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1 Feb 2006 : Column 552W—continued
Radioactive Waste
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries from which (a) radioactive waste and (b) spent fuel has been received but not yet returned; and what the (i) radioactivity level and (ii) quantity held is in each case. [46037]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 26 January 2006]: The UK does not allow the import of radioactive waste, but overseas spent fuel is received in the UK for reprocessing.
Spent fuel has been received for reprocessing at Sellafield from these countries: Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. To date no waste as a result of reprocessing has been returned overseas.
Details of fuel deliveries and the programming of reprocessing of customer's fuel are operational and commercial matters for British Nuclear Group and its customers, but the total amount of foreign spent fuel to be reprocessed under new reprocessing contracts signed since 1976 is around 4,500 tonnes, which will result in 400, 5,000 and 25,000 cubic metres of High, Intermediate and Low Level Waste respectively.
Countries from which spent fuel has been received but not yet returned:
| Country | Kg HM |
|---|---|
| Belgium | 13.9 |
| Denmark | 54.3 |
| France | 115.8 |
| Germany | 582.6 |
| Holland | 5.9 |
| Georgia | 4.4 |
Waste return clauses are in force for the above material, excluding Georgia.
It is not possible to give current radioactivity levels for this material as the levels on receipt would be considerably different from those today. To attempt to calculate notional radioactivity levels from the above weights could give an erroneous result.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the costs to be borne by his Department resulting from the delay in implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. [47941]
Malcolm Wicks:
I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 23 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1764–65W.
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Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the extra costs to be borne by manufacturers resulting from uncertainty caused by the delay in implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. [47943]
Malcolm Wicks: The delay to implementation of the Directive will mean savings for many manufacturers. These are likely to exceed significantly any costs arising from the delay.
TRANSPORT
Channel Tunnel
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has made an assessment of the impact of the channel tunnel on the level of traffic on UK roads; and if he will make a statement; [46539]
(2) whether he has made an assessment of the net impact of the channel tunnel on the UK economy; and if he will make a statement. [46540]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 30 January 2006]: The Department has not made any specific assessment of the effect of the channel tunnel on UK road traffic levels or the UK economy more generally.
Christmas Cards
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost to his Department of sending Christmas cards in 2005. [45924]
Ms Buck: The information requested is set out as follows.
(7) No card.
Note:
The information refers to the cost of the cards. It is not possible to separate out postage costs from normal mail, although the policy is to mainly use second class.
Concessionary Travel
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the funding provided in the 2006–07 local government finance settlement to (a) West Berkshire council and (b) other local authorities to provide free bus passes for all those who are entitled to them; [46246]
(2) what estimate he has made of whether (a) West Berkshire council and (b) other local authorities will require additional funding above that provided in the local government finance settlement to finance the free bus pass scheme; and what assessment he has made of sources of additional funding. [46248]
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Ms Buck: The Government are providing an extra £350 million for 2006–07 through the formula grant system which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities. There is general agreement that there is enough additional money overall for the local authorities. The extra funding is not ring-fenced; therefore it is not possible to identify the concessionary fares funding for individual local authorities. All local authorities, including West Berkshire council, have a responsibility to offer older and disabled people free off-peak local travel on buses and we expect this to be done in an efficient and effective way, balancing all the available resources.
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the payments to bus operators by (a) West Berkshire council and (b) other local authorities in England under the free bus pass scheme; and what percentage of the payments in (i) West Berkshire and (b) England will be met from central Government grant in 2006–07. [46251]
Ms Buck: None. The Department for Transport has issued guidance to local authorities on implementation but it is for individual concessionary travel authorities, to design and operate their local concessionary fares scheme. The Government are providing an extra £350 million for 2006–07 which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities of the introduction of free off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people.
John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities in the County of Durham which have received funding to introduce the concessionary travel scheme; and how much was paid to each. [46785]
Ms Buck: All the districts in the County of Durham receive funding for concessionary fares through the formula grant system. The extra funding is not ring-fenced; therefore it is not possible to identify the current funding for concessionary fares for individual local authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister consulted on the formula to be used for funding the extension to free off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people from 1 April. The funding will continue to not be specifically allocated.
John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the concessionary travel scheme for aged and disabled people in Easington to include cross boundary travel to Tyne Wear and Teesside. [46745]
Ms Buck: None. Cross-boundary concessionary travel is offered at the discretion of the local authority based on their judgement of local needs and their overall financial priorities.
Departmental Expenditure
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (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 was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06. [40006]
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Ms Buck: Information on actual and projected spend on vehicles has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The expenditure data typically comprises purchase price, fuel and servicing. Charges relating to the specialist nature of the Department for Transport fleet, such as adaptations, have also been included in some cases.
The information requested as iii) a), b), c) and d can only be provided at disproportionate costs.
For details of expenditure on ministerial vehicles provided to the Department by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 20 December 2005 from the chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). Copies of this letter are available in the Library.
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