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5 Dec 2002 : Column 998W—continued
Rolling Stock
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age of rolling stock is in each of the rail operating companies; and what proportion is (a) over 10-years-old, (b) over 20-years-old and (c) over 30-years-old. [85337]
Mr. Jamieson: The table gives the average age of rolling stock for each train operating company. The proportion of stock over 10, 20 and 30-years-old is not readily available.
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Speed Cameras
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what type of (a) fixed speed cameras and (b) mobile speed cameras are in operation in the UK; and how much they cost. [84585]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I have been asked to reply.
Information on fixed site and mobile speed cameras used in the United Kingdom is not held centrally. All speed enforcement devices must, however, be type-approved by the Secretary of State in order for their evidence to be relied on in court proceedings. Devices currently type-approved, from among which police forces select their equipment, are listed in the table.
The cost of the devices is a commercial decision for manufacturers and their agents, and this information is not held centrally.
(5) Activated by means of sensors or cables on or near the surface of the road.
Note:
Some equipment can be used as either a mobile or a fixed site unit.
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West Coast Main Line
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of the completion date of the West Coast main line upgrade. [85334]
Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's draft strategy for the West Coast Route Modernisation project proposes substantial completion by 2006, though work in the Trent Valley, for which Transport and Works Act approvals are required, is planned to continue until 2008.
TREASURY
BCCI
Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the meeting between the Inland Revenue and the BCCI Staff Committee. [85087]
Dawn Primarolo: I understand that the Revenue are continuing their contacts with representatives of all parties to the proposed BCCI settlement with a view to clarifying the tax treatment as soon as possible.
Child Tax Credit
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of families in the Portsmouth, South constituency who will benefit from the child tax credit from April 2003; and if he will make a statement. [85868]
Dawn Primarolo: Nine out of 10 families with children will be eligible for the child tax credit, to be introduced in April 2003. Estimates of the number of families with children in the Portsmouth, South constituency who will benefit from the child tax credit are not available; however, an estimated 650,000 families with children in the south east of England are expected to benefit from the child tax credit.
Insurance Industry
Andy King: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to institute an inquiry into the working of the insurance industry. [86046]
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Ruth Kelly: We have no plans to institute a general inquiry into the working of the insurance industry. The Department of Work and Pensions will be undertaking a formal review of employers liability compulsory insurance and will announce details shortly.
Working Families Tax Credit
Ms Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of the child care component of the Working Families Tax Credit there are in (a) England and (b) each region; what percentage of recipients of the child care component represents WFTC claimants in each region; and what percentage of recipients of the child care component represents households with children in each region. [85184]
Dawn Primarolo: The latest available figures appear in the following table.
| Government Office Region | Total benefiting, May 2002 | As a percentage of all families with children receiving WFTC or DPTC(7), May 2002 | As a percentage of all families receiving Child benefit(8), August 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 138,836 | 13 | 2.3 |
| North East | 6,679 | 9 | 2.1 |
| North West | 25,985 | 13 | 3.0 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 16,092 | 11 | 2.6 |
| East Midlands | 13,104 | 12 | 2.6 |
| West Midlands | 17,166 | 12 | 2.6 |
| East | 11,115 | 12 | 1 .7 |
| London | 17,267 | 17 | 2.0 |
| South East | 17,527 | 14 | 1 .8 |
| South West | 13,813 | 12 | 2.4 |
| Region not identified | 88 |
(6) The childcare tax credit gives help with eligible child care costs for children aged up to 15 (16 if disabled) at the September following the start date of the award.
(7) WFTC and DPTC are available to families with children aged up to 16 at the start date of the award, or aged up to 18 and in full time non-advanced education.
(8) Child benefit is available to families with children aged up to 16 (or 18 if in full time non-advanced education).
Sources:
Inland Revenue, Department of Work and Pensions; administrative data
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