To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to ensure that staff who drive (a) a vehicle for which (i) his Department and (ii) one of its executive agencies is responsible have valid driving licences and (b) their own vehicles in the course of their official duties for (A) his Department and (B) one of its executive agencies have valid driving licences and insurance; what guidance is issued to those staff in respect of road safety while carrying out official duties; what steps are taken to monitor compliance with that guidance; what requirements there are on such staff to report to their line managers accidents in which they are involved while driving in the course of their official duties; and whether such reports are investigated. (302164)

Staff in the Department and its agencies do not use departmental vehicles. Those staff who use their own vehicles for business use, are personally responsible for ensuring that insurance and other driving documentation requirements are met. This must be confirmed on each claim for reimbursement of such expenses.

No specific guidance is issued in respect of road safety. Road traffic accidents are not reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.