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22 Jun 2006 : Column 2036W—continued
Rail and Cycle Travel Integration
Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to improve integration of rail and cycle travel. [79190]
Derek Twigg: Each train operating company (TOC) is responsible for both their policy on the carriage of bikes on trains and the provision of cycle parking at stations.
The Government have inherited the Cycling Policy document produced in 2004 from the Strategic Rail Authority. This encourages all TOCs to carry folding bikes at all times, to carry non folding bikes wherever possible, while recognising that in peak periods there may be circumstances where it is in the best interests of the majority of passengers not to do so, and to supply cycle parking at most rail stations. The policy recommends to TOCs that they provide sufficient cycle parking at stations so that 95 per cent. of all rail journeys start from a station with adequate cycle parking by 2009. To support this policy the DfT recently funded an additional 2,900 cycle parking spaces at stations where demand exceeded capacity.
As part of our ongoing commitment to bike and rail journeys I am discussing with our advisory body on cycling, Cycling England, how we might further encourage such journeys.
Rural Transport Services
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rural rail (a) services and (b) stations have ceased to operate in each year since 1997, broken down by location. [78203]
Derek Twigg: No rural rail services have ceased to operate since 1997, only two small stretches of passenger network at Maindee Loop (near Newport) in 2005 and Sheepcote Lane Curve in 2004 (near Clapham Junction) have closed.
Four stations have ceased to operate since 1997 and 14 stations have been replaced by either light rail, tram, or a station in a new location.
The four stations which have ceased to operate are:
Etruria in 2005;
Sinfin North, Sinfin Central and Pendleton stations in 1998.
Temporary Parking Exemption Blue Badges
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce temporary parking exemption blue badges for those suffering short-term impairment for less than 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [77112]
Gillian Merron:
Following a review of the blue badge scheme, the Department for Transport has accepted a recommendation made by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), the Department’s statutory advisers on the transport needs of disabled people, that the scheme should be extended to people with temporary mobility impairments which severely affect their walking
ability and are likely to do so for at least 12 months. This reflected the consensus of opinion during the review and there are therefore no plans to extend the eligibility criteria to people with impairments lasting less than 12 months at the present time.
Transport Schemes (Cost-Benefit Ratios)
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which major transport schemes agreed over the last two years in London have cost-benefit ratios below 2. [78141]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 19 June 2006]: In the past two years the Department has approved two London projects that have a benefit-cost ratio below 2: the fit out of the Thameslink Midland Road box; and the King’s Cross LUL Northern ticket hall. Both projects fall within the medium value for money category (benefit-cost ratios in the range to 1.5 to 2).
The Department does not hold comprehensive benefit-cost information on projects approved by Transport for London.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Rural Disadvantage
18. Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the findings of the Commission for Rural Communities’ report on rural disadvantage. [79361]
Barry Gardiner: I welcome the report and its emphasis on meeting the needs of disadvantaged people living in rural areas.
This is the first major output from the Commission for Rural Communities, demonstrating early action on its mandate to act as a watchdog and advocate for rural people and communities, especially those suffering disadvantage.
Household Waste
19. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to reduce household waste. [79362]
Mr. Bradshaw: Historically, year-on-year, the increase of municipal waste has been reduced to 1.5 per cent. and we have also achieved an overall reduction of waste going to landfill of 10 per cent. since 2000.
The review of the waste strategy has, as one of its prime objectives, to reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place.
Radioactive Waste Disposal
20. Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues about the environmental impact of radioactive waste disposal. [79363]
Ian Pearson: The independent Committee of Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) are currently considering the long-term management options for higher level radioactive wastes. As part of their assessments—which have been open and transparent, and in the public domain—they have considered the environmental impacts of the options. The Government look forward to receiving their final report shortly.
Regional Food Specialities
Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to promote local food networks and regional food specialities. [79364]
Barry Gardiner: We are helping to facilitate local sourcing by providing funding to address issues such as distribution, marketing and the encouragement of new outlets and by working with other bodies to highlight and spread best practice. Food from Britain (FFB) takes the lead in the delivery of a national programme of activity to support the quality regional food sector in England which includes many local food producers.
Wild Flowers
22. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action has been taken since May 2005 to protect wild flower meadows and to encourage the planting of wild flowers. [79365]
Barry Gardiner: Earlier this week we published the 2005 highlight report on progress on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It shows that 22 per cent. of priority habitats and 11 per cent. of priority species are increasing, and that more priority species are showing improved trends, including the Deptford pink.
Energy White Paper
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to paragraph 3.41 of the 2003 Energy White Paper, what steps he plans to take to extend the energy efficiency commitment beyond the domestic sector. [78451]
Ian Pearson: DEFRA commissioned studies on the possible extension of the domestic energy efficiency commitment (EEC) to those businesses that do not pay the climate change levy.
The Government concluded that the inclusion of small business within the domestic EEC is not practicable at this point. Options continue to be considered, but in the immediate period support for energy efficiency improvement in this sector will continue via other programmes, notably those of the Carbon Trust, as outlined in “Energy Efficiency: The Government's Plan for Action”, published in April 2004.
The Government will introduce further measures to encourage and assist Small and Medium Sized Enterprises to take up energy saving opportunities. DEFRA has commissioned work to examine different policy options. This work will draw on the experience of the EEC mechanism in the household sector in informing our views of the best way forward.
Milk Imports
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much milk was imported in the last period for which figures are available. [79348]
Barry Gardiner: Figures from HM Revenue and Customs show that in 2005, just over 48,000 tonnes of liquid milk were imported into the UK. This represents about 0.4 per cent. of UK milk production.
Sakhalin II Project
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which rivers were crossed with (a) gas and (b) oil pipelines (i) during and (ii) outside the designated winter period as part of the Sakhalin II project. [79334]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 21 June 2006]: The designated winter period for crossing rivers as part of the Sakhalin II project is 1 December to 30 April.
Dates on which the rivers were crossed with oil and gas pipelines are available at the Sakhalin Energy website at:
http://www.sakhalinenergy.com/en/project. asp?p=rc_list
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which rivers were crossed with (a) gas and (b) oil pipelines as part of the Sakhalin II project; [79336]
(2) which rivers were crossed with (a) gas and (b) oil pipelines on non-consecutive construction days as part of the Sakhalin II project; [79338]
(3) what the average time period is between the installation of gas or oil pipelines across each river as part of the Sakhalin II project. [79450]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 21 June 2006]: This information is available on the Sakhalin Energy website at:
http://www.sakharinenergy.com/en/project. asp?p=rc_list
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information he has gathered on the effect of the Sakhalin II project on salmon spawning habitat; and what action he is taking to ensure that there is no loss of such habitat as a result of the project. [79337]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 21 June 2006]: The information gathered on the effect of the Sakhalin II project on salmon spawning habitats includes:
Official and ministerial meetings with Shell;
Information included in Sakhalin Energy's River Crossing Strategy;
Monitoring information published by Sakhalin Energy on its website;
Information gathered during site visits carried out by Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), other potential lenders and their independent consultants.
Sakhalin Energy has committed itself to ensuring no net loss of habitat.
DEFRA will be monitoring performance through its close working relationships with relevant departments such as ECGD, who, together with other agencies such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, have commissioned independent monitoring of the project.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the potential impact of an oil spill on the feeding grounds of the Western Pacific Grey Whale in the event of a major incident at the Sakhalin II project; and what assessment has been made of the potential impact of such a spill on those feeding grounds in (a) summer conditions and (b) winter ice conditions. [79449]
Ian Pearson: Information on the potential impact of oil spills on the Western Gray Whales' feeding grounds has been included in a number of assessments, including the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company's (SEIC's) Environmental Impact Assessment (2003) and Addenda (2005), and its Comparative Environmental Assessment (2004). A number of reports on this subject have also been produced for meetings of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Independent Scientific Review and successor bodies, including a report from the Independent Interim Science Group (IISG), which made a number of specific recommendations to SEIC.
SEIC is developing oil spill response plans that will include measures intended to address the potential impact of a spill on the feeding grounds of the Western Gray Whale in different conditions. These will be reviewed by both Russian authorities and an independent international oil spill response consultancy. The former will address compliance with appropriate elements of Russian Law, whilst the latter will assess the adequacy of plans against a number of recognised and robust international standards.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company's oil spill plan response methods and (b) the potential impact of an oil spill on biodiversity in the Sakhalin island area. [79451]
Ian Pearson: Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC) is developing oil spill response plans, which must be approved by the Russian authorities before oil production can start. These plans will also be reviewed against Russian and international standards by consultants acting for the potential lenders. We will review the conclusions of this work.
We have kept in close touch with SEIC on the issue of oil spills. In recent meetings with SEIC/Shell we have stressed the importance of having adequate measures in place to address the risks, and of SEIC's implementing the Independent Interim Science Group's recommendations.
Wales
Departmental Staff
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many of his staff are (a) under and (b) over 55 years of age. [77303]
Mr. Hain: At 31 December 2005 Wales Office staff were split as follows:
(a) 45 staff (76.3 per cent.) under 55 years of age and
(b) 14 staff (23.7 per cent.) over the age of 55.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited into his Department in each of the last three years. [77304]
Mr. Hain: Between April 2004 and March 2005, there were 14 people over the age of 55 working for the Wales Office. This represented a quarter of the staff at the time.
A further member of staff over the age of 55 was recruited in 2005-06, representing 10 per cent. of the total staff recruited during that period.
Information relating to 2003-04 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Websites
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many websites there are within his responsibilities; and what the total cost of maintaining such websites was in the last year for which figures are available. [79067]
Mr. Hain: The Wales Office has responsibility for www.walesoffice.gov.uk and its parallel Welsh language site www.swyddfa.cymru.gov.uk.
The cost of running both sites was £5,875 in 2005, with an additional £58.75 charged to renew the domain names.
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