HC Deb 28 November 1995 vol 267 cc548-51W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Driving Standards Agency's annual income from(a) fees, (b) charges and (c) fines; what was the total number of staff employed (i) part-time and (ii) full-time; and what contribution his Department has made towards the annual running costs in each of the past three years in respect of (1) the Driving Standards Agency, (2) the Civil Aviation Authority, (3) the Vehicle Inspectorate, (4) the Vehicle Certification Agency, (5) the Traffic Commissioners office and (6) the Surveyor Generals Organisation. [2744]

Mr. Norris

In 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 the Driving Standards Agency's income from fees and charges was £47.2 million. £50.2 million, and £54.8 million respectively. This income is treated as extra receipts payable to the Consolidated Fund. DSA does not receive income from fines. In the same years the agency employed 1,867, 1,783, and 1,728 full-time staff; 267,285 and 289 part-time staff; and, in 1994–95, 31 driving examiners on a contract basis.

The size of the running costs contributions made by the Department depends on the nature of the financial regime under which the organisations operate. VI, DSA and VCA cover most of their expenditure through fees collected from services provided. My Department's contributions in 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95 were nil in the case of VCA and VI, although the Department did purchase enforcement and other services from VI and VCA at a cost of £16.1 million, £15.3 million, and £15.1 million respectively. My Department made contributions of £1.6

Agency Total gross cost of overseas travel in 1994–95 £ Countries visited Grade of staff involved
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 31,632 Sweden Grade 3
Latvia Grade 5
USA Grade 6
Holland Grade 7
Germany SEO
France HEO
Belgium
Spain
Finland
Driving Standards Agency Nil None n/a
Highways Agency 142,386 EC countries Various but usually Senior Professional and Technical Officer level or above
Austria
Sweden
Hungary
Poland
Finland
Iceland
Australia
USA
Marine Safety Agency 295,546 Various Various but generally all staff except clerical grades
Transport Research Laboratory 564,395 Bangladesh Various, from G3 to Scientific Officer
Belgium
Botswana
China
Colombia
Ghana
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Kenya
Malawi
Malaysia
Austria
Czechoslovakia
Norway
Japan
Italy
Luxembourg
Sweden
France
Germany
Denmark
Singapore
Iceland
Switzerland
Australia
Mauritius

million, £1.5 million, and £1.5 million to DSA; £11.9 million, £12.0 million and £11.4 million to the Traffic Commissioners' offices; and £14.1 million, £14.9 million and £14.9 million to the Surveyor General's Organisation which became an executive agency on 1 April 1994 under the new title of the Marine Safety Agency.

The Civil Aviation Authority is a nationalised industry and my Department makes no contribution towards its running costs.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency(a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2359]

Mr. Norris

The information requested is in the table.

Agency Total gross cost of overseas travel in 1994–95 £ Countries visited Grade of staff involved
Nepal
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
South Africa
Tanzania
Thailand
Turkey
USA
Vietnam
Zambia
Holland
Spain
Portugal
Finland
Greece
Jordan
Jordan
Dubai
Jamaica
St. Lucia
Egypt
New Zealand
Vehicle Certification Agency 103,183 Belgium Various but mostly Senior Professional and Technical Officer and Higher Professional and Technical Officer
Sweden
France
Italy
Spain
Switzerland
Holland
Greece
Poland
Hungary
Portugal
Hong Kong
Singapore
Malaysia
Korea
China
USA
Canada
Japan
The Coastguard Agency 33,709 France Grade 4
Denmark Grade 5
Sweden Grade 6
USA Grade 7
Canada SEO
Uruguay HEO
Germany EO
Belgium AO
Norway
Holland
Portugal
Spain
Iceland

The Vehicle Inspectorate records of travel expenditure are not separated between United Kingdom and overseas travel and so the answer to this question for VI could be provided only at disproportionate cost.