Download or read book Fourteenth Report of Session 2005 06 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: European Scrutiny Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-01-20 with total page 86 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fourteenth report of Session 2005-06 : Documents considered by the Committee on 11 January 2006, including, Exchange of information between law enforcement authorities, report, together with formal Minutes

Download or read book The Opening of Heathrow Terminal 5 written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: BAA opened Heathrow's fifth terminal for business on 27 March, after six years of construction at a cost of £4.3bn, on time and within budget. Passengers had been promised a "calmer, smoother, simpler airport experience". Multiple problems, however, meant that on the first day of operation alone, 36,584 passengers were frustrated by the 'Heathrow hassle' that Terminal 5 (T5) had been designed to eliminate. Problems were experienced with the baggage system, car parking, security searches and aspects of the building itself. When the baggage system failed, luggage piled up to such an extent that it was transported by road to be sorted off-site. According to British Airways, 23,205 bags required manual sorting before being returned to their owners. The Committee finds that most of these problems were caused by one of two main factors: insufficient communication between owner and operator, and poor staff training and system testing. The Committee was pleased to find that steps were being taken at all levels to address the problems at the source of T5's problems, and BAA, British Airways and the union Unite are working together to make Terminal 5 a success.

Download or read book Fourteenth report of session 2009 10 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: European Scrutiny Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2010-03-16 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fourteenth report of Session 2009-10 : Documents considered by the Committee on 10 March 2010, report, together with formal Minutes

Download or read book Ending the Scandal of Complacency written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although road accident deaths have halved between 1958 and 2007 whilst the number of licensed motor vehicles and vehicle mileage covered increased by 400 per cent, the current rate of 3,000 deaths and 250,000 injuries is still an unacceptably high level. Road accidents are the largest single cause of death for people between the ages of 5 and 35 in Britain, and road accidents cost our economy some £18 billion each year. The number of deaths and injuries on roads far outweighs the deaths and injuries in other transport modes, and should be viewed as a major public health problem. The Government should establish a British Road Safety Survey to track overall casualty and safety trends, and review current methods for recording road-traffic injuries. The Committee recommends a systems approach to road safety: ensuring the vehicle, the road infrastructure, regulations and driver training are designed to similar safety and performance standards. Other recommendations include: more 20 mph speed limits; a more proactive approach to determining the safety benefits of new vehicle technologies; action on young drivers - who represent a disproportionate risk to road users - and vulnerable users: motorcyclists, elderly and child pedestrians and cyclists, horse riders; a higher priority given to enforcement of drink-drive and drug-drive offences. The Committee recommends the establishment of an independent Road Safety Commission with powers to work across the whole of government, ensuring that a high priority and adequate resources are given to road safety and that all government departments and agencies give active support. The Government should also establish a road accident investigation branch, like those in aviation, rail and marine.

Download or read book Globalisation written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Treasury Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-10-16 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Globalisation is having an enormous impact on the UK's economy creating significant challenges for policy-making with the shift in economic power from West to East, particularly the rise of China and India in the global economy. The effects will be on felt on highly-skilled jobs as well as some less-skilled employment, and public policy needs to respond to the likely implications for the labour market. The Committee's report considers domestic policy challenges relating to the promotion of innovation and improving the business environment and the skills base in the economy, and issues discussed include: the drivers of globalisation, trade and protectionism, global imbalances, as well as the beneficial and adverse effects of globalisation for the UK economy. The Committee recommends that, in order to promote understanding of the impact of globalisation on jobs and communities, the Government should publish an annual review of new developments affecting the impact of and prospects for globalisation. Given that protectionist sentiment is increasing, posing a threat to the progress of both developed and developing countries, the Committee supports the Government's promotion of a successful conclusion to the Doha trade round. Globalisation is also threatened by the risk of a disorderly unwinding of global imbalances and the success of a reformed International Monetary Fund will be judged by its performance in ensuring global imbalances are properly addressed.

Download or read book Galileo written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-11-13 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Developed as an alternative to the American and Russian military systems, the Galileo programme is an independent European navigation satellite system designed specifically for civilian applications, primarily funded and controlled by the European Union and the European Space Agency. Galileo has potential uses across many sectors, though transport applications such as road and rail traffic monitoring, road pricing systems and air traffic control have been considered key areas of benefit. An earlier Committee report on the topic (HCP 1210, session 2003-04, ISBN 9780215020550), published in November 2004, recognised the potential benefits of the programme for the UK and Europe, but raised concerns over its cost and funding sustainability unless rigorous cost-benefit analyses were undertaken. The programme is currently in its development phase, with the second of two experiemental satellites due to be launched at the end of 2007. It is not expected to be fully operational until 2013-14 (originally this phase was meant to have commenced in 2008), and until Galileo becomes operational, Europe is largely reliant on the American and Russian systems. The Committee's report examines i) the costs, funding and value for money of the programme, including the delays encountered, the UK share of costs, the collapse of the public-private partnership (PPP) negotiations and the governance and procurement strategy; and ii) the impact of the complexity of the EU decision-making process on the programme's future funding and management.

Download or read book The Effects of Adverse Weather Conditions on Transport written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009-05-29 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The snowfall on 1 and 2 February 2009, the heaviest since 1991, had a drastic impact on transport in London, which had no bus service for most of the morning of 2 February. Overground trains and London Underground services were also affected by delays and cancellations. Disruption to services also affected other areas of the country and continued for several days. This report looks at why public transport had been disrupted and whether this disruption was handled better or worse by different authorities, whether planning and preparation by local authorities and the Highways Agency was sufficient, and whether co-ordination between the bodies involved in responding to the heavy snow was adequate. Local authorities and agencies need to examine any weaknesses or potential improvements to emergency plans that may have emerged from the events on 1-2 February. Responses to heavy snow and its impact on traffic can be improved, but these are to do with planning and co-ordination, not increased spending: extra money, increased salt stocks or more snow ploughs are not the solution. The report finds that three key elements are required for a successful response to severe weather: the relationship between all the bodies involved in ensuring that the road network and public transport systems can operate; emergency recovery plans and winter maintenance plans should give a clear indication of what the priorities for salting and gritting should be and that these priorities have been agreed with public transport operators and the emergency services; the presence of good leadership. Co-ordination, prioritisation and visible leadership are vital to the success and speed of recovery following severe weather.

Download or read book The draft Local Transport Bill and the Transport Innovation Fund written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-08-03 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The draft Local Transport Bill consists of a package of measures intended to promote stronger joint working between local authorities and bus operators, to support the introduction of local road pricing schemes and to enable changes to be made to local transport governance. This report follows the structure of the draft Bill. Although the remarks are related to specific clauses some of the recommendations have a more general application. Included with the report is consideration of the Transport Innovation Fund, which is closely linked to congestion and the draft Bill. The Committee is however unhappy that at the end of their inquiry the Secretary of State announced further consultation on parts of the Bill related to the powers and status of the traffic commissioners on reform of the Bus Service Operators' Grant and transitional arrangements for quality contract schemes.

Download or read book School Travel written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2009 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a report out today (HCP 352 session 08/09 ISBN 9780215529206), the House of Commons Transport Select Committee tells education and transport ministers they must do far more to produce a modal shift away from cars towards public transport, dedicated school transport including ’Yellow Buses', walking and safer cycling schemes for British school children. The Transport Committee Chairman Louise Ellman MP says: "Young people deserve safe and affordable travel to education, leisure and employment. The journeys people make when young will influence their preferences and habits in adulthood." Also "Both the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Transport urgently need to identify how they are going to ensure children and young adults are not denied opportunities because public transport is either inadequate or too costly. In particular, travel should not present a barrier to accessing the new Diploma courses. For similar reasons much more should be done to identify children eligible for free school transport." The Committee recognise in their report that no single model will suit all situations and that car travel to school can be the most suitable method in some circumstances. However, they call on ministers to: provide high quality guidance and examples of best practice to illustrate when a dedicated school bus system is appropriate; top up the Education Maintenance Allowance for students from low income families and extend similar support for young people engaged in the new 14-19 diplomas; do more to encourage local authorities to identify pupils eligible for free school transport; consider the viability of a concessionary scheme offering reduced fares to young people; ensure that the Department for Transport, Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families work together so that national policy and practical implementation at the local level deliver both value for money and a greater number of joint initiatives that promote walking and cycling; help local authorities address the inherent tension between school choice and travel impact by raising awareness of sustainable school travel issues amongst parents and young people when they are selecting schools; in rural areas, review whether the maximum travel distance under which free transport may be provided allows for sufficient choice of schools; monitor the effectiveness of School Travel Plans. The Committee also calls on local authorities to consider new ways to fund and run innovative schemes that integrate transport, health and educational objectives for school travel.

