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Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total amount paid by his Department to employment agencies for the supply of temporary staff was in financial year 200304. [178915]
Mr. McNulty: The total amount paid to employment agencies by DfT(C) for the supply of temporary staff in financial year 200304 was £2,899,192.58.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what ways the Driving Standards Agency contributes to the understanding of driving standards by road users after they have passed their driving tests. [183487]
Mr. Jamieson: Working with key stakeholders, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has implemented and continues to develop strategies to extend the understanding of driving standards by full licence holders.
The Pass Plus training scheme enables newly qualified drivers to gain driving experience in a range of road and traffic conditions that they may not have experiencedsuch as driving on a motorway. It also boosts awareness of hazards and provides advice on how to anticipate and respond safely to them.
DSA operates a voluntary registration scheme providing quality assurance of instructors who specialise in training for those who regularly drive cars and small vans as part of their work.
The agency's "Arrive Alive Classic" presentation is aimed at drivers aged 50 plus, and gives advice on driving standards and the effects of ageingfor example, hearing problems and failing eyesight.
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DSA publishes advice for people returning to motorcycling after a break, and those who ride as part of their work. The agency, in partnership with members of the Government's Advisory Group on Motorcycling, is also formulating proposals for a developmental training scheme for qualified motorcyclists.
Under commercial contracts, DSA examiners assess and monitor the standards of some bus and taxi drivers on behalf of their employers and public bodies.
Finally, for all road users, the agency, together with the Stationery Office, produces the Highway Code which has annual sales of over 800,000.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to protect air travellers whose flight operator becomes insolvent; and what recent discussions he has had with the industry on these measures, with particular reference to operators of low cost charter flights. [185051]
Mr. McNulty: Air travellers who book a flight as part of a package are protected by the ATOL scheme. In the event of failure of the travel organiser, the airline or any other part of the package, customers are entitled to a refund of their money or if abroad at the time of failure, they will be repatriated. I have had no recent discussions with the airline industry on this issue.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what levels of particulates in the air were recorded at each level of underground tunnels on the London underground system in each year from 1993 to 2003. [184220]
Mr. McNulty: This is an operational matter for London Underground (LU), which transferred from central Government to Transport for London on 15 July 2003.
London Underground does not hold the information in the format requested. Nevertheless, I understand from LUL that dust levels throughout the tube network are many times lower than the statutory occupational exposure limits for various forms of dust, as set by the Health and Safety Executive. Studies by LUL and by independent academic institutions have found no evidence of any harmful health effects on their staff.
I also understand that dust levels on the underground have been steadily reducing over the years as a result of improved cleaning regimes and technical changes.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the estimated cost is of his proposal for widening the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and 20; [181668]
(2) for what reasons the proposal to widen the M6 motorway between Junctions 11 and 20 has not been entered in the Targeted Programme of Improvements. [181669]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency has been carrying out further detailed work on a scheme to widen the M6 between junctions 11a and 19, following the announcement in December 2002, when the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed his support, in principle, for this scheme. The further work has taken longer than expected, due partly to the complexity of the associated traffic modelling. It is currently expected that this scheme will cost around £2 billion. However, the Secretary of State for Transport announced last week that he is considering building a new expressway to run parallel with the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester as an alternative to widening the existing M6. The Department for Transport issued a consultation paper "M6: giving motorists a choice", which invites views.
Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what date copies of the document, M6: giving motorists a choiceA consultation proposal, published on 6 July, were delivered to the Department by its printers; [183500]
(2) on what date the document, M6: giving motorists a choiceA consultation proposal, was printed by his Department's printers; [183501]
(3) on what date the first draft proofs of the document M6: giving motorists a choiceA consultation proposal were delivered to the Department's printers. [183530]
Mr. Jamieson: The consultation document'M6: giving motorists a choice: A Consultation Proposal' was printed on Monday 5 July and delivered to the Department on the same day. Further copies of the document were delivered to the Department on Tuesday 6 July 2004. Draft text of the document was first sent from the Department to the designers on 29 June and artwork for the document was delivered to the printers on 2 July 2004.
Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements the Department is making for the document 'M6: giving motorists a choice: A Consultation Proposal' to be delivered to residents in the (a) Seabridge, (b) Westlands, (c) Keele, (d) Halmer End, (e) Audley, (f) Wrinehill, (g) Betley, (h) Balterley, (i) Butterton and (j) Madeley areas of the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme. [183502]
Mr. Jamieson: The document seeks views at this stage on the broad concept of a tolled expressway alongside the existing M6. It has been sent to all Members of Parliament whose constituents are situated within the West Midlands and North West of England. Copies have also been placed in the House Library, in the normal way.
Copies of the document have also been sent to a wide range of people and organisations along the M6 between Junctions 11 and 20, including Staffordshire county council, Stoke on Trent city council and Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council. Members of the public can obtain a copy of the document from my Department and it is also available on the Department for Transport website.
If, following the consultation it is decided to carry out further feasibility work and development on the expressway proposal, consultation will be carried out at a later stage with interested parties and residents on possible alignments for the route.
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Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on motorway fast lanes for car sharers. [183790]
Mr. Jamieson: The announcement about a feasibility study into High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes on motorways was made last week, and within four days, nine representations had been made. The majority of these were in favour of the proposals and several offered useful advice or suggestions, all of which will be taken into consideration as part of the work that the Highways Agency will be taking forward over the next few months.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local councils have tendered out their parking control to private companies. [184247]
Mr. McNulty: Information on local authority parking control contracts is not collected centrally.
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