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19 Feb 2007 : Column 356W—continued
Workplace Accidents
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many deaths there were from accidents in the workplace in each of the last five years. [117516]
Mrs. McGuire: The figures requested are set out as follows.
| Fatal injuries to workers and members of the public 2001-02 to 2005-06( 1) as reported to all enforcing authorities | ||
| Workers | Members of the public | |
| (1)Provisional. | ||
There has been a general downward trend in the rate of UK work-related fatal injuries over the last five years, with 2005-06 showing the lowest rate per 100,000 of workers on record. Last year also recorded the lowest number of fatally injured workers on record. The rise in 2003-04—was almost entirely due to the tragic Morecambe Bay incident in which 21 cockle pickers drowned.
There has been a significant improvement in the number of fatalities in the construction industry, and in the overall number of deaths resulting from falls in the workplace; both of which were the lowest on record in 2005-06.
Within the European Union, Great Britain now has the lowest rate of workplace fatal injury per 100,000 workers
I, and the HSC remain committed to reducing the number of people killed or injured as a result of their work activities. These figures show the benefit of good health and safety regulation, sensibly applied.
Transport
A120
Mr. Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of the (a) commencement and (b) completion dates of the scheme to upgrade the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey. [120615]
Dr. Ladyman: A public consultation on options for the scheme took place in 2005 and resulted in a number of additional routes being suggested by respondents. The Highways Agency is undertaking investigation into these suggestions, as well as further investigations into its own proposals. This work is nearing completion.
At the time of the public consultation, the scheme was expected to be open to traffic about 2013, subject to the successful completion of all necessary statutory procedures. As the A120 is a route of regional importance the scheme has been considered in the regional funding allocation prioritisation process.
In their submission to Government, the East of England regional assembly prioritised the scheme for start of works in the 2011-12 to 2015-16 period.
Mr. Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to announce the preferred route for the proposed upgrade of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey. [120616]
Dr. Ladyman: A public consultation on options for dualling the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey ended on 17 June 2005, and resulted in a number of additional routes being suggested by respondents. The Highways Agency is undertaking investigations into these suggestions, as well as further considerations of its own proposals. When this work is complete I will then be in a position to consider the way forward.
Mr. Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely cost of the proposed improvement of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey; and when the project is expected to be included in the Targeted Programme of Improvements. [120617]
Dr. Ladyman: The current estimated cost of the proposed improvement is around £370 million, assuming start of works in 2015-16, with completion in 2018-19. The East of England region has prioritised the scheme for funding towards the end of the period 2011-12 to 2015-16. On this timetable the scheme would not need to enter the targeted programme of improvements for some time.
Aviation
Sir Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has conducted any studies of circling times of aircraft landing at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Luton, (d) Stansted, (e) London City, (f) Birmingham, (g) Liverpool, (h) Manchester, (i) Edinburgh, (j) Glasgow and (k) Belfast airports. [120670]
Gillian Merron: Aircraft stacking (circling), imposed for safety reasons when there is a lack of airport capacity, is an operational matter for NATS, the air navigation services provider. I suggest the hon. Member directs his inquiries to the NATS’ chief executive.
Safety performance, regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority, is the highest priority in air traffic management. In addition, NATS’ service performance, including reductions in delays, is incentivised by independent economic regulation by the CAA. From a peak of an average delay of 2.4 minutes per flight in 2002, NATS attributable delays have demonstrated a downward trend to 22.4 seconds per flight in 2006.
Aviation: Air pollution
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many aircraft journeys were made from UK airports for the purpose of (a) holiday, (b) other personal (non-work), (c) commercial business and (d) Government business travel in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the carbon emissions of each category. [119472]
Gillian Merron: Carbon emissions are not available in the categories listed in the question. The Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Survey is carried out at a varying number of airports each year. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publish emissions estimates for domestic and international aviation. Table 5 of Defra's Statistical Release “UK Emissions of Greenhouse Gases” (31 January 2007) shows both domestic and international aviation emissions and can be found at the following web link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/gagccukem.htm .
Aviation: Safety
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety implications of reducing commercial aircraft turnaround times. [121477]
Gillian Merron: No specific assessment has been made concerning the time required to turn around an aircraft. It is for operators to establish turnaround times which will vary with the type of service and desired aircraft utilisation. Each UK operator has a flight operations inspector assigned by the Civil Aviation Authority who will consider the operator’s turnaround times against the activities required to be undertaken during the turnaround to ensure there is sufficient time to accomplish the various tasks safely.
