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20 May 2004 : Column 1114W—continued

Electronic Vehicle Licensing Channels

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effects on Post Offices of setting up electronic vehicle licensing channels. [174173]

Mr. Jamieson: It is estimated that up to 30 per cent. of the eligible population will migrate from re-licensing at Post Office branches to electronic vehicle licensing channels by 2006–07, with this figure increasing to 35 per cent. by 2010–11. This equates to approximately 13 million fewer relicensing transactions at Post Offices in 2006–07.

Network Rail

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the average period of the maintenance and renewals contracts let by Network Rail is; [173726]

(2) what criteria are used by Network Rail to determine whether maintenance and renewals work should be undertaken in-house; [173727]

(3) how much was spent by Network Rail on maintenance and renewals work (a) by external contractors and (b) in-house in 2003. [173728]

Mr. Darling: These are operational matters for Network Rail. Details of contracts issued by Network Rail are commercially confidential.

Railways

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the rail projects which have involved the establishment of enhanced Companies (EnCos) since the publication of the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Plan. [171402]

Mr. Darling: None, because Enhancement Companies (EnCos) proved to be an unnecessarily complex method of involving the private sector. The preferred method now is by means of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), specially formed to take forward an infrastructure upgrade. A number of SPVs are currently under development, including that for the Chiltern Line upgrade.

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the impact on his target to increase passenger volumes on the railway of the policy adopted by the Government and the Strategic Rail Authority's to thin rail services. [174073]

Mr. Darling: No specific assessment has been made by the Department in this area. However, the SRA's Capacity Utilisation Policy aims to make the best use of capacity on the rail network. In some instances this involves taking lightly used services out of the timetable in order to increase the resilience and reliability of the network and the services that use it. A reliable rail service is a key factor that people consider when deciding whether or not to travel by rail.

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact of (a) regular commuter journeys on the railways and (b) long-distance non-commuter journeys. [174078]

 
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Mr. Darling: Advice from the Strategic Rail Authority on the value for money case for investment to enhance passenger rail services includes assessment of the economic impact of the proposal on all rail passengers.

Road Traffic Accidents

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents took place in bus lanes in the last year for which figures are available. [175086]

Mr. Jamieson: The following table shows the numbers of accidents that took place in bus lanes in 2002, the latest year for which data are available.

	Number
Fatal	6
Serious	142
Slight	864
Total	1,012

Speed Cameras

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many legacy cameras have been removed in each year since 2001. [171922]

Mr. Jamieson: Safety Camera Partnerships are asked to review their sites on a regular basis and will take decisions on which sites should be taken out of operation on either a temporary or permanent basis.

PRIME MINISTER

Appointments

Mr. Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make an announcement about the re-appointment of His Honour Viscount Colville of Culross QC, His Honour Colin Kolbert and His Honour John Jeremy Fordham as assistant surveillance commissioners, under section 63 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [175341]

The Prime Minister: In accordance with Section 63 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, I have agreed to re-appoint His Honour Viscount Colville of Culross QC, His Honour Colin Kolbert and His Honour John Jeremy Fordham as Assistant Surveillance Commissioners from 1 May 2004 until 30 April 2007 to assist the Chief Surveillance Commissioner in his duties. The remit of each Assistant Surveillance Commissioner covers the whole of the United Kingdom so that any Assistant Surveillance Commissioner can act in jurisdictions other than his or her own.

His Honour Viscount Colville of Culross QC, His Honour Colin Kolbert and His Honour John Jeremy Fordham have served as Assistant Surveillance Commissioners since 1 May 2001.

Assistant Surveillance Commissioners are appointed under Section 63 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Since the authorisation of intrusive
 
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surveillance operations forms a key component of the Government's response to serious and organised crime, I attach considerable importance to these appointments, and I am delighted that they have accepted their re-appointment. In conjunction with Sir Andrew Leggatt, their substantial judicial experience, particularly of the criminal justice system, will provide independent oversight of surveillance operations, which although operationally important, must also be subject to stringent safeguards.

Climate Change

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will use the British Presidency of the UN Security Council in October to ensure that the Security Council has a detailed discussion on climate change as a global security issue, using the full diplomatic resources of the UK to increase the urgency and effectiveness of global action to combat dangerous climate change; and if he will make a statement; [173306]

(2) if he will make it his policy to include global climate change on the agenda of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 2005, in Malta; [173307]

(3) if he will make it his policy to include climate change on the agenda for the British Presidency of the EU in 2005. [173311]

The Prime Minister: As I said in my speech at the launch of the Climate Group on 27 April, climate change is the most important long-term challenge the world faces. We will therefore pursue every opportunity to raise this issue with other nations through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process, during the UK Presidency of the EU and in other fora where this can help to further effective international action on climate change.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Correspondence

Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the hon. Member for West Worcestershire will receive a response to his letter of 31 March. [174746]

Ms Hewitt: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Industry and the Regions and Deputy Minister for Women and Equality replied on 13 May 2004.

End of Life Vehicles Directive

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the progress of the consultation on the implementation of the End of Life Vehicles Directive. [174407]

Mr. Timms: Public consultation on the draft End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2004, to transpose the remaining provisions (Articles 5 and 7) of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, closed on 30 March. 65 responses were received and are being assessed. The Regulations will be presented to Parliament shortly.
 
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Exports (Gambia)

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the number and types of UK companies (a) exporting goods to, (b) exporting services to and (c) investing capital in The Gambia since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [173441]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The total number of UK companies exporting goods, services and investing capital in The Gambia since 1997 is difficult to determine because of the poor records held and maintained by the Gambian authorities, including the Registrar General of Companies, the Department for Trade, Customs and Excise and the Gambian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Nevertheless, from enquiries made by and records held at the British High Commission in Banjul, the number of known such companies is 29. However, UK companies are not required to notify the High Commission or UK Trade and Investment that they are doing business in or with The Gambia, and consequently the list cannot be considered to be exhaustive or complete. The majority on the list are small companies operating in the service industry but also include multinationals such as British American Tobacco and Shell. Furthermore, many UK individuals, as opposed to companies, have businesses in The Gambia such as bars and restaurants.

An indication of the volume of trade between the UK and The Gambia is shown in the following import/export statistics:
£ million

	UK export	UK import
1997	19.2	3.1
1998	14.4	2.9
1999	16.7	2.8
2000	14.4	3.5
2001	18.5	7.7
2002	16.4	4.0
2003	18.96	2.77

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