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26 Jan 2009 : Column 6Wcontinued
Consideration is currently being given to switching to 0300 numbers for the Freight Best Practice helpline and for the Highways Agency Information Line. DVLA had intended moving to 0300 numbers in line with Ofcom recommendations prior to the retraction of the Ofcom paper on use of 0870 numbers. Preparations to move to 0300 are still in place, once the Ofcom paper and recommendations are republished.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing transport for Ministers between Parliament and departmental premises in each of the last five years. [251869]
Mr. Hoon: The Government Car and Despatch Agency does not routinely record the details of individual journeys made by cars allocated to Ministers.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many appeals were made to traffic adjudicators against fixed penalty notices in each of the last five years. [247901]
Paul Clark: This information is not collected centrally by the Government, but the available figures for the number of appeals made against the issuing of penalty charge notices and the number of appeals upheld for each local authority are set out in the annual reports of the traffic adjudicators: the Parking and Traffic Appeals Service (PATAS) for London, and the Traffic Penalty Tribunal (TPT) for outside London.
The reports of the PATAS are available at:
The reports of the TPT are available at:
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons his Department decided to implement the new motorcycle test on 30 March 2009; and (a) how many and (b) what percentage of multi-purpose test centres will be operational from that date. [250921]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The new motorcycle test was due to be implemented on 29 September in accordance with the EU directive 2000/56/EC. However, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) recognised that having 38 multi-purpose test centres (MPTCs) operational at the launch of the new test would mean candidates in significant parts of Great Britain would not have the expected access to a MPTC. 58 per cent. of the population would have been able to reach a MPTC within 45 minutes travelling time. Following consideration of representations from motorcycle interest groups, DSA decided to defer implementation for six months to allow consideration of delivery options which might help with the number of locations to offer the test when it was launched.
Since then we have been consulting on a modular approach to practical motorcycle testing. If adopted, DSA will split the off-road from the on-road part of the test.
By 30 March, DSA will have in place up to 67 operational sites including part-time and temporary sites for the off-road elements. In addition, there are outstanding planning approvals or legal negotiations on a further five sites that the Agency hopes to have ready in time. Not all of these sites are MPTCs. We will have operational sites in 94 per cent. of the original 66 search areas. This means that 89 per cent. of the population could reach a motorcycle testing site within 45 minutes travelling time. DSA will have 104 locations delivering the on-road test.
Norman Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the maximum
distance learner drivers and motorcyclists should have to travel from their homes in order to take their driving tests. [250922]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) on 20 January 2009, Official Report, column 1298W.
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the time frame is for the construction of a connection between the Great Western main line and Heathrow Airport from Bristol and the west country. [249693]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport announced on 15 January 2009 that it will work with the airport operator and Network Rail to consider schemes that provide better connections from Heathrow airport to the Great Western main line while maximising the effectiveness of scarce railway paths. Until this work is concluded, it is not possible to determine potential timescales for construction of such schemes nor the destinations which would be served.
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what additional risks have been added to the Heathrow Expansion Risk Register since 9 October 2007; and what the (a) inherent risk, (b) measures in place, (c) residual risk, (d) status and (e) further action are assessed by his Department for each risk; [246775]
(2) what the status is on the most recent edition of the Heathrow Expansion Risk Register of risk (a) 1.1.2, (b) 1.1.6, (c) 1.1.7, (d) 1.2.1, (e) 1.2.2, (f) 1.2.4, (g) 1.3.1, (h) 1.3.6, (i) 1.3.7, (j) 2.1.1, (k) 2.1.2, (l) 2.1.3, (m) 2.1.4, (n) 2.1.5, (o) 2.1.6, (p) 2.1.7, (q) 2.2.1, (r) 2.2.4, (s) 2.2.5, (t) 2.2.6a, (u) 2.2.6b, (v) 2.2.7, (w) 2.2.8, (x) 2.2.9, (y) 2.2.10, (z) 3.1.1, (aa) 3.1.2, (bb) 3.1.3, (cc) 3.13, (dd) 3.2.2, (ee) 3.2.1, (ff) 3.3.1, (gg) 3.3.2, (hh) 3.3.3, (ii) 3.3.5, (jj) 3.3.6 and (kk) 3.3.7 as identified by the numbering on the Heathrow Expansion Risk Register as at October 2008; [246917]
(3) what the most recent edition of the Heathrow Expansion Risk Register records as (a) measures in place and (b) further action required in respect of risk (i) 1.1.2, (ii) 1.1.6, (iii) 1.1.7, (iv) 1.2.1, (v) 1.2.2, (vi) 1.2.4, (vii) 1.3.1, (viii) 1.3.6, (ix) 1.3.7, (x) 2.1.1, (xi) 2.1.2, (xii) 2.1.3, (xiii) 2.1.4, (xiv) 2.1.5, (xv) 2.1.6, (xvi) 2.1.7, (xvii) 2.2.1, (xviii) 2.2.4, (xix) 2.2.5, (xx) 2.2.6a, (xxi) 2.2.6b, (xxii) 2.2.7, (xxiii) 2.2.8, (xxiv) 2.2.9, (xxv) 2.2.10, (xxvi) 3.1.1, (xxvii) 3.1.2, (xxviii) 3.1.3, (xxix) 3.13, (xxx) 3.2.2, (xxxi) 3.2.1, (xxxii) 3.3.1, (xxxiii) 3.3.2, (xxxiv) 3.3.3, (xxxv) 3.3.5, (xxxvi) 3.3.6 and (xxxvii) 3.3.7 as identified by the numbering on the Heathrow Expansion Risk Register as at October 2008; [246918]
(4) what his latest assessment is of the (a) inherent and (b) residual risk for (i) impact and (ii) likelihood of occurrence in respect of risk (A) 1.1.2, (B) 1.1.6, (C) 1.1.7, (D) 1.2.1, (E) 1.2.2, (F) 1.2.4, (G) 1.3.1, (H) 1.3.6, (I) 1.3.7, (J) 2.1.1, (K) 2.1.2, (L) 2.1.3, (M) 2.1.4, (N) 2.1.5, (O) 2.1.6, (P) 2.1.7, (Q) 2.2.1, (R) 2.2.4, (S) 2.2.5,
(T) 2.2.6a, (U) 2.2.6b, (V) 2.2.7, (W) 2.2.8, (X) 2.2.9, (Y) 2.2.10, (Z) 3.1.1, (AA) 3.1.2, (BB) 3.1.3, (CC) 3.13, (DD) 3.2.2, (EE) 3.2.1, (FF) 3.3.1, (GG) 3.3.2, (HH) 3.3.3, (II) 3.3.5, (JJ) 3.3.6 and (KK) 3.3.7 as identified by the numbering on the Heathrow Expansion Risk Register as at October 2008; [246919]
