Korea: EU Countries
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits to the UK of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement. [73298]
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Mr Davey: The Department completed an impact assessment of the potential benefits of the EU-Korea free trade agreement which showed that the UK will gain an estimated £500 million a year in gross domestic product (GDP) from the EU-Korea free trade agreement.
The impact assessment was submitted to Parliament in June 2010.
Labour Market
Gordon Birtwistle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what comparative assessment he has made of the flexibility of the UK labour market and that of (a) other EU member states and (b) the US; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of differences between such markets on (i) domestic investment and (ii) job creation. [77642]
Mr Davey: The Department has examined as far as possible all of the comparable international evidence on labour market flexibility. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Jobs Study Review of 2006 summarises most of this evidence in ‘Boosting Jobs and Income—Policy Lessons from Reassessing the OECD Jobs Strategy’ and I draw attention to some of the following conclusions in it, as follows:
“The experience over the past two decades shows that there is no single combination of policies and institutions to achieve and maintain good labour market performance. For example, it is not necessary that all individual policies are aimed at strong labour market performance, provided that adverse stances in some policy areas are more than compensated for by favourable settings in other areas, e.g. by exploiting policy interactions. This allows some scope to tailor policy packages to suit national preferences with respect to equity, risk-taking and other objectives. However, in practice there are few feasible policy combinations to achieve satisfactory employment outcomes”.
The study also identified the UK as a ‘successful employment performer’ and suggested that it fell into a group of countries that are ‘market reliant’ and include light employment protection in their policy package. Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States are the other countries identified in this group by the OECD.
The OECD also identified another group of countries as ‘successful performers’ with different but successful policy packages. These include Austria, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
The Government, through its employment law and growth reviews, aim to build upon this and foster greater employment and growth.
Overseas Trade
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many visits to overseas trade shows by representatives of small and medium-sized businesses his Department funded in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; how many he expects to fund in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. [77336]
Mr Prisk: The following number of small and medium-sized enterprises were given funding through UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) Tradeshow Access programme (TAP) to attend overseas trade shows:
2009/10: 5,239 grants to 4,100 individual businesses.
2010/11: 5,228 grants to 4,121 individual businesses.
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The forecast for 2011/12 is 3,600 grants to 3,000 individual businesses.
Subject to finalisation of UKTI’s business plan, the target for 2012/13 will be to support 3,000 individual businesses. UKTI has not yet set a target for TAP in 2013/14.
Post Offices
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) investigations of postmasters instigated by Post Office Ltd as a result of apparent financial irregularities on the Horizon computer system have subsequently been abandoned; [77794]
(2) how many complaints Post Office Ltd has received from subpostmasters concerning difficulties with the Horizon computer system in each of the last five years; [77795]
(3) whether any operational faults have been identified with the Horizon computer system used by Post Office Ltd since its introduction; and what action has been taken to resolve any such faults; [77796]
(4) what the monetary value is in current prices of the (a) original estimate and (b) final cost of the Post Office Horizon computer system; and what additional costs at current prices have been incurred since its completion. [77797]
Mr Davey: Operational responsibility for the Post Office Horizon computer system rests with the company. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Social Enterprises
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had on promoting social enterprises in the area for which his Department is responsible in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77334]
Mr Davey: This Department is responsible for enterprise, including promoting social enterprise as a growing enterprise sector. Following a discussion with the Minister for Civil Society, my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Mr Hurd), in June 2011, he and I hosted roundtable discussions in June and September respectively with social enterprises and other stakeholders, to inform our development of plans in this area.
Students: Loans
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the Student Loans Company in processing student loan applications at the beginning of the academic year; and if he will make a statement. [76901]
Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills reviews the performance and efficiency of the Student Loans Company (SLC) on an ongoing basis and SLC is committed to continuously improving the quality of service it delivers.
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For the 2011/12 academic year, SLC had by 14 October received 1,001,000 eligible applications for core financial support from English-domiciled students and had prepared 904,000 (90%) for payment to be made once attendance on the course had been confirmed by the university or college. Of those prepared for payment, 874,000 (97%) have received the full entitlement or will receive the full entitlement once attendance has been confirmed.
