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13 Dec 2005 : Column 1906W—continued
Royal Mail
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much (a) share capital was received and (b) investment made by the Government in relation to the Royal Mail in each year for which figures are available since 1997. [35770]
Barry Gardiner: The Government have not received any share capital from Royal Mail since 1997.
There was no significant funding for the Post Office Corporation prior to 1999, but since then the Government have invested in the company.
In December 2002, it was agreed to make available £1,044 million of securities to enable Royal Mail to deliver its renewal plan.
Government support of almost £2 billion in total has been made available to Post Office Ltd since 1999. Other than support for the rural network at £150 million per year for three years from 2003–04, this funding was not allocated on a yearly basis.
The Government have also decided to extend support to the rural network for two further years to 2008, worth another £300 million. This is subject to state aid clearance.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when Sir George Bain is expected to publish his findings following his discussions with those stakeholders involved in the future of the Royal Mail. [35772]
Barry Gardiner: Sir George Bain has been appointed to provide advice to the Secretary of State on Royal Mail issues. There are no plans to publish Sir George's advice.
Security and Homeland Defence Technology
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to fund research into technologies in the field of security and homeland defence. [34406]
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Barry Gardiner: In addition to the Department's funding of the science base and the university research, the Department operates our Technology Strategy, the last round of which was launched on Thursday 24 November.
With regard to security and homeland defence, officials work closely with colleagues in the appropriate other Government Departments to align this support for Collaborative Research and Development with their own research needs and programmes. This close working relationship also extends to our support for Knowledge Transfer Networks and Innovation Platforms in security, respectively to optimise the UK exploitation of research and tackle public policy challenges.
A number of the case studies cited at the 24 November launch were for grants to support research on security issues.
Small Business Research Initiative
Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many research and development opportunities were disseminated to (a) small and medium-sized enterprises, (b) universities and (c) other organisations through the Small Business Research Initiative in each of the last five years; what the total value of such opportunities was in each case in each year; how many contracts were awarded as a result in each case in each year; and what the value of such contracts was in each case in each year. [35494]
Alun Michael: Not all Government Departments have maintained detailed records in respect of their Small Business Research Initiative opportunities since the initiative's introduction in 2000. Therefore the breakdown requested is not available for the Initiative's voluntary phase.
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has mandated Departments to participate under the initiative in the Budget on 16 March this year and the DTI's Small Business Service will shortly be publishing the overall performance figures and what these represent as a percentage of baseline R and D budgets, where known, for 2003–04 and 2004–05.
South East of England Development Agency
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what funding the South East of England Development Agency has received from Government in each year since 1997 to spend on transport infrastructure schemes in East Sussex. [36592]
Alun Michael
[holding answer 12 December 2005]: The South East England Development Agency, like all Regional Development Agencies, receives 'single pot' funding from Government in support of its statutory duties under the RDA Act 1998. Elements in this funding are not ring-fenced, so RDAs have discretion to spend it in line with their statutory duties which are: to promote economic development and regeneration; to promote business efficiency, investment and competitiveness; to promote employment; to enhance the development and application of skills; to contribute to the UK's sustainable development.
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Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role the South East of England development agency has in Government funding decisions about transport infrastructure projects in East Sussex. [36594]
Alun Michael [holding answer 12 December 2005]: The statutory role of the regional development agency is: to promote economic development and regeneration; to promote business efficiency, investment and competitiveness; to promote employment; to enhance the development and application of skills; to contribute to the UK's sustainable development.
Through the development of its Regional Economic Strategy and through its membership of the Regional Transport Board, SEEDA has highlighted the need for adequate investment in transport infrastructure in East Sussex and the rest of the region.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Air Weapons
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving air weapons there were in (a) England, (b) London and (c) each London borough in each of the last five years. [35420]
Hazel Blears: The available data for England and London are given in the tables.
| Number of offences | ||
|---|---|---|
| England | London | |
| 1999–2000 | 9,485 | 1,178 |
| 2000–01 | 9,723 | 1,228 |
| 2001–02(39) | 11,828 | 1,483 |
(39) Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard in advance of national implementation.
| Number of offences | ||
|---|---|---|
| England | London | |
| 2002–03(40) | 13,045 | 1,333 |
| 2003–04 | 13,005 | 1,244 |
(40) The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures before and after this date are not directly comparable.
Data for the London boroughs are not collected centrally.
Antisocial Behaviour
Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Doncaster North constituency are subject to antisocial behaviour orders; and how many are aged under 21 years. [35681]
Hazel Blears:
Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been available to the courts since 1 April 1999. From commencement up to 31 May 2000 data were collected, on aggregate numbers only, by police force
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area. From copies of the orders received, since 1 June 2000, we are able to determine the local government authority areas in which restrictions are imposed. The number of ASBOs issued, as notified to the Home Office, in the local government authority area of Doncaster metropolitan borough council, in which Doncaster North constituency is situated, from 1 June 2000 to 31 March 2005 (latest available) is 43 of which 20 are in respect of people under 21 years old.
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