To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the Government’s further response, HC (2008-09) 422, to paragraph 132 of the Eleventh Report of the Transport Committee, Session 2007-08, HC 460, how many members the proposed independent expert panel on road safety will have; and what criteria will apply to the appointment of members to the panel. (282209)

[holding answer 25 June 2009]: The current consultation on a new road safety strategy includes a proposal to create a new independent expert panel to improve both the assessment of trends in road deaths and the scrutiny of road safety more generally.

It would be wrong to prejudge the consultation by discussing the details of the new panel before it is confirmed that such a body should exist. However, any such appointments would need to comply with the Code of the Office of the Commissioner on Public Appointments.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the Government’s further response, HC (2008-09) 422, to paragraph 156 of the Eleventh Report of the Transport Committee, Session 2007-08, HC 460, how many safety representatives from each mode will be a part of the cross-modal group; and who these representatives are. (282210)

[holding answer 25 June 2009]: The Transport Safety Group brings together policy officials from within Department for Transport working on aviation, shipping rail, dangerous goods and road user safety, along with colleagues from the Rail Accident Investigation Bureau, the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau and the Air Accident Investigation Bureau. Each area is typically represented by one colleague though there is no formal limit. Attendance will vary depending on the issues under discussion.