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18 Jan 2006 : Column 1372W—continued
TRANSPORT
A1 Dualling Schemes
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to begin on the A1 dualling schemes proposed by the Highways Agency (a) between Morpeth and Felton and (b) South of Belford; and if he will make a statement. [42506]
Dr. Ladyman:
The Government announced in December 2004 that it would seek the Regions' advice on their priorities for housing, regeneration and transport expenditure. Indicative allocations for the next 10 years were given to each region. In the North East a Regional Transport Board was set up to determine the Region's Transport priorities. These two A1 dualling schemes are being considered as part of that process.
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We are expecting to receive the North East Region's advice on their priorities across the three funding streams at the end of January. Once these have been fully assessed there will be a further announcement of the Department's initial response to the
Administration Costs
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which functions of his core Department are carried out in (a) England and (b) London; and what administrative costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year. [39826]
Ms Buck: Following the Treasury/ONS Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) methodology for country and regional analysis of spending by functions of Government Departments, administration costs are attributed to areas in the same proportions as the spending that they support. The allocation of benefits of the Department's identifiable expenditure is estimated for 2004–05 as (a) England 91 per cent., and within that (b) London 28 per cent., as reflected in table A7 of the Department's Annual Report 2005 (Cm 6527).
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which functions of his core Department are carried out in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Wales; and what administrative costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year. [39949]
Ms Buck: Following the Treasury/ONS Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) methodology for country and regional analysis of spending by functions of Government Departments, administration costs are attributed to areas in the same proportions as the spending that they support. The allocation of benefits of the Department's identifiable expenditure is estimated for 2004–05 as (a) Northern Ireland 0.2 per cent., and (b) Wales 1.8 per cent., as reflected in table A7 of the Department's Annual Report 2005 (Cm 6527).
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the administrative costs were of each non-departmental public body for which he has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable. [40053]
Ms Buck: For 2004–05 the Department's executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) comprised the Strategic Rail Authority and the British Transport Police. Detailed financial information is available in their Annual Report and Accounts, but the Treasury's administration budgets regime does not apply to these bodies. All of their expenditure is included, but not shown separately, in the tables of identifiable expenditure in chapter 8 of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) published by the Treasury.
Airport Security
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what alternative options for the current system of designation will be considered during the independent review of policing at airports; and if he will make a statement. [42417]
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Ms Buck: The independent review will consider the appropriateness of the current system of designation and in the light of that consideration, possible alternative options.
Bicycle Use
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent survey his Department has made of bicycle use. [41836]
Derek Twigg: The National Travel Survey is used to monitor bicycle use in Great Britain. In 2004, the average number of bicycle trips made was 15 per person per year.
Buses
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his plans to regulate bus services outside the London area. [34638]
Ms Buck: We have no such plans. However, if local authorities are prepared to propose a comprehensive system for managing traffic, which may well include road pricing, we are prepared in turn to consider allowing greater control of bus services. This follows the policy set out in the 2004 White Paper The Future of Transport: A Network for2030"(Cm6234).
Departmental Estate
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was of (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales and (3) each of the English regions in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06 in each case. [40126]
Ms Buck: The Department for Transport and Executive Agencies comprise over 1,150 buildings, excluding those of our sponsored bodies. Information is not available in the requested format and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Expenditure
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06. [40008]
Ms Buck:
For 2005–06,employers' contributions are payable to the principal civil service pension scheme (PCSPS) at one of four rates in the ranges 16.2 to 24.6 percent. of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The scheme actuary reviews employer contributions every four years following a full scheme valuation; last carried out as at 31 March 2003. The contribution rates reflect the cost of benefits as they accrue (net of employee
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contributions), not the costs as they are actually incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme. This applies to all of the employer contributions detailed in the following table except for Trinity House Lighthouse Service and Northern Lighthouse Board who operate pensions schemes other than the PCSPS.
(a) The pension contributions for the Department are as follows:
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| 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | (15)2005–06 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7,043 | 8,514 | 9,524 | 13,180 |
(15) Estimate
(b) (ii) The pension contributions for the Executive Agencies are as follows:
(16) Estimate
(b) (iii) The pension contributions for other sponsored bodies are as follows:
n/a = not available
(17) Estimate
Apart from those costs relating to the Northern Lighthouse Board which all relate to Scotland, the costs are not held in a way that they can be attributed to Scotland, Wales, the English regions or Northern Ireland.
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