HC Deb 06 February 1995 vol 254 cc54-6W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 881, how many employees of his Department (a) have applied for facility time to attend health and safety courses, and (b) have applied for facility time to act as health and safety representatives in the financial years (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95 to date.

Mr. Norris

The Department does not keep a central record of health and safety representatives and those who have attended training courses. Duly appointed safety representatives are permitted time off with pay to attend basic training facilities approved by the TUC or further training similarly approved where such training is necessary to meet changes in relevant legislation.

The Department also permits duly appointed safety representatives to take such time off with pay during working hours as is necessary for performing their functions under section 2(4) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Safety Representation and Safety Committee Regulations 1977, as amended.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 881, if he will (a) list and (b) place in the Library all documents which refer to the reduction of stress levels and sick absences amongst his staff.

Mr. Norris

The complete information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I will, however arrange for the following departmental documents to be placed in the Library:

  • —"What everyone should know about stress"
  • —"Coping with stress—a guide for line managers"
  • —"Coping with change"
  • —"Coping with a major personal crisis"
  • —"Stress: recognising and coping with stress"
  • —Departmental Notices 19/92 and 19/94—Managing Sickness Absence

Mrs. Dunwoody:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1994,Official Report, column 881, if he will list the programmes listed under DVLA which apply to the vehicle registration offices.

Mr. Norris

The following health initiatives are available to staff working in the agency's vehicle registration offices:

  • health screening
  • smoking cessation help
  • interest free loans for the purchase of bicycles for home to office travel.

1993 1994
Vehicle Registration Office October November December October November December
Manchester 512 525 442 498 701 413
Sheffield 363 254 161 251 187 86
Liverpool 275 233 299 275 211 114
Bangor 395 243 176 191 418 252
Chester 259 250 254 278 147 153
Huddersfield 156 85 132 82 87 25
Leeds 484 683 383 392 509 346
Preston 421 686 519 309 405 282
Hull 151 212 114 172 170 128
Aberdeen 45 42 29 33 50 48
Inverness 40 46 41 12 45 16
Dundee 62 131 133 143 117 187
Middlesbrough 385 302 263 372 349 267
Newcastle 491 553 393 499 546 377
Carlisle 97 77 73 89 138 76

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 1994, Official Report, column 881, if he will list for the financial years(a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94 the funds his Department spent on the "Look After Your Heart" programme; and if he will list the amounts he has allocated for this programme in (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1996–97.

Mr. Norris

The Department of Transport's spending on the "Look After Your Heart" programme was £6,645 in 1992–93 and £2,317 in 1993–94.

A total of £6,500 was allocated in 199–95 and £5,500 provisionally allocated in each of 1995–96 and 1996–97.

In addition, between 1992 and 1995 the Department spent £80,527 on health screen programmes.