, enforcement action will be taken.
DEFENCE
Apache Helicopters
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects the training facilities for Apache helicopter pilots to be available; [153973]
- (2) for what reasons training equipment is not available to train Apache helicopter pilots; [153975]
(3) when he expects there to be sufficient trained helicopter pilots available to enable the helicopters at RAF Shawbury to be put into front line service. [153976]
Mr. Ingram: Training facilities for Apache helicopter pilots are already available and being utilised. The Army expects to achieve Initial Operating Capability in August 2004 and a task force capability based on nine Regiment Army Air Corps during spring 2005. The numbers of aircraft in storage will diminish progressively from mid 2004 through to autumn 2005.
Benefit Fraud
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed,
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(d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what amounts were involved in each case. [153208]
Mr. Caplin: The Ministry of Defence does not hold this information.
Civil Contingency Reaction Force
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many Civil Contingency Reaction Forces (CCRF) reservists are allocated to each of the regional CCRF units; and if he will make a statement; [153282]
- (2) how many training days members of Civil Contingency Reaction Forces undergo; what is covered at each training day; and if he will make a statement. [153283]
Mr. Ingram: 500 Civil Contingency Reaction Force (CCRF) reservists are allocated to each of the 14 regional CCRF units. Members of the CCRF receive five days training per year, in addition to their normal reservist training. The additional days are used to ensure familiarisation and integration with the local authorities and the emergency services. They also ensure that the procedures for mobilisation are well practised. This is achieved through practical exercises and study periods and is completed in the context of the normal training regime, which covers areas such as First Aid, Fitness, Nuclear Biological and Chemical drills, map reading and communications.
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