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14 Jul 2004 : Column 1195W—continued
Transport Act
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of section 124 of the Transport Act 2000; and what plans he has to review it. [182721]
Mr. McNulty:
While the legislation governing buses is kept under review, we have no plans for major changes to the present legislative framework. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Government have recently consulted stakeholders on the proposal to reduce the 21-month implementation period for bus quality contracts. We are evaluating the responses to the consultation and will be announcing the outcome shortly. We are also currently consulting stakeholders on draft guidance for local transport authorities who may be considering applying for bus quality contracts.
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Transport Funding (Warrington)
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which transport projects in Warrington have received government funding since 1997. [183055]
Mr. McNulty: There have been three Government funded major schemes taken forward via Warrington's Local Transport Plan and the previous Transport Policies and Programme systems.
1. Urban Traffic Management & Control (DfT funding of £5.195 million 2001–2002—this project has incurred expenditure to date, and is ongoing.
The following projects have yet to gain full approval from DfT, but have received provisional funding to the maximum cash figures stated:
2. Bridgefoot bypass (£5.895million provisionally approved DfT funding 2001–02)
3. Central Bus Interchange (£6.338 million provisionally approved DfT funding 2003–04)
Additionally in 2002–03, Warrington borough council undertook 58 separately identifiable minor works schemes.
CABINET OFFICE
Pay Systems
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library the most recent review of (a) his office's pay systems, (b) the pay systems of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible and (c) the Office equal pay action plan. [181341]
Mr. Alexander: The Cabinet Office, Central Office of Information (COI) and the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) review their pay systems on an ongoing basis as part of pay negotiations.
The non-departmental public bodies are advisory and have no staff. Support is provided by Cabinet Office staff.
Copies of the Cabinet Office and GCDA equal pay action plans have been placed in the Library. The COI equal pay audit did not identify any required action.
Prime Minister's Delivery Unit
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the budget for the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit was in each year since it was created. [180537]
Mr. Alexander: For actual spend figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03,1 refer the right hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb) on 19 November 2003, Official Report, column 878W. The actual spend by the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit for 2003–04 was £3,576, 354. The budget for 2004–05 is £3,909,350.
Regulations (Compliance Costs)
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his estimate is of the (a) total and (b) compliance cost of regulation in the UK as a percentage of gross domestic product. [181025]
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Mr. Alexander: No estimate of these costs has been made by the Government, and to provide such estimates would incur disproportionate costs. Regulatory Impact Assessments are produced for all new regulations affecting business, charities, and the voluntary sector, for which it is a requirement that the benefits justify the costs.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Education (Budget)
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what the projected budget in the next year is for (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) further education in Northern Ireland; [183514]
(2) what the projected administration spending within education is in the next year; [183515]
(3) what the projected division in budget among the education and library boards is in the next year; and what percentage is allocated for administration within each board. [183516]
Mr. Gardiner: Specific budgets for the 2005–06 financial year will be determined in light of the outcome of the Budget 2004 Spending Review.
Fuel Prices
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with Northern Ireland's petrol and oil distribution industry about the cost of fuels; and if he will make a statement. [183235]
Mr. Gardiner: I have had no such recent discussions. The level of prices is a commercial decision taken by the petrol and oil distribution industry. Unless there is evidence of "price fixing" Government cannot intervene in these decisions.
Heavy School Bags
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will conduct a risk assessment of the effects on school children of regularly carrying heavy school bags. [180578]
Mr. Gardiner: There are no plans for a departmental risk assessment of the effects on school children of carrying heavy school bags. The weight of school bags is a local management issue, and where individual concerns are raised, responsibility to resolve the issue is shared as appropriate between the relevant school authorities, the pupils themselves, and their parents.
High Hedges
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce legislation to deal with the problems associated with high hedges in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [183389]
Angela Smith:
I intend to issue a consultation paper in the autumn of 2004 to obtain information on the scale of the nuisance high hedge problem and views on how this may best be addressed.
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Should this consultation indicate that the nuisance high hedge problem requires Government intervention, I will seek to bring forward detailed legislative proposals as quickly as possible.
Ministerial Air Travel
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain was for (a) Ministers and (b) staff of the Northern Ireland Civil Service in the latest year for which figures are available. [182113]
Mr. Pearson: The total cost of air travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain for the period 2003–04 was:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| (a) Ministers | 523,730 |
| (b) Staff | 4,089,340 |
The figures at (b) refer to travel by all civil servants (including Home Civil Service staff) working in the NICS and NIO.
The figures included for NICS staff only relate to bookings made through the NICS contracted travel agency service and do not include any journeys undertaken which were booked through any other channels as this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
MOT Tests
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to authorise designated garages in Northern Ireland to carry out MOT tests. [183236]
Angela Smith: I have no plans at present to authorise garages to carry out MOT tests. Despite the current difficulties due to industrial action, the Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency has a very good track record of delivering a consistent, objective and independent service, of delivering value for money, and of meeting key targets, and each time alternative arrangements have been considered previously the conclusion has been that the existing system best serves the needs of the people of Northern Ireland.
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