| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
15 Jul 2004 : Column 1279W—continued
Railway Stations (Car Parking)
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many stations on the rail network in England and Wales do not have car parking facilities; [183352]
(2) what plans he has to (a) improve and (b) increase car parking provision at railway stations. [183417]
Dr. Howells: There are 832 stations on the rail network in England and Wales that do not have a station car park.
The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) does not require train operators, as part of franchise agreements, to provide car parking facilities at stations. It is for train operators to decide and to make a commercial judgement on the cost of providing car parking facilities. Local authorities can also consider supporting the provision of car parking facilities as part of their integrated transport strategies.
Regional Assemblies
Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers elected regional assemblies will have in transport matters; and if he will make a statement. [180445]
Mr. McNulty: The transport powers of elected regional assemblies were set out in the White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions" (Cm5511).
Regional Rail Czars
Mr. Hammond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the results of
15 Jul 2004 : Column 1280W
his announcement in January this year of the appointment of regional rail czars to oversee parts of the railway system. [181552]
Mr. McNulty: No such reference has been made by Ministers in January or any other month.
Road and Rail Safety
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths occurred in 2003 on (a) the road network operated by the Highways Agency and (b) the passenger rail network. [182877]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 8 July 2004]: The total number of deaths that occurred in 2003 resulting from road traffic accidents as reported by the police on the trunk road and motorway network operated by the Highways Agency was 625.
The total number of deaths that occurred on the passenger rail network reported by the Health and Safety Executive in the financial year 2002 to 2003, the latest date for which information is available, was 306. (Including a total of 256 deaths resulting from trespass and suicide.)
During 2002–03, 50 people died in incidents on the passenger rail network. This figure includes train incidents (eg derailments), incidents resulting from train movements (eg fatalities at level crossings) and incidents not involving trains (eg falling down steps at station).
School Journeys
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of trips to school were (a) on foot, (b) by bus, (c) by car, (d) by other modes of transport, (e) by five to 10-year-olds, (f) by 11 to 16-year-olds and (g) by five to 16-year-olds in the last period for which figures are available; and what percentage of each were (i) under three miles and (ii) three miles and over in that period. [183825]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 13 July 2004]: The data requested are shown for 1999–2001. Data for 2002 are available, but are not shown as it is believed that walks under one mile were under-recorded that year due to changes in survey practice.
Source:
National Travel Survey, DfT
15 Jul 2004 : Column 1281W
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
Parliamentary Representation
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women what assessment she has made of the difference in the proportion of women elected in the UK to the European Parliament and this House. [182762]
Ms Hewitt: 23 per cent. of UK's MEPs and 18 per cent. of the Members of this House are women. 37 per cent. of Labour MEPs, 50 per cent. of Liberal Democrat MEPs and 7.4 per cent. of Conservative MEPS are women. All UKIP MEPs are men. In the House of Commons women make up 23 per cent. of Labour MPS, 8.6 per cent. of Conservative MPs and 11 per cent. of Liberal Democrats.
In 2002 we introduced the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act which allows political parties to take positive measures towards women's increased participation. The Labour Part has already taken advantage of this new law to use positive action to increase the number of women candidates in both local and national elections, and in elections to the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.
TREASURY
Small Businesses
Ms Keeble: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on measures in the comprehensive spending review to support small businesses. [184077]
Mr. Boateng: Small businesses will benefit from the Government's investment in work force skills, science, innovation and business support in this Spending Review. In particular, additional devolved funding will go to the Regional Development Agencies as they adopt, next April, responsibility for the delivery of business support services for small businesses in every region.
Inheritance Tax
13. Mr. Cameron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about the reform of inheritance tax; and if he will make a statement. [184085]
Dawn Primarolo:
We receive numerous representations on all aspects of the tax system.
15 Jul 2004 : Column 1282W
World Poverty Reduction
14. Clive Efford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution the UK is making to meet the 2015 targets for reducing world poverty. [184087]
John Healey: As the Chancellor announced in the 2004 Spending Review statement, by 2007–08 total UK development assistance will reach nearly £6.5 billion, equal to 0.47 per cent. of Gross National Income. The Government wishes to maintain those rates of growth in the overseas aid ratio, which on this timetable would rise beyond 0.5 per cent. after 2008 and reach 0.7 per cent. by 2013.
90 per cent. of the increased resources will be spent in the world's poorest countries, including £1.25 billion each year in Africa by 2007–08. The UK will also spend £1.5 billion on HIV/AIDS related work over the next three years.
Overseas Development Assistance
15. Mr. Pike: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had on increasing the share of overseas development assistance by 2008 in line with the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of gross national income. [184088]
John Healey: The Chancellor has received over 15,000 representations on the subject of development spending from a variety of organisations, including churches, faith groups and NGOs. As he announced in the 2004 Spending Review statement, by 2007–08 total UK development assistance will reach £6.5 billion, equal to 0.47 per cent. of gross national income. We wish to maintain those rates of growth in the overseas aid ratio, which on this timetable would rise beyond 0.5 per cent. after 2008 and reach 0.7 per cent. by 2013.
17. Mr. Truswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the timetable for reaching the target of spending 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on aid by 2008. [184091]
John Healey: As the Chancellor announced in the 2004 Spending Review statement, by 2007–08 total UK development assistance will reach 0.47 per cent. of Gross National Income. We wish to maintain those rates of growth in the overseas aid ratio, which on this timetable would rise beyond 0.5 per cent. after 2008 and reach 0.7 per. cent by 2013. I can also state that if Britain's plan—the new International Finance Facility—is agreed internationally, the objective of 0.7 per cent. could be achieved earlier, by 2008–09.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |