| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
25 Oct 2005 : Column 236W—continued
Rebranding
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on rebranding in his Department and related agencies in each of the last five years. [18327]
Ms Buck: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 following machinery of government changes.
The expenditure listed relates to the one-off costs of rebranding of the new Department and of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) which was formed in 2003; a brand and design guide used in the Highways Agency and minor changes to signage and electronic templates at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | nil |
| 2002–03 | |
| central Department | 25,000 |
| Highways Agency | 48,000 |
| VOSA | 3,700 |
| 2003–04 | |
| VOSA | 20,000 |
| 2004–05 | |
| DVLA | 5,000 |
| 2005–06 | nil to date |
Regional Transport Schemes
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure the prioritisation of regional transport schemes by committees of regional assemblies are (a) publicised and (b) discussed further with stakeholders. [20585]
Ms Buck: On 21 July we issued guidance to the eight English regions outside London on preparing advice to central Government on the prioritisation of housing, economic development and transport schemes in their region. They were asked to submit advice by 31 January 2006.
The guidance made clear that while regional development agencies and regional assemblies would have a key role to play in preparing advice, other regional, sub-regional and local bodies, including the business community and local government, should also be brought into the process to ensure that the advice reflects relevant interests across each region. It also stressed that advice will be more credible to Ministers if it is a product of a wide consensus within regions.
Road Safety
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from the emergency services since June 2001 on the removal of (a) speed humps and (b) pinch points on the road network. [20559]
Ms Buck:
The Department has not received any representations from the emergency services since June 2001 on the removal of traffic calming measures.
25 Oct 2005 : Column 237W
However, the London Ambulance Service did contact the Department in October 2001 with concerns that traffic calming may have a detrimental effect on ambulance response times. A regular dialogue has been maintained since this time to establish the nature of the concerns and to assist with possible solutions.
If any emergency service were experiencing difficulties with particular traffic calming measures, we would expect them to raise this with the relevant local highway authority rather than the Department. Local highway authorities have responsibility for the design and implementation of traffic calming measures, and any subsequent alterations they might require.
Road Traffic Offences
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the reasons that (i) men and (ii) women commit offences under sections (A) 14(3), (B) 15(2) and (C) 15(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if he will make a statement. [19993]
Dr. Ladyman: These offences relate to the failure of adults to use seat belts in motor vehicles and to driver responsibility for the use of seat belts by children less than 14 years of age in the front or rear of motor vehicles.
The Department commissioned TRL Report 222, The characteristics and attitudes of adult non-wearers of rear restraints", which was published in 1998. That provided information on attitudes towards rear seat belt use by men and women. This has been used to inform the Department's publicity campaign. The report is available to purchase from TRL via their website at http://www.trl.co.uk/store/report_detail.asp?srid=2395.
TRL also publish reports of twice-yearly observational surveys for the Department of seat belt wearing by adults and children. A summary of the results of these surveys from 1982 is available at http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/statistics/belt0504.htm. The latest report Lf2096 is available free at http://www.trl.co.uk/store/report_list.asp?pid=211&pno=5&searchtext. That contains the references to earlier reports in the series. These reports provide information by gender and age.
The Department undertook research in March 2002, aimed at identifying the most compelling message that will encourage seat belt wearing. This has enabled the Department to target its messages on seat belt wearing.
Speed Cameras
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of administering the speed camera network was in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by main area of expenditure. [21067]
Dr. Ladyman:
Safety Camera Partnership expenditure in 2003–04 was £91,877,359 of which £62,389,618 was revenue expenditure and £29,487,741 was capital expenditure. All partnership audit certificates for 2003–04, which show a breakdown of expenditure by partner, are posted on the Department's website at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/qroups/dft_foi/documents/divisionhomepaqe/035233.hcsp
25 Oct 2005 : Column 238W
Audit certificates for 2004–05 will be published later this year.
Thames Port Development
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a final decision on the proposed new Thames port. [21604]
Dr. Ladyman: On 20 July, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport announced that he was minded to approve the application for a Harbour Empowerment Order for the proposed London Gateway port on the former Shell Haven oil refinery site. On the same day my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State announced that he was minded to grant outline planning permission for a commercial and logistics centre on land adjacent to the proposed new port.
These decisions were subject to resolution of a number of issues, including of the impacts of both of these proposed developments on the highways network. Proposals to deal with these matters were received on 20 October and will be carefully considered before proceeding to a final decision.
Travel Concessions
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will estimate the annual cost of extending a national half-fare travel concession to young people aged (a) 14 to 16, (b) 14 to 18 and (c) 14 to 21 years; [19932]
(2) how much funding the Government have provided to local authorities to help fund travel concessions for young people aged between 16 and 19 years in full-time education in each year since 1997; [19933]
(3) what the estimated (a) total cost and (b) cost to central Government of extending concessionary fare schemes for local public transport to (i) those over 60 and the disabled in England and (ii) young people up to age 19 in full-time education in England has been in each year since 1997. [19934]
Ms Buck: In 2001 the Government introduced a statutory minimum entitlement for off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people in England and provided £54 million to fund the extra costs. A further £50 million was provided in 2003–04 to fund the entitlement for men aged 60–64. The Government will provide an extra £350 million in 2006–07 to fund the cost to local authorities of the improvement in the statutory minimum entitlement from half to free-fares. Local authorities, and Passenger Transport Executives, have the freedom to offer enhancements to the statutory minimum, the costs of which are included in the figures presented in the table.
There is no statutory requirement on local authorities to provide concessionary fares for young people up to age 19 in full-time education in England, therefore no specific funding. Local authorities can offer such concessions at their own discretion based on local needs and financial priorities. The costs of providing discretionary concessionary travel schemes for the young are shown below.
25 Oct 2005 : Column 239W
It is not possible to breakdown the concessionary fare reimbursement figures by different age groups.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |