| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
3 Mar 2005 : Column 1328W—continued
Postage
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on postage by the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997. [215028]
Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002.
The recorded cost of postage in the central Department comprising DfT HQ in London and Hastings, the Air Accidents and Marine Accident Investigation Branches and Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service was £926,772 in 2003–04
3 Mar 2005 : Column 1329W
and in 2004–05 (until 31 January 2005) £576,246. Comprehensive postal costs for 2002–03 are not available as the costs allocated against DfT were affected by the machinery of government changes during that year and do not provide an accurate picture of departmental postal activity.
For the six Departmental Agencies the total costs were £15,992,915 in 2002–03 and £18,819,755 in 2003–04. The majority of these costs (84 per cent. in 2002–03 and 83 per cent. in 2003–04) were incurred by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in the course of their business.
The costs set out include general postage items such as standard postal charges, franking units, business reply post, and courier services etc. However, there may be other postal costs relating to mailing arrangements set up by individual units for a specific purpose such as distributing reports or other information which are not covered in the figures given but to identify these separately would involve disproportionate cost.
In terms of using postal services the Department's approach towards using postal services is to employ the most economical and effective arrangements that are conducive to meeting both business and customer needs.
Public Consultations
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department and its predecessors since 1997. [218635]
Mr. Darling: The Department consults widely with stakeholders and customers to assist in policy development. Since it was established in May 2002 the Department has made written consultations available on its website at:
Current and closed consultations can be accessed from this site.
Consultations are also undertaken by the Department's Executive Agencies and can be found on their own websites:
Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
In addition to these consultations the Highways Agency consults on Road schemes. Details of these can be found on the Road Projects section of their site:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
Vehicle Certification Agency (VGA)
All consultations relate to Departmental initiatives and as such are included on the Department site.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
The DVLA website is being restructured so not all consultations are currently available. A list of all consultations since May 2002 is included in the following list:
Consultations conducted by DVLA since May 2002
DVLA consultation on fee proposals—driving licences and vehicle registration (follow up consultation)
DVLA/Driver Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) consultation document on the convenience charge for credit card payments of vehicle excise duty (VED)
DVLA consultation on access to goods vehicle test record database for purposes of vehicle relicensing
A review of the vehicle inspection procedures of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland
Road Haulage Industry
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of prospects for the road haulage industry. [218921]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government have undertaken no formal assessment of prospects for the road haulage industry. But continued demand for drivers and waiting lists for new trucks suggests that the industry is buoyant and with the continued strong performance of the UK economy the prospects for the road haulage industry should be very good.
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of the Road Haulage Association. [218922]
Mr. Jamieson: I last met representatives of the Road Haulage Association at the road haulage forum meeting on 9 December 2004.
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken (a) to reduce regulation in the road haulage industry and (b) to reduce on-costs on road haulage client businesses; and if he will make a statement. [218923]
Mr. Jamieson:
Much of my Department's activity is non-regulatory. We have a significant programme of research into best practice, and we disseminate this knowledge to the industry. The last impact assessment concluded that companies involved achieved annual savings of £65 million of which £42 million was attributed to the best practice programme.
3 Mar 2005 : Column 1331W
In the last two years we have funded a major programme to train truck drivers to drive in a more fuel-efficient way. Savings of up to 9 per cent. are possible on fuel bills, typically worth £2,100 per year per driver. We have funded a similar programme to advise on fuel-efficient operating practices, for example advice on aerodynamic equipment and tyres that optimise fuel-consumption. Again substantial fuel and cost savings have been shown to be possible.
We will be consulting later in the year on proposals to streamline the operator licensing system, building on the successful computerisation for the Traffic Area Network, which is already saving time and money for both operators and Government.
Our Road Safety Bill contains proposals for a system of graduated fixed penalties for offences relating to the operation of commercial vehicles, and a deposit scheme to ensure hauliers from abroad who commit offences to not escape unpunished, as happens too often now. This will provide a more effective deterrent to those who compete unfairly by operating outside the law, to the benefit of legal operators.
South Hampshire Rapid Transit Project
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 36W, on South Hampshire Rapid Transit Project, what his timetable is for dealing with the application when the necessary documentation is received. [219700]
Mr. McNulty: The Department is currently working closely with the promoters of South Hampshire Rapid Transit on the appraisal, procurement and financing aspects of the application. Once the Department has received all of the necessary information, a decision will be made as soon as possible.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |