5 Mar 2004 : Column 1155W
Written Answers to Questions
Friday 5 March 2004
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Katharine Gun
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what discussions he has had in the last 12 months with the Secretary of State for Defence on the Katharine Gun case. [158781]
TRANSPORT
Classic Cars (Vehicle Excise Duty)
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what extra revenue has accrued for each year since 1997; and what he estimates the projected extra revenue will be for the next 10 years, as a result of freezing the threshold of vehicle excise duty exemption for classic cars at the year 1973, compared with the rolling 25-year exemption previously in operation. [158218]
Mr. Darling: Since 1997 the Government have sought to restructure Vehicle Excise Duty so that it reflects the environmental impacts of vehicles. This is in keeping with the Government's aim to ensure that the UK meets its legally binding Kyoto targets for the reduction of carbon emissions. The rolling 25-year exemption was abolished in 1998 because it was inconsistent with this environmental focus.
Currently the VED exemption in respect of all vehicles registered before 1 January 1973 costs the Exchequer over £40 million per annum. If the rolling 25-year VED exemption for cars had continued to the present day, the additional costs to the Exchequer in terms of revenue foregone would have been close to £9 million in 2003–04 alone. The total additional cost since 1997 would have been a little over £20 million. Precise figures would require detailed analysis of vehicle stock data, including engine sizes of all extant 25 to 30-year-old vehicles. Future revenue implications will depend on vehicle ownership and use patterns, and in particular on how quickly older vehicles are scrapped.
Cycling
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle paths there were in each year since 1997. [159316]
Mr. McNulty: The Department does not hold this information for the 1997–98 financial year. The following table lists cycle tracks and cycle lanes in kilometres constructed by local authorities for subsequent years.
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| Cycle track | Cycle lane | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 210 | 145 | 355 |
| 1999–2000 | 221 | 178 | 399 |
| 2000–01 | 810 | 399 | 1,209 |
| 2001–02 | 804 | 405 | 1,209 |
| 2002–03 | 1,348 | 2,118 | 3,466 |
Railways
Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the need for high-speed rail services. [156083]
Mr. McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority discussed the feasibility of a north-south high-speed line in its Strategic Plan 2003 as part of its long-term planning. But the priority is for the railway to concentrate on improving its current performance on the existing network.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the most recent figures are for (a) reliability, (b) punctuality, (c) public performance measures and (d) complaints for each train operator operating services in Greater London in each of the last five years. [158659]
Mr. McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) measures train performance by the Public Performance Measure (PPM) which combines reliability and punctuality. It is published by train operator in the SRA's quarterly National Rail Trends (NRT). The latest publication covers performance to the year ending 30 September 2003 and is placed in the Library of the House. The next edition, Quarter 3 2003–04, covering performance to 31 December 2003 will be published on 11 March.
Until March 2003, complaints data by train operator were published in the SRA's six monthly On Track publication. Copies of On Track are placed in the Library of the House. In future, complaints data by train operator will appear annually in Quarter 4 of NRT which will also act as an annual compendium of statistics. This will be published in the summer.
Mr. Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the re-opening of railway stations at (a) Easington, (b) Colliery and (c) Horden. [159317]
Mr. McNulty: There are no current plans to re-open these stations.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Network Rail has exemption from the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in respect of track maintenance work. [158909]
Dr. Howells: NR is bound by the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). There is no specific exemption for Network Rail, but exceptions are provided which may sometimes be utilised by NR to maintain the safety and reliability of the railway.
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Road Improvements
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate real terms cost inflation for road improvement projects in Greater London for each year since 1997. [158661]
Mr. McNulty: Information on real-terms cost inflation is not recorded on an annual basis for road projects. Since July 2000, Transport for London, under the Mayor, have been responsible for road improvement projects in London, excluding motorways, which remain the responsibility of the Highways Agency.
Spitting
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what police procedures oversee the use of DNA kits issued by Metroline bus company used to identify spitting offenders. [159046]
Mr. McNulty: The London Borough of Brent's Operational Command Unit in partnership with Metroline will soon be piloting the use of DNA kits on buses to aid the identification of spitting offenders. Protocols as to the use of DNA kits are currently being established. This pilot scheme is expected to commence in April and is expected to run for six months.
Transport Projects (London)
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates of the formal meetings he has had with the Mayor of London about transport projects in London. [158765]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 4 March 2004]: The Secretary of State and other Ministers have regular meetings with the Mayor of London on a range of topics.
CABINET OFFICE
Cabinet (Disclosures)
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) advice and (b) guidance is given to former members of the Cabinet concerning disclosures of (i) Cabinet deliberations and (ii) classified documents. [159407]
Mr. Alexander: The obligations on former Ministers are set out in paragraph 18 of the ministerial code. On leaving office, Ministers are reminded of these obligations.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will reply to the letter to him dated 8 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms V. Bromage. [157906]
Mr. Alexander: This correspondence was received for the first time in the Cabinet Office on 1 March. The issues raised are matters for the Department of Constitutional Affairs and your letter has therefore been passed to the noble Lord, the Lord Filkin who I understand will reply shortly.
5 Mar 2004 : Column 1158W
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a list of the overseas visits undertaken by ministers in his Department since 1999 indicating in each case by (a) destination, (b) purpose of visit, (c) size of party, (d) composition of party, (e) cost to public funds of each party and (f) the capacity in which the Minister was sent. [159346]
Mr. Alexander: The Government have published the overall costs of all ministerial overseas travel and a list of all visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 on an annual basis since 1997. The last list for the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 was published by the Prime Minister on 16 July 2003, Official Report, column 482W. The next list for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year.
Copies of previous lists are available in the Library of the House.
Online Services
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent representations he has received on the effectiveness of the Government's targets for the online delivery of services. [158045]
Mr. Alexander: The Government continue to receive representations from stakeholders on the 2005 e-delivery target.
In September 2002 this target was extended to focus on delivering benefits to customers by achieving high levels of use for key services.
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