HC Deb 23 July 2004 vol 424 cc755-7W
Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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. [185923]

Ms Hewitt

The DTI currently has nine fleet vehicles.

There have not been any personal injury accidents involving road vehicles operated by the Department within the last five years.

The lease car company is responsible for ensuring the vehicle is roadworthy. The driver is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle is maintained and suitable insurance is in place.

Chief Executives of the DTI Agencies will be writing to you direct in response to your question.

Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Kidney, dated 3 August 2004:

I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.

Companies House operates one company vehicle which is a van.

We have had no personal injury accidents involving the vehicle during the last five years.

We do not have a separate road safety policy. When on company business this is addressed within the overall Health & Safety Policy, and where legislation has been introduced as in the use of mobile phones. This information is provided and instructions given to all employees.

Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Kidney, dated 3 August, 2004:

I am replying to this parliamentary question, tabled on 20 July concerning 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.

The Patent Office van is our only leased vehicle and there has been no personal injury accidents over the last five years. The Office has not got a specific policy for managing work-related road safety. However, the PO van is equipped with a hands free mobile, is regularly serviced and drivers must have a valid clean driving licence.

Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Kidney, dated 3 August, 2004:

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to your question to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (2003/3950) asking 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.

The only part of The Insolvency Service that operates any road vehicles is Redundancy Payments, which currently has four leased motor vehicles used by visiting officers. There have been no reported personal injuries involving vehicles in the last five years. We require all vehicles to be maintained in a good state and to be serviced regularly. All journeys must be notified in advance and officers must not drive their vehicles when tired or for excessive hours. Finally, all accidents, whether involving personal injury or not, must be reported.

Letter from Dr. J. W. Llewellyn to Mr. Kidney, dated 3 August, 2004:

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your three questions regarding road vehicles and safety.

1. Road vehicles operated by the Agency.

The National Weights & Measures Laboratory operates two official vehicles.

2. Personal injury accidents involving Agency vehicles within the past 5 years.

None

3. The Agency's policy for managing work-related road safety.

NWML produced its own policy on managing work-related road safety. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.