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Departmental Reorganisation Strategies
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2006, Official Report, column 562W, on Reorganisation Strategies for DfT, what principles of fairness and transparency are included in Reorganisation Strategies for DfT. [89135]
Gillian Merron: The Reorganisation Strategies for the Department’s Shared Service Programme are based on the principles that all staff will be treated in line with the Department’s equal opportunities and diversity policies and redundancy arrangements.
The Department will comply fully with any legislation which binds the Crown or which Ministers have undertaken to apply as if it were binding on the Crown (as set out in the ‘Introduction of the Civil Service Management Code’). The Department will also follow the Codes of Practices and Guidance produced by the Commissions for racial equality, disability rights and equal opportunities.
Departmental Staff (Sickness Absence)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2006, Official Report, column 561W, on departmental staff, how many members of staff in his Department have had (a) two or more and (b) five or more periods of sickness absence in two or more of the years for which he has provided figures. [84043]
Gillian Merron: This level of detail is not readily available across the Department and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 29 June 2006, Official Report, column 561W, on departmental staff, to what he attributes the increase in the number of staff with (a) two and (b) five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days over the last three years. [84044]
Gillian Merron: The Department’s overall sick absence figures have gone up from 2003 to 2005. The different periods of sick absence asked in the earlier question (UIN 73114) fluctuates from one year to the next when looking at specific parts of the organisation. We attribute part of the increase in our figures to raising the profile of attendance management and more accurate recording of absence.
Disabled Staff
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid to his Department from the Access to Work scheme for adjustments for disabled staff in the last year for which figures are available; from what budget he plans to meet the costs of reasonable adjustments for disabled staff following withdrawal of Access to Work funding for central Government departments; and if he will make a statement. [89006]
Gillian Merron: The Department does not centrally collect data pertaining to funds paid for disabled staff under the Access to Work scheme, due to the application being made directly between the applicant and the Department for Works and Pensions.
The withdrawal of funding is likely to have some impact on existing budgets but as requirements for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case by case basis; if existing budgets cannot meet the demand, a case will be submitted for additional funding from other budgets.
East London Line
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his consent is required to allow Transport for London to enter into agreements with outside contractors to carry out station or train operating functions on the East London line. [87148]
Derek Twigg: The contractualisation of station and train operating functions on the East London line is a matter for Transport for London and the explicit agreement of the Secretary of State is not required.
First Capital Connect
Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the Managing Director of First Capital Connect arranges to meet the hon. Member for Bedford in order to discuss matters relating to the hon. Member’s constituents. [88303]
Derek Twigg: The Secretary of State has no contractual locus to ensure that the Managing Director of First Capital Connect arranges to meet my hon. Friend. However my officials have communicated his wish to meet to the Managing Director of First Capital Connect.
Flight Restrictions (Greater London)
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) regulations and (b) flight path restrictions apply to (i) single engine helicopters and (ii) twin engine helicopters when flying over the Greater London area. [88054]
Gillian Merron: The Rules of the Air Regulations and the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Specified Area) Regulations govern flight by helicopters over London. The former regulations specify the minimum height at which a helicopter may operate, the latter regulations prohibit single engine helicopters from the central area of London below such a height as would enable them to alight clear of that area in the event of an engine failure.
Helicopters are required to follow published routes over London subject to an air traffic control clearance. The routes, detailed in the UK Aeronautical Information Publication published by the CAA, are designed to provide maximum safety in respect of single engine helicopter traffic by avoiding built-up areas as much as possible. Twin engine helicopters, such as those operated by the emergency services, may be cleared to fly outside those routes according to their specific requirements and the Rules of the Air.
In addition, an aircraft flying in accordance with the terms of a police air operator's certificate (PAOC) is exempt from certain parts of the Rules of the Air Regulations, including the low flying rule, if the aircraft is flown in accordance with the Police Air Operations Manual (CAP 612), published by the Civil Aviation Authority (www.caa.co.uk). In London, the Metropolitan police and the Surrey police have been granted PAOCs and may be permitted to hover above particular locations depending on the operational requirement.
Freight Trains
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many freight trains carrying (a) nuclear products and (b) hazardous material have travelled through (i) Brent and (ii) Brent, East in each year since 1997. [87715]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department does not hold or maintain such records. The transport of dangerous goods by rail, including radioactive material, is subject to strict regulation, based upon internationally agreed provisions, to minimise the risk to members of the public, workers and the environment.
