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18 Jul 2005 : Column 1296W—continued
Transport (Under-16s)
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the price in (a) Essex and (b) the Metropolitan Police Area of London was of (i) a bus and (ii) a rail fare for a person under 16 years of age in each year since 1975. [12267]
Ms Buck: The information is not available. In general, detailed information on local bus and rail fares is not collected or held centrally. In London, children aged 5 to 10 currently travel free on buses, while those aged 11 to 15 currently pay a single fare rate of 40p.
Transport Innovation Fund
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what document the funding available for local authorities under the Transport Innovation Fund was announced; and where in the document the information is provided. [11824]
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Ms Buck: The Transport Innovation Fund was announced in the Future of Transport" White Paper (July 2004), showing the predicted budget profile (annexA) and outlining the aims of the TIF.
Further information on the Transport Innovation Fund was published on 5 July 2005 in a paper entitled The Transport Innovation Fund" and a statement was made to the House on 5 July 2005, Official Report, columns 171–73.
The Transport Innovation Fund paper is available in the House Libraries and on the DfT website at www.dft.gov.uk
Vehicle Tests
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much of the fee for an MOT vehicle test goes to his Department; what such monies are utilised for; and what assessment he has made of the scope for reducing the amount being charged. [11291]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 12 July 2005]: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) receive £1.44 from the fee for each passed test. These moneys are used to pay for the administration of the MOT Scheme including training and refresher training of garage Authorised Examiners and Nominated Testers, MOT computerisation and the enforcement of the Scheme.
The VOSA charge for pass certificates is regularly reviewed and is currently frozen pending full roll out of computerised services.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of the computerisation of the MOT vehicle test on (a) his Department, (b) MOT testing stations and (c) vehicle owners. [8716]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 5 July 2005]: Internal and external assessments have been conducted throughout the design and development of the MOT computerisation service.
CABINET OFFICE
Food Supplements Directive
Chris Grayling: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action Ministers in the Cabinet Office have taken with the European Commission as a result of the statement by the Prime Minister on 26 May 2005 that the Food Supplements Directive is wholly out of proportion. [11764]
Mr. Hutton:
Responsibility for the Food Supplements Directive rests with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health. However, the Government believe that in all cases where the European Union (EU) regulates, it should do so proportionately and in the way which is least burdensome to stakeholders. My ministerial colleagues and I take every opportunity to emphasise the importance of better regulation at the EU level to the European Commission.
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CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
ASBOs
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will bring forward proposals (a) to simplify and (b) to speed up the enforcement proceedings associated with breaches in antisocial behaviour orders. [9752]
Ms Harman: There are no specific proposals to simplify or speed up enforcement proceedings for breaches of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs). The courts aim to deal with breaches of ASBOs as quickly as the interests of justice allow.
Departmental Bills
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list Bills sponsored by the Department and its predecessor in each Session since 1979. [10545]
Bridget Prentice: A list of Bills sponsored by my Department, and its predecessor since 1997 is set out in the following table.
(1)The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill fell in the 2000–2001 session and the Criminal Defence Service Bill fell in the 2004–2005 session due to lack of Parliamentary time.
(2)The European Parliament and Local Elections Bill was carried over from the 2002–03 session.
(3)The Constitutional Reform and Mental Capacity Bills were carried over from the 2003–04 session.
Burial Grounds
Mr. Walker:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (1) what the purpose is of the Home Office Burial Grounds Survey; and if she will make a statement; [12357]
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(2) what assessment she has made of the adequacy of cemetery space; and if she will make a statement; [12358]
(3) what budget the Department has set aside to fund its Burial Grounds Survey; and if she will make a statement; [12360]
(4) how many responses she has received to the Home Office Burial Grounds survey; and if she will make a statement. [12400]
Ms Harman: The purpose of the survey is to obtain information on the location and capacity of existing and former burial grounds in England and Wales. It is part of a wider Government initiative to review burial law and practice, including the provision of burial space. The cost has been estimated as at £50,000.
As at 13 July, 8,787 completed survey forms have been received.
Court of Appeal (Judges)
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs who is responsible for allocating judges to hear appeal cases in the Court of Appeal. [10544]
Ms Harman: Allocation of judges to hear appeal cases in the Court of Appeal is the responsibility of Lord Chief Justice, in respect of the Criminal Division, and the Master of the Rolls, in respect of the Civil Division.
Court Service Computer System
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the practice in criminal court cases in Lincoln whereby witnesses are sent a text message when they are due in court; whether such a system has reduced the time witnesses spend waiting to give evidence; what effect it has had on witnesses attending on time; and if she will make a statement. [10736]
Ms Harman: Text messaging is one of the means by which XHIBIT (exchanging Hearing Information By Internet Technology) can communicate with witnesses. XHIBIT is being rolled out to all Crown courts across England and Wales by the end of March 2006. The new system was introduced at Lincoln Combined Court on 11 April 2005. XHIBIT also enables witnesses to track the progress of a case via public display screens in the court building or via the internet.
At this stage of the roll-out it is too early to make an assessment of the text messaging system and the impact on witness waiting times, that is specific to Lincoln. The results of an evaluation of efficiency improvements at the first 11 courts to receive XHIBIT have been very positive. A similar initial assessment is due to take place at Lincoln in late September.
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