§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (i) if tree surgery and felling, carried out on the site of the Swainswick/Batheaston bypass, has been carried out within regulations and guidelines issued by his Department; and if he will publish the regulations together with details of action taken to enforce them;
(2) if he will order an inquiry into the circumstances relating to the injuries sustained by Mr. Martin Ellis on Thursday 5 July at the site of the Batheaston bypass.
107W
§ Mr. Watts[holding answers 21 July 1994]: These questions are operational matters for the Highways Agency. The chief executive is writing to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Don Foster, dated 17 October 1994:
The Minister for Railways and Roads Mr. John Watts has asked me to write to you in reply to your two Parliamentary Questions about an accident and the work of the tree surgeons at the Batheaston/Swainswick Bypass construction site.I do not consider that an enquiry into the accident is necessary. It is clear that the injuries sustained by the trespasser were a direct result of his own actions. We have made statements to the Avon and Somerset Constabulary and if they consider further investigation to be necessary, we shall assist in whatever way we can.The specialist tree surgeons working at the construction site are employed not by the Highways Agency but by our contractors, Amey Construction Limited. The tree surgeons work to their own code of conduct within the Health and Safety Regulations. Like all our other contractors and sub-contractors, the tree surgeons carry their own insurance and are required to indemnify the Highways Agency claims for compensation by third parties.In addition, special advisers with expert knowledge in particular sectors have been appointed from time to time. Over the last five years, appointments and departures have been as follows:
Joined Left 1990 1 1 1991 — — 1992 2 — 1993 2 3 1994 (to date) — 1
§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years became(a) management consultants and (b) joined a firm of consultants;
(2) if he will publish the names of the employers joined by special advisers who left his Department in each of the last five years.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answers 20 July 1994]: There is no requirement for special advisers to provide details of their employers after leaving Government service.