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Air Passengers (Compensation)
Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many compensation payments have been made to UK air passengers under EU Regulation 261/2004 in each year since it was introduced. [56477]
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Ms Buck [holding answer 6 March 2006]: The Air Transport Users Council collects data on the number of complaints it receives in connection with this regulation, but no central record is kept of the number of compensation payments made to UK air passengers, as these are generally dealt with directly between the airline and the passenger.
Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek amendments to EU Regulation 261/2004 to improve the payment of compensation to air passengers. [56478]
Ms Buck [holding answer 6 March 2006]: The European Commission is due to review the operation of the regulation and report back to the European Parliament and Council by 1 January 2007. The Department for Transport, in concert with the Civil Aviation Authority, is monitoring the situation and will carefully consider any recommendations for change made in the Commission's review.
Alternative Fuels
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was allocated to research into alternative fuel options in each of the last seven years. [56840]
Dr. Ladyman: In the last three years the Department's research expenditure on the environmental performance of alternative fuels was as follows: £274,566 in 2003–04, £15,583 in 2004–05 and £54,500 in 2005–06. Details of research expenditure in previous years broken down by subject are not readily available.
Aviation Safety
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding a safety alert at Nottingham East Midlands airport on 4 February. [56732]
Ms Buck [holding answer 7 March 2006]: The Secretary of State has received one written representation dated 2 March regarding an alleged incident at East Midlands airport on 4 February, and has asked the Civil Aviation Authority to investigate as a matter of urgency.
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss safety at (a) regional airports and (b) Nottingham East Midlands Airport. [56610]
Ms Buck
[holding answer 7 March 2006]: The Secretary of State and the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority meet regularly, approximately every three months, to discuss matters of current interest, including any matters relevant to civil aviation safety. Officials within the Department have more frequent regular meetings with the Chairman and with the Authority's Group Director for Safety Regulation, and there is day-to-day contact as necessary on a range of safety matters. No significant safety issues regarding regional airports have been raised in these meetings or discussions.
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Canvey Island
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what investigations are under way on a new access road for Canvey Island; which body is responsible for undertaking the investigations; and what the budget for the investigations is; [55114]
(2) what the (a) terms of reference and (b) anticipated times of completion are for each investigation into a possible new access road for Canvey Island. [55115]
Dr. Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 January 2006, Official Report, columns 930–31W.
Concessionary Transport
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from local authorities about the possibility of shortfalls in funding for statutory free bus travel for the elderly and disabled. [48221]
Ms Buck: The Government are providing an extra £350 million for 2006–07 which is sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities.
Concessionary fares are funded through the formula grant system administered by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). Local authorities were fully consulted on the distribution of the new formula which takes account of factors that reflect support for disabled people and the needs of areas where take-up is likely to be highest.
336 representations were received during the consultation period. The Government concluded, following careful consideration of the consultation responses, that the new formula was a fairer way to allocate the extra funding.
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Correspondence
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will provide a substantive reply to Mr. Roger Jobson of Tuckenhay, Chairman of the Riparian and Mooring Rights Owners Group. [54753]
Derek Twigg: Mr. Roger Jobson wrote to Mr. Christopher Garnett, the Managing Director of GNER on 26 October 2005 about the booking of tickets from Darlington to Totnes, copying his letter to my right hon. Friend. The operation of the network is a matter for the train operating companies and I have been informed that GNER has now made contact with Mr. Jobson and report that his query has been resolved to his satisfaction.
Departmental Staff
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed by the (a) Driving Standards Agency, (b) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (c) Highways Agency, (d) Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (e) Office of Rail Regulation, (f) Department for Transport, (g) Vehicle Certification Agency and (h) Vehicle and Operator Services in each region in each of the last 12 months for which data is available; and how many and what percentage of posts were vacant in each month. [51166]
Ms Buck: The figures requested are published in Civil Service Statistics. Departments should refer to table A which covers staff numbers (FTE and headcount basis) for each organisation. Civil service statistics are available in the Library and at the following address on the Cabinet Office Statistics website: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/index.asp
The number of vacancies available within each Department/agency for the past 12 months can be found in the following table. These figures are based on the available data.
(18) No information available.
Note:
These figures are based on available data as not all business units keep records of vacant posts. It is not possible to provide the information requested as percentages.
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