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Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his written statement of 11 October 2005, Official Report, column 27WS, on British Transport Police review, if he will include within the scope of his review an examination of the case for transferring the responsibilities and resources for policing transport in London to the Metropolitan Police. [22365]
Derek Twigg: The terms of reference for the Review of the British Transport Police (BTP) were placed in the House Library on 20 October. The aim of the review is to examine the functions of the BTP and whether some or all of these are best carried out by a national force, regional forces or, indeed, by the industry itself.
The review is being conducted in parallel with the review of the 43 local police forces being undertaken by the Home Secretary who has invited forces to come forward with firm proposals for the creation of strategic forces in each region by December 2005.
The BTP review will take into account the emerging outcomes of the Home Secretary's review and consider whether other forces, including the Metropolitan Police, would be best placed to carry out any railway policing functions.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many call centres were run by his Department and its agencies in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506 to date; and how many and what proportion of calls (i) were handled by an adviser, (ii) were received but abandoned and (iii) received an engaged tone in each year. [23295]
Ms Buck: The Department and its agencies ran a total of five call centres in the years 200304 to date. Detailed information is as follows:
The DSA has two call centres. Detailed information for the number of calls is as follows.
3 Nov 2005 : Column 1281W
The information for the DVLA Call Centre, Swansea, is as follows:
The Highways Agency has a single call centre. The number of calls received in 200304, 200405 and 200506 to date is as follows:
Number of calls | |
---|---|
200304 | 65,687 |
200405 | 75,079 |
200506 (To date) | 38,000 |
The current telephone system used by the Highways Agency information Line does not have the functionality to run automatic reports giving amount of calls (i) received but abandoned, and (ii) received an engaged tone.
A replacement telephone system, due to be installed January/February 2006, will provide enhanced reporting on call waiting times, abandoned calls and performance of advisers.
The Vehicle and Operator Service Agency (VOSA) has one call centre. The numbers of calls for 200304 to the end of September 2005 are as follows:
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total quantity of carbon dioxide released by (a) overground and (b) underground trains in (i) 1984, (ii) 1994 and (ii) 2004. [23370]
Derek Twigg: The table provides estimates of all carbon dioxide emissions from the rail sector for 1984, 1994 and 2003. Figures for 2004 are not yet available. It is not possible to disaggregate these data to provide separate estimates of overground and underground train emissions.
The estimates include direct carbon dioxide emissions from diesel trains and indirect emissions from all other sources and operations connected with the rail sector. Indirect emissions include emissions from the production of electricity allocated to the heavy and light rail sectors including London Underground and non-traction use of electricity for rail lighting, signalling, stations and offices.
Total direct and indirect CO 2 emissions from rail activity (million tonnes of CO 2 ) | |
---|---|
1984 | 5.2 |
1994 | 6.5 |
2003 | 5.3 |
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the proposed safety dossier for Europorte 2 supporting Eurotunnel's safety case has been found satisfactory by the channel tunnel safety authority. [24086]
Derek Twigg: I understand that the channel tunnel safety authority has completed its examination of the Europorte 2 safety dossier and has written to the channel tunnel intergovernmental commission advising the terms on which the commission should accept that dossier.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects Eurotunnel to re-submit information on site and work plans supplementary to documents submitted in April 2004 by Eurotunnel to the intergovernmental commission regarding the procedure for the review of plans and submissions by Union Railways (South) Limited and arrangements for commissioning of the channel tunnel rail link interfaces with Eurotunnel. [24087]
Derek Twigg: The channel tunnel safety authority (CTSA) advised the intergovernmental commission on 24 May 2004 that the information provided by Eurotunnel regarding the commissioning of the channel tunnel rail link interface with Eurotunnel was satisfactory. However, the intergovernmental commission requested some supplementary detail for its records. Most of this has been provided. It is expected that the outstanding informationwhich is not held by Eurotunnelwill be provided shortly.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether safety requirements on heavy goods vehicle shuttles are still met under proposals by Eurotunnel to reduce by one the minimum crew in the amenity coach. [24088]
Derek Twigg: These proposals have been reviewed on behalf of the two Governments by the channel tunnel safety authority, which considered the proposals acceptable, subject to a number of conditions being met relating to the training of staff and the evacuation procedures in an emergency.
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