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11 Jan 2010 : Column 664W—continued
DVLA does not provide the name or address details of licence holders to any private companies, only details relating to their driving entitlement and endorsements. Employers, recruitment agencies and private companies, such as car hire companies, may make a request for details of a driver record if they have the consent of the individual and provide their name, address and date of birth.
Vehicle registration numbers need to be provided to the DVLA in order for a search of the vehicle record to be made. Therefore, DVLA does not disclose details of vehicle registration numbers from the vehicle record.
Eurostar
Mr. Gale: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proposals are under consideration for the provision of alternative services to Eurostar using the Channel Tunnel rail link; when such services could be operational; and if he will make a statement. [310108]
Chris Mole: As of January this year, new European regulations allow train companies to operate international services across Europe on an open access basis.
The Government welcome this. We want to see new services and competition on Highspeed1.
It is for individual companies to come forward to introduce services.
Hotels
Mr. Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many hotel room nights were booked by officials in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each year since 2007; and how much (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on the fees of third party agents in booking hotel accommodation in each of those years. [309055]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not record numbers of hotel room nights centrally, and the information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. No fees have been paid to third party booking agents in the period since 2007.
All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Kettering Station
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many passengers travelling (a) north and (b) south on the Midland mainline (i) boarded and (ii) alighted from trains at Kettering station on each day since 8 September 2009. [309633]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not hold the requested information on passengers using Kettering railway station.
This is matter for the train operator, East Midlands Trains, which provides services to and from Kettering. East Midlands Trains can be contacted at the following address:
Mr Tim Shoveller
Managing Director
East Midlands Trains
1 Prospect Place
Millennium Way
Pride Park
Derby
DE24 8HG
M6
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) if he will require the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to meet residents in Walsall North constituency who are adversely affected by the M6 motorway work on the site of the work, as requested by the hon. Member for Walsall North; [309731]
(2) for what reasons the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency did not agree to meet residents on the site within the Walsall North constituency who are adversely affected by the M6 motorway work; and if he will make a statement; [309732]
(3) if he will ensure that the Chief Executive or Deputy Chief Executive of the Highways Agency meets residents on sites where work authorised by the agency is taking place when requested to do so by hon. Members. [309733]
Chris Mole: The Chief Executive of the Highways Agency has offered to meet the hon. Member and representatives of local residents at the Agency's offices, or at the construction site offices, where he believes a constructive discussion can be held to agree what, if any, further action by the Highways Agency's contractor is needed to mitigate the disturbance to residents.
The Chief Executive has personally investigated complaints by the hon. Member's constituents and ensured that any shortcomings were rectified. This includes asking the contractor's main board director to ensure that he delivers a plan for improving neighbour relations.
The Chief Executive has assured me on several occasions that he is willing to meet with any Member of this House to discuss particular matters affecting constituents, and has done this with several hon. Members in the past.
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) officials in the Secretary of State's private office have had with the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency on the adverse effects on residents of work carried out on the M6 motorway in Walsall North constituency; and if he will make a statement. [310071]
Chris Mole: The Secretary of State for Transport and I have regular meetings with the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to discuss all aspects of the Agency's business, including the concerns of residents affected by the scheme being carried out on the M6 motorway in the Walsall, North constituency.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) for what reasons residents in Walsall North constituency likely to be adversely affected by current work authorised by the Highways Agency on the M6 motorway were not directly informed of the work planned by the Agency; and if he will instruct the
Highways Agency directly to notify those likely to be adversely affected by its planned work in all areas in addition to its practice of placing advertisements in the press; [310072]
(2) if he will ensure that when work is authorised by the Highways Agency that is likely to adversely affect residents hon. Members representing the constituency or constituencies concerned are notified. [310078]
Chris Mole: The Highways Agency has established procedures in place for notifying any local residents or businesses likely to be affected by planned works, as well as placing advertisements in the local press. These can include letter drops, locally held exhibitions and press-releases prior to the commencement of works. In addition, hon. Members, within whose constituencies work is due to take place are given advance warning of the start of works. Local councillors are also routinely advised.
In schemes where work takes place entirely within the existing highway boundary, as is the case with the current M6 motorway works in the Walsall, North constituency, there is no obligation upon the Highways Agency to give such additional publicity. However, in view of the close proximity of residents in this case, arrangements were made within the contract for a site-liaison officer to be appointed to regularly communicate with local residents about the progress of the scheme.
