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22 Jun 2006 : Column 2033W—continued
Vehicle Excise Duty
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) petrol cars and (b) diesel cars there were in each vehicle excise duty band for private vehicles in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [79310]
Dr. Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
The two tables indicate the number of petrol and diesel cars registered in each vehicle excise duty (VED) band for the years 2002 to 2005.
Table 1 outlines the number of cars whose keepers pay graduated VED. Graduated VED was brought into effect in March 2001. Cars attract a rate of VED dependant upon their CO2 emissions per kilometre driven. There have been a number of changes to the banding system since it was introduced. These are outlined in table 1.
Combined with the new vehicle CO2 labelling scheme and company car tax, graduated VED raises awareness of CO2 and provides incentives for consumers to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles.
Table 2 outlines the number of cars whose keepers pay VED by the old system. Cars that were purchased before March 2001 attract VED according to their engine size. A car with an engine capacity above 1549cc pays the higher rate. Those with engines under 1550cc pay the lower rate.
| Table 1: GRAD VED registered cars | |||
| VED Band | Emissions (gCO 2 /km) | Total petrol cars | Total diesel cars |
| Table2: pre GRAD VED registered cars | ||
| VED Band (by engine capacity) | Total petrol cars | Total diesel cars |
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why there are different levels of vehicle excise duty for diesel cars and petrol cars; and if he will make a statement. [79311]
John Healey: As announced in Budget 2000, from 1 March 2001 a graduated VED system for new cars was introduced. Under this system, all new cars first registered from that date have the rate of VED payable determined according to their rate of carbon dioxide emissions.
Within each band, there is a £10 discount for cars using cleaner fuels and technology, including those
powered by road fuel gas, bi-fuel and dual fuel, and cars using hybrid technology. Within each band, there is also a supplement for diesel cars to reflect their higher emissions of particulates and other pollutants which damage local air quality.
Transport
Bus Drivers' Working Hours
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans his Department has to bring into force the European Union legislation on applying the 11-hour rule to bus drivers’ shifts; [79207]
(2) if he will make a statement on recent changes to the legal and regulatory framework governing bus drivers’ working hours. [79208]
Dr. Ladyman: There are two sets of rules governing drivers’ hours in the UK. Many bus drivers operate under domestic drivers’ hours rules rather than the EU drivers’ hours rules. This is because buses on routes less than 50 kilometres are specifically exempted from the EU Regulations.
A new EU Regulation on drivers’ hours has recently been adopted by the EU institutions—it was published in the Official Journal in April 2006 and will, for the most part, come into force in April 2007. We expect to consult later this year on any necessary consequential amendments to existing UK legislation.
Although, during negotiation of the new EU Regulation, consideration was given to extending the scope to include buses on routes less than 50 kilometres, this change was not made.
We will keep under review the need to bring the domestic rules into line with the EU rules, but will not be in a position to consult on any such changes before the bulk of the new EU Regulation comes into force next year.
Crossrail
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the budget of £154 million allocated to Crossrail in 2001 was spent. [78610]
Derek Twigg: Of the £154 million allocated in 2001, Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRL) had spent £140 million by the end of May 2006. This supported development of the scheme set out in the Hybrid Bill. The most substantial costs have been incurred employing staff, and carrying out transport, engineering and environmental studies.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on the Crossrail project since its inception. [78615]
Derek Twigg: Since 2001, Cross London Rail Links Ltd.—the company responsible for Crossrail design—has spent a total of £161 million on the Crossrail project.
Highways Agency
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what salaries are paid to the board of directors of the Highways Agency. [78872]
Dr. Ladyman: The salary information for Highways Agency board directors for the financial year 2004-05 is published in the Highways Agency’s annual report and accounts, a copy of which is available from the House Libraries and at: http://www.highways.gov.uk/aboutus/documents/annl_rept 2004 05.pdf.
Marine Environment High Risk Areas
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what criteria the Marine Environment High Risk Areas were determined. [79353]
Dr. Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 8 March 2006, Official Report, columns 1519-21W given to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George).
Nuclear Waste Transportation
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to consult Colchester residents about the transportation by rail through the town of nuclear waste from Sizewell Power Station; and if he will make a statement. [78958]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department for Transport has recently taken over responsibility for making regulations covering the transport of radioactive materials by rail from the Health and Safety Executive. In November 2004 the Department undertook a consultation on the proposals for the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2005, SI 2005:1732. These regulations include provisions for the control of the carriage of radioactive materials by rail.
The consultation document was sent out to over 800 addresses across the U.K. and it was published on the Department’s website. There were three responses from addresses in Colchester but none of these were concerned with the transport of radioactive materials.
Private Members' Bills
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Private Members’ Bills were drafted by his Department in each Session since 1997; and which subsequently received Royal Assent. [77844]
Gillian Merron: Members will consider a range of possible subjects before introducing their Private Members’ Bills.
Government draftsmen do draft some Bills in advance which are available as one of the options for Members to consider before they make their selection.
However, Members may make subsequent amendments or revisions to a Government drafted Bill, or use it as the basis for a Private Member’s Bill in the future.
The information requested is therefore not collected.
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