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9 Mar 2004 : Column 1412W—continued
Departmental Staff
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on future staffing levels for the Department; and what plans the Department has for (a) staff cuts, (b) voluntary retirements and (c) voluntary redundancies. [158294]
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Mr. McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. The functions the Department needs to undertake has been clarified and a Corporate Business Plan has been drafted to provide direction and enable the Department to meet its PSA targets.
The staffing level required to deliver the Department's priorities is being considered along with piloting new ways of working flexibly. The intention is to reduce the number of posts overall and create a smaller more strategic centre. There are no concrete plans at the moment and the Department is unable to predict the number of staff that may be surplus. Wherever possible and practicable the exit of staff from the Department will be on a voluntary basis using redundancy and retirements to facilitate the process. The Department will, however, ensure that staff with the appropriate skills to take forward its agenda, remain within the Department.
Eurotunnel
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of the minimum usage charge paid to Eurotunnel was in each year since its inception. [154911]
Mr. McNulty: The total annual payment by the railways is published annually in Eurotunnel's accounts, which are available from the company. The figures include a contribution towards operating expenditure, variable toll elements, and the additional contribution needed to achieve the Minimum Usage Charge. The precise composition of the payments is a commercial matter for the companies concerned.
Integrated Transport
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made towards introducing an integrated transport system; and if he will make a statement. [160056]
Mr. McNulty: "Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report" published in December 2002 set out the progress made in Delivering the 10 Year Plan for Transport in the first 18 months of its life. As promised in that report we are now reviewing the Plan, taking account of events and achievements since its implementation. We expect to set out in the Summer how the strategy will be rolled forward to 2015 and beyond.
Radio and Television Advertising
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much his Department is spending on radio advertising in the current financial year; and how much is planned for next year; [159410]
- (2) how much his Department has spent on (a) radio and (b) television advertising in each of the last five years. [159411]
Dr. Howells: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. Our current forecast expenditure outturn for 2003–04, is £2.62 million on radio advertising. The estimated figure for 2004–05 is £3.3 million, the majority of which will be devoted to the THINK! road safety campaign.
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Media expenditure covering road safety in 2002–03 was £5.6 million on TV and £2.6 million on radio.
Rail Regulator
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend the remit of the Rail Regulator to include the train leasing companies. [158509]
Mr. McNulty: The review of the structure and organisation of the rail industry announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 19 January will consider whether there should be any extension to the remit of the Rail Regulator. We will publish our proposals for change in the summer.
Rail Services
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which bodies he is suggesting to consultees may be responsible for regulating the (a) ticket costs, (b) service levels and timetables and (c) access issues for community railways; [158553]
- (2) which organisation he is suggesting to consultees may be responsible for (a) setting and (b) monitoring and regulating (i) maintenance, (ii) operational standards and (iii) safety for community railways; [158555]
(3) what the suggested structures for (a) ownership, (b) management and (c) operational responsibilities are for community railways; [158557]
(4) on which lines he is consulting about whether they should become community railways; and if he will make a statement. [158559]
Mr. McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority published its consultation paper on a strategy for Community Railways on 26 February. The Authority is consulting on proposals to offer much greater community involvement in determining issues for Community Railways. The strategy is aimed at simplifying and structuring their regulation and it outlines options to strengthen local management and to simplify and improve the effectiveness of operational responsibilities on Community Railways. No change is proposed in the current ownership of railway infrastructure by Network Rail, or in the primary responsibilities of the duty holder in respect of safe operation of these railways.
The lines to be consulted upon are listed in the consultation paper. The paper has been sent to MPs with constituencies covering these lines and has been placed in the Library of the House.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sources of (a) public and (b) private funding he plans will be available to Community Railways. [158556]
Mr. McNulty: Community Railways lines form part of larger franchises which already make use of public and private funding. Whatever the source of funding, it is remunerated by the user through fares and freight charges and by the taxpayer through franchise support payments or grants. This will continue to be the case. Community Rail Partnerships currently seek further
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local funding support to improve services and facilities, recognising the benefit of such improvements to the local economy and environment.
Recruitment
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of recruitment of civil servants for the Department was in each financial year since 1996–97, broken down by (a) delegated or contracted out recruitment procedures and (b) recruitment procedures carried out by the Department. [158177]
Mr. McNulty: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. For open competitions for permanent positions below the Senior Civil Service (SCS), the Department uses two contracted out recruitment consultants. For open competitions for SCS positions, the Department uses specialist recruitment consultants taken from the Cabinet Office Central Call-Off Contract for recruitment into the SCS.
Following are details of the costs incurred by DfT (Central) for contracted out recruitment procedures:
| (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | |
| Senior Civil Service | 309,237.08 |
| Below SCS | 211,626.55 |
| 2003–04 to date | |
| Senior Civil Service | 781,378.64 |
| Below SCS | 582,084.33 |
The 'Below SCS' details do not include costs incurred by the Department's Executive Agencies as they have responsibility for their own recruitment for below SCS. We are unable to provide costs for recruitment procedures carried out by the Department itself as these costs could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Senior Civil Service
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what basic pay and bonuses were awarded in relation to the 2003 pay round for (a) the Permanent Secretary, (b) each of the chief executives of the Department's agencies and (c) each Grade 2 in the Department. [158295]
Mr. McNulty: It is not our policy to provide information on pay and bonus that are identifiable to particular individuals. The base pay awards for Directors General (formerly Grade 2s) ranged between 4 and 8 per cent. Non consolidated bonus awards ranged from zero to £9,000. Base pay awards for agency Chief Executives ranged from 2.25 to 4.0 per cent. with non consolidated bonus awards ranging from zero to £15,800.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost of the senior civil service in the Department is. [158296]
Mr. McNulty: The total cost of the salaries as at 1 March 2004 of the senior civil service in DfT central and the agencies is £10.5 million. This figure includes the costs of the Permanent Secretary and chief executives of the agencies.
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John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the total cost of the pay increases in the Department awarded to the senior civil service as a result of the 2003 pay round. [158297]
Mr. McNulty: The total cost of the increase to basic pay awarded to the senior civil service in DfT central and the agencies, as a result of the 2003 pay round, was £0.4 million. This amount also includes those awards given to senior civil servants on fixed term contracts that received the revalorisation rate of 2.25 per cent.
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