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3 Nov 2008 : Column 50W—continued
The national average personal injury accident rate for motorways in England for the last two years is 8.43 per hundred million vehicle kilometres. The corresponding accident rate for the M6 between Junctions 14 and 18 is 7.8 per hundred million vehicle kilometres, which is below the national average.
Mentally Ill Staff
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has gathered on the effect of its policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of employees with mental illnesses within (a) his Department and (b) the public sector bodies for which he has responsibility; and what use has been made of that information. [228550]
Mr. Hoon: Under the Disability Equality Duty introduced by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Department and its public sector bodies are required to publish and implement disability equality schemes. These are plans setting out how they will carry out the Disability Equality Duty, monitor, and report on progress. In particular this includes their arrangements for gathering information on the effect of their policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of their disabled employees, including those with mental health conditions, and making use of that information.
The Department for Transport has set out in its Disability Equality Scheme (2006-09) specific actions to meet its obligations under the Disability Equality Duty. The Department is currently reviewing its progress against these actions and intends to report publicly in 2009.
The public sector bodies sponsored by the Department that are subject to these requirements are responsible for publishing and implementing their own disability equality schemes.
In line with the Disability Equality Duty, a report is published every three years to show: progress towards disability equality in my policy sector; and proposals for co-ordination of future work by relevant public authorities within my policy sector. These reports will show what impact, if any, policies have had on the recruitment and retention of disabled people including those with mental health condition, and set out proposals to address any gaps identified when establishing the progress made across the policy sector. The first report must be published by December 2008.
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the introduction of electronic motor insurance certificates; and if he will make a statement. [229586]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The issue is being dealt with urgently and we intend to have regulations in place next spring.
Motor Vehicles: Licensing
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign-registered motor vehicles are estimated to be in the United Kingdom. [229124]
Jim Fitzpatrick: It is estimated that, in 2007, 0.5 per cent. of traffic in Great Britain was accounted for by foreign registered vehicles.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the number of people driving without a licence (a) in London and (b) nationally. [231217]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 28 October 2008]: The most recent estimate is that 1.6 per cent. of all drivers use a motor vehicle on the road without a valid driving licence. This figure was published in a joint DfT/DEFRA/ACPO report, Roads Policing Operation V79—National Driver and Vehicle Compliance Check. The report, published on 8 September 2006, was placed in the House of Commons Library and is also available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/roadspolicing operationv79/
This is a national figure and there are no regional figures.
Plain English
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many documents produced by his Department were submitted to the Plain English Campaign for approval for Crystal Mark status in each year since 2005; and how many documents achieved such status in each year. [231123]
Mr. Hoon: The Department for Transport publishes guidance for staff on writing in plain English. The number of documents formally submitted to the Plain English Campaign (PEC) for approval for Crystal Mark status since 2005 is given in the following table.
| Department/agency | Submitted to PEC | Achieving Crystal Mark | |
Railways: EU Law
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2008, Official Report, column 423W, on railways: EU law, what recent correspondence he has received from the European Commission on implementation of the First Railway Package; and if he will make a statement. [232428]
Paul Clark: The UK received a letter of formal notice dated 26 June 2008 for alleged non-conformity with the First Railway Package from the European Commission. In our reply to the Commission of 8 August 2008, the Government stated their belief that our procedures are fully consistent with Directive 2001/14/EC.
We are awaiting a response from the Commission to the UK’s letter of 8 August 2008.
Railways: Fares
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average change in rail fares was in each year since 1997. [232026]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. However the Office of Rail Regulation tracks fares nationally and publishes these by sector and whether fares are regulated or unregulated. This is available from the ORR website at:
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average price of a peak rail fare from London to (a) Birmingham, (b) Manchester, (c) Newcastle, (d) Cardiff and (e) Glasgow was in each year since 1997. [232028]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. However, the Office of Rail Regulation tracks fares nationally and publishes these by sector (long distance, South East and Regional) and by whether fares are regulated or unregulated. This is available from the ORR website at:
Railways: Scotland
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has met representatives of the Scottish Executive since his appointment to discuss high speed rail. [232743]
Paul Clark: To date, the Secretary of State has not met representatives of the Scottish Government to discuss high speed rail.
