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Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much is expected to be saved as a result of meeting the civil service work force reductions targets for his Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review; and whether these savings count towards the agreed efficiency target for his Department set out in the review. [52800]

Hilary Benn: The savings that are expected as a result of DFID's headcount reductions, as set out in the 2004 Spending Review, will be part of DFID's overall Administration Cost efficiency gain which will amount to £20 million by the end of 2007–08 in 2007–08 prices.

The civil service reductions in headcount are expected to account for at least £5 million of this efficiency gain, although precise figures for these savings cannot yet be provided because the grades and locations of posts that are to be discontinued have not yet been finalised.

TRANSPORT

Airport Standards (Adverse Weather)

Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the performance standards are for (a) the British Airports Authority plc and (b) other airport operators in relation to continued operations during adverse weather conditions; and if he will make a statement. [60245]

Derek Twigg: There are no service performance standards for airport operators in relation to the continuance of operations during adverse weather conditions. The paramount consideration is to maintain a high standard of safety in all weather conditions.

Cargo Transfers

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1538W, on cargo transfers, who decides whether ship-to-ship transfers of oil and other chemicals may or may not take place (a) in harbour authority areas and (b) elsewhere in UK territorial waters. [60507]

Dr. Ladyman: In harbour authority areas, it is for the harbour authority to decide whether ship-to-ship transfers may take place—provided that the harbour authority has an oil spill contingency plan, approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which covers such activities. Elsewhere in UK territorial waters, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has non-statutory arrangements and procedures under which ship owners and operators are expected to notify the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the intention to carry out a ship-to-ship transfer, and to carry out such transfers according to best practice. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency monitors the conduct of such ship-to-ship transfers.
 
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Commuters (Greater London)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of commuters who travel into the Greater London Authority area for work purposes. [60407]

Derek Twigg: The 2005 London Travel Report states that the number of workers in Greater London who reside outside that area totalled 706,000 in 2004. The report can be found on Transport for London's website at httD://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/ltr/london-travel-report-2005.pdf.

Concessionary Travel

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many councils have indicated that their proportion of the £350 million grant will be insufficient to fund the bus concessionary fare scheme in their area. [57345]

Dr. Ladyman: The general consensus is that the extra £350 million for 2006–07 will be sufficient in aggregate to fund the additional cost to local authorities.

Since the consultation on the distribution of the new formula for distributing the £350 million closed on 10 October 2005, 18 local authorities from among a total of 292 travel concession authorities, have made representations to the Department, or the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, about the funding for concessionary fares.

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities have reported a shortfall in their funding for free bus travel for pensioners; and what steps each has taken to make up the shortfall. [57540]

Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 10 March 2006]: The general consensus is that the extra £350 million for 2006–07 will be sufficient in aggregate to fund the extra cost to local authorities.

Since the consultation on the distribution of the new formula for distributing the £350 million closed on 10 October 2005, the following 18 local authorities from amongst a total of 292 travel concession authorities, have made representations to the Department, or the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, about the funding for concessionary fares:

Carlisle; Castle Morpeth; Chorley; Eden; Fareham; Gloucester; Guildford; Mid Suffolk; Pendle; Preston; Salisbury; Southampton; South Oxfordshire; Tewkesbury; Three Rivers; Trafford/Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority; Torbay; and Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority.

It is for local authorities to deicide on their overall funding priorities based on their judgement of local need and circumstances.

Delayed/Cancelled Flights

Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that airlines comply with their obligations to passengers on delayed and cancelled flights under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and related European Court of Justice rulings; and if he will make a statement. [60250]

 
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Derek Twigg: Council Regulation 261/2004 entered into force on 17 February 2005. Member states are responsible for designating an appropriate body responsible for enforcing the provisions of the Regulation as regards flights departing from airports within their territories.

In the UK, the Air Transport Users Council (AUC) initially manages passenger complaints under this legislation and may, in appropriate cases, intervene on a passenger's behalf to secure a satisfactory resolution if the Regulation has not been properly applied. The Regulation creates directly applicable rights, so where this is not possible a passenger is able to pursue an individual claim for compensation through the Small Claims Court.

Where the AUC identifies evidence of systematic or repeated non-compliance with the provisions of the Regulation, it may refer the matter to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK's designated enforcement body for this legislation, to consider appropriate action. The CAA has the power to commence criminal proceedings against any airline within its jurisdiction that consistently ignores the requirements of the Regulation. The penalty, on conviction, is a fine of up to £5,000 for each offence.

Digital Tachographs

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on the (a) cost and (b) sales of trucks of the introduction of digital tachographs; and if he will make a statement. [60150]

Dr. Ladyman: The introduction of digital tachographs is not expected to have a significant impact on the initial purchase cost of new heavy goods vehicles. The short-term impact on heavy goods vehicle sales will depend on whether or not operators defer new purchases until their employees are trained to use the new technology.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency gives to organisations other than the police which can access its information on car registrations and owners on appropriate use of the information. [56959]

Dr. Ladyman: Information on the DVLA vehicle register is released to those legally entitled to receive it. DVLA has an obligation under various statutes to release information to local authorities and government bodies. The use of the information released under these provisions is prescribed in the legislation. Use of information outside of these provisions will be referred to the Information Commissioner as appropriate.

A review of the regulations governing the release of data is currently under way. I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of 2 December 2005, Official Report, columns 50–51WS.
 
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Fuel Quality Directive

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the European Union Fuel Quality Directive; what timetable he envisages for such a review; and if he will make a statement. [60145]

Dr. Ladyman: The European Commission is currently reviewing the European Fuels Directive, 98/70/EC, as amended. Stakeholders have been asked to submit comments, and these are published on-line at http://forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/env/fuel_quality/home

The Government are encouraging the European Commission to amend the relevant fuel quality standards so as to allow higher percentages of biofuel to be blended into regular petrol and diesel. The Commission has confirmed in its recent Biofuels Strategy (available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/biomass/biofuel/com2006_34 _en.pdf) that it will review the current standards during 2006, with a view to increasing the 5 per cent. biofuel inclusion limit.

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