| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
8 Mar 2004 : Column 1242W—continued
Post Buses
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Government financial support is available to post buses. [159032]
Mr. McNulty: Local authorities are able to use the Department's Rural Bus Subsidy Grant to support post bus services. These services may also be eligible to claim Bus Service Operator's Grant from the Department. Post bus projects have been awarded funding under our Rural Bus Challenge competition. I understand that the Countryside Agency has also provided funding to support post buses. In addition of course local authorities may use resources from the Revenue Support Grant for this purpose.
Rail Services (Gloucester)
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the viability of a new railway station in Gloucester. [159792]
8 Mar 2004 : Column 1243W
Mr. McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority is looking into the business case for and operational implications of a new parkway station near Gloucester. A report on the work is due to be completed shortly.
Recovery Vehicles
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government have taken to give accredited recovery vehicles (a) higher priority in congested traffic and (b) permission to run on the hard shoulder as set out at paragraph 3.143, of the White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone". [159409]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 5 March 2004]: Following discussion between the emergency services, officials from the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency and representatives of vehicle rescue and recovery operators, in November 2003 the Association of Chief Police Officers produced agreed guidance on use of the hard shoulder. The guidance makes clear that general use of the hard shoulder by recovery vehicles would not be appropriate where traffic is free flowing or where congestion has been caused by an unplanned incident. Where the latter has occurred, priority must be given to the emergency services. However, it identified certain circumstances where recovery services could be permitted to use the hard shoulder, for example where drivers or passengers of broken down vehicles are considered to be at risk and traffic is stationary or very slow moving for an extended period. Authority for such use is granted on a case by case basis by the police.
Road Accidents
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries there have been in road accidents in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough in each of the last five years. [158660]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
8 Mar 2004 : Column 1245W
Road Safety
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents took place in 2003 where interference by children distracting bus drivers was a contributory factor to the accidents. [159033]
Mr. Jamieson: This information is not available.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities use pre-wetted salt when road salting, broken down by Highways Agency area. [159345]
Mr. Jamieson: This information is not collated centrally. Local authorities decide upon their de-icing techniques and the materials they will use in the light of local climatic conditions and the nature of their highway network.
Shipping
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) UK and (b) foreign ships failed port side inspections in the UK in each of the last five years; and how many people have been employed to undertake port side inspections in each of the last five years. [158949]
Mr. Jamieson: The number of ships which failed port side inspections in each of the last 5 years was as follows.
8 Mar 2004 : Column 1246W
(a) UK inspections of UK and other Red Ensign Group flagged ships:
| Number of ships Detained | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 12 |
| 1999–2000 | 13 |
| 2000–01 | 4 |
| 2001–02 | 11 |
| 2002–03 | 4 |
(b) Port state control inspections of foreign ships:
| Number of ships Detained | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 155 |
| 1999–2000 | 106 |
| 2000–01 | 116 |
| 2001–02 | 118 |
| 2002–03 | 132 |
Specific information about those employed for ship inspection work was collected from 1999. Since then the number of people employed to undertake port side inspections each year was as follows:
| Staff compliment | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 94 |
| 2000–01 | 94 |
| 2001–02 | 101 |
| 2002–03 | 102 |
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to protect UK merchant ships from piracy and armed attacks. [158950]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department has taken the following actions in recent years to counter piracy, and to raise awareness among the international community.
- Ensured that the topic is covered in the bi-annual meetings of the UK National Maritime Security Committee. This provides a forum for senior staff in the UK maritime industry and trade associations to consider action to tackle the problem.
- Participated in several IMO regional Missions and Seminars, presenting UK government actions and chairing working groups and syndicates. These seminars have played an important role in raising awareness of the incidence and impact of piracy and armed robbery at sea. Often the work is to make the regions where the "pirates" are based accept that there is a problem.
- Jointly, with the FCO, provided the UK financial support for the IMO programme of Missions and Seminars, including funding the participation of two Metropolitan police officers with expertise in investigating acts of piracy.
- Jointly, with the Metropolitan police, prepared an IMO draft Code of Practice on the investigation of acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea. DfT Chaired the IMO Correspondence and Drafting Groups and the Code has now been issued as an IMO circular (MSC Circular 984) and this was adopted at the MO General Assembly in November 2001.
- DfT has also produced an IMO draft paper on the problem of "Phantom" (stolen) ships and this has also been issued as an IMO Circular and adopted at the IMO General Assembly.
- Produced and ensured the widespread availability of the Marine Guidance Note (MGN 241) advising UK ship operators and seafarers on steps to protect against attack by pirates/armed robbers at sea. This advice was issued in November 2002.
8 Mar 2004 : Column 1247W
- Taken the lead in promoting the inclusion of piracy in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) annual resolution on the oceans.
- Raised the topic in bilateral meetings with officials and ministers from overseas countries.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |