House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 22 Oct 2002 (pt 8)

Road Hauliers

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which suppliers provide the TAN21 self service online service for road hauliers to update operators' licences. [76205]

Mr. Jamieson: The suppliers are CMG Admiral plc.

European Directive 2001/16/EC

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce regulations to give effect to European Directive 2001/16/EC. [76476]

Mr. Jamieson: We expect to make Regulations to implement the Directive next year.

22 Oct 2002 : Column 165W

Railway Industry

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been made by (a) his Department and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority on the impact of the Enterprise Bill upon the railway industry. [76499]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given him today [75616].

Bus Real-Time

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the study being conducted into the business case for bus real-time information; when he expects to publish the findings of this research; what steps are being taken to act upon these findings; and when he expects to produce best practice advice. [76471]

Mr. Jamieson: The work on providing a business case for bus real-time is continuing, the business case will quantify the benefit of such systems. Recommendations for the business case are due for completion within the next 2 months. We are still at an early stage of reviewing the business case and we will consider what actions are warranted.

Fuel Duty

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) the bus industry, (b) local authorities, (c) Transport for London, (d) passenger transport executives and (e) the Treasury on changes to the fuel duty rebate. [76188]

Mr. Jamieson: We are at present conducting a review of bus subsidies, including the future of fuel duty rebate (now known as Bus Service Operators grant). A consultation paper was issued on 6 August 2002 and we will take account of the responses of all interested parties. The review will report to Transport and Treasury Ministers in February 2003.

22 Oct 2002 : Column 166W

School Transport

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research has been conducted for and by his Department on the effect of legislation covering school transport under the Education Act 1996 on (a) reducing congestion and (b) promoting social inclusion; and if he will place copies in the Library; [76197]

(a)

(b)

Mr. Jamieson: In March 2001 DTLR commissioned W S Atkins to assess what the effects would be of increasing the current provision of home-to-school transport. The study, which reported at the end of 2001, identified considerable interest in using home-to-school transport amongst households that were currently not entitled to free home to school transport. It concluded that relaxing the eligibility criteria would have a noticeable impact on car use. Copies of the report—Assessment of parental attitudes to and the potential take-up of additional home to school transport—have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

The Social Exclusion Unit is currently carrying out a study into transport and social exclusion. The full report is expected later this year and is expected to include a chapter on access to learning.

Seat Restraints

Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the rules governing the wearing of seat restraints for children under four years old; and what figures he has collated for incidents involving such children in the last five years. [76232]

Mr. Jamieson: The law on the wearing of child restraints is summarised as follows:

Front Seat Rear Seat

Child under 3 years Appropriate child restraint must be worn Appropriate child restraint must be worn, if available

Child aged 3 to 11 (and under 150 cms in height) Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. If not, an adult seat belt must be worn. Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. If not, an adult seat belt must be worn if available.

	Front Seat	Rear Seat
Child under 3 years	Appropriate child restraint must be worn	Appropriate child restraint must be worn, if available
Child aged 3 to 11 (and under 150 cms in height)	Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. If not, an adult seat belt must be worn.	Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. If not, an adult seat belt must be worn if available.

If there is no seat belt available, then children may not travel in the front. Passengers in the rear seats of passenger carrying vehicles over 2.54 tonnes unladen weight are not required to use seat belts or child restraints. Casualty figures for children 0–3 years are set out below. Information on the use of seat belts is not recorded in official casualty statistics, and therefore it is not possible to say whether these casualties were using child restraints or seat belts or not. The figures include casualties in buses or coaches where the passenger was injured whilst getting on or off—these are not disaggregated from the casualty figures.

Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the United Kingdom's position in the draft directive amending Directive 91/671 on seat belts; and if he will make a statement in the likely timetable for adoption and implementation into UK domestic law. [76233]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government has supported the general thrust of the Commission's proposals to update EU Directive 671/91 on seat belt wearing. The Directive has yet to receive the approval of the European Parliament but once it comes into force, probably early in 2003, the Government will consult on the necessary legislation to bring the provisions into domestic law. A timetable has not yet been established for that.

22 Oct 2002 : Column 167W

1997 to 2001. Child, 0–3 years, Passenger Casualties in Road Vehicles (cars, goods vehicles, buses and coaches)

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Killed 14 17 18 10 15

Seriously Injured 201 222 165 149 143

Slightly injured 2,840 2,673 2,571 2,338 2,440

Total 3,055 2,912 2,754 2,497 2,598

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Killed	14	17	18	10	15
Seriously Injured	201	222	165	149	143
Slightly injured	2,840	2,673	2,571	2,338	2,440

Total	3,055	2,912	2,754	2,497	2,598

Source:

Road Accidents Great Britain, published by the Department for Transport

First Railway Package

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place with the railway industry on progress with the implementation of the First Railway Package of the European Commission; and if he will place copies in the Library. [76186]

Mr. Jamieson: There have been a number of meetings sought by individual industry participants in connection with these directives which have included progress with implementation.
Performance Targets

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by and and for his Department of the performance of (a) the Commission for Integrated Transport and (b) Rail Passengers' Committees including performance targets; what reports have been published on their performance; and if he will place copies of such reports not readily available in the Library. [76207]

Mr. Jamieson: (a) There is a requirement for all Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) to be reviewed quinquennially. The Commission for Integrated Transport's first quinquennial review will take place in 2004. There is no requirement to carry out any additional performance reviews of the Commission, as they are only an Advisory NDPB. The Commission does however publish annual reports that give details of their performance; copies of their first 3 annual reports have been placed in the House Libraries.
(b) The work of Rail Passengers Committees are co-ordinated by the Rail Passengers Council. The Council and Committees are the statutory watchdog protecting and promoting the interests of rail passengers. Their statutory duties are set out in sections 76 and 77 of the Railways Act 1993, as amended by the Transport Act 2000. Sponsorship and external assessment of the work of the Council and Committees are matters for the Strategic Rail Authority.
The Council is finalising a new mission statement and long-term goals for it and the Committees and will be consulting on them later in the year.
The Council and Committees mission statements and aims are set out in their annual reports. Copies of the annual reports for the Council and the Committees for Scotland and Wales are available in the House Libraries, as required by legislation. I will arrange for the annual reports of the remaining committees to henceforth also be made available through the House Libraries.

22 Oct 2002 : Column 168W

Ten-year Plan

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when each of the targets for Transport Direct outlined in the 10-year plan will be met. [76190]

Mr. Jamieson: The targets set out in the 10 year plan are that by 2003 Transport Direct will include:

real-time (that is, actual rather than recorded or timetabled) train operating information

real-time information on many local bus services

multi-modal travel information on the Internet, covering road journeys as well as all public transport modes at a single point of contact

booking of long-distance multi-modal journeys on the Internet

development of Internet-based maps, which allow travellers to examine public transport options both for visiting a specific venue and for general travel around an area they are considering visiting.
These targets are on course to be achieved during 2003.

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