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31 Mar 2004 : Column 1406W—continued
Working Time Directive
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the cost to British businesses of complying with the Working Time Directive in (a) the ceramic sector, (b) construction products, (c) quarry products and (d) all products in total. [164581]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The cost to British business of complying with the Working Time Directive for all industries is estimated to be around £2.5 billion per annum. Estimates for the ceramic, construction and quarrying sectors are not available.
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TRANSPORT
Aviation
Mr. Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress was made at the most recent International Civil Aviation Organisation meeting on sustainable aviation. [165168]
Mr. McNulty: The 6th triennial meeting of the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) was held in Montreal, 2–12 February 2004. Progress was made on a number of issues. The principal achievements were (i) agreement on a new international standard for the minimum NOX performance of new aircraft engine types in the landing and takeoff cycle that is 12 per cent. more stringent than the current standard, coming into effect in 2008, (ii) agreement on the text of a guidance document on the application of the ICAO 'balanced approach' to noise management at airports, (iii) agreement to continue work on two possible avenues for the future participation of aviation in emissions trading at a global level, and (iv) agreement on a stretching programme of work for the period 2004–07, with a particular emphasis on long term goal-setting and the proper examination of trade-offs between different environmental impacts. Progress was also made on various lower-profile technical issues, but there was no progress on the use of charges to address the global environmental impacts of aviation, on which CAEP remains deeply divided.
All CAEP decisions are subject to confirmation by the ICAO Council and the full ICAO Assembly, 27 September-7 October 2004.
BACS
Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made to manage the changeover from the Bank Automated Clearing System to the new BACSTEL-IP system for electronic payments. [164324]
Mr. McNulty: The Financial Accounting Services Division (FASD) of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister provides accounting services including banking services to the Department for Transport as a shared service.
FASD is discussing with the supplier of its banking services the options for managing the changeover from the Bank Automated Clearing System (BACS) to the new BACSTEL-IP system for electronic payments.
Buses
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of buses he estimates allow full wheelchair access for users. [165150]
Mr. McNulty: An annual survey of vehicle operators carried out by the Department for Transport indicates that approximately 30 per cent. of the 48,000 full size buses operating in Great Britain as Public Service Vehicles, are low floor vehicles offering access for wheelchair users. The percentage operating in any given area will vary but in major cities it is likely to be considerably higher. The current figure for London is around 90 per cent.
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These vehicles comprise 6,300 that meet the full wheelchair accessibility requirements of the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2000, and a further 7,700 which were manufactured prior to these regulations coming into force, which are low floor vehicles providing a good level of accessibility for wheelchair users.
Disabled Parking Badges
Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to introduce new regulations to permit disabled children under two to obtain disabled parking badges. [165173]
Mr. McNulty: We are already working on a number of changes to the Blue Badge Scheme which require secondary legislation. These include extending the Scheme to those children under two whose medical needs require the transport of medical equipment at all times. We expect to consult on draft regulations later this year and to introduce the changes as soon as possible thereafter.
DVLA
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency spent on advertising in (a) the current financial year and (b) 1997; and how much they are planning to spend next year. [164346]
Dr. Howells: The information requested on Publicity/Marketing costs for 1997, 2003 and 2004 is as follows:
- 1997–98 some £3.4 million (as published in the Agency's accounts),
- 2003–04 some £14 million (current forecast), and
- 2004–05 some £13 million (current forecast).
The figures represent the Agency's spend/forecast on a resource basis for publicity and marketing. Since 1997 the Agency has seen an increase in expenditure in this area due to our commitment to reducing vehicle crime and our delivery of electronic services.
Main area of increase for this financial year (2003–04) includes Continuous Registration, Mandatory V5, Vehicle Identity Checks and Fee for a new Registration Document (V62). The forecasts for next financial year (2004–05) include Electronic Vehicle Licensing and Accelerating Issue of Harmonised Registration Certificate.
