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11 Jul 2003 : Column 1021W—continued

Northern Ireland Office (Running Costs)

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the running costs of the Northern Ireland Office were in each of the past five years. [123715]

Mr. Paul Murphy: As published in the 2003 Northern Ireland Office Departmental Report, the NIO incurred the following running costs:

Northern Ireland Office running costs£ million

	Amount
2002–03(4)	(estimated outturn) 232
2001–02	127
2000–01	135
1999–2000	159
1998–99	151

⁽⁴⁾ The reason for the increase is the inclusion of non-cash costs in administration for the first time.

Partnership Agreements

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to conclude a partnership agreement with the trade unions representing the staff in his Department. [117450]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office and the 11 departments within the Northern Ireland administration have a history of constructive relationships with Trade Unions, operating through the Whitley system, which has been agreed and supported by both Management and Trade Union Sides. The arrangements are kept under review by both sides, including the most appropriate way to handle the issue of partnership agreements to ensure that they continue to operate effectively.

Policing Reviews

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of (a) the Criminal Justice Review and (b) the Patten Commission Review on Policing. [124332]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The cost of the Criminal Justice Review from its commencement on 27 June 1998 through to 31 March 2000 inclusive, was £1,151,355.00 and the cost of the Patten Commission Review on Policing from its commencement until 31 March 2000 £2,297,090.00.

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Traffic Calming

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what applications were made this financial year for traffic calming schemes; and what schemes are to be implemented in this financial year. [123710]

Mr. Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

TRANSPORT

Aviation

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) the cost to airlines flying to UK airports of the requirement that they present their passengers to the control authorities at the port of arrival in the UK and (b) the charges imposed on such airlines in other countries for the same function. [R] [124752]

Mr. McNulty: The requirement on airlines to present their passengers to the control authorities at the port of arrival in the United Kingdom is contained in immigration legislation and is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. No assessment has been made by my Department of the cost to airlines or of any comparable charges in other countries.

Driving Tests

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will change the period for which foreign nationals may drive on British roads using an international or other foreign driving licence without taking a British driving test. [124889]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 July 2003]: A review of the present arrangements is not considered necessary at this time. The 12-month concessionary period during which new residents with valid non-European Economic Area driving licences may drive in Great Britain is designed to allow sufficient time for them to become familiar with road traffic conditions here and to take British driving tests. To ensure continuous driving entitlement, a British provisional licence must be obtained and driving tests passed before the 12-month period elapses.

The same 12-month concessionary period exists for visitors with non-EEA licences. This is provided for under the Paris Convention of 1926 and the Geneva Convention of 1949, and protects the interests of tourism and trade. Visitors to this country are prohibited from taking British driving tests.

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Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take powers to ensure that privately contracted and owned mini-vans carrying staff to work are driven by individuals holding current UK driving licences. [124891]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 July 2003]: Residents in Great Britain cannot drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes nor vehicles with more than eight passenger seats if they hold a non-European Economic Area driving licence. Such licence holders are restricted to driving small vehicles such as motorcycles, cars and small vans up to 3.5 tonnes and vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats.

At present, visitors with valid non-EEA licences may drive British registered vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes and those with up to 16 passenger seats, provided they are not driven for hire or reward. A public consultation exercise proposing that visitors also be restricted to driving small vehicles as for residents ended on 7 July. The outcome will be announced shortly.

In the interests of trade and tourism, professional drivers visiting Great Britain are permitted to drive minibuses, buses and lorries, providing these vehicles are not British registered and have been brought temporarily into the country. No changes are proposed to these arrangements.

EU Committees

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in the Department serve on EU committees or working parties. [116091]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department's membership of EU Committees and Working Parties is not fixed. Depending on the subject matter under consideration, the most appropriate policy officials within the Department attend meetings of EU Committees, Working Parties and Working Groups. Information on the number of policy officials who serve on such Committees is not held.

Heathrow Airport

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the flight path for the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport. [124410]

Mr. McNulty: For the purposes of the noise appraisal in the South East and East of England Air Services (SERAS) study, nominal departure and arrival routes were assumed for new runways. However, these are indicative only and much more detailed work would be needed as part of the detailed design of any option supported in the air transport White Paper.

IT Systems

Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department spent on IT (a) software, (b) hardware, (c) maintenance and (d) licences in 2002–03. [124420]

Mr. McNulty: The Information held by the Department and its Agencies differs in detail due to the different vote and trading account practices and

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different IT service supply arrangements. This means that it is not possible to provide accurate figures without disproportionate cost.

Media Training

Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was to his Department of media and voice training for ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [123126]

Mr. McNulty: The Department for Transport was set up in May 2002. Since that time no Ministers have received media or voice training. Information on media and other training received by officials is not readily available and could be given only at disproportionate cost.

Stansted Airport

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total estimated cost is of the (a) road and (b) rail links to Stansted airport to cater for future capacity; and what provisions towards these costs are made in the 10 year transport plan. [R] [124769]

Mr. McNulty: Stansted airport received planning approval in September 2002 to expand to cater for 25 million passengers per annum (mppa) and a section 106 agreement between BAA and the local authority has recently been signed. BAA Stansted and SRA are currently negotiating a parallel legal agreement, which has been agreed in principle, for a package of improvements to meet anticipated increased rail use associated with the airport to 25 mppa, the costs of which are to be borne by BAA. Highway works at junctions 8 and 8A of the Ml 1 have also been agreed and are estimated to cost about £300,000.

The SERAS study included an estimate of costs for new road and rail infrastructure to support options for expanding Stansted. These were of the order of £800 million–£1.8 billion, for options providing one, two or three new runways. Most of the costs were for rail investment. It is not possible at this stage to estimate what share of the costs might fall to the airport developer or the timing of any schemes since that will depend on decisions in the air transport White Paper, and other decisions associated with the London-Stansted-Cambridge Growth Area.

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