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11 Jul 2005 : Column 673W—continued
Public Transport
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure public transport vehicles are equipped with forced air ventilation systems. [9307]
Mr. Darling: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to him today (UIN 9017).
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the health and safety requirements are for ventilation on public transport; and whether public transport vehicles are required to have forced air ventilation systems installed. [9017]
Mr. Darling: Although there are no legal requirements for ventilation on trains under health and safety law, the Health and Safety Executive publishes guidance which recommends that rail operators have on-board ventilation systems that
'should be capable of providing and maintaining a satisfactory environment throughout the range of foreseeable conditions the train may encounter (including delays and failures)'.
Buses (other than minibuses) and coaches in public service must provide adequate ventilation for the driver and passengers without the need to open any window.
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Ventilation may be provided by forced-air systems, such as fans or air-conditioning units, but are not required to be of this type.
Rail Passengers Council
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) procedures and (b) selection criteria he used when making appointments to the Rail Passengers Council. [10425]
Derek Twigg: The Secretary of State made the recent 12 member appointments to the new Rail Passengers Council following the procedures set out in the code of practice for ministerial appointments to public bodies, which is issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). The selection criteria were published as part of the open recruitment process which was regulated by OCPA and validated by an independent assessor.
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of representation of the interests of passengers in the north-west in the Rail Passengers Council. [10426]
Derek Twigg: The new Rail Passengers Council (RPC) is being established as a single, national body covering all of Great Britain. Members have been appointed to represent passengers on this basis, working in partnership with the RPC staff. The selection of members recently appointed to the new RPC provide the balance of skills and experience that will drive forward the work of the new RPC in future and build the organisation's standing and reputation among passengers and the rail industry.
Railways
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train operators have access agreements on the East Coast Main Line. [9303]
Derek Twigg: 36 train operators have track access agreements which include rights to operate trains on, or over part of, the East Coast Main Line.
Roads
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Scottishbusiness community on proposals for road pricing. [5131]
Dr. Ladyman: In line with their manifesto commitments, the Government will examine the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. The Government have made clear the need for a broad consensus on this issue and continues to discuss transport matters with the business community.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) daily volume of traffic on the A127 between the M25 and Southend and (b) capacity of the A127 was in (i) 1997, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000 and (iv)the last period for which figures are available; andwhat the projected traffic volume is for (A) 2006, (B)2008 and (C) 2010. [9913]
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Dr. Ladyman: Daily traffic volume on the A127 between the M25 and Southend measured using annual average daily flow (AADF) was in the following range:
| AADF (lowest and highest) | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 54,000–70,000 |
| 1999 | 56,000–70,000 |
| 2000 | 55,000–62,000 |
| 2004 | 60,000–67,000 |
The capacity, measured using congestion reference flow, of the A127 in the same years was as follows:
| Capacity | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 68,000 |
| 1999 | 68,000 |
| 2000 | 68,000 |
| 2004 | 68,000 |
For projected traffic volumes I refer the hon. Member to The Future of Transport: A network for 2030" White Paper published by my Department in July 2004.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) daily volume of traffic on the A13 between the M25 and Southend and (b) capacity of the A13 was in (i) 1997, (ii) 1999, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the last period for which figures are available; and what the projected traffic volume is for (A) 2006, (B) 2008 and (C)2010. [9914]
Dr. Ladyman: Daily traffic volume on the A13 between the M25 and Southend measured using annual average daily flow (AADF) was in the following range:
| AADF (lowest and highest) | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 15,000–71,000 |
| 1999 | 15,000–74,000 |
| 2000 | 15,000–75,000 |
| 2004 | 21,000–88,000 |
The capacity, measured using congestion reference flow, of the A13 in the same years was as follows:
| Capacity | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 59,000 |
| 1999 | 59,000 |
| 2000 | 59,000 |
| 2003 | 58,000 |
For projected traffic volumes I refer the hon. Member to The Future of Transport: A network for 2030" White Paper published by my Department in July 2004.
Safety Cameras
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed camera tickets have been challenged in each year since 1997 in (a) England, (b) Essex and (c) Southend; and how many were successful. [10914]
Dr. Ladyman:
This information is not available.
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Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department is undertaking into accidents around speed camera sites. [10395]
Dr. Ladyman: The independent three-year report into the National Safety Camera Programme, published in June 2004, showed a reduction in deaths and serious injuries at camera sites. A fourth year report, reflecting the roll-out of the programme to 35 safety camera partnerships, is in preparation. The Department's 2005–06 research programme also includes new research into understanding the mechanisms of change in accident occurrence and speed behaviour brought about by speed enforcement by cameras to help improve our understanding of the wider effects of safety cameras.
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statutory instruments have been sponsored by his Department since 1997. [10392]
Ms Buck: Lists of all statutory instruments (SIs) from 1 January 1998 to 30 June 2005, prepared by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) have today been placed in the Library. These lists, prepared in alphabetical order by department, detail for each year from 1998 the number and title of each statutory instrument sponsored by the Department. There are separate lists for General and Local SIs. SIs which have been originated by departments but which were also Orders in Council are only listed under the Privy Council Office (PCO).
Tonnage Tax
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many certificates of non-compliance have been issued to companies and groups failing to meet their tonnage tax training obligations; and how many were subsequently cancelled. [11510]
Dr. Ladyman: No certificates of non-compliance have been issued.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies or groups have been required to make higher rate payments for failing to meet their obligations since the tonnage tax was introduced. [11511]
Dr. Ladyman: Three companies or groups have been required to pay a surcharge on their payments in lieu of training since tonnage tax was introduced.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies have submitted training commitments for his approval since the tonnage tax was introduced. [11512]
Dr. Ladyman: 88 company/groups have applied for approval of a training commitment since tonnage tax was introduced.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies have been allowed to make tonnage tax payments in lieu of training; what the total amount of such payments has been; and to whom such payments are made. [11722]
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Dr. Ladyman: We have approved planned payments in lieu of training (PILOT) for 19 companies/groups. Other companies/groups have paid PILOT because of shortfalls in training against the training commitment, and/or to meet incremental training commitments arising from additional vessels entering their fleets. PILOT payments are made to the Maritime Training Trust (MTT), which is an independent body with members from the Chamber of Shipping and the maritime trade unions. The MTT allocates the monies received to promote UK seafarer training. The total amount of PILOT received by the MTT to date is £3,844,909.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies or groups made returns to him during the tonnage tax regime during the last full year for which figures are available on (a) training provided and (b) payments in lieu of training. [11723]
Dr. Ladyman: 66 companies/groups have provided end of period adjustment returns in respect of 2003–04, which is the last full tonnage tax training commitment year for which figures are available. With a few returns outstanding, a total of 11,090 months of actual training was provided, and 2,420 PILOT payments were due.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the minimum training obligation is for a company or group to qualify for tonnage tax exemption. [11724]
Dr. Ladyman: The minimum training obligation is to recruit and train one officer trainee per year for every 15officer posts in the company/group's effective officer complement.
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