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10 Feb 2005 : Column 1697W—continued

Teenage Sex

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what part the teaching of abstinence in regard to sexual activity plays in Government policy on sexual health; and if he will make a statement. [210531]

Derek Twigg: I have been asked to reply.

The Government believe that all young people should receive a balanced programme of sex and relationships education (SRE) at school, which encourages them to delay sexual activity until they are ready and prepares them to make responsible choices about their relationships when they do become sexually active.

In 2000, DfES issued non-statutory guidance to schools on the teaching of SRE. Schools are required to adhere to the principles set out in the guidance, although the exact content of each school's programme—and the resources used to support its delivery—are a matter for individual schools, following consultation with governors, parents and students.

The guidance recommends that SRE is delivered within the framework for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and should help young people to develop: positive attitudes and values: the personal and social skills needed to manage relationships; and a knowledge and understanding of issues related to their sexual health.

Variant CJD

Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Medical Research Council on research into effective treatments for variant CJD. [213863]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has been in frequent contact with the Medical Research Council since 2001 in relation to the establishment of a clinical
 
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trial of quinacrine as a potential treatment for all forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease(CJD). The trial is now under way. At the Department's request, the MRC is offering standardised clinical monitoring to those patients who choose to receive treatment with pentosan polysulphate.

In September 2004, the Chief Medical Officer asked the MRC to take responsibility for the CJD therapy advisory group, which has a remit to review research on potential treatments, and advise on priorities for clinical trial.

The Department has also asked the joint MRC/Department of Health research advisory group to review research on treatments during 2005.

Women's Bleeding Disorders

Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) activities and (b) methods his Department is adopting to make (i) women and (ii) the medical profession aware of the possibility that the von Willebrand's form of haemophilia can be the cause of women's bleeding disorders. [210126]

Dr. Ladyman: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave on 18 January 2005, Official Report, columns 873–74W.

TRANSPORT

A5 (Dunstable)

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Dunstable A5 Queue Relocation Scheme, known as the Green Wave, cost. [215853]

Mr. Jamieson: The cost of the Dunstable A5 Queue Relocation Scheme, including works, supervision, preparation and design, is £2.032 million.
 
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A628

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the necessary statutory processes and value-for-money assessments to be completed in relation to the Glossop Spur of the A628 Mottram to Tintswistle Bypass. [215840]

Mr. Darling: The timetable for publishing draft Orders and taking forward the necessary statutory processes for this scheme is a matter for Tameside Metropolitan borough council, as local highway authority.

Once these processes are complete, it will be for Tameside to submit a revised scheme appraisal for consideration by my Department.

Aviation Emissions Tax

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will urge his EU counterparts to agree to a tax on aviation emissions. [214670]

Charlotte Atkins: The Future of Air Transport" White Paper recognises the importance of ensuring that aviation meets its external costs, including its environmental costs. The UK has made it clear that tackling climate change will be a priority for our presidency of the EU in 2005. We believe that the best way of ensuring that aviation contributes towards the goal of climate stabilisation would be through a well-designed emissions trading regime. The European Commission has recently commissioned a study to look at options for aviation participating in the EU emission trading scheme. We intend to press for the inclusion of intra-EU air services in the EU scheme from 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter, and to make this a priority for our EU presidency. However, we will also continue to explore and discuss options for the use of other economic instruments.

Car-share Scheme

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps will be taken to prevent mannequins being used to deceive enforcers of the motorway car-share scheme when it is introduced. [215899]

Mr. Jamieson: We are keen to ensure that the design of the proposed car-sharing lane on the Ml motorway between Luton and St. Albans encourages compliance and that the system is as self-enforcing as possible. However experience at other sites both in this country and abroad suggests that some police or other official presence will be required for part of the time and we anticipate using this method of enforcement.

Civil Servants

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04 and what the estimated cost will be in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement. [211689]

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was created following a Machinery of Government change in May 2002 and figures for years prior to 2002–03 are not available.
 
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The Department has provided for future annual compensation payments to former employees who have taken early retirement. Compensation is payable from the date of retirement until age 60.

The combined committed costs for early departures in the Department for Transport, including the Agencies, are as follows:
£
2002–032,291,064
2003–042,511,104
2004–05(12)7,813,836
2005–06(12)2,363,800
2006–07(12)1,815,000
2007–08(12)1,371,000


(12)Estimate.


In addressing its headcount pressures, the Department has approached HM Treasury for an additional £15 million to fund early departures in 2005–06.

Coastguard (Swanage)

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects negotiations for the construction of a new coastguard station at Swanage to be completed. [215844]

Mr. Darling: Negotiations about the development of a new facility are continuing between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the local authority. It hopes to conclude those negotiations soon.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Swanage coastguard operation. [215845]

Mr. Darling: The Auxiliary Coastguard Team in the Swanage area do excellent work for the local community. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will continue to provide an Auxiliary Coastguard Service in the Swanage area and is exploring the possibility of upgrading the facilities used by the Team.

Consultants

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total expenditure by his Department on external consultants was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) 2003–04; and what the estimated cost of employing external consultants will be in (i) 2004–05, (ii) 2005–06, (iii) 2006–07 and (iv) 2007–08. [211669]

Charlotte Atkins: The Department was formed in May 2002. Detail of expenditure and estimated costs in future years for the central Department and agencies are shown in the following table.
 
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£ million

Expenditure Estimated costs
Organisation2003–042004–052005–062006–072007–08
Central Department58.540.74(13)(13)(13)
Highways Agency273.9277.1278.0278.0278.0
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency2.95.13.22.0(13)
Driving standards Agency3.02.6(13)(13)(13)
Marine and Coastguard Agency0.70.50.6(13)(13)
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency3.02.0(13)(13)(13)
Vehicle Certification Agency0.10.10.10.10.1


(13)Current central Department or agency planning processes do not provide this level of detail.



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