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15 Mar 2004 : Column 15W—continued
School Buses
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will carry out an assessment of the safety implications of allowing three children to travel on seats designed for two on school buses. [159860]
Mr. Jamieson: I have no plans to carry out an assessment of the safety implications of the three for two allowance as I have no evidence or data to support an argument that it represents a risk to child safety. Three for two is a concession, which local authorities may apply if they wish, and not a requirement.
I also refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 14 January 2004, Official Report, column 746W to my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Edwards), concerning the carriage of children in buses and the three for two allowance.
Severn Bridge
Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on economic activity of the Forest of Dean of the closures of the first Severn crossing bridge to vehicles in the past three months. [160781]
Mr. Jamieson: Closures of the first Severn crossing bridge during high winds are done to ensure the safety of the road user. No specific assessment has been made of the economic effect of closing the first Severn bridge.
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The second Severn crossing provides an alternative route and this reduces the impact on the local economy of any closures of the first bridge.
Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, when the Highways Agency makes the decision to close the first Severn crossing bridge, it differentiates between high-sided vehicles and saloon cars. [160782]
Mr. Jamieson: When the first Severn bridge is closed for reasons of safety, the Highways Agency makes no differentiation between high-sided vehicles and saloon cars. There is no infrastructure at present to filter vehicles. The agency has commissioned a report on the viability of 'filtering out' high-sided vehicles, using enforcement cameras in conjunction with traffic signing. This report is expected to be completed this spring.
Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the Highways Agency informs the public of the instances of closure of the first Severn crossing bridge; and if he will review the adequacy of this process. [160783]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency informs the public of bridge closures using advance traffic signing on the approaches to the M48 at Magor in the west and Almondsbury in the east. The agency's information line is also notified, together with other media sources. The effectiveness of this process is monitored regularly by the agency and other interested organisations.
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Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times, and for how long on each occasion, the first Severn crossing bridge has been closed to vehicles since the responsibility for doing so was transferred from the police to the Highways Agency. [160784]
Mr. Jamieson: There have been eight closures of the bridge due to high winds since the Highways Agency assumed responsibility from the police on 16 October 2003. Details are set out as follows.
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Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used by the Highways Agency in determining when and for how long the first Severn crossing bridge should be closed to vehicles. [160785]
Mr. Jamieson: A protocol has been developed over several years to determine when and for how long the first Severn bridge should be closed to traffic. It is continually reviewed to explore ways of minimising the closures while ensuring the safety of road users.
The following criteria are currently applied:
| Gust wind speed(knots) | Threshold requirement (i.e. criteria set within themonitoring equipment) | Response (i.e. action to be taken) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 30 knots exceeded six times within any 10 minute period | All matrix signs to be set to indicate 40 mph |
| 35 | 35 knots exceeded three times in any 10 minute period.Leeward lane identified by wind direction | Alternate matrix signs to be amended to indicate leeward lane closed in each direction |
| 40 | 40 knots exceeded six times in any 10 minute period | Close crossing to all traffic |
| 60 | Any gust exceeds 60 knots | Close crossing to all traffic |
| 70 | Any gust exceeds 70 knots | Crossing not to be re-opened until confirmed by Severn River Crossings plc to ensure no damage sustained |
| Decreasing | No gust has exceeded 30 knots within 30 minute period | Seek authority to remove the imposed restrictions |
Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons responsibility for decisions on when to close the first Severn crossing bridge was transferred from the police to the Highways Agency. [160786]
Mr. Jamieson: The police were concerned that individual police officers were required to be accountable for making the decision to close the first Severn bridge. They were unwilling to continue to be the primary decision maker in the closure process. The agency has taken responsibility for this role and ownership of the operating protocol.
Speed Cameras
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the siting of (a) fixed and (b) mobile speed cameras; and if he will make a statement. [160651]
Mr. Jamieson: The "Handbook of rules and guidance for the operation of the national road safety camera programme for England and Wales" deals with the siting of fixed and mobile speed cameras in those areas participating in the safety camera cost recovery scheme. Copies were placed in the Libraries of the House on 5 December 2003. Guidance for those areas outside the scheme is contained in Circular Roads 1/92.
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what revenues were raised from speed cameras in the Wycombe district council area in 2002–03. [160653]
Mr. Jamieson: Wycombe district council is part of the Thames Valley Safety Camera Partnership. Information on fine receipts for 2002–03 will be contained in the third year report of the safety camera programme, to be published shortly.
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how revenues raised from speed cameras in Wycombe district council area are spent. [160654]
Mr. Jamieson: Wycombe district council is part of the Thames Valley Safety Camera Partnership. Receipts from fines are made available to the partnerships for the approved costs of purchasing and operating its cameras. Any additional fine receipts are passed to the Consolidated Fund.
Waterways Improvements
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many programmes have been undertaken to improve (a) harbours, (b) docks and (c) inland waterways since 1997. [160876]
Mr. Jamieson: This information is not available centrally. Harbour and navigation authorities are responsible for programmes of improvement in their areas and, although some harbour and dock projects require Government consent, there is no requirement for reporting of programmes.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Civil Society Organisations
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds were contributed
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by his Department to UK-based civil society organisations in 2002, broken down by nation of the United Kingdom. [161403]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID support to Civil Society Organisations is predominantly targeted at UK organisations and with a UK wide base. We do not differentiate between the nations of the UK and do not collate figures on this basis.
Conferences
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many conferences were hosted by his Department (a) at home and (b) abroad, in the year to 29 February; and what the cost was of attending these conferences, broken down by (i) travel costs, (ii) food and drink costs, (iii) accommodation costs and (iv) miscellaneous costs. [161691]
Hilary Benn: This information is not held centrally and to collate it would incur disproportionate cost.
Departmental Communications
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others. [158156]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development employs the following numbers of staff in the communications field:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| (a) Government Information and Communication Service | 4 |
| (b) Others | |
| (i) Press officers | 6 |
| (ii) Special advisers | 2 |
| (iii) Others | 17 |
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total expenditure on communications for the Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others. [158192]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The total expenditure on communications for the Department for International Development in 2003–04 has been as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff | 130,724 |
| (b) Other staff | |
| (i) Press officers | 270,504 |
| (ii) Special advisers | 132,184 |
| (iii) Others | 493,232 |
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