In addition, following representations made by residents' groups, regarding works on the M6 in the Walsall, North constituency further measures have been put in place to keep residents informed. These include regular newsletters and visits by the site-liaison officer to affected residents.
With regard to the notification of Members whose constituency is adversely affected by major work, it is the Highways Agency's standing practice to give such notification. In the case of this project, my hon. Friend was included in the original notification to MPs and MEPs, sent on 10 September 2008, prior to the commencement of the works.
Motor Vehicles: Safety
Tim Farron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what regulations govern requirements about the location of lights on vehicles to demonstrate the dimensions of the vehicle. [310124]
Paul Clark: The location of lights, including those to indicate the dimensions of vehicles, is set out in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.
In general vehicles must have front and rear position lights fitted within 400 mm of the edge of the vehicle. (For trailers, however, only those above a certain width are required to have front position lamps.) Larger vehicles must also be fitted with end outline marker lamps, and side marker lamps to indicate their width, length and height.
Motorways
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many motorway inter-junction links there are on (a) motorways and (b) dual carriageways in England. [308458]
Chris Mole: The Strategic Road Network in England is made up of the national motorway and All Purpose Trunk Road (APTR) network. It has (a) 1,056 junction to junction motorway links; and (b) 939 major dual carriageway junction to junction links on APTR. There are also 464 major single carriageway junction to junction APTR links.
Each link is for a single direction only, and for APTRs there may be additional minor junctions within links.
Public and Commercial Services Union
John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the staff-in-post figure is for those grades of staff in relation to which the Public and Commercial Services Union is recognised in (a) the Highways Agency, (b) the Maritime and Coastguards Agency and (c) the Vehicle Certification Agency. [306511]
Chris Mole [holding answer 14 December 2009]: The following tables provide the staff in post figures for those grades of staff for which the Highways Agency, the Maritime and Coastguards Agency and the Vehicle Certification Agency recognises the Public and Commercial Services Union:
| Highways Agency | |
| Grade | Staff in post |
| (1) Departmental policy is to suppress figures where there are fewer than five individuals on grounds of confidentiality. | |
| Maritime and Coastguard Agency | |
| Grade | Staff in post |
| Vehicle Certification Agency | |
| Grade | Staff in post |
| (1) Departmental policy is to suppress figures where there are fewer than five individuals on grounds of confidentiality. | |
Railways
Robert Key: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons rail franchises specify required revenue protection systems. [310057]
Chris Mole: Some franchise specifications have included requirements to install ticket gates at specific stations. These requirements are based upon detailed business case analysis and expected revenue increases. In some cases these are specified within the contract because they have a pay-back period longer than the franchise term. Such schemes increase the value of the franchise in future years, reducing the long term cost of the railway to the taxpayer.
Bidders are also required to detail their wider revenue protection strategies as part of their bids.
Bidders have proposed gating schemes as part of their own revenue protection strategies and where these are offered the Department for Transport seeks to contractualise this commitment.
Railways: Concessions
Ms Katy Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what mechanisms are in place to prevent the loss of concessionary travel facilities for former employees of a rail business which becomes insolvent; and who the guarantor of last resort is in such cases. [309447]
Chris Mole: The Association of Train Operating Companies ('ATOC') Rail Staff Travel Scheme includes provisions which enable employees who have been made redundant as the result of an insolvent event to continue to receive leisure travel services.
While the Secretary of State approves any proposed changes to the rail staff travel scheme, it is ATOC that operates the Scheme. ATOC may be contacted at:
3rd Floor
40 Bernard Street
London WC1N 1BY
Telephone: 020 7841 8000
Railways: Exhaust Emissions
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what meetings his Department has had with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the rail network. [309762]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport works closely with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on a wide range of issues relating to carbon emissions from transport modes, including rail. Consequently, officials from the two Departments are in regular contact and meet on a frequent basis to discuss these and other issues.
Railways: West Yorkshire
John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department has spent on rail transport in West Yorkshire since 2005; and if he will make a statement. [306997]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not hold data on public spending in this level of detail. However, table A9 of the Department's Annual Report and Accounts sets out details of expenditure on the railways by region. Copies of the report are available in the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
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