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3 Nov 2008 : Column 41W—continued
A14: Suffolk
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road traffic (a) accidents and (b) fatalities there were on the A14 in Suffolk in each year since 1997; and how many involved drivers under the age of 21 years in each case; [232628]
(2) how many road traffic (a) accidents and (b) fatalities there were on the A14 in Suffolk in each year since 1997. [232630]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is given in the following tables:
| Number of reported personal injury road accidents and fatalities on the A14 in Suffolk, 1997 to 2007 | ||
| (a) Accidents | (b) Fatalities | |
| Number of reported personal injury road accidents involving drivers under the age of 21 and resulting fatalities on the A14 in Suffolk, 1997 to 2007 | ||
| (a) Accidents | (b) Fatalities | |
Commuters
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has conducted research on the average journey time to and from work in the last 10 years. [231554]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member on 22 October 2008, Official Report, column 418W.
Departmental Meetings
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on taking notes of (a) internal departmental meetings and (b) meetings with third parties; and if he will make a statement. [227795]
Mr. Hoon [holding answer 17 October 2008]: Key decisions arising from internal meetings are noted. Minutes are taken of meetings between Ministers and external stakeholders.
Departmental Older Workers
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people aged over (a) 55 and (b) 60 years were recruited by his Department in 2007-08; and what percentage in each case this was of the number of new recruits. [228743]
Mr. Hoon: The Central Department and its agencies recruited the following numbers of people aged over (a) 55 and (b) 60 years during the 2007-08 financial year:
| 2007-08 | ||
| Number recruited | Percentage of total recruited | |
This represents all recruited employees within the period including permanent, temporary and contract employees.
Departmental Pay
Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the gender pay gap in (a) his Department and (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [232607]
Mr. Hoon: The Department and its Agencies, which includes the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, comply fully with the Gender Equality Duty under section 76A of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, and remain committed to eliminating discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity between men and women. When preparing the Gender Equality Schemes, as required under the Act, specific consideration was given to the steps necessary to address the causes of any gender pay gaps.
Delegated pay bargaining was introduced as an important means by which Agencies could improve their efficiency and service delivery. They were expected to deliver pay systems which were matched closely to the needs of
their particular business and which made strong links between pay and performance in delivering high quality services.
It remains the Department’s position that pay reviews will continue to be undertaken by DfT (Central) and each individual Agency, through their delegated authority, to ensure that no disparity exists between male and female workers.
Departmental Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the capital value of each private finance initiative scheme overseen by his Department which has reached financial close is; over what period repayment will take place; and what the total cost of repayment for each scheme will be. [232021]
Mr. Hoon: The capital value, contract length and total cost of repayment for every signed PFI project are recorded centrally on the Treasury website at:
Departmental Recruitment
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vacant posts in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies were advertised in each of the last three years; and at what cost. [230602]
Mr. Hoon: The information requested for the central Department and its agencies is set out in the following table:
| Posts | Cost (£) | |
Departmental Training
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on external training courses for departmental staff in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008; and which external organisations were paid by the Department to provide such courses in each year. [230489]
Mr. Hoon: The central Department and its agencies spent the following on external training courses in each of the last four financial years:
| £ | |
| (1) MCA could not provide a figure for this period. | |
The Driving Standards Agency could not provide this information, neither can a comprehensive list of the external training providers be provided without disproportionate cost.
DfT Rail: Secondment
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff of train operating companies have been seconded to work in DfT Rail over the last three years. [232639]
Mr. Hoon: One person from a train operating company has been identified as seconded to work in DfT Rail over the last three years.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been put into place to ensure that staff seconded from train operating companies to DfT Rail learn no information of possible commercial use for their companies. [232640]
Mr. Hoon: The letter of appointment for staff seconded into DfT Rail makes clear that they are subject to a duty of confidentiality and loyal service to the crown which requires them to exercise care in the use of information they acquire in the course of their official duties and to protect information which is held in confidence. They are also advised that they are subject to the Official Secrets Act 1989.
Driving Tests: Pembrokeshire
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Driving Standards Agency on progress in establishing a multipurpose training centre in Pembrokeshire; [231321]
(2) what timetable has been set for the establishment of a multipurpose training centre in Pembrokeshire; [231322]
(3) how many sites in Pembrokeshire have been assessed by the Driving Standards Agency as potential locations for a multipurpose training centre. [231320]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 28 October 2008]: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has assessed six sites for a multi purpose test centre (MPTC) location in the search area around Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire.
One site, brought to DSA's attention by Pembrokeshire county council, was confirmed as being suitable. The site is council-owned and Agency staff held positive discussions with council officials regarding its use for motorcycle testing. However, the planning application submitted by DSA was later turned down by the council as was a subsequent appeal against the decision. Because of the problems encountered in finding a suitable location it has not been possible to set a timetable for establishing a MPTC in Pembroke. There is insufficient time to locate a suitable site for a MPTC, obtain planning permission and construct it in Pembroke before the target implementation date for the new practical motorcycle test at the end of March 2009.
DSA is therefore looking for and assessing other sites which could be used part-time to deliver the off-road manoeuvres exercise. Sites under consideration include sports stadiums, docks, car parks and showgrounds. So far two potential sites have been identified in Pembrokeshire and these are being further assessed. DSA also wrote to Pembrokeshire county council on 22 October seeking assistance to locate such suitable sites.
There have been no specific discussions relating to Pembrokeshire but the Secretary of State for Transport has been fully briefed and is aware of the current situation relating to the progress in the development of the network of multi purpose test centres.
Ferries: Lymington
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on plans by Wightlink for new ferries between Lymington and Yarmouth; what role his Department will have in determining the required permissions for the new ferries to enter service; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the financial interests of each of the Lymington harbour commissioners. [232511]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I have had no discussions with colleagues about this matter. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for issuing a passenger safety certificate for the Wightlink ferry and the Department has no other role in respect of any further permissions required. We do not hold information about the financial interests of the Lymington harbour commissioners.
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