865,000 applications prepared for payment include a maintenance support entitlement, and of these 814,000 (94%) have now been paid. These figures were published by the SLC on 25 October and are available at:
http://www.slc.co.uk/pdf/SLCOSP102011.pdf
This is an improvement on previous years, thanks in part to processing improvements introduced by SLC this year, including a largely automated reassessment process for returning students who applied for non-means-tested support and whose circumstances have not changed and the introduction of an electronic link with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to automatically verify household income, meaning SLC was able to process the majority of new students' applications for means-tested support without asking customers to send in paper copies of financial evidence.
Supermarkets: Competition
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times representatives of his Department have met representatives of (a) Tesco, (b) Sainsbury's, (c) Asda, (d) Morrisons and (e) trade associations of which these companies are members to discuss the proposed Groceries Code Adjudicator since his appointment. [77576]
Mr Davey: Since my appointment, I and the Department’s officials have met on numerous occasions those large retailers and the relevant trade associations, as well as a broad range of other stakeholders, to discuss the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Unemployment: Mining
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of long-term trends in unemployment in former mining and steel communities. [75923]
Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
My Department has carried out research on unemployment in former coalfield areas. In general, unemployment rates are higher in local authorities containing large coalfield areas compared with Great Britain overall but the long-term trends are broadly similar. The Department has not conducted equivalent research into former steel communities.
Transport
Test Fees
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when her Department will publish its response to its recent consultation on test fees. [74089]
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Mike Penning: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) expects to publish its response to the recent consultation on fees towards the end of the year.
Birmingham Airport: Railway Stations
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) she and (b) officials in her Department have had discussions with representatives of Network Rail on the re-naming of Birmingham International Station as Birmingham Airport. [77431]
Norman Baker: No, in both cases.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the letter from the Under-Secretary of State for Roads and Motoring of 9 September 2011, reference MC/13916, what estimate has been made of the likely change in the volume of traffic at the Dartford river crossing compared to 2003 if the tolls are (a) halved and (b) doubled. [76751]
Mike Penning: A 2001 report for the Department for Transport estimated the impacts on weekday, 12 hour two-way traffic flows at the Dartford crossing under different tolling scenarios.
The report indicated that forecast traffic flows, compared with forecast 2003 levels, would reduce by 7.4% if toll levels were doubled, would increase by 3.7% if toll levels were halved, and would increase by 17.6% if tolls were removed.
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the likely change in the volume of traffic using the Blackwall tunnel if tolls at the Dartford river crossing were doubled. [76752]
Mike Penning: In June 2011 the Department for Transport published for consultation its proposals for revising the road user charging regime at the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing. The consultation period closed on 23 September 2011, and all the responses made are currently being considered.
The Department's proposals did not include a proposition to double the current level of road user charges, and the Department has not therefore estimated the likely change in the volume of traffic using the Blackwall tunnel in such circumstances.
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what year officials from (a) her Department and (b) the Highways Agency first gave consideration to (i) continuing with charges at the Dartford river crossing after a sum had been collected to cover future maintenance charges and (ii) offering discounts for river crossings made by residents living in Dartford and Thurrock. [76753]
Mike Penning: The then Government's 1998 White Paper on the Future of Transport—‘A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone’—set out their intention to consult on the continuation of road user charging at the Dartford crossing, recognising that the powers to toll road users at Dartford were time limited.
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In December 2006, the Department's consultation on proposals to change the road user charging regime at the crossing included a proposal for the introduction of appropriate measures to benefit local people to ensure a fair return for those who experience adverse effects of the crossing.
In February 2008, following consideration of the views provided, the Department published for consultation, details of a proposed discounted charges regime for local residents using the Dartford crossing.
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what purpose moneys from the fund to cover reasonable future maintenance charges at the Dartford river crossing established under the powers to collect tolls of the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988 is being used; and on what date the amount required to fund such maintenance was reached. [76754]
Mike Penning: The Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988 enacted a public finance initiative concession for a period of 20 years from 31 July 1988, but could be ended as soon as the debt was repaid. The Secretary of State determined that all financial commitments had been met by 31 March 2002.
The Dartford-Thurrock Act 1988, schedule 16, (4) (1) contains the provision for a toll extension period for the collection of tolls to provide a fund for future maintenance of the crossing. An extension agreement between the concessionaire and the Secretary of State was in place from 4 March 1999 and allowed the toll extension period to run from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003. For the period of the extension agreement, the Highways Agency records show the sum of £68,363,698.02 received. All toll revenue during this period was passed over gross to the Department for Transport.
The extension agreement was for only one year and was not collected thereafter, as the road user charge was introduced from 1 April 2003.
Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) cost and (b) source of funding for maintenance at the Dartford River Crossing was in each of the last 15 years. [76755]
Mike Penning: Since 1 April 2003, the source of funding for the Dartford Crossing has been through the Road User Charge. The Highways Agency produces an account detailing income (funding) and expenditure (costs) on an annual basis. Up to the year ending 31 March 2010, copies should be available in the House of Commons Library or they can also be found on the Highways Agency website.
The annual account for the year ending 31 March 2011 is currently being completed and should be available early in 2012.
Prior to 1 April 2003, the source of funding was the toll under the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988. Income (funding) and expenditure (costs) would be shown in the annual accounts of the Concessionaire, Dartford River Crossing Ltd, which built the QEII Bridge and then operated the entire Crossing from 1991. Copies of these accounts, if still available, may be obtained through Companies House.
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Mr Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the differences are between the trial to suspend the use of toll booths at the Dartford River Crossing during high congestion or emergencies and the provisions of the A282 Trunk Road (Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Charging Scheme) Order 2008. [76766]
Mike Penning: There is no difference. The suspension of the road user charge is in accordance with the Transport Act 2000 (section 172A), under which the Order was made. The protocol sets out the criteria for the suspension of charges at the Dartford Crossing and how the suspension decision is made.
Ministerial Voluntary Work
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what volunteering (a) she and (b) other Ministers in her Department have undertaken as part of the One Day Challenge; what the nature of the work undertaken was; on what dates it took place; and what the names were of the organisations assisted. [76229]
Norman Baker: Any volunteering activities undertaken by Ministers in a personal capacity are a matter for them. Relevant interests, which may include voluntary activities, are published by the Cabinet Office in the List of Ministers' Interests.
Driving Offences
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in England with 12 or more points on their driving licence were exempted from a driving ban in the latest period for which figures are available. [72097]
Mike Penning [holding answer 10 October 2011]: On 14 September 2011, 8,838 drivers in England had 12 or more penalty points on their driving licence record and had not been banned from driving.
In cases where a driver has accumulated 12 or more penalty points, a court can exercise its discretion and choose not to disqualify the driver.
Driving: Diabetes
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of the merits of establishing a group of expert diabetologists to assess people with diabetes holding or applying for a driving licence on an annual basis; if she will estimate the likely cost of establishing such a group; and what steps she plans to take to ensure that the costs of driving fitness assessments do not fall on the individuals applying for or holding a driving licence. [R] [75305]
Mike Penning:
Based on the advice of the Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus, the Department has made the decision to establish a group of expert Consultant diabetologists. Details of the likely cost of setting up such a group have not yet been finalised but is likely to be small. An interim process will be established
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to consider applications from those with insulin treated diabetes who wish to drive buses and lorries in the mean time. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will pay for these assessments.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will bring forward the proposals to ensure that people with diabetes have access to an effective mechanism to challenge the decisions of medical practitioners and expert diabetologists in respect of their fitness to drive made during the annual assessments proposed under the DVLA proposals to amend driving licence standards for vision, diabetes and epilepsy. [R] [75306]
Mike Penning: It is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), not general practitioners or expert diabetologists, that makes decisions on whether an individual is able to meet the appropriate medical standards for driving. The law already provides for appeals to be made through the courts where DVLA has decided to issue a short period licence or revoke/refuse a licence. DVLA will always consider any fresh medical evidence which is provided.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons DVLA proposals for the implementation of EU Directives 2009/112/EC, 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC contain an annual review requirement for people with diabetes treated with insulin which is more stringent than the requirement in the Directives; and what the evidential basis is for this requirement. [R] [75307]
Mike Penning: The 12 month licence review refers to Group 2 (lorry and bus) licensing and will be relevant when the current blanket ban on drivers with insulin treated diabetes has been removed. The review period is in line with that deemed appropriate by the expert members of the Secretary of State for Transport‘s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus. Licences will be renewed provided that the appropriate medical standards are met.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to ensure that safe drivers retain (a) their driving licences and (b) the opportunity to renew their licences should they not meet the medical standards prescribed by EU directives 2009/112/EC, 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC. [R] [75308]
Mike Penning: Those who are able to meet the appropriate medical standards can lawfully be licensed to drive. Drivers who do not meet the new standards cannot be licensed to drive. If the driver's health subsequently improves and they can meet the standards, then a new application for a licence can be considered.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to publish the summary of responses to DVLA proposals to amend driving licence standards for vision, diabetes and epilepsy; and when she plans to publish her proposals for further steps on this matter. [R] [75309]
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Mike Penning: A summary of the responses to the diabetes part of the consultation was published alongside the regulations laid before Parliament on 24 October. The responses on vision and epilepsy will be published next year when those regulations come into force.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to ensure that people with diabetes who subsequent to suffering from impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia regain awareness of hypoglycaemia and are otherwise fit to drive can reapply for their driving licence under expedited timescales after the implementation of EU directive 2009/112/EC. [R] [75311]
Mike Penning: Applicants who regain awareness of hypoglycaemia and meet all other medical licensing requirements will be eligible to reapply for their licences.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with healthcare professionals for the purpose of ensuring that the term second severe hypoglycaemic episode as contained in EU directive 2009/112/EC is understood and applied consistently by health care professionals and people with diabetes. [R] [75312]
Mike Penning: Advice on medical standards is provided by the Secretary of State for Transport's Honorary Medical Panel on Diabetes Mellitus and Driving. Guidance on severe and recurrent hypoglycaemia is already available on the DVLA website and published by DVLA in a booklet ‘At a Glance Guide to the current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive’. This provides advice to doctors on the medical standard to advise their patients. It is updated twice-yearly and can be downloaded from the DVLA's website free of charge.
