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17 Apr 2007 : Column 616W—continued
Small Businesses
Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007, Official Report, column 637W, on small businesses, what estimate he has made of (a) the total number of businesses in the UK and (b) the total number of businesses in the UK which are categorised as family businesses. [131660]
Mr. Darling: [holding answer 16 April 2007]: The DTI produces estimates of the number of businesses in its small and medium enterprise statistics publication. At the start of 2005 there were 4.3 million businesses in the UK.
The DTI in its annual small business survey defines a family business as one "majority owned by members of the same family". The 2005 survey found that 65 per cent of all small and medium-sized enterprises were family businesses, which equates to 2.8 million businesses in the UK.
Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2007, Official Report, column 637W, on small businesses, what estimate he has made of the total percentage of UK gross domestic product which is derived from the activities of family businesses. [131661]
Mr. Darling: [holding answer 16 April 2007]: It is not possible to provide precise estimates of the total contribution of family businesses to UK gross domestic product from statistical data on the business population.
However the DTI Annual Small Business Survey 2005 indicates that 65 per cent. of all small and medium-sized enterprises are family businesses. Based on this proportion we would expect family businesses that are also small and medium-sized enterprises to contribute around £220 billion in gross value added to the UK economy.
Solar Power
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential for solar power to contribute to the energy mix over the next five to 15 years; and what policies he has to maximise solar heat and solar electricity production. [127407]
Malcolm Wicks: The Energy Saving Trust undertook a study on behalf of the DTI (Potential for Microgeneration: Study and Analysis)—http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/index.html that examines the potential of all microgeneration technologies to contribute to the energy mix over the next 45 years.
The Government's Microgeneration Strategy (published in March 2006)—http:/www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sources/sustainable/microgeneration/strategy/page 27594.html sets out a number of measures aimed at promoting microgeneration technologies, including solar power. The Code for Sustainable Homes and the Building a Greener Future consultation (both published in December 2006 by Communities and Local Government Department—http://www,communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=l503251) contain measures that should further promote microgeneration.
Transport
Road Haulage
9. John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department has considered to reduce the transportation of goods by road; and if he will make a statement. [131458]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department provides grant funding for rail and water freight where appropriate. In 2005-06 we provided over £23 million that have removed 840,000 lorry journeys from the roads. The Government also promote efficiency within the road sector through the Freight Best Practice and other programmes.
School Transport
10. Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage more sustainable school transport. [131459]
Gillian Merron: The Government are promoting sustainable school travel and transport through the Travelling to School project, supported by more than £100 million funding up to 2008. Our stated objective is for all schools to have an approved school travel plan by 2010. In addition, the Education and Inspection Act places a duty on local authorities to promote sustainable travel to school to all children and to increase the free home to school transport provision for children in low-income families.
Railway Stations
11. Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations are expected to receive Access for All funding. [131460]
Mr. Tom Harris: We have announced 92 stations in England and Wales that we expect Network Rail to improve up to 2011 and are developing the list of stations that will be included in the programme between 2012 and 2015.
Work at more than 500 other stations has been approved up to March 2008 under the Access for All small schemes programme. There will be further rounds of bidding each year until at least 2015.
Public Transport: Overcrowding
12. Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being considered for the alleviation of public transport overcrowding. [131461]
Gillian Merron: The Government are tackling overcrowding on public transport through a combination of investment in additional capacity and improved use of existing capacity.
Railways: Overcrowding
13. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce overcrowding on the railways. [131462]
17. Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ease congestion on trains. [131466]
Mr. Tom Harris: We will continue to increase capacity through the franchising process and in other ways. In particular, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 14 March that the High Level Output Specification, to be published in the summer, will include a commitment to a thousand extra carriages. They will be targeted at the most congested routes on the network.
Rail Infrastructure
14. Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on improvements to rail infrastructure. [131463]
Mr. Tom Harris: I have regular discussions with the chief executive of Network Rail over a range of issues including infrastructure improvements. Departmental officials are continually engaged with the company over the development and implementation of enhancements to railway capacity and performance.
Train Services: Shropshire
15. Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Office of the Rail Regulator on train services in Shropshire. [131464]
Mr. Tom Harris: Department for Transport officials have had several meetings with counterparts from the Office of Rail Regulation concerning the emerging track access requirements of both franchised and open access train operators, in the light of the ongoing competition for the new cross country and west midlands franchises, and the application for access rights made by the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone open access railway company.
