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13 Feb 2006 : Column 1498W—continued
Limousines (Licensing)
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Department plans to establish a working party involving interested parties to examine the regulations surrounding the licensing of limousines and stretch limousines. [48950]
Ms Buck [holding answer 6 February 2006]: We are satisfied that current legislation adequately caters for the licensing of limousines. We are aware of the concerns over stretch limousines and will update our advice to the industry in the near future. We have no plans to set up a working party.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many inspectors have been employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each year since 2000; and how many inspections were carried out by the agency in each year since 2000, broken down by flag. [48826]
Dr. Ladyman: The number of inspectors (surveying staff carrying out Port State Control duties) employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for 2004 was 105. The MCA do not have any staff who work exclusively on Port State Control, but the effort in this activity is about 18 full-time equivalents.
102 inspectors were employed in 2003. Figures for previous years are unavailable.
The number of inspections carried out per year is as follows:
| UK ships | Foreign ships | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 622 | 1,806 | 2,428 |
| 2001 | 683 | 1,811 | 2,494 |
| 2002 | 845 | 1,769 | 2,614 |
| 2003 | 905 | 1,692 | 2,597 |
| 2004 | 984 | 1,768 | 2,752 |
The breakdown by flag is available within the MCA's Annual Plan and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds were allocated for external radio surveys of merchant ships on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2005–06; how much of this fund remains to be spent; and if he will make a statement. [48828]
Dr. Ladyman: No funds were allocated for external radio surveys of merchant ships on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2005–06. Vessel owners/operators are responsible for the payment of survey charges.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the retirement age is for employees of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. [51498]
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Dr. Ladyman: Employees of the Coastguard may retire at the age of 60 although they have the right to choose to continue in service up to the age of 65.
Merchant Navy (Competency Certificates)
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many holders of certificates of equivalent competency are serving on merchant vessels which joined the UK shipping register since 2000. [48827]
Dr. Ladyman: There are currently 8,957 valid holders of Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CECs) in circulation, these having been issued within the last five years. Records of where the holders are currently serving are not kept.
Ministerial Cars
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that all ministerial cars are converted to run on an 85 per cent. biofuel blend as soon as is practically possible. [49589]
Ms Buck: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the framework document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Roy Burke to write to my hon. Friend. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Roy Burke, dated 13 February 2006:
You recently tabled a Parliamentary Question about the fuel used by the Government car fleet. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has asked me to write in my capacity as the Chief Executive responsible for the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA).
GCDA is committed to ensuring that all its vehicles are as environmentally friendly as they can be while meeting the needs of Government. All new vehicles purchased by the Agency will be environmentally friendly. They are either a vehicle with a diesel engine capable of running on bio diesel or a hybrid vehicle.
Currently there are few vehicles that can be run on bioethanol and conversion at this point in time would be likely to invalidate the manufacturer's warranty. Further, there are very few places in the UK where bioethanol can be purchased. We will continue to monitor the situation and when the technologies of vehicle and fuel are more widely available we will use the most environmentally friendly option available.
Parliamentary Questions
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department follows on answering parliamentary questions. [48248]
Ms Buck: The Department follows the Ministerial Code", the Civil Service Code" and Guidance to Officials on Drafting Responses to Parliamentary Questions" when answering parliamentary questions. Copies of these documents are available in the Library.
Rail Safety (Hampshire)
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train level crossings in Hampshire (a) are unmanned, (b) have half barriers and (c) have full barriers; which (i) have and (ii) do not have
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CCTV; and what steps will be taken to upgrade unmanned or those with half barriers in (A) 2005–06 and (B) 2006–07. [47252]
Derek Twigg: The information is not held centrally in the form requested.
Rail Services
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will reverse the decision of the Office of Rail Regulation to reject GNER's plans for further half hourly services between London and Leeds including stops at Peterborough. [50342]
Derek Twigg: The decision is one for the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
Rail Strikes
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Virgin Cross Country regarding the use of untrained staff on strike days in the current dispute with the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union. [49763]
Derek Twigg: Pay and conditions are matters for negotiation between staff and employers. Her Majesty's Rail Inspectorate have been consulted on the arrangements of trained staff to provide cover as guards/train managers on strike days. The company are satisfied that their safety case has not been compromised.
Road Pricing Schemes
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has published guidelines on whether (a) local and (b) national road pricing schemes should be revenue neutral; and if he will make a statement. [48250]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department has not published guidance on whether local and national road pricing schemes should be revenue neutral.
Road Signs
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on conversion of British road signs to metric. [50305]
Ms Buck: The Government have no such proposals. UK legislation requires that imperial units be used for indicating speeds and distances on traffic signs. EC legislation on units of measurement (council directive 80/181/EEC, as amended by directive 89/617/EEC) allows the continuing use of miles and yards on UK road signs.
Roadworks (Speed Restrictions)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed restrictions have been imposed as a result of roadworks in each of the last five years; and how many have continued to operate when work on the road is not happening. [48255]
Dr. Ladyman:
Traffic authorities are responsible for setting local speed limits, including temporary restrictions at roadworks. These records are retained by individual traffic authorities but there are no central
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figures indicating how many speed restrictions have been imposed as a result of roadworks in the last five years.
Temporary speed restrictions are for the benefit of both road workers and road users, and are considered when a temporary hazard exists such as restricted visibility, narrow lanes, loss of vehicle restraint barrier, or other construction hazard. While it may not always be obvious to passing motorists that such a hazard exists, it is important that any imposed speed restrictions should remain as long as the hazard remains, even when no work is physically taking place.
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