| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
27 Mar 2008 : Column 372W—continued
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether confidential or personal information has been compromised through the loss of property from her Department since 1997. [193440]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Other than in exceptional cases, when it is in the public interest, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on breaches of security. However, following the publication of the Data Handling Procedures in Government: Interim Progress Report on 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 98WS, all Departments will cover information assurance issues in their annual reports.
Departmental Pay
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the hourly rates of pay of all non-permanent staff working for her Department and its agencies were in each of the last 12 months; and how many staff were receiving each rate in each of those months. [196446]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Pensions
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the trade unions representing staff in her Department requested the health and standard rules in respect of Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme ill-health benefits to be changed; what her Department’s response was; and when this response was made. [190928]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The trade unions wrote to the Department of Transport on 23 May 2007. Unfortunately, a formal response was not sent until 20 March 2008 owing to an oversight. Changes to the pension scheme rules relating to ill-health benefits were applied in the Department in 2007.
Departmental Responsibilities
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) reviews, (b) consultation and (c) taskforces the Department is (i) responsible for and (ii) scheduled to undertake; on what date each such initiative that is under way (A) started and (B) is expected to be completed; and what the purpose is of each. [171481]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport undertakes extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.
The readily available information relating to ad hoc reviews, groups and taskforces is summarised as follows:
Forthcoming: Road Safety Strategy after 2010
Started: Early 2008
Completed: Mid 2009
Purpose: Development of new road safety strategy after 2010.
The Department is currently contributing to the cross-government review on data security announced by the Prime Minister on the 21 November 2007.
Eddington Friends
Started: May 2005
Completed: Contract due to cease December 2008 (possibility of extension).
Purpose: Quarterly meeting of academics, original purpose was to advice on progress of the Eddington Study. Since completion of the study have been considering other analytical issues.
Access to Air Travel working Group
Started: June 2007
Completion: July 2008
Purpose: Informal group of industry representatives to review the code of practice “Access to Air Travel for Disabled People”.
Started: 28 May 2004
Completion: Ongoing
Purpose: The CSG seeks to involve stakeholders in the work being undertaken by the SSDL Group to develop a programme of measures aimed at improving the compliance of all drivers and vehicles and reducing vehicle related crime.
Started: July 2000
Completed: Ongoing
Purpose: Advises on casualty reduction targets to be delivered in 2010. Representation on it will be reviewed every three years. Group membership is more akin to an internal committee than an external body.
Started: June 2007
Completion: Ongoing
Purpose: A joint Government industry group, jointly chaired by DfT and BERR, looking at strategic short, medium and long term fuel demand and supply issues.
Started: September 2004
Completion: Ongoing
Purpose: Chaired by the Department for Transport's Director of Airports Strategy, made up of representatives from industry (airports, airlines, freight carriers), environmental organisations and other interest groups.
The role of the BAG is to maintain a formal channel of communication between the DfT and key external stakeholders on airport-related issues. EAG meetings provide an opportunity for all members to share information and exchange views as part of the Air Transport White Paper implementation programme.
Disruptive Passenger Working Group
Started: November 1998
Completion: Ongoing
Purpose: To advise Ministers on measures to minimise the frequency and potential impact of disruptive behaviour on board aircraft. The Group, chaired by the Department includes participants from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Association of Chief Police Officers, the British Air Transport Association, the UK Flight Safety Committee, the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
A key action from the Group was establishing a standardised reporting scheme to monitor incidents of unruly behaviour on board UK aircraft and to assess what action was required to address such behaviour. This information is collated by the CAA and published on the Department website. Latest statistics will be published on 6 December 2007. Previous statistics can be viewed at:
Started: March 2001
Completion: Ongoing
Purpose: Set up in response to the House of Lords Select Committee Inquiry into Air Travel and Health, and provides a forum at which Government and industry stakeholders discuss and advice Ministers on aviation health issues. The Group meets quarterly and includes a smaller Research-Sub Group which meets when required. Membership includes OGDs, CAA, interested industry representatives. The Group invites presentations from other parties as necessary. The Group's mission statement agreed in 2001 is to:
Provide a forum for interested Government Departments and Agencies to consider issues relevant to aviation health;
Provide an interface with the air transport industry, health experts and other interested parties on aviation health issues of mutual interest;
Evaluate the need for research into issues related to air travel and health, and consider the role of Government in supporting such research;
Ensure Ministers are kept informed and receive comprehensive advice on aviation health matters;
Monitor developments that impinge on the health of those travelling by air."