Biofuels
Sir Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which locations in each county E85 is sold. [121235]
Dr. Ladyman:
This information is not held by the Department for Transport. However, through the Infrastructure grants programme administered by the
Energy Saving Trust (EST) the Department has helped to fund 10 bioethanol E85 pumps. These are located in Norfolk, Suffolk and Somerset. Further information on pump locations is available on the EST website:
www.est.org.uk
British Transport Police: Manpower
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent officers there are in the British Transport Police; and what the projected numbers are for (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010. [121568]
Mr. Tom Harris: This information is not held by the Department for Transport but by the British Transport Police who can be contacted at:
British Transport Police
25 Camden Road
London
NW1 9LN
Email: general.enquiries@btp.pnn.police.uk.
Bus Services: Chorley
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pensioners in Chorley are eligible for the free local bus travel scheme. [120914]
Gillian Merron: The number of residents of Chorley aged 60 and over, who, from 1 April 2006, are entitled to free off-peak local bus travel is 21,400. Chorley residents may use their concession throughout Lancashire as the scheme is enhanced to provide county-wide travel.
Departmental Reorganisation
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of each re-organisation affecting his Department and its predecessors since 1997. [121478]
Gillian Merron: The requested information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Equal Opportunities
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that it and related bodies are in compliance with the gender equality duty in the Equality Act 2006 by the April 2007 deadline. [120990]
Gillian Merron: The Department has taken the following steps to meet the requirements of the forthcoming gender equality duty requiring public authorities to (a) eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment and (b) promote equality of opportunity between women and men which comes into effect on 6 April:
established a high level Gender Equality Steering Group, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, involving senior officials from across the Department and its executive agencies to oversee the development of the Gender Equality Scheme;
held a conference to raise awareness on gender equality for transport planners and other interested parties;
held a series of seminars on the gender equality duty for staff; and
appointed a Director General and a non-executive board member, as Gender Equality Champions to oversee the progression of the Gender Equality Scheme action plan.
The Department will be publishing the Gender Equality Scheme by 30 April 2007. This will set out the key activities the Department will undertake over the next three years.
Departments: Freedom of Information
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions special advisers have been consulted in replying to Freedom of Information requests to his Department; and what his Department's policy is on the role of special advisers in the answering of Freedom of Information requests. [119845]
Gillian Merron: The Department for Transport does not keep such records. Special advisers carry out their duties in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs on ensuring that private companies performing public services are subject to Freedom of Information regulations. [120360]
Gillian Merron: In the course of official business I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a wide range of issues.
Departments: Gender Equality
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to implement the gender equality duty due to come into force on 6 April. [120621]
Gillian Merron: The Department has taken the following steps to meet the requirements of the forthcoming gender equality duty requiring public authorities to (a) eliminate unlawful discrimination and harassment and (b) promote equality of opportunity between women and men which comes into effect on 6 April:
established a high level Gender Equality Steering Group, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, involving senior officials from across the Department and its Executive Agencies to oversee the development of the Gender Equality Scheme;
held a conference to raise awareness on gender equality for transport planners and other interested parties;
held a series of seminars on the gender equality duty for staff; and
appointed a director general and a non-executive board member, as Gender Equality Champions to oversee the progression of the Gender Equality Scheme action plan.
The Department will be publishing the Gender Equality Scheme by 30 April 2007. This will set out the key activities the Department will undertake over the next three years.
Departments: Race Equality Duty
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to implement the Race Equality Duty since 2000. [120634]
Gillian Merron: Following the introduction of the Race Equality Duty the Department produced a Race Equality Scheme in 2003. The scheme was updated and published in 2005.
Our revised Race Equality Scheme lays out in detail how we have implemented the Race Equality Duty. This includes information on how we:
assess, and consult on, the likely impact proposed policies will have on promoting race equality;
monitor policies for any adverse impact on promoting race equality;
publish the results of assessments, consultation, and monitoring;
make sure the public have access to information and services; and
train staff to carry out the general duty and the specific duties.
A copy of our Race Equality Scheme is available at:
www.dft.gov.uk
Some of the Department's key achievements in relation to the scheme include:
publishing good practice guidance to improve consultation with different social groups;
publishing on the web a full impact assessment for the Crossrail Project; and
implementing an e-learning programme to raise staff awareness of the Race Relation (Amendment) Act 2000. 97 per cent. of staff have completed the training to date.
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