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Written Question
Department for Transport: Information Officers
Monday 11th January 2016

Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many press and public relations staff are employed by (a) the office of Rail and Road, (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (c) the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, (d) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (e) the Vehicle Certification Agency, (f) the British Transport Police Authority, (g) Directly Operated Railways limited, (h) High Speed 2 Ltd; (i) Highways England, (j) Northern Lighthouse Board, (k) Transport Focus, (l) Trinity House, (m) Civil Aviation Authority and (n) the Airports Commission; how many of those employees are paid more than (i) £50,000 and (ii) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by each of those organisations in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Answered by Robert Goodwill

Some of the information requested for the 14 organisations listed is not held by the Department and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.


However, the number of press and public relations staff currently employed by the Department’s executive agencies is provided in the table below. None of the press and PR staff have a full-time equivalent salary exceeding £50,000.


Press and public relations staff
(full-time equivalent )

1 December 2015

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

4

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

4

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

3.2

Vehicle Certification Agency

Nil

Total

11.2


The total of 11.2 full-time equivalent staff compares to an equivalent figure for these four executive agencies in 2009/10 (with DVSA previously being DSA and VOSA) of 15.5 full-time equivalent staff.



Information on non-pay expenditure on press and public relations services held by the Department for the most recent financial year available is provided in the table below.


Non-pay expenditure on press and
public relations services

2014-15
£000s

Office of Rail and Road

108

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

9

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

42

Highways Agency

383

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

169

Vehicle Certification Agency

0

British Transport Police Authority

48

High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd

167

Transport Focus

47

Airport Commission

54



Overall communications expenditure by the Department’s executive agencies in 2014-15 (including salaries) was £19 million lower than in 2009-10. Across Government the government communications profession reduced communications spending by a total of £1 billion during the last Parliament.


Written Question
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Road Traffic
Monday 11th January 2016

Asked by: Adam Holloway (Conservative - Gravesham)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to help reduce traffic congestion on the northbound approaches to the Dartford Tunnel.

Answered by Andrew Jones

Removing the need to pay at barriers has already reduced congestion and eased traffic flow. Latest data shows that Dart Charge has successfully improved journeys through the Crossing with average journey times northbound almost 5 minutes quicker than before the charge was introduced.


A new road layout has been introduced at the Crossing including a new Traffic Safety System on the northbound carriageway on the approach to the tunnels. This improves the way oversized vehicles or those carrying dangerous goods are prevented from entering the tunnels and holds traffic to allow the safe escort of hazardous goods vehicles or in the event of an incident or congestion in the tunnels.


However, Highways England recognises that there is still more work to do. Planned improvements include:


  • Fine-tuning the operation of the new Traffic Safety System to continue to maximise traffic flow while ensuring safety to users.
  • Working with Kent County Council as a matter of priority to improve local traffic flows. In particular, this will assess how traffic signals can be better synchronised where the local road network meets the strategic roads network to get the best out of the network and what improvements can be made at key junctions.
  • Work with the freight industry to educate drivers of restricted vehicles, including what lane or route to take to avoid being stopped at the barriers.

I have written to Highways England requesting an update on their progress.


Written Question
Highways England: Pay
Tuesday 8th April 2014

Asked by: Gregg McClymont (Labour - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have been issued demand notices for unpaid tax since the introduction of the £50,000 maximum tax relief on pensions contributions in April 2011.

Answered by David Gauke

HMRC does not hold data on the total number of letters issued demanding payment of an established and overdue tax debt since April 2011. Each taxpayer with an established and overdue debt may receive several letters requesting payment.