(5) with reference to the Heathrow Expansion Risk Register, what change there has been to his Departments assessment of (a) inherent risk, (b) measures in place, (c) residual risk, (d) status and (e) further action required since the October 2008 update to the register in respect of closed risk (i) 1.1.1, (ii) 1.1.3, (iii) 1.1.4, (iv) 1.1.5, (v) 1.2.3, (vi) 1.2.5, (vii) 1.3.2, (viii) 1.3.4, (ix) 1.3.5, (x) 1.4.1, (xi), 1.4.2, (xii) 1.5.1, (xiii) 1.6.1, (xiv) 1.6.2, (xv) 1.6.3, (xvi) 2.2.3 and (xvii) 3.3.4. [246925]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The risk register to which these questions relate was one of the tools used to manage a project which concluded with the publication, on 22 November 2007 of the consultation Adding Capacity at Heathrow. The project board has not therefore met since October 2007, and no further versions of the risk register were produced after this date.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the proposed high-speed link from Heathrow to Scotland to come into operation. [250919]
Paul Clark: The Governments ambition is for a north-south high-speed rail line from London. As a first stage, the Government believe that there is a strong case for a new line between London and the West Midlands serving a Heathrow international interchange station. Direct high-speed services could make use of the new line and the conventional rail network to serve destinations in the north of England and Scotland, cutting journey times and increasing capacity.
The company, High Speed Two, has been created to advise Ministers on a credible, detailed plan for a new line to the West Midlands, and beyond with specific route options, by the end of 2009. Until this advice is available, it is not possible to determine when high-speed rail services could come into operation.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is encouraging Network Rail to take to reduce injuries and fatalities to pedestrians and cyclists at level crossings through the introduction of safer surface material. [249328]
Paul Clark: The Office of Rail Regulation, the independent safety regulator for rail, is working to ensure that Network Rail is making proper use of non-slip surfaces to reduce risks to pedestrians and cyclists at level crossings.
More generally the Office of Rail Regulation is reviewing and revising its guidance on level crossings and one aspect of this includes reviewing the provision of non-slip surfaces on level crossings for all crossing users.
Norman Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department takes to ensure a
full record is kept of all incidents at level crossings involving injury to pedestrians and cyclists but where trains are not involved. [249329]
Paul Clark: Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR), the railway industry must report certain injuries to pedestrians and cyclists at level crossings, where trains are not involved, to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). Failure to do so can, ultimately, result in prosecution.
If incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists are not brought to the attention of the relevant body, then they will not be reported to the Office of Rail Regulation.
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new vehicles were licensed in each of the last five years; and how many licensed vehicles were sent for scrap in each year. [250746]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of new vehicles licensed at the end of each of the last five years in Great Britain were as follows:
New vehicles licensed at the end of each year | |
Number (thousand) | |
Statistics relating to 2008 are not yet available, but are due to be published in April 2009.
Statistics are not held on the number of scrapped vehicles.
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles were the subject of a statutory off-road notice but not sent for scrap in each of the last five years. [250747]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of registered vehicles subject to a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) in each of the last three years were as follows:
Registered vehicles subject to a SORN declaration | |
Number (thousand) | |
Statistics on vehicles subject to a SORN declaration are not held for 2003 and 2004. In addition, statistics relating to 2008 are not yet available, but are due to be published in April 2009.
Statistics are not held on the number of scrapped vehicles.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cars are (a) owned, (b) leased, (c) hired and (d) otherwise regularly used by his Department, broken down by cubic capacity of engine. [250136]
Mr. Hoon: The requested information has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on which routes parliamentary trains within the meaning of the Railways Act 1844 are running; [247440]
(2) how many rail replacement bus services are funded directly by his Department. [247441]
Paul Clark [holding answer 14 January 2009]: There are no parliamentary trains within the meaning of the Railways Act 1844.
Mindful of the requirements of relevant legislation, the Department for Transport is currently funding a rail replacement bus service between Ealing Broadway station and Wandsworth Road station. This service, which is a temporary measure until the Department can arrange a replacement rail service in this area, has been operating since 14 December 2008.
Other than the aforementioned service, no rail replacement bus services are directly funded by the Department. London Midland provide rail replacement bus services in place of all trains to Barlaston, Norton Bridge and Wedgewood. The costs for these are part of the overall subsidy payment for the London Midland franchise.
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of people using public bus services in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [250059]
Paul Clark: The following tables show the number of bus passenger journeys in Great Britain for each of the last five years together with the frequency of bus use for British residents.
Local bus services passenger journeys: 2003-04 to 2007-08 | |||||
Million | |||||
2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
Source: DFT Annual Surveys of Passenger Service Vehicle Operators |
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