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Lincolnshire County Council
Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the KPMG public interest report on Lincolnshire county council will be (a) issued to those named in the report and (b) published. [22218]
Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 11 December 2001]: The publication of a public interest report into the affairs of a council is a matter entirely for that council's Auditor. I am unable to comment or offer any guide with regard to the publication of any report that may be in preparation.
Bus Services (Buckingham)
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of local bus services in the Buckingham constituency; and if he will list the bus routes cancelled since 1997. [22653]
Ms Keeble: Local authorities have the primary role in assessing whether bus service needs in their area are being met adequately by current provision. I understand that Buckinghamshire county council carried out an assessment of the bus service provision in Buckingham, by parish, when preparing their local transport plan, and that their view is that in general the bus services there have been gradually improving since 1997. No data are available on which bus services have been withdrawn in the Buckingham constituency since 1997.
17 Dec 2001 : Column: 14W
London Underground
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the changes were in the average real fare on London Underground in each year since 1990–91. [22719]
Mr. Jamieson: The average increase across all Underground fares in relation to inflation was as follows:
| Average increase across all Underground fares in relation to inflation (as RPI) | |
|---|---|
| 1990 | RPI + 3 per cent. |
| 1991 | RPI + 1 per cent. |
| 1992 | RPI + 4 per cent. |
| 1993 | RPI + 7 per cent. |
| 1994 | RPI + 4 per cent. |
| 1995 | RPI + 2 per cent. |
| 1996 | RPI + 2 per cent. |
| 1997 | RPI + 1 per cent. |
| 1998 | RPI + 1 per cent. |
| 1999 | RPI + 1 per cent. |
| 2000 | RPI + 1 per cent. |
| 2001 | RPI + 0 per cent. |
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the total cost of advisory fees in respect of the London Underground PPP. [22702]
Mr. Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble (Mr. Borrow) on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 296W.
Local Education Authorities
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list by local education authority in England, the amounts that he has (a) deducted for existing statutory responsibilities taken away and (b) added for new statutory responsibilities imposed in the provisional settlement for 2002–03. [22747]
Dr. Whitehead: There were two deductions for responsibilities transferred elsewhere: £1,356 million for school sixth forms to the Learning and Skills Council and £5 million for the National College for School Leadership. I have placed the figures for individual education authorities in the Libraries of the House, together with the revised Learning and Skills Council transfer amounts notified to authorities last week.
Mobile Phone Masts
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 10 December 2000, Official Report, column 580W, in what way he has significantly strengthened the planning arrangements for telecommunications development in respect of the siting of mobile phone masts in PPG8. [22768]
Ms Keeble: On 22 August this year we introduced changes that significantly improved the planning procedures and guidance for telecommunications mast
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development. The changes, which included amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995:
- strengthened public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below so that they are the same as for planning applications;
increased the time for a local planning authority to deal with prior approval applications to 56 days;
underlined that school governors must be consulted on all proposals for new masts on or near a school or college; and
increased fees to enable authorities to carry out full public consultation.
Uninsured Drivers
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to assist victims of road crashes caused by drivers who are not insured; and if he will make a statement. [22713]
Mr. Jamieson: The Motor Insurers' Bureau pays compensation from a guarantee fund to victims of uninsured and untraced drivers under long-standing agreements with Government. Motor insurers fund the Bureau pro rata to the amount of insurance they sell.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of uninsured drivers using the roads; and what plans he has to reduce this number. [22769]
Mr. Jamieson: It is estimated that between 4 per cent. and 6 per cent. of motorists drive while uninsured, an offence for which 300,140 people were convicted and more than 28,000 were disqualified during 1999. The motor insurers' recently established Motor Insurance Database will lead to a significant reduction in uninsured driving as police are now able to query insurance details immediately from the roadside. Police inquiries to the database are running at 22,000 a day.
Residential Gardens (Dumping)
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to extend the scope of the planning acts to enable local authorities to deal with residential gardens which become dumping grounds for household and other rubbish; and if he will make a statement. [22714]
Ms Keeble: There are powers already available to local planning authorities under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to require landowners and occupiers to clear up sites adversely affecting amenity in their area. If nothing is done, authorities can carry out the work themselves and charge the owner the cost. These powers are in addition to those available to authorities under environmental protection legislation to tackle fly-tipping and litter.
Cherished Number Plates
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money was collected by the sale of cherished number plates in the past five years. [22770]
17 Dec 2001 : Column: 16W
Mr. Jamieson: The gross revenue raised over the past five years as at the end of 2000–01 was £314 million.
