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Voluntary Tenancy Deposits

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of (a) landlords and (b) tenants have signed up to the voluntary tenancy deposit pilot scheme. [133605]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates that 16,000 tenancies were covered by the voluntary tenancy deposit pilot scheme. Not all of these were located strictly within the five pilot areas, so that the estimated take-up rate of 7 per cent. is subject to a margin of error.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the value of making membership of a tenancy deposit scheme a legal requirement for (a) landlords and (b) tenants. [133606]

Keith Hill: Last autumn, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a consultation paper on options for Government intervention in landlords' and letting agents' handling of tenancy monies. This included an assessment of having a mandatory scheme (or schemes). The assessment was based partly on the evaluation of the pilot Tenancy Deposit Scheme carried out by the University of York.

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TRANSPORT

Airport Capacity (South-East)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the need for further terminal capacity at Heathrow Airport in the event that a third runway is built. [133330]

Mr. McNulty: For all options for additional capacity that were studied in SERAS, including those on which the Government consulted, an assessment was made of the scale of facilities needed to cater for the forecast additional throughput (eg passenger and freight handling, maintenance, aircraft stands, aprons, cargo, car parking). Layout plans based on those assessments were produced and their impacts appraised. Paragraph 6.6. of "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom—South East" made clear that these layouts were not definitive proposals. Detailed design will be a matter for the relevant airport developer.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to stop any further developments at Heathrow, if a third runway is approved. [133331]

Mr. McNulty: The air transport White Paper later this year will provide a framework of Government policy looking forward to 2030, including where any new airport capacity should be provided.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether decisions on terminal capacity for the options set out in the SERAS consultation paper will be made without public consultation. [133332]

Mr. McNulty: For each of the options presented in the consultation document, the layouts illustrated allowed for adequate terminal capacity to be provided. The precise location of terminal and other facilities would be determined as part of the planning process for any relevant airport development.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department will take immediately following the publication of the White Paper on the future of airport expansion in the UK later this year. [133334]

Mr. McNulty: Action by the Department following publication of the White Paper will depend on the decisions announced in it.

Bechtel

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list contracts for consultancy or work carried out by Bechtel in each year since 1997 stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [133854]

Mr. McNulty: The Department was formed on 29 May 2002 and has not awarded any contracts to Bechtel.

Blue Badge Scheme

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to propose

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legislation on the Blue Badge Scheme following the recommendations of the Disabled Persons' Advisory Committee; [133504]

(2) what progress has been made towards the formation of a central database of Blue Badge holders; [133505]

(3) how much money was raised from charges for applications for Blue Badge disability vehicle stickers in each year since 1990; and what percentage each of these figures represents of the estimated cost of administering the badges in those years; [133506]

(4) how many people have been prosecuted for abuse of the Blue Badge disability vehicle sticker system in each year since 1990; [133511]

(5) what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding new common guidance on the issuing of Blue Badge disability vehicle stickers. [133512]

Mr. McNulty: Following the review of the Blue Badge Scheme, we are taking forward DPTAC's recommendations through changes to primary and secondary legislation, research and in new guidance to local authorities on the Scheme.

We are pursuing a suitable legislative slot for those changes requiring primary legislation. In the meantime, we have begun work on those recommendations which require amendments to secondary legislation and we will also be letting a number of research projects (including one looking at the feasibility of establishing a central database) shortly. New guidance, which will cover all aspects of the Scheme, will be issued when changes have been introduced.

In taking forward the review, the Department has, and will continue to, work closely with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations. In terms of the new guidance, they will be involved throughout its development.

Timing for introduction of the changes will be subject to the outcome of the research, consultations and the parliamentary process as appropriate. I am not able at this stage to give a firm timetable, but would reassure the hon. Member that we are firmly committed to introducing the changes at the earliest possible opportunity.

The administration of the Blue Badge Scheme is the responsibility of local authorities. Under the regulations they can charge up to £2 for each badge they issue to contribute to their administrative costs. The level of the fee is being reconsidered following the recent review of the Scheme.

Although the Department and the Devolved Administrations currently ask for information as part of their annual Blue Badge statistical survey of local authorities, details do not extend to the funds collected by individual local authorities or their overall administrative costs. Neither does the statistical information include the number of prosecutions for abuse of Blue Badges. There is no legal requirement for local authorities to hold such records or to make them available to the Department.

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Lingo-cellulosic Feedstock

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what products would be included in the lingo-cellulosic feedstock materials referred to in the Budget; [133284]

(2) what production systems he has examined on the production of bioethanol from lingo-cellulosic feedstock materials. [133285]

Mr. McNulty: Various production techniques are currently being developed which could allow the production of biofuels from diverse feedstocks including wood, straw, grass and municipal green waste. As set out in the Energy White Paper, published in February 2003, the Government are keen to support the development of these technologies because they have the potential to deliver significant carbon savings over conventional transport fuels. My officials are in regular contact with representatives from a number of companies, both in the UK and elsewhere, which are developing these new technologies.

Network Rail

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the statement of the Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Mr. Jamieson) of 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 41W, what assurance he has received from Network Rail that it will comply with the consultation and notification arrangements in respect of vegetation management. [132783]

Mr. McNulty: Network Rail advises that it is currently concluding the implementation of the revised local consultation process set out in the 3 June 2003 adjournment debate.

Railways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the improvements to railway stations in Wales, broken down by (a) location and (b) cost in each of the last five years; and what the proposed improvements are for the next three years. [133054]

Mr. McNulty: In September 2002 £2.4 million was provided by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) for the installation of 'Inform Cymru' at 46 stations in Wales; in April 2002 £99,000 for additional car parking spaces, improved security and better passenger facilities at Haverfordwest Station; and £1.1 million for a new waiting room, toilet with disabled access, CCTV and Customer Information Service/PublicAnnouncement (CIS/PA) at Trefforest Station.

The new Wales & Borders franchise agreement which was signed on 20 October 2003 provides £400,000 for improving car parks, including those at Cardiff Central (Wood Street) and Newport. Under the Vale of Glamorgan scheme the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is meeting the costs for the building of the two new stations at Rhoose and Llanwit Major. The Vale of Glamorgan line is expected to re-open in December 2004. The Welsh Assembly Government has also set aside £4.5 million for Wales & Borders to improve 47 of their stations before April 2004. The Ebbw Valley

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scheme, which provides for up to six new stations, is still under consideration by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he asked the Strategic Rail Authority to consider how the Great Eastern Main Line capacity can be increased; and what the response was. [133360]

Mr. McNulty: The Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority, first published on 11 April 2002, require it "to develop a policy for the utilisation of network capacity"—a copy is available in the Library of the House. The Strategic Rail Authority has developed a 'Capacity Utilisation Policy' to determine the most efficient use of the existing network. Individual 'Route Utilisation Strategies' (RUS) are being developed which will help inform the need for new services or infrastructure. The SRA plan to consult on the RUS for Greater Anglia in spring 2005.

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