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24 Jan 2005 : Column 31W—continued
West African Currency
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Central Bank of the States of West Africa's recent introduction of new currency into (a) Benin, (b) Burkina Faso, (c) Côte d'Ivoire, (d) Guinea Bissau, (e) Mali, (f) Niger, (g) Senegal and (h) Togo; and if he will make a statement; [209079]
(2) what reports (a) he and (b) his Department has received on shortcomings in the distribution policy of the Central Bank of the States of West Africa in its recent introduction of new currency into its member states; and if he will make a statement; [209080]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the (a) policy and (b) implementation of the policy of the Central Bank of the States of West Africa in its recent introduction of new currency into its member states, with particular reference to access to and distribution of new currency and exchange places in northern Côte d'Ivoire; and if he will make a statement. [209081]
Hilary Benn: DFID is aware of practical difficulties encountered in the currency conversion operation. We understand that these have been recognised, and resulted in an extension of the surrender deadline. DFID has not received any substantive independent reports or assessments of the conversion operation. DFID's bilateral activity and representation in the Franc of the African Financial Community (CFA Franc) zone is modest. DFID contributes to the countries concerned mainly through multilateral donors.
TRANSPORT
Civil Service Property
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many items of civil service property within his Department are unaccounted for, broken down by type; [205580]
(2) if he will list the property belonging to his Department that has (a) been stolen and (b) been reported lost in each year since 1997, broken down by type of article. [206364]
Charlotte Atkins: The answer to the questions includes the Central Department only and covers the period since the Department was formed on the 29 May 2002. To obtain a full answer including the Executive Agencies and NDPBs would involve disproportionate cost.
The following items have been reported lost or stolen:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Travel Vouchers | 51 |
| Laptop Computers | 5 |
| Government Procurement Cards | 7 |
| Computer Accessory | 1 |
| Building Passes | 2 |
24 Jan 2005 : Column 32W
Criminal Offences
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department in the (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 session, broken down by Act. [206873]
Charlotte Atkins: I have placed in the Libraries of the House a list of the criminal offences created in primary legislation sponsored by the Department for Transport in the sessions in question.
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department spent on lawyers in each year since 1997; how many there were in each year broken down by (a) actions, (b) settlements and (c) court cases and what the costs were of each settlement. [206452]
Charlotte Atkins: The records available to the Department for Transport disclose the following information in respect of legal actions to which the Department (including its Agencies) and its predecessor Departments (in relation to their transport functions) were a party.
The total number of legal actions during the financial years 1997–98 to 2004–05 is 6,522. On these, the Departments have incurred a total sum in respect of legal costs (excluding internal staff costs) of approximately £37.4 million. This figure breaks down on an annual basis as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 3.8 |
| 1998–99 | 5.0 |
| 1999–2000 | 5.1 |
| 2000–01 | 4.9 |
| 2001–02 | 3.5 |
| 2002–03 | 3.9 |
| 2003–04 | 6.1 |
| 2004–05 | 5.1 |
Information as to the number and costs of actions resulting in court hearings and of settlements could be provided only at disproportionate expense.
Eurostar
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with representatives from Eurostar; and if he will make a statement. [209625]
Mr. McNulty: Ministers and officials meet representatives from Eurostar from time to time and discuss various matters.
External Suppliers
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tenders were let by his Department to external suppliers in the financial year 2003–04; and what the value was. [209094]
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Charlotte Atkins: The information for the central department and its agencies is set out in the following table.
(4) £0 threshold for IT services.
(5) £3,000 for goods, services and consultancy. £15,000 for works.
Flooding
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what flood risk analysis was undertaken prior to approval being given for the Carlisle Northern Development Route; and if he will make a statement. [210292]
Charlotte Atkins: The design of the scheme includes a major crossing over the River Eden and its flood plain. This is a 144 metre long two span structure with one span entirely within the flood plain. At this point, the proposed route is on a 9 metre high embankment to carry the road over the river and its flood plain. I understand that scheme designers worked with the Environment Agency in the development of the scheme and the proposed design reflects a number of constraints required by the Agency.
I also understand that the county council are producing a Flood Risk Assessment in support of a planning application to amend conditions in the existing planning consent.
M2
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are for the resurfacing of the M2 between junctions 5 and 6 with noise-reducing material. [210375]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency intends to resurface the M2 between junctions 5 and 6 (Sittingbourne to Faversham) with a quieter surfacing material in the summer/autumn of 2005, subject to funding being available.
Ministerial Engagements
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the ministerial engagements (a) out of London and (b) in London that he has cancelled since 1 January 2004. [209218]
Charlotte Atkins:
The Secretary of State and other Ministers carry out frequent engagements both in and outside London and it is occasionally necessary to cancel such engagements for parliamentary or other ministerial business. Details of cancelled engagements could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
24 Jan 2005 : Column 34W
New Cars (Emissions)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of new cars sold in 2003 emitted less than 100g of carbon dioxide per kilometre; and what projection he has made for the percentages that will be allowed for each year until 2012. [210265]
Mr. Jamieson: The Powering Future Vehicles (PFV) Strategy, published in 2002, sets a challenging target that by 2012 at least 10 per cent. of new cars sold in the UK will have a fuel efficiency of 100g per kilometre of carbon dioxide (l00g/km CO 2 ) or better. We reported progress towards this target in the second annual report on the delivery of the PFV Strategy, published in October 2004. The percentage of new vehicles sold in 2003 emitting less than 100 g/km CO 2 was less than 0.1 per cent., although 3 per cent. of new cars sold emitted less than 120 g/km CO 2 —a significant increase on the previous year.
The rate of progress in future years will depend, among other things, on how quickly new technologies are developed and introduced, and on the nature of any further EU-wide targets on new car fuel efficiency. We will monitor the situation closely and keep the existing package of measures under review to ensure that it is delivering the progress required, working closely with stakeholders including the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. The scope for new measures will be considered carefully as part of the Review of the Climate Change Programme which is currently under way.
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