To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many safety camera partnerships hold pre-driver education programmes; what the cost is of these programmes in each case; and what the names of the partnerships are. (92918)

Safety camera partnerships, as part of their annual operational case, inform the Department of plans they have for communications, which includes, education, training and publicity. Three safety camera partnerships are involved in pre-driver programmes, which are compliant with the netting off rules and guidance. These are:

Many if not all safety camera partnerships are involved in pre-driver training/education in an ad hoc way working with their partners, such as road safety officers within local authorities and the police as part of their communications strategy. The Department does not hold detailed information on this.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what legal authority and for what reason safety camera partnerships hold pre-driver education programmes; what legal remit they have to undertake such work; and from which part of his Department funding for the programmes came. (92919)

Safety camera partnerships are not a legal entity, but complement existing local authority and police statutory responsibilities and powers in respect of road safety. Communications activity is an important part of the safety camera programme and in order to help bring about a change in driver behaviour, Partnerships are encouraged to work with local agencies involved in road safety and to support wider road safety activities including driver education programmes. However, under the netting-off funding arrangements the Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales for 2006-07 permits only those costs directly linked to speed, red light running and/or safety camera enforcement to be reclaimed.