Download or read book Passengers experiences of air travel written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-07-26 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Air travel has expanded hugely over the past 25 years and in 2005 228 million passengers travelled through UK airports. This report looks at the passenger experience of air travel from purchasing a ticket to boarding the plane, including travel to and from the airport, check-in and security and complaint resolution. It finds that passengers are more frustrated and dissatisfied than ever. More choice has not led to more power, easier purchasing of tickets has not led to greater transparency, security queues are getting longer with rules becoming more convoluted, and consumer rights can be overwhelmed by legal complexity. The Committee look to the aviation industry to work towards a system whereby the passenger can buy a clearly priced ticket, drop off baggage and quickly proceed through security to board a plane staffed by well qualified, polite staff.

Download or read book Novice drivers written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-07-19 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Novice drivers (those with less than three years driving experience) are among the most vulnerable drivers on our roads, particularly in the first year after passing their test, with one research study finding that nearly one fifth of new drivers were involved in at least one crash within one year of passing their tests. The Committee's report examines a number of options designed to create a more structured approach to learning to drive, in order to help reduce road deaths and injuries amongst novice drivers and the victims of their inexperience. Options include establishing a minimum learning period; graduated driver licensing so that there might be a restriction on driving at night for a certain period after passing a test or a limit on the car engine size allowed; and driver education schemes designed to influence people at a young age to address the development of over-confident attitudes. It also considers the role of the insurance industry and measures to make traffic law enforcement more effective, particularly for disqualified and unlicensed drivers. Recommendations include: i) the introduction of a minimum 12-month learning period, thereby establishing the minimum age for holding a full driving licence at 18 years, in line with most European countries; ii) the need to evaluate the enforceability of two blood alcohol concentration limits, one for novice drivers and one for the general driving populations; iii) the need for further research to understand the scale and nature of the crash involvement of novice drivers, as distinct from young drivers; and iv) reforming the driver training and testing framework including a mandatory continuous professional development programme for all driving instructors.

Download or read book The London Underground and the public private partnership agreements written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008-01-25 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report from the Transport Committee, examines London Underground and the Public-Private Partnership Agreements. The Government originally announced proposals for modernising the London Underground network system via Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements in 1998. Three contracts were drawn up with: (i) Tube Lines for the maintenance and renewal of the Jubilee, Piccadilly and Northern Lines; (ii) with Metronet Rail BVC for the maintenance and renewal of the Bakerloo, Central, Victoria & Waterloo & City Lines; (iii) with Metronet Rail SSL, responsible for the maintenance and renewal of the "sub-surface lines": the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan & East London Lines. These PPP Agreements, 30 years in duration, were arrangements to maintain, renew and upgrade parts of London Underground by private sector infrastructure companies (Infracos), whilst London Underground is responsible for services to customers. The PPP Agreements also set out a performance-related incentive and penalty scheme to remunerate the Infracos for the improvements they make to the network. In May 2007, Metronet admitted an overspend of £1 billion and was refused access to loan facilities by the banks. It then made a reference to the PPP Arbiter, which in turn triggered an Extraordinary Review (which occurs when extra costs are incurred above the level allowed for the bid). Metronet put in a bid for £551m but the PPP Arbiter provisionally concluded that a sum of £121m was appropriate. Metronet subsequently went into administration on 18 July 2007. The report sets out a number of conclusions and recommendations, including: contracts that were supposed to deliver 35 station upgrades, in fact delivered only 14, 40% of the requirement; stations that were supposed to cost Metronet SSL £2m, cost £7.5m, with only 65% of schedule track renewal accomplished; the Committee criticises the consequences of the imposition of PPP on Transport for London, as a "lamentable state of affairs", with the future of most of London Underground's upgrade and maintenance work in doubt; the Committee states, that the Government should remember the failure of Metronet before it considers entering similar arrangements; that the Government should publish a candid analysis of the events preceding Metronet's collapse and its consequences; the Committee believe that the PPP model was flawed and probably inferior to traditional public-sector management; that the Government needs to prioritise transparency and clarity to taxpayers and ensure that any future contracts result in clear accountability.