Also, an e-Alert system which sends messages to general practitioners was used to inform around 400,000 health care professionals about the changes proposed by the EU directive to medical standards.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with diabetes charities, organisations and support services on the implementation of EU directives 2009/112/EC, 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC. [R] [75313]
Mike Penning: DVLA officials were in discussions with Diabetes UK throughout the period of implementation of this directive. The consultation document was sent to a large number of charities and organisations including those who had expressed an interest.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that people with diabetes are not excluded from commercial driving occupations. [R] [75314]
Mike Penning: Regulations which would permit drivers with insulin-treated diabetes to apply for Group 2 licences (lorries over 7.5 tonnes and buses) were laid before Parliament on 24 October.
Applicants for licences for other commercial vehicles will be subject to the standards set out in the directive. Those that meet the criteria and do not have any other debarring medical conditions will be licensed.
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Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she has taken to ensure that the effects of the implementation of EU Directives 2009/112/EC, 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC do not include substantial numbers of people with diabetes losing their driving licences. [R] [75315]
Mike Penning: The Government must implement the minimum health standards included in the EU Directives in 2009. We have approached the EU for confirmation of the intention of the directive in relation to severe hypoglycaemia.
There will be a number of those with diabetes who will become eligible to apply for a licence to drive buses and lorries for the first time as a result of the relaxation of the medical standards in Directive 2009/112/EC.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislative proposals she plans to bring forward to amend legislation governing the licensing of drivers to comply with EU Directives 2009/112/EC, 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC. [R] [75316]
Mike Penning: Great Britain already complies with the minimum requirements of EU Directive 2009/112/EC. The blanket ban imposed on those with insulin treated diabetes, preventing them applying for a group two driving licence, will be removed by regulations laid in Parliament on 24 October.
No final decisions have been made on changes to the medical standards for epilepsy and vision. However, any changes are not likely to be introduced until 2012.
Driving: Licensing
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will revise her estimate of the number of people with diabetes who may be adversely affected by the changes to the minimum requirements for fitness to drive following the implementation of Commission Directives 2009/112/EC and 2009/113/EC and Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. [76653]
Mike Penning: In the first year since the changes in relation to group one (car and motorcycle) drivers were introduced, 115 drivers have had their applications refused or licences revoked as a direct result of the changes to minimum standards introduced by the directive.
Highways Agency
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects to publish her Department's review of the (a) Highways Agency and (b) Strategic Road Network. [77840]
Mike Penning: The independent review of the management of the strategic road network is due to report to the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), in November 2011. The report will be published shortly thereafter.
John Woodcock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings on the Highways Agency Review the non-executive chairman of the Highways
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Agency has attended since his appointment and which individuals and organisations were present at those meetings. [77841]
Mike Penning: The review of the management of the strategic road network is an independent review led by Alan Cook, the non-executive chairman of the Highways Agency.
The published report will include a list of those individuals and organisations that Alan Cook and his team spoke to in the course of the review.
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings attended by Ministers in her Department have included an agenda item related to the Highways Agency Review since May 2010; and which individuals and organisations were present at those meetings. [77842]
Mike Penning: The review of the management of the strategic road network is an independent review led by Alan Cook, the non- executive chairman of the Highways Agency.