Helicopter Accidents
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving helicopters have occurred in London in each of the last five years. [87778]
Gillian Merron: In replying to the question the definition of London is taken as the area bounded by the M25 and the definitions of accident and incident are as stated in Statutory Instrument 1996 No 2798: The Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 1996.
| Number of | ||
| Accidents | Incidents | |
| (1
)To date. | ||
Helicopter Noise Pollution
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated since 1988 on noise pollution from helicopter use over (i) the United Kingdom and (ii) the Greater London area. [88057]
Gillian Merron: The Department has not commissioned any substantial new work on helicopter noise since that carried out for the London Heliport Study in 1992-94 and published in 1995.
Highways Expenditure
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much highway funding per capita was made available in the Yorkshire and Humber Region in 2005-06. [88594]
Gillian Merron: For 2005-06, the Department made a capital allocation of £76.588 million to local highway authorities in the Yorkshire and the Humber Region, as part of the Local Transport Plan settlement. It is for the local highway authorities to determine how their capital highway maintenance allocations are spent, in line with their local transport plan and their priorities.
In addition, the Highways Agency provided capital funding of £9.158 million for trunk roads and motorways in their area 12, which is their equivalent, but not an exact geographical area. Based on a Yorkshire and Humber region population of 4,964,833 (2001 Census), this represents an estimated capital funding of £17.27 per person.
Local authorities can also allocate other sources of Government support for capital funding to highways. Besides this, street lighting contracts in Leeds and Wakefield will benefit from £110.8 million of PFI credits.
The Revenue Support Grant (RSG) from the Department for Communities and Local Government provides revenue funding for highway maintenance. However, RSG is unhypothecated and may be applied by local authorities to any services.
Journey Times
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require the local authorities in each of the 10 largest urban areas in England to make an assessment of how journey times per mile can be reduced by road users using motorcycles, scooters or mopeds for urban journeys. [89103]
Gillian Merron: It is for each local authority to determine how best to tackle congestion in their area, consistent with local priorities and circumstances. Local authorities’ plans for tackling congestion are included in their ‘Local Transport Plans’, published in March (for London, the Transport for London business plan).
Liverpool Street/Stratford (Trackside Buildings)
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will have discussions with Network Rail, the One Railway Company and organisers of the London 2012 Olympics on improving the appearance of the buildings, structures and trackside between London Liverpool Street Station and Stratford Station. [87413]
Derek Twigg: As the operator and owner of the national rail network, Network Rail has responsibility for trackside maintenance and appearance and between now and the games. We will discuss with them and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) what practical steps can be taken to improve the appearance of the route. The Olympic Transport Plan is due to be issued for consultation in the autumn by the ODA and will include the arrangements for working with the rail industry on the transport required to stage the games.
Local Transport Budgets
Mr. Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used in deciding to reduce Stoke-on-Trent city council’s transport budget for each year until 2010. [81769]
Gillian
Merron: The levels of Stoke-on-Trent city council’s
transport budgets are ultimately a matter for the council to determine.
Government funding support for local transport in Stoke is provided in
a variety of
ways including through the revenue support grant, which is not allocated
between individual council
services.
Government support for councils’ transport capital programmes is provided in three main areas. The support provided to Stoke-on-Trent city council for one of those areas is planned to reduce.
This is because, following consultation, a formula is being introduced over the five years up to 2010-11 to distribute much of the support for integrated transport improvements over the next five years. The factors considered in this formula are set out in my reply of 4 July 2006, Official Report, columns 922-23W.
Further details of its rationale can be found in the paper about financial planning guidelines for local transport plans on the Department’s website (www.dft.gov.uk) in the consultation paper sub-section of the regional and local transport section.
Stoke-on-Trent city council has been issued with planning guidelines for this part of its funding support for the years 2007-08 to 2010-11. Stoke-on-Trent city council may mitigate the planned funding reduction in a number of ways, including through demonstrating strong delivery of its previous programme.
London Transport (Offences)
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many offences were committed on London Transport in each year since 1997. [87709]
Derek Twigg: This information is not held by the Department for Transport. Information relating to offences committed on the London Underground system and on the rail system in London is held by the British Transport police who can be contacted at: British Transport police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN, E-mail:
general.enquiries@btp.pnn.police.uk.
M40
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the projected increase in traffic flow between junctions 3 and 7 of the M40 for each year between 2006 and 2026. [88320]
Dr. Ladyman: The table shows the factors by which the previous year's traffic flows would be multiplied in each year, according to current long-term forecasts in themselves, as outcomes for each year will vary in ways that reflect unpredictable events and other short term factors.
| OV( 1) | HGV( 2) | |
(1) Vehicles below 5 metres in length (2) Vehicles above 5 metres in length | ||
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