Download or read book The future of BAA written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008-03-14 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: BAA Limited owns and operates seven UK airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. They handle nearly 150 million passengers a year, and are a vital part of the country's transport infrastructure. In the light of the Office of Fair Trading's referral of BAA to the Competition Commission, to investigate whether BAA's market position was limiting competition in the UK aviation sector, the Committee set up its own inquiry. It particularly wanted to consider: the regulatory framework; the quality of service provided; the size and quality of investment; any consequences following the acquisition of BAA by Ferrovial; the implications of further runway and terminal capacity; how more competition could be introduced into the market. The Committee concludes that the drawbacks of common ownership outweigh the advantages, and identifies a problem with service quality. It believes that increased competition is possible, and hopes the Competition Commission will ensure a healthy, competitive airport sector for the future.

Download or read book The Government s motorcycling strategy written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-03-29 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Government's Motorcycling Strategy was published in February 2005, with the aim of facilitating motorcycling as a choice of travel within a safe and sustainable transport framework. It had a strong focus on safety including provision on the highway, including road design and maintenance; encouraging safer bike design; promoting correct helmet fitting; and improving rider training. This inquiry looks at the progress in implementing the strategy. In addition it also considers changes to motorcycle licensing arrangements and action that might be taken to reduce the risk posed by mini-motos and go-peds.

Download or read book Delivering a Sustainable Railway written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The White Paper, 'Delivering a sustainable railway' (Cm. 7176, ISBN 9780101717625) published on July 2007 and set the Government's general vision for the railways for the next thirty years. Network Rail's engineering overruns at New Year 2008 caused tremendous inconvenience to passengers across the country and inevitably shaped the Committee's oral evidence sessions. The Committee's investigation, along with analyses from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) have led them to believe that the engineering overruns are symptonatic of crucial system flaws which have to be resolved if there is to be any hope of getting a sustainable railway, as promised in the White Paper. This report covers both subjects

Download or read book Women and the Military in Europe written by I. Eulriet and published by Springer. This book was released on 2012-03-27 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores how public cultures shape women's military participation within the European Union. It analyzes the way in which different policy options have been elaborated in the United Kingdom, France and Germany and examines patterns of women's military participation across societies.

Download or read book The Blue Badge Scheme written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Transport Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Disabled people may be missing out on special parking concessions because of where they live. This is the main finding of this report into the Blue Badge Scheme, which offers parking concessions for disabled people. It comes as the Government carries out a strategic review of the scheme. The Committee found wide differences in the way the eligibility criteria are assessed by different local authorities. It wants to see more done to promote consistent good practice across the country.The Committee's conclusions include: (1) the Committee wants to see the minimum issue period for a badge reduced from three years to one, to include those with short-term or temporary disabilities. It would also like to see "smart card" technology developed so there could be even more flexibility over the issuing of badges. (2) In cases where a blue badge holder's condition is unlikely to improve they should not usually have to undergo regular three-yearly assessments, but have their badge renewed automatically. (3) the Government should consider including central London, which currently has its own regime, in the national system. (4) eligibility for a blue badge should be based on mobility in a wider sense than simply on an applicant's ability to walk. But the Government should also look to more appropriate ways of helping people with other disabilities, such as bowel disease. (5) for those who knowingly abuse the scheme the Committee want to see tougher penalties. In particular, those who use stolen badges should have their vehicles impounded. A national database should also be established to help combat fraud. (6) the Security Industry Authority should take steps to prevent vehicles displaying a valid badge from being clamped when they are parked on private land. (7) the Committee also found that Asda was the only example given of a major national company which consistently fined people who abused its disabled bays.