Heavy Goods/Public Service Vehicles
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many roadside checks were carried out on (a) heavy goods vehicles and (b) public service vehicles in each of the last 10 years. [163835]
Mr. Jamieson: The number of roadside checks carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (formerly the Vehicle Inspectorate) on heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles in each of the last 10 years is shown in the following table.
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| Vehicle category | HGV motor vehicles | HGV trailers | PSV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 64,373 | 21225 | 20,287 |
| 2001–02 | 56,984 | 17,699 | 18,470 |
| 2000–01 | 68,270 | 22,159 | 21,160 |
| 1999–2000 | 74,459 | 24,046 | 23,516 |
| 1998–99 | 69,718 | 23,683 | 20,635 |
| 1997–98 | 85,023 | 28,096 | 28,045 |
| 1996–97 | 93,914 | 32,769 | 28,809 |
| 1995–96 | 85,523 | 28,335 | 23,987 |
| 1994–95(1) | 13,4046 | 32,053 | 32,338 |
| 1993–94(1) | 14,5807 | 32,448 | 32,645 |
(1) Figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95 include fleet roadworthiness checks. It is not possible to separate out figures for roadside checks only.
Note:
The figures shown exclude emissions-only checks on HGV motor vehicles but include checks on foreign vehicles.
| Vehicle category | HGV | PSV |
|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 106,587 | 13,900 |
| 2001–02 | 108,917 | 11,330 |
| 2000–01 | 132,784 | 15,994 |
| 1999–2000 | 158,067 | 18,513 |
| 1998–99 | 161,268 | 18,183 |
| 1997–98 | 192,573 | 30,436 |
| 1996–97 | 214,924 | 30435 |
| 1995–96 | 248,674 | 38,306 |
| 1994–95 | 266,185 | 38,654 |
| 1993–94 | 307,835 | 36,981 |
Note:
The figures include checks on foreign vehicles
Over recent years, VOSA has sought to improve its targeting regime in order to ensure that those who tend to comply with legal requirements are less likely to be stopped and checked, and those who are pre-disposed to ignore legal requirements are more likely to be detected. Greater effort now goes into researching, targeting and stopping/investigating vehicles selectively and this is reflected in the above trend (figures).
Maritime Security
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what new security measures have been introduced by (a) Government and (b) Transec on (i) British ports and (ii) British ships in preparation for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code; [163584]
- (2) how Transec has been working to prepare (a) ports and (b) United Kingdom flagged ships for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code on 1 July; [163585]
(3) if he will make a statement on the preparedness of British (a) ships and (b) ports for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code. [163623]
Mr. Jamieson: The Department for Transport's Transport Security Directorate (TRANSEC) in conjunction with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are responsible for introducing the ISPS Code requirements. Operationally TRANSEC is responsible
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for UK ports and passenger shipping, and MCA is responsible for non-passenger shipping, under a policy framework set by TRANSEC.
The UK has developed five port facility Protection Categories, based on traffic type, such as Passenger, Container Ro-Ro, Other Bulk Cargo, and has developed category specific security measures which are designed to reduce any existing vulnerabilities at these port facilities.
All of the major UK ports including the passenger operations have been assessed and Port Facility Security Assessment (PFSA) Reports have been prepared. Along with the individual PFSA reports, industry has been provided with category specific Port Facility Security Instructions and Security Standards. These will form the basis of their Port Facility Security Plans. A Port Facility Security Plan template has also been made available to assist companies prepare their plans, which are then submitted for approval.
Clear guidelines and deadlines have been issued to industry to submit their Ship Security Plans to TRANSEC for passenger ships, and the MCA for non-passenger ships, for examination and approval. Once a plan has been approved, it must be verified on board the ship prior to issuing an International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC).
It is up to individual port facilities and flag vessels to comply with the programme for submission we have set out. TRANSEC and MCA staff are already approving Port Facility Security Plans and issuing International Ship Security Certificates and the Government expect all UK port facilities and flagged ships will comply with the required ISPS standards by the deadline.
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