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12 Jan 2005 : Column 572W—continued
Buses
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the privatised bus network in rural areas on access to public services; and if he will make a statement. [206901]
Charlotte Atkins: It is primarily for local authorities to assess whether the bus network is meeting the access needs of local communities and to decide in particular cases whether to subsidise a bus service under their duty in the Transport Act 1985 to secure a service where a public transport requirement would in their view not otherwise be met.
The Department has recently issued guidance to local authorities on accessibility planning, which sets a framework for local authorities to carry out an assessment of accessibility needs in their area and the setting of access priorities and targets.
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Since 1998 Government have provided significant new funding for rural transport, including Rural Bus Subsidy Grant for local authorities which totals £51 million this year and is supporting 2,200 new and enhanced rural bus services. A large number of local authorities in rural areas are now helping to meet accessibility needs by supporting demand-responsive and community transport services.
Integrated National Public Transport Information System
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made with the introduction of the comprehensive integrated national public transport information system, referred to on 20 July, Official Report, column 784. [204628]
Mr. Darling: Column reference 784, from the Official Report of 20 July does not exist. If the hon. Member cares to re-table his question with the correct Official Report reference, I will answer it.
Reading Station
Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Strategic Rail Authority to provide him with the business case for a major scheme at Reading station; and when he expects to publish the business case. [207751]
Mr. McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority has considered possible upgrade options for Reading station, but is not in a position to undertake further development of this scheme within its currently funded investment programme.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Age Discrimination
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's policy is towards age discrimination. [202381]
Jacqui Smith: As an equal opportunities employer, my Department regularly monitors its personnel procedures to ensure that there is no discrimination. The Department aims to be fair to all staff, and potential staff, and ensure that no-one receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age.
We have equality proofed recruitment and internal postings policies and procedures and all staff below the senior civil service now have the same retirement age.
We are working with the Employers Forum on Age to further develop initiatives and to share best practice with a range of public and private sector employers. We also held a number of focus groups in 2004 to discuss age issues with staff as part of a CIPD study and are currently considering the outputs.
Average Earnings (Greater London)
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average earnings for (a) males and (b) females working within the Greater London area was in the latest period for which figures are available. [201651]
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Mr. Timms: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 12 January 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what the average earnings for (a) males and (b) females working within the Greater London area was in the latest period for which figures are available. (201651).
Average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for Annual Survey of Hours and Earning tables. The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
The median gross weekly earnings in 2004, for full-time males in Greater London was £597.0 and for females £478.3.
These data, along with mean gross weekly earnings and details for local authorities, are available on the statistics web site:
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It has a one per cent sample of all employees.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings publication criteria ensures that published estimates are undisclosive. A number of estimates have been removed from the published tables for these reasons.
Departmental Funding (Hertfordshire)
Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the organisations and businesses in Hertfordshire that have received funding from (a) the Department and (b) its arm's length bodies in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [207574]
Jacqui Smith: Most departmental funding for Hertfordshire is made available through arm's length bodies. The following table shows a list of Hertfordshire based businesses and organisations in receipt of DTI funding through the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the Small Business Service (SBS). The list includes Business Link for Hertfordshire whose primary funding is channelled through the regional SBS team based in Cambridge.
Because the Department's Finance and Resource Management Directorate does not hold information at county level it would not be possible, without disproportionate expense, to provide a comprehensive list of businesses and organisations in Hertfordshire that have received funding from centrally delivered initiatives.
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