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8 Dec 2009 : Column 336W—continued
Driving
Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms are in place to ensure that staff who drive (a) a vehicle for which (i) his Department and (ii) one of its Executive agencies is responsible have valid driving licences and (b) their own vehicles in the course of their official duties for (A) his Department and (B) one of its executive agencies have valid driving licences and insurance; what guidance is issued to those staff in respect of road safety while carrying out official duties; what steps are taken to monitor compliance with that guidance; what requirements there are on such staff to report to their line managers accidents in which they are involved while driving in the course of their official duties; and whether such reports are investigated. [302169]
Mr. McFadden: The driver of a car being used for business purposes is advised that his responsibilities are as follows:
you have a current driving licence, which covers the vehicle being driven
you have suitable insurance allowing for business use of the vehicle
the car has a current MOT, and is roadworthy
you allow adequate time for journeys (including time for breaks on long journeys)
you follow all advice, guidance and legislation relating to road safety-you will have to pay any fines incurred as a result of any driving offence
you drive with consideration for the safety of passengers and other road users.
Staff are required to report accidents on business travel to line management, which would be investigated if considered appropriate to do so.
I have approached the chief executives of the Department's agencies and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 8 December 2009:
The Minister of State, for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has asked me to reply to you directly in respect of your question what mechanisms are in place to ensure that staff who drive (a) a vehicle for which (i) his Department and (ii) one of its executive agencies is responsible have valid driving licences and (b) their own vehicles in the course of their official duties for (A) his Department and (B) one of its executive agency have valid driving licences and insurance; what guidance is issued to those staff in respect of road safety while carrying out official duties; what steps are taken to monitor compliance with that guidance; what requirements there are on such staff to report to their line managers accidents in which they are involved while driving in the course of their official duties; and whether such reports are investigated.
For the purposes of travel on official Insolvency Service business in a vehicle for which the Service is responsible, it is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that staff hold a valid driving licence.
For travel on official Service business in a privately owned motor vehicle, the staff guidance advises that the owner of the vehicle should ensure that the driver holds a current driving licence for the vehicle. Regarding insurance, the use of a private motor vehicle must satisfy certain insurance conditions. It is the employee's personal responsibility to ensure that these conditions are fulfilled. Staff must declare that they know and understand the insurance requirements, and that they are covered accordingly.
There is no specific guidance regarding road safety but staff are advised that they must ensure that the private vehicle they drive has a current MOT and is in roadworthy condition. The monitoring of compliance with guidance is the responsibility of local line managers, and is not checked centrally.
Staff are required to report any motor vehicle accidents to their line-manager. Line managers must ensure that all accidents, incidents and near-miss events falling within their area of responsibility are reported and appropriately investigated, and remedies put in place to prevent re-occurrence. Near misses are not recorded unless they have resulted in some type of injury or distress to the individual that warrants recording under the above scheme.
Letter from Sean Dennehey, dated 27 November 2009:
I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 24 November 2009, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
The Intellectual Property Office, an executive agency of BIS, requires staff who drive their own vehicle during the course of their duties to sign a declaration which confirms they have valid insurance.
Hire cars are covered by Crown indemnity. Line managers are expected to check driving licences annually to ensure compliance with the requirements. If a hire vehicle is involved in an accident staff are required to notify the hire company and the line manager and full details of the incident submitted to the HR department.
In respect of road safety we do not issue separate guidance: we expect staff to behave responsibly in all aspects of their official duties. It is made clear that the Office will not reimburse or accept any fines or penalties for motoring offences.
Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 8 December 2009:
I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 24 November 2009, UIN 302169, to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Companies House has a Health and Safety Driving at Work Policy covering all the issues raised in your question. It is available if you wish to see it.
Letter from Peter Mason, dated 26 November 2009:
I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 24 November 2009, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Where a vehicle was used for official business National Measurement Office staff must declare, on each claim made, that a valid driving licence is held by the driver and that no endorsements were pending that could result in a ban. If relevant to the claim, the declaration also covers that the vehicle used has a current MOT and is in roadworthy condition. Managers are required to confirm that the claimant's driving licence and, where relevant, motor insurance policy and MOT are reviewed for validity for official business use.
The National Measurement Office has issued staff guidance for driving for work. Drivers must report any accidents, in which they were involved, when on official business. Guidance covers the actions that staff must undertake in such circumstances. Staff must complete an accident form within 24 hours of any such accident. The content of this form is then considered under normal health and safety procedures.
Export Credits Guarantee Department
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions the Export Credits Guarantee Department has reported allegations of bribery and corruption to (a) the Serious Fraud Office and (b) other agencies in each of the last five years. [303812]
Ian Lucas: Since January 2004, ECGD has reported five matters to NCIS or the SFO.
Exports: Munitions
Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer of 12 November 2009, Official Report, columns 644-45W, on exports: white phosphorus, which licences for exports to each country of destination were for munitions controlled in the (a) ML3a or (b) ML4a category. [304709]
Ian Lucas: As previously stated, although the Export Control Organisation within BIS has identified 67 licences for munitions designed to create illumination or act as an incendiary we are unable to categorically identify which, if any, of these licences are for munitions that contain white phosphorous. However, the breakdown of licences issued for each destination which were for munitions in the ML3a, ML4a, or both categories are as follows:
| Country | Total licences with ML3a | Total licences with ML4a | Total licences with both ML3a and ML4a |
Further Education
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which further education colleges the Secretary of State has visited since his appointment. [303172]
Kevin Brennan: My noble Friend the Secretary of State has visited Westminster Kingsway College since the creation of BIS. He has met with a number of other college principals and representatives over the course of his departmental business, including giving the keynote speech at the Association of Colleges annual conference on 19 November.
Further Education: Standards
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many further education colleges were deemed to be (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) satisfactory and (d) failing by Ofsted in the last 12 months. [303168]
Kevin Brennan: The annual report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills 2008-09 was published on 24 November. The data in this report show that there were a total of 89 further education colleges inspected in 2008-09. Of these: 18 were judged to be outstanding; 38 were judged to be good; 29 were judged to be satisfactory; and four were judged to be inadequate.
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