Railway Usage
16. Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake a benchmarking exercise to assess railway usage in the UK against other EU member states. [131465]
Mr. Tom Harris: A range of comparative information is collected at European level and the Department draws on this in the development of its policy. We have no plans to undertake any specific exercise to benchmark rail demand.
Environmentally Friendly Vehicles
18. Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to encourage motorists to choose more environmentally friendly vehicles. [131467]
Dr. Ladyman: The Government have introduced fiscal incentives for consumers to buy cleaner vehicles. A communications campaign currently provides advice on purchasing cleaner vehicles and on fuel efficient driving. The Government have also supported the car fuel economy label helping consumers make informed choices when buying a new car.
Train Services: Disabled Passengers
19. Mr. Malik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in providing more accessible trains for disabled passengers. [131468]
Mr. Tom Harris: Over 4,500 new fully accessible train carriages comply with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations, which were introduced in 1998. This represents over a third of the national heavy rail fleet. In addition, improvements to the accessibility of almost all older trains are made when their interiors are refurbished.
Cycling
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which second round Local Transport Plans (LTPs) include commitments to support Government policies on cycling; and to what extent the inclusion of such commitments has influenced the Government’s assessments of LTPs and the resulting funding allocations. [131222]
Gillian Merron:
The guidance offered by the Department to local authorities on the preparation of the second Local Transport Plans included many references to cycling policies, and authorities were required to include a target on cycling trips in their
plans. With one minor exception, every plan proposes to increase or stabilise levels of cycling locally.
The assessments of LTPs considered evidence that the plans addressed the problems and opportunities across the full range of transport modes, including cycling. A detailed technical note on the method of assessment and the implications for funding can be found on the Department’s website at:
Cycling: Accidents
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the number of cyclist fatalities involving heavy goods vehicles. [131453]
Dr. Ladyman: There were 24 cyclist fatalities involving HGVs during 2005, which is 33 per cent. fewer than the average for 1994-98. The Highway Code advises drivers and cyclists how to avoid these casualties. The Department's leaflet ‘Drive Safe Cycle Safe’ also encourages drivers and cyclists to share the road safely. RoSPA has produced a DVD on safety for cyclists and lorries, funded by the Department.
Departments: Lobbying
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued on the conduct of relations between lobbyists and (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [130796]
Gillian Merron: Ministers and civil servants act in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code. Detailed guidance on contacts between civil servants and lobbyists is set out in the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, which is in the Libraries of the House and on the Cabinet Office website.
Heathrow Airport: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether account is being taken of the impact of the planned Colnbrook incinerator in the assessment of pollution levels at Heathrow Airport if a third runway is constructed, with particular reference to nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. [131110]
Gillian Merron: The modelling of future third runway scenarios at Heathrow takes account of industrial emissions in the surrounding area. We are advised that the new Colnbrook incinerator is unlikely to have a material impact on emissions around Heathrow but detailed emissions data for the new plant are being obtained in order to confirm the position.
Heathrow Express Line
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work his Department has undertaken to investigate a second line on the Heathrow Express to St. Pancras. [131753]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department for Transport has not carried out any work on this proposal.
London Airports: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of emissions of oxides of nitrogen attributable to aircraft landing and take-off was at (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted airports in each year since 1995; what forecasts have been made of future such emissions; and if he will make a statement. [131735]
Gillian Merron: All of the data requested are not readily available. At Heathrow, over 1997 to 2004 there has been no significant trend in the contribution of on-airport sources of NOx which varied between 80 and 100 microgrammes per cubic metre. BAA figure indicates that in 2002, there were 3,780 tonnes of NOx from aircraft during landing, take-off and up to 1,000m. The Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow (PSDH) is currently modelling and forecasting future emissions for Heathrow and we will be consulting on this later in the year.
Pedestrian Crossings
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes have been completed under the Highways Agency’s non-motorised user crossings programme. [131196]
Dr. Ladyman: To date, the Highways Agency has completed investigations at 188 crossing points for non-motorised users and has delivered appropriate works. All of these sites were identified within the non-motorised user crossings programme.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budget is committed for the non-motorised user crossings programme in the 2007-08 financial year; and which schemes are expected to be completed in that year. [131197]
Dr. Ladyman: Non-motorised user crossings improvements are delivered as part of larger schemes within the Highways Agency’s programme of road improvement works. As such, costs that are specific to non-motorised user crossings improvements are not recorded separately.
The following table lists sites from the non-motorised user crossings list, published in October 2003, that are currently forecast to be addressed during 2007-08.
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