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19 Dec 2005 : Column 2322W—continued
South Hampshire Rapid Transport Scheme
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his written statement of 29 November 2005, Official Report, columns 16–17WS, on the South Hampshire Rapid Transport Scheme, what discussions his Department (a) has held and (b) plans to hold with Hampshire county council and Portsmouth city council to discuss alternative transportation strategies. [36156]
Derek Twigg: I wrote to Hampshire county council and Portsmouth county council last week offering discussions on transport improvements in the South Hampshire area, in the light of the Government's decision not to reinstate the South Hampshire Rapid Transit scheme. The Department stands ready to work with South Hampshire in exploring good value alternative transport proposals.
The Department has also offered to meet the South Hampshire authorities to discuss whether a package of measures in the Solent area can be developed for the next round of Transport Innovation Fund pump-priming funding in 2006.
Speeding Fines
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the administration costs were of imposing speeding fines in each year since 1997. [38456]
Dr. Ladyman: All Partnership audit certificates for 2004–05, which show a breakdown of expenditure by partner, are posted on the Department's website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=14972&l=2
Sunset Clauses
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is in respect of the use of sunset clauses in legislation. [37515]
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Ms Buck: The appropriateness of a sunset clause for the whole or part of any proposed legislation is considered on a case by case basis. It is also addressed when a regulatory impact assessment relating to legislation is being prepared.
Transport Expenditure
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the transport spending per person by (a) his Department and (b) all public bodies on (i) light rail, (ii) heavy rail, (iii) bus and (iv) roads has been in (A)Yorkshire and Humber and (B) London in each year since 1997; and what estimates have been made for each year to 2010. [37870]
Ms Buck [holding answer 15 December 2005]: This information is not held centrally. However, details on overall transport spend per head of population for the two regions, based on certain assumptions as to how this should be attributed, can be found in chapter 8 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2005—published by HM Treasury, and available on their website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/economic_ data_and_tools/finance_spending_statistics/pes_publications/pespub_index.cfm
Tyne and Wear (Financial Bids)
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the submissions made by Tyne and Wear authorities for local transport plan support for (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07. [34377]
Ms Buck: The provisional second local transport plan for Tyne and Wear (which seeks funding support for 2006–07) and the annual progress report submitted in 2004 on the first local transport plan (which seeks funding support for 2005–06) are being placed in the Library.
Ultra-light Rail Systems
Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the relative costs of ultra light rail compared with (a) guided busways and (b) conventional train systems. [34004]
Derek Twigg: The cost of any scheme will vary significantly according to local circumstances and so direct comparison of this nature is difficult. No 'ultra light rail' systems have been constructed and there is little evidence on which to estimate its likely costs.
Vehicle Registration
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) cars, (b) commercial vans and (c) lorries were registered to use roads in the UK in each year since 1997. [38821]
Dr. Ladyman: The information requested can be found in the following table:
19 Dec 2005 : Column 2324W
The figures provided are for Great Britain and do not include Northern Ireland.
Vehicle Servicing
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the turnover in the servicing of (a) commercial and (b) private vehicles in each year since 1997. [38654]
Dr. Ladyman: Information is not available by type of vehicle, or specifically for servicing. Estimates for the maintenance and repair, including servicing, of all vehicles are as follows:
| £ billion | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 8.0 |
| 1998 | 9.0 |
| 1999 | 11.1 |
| 2000 | 11.2 |
| 2001 | 11.9 |
| 2002 | 12.0 |
| 2003 | 12.4 |
(6)Figures show the turnover of UK businesses engaged in the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, including servicing.
Source:
Annual Business Inquiry (Office for National Statistics)
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Full Pint" Legislation
Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action his Department (a) has taken and (b) intends to take in respect of 'full pint' legislation following the completion of the consultation process on simplifying the food orders. [37492]
Mr. Sutcliffe: It remains our aim to publish for consultation in the new year an Order consolidating and simplifying the weights and measures provisions relating to food. This will take into account the earlier consultations on the 'full pint' issue, and incorporate our conclusions. However, the timing of the draft Order will depend on the progress of discussions between the community institutions on the Commission's proposals on specified quantities.
Asbestos
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the risks to the public of the presence of asbestos in textured coatings. [28357]
Mrs. McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
There are no risks to the public from asbestos in textured coatings where the material is undisturbed and in good condition.
19 Dec 2005 : Column 2325W
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently published research commissioned from the Health and Safety Laboratory on levels of asbestos fibres released during licensed-work to remove textured decorative coatings in domestic premises. As part of the current Health and Safety Commission (HSE) consultation on proposed changes to the UK regulations governing work with asbestos (Proposals for revised Asbestos Regulations and an Approved Code of Practice (CD205)), HSE has commissioned further research on asbestos exposures arising from work on textured coatings, will consider the risks to the public from such work, and will evaluate this and other available research.
The published HSL research and HSC consultation document are available on HSE's website.
Atomic Energy Authority
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the allocation of expenditure on the UK Atomic Energy Authority in his Department's Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis is made on the basis of who benefits from the service. [35858]
Barry Gardiner: UKAEA expenditure is allocated to statistical regions based on expenditure by nuclear site for which it is responsible.
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