To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has contributed to assist injured service personnel with care and rehabilitation in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 to date.

[133989]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has contributed to assist injured service personnel with care and rehabilitation in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13 to date.

[133989]

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many injuries have been sustained by young people following an incident of restraint, in each young offender institution and secure training centre in each month since January 2010; and how many of those injuries have been classified as minor or serious...

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many injuries have been sustained by young people following an incident of restraint, in each young offender institution and secure training centre in each month since January 2010; and how many of those injuries have been classified as minor or serious...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the continued conflict across the borders of South Sudan; and whether there has been an increase in (1) the number of refugees, (2) the number of conflict-related injuries, and (3) detected cases of serious illness such as meningitis.[HL4086]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the continued conflict across the borders of South Sudan; and whether there has been an increase in (1) the number of refugees, (2) the number of conflict-related injuries, and (3) detected cases of serious illness such as meningitis.[HL4086]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the cost of firework-related injuries to the NHS in the last 12 months;

[133860]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the cost of firework-related injuries to the NHS in the last 12 months;

[133860]

(2) how many people were admitted to hospital for firework-related injuries in England in the last 12 months.

[133861]

Andrew Rosindell:

(2) how many people were admitted to hospital for firework-related injuries in England in the last 12 months.

[133861]

Andrew Rosindell:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 445-8W, on injuries: knives, how many knife wound injuries were treated in hospitals in each primary care trust and strategic health authority in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 445-8W, on injuries: knives, how many knife wound injuries were treated in hospitals in each primary care trust and strategic health authority in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been admitted to hospital in each of the last five years with injuries or conditions caused by excessive video game use in each (a) socio-economic group, (b) age group and (c) gender.

[131887]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been admitted to hospital in each of the last five years with injuries or conditions caused by excessive video game use in each (a) socio-economic group, (b) age group and (c) gender.

[131887]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the oral answer of 29 November 2012, Official Report, column 357, on road deaths and injuries, what consideration he has given to the actions he will require, and of whom, if the level of road deaths and injuries is higher...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the oral answer of 29 November 2012, Official Report, column 357, on road deaths and injuries, what consideration he has given to the actions he will require, and of whom, if the level of road deaths and injuries is higher...

The Government have no plans to reinstate national targets. The strategic framework for road safety sets out measures that we intend to take to continue to reduce casualties. Those include making forecasts of the casualty numbers that we might expect to see through to 2030 if our measures, and the actions of local authorities, are successful.

The Government have no plans to reinstate national targets. The strategic framework for road safety sets out measures that we intend to take to continue to reduce casualties. Those include making forecasts of the casualty numbers that we might expect to see through to 2030 if our measures, and the actions of local authorities, are successful.

With the numbers killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads increasing for the first time in 17 years, will the Secretary of State think again about

the decision to axe national targets on reducing deaths and serious injuries, which helped to focus efforts across Government, local government and the agencies?

With the numbers killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads increasing for the first time in 17 years, will the Secretary of State think again about

the decision to axe national targets on reducing deaths and serious injuries, which helped to focus efforts across Government, local government and the agencies?

I will never take safety lightly; it must always be uppermost in the mind of the Secretary of State for Transport. The United Kingdom has a very good record. In 1979, the number of people killed on the roads was 6,352. In 2011, the number was 1,901. That is still far too many, but the country has been heading in the right direction.

I will never take safety lightly; it must always be uppermost in the mind of the Secretary of State for Transport. The United Kingdom has a very good record. In 1979, the number of people killed on the roads was 6,352. In 2011, the number was 1,901. That is still far too many, but the country has been heading in the right direction.

Campaigners will meet in my constituency this weekend to discuss how we can improve local road safety. There is growing support for 20 mph speed limits in residential areas. Why does the Department advise that safety has to be balanced against economic considerations and traffic flow, when there is no evidence of longer journey times in 20 mph areas?

Campaigners will meet in my constituency this weekend to discuss how we can improve local road safety. There is growing support for 20 mph speed limits in residential areas. Why does the Department advise that safety has to be balanced against economic considerations and traffic flow, when there is no evidence of longer journey times in 20 mph areas?

I am always willing to look at the hon. Lady’s representations. It is important that we take a range of measures to improve safety. We have taken a range of measures, as have the companies that produce cars. There is no doubt that cars are much more responsive in their braking power than they were 30 years ago. We have made movements in the right direction. In some areas, 20 mph speed limits are right.

I am always willing to look at the hon. Lady’s representations. It is important that we take a range of measures to improve safety. We have taken a range of measures, as have the companies that produce cars. There is no doubt that cars are much more responsive in their braking power than they were 30 years ago. We have made movements in the right direction. In some areas, 20 mph speed limits are right.

At a time of budget constraints, agencies understandably concentrate scarce resources on the performance targets against which they are measured. That is clearly having an impact on road safety budgets. I urge the Secretary of State to reconsider this decision because quite apart from the personal tragedy that is involved in all fatalities, it is a false economy, because every fatality costs a lot of money.

At a time of budget constraints, agencies understandably concentrate scarce resources on the performance targets against which they are measured. That is clearly having an impact on road safety budgets. I urge the Secretary of State to reconsider this decision because quite apart from the personal tragedy that is involved in all fatalities, it is a false economy, because every fatality costs a lot of money.

Indeed. The hon. Gentleman is right: a fatality not only causes huge damage and a dramatic situation for the family involved in that tragedy, but there is also cost to the health service and other services. There has been no diminution in the desire of the Department for Transport to improve road safety, and there will not be while I am Secretary of State.

Indeed. The hon. Gentleman is right: a fatality not only causes huge damage and a dramatic situation for the family involved in that tragedy, but there is also cost to the health service and other services. There has been no diminution in the desire of the Department for Transport to improve road safety, and there will not be while I am Secretary of State.

The Secretary of State may be aware that road traffic deaths in the east midlands are double those in the north east per capita. As I learned from the Transport Committee inquiry into road safety, national targets allow underperforming local authorities to shelter behind the excellent performance of other local authorities, Blackpool included. Does the Secretary of State agree that national targets actually lead to more traffic deaths in some parts of the country because we are not targeting underperformance?

The Secretary of State may be aware that road traffic deaths in the east midlands are double those in the north east per capita. As I learned from the Transport Committee inquiry into road safety, national targets allow underperforming local authorities to shelter behind the excellent performance of other local authorities, Blackpool included. Does the Secretary of State agree that national targets actually lead to more traffic deaths in some parts of the country because we are not targeting underperformance?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend; he makes an interesting point. Whenever serious or fatal accidents take place I want a proper investigation to take place, the results of which can be carried across to provide experience to other local authorities throughout the United Kingdom.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend; he makes an interesting point. Whenever serious or fatal accidents take place I want a proper investigation to take place, the results of which can be carried across to provide experience to other local authorities throughout the United Kingdom.

The Secretary of State’s decision will be bitterly regretted by campaign groups across the country. Targets introduced by the Thatcher Administration 30 years ago had cross-party support and have successfully brought down casualty rates across the country. His use of the word “forecasts” indicates that he is trying to claw something back from his predecessor’s bad decision to abolish targets. Will the Secretary of State think again? Targets are not the whole solution but a component; they are part of the way to reduce serious injuries and deaths on British roads.

The Secretary of State’s decision will be bitterly regretted by campaign groups across the country. Targets introduced by the Thatcher Administration 30 years ago had cross-party support and have successfully brought down casualty rates across the country. His use of the word “forecasts” indicates that he is trying to claw something back from his predecessor’s bad decision to abolish targets. Will the Secretary of State think again? Targets are not the whole solution but a component; they are part of the way to reduce serious injuries and deaths on British roads.