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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 18 October 2005
CHURCH COMMISSIONERS
Retreaded Tyres
Bill Wiggin: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many vehicles for which the Commissioners are responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres. [18583]
Sir Stuart Bell: None. Both companies with which the Church Commissioners have contract hire arrangements provide new cars with new tyres. They also confirm that all tyre replacements are with new tyres.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Legal Deposit Libraries
Mr. Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has produced on the effect of the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 on political parties and their constituent organisations; and if he will make a statement. [17403]
Peter Viggers: The Commission has advised me that it has produced no such guidance.
SCOTLAND
Road Congestion
8. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of congestion on the M1 and A1. [17069]
Mr. Darling: Reductions in travel time, and improvements in reliability provided by the Highways Agency schemes on the Al/Ml, are generally assessed to have a significantly beneficial impact on the whole economy.
Energy Prices
9. Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effects of energy prices on the Scottish economy and consumers. [17070]
David Cairns:
Oil prices have risen well above expectations but the economic effect on Scotland and the rest of the UK has so far been limited and will be less severe than in previous episodes of high prices.
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Scottish Road Haulage Association
10. Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish Road Haulage Association to discuss matters of mutual interest; and what issues were discussed. [17071]
Mr. Darling: I met representatives of the Scotland and Northern Ireland branch of the Road Haulage Association in Edinburgh on 22 September. We discussed a wide range of issues.
Electricity Costs
11. Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Treasury regarding the impact on businesses in Scotland of the cost of electricity. [17072]
David Cairns: I have regular discussions with Treasury Ministers on a wide range of matters.
Olympics
12. Mr. Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the potential benefits of the 2012 Olympics for Scotland. [17073]
David Cairns: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on a range of issues, including the potential benefits for Scotland from the London 2012 Olympics.
Dangerous Knives
13. Mr. McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish First Minister regarding legislation to ban dangerous knives. [17074]
David Cairns: My right hon. Friend and I have discussions with Scottish Executive Ministers on a wide range of issues.
Legislation on control of knives is a devolved matter. The Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, which was published by the Scottish Executive on 3 October, includes provisions to double the maximum penalty for carrying a knife in public from two to four years; will give the police the unconditional power to arrest someone suspected of carrying a knife; and will increase the minimum age for buying a non-domestic knife from 16 to 18.
Commonwealth Games 2014
14. Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the Commonwealth Games 2014 bid by Glasgow City Council. [17075]
David Cairns:
Glasgow City Council should be congratulated on its bold decision to bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. A successful Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, supported by Scottish Ministers, will be a success for Scotland, delivering social and economic benefits to the city and the nation.
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Drug Abuse
Mr. MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the First Minister of Scotland to discuss drug abuse in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [17076]
David Cairns: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my right hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill (Mr. Clarke).
WALES
Council Tax Revaluation
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homes moved up one or more bands in the recent council tax revaluation process in Wales. [17278]
Nick Ainger: Figures provided by the Valuation Office Agency show that 33 per cent. of domestic properties in Wales moved up one or more bands following revaluation.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the estimated cost is of the council tax revaluation in Wales to (a) the Valuation Office Agency and (b) central Government. [17388]
Nick Ainger: The costs of revaluation and rebanding were met from the National Assembly budget. Revaluation was undertaken by the Valuation Office Agency.
The costs to date are estimated as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 1.510 |
| 2003–04 | 1.790 |
| 2004–05 | 1.970 |
| Total | 5.270 |
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate the Valuation Office Agency has made of the number of households in Wales which moved up (a) four council tax bands, (b) five council tax bands and (c) six council tax bands, before the application of transitional relief, in the Welsh council tax revaluation. [17389]
Nick Ainger: At a revaluation, bands are reviewed according to the physical characteristics of the dwelling when the list comes into effect. However, no account is taken of subsequent improvements until either the ownership of the dwelling changes, or there is a further revaluation.
It follows that some of the increases in banding will be as a result of physical changes made between 1993 and 2005.
The figures requested are as follows:
Welsh Language
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will support giving the Welsh language treaty status in the European Union. [17913]
Nick Ainger [holding answer 14 October 2005]: The Government are committed to the principle that, in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales, the Welsh and English languages should be treated on a basis of equality.
The European Union Constitutional Treaty was translated and is available on the website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We will consider translating future European Treaties into Welsh on a case-by-case basis.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Animal Trading
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many traders have been convicted in the UK for illegally trading in (a) wild animals and (b) products made from animals on the internet in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement. [17260]
Jim Knight: We are not aware of any convictions for illegal trading of such items on the internet. However, in 2004 a man was given an official police caution for the illegal sale of a sperm whale tooth via an internet auction site. The tooth was confiscated.
In 2005 a man received an absolute discharge for illegally advertising a stuffed snowy owl on an internet auction site.
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