Minutes of meetings are placed on the DfT website at:
Maritime Statistics Advisory Group
Started: 23 October 2007
Completion: Ongoing
Purpose: Standing group to advise DfT on maritime statistics development.
Concessionary Fares Working Group
Started: 2005
Completion: Ongoing
Purpose: Comprises local authority and operator representatives and provides advice on the implementation of the statutory bus concession.
Started: January 2003
Completion: Ongoing
Purpose: The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership was established in 2003 with the mission of accelerating a sustainable shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK and thereby stimulating opportunities for the UK. The Partnership aims to achieve this mission by: facilitating membership initiatives; providing policy support to Government Departments and others; and undertaking research to improve understanding.
Information on consultations is published on the 10 Downing Street website at:
All current DfT consultations can be found on the website at:
Information on DfT Agencies and NDPBs can be found at:
Departmental Written Questions
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many written questions to her Department had not received an answer as at 25 February 2008 for (a) between two and four, (b) between four and six, (c) between six and eight and (d) more than eight weeks; and how many in each category were tabled for named day answer. [193402]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Information in the format requested by the hon. Member could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, from 6 November 2007, a total of 1,494 written questions were tabled to the Department for Transport for written answer on or before 25 February 2008.
Of these, 346 were named day questions and 208 were answered on the due date. At 11 March, three named day questions from the period remain unanswered by the Department.
Discrimination
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many claims for discrimination, based on (a) sex, (b) race and (c) sexual orientation, were brought by members of her Department and settled (i) in and (ii) out of court in each of the last five years. [194989]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is in the following table. The DfT response has been summarised into a total over the past five full calendar years to protect individuals’ identities.
| Last five (full calendar) years | Number of cases | Settled in court | Settled out of court |
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Data Protection
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to prevent the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency from passing drivers’ personal details to commercial third parties without permission in any circumstances; and if she will make a statement. [196780]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Information held on the DVLA’s driver register is only released to commercial companies with the explicit consent of the data subject. Data is only released on the Car Hire Line (0906 139 3837) if the driver is present and verbally confirms consent, or has already telephoned and left permission that has been recorded on the driver’s record. There are no plans to change this position.
Vehicle keeper information is released from the DVLA’s vehicle register where there is a statutory requirement to do so. This includes anyone who can demonstrate a ‘reasonable cause’ for requesting that information.
Driving Standards Agency: Data Protection
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms have been put in place to prevent future data losses by the Driving Standards Agency; and if she will make a statement. [180498]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the statement of 17 December 2007, Official Report, columns 626-6, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on measures to improve the security of personal data.
The following measures have been put in place to prevent future data losses by the Driving Standards Agency and its contractors:
Following identification of the loss in Iowa, immediate measures were introduced to secure bulk transfers of data through use of point to point delivery or secure courier where appropriate.
A review of all transfers of data was instigated. This is due to be completed shortly.
Reminders of current procedures (where still appropriate) and new instructions concerning handling of data were communicated to all Driving Standards Agency staff in the form of email, and messages on the Agency’s intranet.
The data, held by NCS Pearson for the purpose of the backup of DSA data, and referred to in the Secretary of State’s statement of 17 December 2007, are now transferred electronically rather than on hard disc.
Further, additional security measures such as CCTV and reduced staff access have been instigated at NCS Pearson’s premises in Iowa, USA.
A data protection audit is currently in progress. This covers assessment of all Pearson’s data handling and storage procedures, including the use of primary and secondary back-ups to ensure that all the design, procedural and process safeguards are in place.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |