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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 15 September 2004
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
International Competition
Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to assist poor countries to protect their farmers and traders against unfair international competition; and if he will make a statement. [188556]
Hilary Benn: DFID supports the inclusion of 'Special Products' and the 'Special Safeguard Mechanism' in order to assist farmers and traders in poor countries.
Loosely defined, 'Special Products' are those that are of particular importance to the rural development, and food security, of the country in which they are grown. The farmers of these products should thus be subject to lesser liberalisation commitments.
The 'Special Safeguard Mechanism' would allow developing countries to temporarily protect agricultural products from sudden import surges, which threaten the viability of domestic producers.
Both concepts were included in general terms in the July 2004 World Trade Organisation Framework agreement, setting out the negotiating agenda for the ministerial meeting in Hong Kong in December 2005 and will be consolidated and refined as the negotiations progress.
DFID is currently funding a project involving developing country delegates, research institutes and NGOs to assist with this process, and to assist farmers and traders in poor countries.
TRANSPORT
Advertising/Public Relations
Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by his Department in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the last year for which figures are available on (i) advertising and (ii) public relations. [186453]
Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. It has spent £10.3 million on advertising primarily on the THINK road safety campaign.
For details of expenditure on public relations, I refer the hon. Member to my predecessor's reply to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous) on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 650W.
Airports
Bob Spink:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received
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regarding the High Court ruling on a judicial review of airports in Britain; and what impact this will have on the Cliffe site in the Thames Estuary. [187968]
Charlotte Atkins: The Secretary of State has not received any representations regarding the High Court granting of permission for the three legal challenges to the Future of Air Transport White Paper to proceed to judicial review.
The Government's policy was set out in the White Paper, including their conclusions on the Cliffe option.
Airstrips
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is regarding proposals to license individual airstrips; and what measures he will put in place to help those airline charities which would be affected by increased charges. [188606]
Charlotte Atkins: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for the day-to-day regulation of airstrips and has no new proposals to license individual airstrips. Existing provisions for the licensing of aerodromes for the public transport of passengers and instruction in flying are contained in Article 101 of the Air Navigation Order 2000.
As regards flights in aid of charity, arrangements have been in place since 1988 for CAA permission to be given, for example so that a private individual can donate a flight as a prize in a charity draw. The conditions under which such flights may be conducted are set out in an Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC 76/2003 (White 88)). The CAA makes no charge in relation to this permission.
An airline does not need permission for a flight in aid of charity, as its operations are subject to the requirements for public transport flying.
Caravans (Motorway Restrictions)
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to repeat the trial scheme restricting caravans to the inside lane on the M5 on other motorways in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [188578]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency currently has no plans to repeat the trial elsewhere on the network.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot scheme on the M5 at Bristol which restricts vehicles towing caravans to the inside lane; if he will publish his evaluation; and if he will make a statement. [188579]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency is currently evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot scheme, which ended on 28 August. It is anticipated that an announcement will be made when the evaluation is complete this autumn.
Departmental Fraud Costs
Mr. Damian Green:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of
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the cost of fraud to (a) his Department and (b) the executive agencies affiliated to his Department in each of the last five years. [186406]
Charlotte Atkins: The answer covers the period since the Department was formed on 29 May 2002 and since that date the estimated cost of fraud (including theft) in my Department including the executive agencies are as follows:
| Central department | Agencies | Total (£) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 757 | 73,560 | 74,317 |
| 2003–04 | 8,439 | 76,164 | 84,603 |
Assets have been valued at cost, net book value or replacement cost depending on the circumstances of the individual case. Recoveries from perpetrators or others, e.g. insurance claims, have been netted off. Some incidents are still under investigation and final values may change.
Departmental Thefts
Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the items that his Department has reported lost or stolen to the police from his Department's buildings and property since 2001. [186405]
Charlotte Atkins: The answer covers the period since the Department was formed on 29 May 2002 and since that date the following items listed below have been reported to the police by my Department as lost or stolen:
The answer to the question only includes buildings occupied by staff in the Central Department. To obtain a full answer including the executive agencies would involve disproportionate cost.
Theft of wallet
Theft of personal cheques (2 occurrences)
Loss of building passes (2 occurrences)
Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the equivalent monetary cost of theft to (a) his Department and (b) the Executive agencies affiliated to his Department was in each year since his Department was established. [186408]
Charlotte Atkins: The answer covers the period since the Department was formed on 29 May 2002 and since that date the estimated cost of theft in my Department including the Executive agencies is as follows:
| 2002–03 | 2003–04 | |
|---|---|---|
| Central Department | 757 | 7,659 |
| Agencies | 47,043 | 57,349 |
| Total | 47,800 | 65,008 |
Assets have been valued at cost, net book value or replacement cost depending on the circumstances of the individual case. Recoveries from perpetrators or others, e.g. insurance claims, have been netted off. Some incidents are still under investigation and final values may change.
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M1
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway was closed at Junction 11 on 23 August; who authorised the closure; for how long the motorway was closed; and what assessment he has made of the necessity for closure. [188580]
Mr. McNulty: At approximately 14:50 hours on Monday 23 August, a pedestrian jumped from the bridge that crosses the motorway at Hatters Way, Luton into the path of an oncoming lorry. He sustained fatal injuries. The death has been recorded by HM Coroner's office as suicide.
Bedfordshire Police immediately closed the southbound carriageway in order to carry out their investigations.
A symbol signed diversion route was set up for road users affected by the carriageway closure. Other strategic signs were set further north of the incident warning of the closure.
This was a particularly difficult investigation and clear up task for all involved. The body of the deceased was further struck by other approaching vehicles; thus raising both the sensitivity and the complexity of the police operation.
The carriageway was re-opened to traffic at 18:10 hours.
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