HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 cc655-6W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road vehicles are operated by the Department and its agencies; how many personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department have occurred within each of the last five years; and what the Department's policy is for managing work-related road safety. [185924]

Mr. Jamieson

The numbers of road vehicles operated by the Department and its agencies are not recorded centrally and neither is the number of personal injury accidents.

The Department's policy for central staff is contained within the Risk Assessment Procedures for Staff Working out of the Office Environment. It includes advice for staff and line managers on vehicle roadworthiness, alcohol/drugs, driver tiredness and illness, mobile phones, weather, driver competence and the availability of driver training. The policy is presently being reviewed and updated.

In the Department's agencies, responsibility for occupational health and safety management arrangements is delegated to agency Chief Executives. The agencies either have their own policy to suit their specific business needs or they follow the central policy.

The Government Car and Despatch Agency will provide an answer covering its ministerial and other vehicles that it provides to Government Departments.