Executive Agencies (Hansard, 2 November 1992)

§ Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the chief executives of each of my Department's executive agencies. I have asked each of the chief executives to arrange for a reply to be given. The reply from the chief executive of the Transport Research Laboratory contains a list of tables that are being placed in the Library.

Letter from J. Wootton, chief executive of the Transport Research Laboratory to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 2 November 1992: I am replying to your two recent Written Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport. I list below titles of papers published by me. The Better Use of Road Space

17th International Study Week on Traffic Engineering and Safety—Warsaw, September 1992

Transport for People—Some research topics

PTRC XXth Summer Annual Meeting, University of Manchester, September 1992

United Kingdom Contribution to research in road transport informatics

IHT Presidential Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, September 1992

Transport in Europe—Demand, energy and environment

Institute of Energy: Energy, Transport and the Environment Conference, London, November 1992

82W IVHS—An international perspective

Australian Road Research Board Conference, Perth, November 1992

With reference to titles of papers published by the whole of TRL, please see the attached list.

In answer to your Question regarding fact finding visits made in the last 12 months by the Chief Executive these are as follows:

	Number
Companies	13
Research laboratories	22
Professional bodies	21

Detailed findings resulting from each visit would cost too much in staff time to prepare. However, the Laboratory has been thoroughly reorganised to become customer focussed as the result of feedback from outside bodies. These visits also produce a major input to the studies on business opportunities.

Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 30 October 1992: Please find attached information in response to your questions concerning:

(i) List of publications produced by the Vehicle Inspectorate over the past 12 months;
(ii) Fact-finding visits paid by the Chief Executive from November 1991 to October 1992.

I trust that these will be of interest to you

Publications— Vehicle Inspectorate 12 Months to October 1992
£
Manuals
New since 1 October 1991
MOT Inspection Manual—Cars and Light Commercial Vehicles	15.95
MOT Inspection Manual—Private Bus Testing (Class 5)	18.00
MOT Testing Guide	3.50
A Guide to ADR ¹	12.00
A Guide to TIR ¹	22.00
On-Going
HGV Inspection Manual	8.75
HGV Amplification Notes¹	18.00
PSV Inspection Manual	8.00
PSV Amplification Notes¹	15.00
Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness (HGV/PSV)	3.00
MOT Inspection Manual—Motor cycles	3.75
MOT Vehicle Testing Regulations 1981	5.30
MOT Inspection Check Lists (pad of 100)¹	4.75
Vehicle Safety Recalls Response Rate Bulletin¹	15.00
How Safe is Your Car?	4.95
How Safe is Your Motor cycle?	4.95
Information Leaflets—all free of charge
Will Your Car Pass the MOT Test?—new items late 1991
Tread Carefully—Improve your Grip on the Road—new tread depth
Do your Headlamps Point the Right Way?—new regulations
Code of Practice on Vehicle Safety Defects—January 1992
The Work of the Vehicle Inspectorate
Metered Diesel Smoke Testing
MOT Publications order form
Changes in the MOT Test—with effect from 1 January 1993
(October 1992)
Do you want to be an MOT Tester? (October 1992)
¹ Published by the Vehicle Inspectorate; others produced by Vehicle Inspectorate but published by HMSO. The Business Plan and Annual Report and Accounts of the Vehicle Inspectorate are printed by HMSO and published by the Vehicle Inspectorate.

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Visits—Mr. R. J. Oliver 1 October 1991 to 30 October 1992
Date
1991
13 November	Meeting with Traffic Commissioner—Cardiff Feedback on customer needs/satisfication
20 November	Meeting with Mr. Parle (VI non-Executive Director)/Swindon Identification of business options
2 December	Meeting with management consultant—Bristol Scope for consultancy advice on financial systems
1992
8 April	Meeting with KPMG—London Options for development of an Information Systems Strategy
22 April	Visit to Traffic Commissioner—Manchester Feedback on customer needs/satisfaction
27 April	Meeting with IPMS Union—London Possible Union reaction to draft Management proposals
5 August	Meeting with Mr. Parle, Mr. Grimsey and Mr. Fuhr—dinner
	Experience of handling major change
6 August	Meeting with Freight Transport Association and Road Haulage Association
	Consultation on proposed fee structures/increases
25 August	Visit to Traffic Commissioner—Eastbourne Feedback on customer needs/satisfaction
14 September	Visit to Traffic Commissioner—Bristol Feedback on customer needs/satisfaction
8 October	Sainsbury, Basingstoke—operational system in the private sector
	Management information system development

