HC Deb 30 January 2004 vol 417 cc532-3W
Mr. Damian Green

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public inquiries into applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 held in each of the last five years; how soon after the inquiry the inspector made his report to him in each case; and how long it took him to reach a decision in each case. [149986]

Mr. Jamieson

The following table shows the information requested in respect of applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA), with the exception of a few applications that will fall to be decided by the First Secretary of State, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry or the National Assembly for Wales. The variable periods for reaching a decision can partly be attributed to differences in the complexity of the cases. But in many cases this has been for reasons outside our control, such as the need to obtain more information from an applicant or the inspector, or the need for a related consent from another Department.

Grade Number of staff at grade Work pattern
Grade 7(PB6.1) 1 Full-time
Senior Executive Officer (PB5.1) 2 Full-time
Higher Executive Officer (PB4.3) 4 3 x full-time and 1 x part-time
Executive Officer PB3.2 4 Full-time
Administrative Officer PB2.1 2 Full-time

The Unit will shortly reduce to 12 members of staff, upon the reallocation of one Administrative Officer to other departmental duties.