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8 Dec 2005 : Column 1466W—continued

Vehicle Accidents (Airport Transport)

Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle accidents where drivers of airport transport had exceeded the driving time limit set down in the UK domestic drivers' hours rules have been recorded in the last three years. [35429]

Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not available.

Vehicle Certification Agency

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the salary of the chief executive of the Vehicle Certification Agency differs from that of his predecessor. [35827]

Ms Buck: The current chief executive of the Vehicle Certification Agency (VGA) was recruited through fair and open competition and was appointed in post from 19 April 2004 on a three-year fixed-term contract.

The advertised salary at the time reflected the competitive market conditions relevant for the skills and experience the agency was looking for when the post was advertised. The competition field was strong and the most suitable candidate was appointed as chief executive based on competency skills and experience identified by the selection panel.

Violence Against Passengers

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Guildford of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1151W, on violence against passengers, how many victims of violence were recorded by British Transport Police in each police force area in England and Wales in each year since 1998–99. [31835]

Derek Twigg: The number of victims of violence recorded by the British Transport Police (BTP) in each year in each police force area in England and Wales since 1999–2000 is given in the following table. The data for 1998–99 data is unavailable by police force area.
 
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Police force area	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Avon and Somerset	35	41	35	43	54	43
Bedfordshire	14	17	25	21	27	33
Cambridgeshire	25	35	13	23	28	31
Cheshire	42	32	38	53	54	69
City of London Police	71	81	67	101	131	145
Cleveland	6	11	7	13	30	27
Cumbria	3	8	9	9	14	12
Derbyshire	16	22	10	21	11	17
Devon and Cornwall	27	27	38	45	48	49
Dorset	15	12	7	18	18	8
Durham	9	9	9	6	11	15
Dyfed Powys	4	2	1	2	7	15
Essex	51	76	90	102	120	174
Gloucester	3	4	8	5	7	1
Great Manchester	101	117	128	125	182	160
Gwent	19	10	19	15	15	15
Hampshire	53	65	47	76	127	94
Hertfordshire	57	62	100	120	146	156
Humberside	12	30	26	31	32	26
Kent	132	134	171	256	313	250
Lancashire	30	37	41	60	57	79
Leicestershire	19	12	23	24	19	18
Lincolnshire	8	2	9	5	10	21
Merseyside	252	218	242	230	281	254
Metropolitan Police	2,779	2,509	2,256	2,605	2,833	3,122
Ministry of Defence	0	0	0	1	0	0
Norfolk	12	3	14	12	34	44
North Wales	10	8	13	12	36	23
North Yorkshire	9	20	20	24	34	31
Northamptonshire	2	2	2	4	3	9
Northumbria	21	22	22	36	88	101
Nottinghamshire	13	22	23	20	26	28
South Wales	58	76	69	84	92	104
South Yorkshire	25	20	21	48	46	40
Staffordshire	9	14	9	10	8	12
Suffolk	3	8	8	19	13	13
Surrey	83	98	118	141	153	157
Sussex	133	185	158	188	219	204
Thames Valley	59	74	82	129	130	202
Warwickshire	4	3	11	10	10	12
West Mercia	16	20	26	33	35	41
West Midlands Police	96	129	127	142	138	220
West Yorkshire	83	116	141	238	255	261
Wiltshire	9	8	11	9	10	18

The Home Office introduced a National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) that all police forces across England and Wales were required to adopt. BTP adopted this standard on 1 April 2002. The impact of the new recording standard saw an increase in recorded crime nationally.

BTP have also been proactive in encouraging victims of assaults to report these offences.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Government Art Collection

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the estimated cost of damage to the Government Art Collection was in the past 12 months for which figures are available; which items were damaged; how the damage occurred in each case; and whether restoration was possible. [34375]

Mr. Lammy: The estimated cost of restoration work resulting from damage to GAC works of art in the last
 
8 Dec 2005 : Column 1468W
 
12 months is £20,249, of which £1,142 was paid by the GAC The works of art affected are as follows:

Beatrice marble bust by F Saul

The bust was chipped during transport. Restoration was completed at a cost of £550.

Embassy (evening) light-box by Catherine Yass

Received a scratch and scuffs to the surface while on display. Restoration is possible; the estimate is £310.

Lady Arabella Stuart (1575–1615) Cousin of King James I and VI oil painting by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger

The canvas was punctured while on display. Restoration was completed at a cost of £282.

Sir Henry Chamberlain Bt (1773–1829) Diplomat oil painting by an unknown 19th century British artist

The canvas was punctured while in temporary storage. Restoration was completed at a cost of £1,642.

High Treason, Court of Criminal Appeal: the Trial of Sir Roger Casement 1916 oil painting by John Lavery

The canvas was punctured while on display. Restoration was completed at a cost (including transport) of £14,465.

Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford (1676–1745) Prime Minister oil painting by Jean Baptiste van Loo (Studio)

The canvas was punctured while on display. Restoration is possible; the estimate is £3,000.

 
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Devotional screenprint by Sonia Boyce

Received a scratch and scuff to the surface while on display. Restoration is under discussion with the artist.

London Olympics

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the acquisition of land for Olympic use. [33609]

Mr. Caborn: The London Development Agency (IDA) is responsible for acquiring the land in East London that will be needed for the Olympics and has recently made two compulsory purchase orders to this end. Other regional development agencies (RDAs) at Olympic sites elsewhere in the UK will also be able to acquire land (compulsorily or by agreement) if that proves necessary. Under the London Olympics Bill, currently before Parliament, the new Olympic Delivery Authority will have powers to acquire land by agreement—including, with the consent of the Secretary of State, on the same terms as for compulsory purchases.

The Government made an amendment to the London Olympics Bill at Report Stage, on 6 December, which will ensure the necessary land can be assembled without delay and used for Olympic development. Where a RDA purchases land for the purpose of preparing for the Olympics, the amendment has the effect of removing the need for a special parliamentary process to approve the compulsory purchase of 'special land' where equivalent land is not being provided in exchange; clarifying that 'special land', once acquired, can be built on; allowing the compulsory purchase of Crown land and any interest in Crown land; and extinguishing all existing rights over the land acquired (while providing for compensation to those who have rights removed).

Anyone owning an interest in land that is being acquired by compulsory purchase will be entitled to fair compensation, based on the principle that they should be paid neither more or less than their loss. If the amount payable cannot be agreed between the parties it will be settled by the Lands Tribunal.

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that firms engaged in construction of facilities for the Olympics provide adequate levels of training to ensure a sustainable skilled work force. [34964]

Mr. Caborn: The 'Procurement Principles' published by the interim Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) in September—which underpin the development of the ODA's procurement strategy—identify the importance of a programme of skills and training to maximise local benefits and secure the wider economic dividend.

A key assessment criterion in the selection of contractors will be their commitment to working with the ODA to deliver a range of benefits including training and supply chain initiatives.

In addition, the London Development Agency, working with others such as the Learning and Skills Council, is developing a Local Employment and Training Framework which aims to maximise the potential capacity of the local labour market.
 
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