House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 13 May 2004 (pt 6)

13 May 2004 : Column 487W—continued

NORTHERN IRELAND

Disabled Facilities Grant

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been carried out of the effectiveness of abolishing the Disabled Facilities Grant means test for children in Northern Ireland. [172874]

Mr. Spellar: The abolition of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) means-test for parents of children with disabilities came into effect from 16 February 2004. It is therefore too early for any assessment of effectiveness to be carried out. The working group which was set up to look at the matter considered the potential impact of the abolition in terms of cost to the Government and numbers who could be helped by the abolition. It was estimated that 25–30 applications for DFG are withdrawn each year due to the high contribution.

Homelessness

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) homeless and (b) other people living rough there are in Northern Ireland. [171798]

Mr. Spellar: The exact number of people "living rough" is unknown. However, a survey early this year estimated that between 20 and 30 people who frequently use Housing Executive funded Outreach services could be regarded as "living rough". The survey did not, however, attempt to determine whether they were statutorily homeless or not. This is a very small percentage compared the number of households on the Housing Executive's waiting list registered as homeless which at 31 March 2004 stood at 5,287.

Sports Grounds

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the status of the Safe Sports Grounds funding made available for essential health and safety work to stadia in Northern Ireland; and how much funding has been made available (a) in each of the past three years and (b) since January for this purpose. [170249]

Angela Smith: The Interim Safe Sports Grounds Scheme ended in March 2003 and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland is currently planning development of a new Sports Grounds Development Programme, the main purpose of which is to address the long-term health and safety deficiencies of major sports grounds in

13 May 2004 : Column 488W

Northern Ireland. Government funding made available for the health and safety work to Northern Ireland stadia in each of the last three financial years.
£ million

Financial year Amount made available

2001–02 0.5

2002–03 1

2003–04 Nil

Financial year	Amount made available
2001–02	0.5
2002–03	1
2003–04	Nil

SCOTLAND

Chernobyl

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms in Scotland, comprising what land areas and in what locations, have restrictions applied to them in respect of land use as a result of the residual radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear accident. [169878]

Mrs. McGuire: This is a devolved matter within the responsibility of the Scottish Executive, who are advised by the Food Standards Agency. However, the following table from the Food Standards Agency shows the number of farms in Scotland, their location and area of land covered by restrictions on the movement of sheep as a result of the residual radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear accident. There have been no restrictions on land use as a result of the Chernobyl accident.
Restrictions in Scotland at 30 April 2004

Number

Number of Farms 14

Land Area (hectares) 16,300

Location ⁽¹⁾—

⁽¹⁾ South West and Central Scotland.

	Number
Number of Farms	14
Land Area (hectares)	16,300
Location	⁽¹⁾—

Departmental Expenditure (Entertainment)

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his latest estimate is of the amount spent by his Department on official entertainment in each year from 1996–97 to 2004–05. [169103]

Mrs. McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.

Since that date the Office has spent the following on hospitality and entertainment:

£000

1999–2000 ⁽²⁾10,638

2000–01 41,638

2001–02 25,789

2002–03 41,782

2003–04⁽³⁾ 25,969

⁽²⁾ Part-year cost.
⁽³⁾ Estimate.
Note:
Expenditure for 2004–05 is expected to be of a similar order to 2003–04.

13 May 2004 : Column 489W

	£000
1999–2000	⁽²⁾10,638
2000–01	41,638
2001–02	25,789
2002–03	41,782
2003–04⁽³⁾	25,969

Nuclear Power Plants (Air Security)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of the breach of the air exclusion zone around the Chapel Cross nuclear plant this year; and what steps have been taken to improve air security around the plant. [171650]

Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.

My officials have discussed this matter with the Ministry of Defence, who have confirmed that no breach of the air exclusion zone at the Chapel Cross nuclear power station has taken place.

Telephone Costs

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's expenditure on (a) fixed and (b) mobile telephones was in each of the last five years. [165967]

Mrs. McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.

Since that date the Office has spend the following on telephone costs.
£000

Fixed lines Mobile telephones

1999–2000 ⁽⁴⁾36,622 ⁽⁴⁾6,760

2000–01 85,483 14,275

2001–02 86,697 11,850

2002–03 81,756 7,216

2003–04⁽⁵⁾ 82,131 6,646

⁽⁴⁾ Part-year costs.
⁽⁵⁾ Estimate.
Note:
The costs in 2000–01, 2001–02 reflect the additional expense of purchase mobile telephone equipment.

	Fixed lines	Mobile telephones
1999–2000	⁽⁴⁾36,622	⁽⁴⁾6,760
2000–01	85,483	14,275
2001–02	86,697	11,850
2002–03	81,756	7,216
2003–04⁽⁵⁾	82,131	6,646

Timber

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department plans to contribute financially to the establishment of the second phase of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber. [167617]

Mrs. McGuire: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Environment, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on 10 May 2004, Official Report, column 31W.

TRANSPORT

British Transport Police

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Transport Police officers have been assaulted while on duty in each year since 1997. [171902]

Mr. McNulty: The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on officers assaulted while on duty in each year since 1997:

13 May 2004 : Column 490W

Number of Officers assaulted

1997–98 187

1998–99 184

1999–2000 194

2000–01 227

2001–02 227

2002–03 213

2003–04 267

	Number of Officers assaulted
1997–98	187
1998–99	184
1999–2000	194
2000–01	227
2001–02	227
2002–03	213
2003–04	267

Car Sharing

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research his Department has conducted into car-sharing schemes; and if he will place copies of such research findings in the Library; [172290]

(2) what plans his Department has to provide guidance for local transport plans relating to car-sharing schemes. [172291]

Mr. McNulty: Research into the effectiveness of car sharing and other travel plan measures was published in 2002 in "Making Travel Plans Work: Research Report", copies of which were placed in the Library.

Last year, the Department commissioned research into the influence of soft factors on travel demand. The final report, which will include a chapter on car sharing, is expected to be completed shortly and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Following a commitment made in the Government's Response to the Motorist's Forum Report on car sharing and car clubs on 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 72WS, the Department has commissioned research into best practice in setting up formal car sharing and car club schemes in closed communities. From the research, we will provide new guidance for local authorities, schools and employers on the effective implementation of car share schemes. The research and guidance is expected to be completed in October and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the locations of high occupancy vehicle lanes are; and how long each lane is. [172293]

Mr. McNulty: There are high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes operating in two local authorities in England: two lengths of HOV lane in Leeds totalling 1.5 km and four lengths totalling 1.9 km in South Gloucester.

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has collated on the effectiveness of high occupancy vehicle lanes. [172294]

Mr. McNulty: The HOV lanes on Stanningley Road in Leeds are included as one of the case studies in the Bus Partnership Forum's Resource Pack "Bus Priority—The Way Ahead" published by the Department in September 2003. This reports the results of an evaluation of the HOV lanes carried out by Leeds City Council.

Next Section

Index

Home Page