Since May 2010 Alan Cook and his review team have periodically met the Secretary of State for Transport and I to discuss progress.
Alan Cook met the Secretary of State in October 2011 to report the findings from his review.
Humber Bridge
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much debt was owed on the Humber Bridge (a) on the most recent date for which figures are available and (b) in 1995; what the rate of interest was in each case; whether any part of the debt was not interest-bearing in each case; and when she expects the debt to be paid off. [73964]
Norman Baker: On 31 March 2011 the debt owed on the Humber Bridge was £332,128,000. The effective interest rate on the whole sum is 4.25%, which in 2011-12 comprises 5.13% on £275,023,000 and nil on £57,105,000.
In 1995-96, the total debt owed was £435,307,192, which comprised 18 different loans from the Public Works Loans Board (PWLB) totalling £76,000,000 and 23 different loans from the then Department of Transport (DoT) totalling £359,307,192.
The average interest rate on the PWLB loans was 9.52% and on the DoT loans 11.62%. Of the £48,975,278 interest owing in 1995-96, £10,078,000 was paid by the Humber Bridge Board and £38,897,285 was paid by the Department of Transport as grant.
The debt is expected to be paid off in 2033-34.
Metals: Theft
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the total delay to rail journeys caused by metal theft in each of the last five years. [77843]
Norman Baker: The Department only has information for the past four years on the total delay to rail journeys caused by metal theft.
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Trust Ports
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules her Department applies to borrowing by major trust ports; what her policy is on authorising any proposed borrowing in cases where a port has unlimited borrowing powers and where lenders are content to provide finance without requiring any Government guarantee; and if she will make a statement. [74048]
Mike Penning: Consent is not required from the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), for trust ports to borrow to finance their capital programmes. Therefore there are no such rules required.
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has informed any major trust port classified as a public corporation that it cannot borrow for capital projects because her Department has no provision for such borrowing within its departmental expenditure limit for the period up to and including 2014. [74049]
Mike Penning: The Government have no statutory control over borrowing by trust ports. However, as such borrowing by major trust ports scores on the departmental expenditure limit, the Department for Transport asks these ports to make a quarterly return of their forecast borrowing and repayments in the medium term.
The introduction of “Modernising Trust Ports—A Guide to Good Governance” sets out the position following the Office of National Statistics classification of the largest trust ports as public corporations. Therefore, the Department would expect to be consulted before a major trust port undertook any new borrowing that was likely to have a significant impact on the departmental expenditure limit.
Railways: Olympic Games 2012
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has considered plans to improve the (a) speed, (b) frequency and (c) quality of passenger rail services between Romford and Stratford before the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. [75851]
Mrs Villiers: There are no plans to alter the basic service pattern between Romford and Stratford. The December 2011 timetable allows for two further services between London Liverpool Street and Gidea Park in each of the am and pm peak periods. Line capacity issues mean that further peak services cannot currently be accommodated.
The Olympic Service Delivery Plan will deliver enhanced services throughout the games period. These enhancements have been contracted between train operating companies
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and the Olympic Delivery Agency. For the Greater Anglia Franchise, serving Romford and Stratford, this will primarily provide additional late evening services for those attending the Olympic park.
Roads: Weather
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Highways Agency has taken to improve the provision of information on road conditions in the event of severe winter weather. [76652]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency has taken the following steps to improve the provision of information on road conditions in the event of severe weather:
The provision of early warnings of severe weather being issued to haulage operators via the Freight Transport Association and Road Haulage Association to allow operators to consider alternative routes and/or revise their delivery schedules;
Introduced in spring 2011 the provision of traffic data via TomTom satellite navigation devices;
Introduced in spring 2011 more extensive use of regionally focused Twitter feeds to communicate information about travel conditions;
Introduced in September 2011 the improved use of over 2,000 electronic Variable Message Signs to include the use of warning message legends to provide advanced notification of severe weather and, in extreme circumstances, legends that advise motorists to avoid the area.
