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Lyons Inquiry

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2005, Official Report, column 753W, on the Lyons Inquiry, whether her Department has given guidance to the Lyons Inquiry on whether it is regulated by the Freedom of Information Act. [22326]

Ms Harman: No guidance was issued to the Lyons Inquiry by my Department.

Small Claims (Personal Injuries)

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which organisations she plans to consult as part of the review of personal injuries limits for small claims. [31595]

Ms Harman: The Department for Constitutional Affairs to date has published two reports on the effects of the Civil Procedure Rules of April 1999, Emerging Findings, an early evaluation of the Civil Justice Reforms" published in 2001 and Further Findings, a continuing evaluation of the Civil Justice Reforms" published in 2002. Both reports concluded that it was still too early to provide a definitive view on costs with data difficult to obtain and conflicting anecdotal evidence. Where there was evidence of increased costs, the causes were difficult to isolate.

The Civil Justice Reforms were intended to divert cases from litigation or to ensure litigated cases are better prepared and provide more information relative to liability and quantum, so that an opponent could make a better informed offer to settle. This has resulted in the front loading of costs. However, it has enabled more cases to settle earlier, and where cases settle at an earlier stage the overall costs may be lower.

Staff Discipline

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many employees have been dismissed by her Department in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [29048]

Bridget Prentice: The number of employees dismissed over the last five years for the Department are:

	Number
2001	33
2002	42
2003	57
2004	56
2005	59

These figures are for the period April to March for each of the years shown.
 
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Voter Registration

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will introduce individual voter registration. [30164]

Ms Harman: The Electoral Administration Bill, currently before Parliament, includes provision for the collection of personal identifiers such as individual signatures and dates of birth at the point at which a person registers to vote.

In order that the effect of this policy may be tested in order to obtain evidence as to whether it should be implemented or not, the Bill provides for personal identifiers to be first piloted at a local level, with the results to be evaluated by the Electoral Commission.

TRANSPORT

2012 Olympics

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that the arrangements for transport for the 2012 Olympics will meet the requirements of the Olympic family. [31467]

Ms Buck: Our plans are based on the experience of previous host cities. 50 per cent. of athletes will be just five minutes from their venues and 75 per cent. less than 15 minutes. Olympic Family Transport plans will be supported by an Olympic Route Network (ORN) between the main venues, facilities and accommodation. A dedicated fleet of coaches and cars will run on this network, and one some 100 km there will be dedicated Olympic lanes. Following experience of Athens and Sydney, fines will be used to ensure that the network functions effectively.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that the Olympic delivery authority will be able to ensure that transport for spectators will be fully accessible. [31555]

Ms Buck: A key objective for Olympic transport is achieving an accessible and inclusive Games for every client group.

A Games mobility service based on the successful Manchester Commonwealth Games model, will operate throughout both Olympic and Paralympic Games. Among other things, this service will provide pre-booking of various forms of wheelchair, bookable access to individual electric buggies, provision of wide access at airport-style security screening, appropriate signposting, audio-visual information provision and induction loops at stations.

The Olympic delivery authority will consult with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee to ensure that their plans for Olympic transport meet the accessibility needs of all spectators.

In terms of the national picture and access to venues outside of London, all full-size single and double deck buses must be compliant with the Public Service Vehicle Access Regulations by 2016–17. This allows operators to achieve the full economic life from the fleet which existed before the regulations come into effect. To ensure the industry is well placed to meet these end
 
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dates, we have negotiated a voluntary agreement with the industry that 50 per cent. of the full size bus fleet should be low-floor and accessible by 2010. This should be sufficient for us to ensure fully accessible transport to all Olympic venues during the 2012 Games.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Olympic Delivery Authority is taking to ensure that transport for spectators and Olympic family members will be fully accessible by those with disabilities. [30988]

Ms Buck: One of the key objectives for Olympic transport remains achieving an accessible and inclusive games for every client group. A games mobility service based on the successful Manchester Commonwealth games model, will operate through-out both Olympic and Paralympic games. Among other things, this service will provide pre-booking of various forms of wheelchair, bookable access to individual electric buggies, provision of wide access at airport-style security screening, appropriate signposting, audio-visual information provision and induction loops at stations.

We are accelerating the creation of accessible networks of rail, tube and surface transport. Transport for London is continuing to work to ensure that as many stations as possible will be accessible, with a target of at least 25 per cent. of underground stations having step free access by 2010.

All buses in London will be wheelchair accessible well before 2012. And the London taxi fleet has, of course, been wheelchair accessible since 2000.

In terms of the national picture and access to venues outside of London, all full-size single and double deck buses must be compliant with the public service vehicle access regulations by 2016–17. This allows operators to achieve the full economic life from the fleet which existed before the regulations come into effect. To ensure the industry is well placed to meet these end dates, we have negotiated a voluntary agreement with the industry that 50 per cent. of the full size bus fleet should be low-floor and accessible by 2010. This should be sufficient for us to ensure fully accessible transport to all Olympic venues during the 2012 games.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds are available to pay for any cost over-run in the construction of transport infrastructure and services in connection with the 2012 Olympics. [30989]

Ms Buck: The Government's aim is to keep a tight grip on costs and ensure that there is no over-run. We expect specific projects to be managed rigorously and with clear accountability. The major schemes, which underpinned the Olympic bid and to which we were committed regardless of the bid's success, are either funded by the Department directly or by the Mayor through his five year investment plan. In addition, the Olympics is funding a number of specific additional transport schemes which are paid for from either the £2.375 billion public sector funding package or through revenue raised by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

In the unlikely event of an over-run arising for these specific Olympic schemes, a memorandum of understanding, agreed with the Mayor, makes it clear
 
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that any shortfall will be dealt with in a sharing arrangement with the Mayor and additional National Lottery funding.

A21

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to reduce the accident rate for vehicles on the A21 in East Sussex; and if he will make a statement. [31542]

Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 24 November 2005]: Each year an annual road safety review is undertaken for the A21. The review has identified a programme of works to improve safety.

This year the programme includes preparatory work for a safety scheme at Flimwell Cross Roads. The scheme will introduce signals at the junction for right turns and is due to be completed in summer 2006. Further safety work is also planned for next financial year at Ashdene Services near Hurst Green to improve right turns at the entrance to the services.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been made available for public consultation on the proposed A21 upgrade by the Highways Agency. [32144]

Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency have allocated for 2005–06 £855,000 to fund preparation work, including public consultation, for the A21 upgrade.

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