§ Mr. Bill MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the main findings of the review of the inland transport organisation conducted by his defence planning and emergencies division.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe inland transport organisation is maintained by the Department to provide a control structure for the surface transport industries, should it be necessary, in a time of international crisis or war. The main changes recommended by the review were:
- (a) all levels of the organisation should be activated relatively early in crisis to avoid a change in control arrangements during a war;
- (b) requests for transport which could not be obtained, during a crisis or war, by normal commercial means, should be fed into the organisation at the district or equivalent level;
- (c) the arrangements for the earmarking of road vehicles in peacetime should be improved;
- (d) the initial training in civil defence for members of the organisation should be provided by county (or equivalent) emergency planning officers as part of the training they provide to volunteers generally;
- (e) regional seminars should no longer be linked with those of the regional port and shipping organisation, and should last no more than half a day.
These recommendations are now being implemented.
§ Mr. Bill MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport which option has been chosen from those arising out of the DVIOT division feasibility study into location of road vehicles in an emergency; when he expects796W arrangements for the location of vehicles in an emergency to be in operation; how much the implementation of these proposals will cost; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe preferred option would allow on-line inquiries of the goods operator licensing database within each traffic area office. It is estimated that development of this option would cost £22,600, with an annual support cost of £14,300 thereafter. No decision has been taken about development.