Sellafield: Transport
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will list every safety breach reported during the transportation of nuclear material to and from the Sellafield nuclear site in the last five years. [76437]
Mike Penning [holding answer 24 October 2011]:Reports detailing abnormal events occurring during the transport of radioactive material in the UK are produced annually by the Health Protection Agency working under contract to the Department for Transport. Copies of these reports have been placed in the House libraries and are available via the DFT website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/radiological-impact-uk
These reports cover all types of radioactive material whether connected with the nuclear fuel cycle or not and do not mention organisations or sites by name. The events indicated by the following reference numbers in the reports involved shipments to or from the Sellafield site:
2006—012, 013, 024, 029
2007—007, 026
2008—001, 004, 012, 018, 020, 028, 029, 032, 033, 038
2009—004, 007, 011, 013, 014, 016, 019, 022, 025, 028
2010—003, 004, 008, 012, 013, 015, 016, 017, 018, 022
The report covering events that occurred during 2011 will be published in mid 2012.
Shipping: Accidents
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents the Marine Accident Investigation Branch has investigated in each year since its introduction. [76545]
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Mike Penning: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch was formed in June 1989. The numbers of investigations begun in each full year of its operation are:
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Number |
Shipping: Training
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on changes in funding levels to providers of training for cadets entering the Merchant Navy. [76547]
Mike Penning: The Government's support for maritime training scheme is funded through the Department for Transport's budget. I am in regular contact with the Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, my hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr Hayes).
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many training positions in the support for maritime training scheme will be affected by the decision to freeze the funding available from her Department. [76548]
Mike Penning: I have made funding available beyond this financial year both for those cadets already studying and for those starting their junior officer level training this financial year.
The total number of new cadets starting this year is not yet known but we are expecting similar numbers to last year.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Report of the Task Force on Maritime Employment and Competitiveness and Policy to the European Commission, what recent assessment she has made of seafarer training and employment. [76600]
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Mike Penning: In my written statement of 22 June 2011, Official Report, column 17WS, I confirmed that I had commissioned an independent review of the continuing requirement for Government support for training and skills development in the UK maritime sector. I have asked for a report and recommendations to be presented to me by the end of the year.
Seafarer training and employment were considered by the task force which reported to the European Commission. The Government will consider carefully any proposals that emerge.
Shipping: Working Conditions
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work her Department is doing on the issue of seafarer fatigue and its impact on safety. [76544]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) take the issue of seafarer fatigue very seriously, and are pursuing a three-tier campaign to address the problem:
First, by focusing on the enforcement of the existing regulations, in particular during port state inspections where there is evidence that crew fatigue has the potential to affect the safe operation of ships;
secondly, by seeking international recognition of the problem of fatigue at sea and of its link with seafarer manning levels; and
thirdly, by working to achieve cultural change within the industry so that seafarer fatigue is recognised as a clear safety issue which is addressed through safety management. The MCA has been contributing expertise to the EU-funded “HORIZON” project which is examining the effects of fatigue on performance, and is expected to report early in 2012.
Thameslink: Rolling Stock
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether any of the (a) advisers and (b) consultants that have worked with her Department on the Thameslink Rolling Stock contract have declared a conflict of interest; [R] [76615]
(2) whether any of the (a) advisers and (b) consultants that have worked with her Department on the Thameslink Rolling Stock have provided (i) advice to and (ii) consultancy work for Siemens plc in the last five years. [R] [76616]
Mrs Villiers: Interfleet has notified the Department on three occasions of potential conflicts of interest.
In September 2008, prior to the issue of the Invitation to Tender, they notified the Department that they had carried out some gauging clearance study work for Siemens.
In January 2009 they notified the Department that they intended to bid for potential Notified Body approvals contracts with all Thameslink bidders (Alstom, Bombardier, Hitachi and Siemens).
In July 2011, after the preferred bidder announcement, they notified the Department that they intended to carry out gauge clearance work for Siemens.
On each occasion Interfleet detailed the management action that would be taken to avoid any conflict of interest. This was reviewed and accepted by the Department.
1 Nov 2011 : Column 613W
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will publish the reasons why Alstom Transport was not shortlisted after the invitation to tender was published for the Thameslink Rolling Stock contract. [R] [76617]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 July 2011, Official Report, columns 968-69W.
John McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department made of the
1 Nov 2011 : Column 614W
cost to the public purse of awarding the Thameslink Rolling Stock contract to
(a)
Siemens and
(b)
Bombardier. [R] [76618]
Mrs Villiers: The Department carried out a detailed evaluation of the bids submitted by Siemens and Bombardier, according to the evaluation process detailed in the invitation to tender and published on the DfT website. The impact to the public purse was based on the information provided in the bids.