§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many car parking spaces are available to(a) employees of her Department and (b) visitors to her Department within the proposed central London road user charging zone. [81868]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer Tuesday 19 November 2002]The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has four offices within the central London charging zone with accommodation for over four hundred staff. There are a total of 13 parking spaces available to the Department, five of which are reserved for official cars and a further space reserved for a member of staff with a disability. The remaining seven spaces are available for booking by staff on a day to day basis where a need can be shown and for visitors and contractor's vehicles. One of those spaces is being converted for cycle storage by the installation of fixed cycle racks; another of the seven spaces is regularly used for the parking of three motorcycle and scooters.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the policy is of her Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees. [81848]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer Tuesday 19 November 2002]It is general departmental travel planning policy that staff should not be encouraged to use cars to commute to and from work. Also, the cost of daily travel between home and the permanent place of work lies with staff, not the employer. However, staff on170W official business who are required to drive their own vehicles, or hire vehicles, within the charging zone will be reimbursed.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the estimated cost is to her Department of the central London road user charging scheme for(a) 17th February 2003 to 31st March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004. [81887]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 19 November 2002]Any additional costs to my Department as a result of the congestion-charging scheme will be just one element within wider costs, which have to be met from budgets for official travelling and other costs.