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28 Feb 2005 : Column 951W—continued
Petrol Stations
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many retail petrol stations there were in the UK in each year since 1997 (a) in total and (b) broken down by region. [218208]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Energy Institute, formerly known as Institute of Petroleum, produces an annual Retail Survey" of the number of retail petrol filling stations in the UK. Historically, the regional breakdown data on petrol filling stations numbers have not been collected.
| Total UK retail petrol filling stations | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 14,824 |
| 1998 | 13,758 |
| 1999 | 13,716 |
| 2000 | 13,043 |
| 2001 | 12,201 |
| 2002 | 11,425 |
| 2003 | 10,535 |
| 2004 | Figure to be published |
Small Businesses (Lancashire)
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to help small businesses in Morecambe and Lunesdale since 1997. [216786]
28 Feb 2005 : Column 952W
Nigel Griffiths: The Business Link Operator for Lancashire has supported 2,318 businesses in the Lancaster area (which includes Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency) since 2001. This information is not available at constituency level. The Small Business Service (SBS) was set up as an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in April 2000. Contracts were exchanged with a national network of 45 Business Link Operators (seven in the North West) to provide Business Support to small and medium sized enterprises from April 2001. Before this date Government support to businesses was provided through Training and Enterprise Councils and the Small Business Service does not have access to this data.
The type of assistance provided by the Business Link Operator includes pre-starts, start up advice, intensive assistance, IT support and Investors in People.
In addition a number of companies in the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency have received support under DTI programmes since 1997:
The Enterprise Grant scheme was replaced by the Selective Finance for Investment in England on 1 April 2004. No offers have been made to companies in this constituency under this scheme.
A summary of support from Lancaster city council shows it paid out grants of £848,678 to support more than 30 companies in the Morecambe and Lunesdale area under the following schemes:
(15)This total included a grant payment of £129,606 to Carnforth Station Railway Trust, to generate Carnforth Station which now provides business space for four businesses creating 11 jobs.
28 Feb 2005 : Column 953W
CABINET OFFICE
Congestion Charge
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on congestion (a) charges and (b) penalty charge notices by the Department since the commencement of the congestion charging scheme. [213828]
Mr. Milburn: Responsibility for congestion charges and penalty notice charges incurred by vehicles provided to Government Departments by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA), rests with them. I have asked its Chief Executive, Nick Matheson, under the terms of the Framework Document to the GCDA to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.
Excluding GCDA services provided to the Cabinet Office, the amount spent on congestion charges by the Department is shown in the table.
| Congestion charges (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 8,928 |
| 2003–04 | 9,608 |
| 2004–05 (to date) | 9,423 |
The Cabinet Office has not incurred any congestion penalty charges.
Ministerial Vehicles
David Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what proportion of the fleet of ministerial vehicles used low sulphur fuels; [216299]
(2) how many ministerial car journeys (a) over 10 miles and (b) under 10 miles were undertaken in (a) 1998 and (b) 2004; [216300]
(3) what procedures are in place to measure the annual carbon dioxide emissions from ministerial vehicles; [216301]
(4) what steps have been taken since 1997 to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from ministerial vehicles. [216302]
Mr. Milburn: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Nick Matheson to write to my hon. Friend. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library and will be printed in the Official Report.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
EU Committees
Angus Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Contact Committee for implementation of the Television without frontiers Directive met; when
28 Feb 2005 : Column 954W
and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217951]
Mr. Caborn: The EU Contact Committee for the implementation of the Television without frontiers Directive met once during each presidency. The meetings took place in Brussels on:
A DCMS official was present on each occasion.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times during the(a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Advisory Committee for Cooperation in the Field of Tourism met; when and where these meetings took place; which UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [218309]
Mr. Caborn: The Advisory Committee for Cooperation in the Field of Tourism, known as the Tourism Advisory Committee, met in Brussels on 4 September 2003 during the Italian presidency and on 15 September and 12 November during the Dutch presidency. The Committee did not meet during the Irish presidency. The UK Government was represented at these meetings by tourism officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
National Trust
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions (a) she and (b) her Department has had with the Director General of the National Trust. [218476]
Mr. Caborn: The Secretary of State, the Minister for Media and Heritage and DCMS officials have regular discussions with the Director General of the National Trust. They most recently met on 2 February 2005.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance (a) she and (b) her Department has given to the Director General of the National Trust about its proposed administrative changes. [218544]
Mr. Caborn: The National Trust is an independent, registered charity. The decision to implement any administrative changes rests solely with them.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations her Department has received about the proposed changes at the National Trust. [218545]
Mr. Caborn: The Department has not received any representations about proposed changes at the National Trust.
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