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30 Jan 2007 : Column 249W

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to promote actively the employment within (a) his Department and (b) public sector bodies for whom he has responsibility of people with mental illnesses in line with the advice and codes of practice produced by the Disability Rights Commission. [117088]

Gillian Merron: Under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Department and its agencies, are required to publish and implement Disability Equality Schemes.

The Department's scheme was published in December 2006 and is available at:

The scheme sets out that the Department is committed to actively increasing the representation of disabled people, including those with mental health conditions, at all levels. The section "Managing Our People" on page 37 sets out our broad plans for implementing the duty for disabled people working for the Department. The annexes to the scheme set out in more detail plans for the central Department and its agencies.

Mobile Phones

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been allocated to his recently announced campaign to raise awareness of the change in penalties for using a mobile phone while driving. [111397]

Dr. Ladyman: We have allocated £1 million to publicity to raise awareness of the changes in penalties for using a mobile phone while driving. Activity, which is being taken forward as part of our THINK! road safety campaign, will be executed in four phases:

Motorcycles: Accidents

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving 16-year-olds driving 50cc motorcycles there were in each of the last 15 years; and what percentage of traffic accidents in each year each figure represents. [110948]


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Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is in the following table.

Personal injury road accidents reported to the police involving 16-year-olds riding motorcycles 50cc or less GB: 1991 to 2005
Number of accidents As a percentage of all injury accidents

1991

1,171

0.50

1992

870

0.37

1993

680

0.30

1994

577

0.25

1995

591

0.26

1996

579

0.25

1997

606

0.25

1998

621

0.26

1999

1,063

0.45

2000

1,366

0.58

2001

1,698

0.74

2002

(1)1,783

0.80

2003

1,876

0.88

2004

1,997

0.96

2005

1,953

0.98

(1) Figure corrected from previous answer—15 January 2007, O fficial Report, columns 755-6W.

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to reduce pedestrian/motorcycle collisions; and if he will make a statement. [111494]

Dr. Ladyman: All new riders must first undertake compulsory basic training which is a legal requirement. This is a modular course which covers information on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, the Highway Code, defensive riding and anticipating the actions of other road users.

Riders are trained to the standards laid down in the Driving Standards Agency’s publication “The Official DSA Guide to Riding—the essential skills”, which has numerous references to the rider’s responsibilities towards pedestrians.

The Highway Code provides advice to all road users about how to stay safe on the roads and also to show consideration towards each other. This applies to pedestrians as much as to drivers and riders.

Motoring Offences

Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions resulted from the most recent campaign to target motorists driving without insurance. [112139]

Dr. Ladyman: Information on the prosecutions brought and fixed penalties offered for the offence of driving without appropriate insurance is contained in the annual Home Office statistical bulletin ‘Motoring Offences and Breath Test Statistics, England and Wales’, available on the Home Office website at:

The latest figures are for 2004; the data do not show the circumstances leading to the proceedings and are not related to particular campaigns.


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The Government have taken several initiatives in recent times to tackle motor insurance evasion. We introduced two new relevant measures in the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005: first, improved police access to the motor insurance database (MFD) to enhance their capability to detect uninsured driving by using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) equipment; second, powers allowing the police to seize vehicles being driven by someone without appropriate insurance. In the Road Safety Act 2006, we enabled the introduction of a new fixed penalty for people who ignore official reminders that their insurance has expired: when introduced, this will provide for a scheme of continuous insurance enforcement from the vehicle record, to complement police activities.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department; what the function is of each body; and what the annual budget was of each body in the most recent year for which figures are available. [116714]

Gillian Merron: Details of the remit, Government funding and gross expenditure of public bodies sponsored by the Department for Transport can be found in the Cabinet Office publication “Public Bodies 2006”, copies of which are in the Library and which is also available online at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/publications/pdf/public-bodies/publicbodies2006.pdf

The latest annual budgets (2006-07 unless otherwise noted) for the Department’s non-departmental public bodies are:

The Traffic Commissioners receive no vote funding and their costs are borne by fees charged to the industry by the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA) under Trading Fund status. VOSA does not have a separately identifiable budget for the Traffic Commissioners, as they fall within the remit of the Agency.

Further information on the remit and function of these bodies may be found in the Department’s annual report (Cm 6817), copies of which are also in the Library and available online at http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/page/dft_about
30 Jan 2007 : Column 252W
_611668.hcsp with more detailed information available online at http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control /documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n =17250&l=2

Open Source Software

Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of his Department's computer systems use open source software; what percentage of the systems planned to be installed use such software; and whether he plans to increase the use of open source software in his Department. [111155]

Gillian Merron: The following table gives the respective position for the central Department and its agencies on current and planned use of open source software. The policy regarding any increase in use is that the Department will continue to consider open source solutions on an overall value for money basis in accordance with the Government's 2004 policy statement.

Percentage of systems using open source software Percentage of systems planned to be installed with open source software

DfT(c)

Less than 1 per cent.

No open source systems currently planned, although new requirements will be considered against the 2004 policy statement

DVLA

33 per cent.

Figure will increase when Legacy Systems are re-engineered

DSA

0

No open source systems currently planned, although new requirements will be considered against the 2004 policy statement

HA

Less than 1 per cent.

No open source systems currently planned, although new requirements will be considered against the 2004 policy statement

VOSA

Percentage uncertain, but used in only one project (MOT computerisation)

May increase, although all software changes are subject to Siemens PFI contract.

MCGA

4 per cent. of servers—83 per cent. of systems in whole or part

Will increase, as currently planning new Ship system based on open source software

GCDA

0

No open source systems currently planned, although new requirements will be considered against the 2004 policy statement

VCA

0

Under 1 per cent.


Programme Expenditure: Canterbury

Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency spent on programme expenditure in Canterbury local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. [117175]

Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not available.


30 Jan 2007 : Column 253W

Railway Stations: Disabled Access

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he approved or supported in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007 for improving access at Llandaff station, Cardiff, for people with disabilities. [112335]

Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 29 January 2007]: The Secretary of State has not been asked to approve directly or support any plans relating to access for disabled people at Llandaff railway station in 2005, 2006 or 2007.

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations have taken place with people with disabilities on access and facilities for passengers and other users of Llandaff station, Cardiff. [112336]

Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 29 January 2007]: The Department for Transport does not hold information centrally on all consultations that take place relating to access and facilities at particular railway stations. Ministers and officials consult regularly with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and other groups on issues affecting disabled people at railway stations.

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he plans to take to improve access for people with disabilities at Llandaff station, Cardiff. [112337]

Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 29 January 2007]: On 23 March 2006 the Government launched the Railways for All Strategy which sets out what the rail industry is doing to improve access to Britain's railways, particularly for people with disabilities. Central to the strategy is the £370 million Access for All funding, ring fenced to improve accessibility at railway stations up to 2015.

The majority of the funding (£315 million) is targeted at the busiest stations and the works are being delivered by Network Rail. To date the Department has announced 92 stations in England and Wales for Network Rail to prioritise for access improvements up to 2011. Later this year we are planning to publish a third tranche of stations for inclusion within the Access for All programme for delivery between 2012 and 2015. Llandaff will be considered for inclusion in this tranche alongside all other eligible stations.

In addition, up to £7 million a year is available as Small Schemes Funding for train operating companies and local authorities to bid for match funding to make access improvements at local stations. The Department has not received any Small Schemes bids for improvements at Llandaff station.

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations within the boundaries of the city of Cardiff give wheelchair access for disabled people to both up and down line trains. [112338]


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