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6 Nov 2006 : Column 949W—continued
Light Bulbs
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of light bulbs purchased by his Department in 2005 were of the compact fluorescent type. [98260]
Mr. Hain: The Department has a variety of light fittings which accept a wide range of bulbs. No records are kept of the numbers or frequency of lamp replacement and the cost of obtaining these figures would be disproportionate. Compact fluorescents are, where practicable, the preferred type of light bulb.
MOT
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time for an MOT test at each test centre in the Province was in the last period for which figures are available; what the longest time is for which a driver has been waiting for an MOT test at each centre; how many individuals are waiting for MOT tests at each centre; and how many MOT tests were conducted at each centre in each of the last five years. [99754]
David Cairns: The average waiting time and the longest waiting time for a vehicle test at each test centre for the week ending 28 October 2006 is as follows.
| Days | ||
| Centre | Average waiting time | Longest waiting time |
The number of vehicles awaiting test as at 28 October was 59,117. This information is not maintained at centre level.
The number of vehicle tests conducted at each centre in each of the last five years is set out as follows.
| Centre | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
Figures include all vehicle test categories (MOT, PSV and HGV) but exclude re-tests.
Motorcyclists (Safety)
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the safety implications for motorcyclists of wire rope crash barriers in Northern Ireland. [99406]
David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the hon. Gentleman.
Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 3 November 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about what assessment he has made of the safety implications for motorcyclists of wire rope crash
barriers in Northern Ireland. As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
I can advise that all vehicle restraint systems installed on the public road network in Northern Ireland comply with European Standard EN 1317. There is relatively little wire rope safety fencing erected on the Northern Ireland road network and statistical analysis of collision data has not identified any problems in those areas.
Whilst Roads Service has not undertaken any specific research to evaluate the safety implications for motorcyclists, I can advise that the Government (DfT) Advisory Group on Motorcycling reported in 2004 that the Transport Research Laboratory had undertaken some evaluation of safety fences. I understand the conclusion from this work was that all types of barrier pose some form of risk for motorcyclists, but wire rope is no more of a risk than other types of post and beam barriers.
New Health and Education Structures
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what opportunities there will be for elected representatives to serve on new health and education structures arising from the Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland; and what lay representation there will be on those new structures. [99751]
Mr. Hanson: All board members will be appointed under the guidelines laid down by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Board members must be chosen solely on the basis of the skills and expertise necessary to do the job. All appointments are to be made on merit and no one should be appointed to any position solely because they hold a particular position in another organisation.
Pedestrian Crossings
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the average cost of establishing a (a) pelican and (b) zebra crossing in Northern Ireland. [99453]
David Cairns: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has written to the hon. Lady.
Letter from Malcolm McKibbin, dated 6 November 2006:
You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding the estimated costs of establishing (a) a zebra crossing and (b) a pelican crossing.
I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
By way of background, I should explain that the cost of installing pedestrian crossing facilities is dependant on a number of issues including; type of equipment being installed, width of road, distance to a source of electricity and need for alterations to existing infrastructure.
Taking these factors into account, the estimated cost of establishing zebra and pelican crossings are as follows:
Zebra crossing—£10k/£12k;
Pelican crossing—£23/£30k;
Pelican crossing in Belfast area—£28/£35k.
The cost of installing a pelican crossing in Belfast is potentially higher due to the need to integrate the crossing into the Belfast Urban Traffic Control System.
Public Administration Review
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing the Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland. [99522]
Mr. Hanson: I have been given overall ministerial responsibility for the implementation of the Review of Public Administration (RPA) decisions. The Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Nigel Hamilton, is personally leading the oversight of the change process, and has established an RPA steering group to oversee the reforms.
Project teams have been established within departments to drive forward implementation. A central unit has been established within the office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister that will oversee the implementation process and support the steering group
The Local Government (Boundaries) (NI) Order 2006 is in operation, establishing the number of councils at seven and setting out procedures for the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner, who was appointed on 1 June 2006 for a 12-month period. His interim report is due on 7 November.
A DOE Local Government Taskforce has been established to examine and report on key issues and work continues to complete the legislation proposals for the Local Government (Structures) Order and the Local Government (Transfer of Functions) Order by February 2007.
The Chief Executive (Designate) of the proposed new Health and Social Services Authority has been appointed and the Authority will be formally established from 1 April 2008. Legislation to establish the five new trusts has already been made and the trusts are now operating in shadow form. The Chairs were appointed on 1 August and the Chief Executives were appointed on 1 September 2006. The existing trusts will be abolished on 1 April 2007. Work continues to complete the drafting of legislation proposals for Health and Social Services Reform by February 2007.
The Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety is currently consulting on the following:
(i) the Draft Transfer of Staff, Assets and Liabilities Orders for the new HSS Trusts;
(ii) draft proposals for a statutory Joint Committee for Commissioning health and social services; and
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