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20 Jul 2004 : Column 182W—continued
Rural Post Offices
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how much money has been spent in the last year on supporting rural post offices; [185539]
(2) what plans she has for the funding of the rural post office network after 2006. [185476]
Mr. Timms: The Government have made available £450 million to maintain the rural network up in the first instance until April 2006.
The Cabinet Office Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) report on the future of the post office network recommended that the Postal Services Commission should advise the Government on the main options for the policy framework after 2006. The Government are currently considering that policy advice and will take decisions on the shape of the rural post office network after 2006 in good time to allow for a smooth transition from the current support arrangements.
Scientific Research Funding
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is on funding for scientific research bodies. [184577]
Ms Hewitt: My Department funds world-class research with the aim of making the UK one of the most competitive locations for science, research and development and for innovation in the world.
The Government's policy is set out in more detail in the "Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–14", published as part of this year's Spending Review. Spending for the current period is set out in the "Science Budget 2003–04 to 2005–06" copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
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South-West Regional Development Agency
Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the South-West Regional Development Agency's budget has been spent on projects or programmes in Gloucestershire in the last three years. [181309]
Jacqui Smith: I understand that the South West of England Regional Development Agency incurred expenditure of £44 million for projects in Gloucestershire in the years 2001–04. This represents 13 per cent. of SWRDA's total programme budget for these years. This figure does not, of course, capture the total percentage of SWRDA's project and programme expenditure that benefits the county, as Gloucestershire also benefits substantially from a range of regional projects and programmes funded by SWRDA, where expenditure is not directly attributable to individual county areas.
Tyres
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many tyres were (a) purchased, (b) reused and (c) disposed of by (i) landfill, (ii) incineration, (iii) illegal fly-tipping and (iv) other means in each year since 2001. [184854]
Mr. Timms: DTI compiles figures on behalf of the Used Tyre Working Group on used tyre recovery and disposal.
Statistics on replacement tyre sales are provided as follows by the British Rubber Manufacturers' Association and the Imported Tyre Manufacturers' Association. The figures for 2003 are expected to be received shortly. While these sources represent the majority of activity in this sector, there are other, diverse, routes to market and for this reason the figures should be viewed as indicative, rather than absolute. A similar caution applies to the information relating to used tyre disposal and recovery.
| Replacement tyre sales | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Units | 24,870,298 | 25,485,101 |
| Tonnes | 234,250 | 240,000 |
A figure for total used tyres arisings also needs to take account of various reuse tyres, not included in the figures above, including retreads and part-worns, tyres on end of life vehicles and imports of used tyres.
| Used tyre arisings | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Units | 52,832,000 | 47,169,500 |
| Tonnes | 481,500 | 447,000 |
| 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|
| Reused | 117,650 | 105,100 |
| Energy recovery(15) | 40,000 | 48,000 |
| Other recovery | 132,850 | 147,400 |
| Total | 290,500 | 300,500 |
(15) Figures relate solely to the use of tyres as fuel in cement kilns.
20 Jul 2004 : Column 184W
Not all industry returns have yet been received to enable presentation of the 2003 figures, but it is estimated that the use of tyres in cement kilns rose to almost 80,000 tonnes and other recovery approached 190,000 tonnes.
Tyres disposed of to landfill arise from two principal channels, retail outlets and end of life vehicles (ELVs). In the former case, figures show a sharp drop from over 87,000 tonnes in 2001 to around 42,000 tonnes in 2002. The 2003 figures are expected to show a further significant diversion of tyres away from landfill disposal. Tyres are also disposed of to landfill as part of automotive shredder residue. The figures for 2001 and 2002 are similar at around 57,000 tonnes, although it should be noted that this total derives from an assumption that all ELV tyres not reused as part-worns or retreads are disposed of in this way.
For both 2001 and 2002 this leaves around a 10 per cent. gap between estimated tyre arisings and stated recovery and disposal. The difference may be due to a number of factors including over-reporting of arisings and under-reporting of recovery and disposal, together with any tyres that are stored or are otherwise not consigned for immediate treatment.
Tyre fly-tipping takes a number of forms, including that dealt with by landowners and local authorities as well as those tyres that are dumped on the forecourts of tyre retail premises, and there are, as yet, no overall figures quantifying this illegal activity. However, The Environment Agency (EA) estimates that £1.65 million is spent annually by local authorities on tyre related fly-tipping. In addition, a joint Defra/EA report estimated that 8,700 tonnes of tyres were fly-tipped on agricultural land in 2001, equating to a cost of £1.3 million. There are a range of other affected landowners including British Waterways, Railtrack and the National Trust. In addition, there is fly-tipping on tyre retail premises where the retailer will subsequently meet the costs of disposal. A third of respondees to a 2003 survey by the representative body for tyre retailers reported that they had been subject to tyre fly-tipping. Since April 2004, Flycapture, a web-based fly-tipping database for England and Wales managed by the EA on behalf of Defra, has been operational. The database, populated with information provided by both the EA and local authorities, provides a systematic basis for the collection of information relating to all fly-tipped wastes, including tyres.
Working Time Directive
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with Labour Members of the European Parliament about the Working Time Directive. [185541]
Mr. Sutcliffe:
I have had several discussions on working time with Labour MEPs as well as those from the main parties both in person in Brussels and by telephone. I have also discussed working time with MEPs from other member states. My officials also have kept in contact with MEPs and provided written briefings on the Government's position.
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Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of British industry about the Working Time Directive. [185542]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government regularly meet representatives from British industry to discuss a wide range of issues, including employment law and the operation of the Working Time Directive.
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) mobile telephone costs, (b) hospitality and (c) taxi costs in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. [185553]
Mr. Lammy: The information requested is as follows.
(a) Total mobile telephone costs for the Department, which covers costs for the Court Service, the Public Guardianship Office and DCA Headquarters for 2003–04 is £295,742.
(b) Total hospitality (entertainment) costs for the Department, which covers costs for the Court Service, the Public Guardianship Office and DCA Headquarters for 2003–04 is £79,050.
Information on 1996–97 is not readily available.
(c) It is not possible for the Department to provide the full detailed information requested without incurring disproportionate cost.
The Department has published rules for official travel in its staff handbook and all travel complied with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the total cost of printing departmental headed notepaper was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [185554]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Constitutional Affairs also replies on behalf of its Associated Offices and the Court Service.
The Department's expenditure on departmental headed notepaper in 2003–04 was £7,738.
Expenditure on notepaper during 1996–97 is included in general stationery costs and cannot be separately identified.
Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) head-hunters and recruitment consultants and (b) management consultants in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) the latest year for which figures are available. [185556]
Mr. Lammy:
The Department for Constitutional Affairs also replies on behalf of its Associated Offices and the Court Service.
20 Jul 2004 : Column 186W
(a) The term "head-hunters and recruitment consultants" is taken to refer to the use of specialist agencies in recruitment to key posts and public appointments.
(i) In 2003–04 the Department's expenditure on recruitment consultants was £414,827. The majority of this concerned the establishment of the new agency (HM Courts Service) and lay members of the 42 new local Courts Boards.
(ii) In 1996–97 information on the use of recruitment consultants was not collated centrally and could now be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
(b) The Department's net expenditure with management consultants in the financial years 1996–97 and 2002–03 was £1.09 million and £5.75 million respectively. (Expenditure is only collected on an annual basis and the figure for 2003–04 is not yet available.)
This increase in expenditure reflects the wide-ranging and fast-paced programme to modernise the Department's work, to increase efficiency, provide better customer service, and value for money for the taxpayer.
Mr. Alan Duncan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the costs of running his Department's canteen facilities were in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available. [185557]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Constitutional Affairs also replies on behalf of its Associated Offices and the Court Service.
"Canteen Facilities" is taken to mean facilities provided primarily for use by the Department's staff. This approach is consistent with the definition used in previous questions.
(a) The Department operated several staff canteens at various locations during 1996–97 but the running cost of these facilities can only be separated out at disproportionate cost to the Department.
(b) At present the Department operates only one staff canteen, in its London headquarters where there is a concentration staff.
Visitors to the building also use the facility.
Income from sales is used to offset the cost to the Department. However, there is a need for a subsidy, the cost of which was £94,791 in 2003–04.
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