Uniform Business Rate
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many businesses paid uniform business rates in the Buckingham constituency in each year since 1997; and what was the total amount paid. [22645]
Dr. Whitehead: The information requested is collected only at local authority level, so figures for the Buckingham constituency are not available. Information for the local authority covering the constituency (Aylesbury Vale district council) is given in the table:
| Number of hereditaments(3) | Non-domestic rates paid to Aylesbury Vale district council(4) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 4,092 | 26,194,000 |
| 1998–99 | 4,137 | 27,234,000 |
| 1999–2000 | 4,182 | 27,717,000 |
| 2000–01 | 4,317 | 30,981,000 |
| 2001–02 | 4,365 | 31,928,000 |
(3) The number of hereditaments is taken from the National Non-Domestic Rates Provisional Contribution to the Pool Return and is based on the rating list in place on 31 December in the previous financial year. In addition to businesses, these include properties that are liable to non-domestic rates, such as schools and advertising hoardings.
(4) The figures given relate to non-domestic properties on the local rating list which, from 1 April 2000, includes those that were previously exempt crown properties. In addition, some other non-domestic properties in the area of Aylesbury Vale district council (eg gas and electricity supply networks) are on the central list and so pay non-domestic rates direct to central Government. Figures are taken from NNDR returns to the Department. Those for 2001–02 are estimates.
Millennium Dome
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answers of 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 382W, on the Millennium Dome, for what reason the Government are committed to retaining the Dome structure; by how much the value of the site is affected by the Dome structure; if the Government will sell the Dome structure separately; what the Government's estimate is of the value of the peninsular site (a) with and (b) without the Dome structure; and when the hon. Member for Cotswold will receive an answer to his question tabled on 29 November, ref. 19849. [22790]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 13 December 2001]: Like many others, including the London borough of Greenwich, the Government are committed to the Dome staying in Greenwich. It is an important landmark on the London skyline, which has hastened the regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula and has added to the quality and variety of world-famous structures that were already so prominent in the area. Delivering a successful future
17 Dec 2001 : Column: 17W
for the Dome will build on this, ensuring continued recognition worldwide and enabling the regeneration momentum that has been established to continue.
A pre-sale valuation of the Dome site has been undertaken in the context of this process for securing a long term use for the Dome. Any valuations and Government appraisals of the financial value of the site are commercially confidential.
The question, ref. 19849, from the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton Brown) was answered on 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 382W.
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will (1) list each proposal to lease the Millennium Dome that has been received indicating (a) the date it was received, (b) the consideration it received, (c) the dates of the proposed lease and (d) the status of each bid; [22858]
- (2) make a statement on the process by which (a) bids for and (b) proposals to lease the Millennium Dome are considered; [22855]
(3) list each bid received for the Millennium Dome, indicating (a) the date it was received, (b) the consideration it received and (c) the status of the bid. [22857]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 13 December 2001]: Large numbers of proposals have been received by English Partnerships. These have varied greatly in terms of substance and detail, but full consideration is given to every proposal commensurate with its nature. To reveal details of any proposals would not be conducive to a successful conclusion of relevant discussions and would be against the public interest.
The on-going market testing is exploring all avenues in relation to the long-term future use of the Dome, and on professional advice we are in discussion with a small number of serious contenders. All proposals for short- term uses are considered on their merits.
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many expressions of interest have been received by (a) people and (b) undertakings interested in holding an event at the Millennium Dome over new year's eve. [22863]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The Ministry of Sound were the only organisation to directly express an interest and put forward a properly worked up proposal for new year's eve. This formed the basis for contractual discussions, resulting in the event that has been announced for new year's eve at the Dome.
English Partnerships have negotiated a proper commercial return from the Ministry of Sound, including a basic hire charge of £75,000 plus a share of ticket revenue. In addition, Ministry of Sound is paying for all the costs of organising the event.
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people have visited the Millennium Dome since 1 July, indicating the nature and purpose of each visit. [22856]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 13 December 2001]: The number of visits to the Dome (including repeat and
17 Dec 2001 : Column: 18W
work-related visits) from 1 July 2001 to 11 December 2001, and the nature of those visits, is as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Short-term use inquiries | 404 |
| Decommissioning related | 4,743 |
| Potential purchaser inquiries | 55 |
| Civil servants | 13 |
| Court visit (Millennium Diamond case) | 47 |
| Other | 68 |
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) guests and (b) staff of English Partnerships have been invited to attend the Ministry of Sound's new year's eve party at the Millennium Dome. [22852]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 13 December 2001]: As is normal business practice in event management, Ministry of Sound has offered English Partnerships a maximum of 200 complimentary tickets to the new year's eve event. These tickets have nil face value and will be taken up by English Partnerships' staff (and their immediate families) and guests. The overall attendance at the event is expected to be 40,000 people.
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