Railways: South West
John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) new carriages and (b) additional trains there will be in the South West under the Government’s proposed rolling stock strategy. [231201]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport’s rolling stock plan of January 2008 stated that 52 additional Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) vehicles would be allocated to the First Great Western Franchise covering the Thames Valley and the Bristol area, the latter to receive vehicles transferred from London Midland. It noted that these plans were not prescriptive and were subject to a development process within the industry. Discussions with First Great Western are still at an early stage.
Rescue Services: Hope Cove
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Hope Cove lifeboat is to be taken out of service on 2 November; for what reasons there was no local consultation with Marlborough parish council and others prior to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's decision to take the boats out of service; and if he will instruct the agency to defer decommissioning the boat until such local consultation has taken place. [231285]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 29 October 2008]: In the interest of the safety of the volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officer crew and those they could be called upon to rescue, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency boat at Hope Cove has been available only for use under strict operational limits. Now, with the onset of the autumn season and the associated weather conditions and sea states, although the boat will remain in Hope Cove, it is unlikely that it would be able to operate in compliance with those limits over the next few months.
No decision has been taken about the future of the boat, and none will be taken, until there has been a local consultation with interested parties including Marlborough parish council.
Rescue Services: Voluntary Organisations
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what role his Department has in the co-ordination of volunteer (a) sea and (b) mountain search and rescue operations; how many such organisations are affected by his Department's co-ordination; and if he will make a statement; [230022]
(2) whether his Department records the number of (a) sea and (b) mountain search and rescue operations undertaken by volunteer organisations across the UK. [230443]
Jim Fitzpatrick
[holding answer 27 October 2008]: Responsibility for civil aeronautical and maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) policy rests with the Department for Transport. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency provides a response and co-ordination service for maritime SAR,
counter pollution and salvage. This includes the mobilisation, organisation and tasking of adequate resources, including volunteers, to an incident.
In respect of volunteer organisations co-ordinated, the MCA can call upon 3,500 Voluntary Coastguard Rescue Officers (comprising 390 Teams) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has 4,500 lifeboat crew and 4,000 shore side staff at over 230 lifeboat stations. In addition, there are a number of small local organisations who are part of the declared facility system that can also be utilised.
While the MCA records information on the assets it tasks in any civil maritime search and rescue incident, it does not allow for easy retrieval of statistical information on the organisations involved.
The Police Service, through its command infrastructure, co-ordinates land based SAR operations. Voluntary inland Search and Rescue organisations including the mountain rescue volunteers are formed to provide SAR services on land. Operationally, each team is responsible to, and works under the aegis of a co-ordinating authority. This will normally be the police, who collate their own statistical records.
Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 to take account of technological developments; and if he will make a statement. [232756]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, Statutory Instrument 1989/1796, is the base set of road vehicle fighting requirements.
The SI is reviewed from time to time in the light of technological and other developments, and amendments are made as necessary. A review has recently taken place and public consultation on a series of amendments, including for example new requirements regarding the fitment of retro-reflective material, concluded on 9 October. We aim to have the revised Regulations in place by 10 October 2009.
Tintwistle Hollingworth and Mottram Bypass
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what instructions have been given to (a) the North West Leaders’ Forum and (b) the Highways Agency on capping costs on the Mottram-Tintwistle bypass at £270m; and what other road schemes have been similarly capped in the last 12 months. [232466]
Paul Clark: The Highways Agency has not been instructed to cap the costs of the A57/A628 Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass scheme or any other road schemes in the last 12 months. In July 2008, the Secretary of State published new cost estimates for the Highways Agency major schemes and the range estimate for this scheme was stated to be between £223 million and £315 million, which gives a central estimate of £270 million.
This scheme, which is designated as a regional scheme, was prioritised by the North West region in the 2006 Regional Funding Allocation process. Earlier this year,
all regions were asked to review the prioritisation and affordability of their schemes and to submit their advice in early 2009 and I look forward to receiving that advice.
Defence
Atomic Weapons Establishment
11. Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much capital spending was drawn down at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston in each of the last three years; and how much is planned to be drawn down in 2008-09. [232057]
Mr. Quentin Davies: AWE has incurred capital expenditure of £171 million in 2005-06, £302 million in 2006-07 and £500 million in 2007-08.
For 2008-09, the capital expenditure currently planned is £384 million.
Defence Training
12. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the value for money of defence training contracts; and if he will make a statement. [232059]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: MOD lets a large number of contracts across training sites. It undertakes regular value-for-money analysis of contracts as a matter of routine.
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