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Train Operating Companies (Compensation)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid to each train operating company through the Strategic Rail Authority in compensation for loss of revenue during industrial disputes in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; what the cause was of each dispute; and how each was resolved.[R] [29208]

Derek Twigg: The Strategic Rail Authority made payments of £15.65 million in 2003 and £7,630,567 in 2004 under its discretionary power to reimburse Train Operating Companies for loss of revenue due to industrial disputes. Details of the payments made to individual operators are commercially confidential.

Trains (Security Measures)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the additional security measures announced on 2 November will affect passengers on trains travelling from (a) Bexhill, (b) Battle, (c) Etchingham and (d) Robertsbridge stations. [29309]

Derek Twigg: Passenger screening equipment trials are scheduled for the Heathrow Express platforms at Paddington station. These equipment trials will not affect passengers on other routes. Further work is being undertaken regarding additional security equipment trials on the national rail and London Underground networks.

Transport Improvement (London)

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to improve transport in South East London. [30990]

Ms Buck: Following the creation of the Greater London Authority, Transport for London (TfL), under the London Mayor, is now responsible for the provision of transport services (except national rail) and related issues in London. In July 2004, the Secretary of State for Transport announced a long-term settlement for TfL, which provides a block grant of an average of £2,453 million per year up to 2009–10. This includes support for TfL's plans for prudential borrowing of up to £2.9 billion over this period.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

2012 Olympics

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who will be permitted to use the Olympic Route Network at the London 2012 Olympics. [31416]

 
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Mr. Caborn: The London Olympic Bill allows for the establishment of an Olympic Route Network. This network would be on roads between Olympic venues and accommodation and would allow the Olympic Delivery Authority to implement special traffic management measures. There will be no general restrictions on use of the Olympic Route Network.

However, based on the experience of previous games and their successful use in Sydney and Athens, it is proposed that on part of the Olympic Route Network, where road space permits, there will be Olympic lanes operating in a similar way to bus lanes. At certain times of the day use of these lanes will be restricted, largely to accredited members of the Olympic family. The Olympic family includes athletes, Olympic officials, accredited media and technical personnel.

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many and what percentage of tickets at the London 2012 Olympics will be reserved for (a) UK residents, (b) corporate sponsors and (c) corporate entertainment; [31417]

(2) how many and what percentage of tickets for the London 2012 Olympics will be (a) available for public sale and (b) reserved; and for whom tickets will be reserved. [31418]

Mr. Caborn: The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) estimates that a total of 9.6 million tickets will be available for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Out of this total, a certain number of tickets have to be made available for sale to Olympic Family members such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Federations, National Olympic Committees as well as IOC and local sponsors. The precise number of tickets to be made available to these groups will be decided after discussions with the IOC and other relevant parties. It is LOCOG's intention that tickets will be both affordable and distributed on an equitable basis.

BBC Trust

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether Scotland will be represented on the proposed BBC trust. [30589]

James Purnell: As set out in the BBC Charter Review Green Paper, the trust will need to be able to reflect the interests of a wide range of different UK communities, and include members with the knowledge and expertise to understand and articulate the interests of individual devolved nations. More details will be given in the forthcoming White Paper.

Festivals

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department took to celebrate and promote the events of (a) Ramadan, (b) Diwali and (c) Chinese new year in 2005. [31167]

Mr. Lammy: DCMS is a diverse organisation that values its staff as individuals. Although the Department doesn't specifically celebrate religious events such as Ramadan, Diwali and the Chinese new year it does promote them by including in its diversity training the
 
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need for staff to be sensitive to colleagues observing different periods of religious observance. We also provide a religious and cultural observance guide and an interfaith calendar which is available to all staff on our intranet site. The Department also has a policy of flexible working. As part of the refurbishment of the Cockspur Street Site there are plans for a dedicated multi-faith prayer room.

Freedom of Information

Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Freedom of Information applications her Department has received; how many have taken more than 20 days to process; and how many of these gave rise to complaints about the time taken. [31210]

Mr. Lammy: The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 came fully into effect from 1 January 2005, not 2000. In the period 1 January to 30 June 2005 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport received 268 requests for information handled under FOI. Of these (a) in 177 cases a full response was provided within 20 days; (b) in 54 cases a permitted extension to the 20-day deadline was applied to allow for consideration of the balance of public interest; and (c) in 37 cases the 20-day deadline was missed. In the same period, the Department received three complaints requesting an internal review on the timeliness of the Department's handling of a FOI request.

The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is committed to publishing quarterly updates in relation to departmental performance under FOI, including information on both the volume and outcome of requests. The bulletin for the second quarter was published on 30 September 2005 and can be found on the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/statsapr-jun05.htm and in the Libraries of both Houses. The next bulletin will be published before Christmas, while an annual report will be published in early 2006.

Licensing Act

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on requirements for (a) elected representatives and (b) members of the public most affected by applications for an extension of licensing hours under the Licensing Act 2003 to be notified of such applications. [30776]

James Purnell: Under the Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005 (No. 42), applicants are required to display a notice prominently at or on the premises and to advertise their application in a local newspaper or newsletter. The 2003 Act also requires that licensing authorities must place details of applications on its licensing register which must be available to the public.

Nothing in the 2003 Act prevents licensing authorities from taking supplementary action to bring applications to the attention of elected representatives and members of the public who may be affected by applications for an extension of licensing hours but that is a matter for them to decide.
 
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My Department is committed to monitoring closely how the new regime operates and where the evidence suggests that the system could be more effective, it will consider revising the guidance.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to place all community amateur sports clubs in band A for the purposes of setting licensing application fees. [31241]

James Purnell: The Independent Licensing Fees Review Panel, chaired by Sir Les Elton, is considering whether the licensing fees have been set at a fair level for fee payers, including community amateur sports clubs, while ensuring that licensing authorities can recover their legitimate administration, inspection and enforcement costs.

The panel will deliver an interim report to Ministers shortly, followed by a Final Report in autumn 2006. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will, in the light of this ongoing work, keep under review the need for any changes to the fees regime.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to reduce the band A alcohol licence application fee from £100 to £50. [31243]

James Purnell: The level of fees under the Licensing Act 2003 are currently being considered by the Independent Licensing Fees Review Panel, chaired by Sir Les Elton. The panel will want to ensure that fee levels are fair to business, non commercial organisations and to other individuals seeking licences, while allowing licensing authorities to recover their legitimate administration, inspection and enforcement costs.

The panel has received evidence from around 70 stakeholder organisations affected by the new fees regime and will deliver an Interim Report to Ministers shortly. This will be followed by a final report in autumn 2006. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will, in the light of this ongoing work, keep under review the need for any changes to the fees regime.

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