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14 Jul 2005 : Column 1160W—continued
Waste Fats
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what measures the Government are taking to prevent the accumulation of fats, oil and grease in the sewerage system; [11142]
(2) what measures the Government are taking to prevent the discharge of fats, oil and grease in to drains by supermarkets and catering establishments; [11143]
(3) if she will make it her policy to require supermarkets and catering establishments to install grease retention equipment; [11144]
(4) what assessment she has made of the cost to watercompanies of clearing accumulated fats, oil and grease; [11145]
(5) how many prosecutions have taken place under the Water Act 2003 Section III (1) for the discharge of fats, oil and grease into the sewerage system. [11146]
Mr. Morley: Sewerage undertakers have powers to control and reduce discharges of fat and oil into sewers. It is an offence under section 111 of the 1991 Act for a person to empty into a sewer, or any drain or sewer connecting with a public sewer, matter which is likely to injure, cause a nuisance to, or interfere with the free flow of the sewer or drain's contents, or to affect the treatment and disposal of its contents.
Sewerage undertakers are expected to take action where problems arise and to encourage appropriate preventative measures. In problem areas sewerage undertakers may work with local authority environmental health officers to identify suspect premises. In some areas there are voluntary schemes for installing grease control measures. At present there is no intention to require supermarkets and catering establishments to install grease retention equipment.
The Government do not assess the cost of clearing accumulated fats, oil and grease separately from the overall costs of operating and maintaining sewers and sewage treatment works. The Office of Water Services reports on these overall costs in its annual 'Financial performance and expenditure of the water companies in England and Wales' report.
My Department does not hold information on prosecutions under the Water Act Section III (1) for the discharge of fats, oil and grease into the sewerage system.
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Zoo Licences
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her timetable is for producing a database of zoo licences in England. [12709]
Jim Knight: My Department established a database of zoo licences in England last year. A summary of the information compiled was published on my Department's website in March this year and can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/gwd/pdf/zoos-list0503.pdf. The website will be updated later this year.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Sickness Absence
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days the Department has lost due to sickness in the past five years for which figures are available. [11496]
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Mr. Caborn: Cabinet Office publishes an annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service. The most recently published figures for the calendar year 2003 were announced by Ministerial Statement on 1 November 2004, and copies placed in the Libraries of the House.
DCMS is committed to managing sickness absence effectively building on best practice in the public sector. This includes a health and welfare programme, stress management guidance, a full range of flexible work patterns to support work-life balance, access to welfare services, an onsite gym and yoga classes.
Swimming Pools
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2005, Official Report, column 1658W, on swimming pools, how many of the swimming pools mentioned were provided by (a) public and (b) private operators. [12246]
Mr. Caborn: The table identifies how many of the swimming pools in London are owned by local authorities, by commercial companies or by other organisations.
TRANSPORT
Biofuels
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many licensed British vehicles are adapted to run on biofuels. [11586]
Dr. Ladyman: This information is not available.
Bridge Strengthening (Costs)
Kelvin Hopkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what costs (a) have been and (b) are
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expected to be incurred in strengthening bridges by (i)the Highways Agency, (ii) Railtrack and (iii) local authorities to cater for the introduction of (A) 38 tonne, (B) 40 tonne and (C) 44 tonne lorries. [11836]
Dr. Ladyman: Strengthening bridges to carry 38 tonne and 44 tonne lorries is subsumed in strengthening to carry 40 tonne lorries with 11.5 tonne axle loads as this is more demanding in engineering terms.
The Highways Agency has so far spent £590 million in strengthening motorway and trunk road bridges to carry 40 tonne lorries, and currently expects to spend a further £80 million before the programme is completed.
There is no obligation on Network Rail (the successor to Railtrack) to strengthen its bridges carrying roads to accommodate 40 tonne lorries. If this carrying capacity was required, it would be for the local highway authority to provide the funding.
The costs of local highway authorities in strengthening bridges to carry 40 tonne lorries are not collated centrally. However, since 2001 the Department for Transport has provided £147 million to local authorities in England outside London to strengthen bridges on their primary routes to take these vehicles. Local authorities bid for this funding on an annual basis through their annual progress reports on their local transport plans.
Crossrail
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely cost of the Crossrail project; what assessment has been made of the cost-effectiveness of the project; and if he will make a statement. [10371]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 7 July 2005]: The latest estimate of the cost of Crossrail is contained in the Estimate of Expense submitted with the Crossrail hybrid Bill. A review of the Crossrail project Review of the Crossrail Business Case", which included an assessment of the costs and benefits of the project, was published by the Department for Transport in July 2004.
Subsequent assessments have confirmed that the benefits of the project can be expected to outweigh the costs. The Department for Transport's latest assessment using its existing appraisal methodology is that the project would have a benefit to cost ratio of between 1.6:1 and 1.8:1.
Diesel Vehicles
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the British lorry and commercial vehicle fleet is powered by diesel fuel. [11587]
Dr. Ladyman: As at 31 March 2005, 65 per cent. of licensed commercial vehicles other than lorries were powered by diesel fuel. For lorries the proportion was 99 per cent.
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