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18 Jan 2006 : Column 1380W—continued
Fuel Duty Rebate
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list community transport services which were covered by the extension of the fuel duty rebate in the last five years. [40561]
Ms Buck: Eligibility to receive Bus Service Operators Grant (formerly called fuel duty rebate) was extended to a wide range of community transport services in May 2002. A total of about 800 community transport organisations now currently receive this grant; total expenditure was £4.5 million in 2004–05.
Glasgow Airport (Security)
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last review took place of security arrangements at Glasgow airport. [42032]
Ms Buck: The Department carries out an extensive programme of aviation security compliance monitoring activity. This includes announced and unannounced inspections. We also provide appropriate advice and guidance to industry. The security arrangements at Glasgow airport are covered by this ongoing programme.
We do not, for obvious reasons, provide information about the frequency of visits to individual locations or details of our compliance monitoring regime.
Government Papers
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many copies of Cm 6527 were produced; how many copies were supplied free; to whom they were so supplied; and if he will make a statement. [41006]
Ms Buck: The Department's annual report, Cm 6527, was published on 15 June 2005 and is freely available on the DfT website under corporate publications.
1000 copies of the report were printed. To date approximately 300 copies have been provided free of charge to the House Libraries, the Transport Select Committee, Department for Transport Ministers and officials, and to other Government Departments.
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The stationery office (TSO) has taken 700 copies for sale.
Humber Bridge
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) cars and (b) public service
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vehicles used the Humber bridge in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what the total tax revenue was from each category of vehicle. [43063]
Dr. Ladyman: We do not hold figures specifically for cars and public service vehicles. Both types of vehicle fall within toll classifications grouped with other vehicles:
Based on current bus timetables, the bridge operator, the Humber Bridge Board, estimates that scheduled bus services made approximately 16,000 journeys across the bridge in each of the three years in question.
The taxation of vehicles is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The total amount of revenue from different forms of motoring taxation is set out in the Chancellor's Budget report every year. Copies of these reports are available via HM Treasury's website.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the interest rate charged on the Humber bridge debt is; what the remaining debt is; and when it will be paid off. [43102]
Dr. Ladyman: Under the agreement between the Humber Bridge Board and the Secretary of State signed in July 1998 the interest rate is 7.75 per cent. with the debt to be paid off by 2038. Current total debt stands at £334,436,987.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions the Humber Bridge Board has had with the Treasury about its proposed increase in charges; and what freedom the Board has to vary the charges between categories of vehicle. [43103]
Dr. Ladyman: As far as I am aware there have been no discussions between the Humber Bridge Board and the Treasury with regard to the current proposal to revise toll charges.
The Board must apply to the Secretary of State for approval if it wishes to revise the maximum tolls chargeable of all or any category of vehicle or any classification of vehicle. Below the maximum toll levels, the Board is free to decide the tolls to be charged for each category of vehicle.
Light Rail Schemes
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) technical and (b) financial criteria he intends to use in the evaluation of future proposals for light rail schemes. [43866]
Derek Twigg: On 1 April 2005, the Department published, for consultation, draft guidance to local authorities seeking DFT funding for local transport major schemes. This set out the framework which the Department will use to assess all major scheme bids, including light rail schemes.
The draft guidance is available on the Department for Transport's website.
Local Transport Plan (Gloucestershire)
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to decide on the acceptability of the Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan. [41523]
Ms Buck: The Department for Transport does assess the quality of local transport plans but does not decide on the acceptability of local transport plans. In December 2005 it published its assessments of the provisional second local transport plans, completed by local authorities in July 2005. The final second local transport plans are being completed by local authorities by March 2006. The Department intends to complete its assessments of these plans before the end of this year.
Luton Airport
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department plans to designate London Luton airport under section 25 of the Aviation Security Act 1982; what representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [42413]
Ms Buck: Designation of airports for policing purposes is currently undergoing independent review. The Chief Constable of Bedfordshire has been asked to consider deferring any application for designation of Luton airport until after the review has reported.
Motorway Service Areas
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to examine the potential of motorway service areas for use as interchange points for inter-city coach travel. [42622]
Dr. Ladyman:
There are no current plans to examine the potential of motorway service areas for use as interchange points for inter-city coach travel. Motorway service areas are intended to offer road users opportunities to stop and take a break in the course of their journey but should not become destinations in
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their own right. It is considered that their use as inter-city coach interchanges could breach this long-standing principle and also affect their ability to fulfil their primary function.
Office Equipment
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual expenditure on (a) fixtures and fittings, (b) general office expenses and (c) office equipment 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. [40125]
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 be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Parking Meters
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department has issued to local authorities concerning parking in individual metered bays when the parking meter is temporarily inoperable. [42448]
Ms Buck: The Department's Guidance on Decriminalised Parking Enforcement Outside London"—a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House—says that the duties of a parking attendant include inspecting parking meters and pay-and-display machines to ensure that they are working prior to penalty charge notice issue. It adds that where there is a minor fault, the attendant may be able to rectify it, otherwise an out of order" notice must be put on the meter or machine and the fault must be reported. Similar guidance has been issued to the capital's local authorities by the Association of London Government.
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