To	Purpose	Findings
MIRA. Nuneaton	To establish position of MIRA in relation to VCA's customers based in USA.	Clearer lines of communications established to mutually assist MIRA and VCA.
TUV, Munich	To establish methods of working of German vehicle test organisations.	Similar approach found to VCA, leading to establishment of working relationship.
Nissan, Cranfield	To establish Nissan's type approval requirements over coming 2–3 years.	Strong programme with VCA drawn up.
INTA, Madrid	To establish working methods of Spanish and other authorities as regards forthcoming European Type Approval.	Some common working practices identified as well as others requiring more discussion.
SMMT, London	To establish SMMT's view on the certification of quality systems in the automotive industry.	Determined need for greater commonality of United Kingdom and European practices.
Saab, Marlow	To establish Saab's ideas on application of ISO 9000 in automotive industry.	Determined need for greater commonality of United Kingdom and European practices.
Volvo Trucks, Irvine	To establish Volvo's needs for type approval and quality system certification and their view on long term systems for vehicle certification.	Outline programmed framed. Some common ideas agreed for longer term.
Rover, Warwickshire	To establish Rover's type approval needs.	Outline programme agreed. Future co-operative training programmes identified.
COI, London	To determine whether a common Executive Agencies' marketing network could be set up.	Probably not for VCA.
Towers Perrin, London	Investigation of computer aided jobs evaluation techniques.	Possible future application even to small group like VCA.

I should be pleased to provide further information if that would be helpful.

Letter from Stephen Curtis to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 28 October 1992:

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Date
13 October	Meeting with David Parr—Essex Water Exchange of information on the process of management of change

Letter from Derek Harvey, chief executive of the Vehicle Certification Agency to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 October 1992. I have been asked by Mr. Kenneth Carlisle to write to you directly in response to two Parliamentary Questions. In PQ 883/92/93 you asked for the titles of papers published over the last 12 months by the Chief Executives of each agency in the Department of Transport. During that period I have published (via the House of Commons library) the following titles:

1. 1990–91 VCA Annual Report (February 1992).
2. 1992–93 VCA Business Plan (March 1992).
3. 1991–92 VCA Annual Report (September 1992).
4. New Car Fuel Consumption (July 1992).

Other documents circulated to most VCA customers, but not "published" in any wider sense were:

1. "How to complain" (leaflet October 1992).
2. Information notice—vehicle type approval legislation (February 1992, May 1992, July 1992).
3. Guide to EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval (June 1992).

In PQ 898/92/93 you asked about the fact finding visits made in the last 12 months by the Chief Executive of each agency in the Department of Transport. During that period I have made the following fact finding visits. The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to Parliamentary Questions you have tabled about papers published and fact finding visits made by Chief Executives within the last 12 months. PO883 The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has published its 85W annual Business Plan and Annual Report and Accounts. Each of these include financial and non financial objectives and targets and the Agency's performance against these targets. In the summer of 1991 we issued the first in a series of publications called DVL TODAY. The publication is issued half yearly and is designed to introduce and explain the work of this organisation to its many and varied customers and to invite suggestions for improving the service. The most recent edition was used to launch our customer service guides. The Agency has also published a number of consultation papers. PQ898 DVLA has done much to improve the delivery of services to its customers. I keep in touch with our customers in a variety of ways. In the last year, this has included visits; to the AA, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Retail Motor Industry Federation.

Date	Event	Results
4 November 1991	Meeting of Commission Internationale des Exames, de Conduite Automobile (CIECA) secretariat in Brussels	Arrange details of CIECA Congress meeting for April 1992
22 January 1992	Lex Motoring Symposium in London	Discuss the latest Lex research about drivers
27–30 April 1992	CIECA Congress meeting in York	Discuss developments in driver testing with European driver testing organisations
23 July 1992	Eurosafe Conference in London (organised by the London Boroughs road safety officers)	Give talk and participate in discussion on developments in driver testing
14 September 1992	Driving Instructor Association Annual Conference in Solihull	Discuss the recently issued Theory Testing Consultation Paper
12 October 1992	CIECA secretariat meeting in Paris	Discuss plans for next Congress

PO 883/92/93

DSA have produced seven papers and publications in the last 12 months. These include two book in our "Driving Skill" series and two public consultation papers. These are listed below:

Title	Date
Retesting Disqualified Drivers—Consultation Paper	October 1991
Theory Testing for Learner Drivers— Consultation Paper	August 1992
The Driving Manual ISBN 0 11 551054 0	May 1992
The Motorcycling Manual (2nd Edition) ISBN 0 11 550974 7	September 1992
Customer Survey—Summary of Findings	April 1992
Business Plan 1992–93	June 1992
Annual Report and Accounts 1991–92	September 1992

Letter from David Evans to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 28 October 1992: The DVOIT has been an Executive Agency in its own right since April of this year. Formerly, it was the IT arm of the Driver and Vehicles Licensing Agency. I have been in post since March. Since that time, I have not published any papers. Whilst I have not been on any formal fact finding visits I have visited all of DVOIT's Customers, some potential Customers and also potential business partners.