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12 Sept 2005 : Column 2425W—continued
Safety Cameras
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2005, Official Report, columns 1228–29W, on safety cameras, how and where the estimated revenue generated through fixed penalties from 2000 to 2003 was distributed and spent. [14890]
Dr. Ladyman: Bedfordshire joined the safety camera programme in April 2002, receipts from fixed penalties for speeding prior to that will have accrued to the Treasury's consolidated fund.
The table shows receipts from fixed penalties, expenditure by the partnership and the balance accruing to the Treasury for the Bedfordshire and Luton safety camera partnership area from April 2002.
| 2002–03 | 2003–04 | |
|---|---|---|
| Receipts from fixed penalties | 3,047,520 | 3,655,200 |
| Expenditure | 2,655,021 | 2,292,260 |
| Balance, accruing to the Treasury | 392,499 | 1,362,940 |
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) recent assessment he has made and (b) assessment he plans to make of the possible effects of (i) forward facing and (ii) rear facing speed camera flash on a driver driving at night; and if he will make a statement. [14297]
Dr. Ladyman: We have not assessed and have no plans to assess the effects of the camera flash from rear and forward facing speed cameras on a driver at night. We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that the flash from a camera has a detrimental affect on drivers.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been collected in fines from motorists as a result of speed cameras on the A13 and A127 between Southend and the M25. [14293]
Dr. Ladyman:
The information requested is not held centrally by the Department.
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SRA
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role the Strategic Rail Authority plays in regional planning assessments; and if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for such assessments. [11993]
Derek Twigg: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is working with the railway industry and local stakeholders to prepare a series of regional planning assessments, which will form the basis on which the development of the railway is planned over the next five to 20 years. The Department for Transport will take on this work as the SRA is wound down.
Tonnage Tax
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1295W, on tonnage tax, how many companies have to date failed to make returns within 30 days of each four month period since January 2004; and how many prosecutions (a) have resulted and (b) are in progress as a consequence. [14938]
Dr. Ladyman: The number of company groups failing to make returns within 30 days of each four month period since January 2004 is as in the table. No prosecutions have resulted or are in progress.
Traffic Congestion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce congestion on the A5 between the A406 and the A407; and if he will make a statement. [14294]
Dr. Ladyman: The A5 between the A406 and the A407 is the responsibility of the London Boroughs of Barnet and Brent.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce congestion on the A5 between the A4003 and the A501; and if he will make a statement. [14311]
Dr. Ladyman:
The section of the A5 between the A5205 and the A501 forms part of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) which is the responsibility of the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). The section of the A5 between the A4003 and the A5205 is the responsibility of the London boroughs of Brent and Camden and the city of Westminster.
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Transport Contracts
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions in the last four years his Department has put transport contracts out for competitive tender under the requirements of EU regulations. [14056]
Ms Buck: The Department was formed in May 2002. The numbers of contracts awarded by the Department under the EU regulations in each of the last three years are as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 134 |
| 2003 | 84 |
| 2004 | 135 |
Variable Vehicle Excise Rates
Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to develop and extend the scheme of variable vehicle excise rates for vehicles which have reduced environmental impact. [14112]
John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
The Government keep all taxation policy under review. Any changes to taxation policy are announced by the Chancellor in the context of his Budget statement.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Ambassadors (Subordinate Staff)
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many complaints of misconduct made by Her Majesty's Ambassadors against subordinate staff are outstanding; how long each case has been outstanding; whether investigations in each case have been concluded; and when in each case the complaint is expected to be determined. [14399]
Burma
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how regularly the British ambassador to Burma is in contact with members of the National League for Democracy; [13998]
(2) when the British ambassador to Burma last met (a) Aung San Suu Kyi and (b) other members of the National League for Democracy; [13999]
(3) when the British ambassador to Burma last requested a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi; and what the outcome was of this request. [14000]
Ian Pearson:
Our ambassador in Rangoon last met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 25 April 2003. Since she was detained on 30 May 2003, the Burmese regime has refused all requests by our ambassador to call on her. Most recently our ambassador raised her case with the Burmese Foreign Minister on 16 May.
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We have repeatedly called for Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release, most recently in a press statement my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued on 16 June when we made clear that her continued detention is completely unjustified. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases. We continue to highlight her detention with the Burmese, reminding the regime that our EU and international partners have all called for the restrictions on her to be lifted and that we hold the regime responsible for her safety and security. We have also continued to press the regime to allow Tan Sri Razali, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, and Professor Pinheiro, Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights, unrestricted access to Burma. Our embassy in Rangoon monitors the situation closely and maintains regular contact with the National League for Democracy. Our ambassador visited their headquarters most recently on 27 May 2005.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of Burma regarding its refusal to grant Razali bin Ismail, the UN Special Envoy to Burma, a visa. [14001]
Ian Pearson: We regularly urge the regime to allow the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative, Tan Sri Razali, unrestricted access to Burma, so he can continue his positive work there. Most recently this was done when the EU Troika, including the United Kingdom, met the Burmese Foreign Minister in Kyoto on 6 May.
We firmly support the mandate of Tan Sri Razali and remain in close and frequent contact with him and his staff.
We also urge the regime to allow access to Professor Pinheiro, the Special Rapporteur of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
We will continue to press this issue.
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