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10 May 2007 : Column 453W—continued
Driving: Licensing
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people tried to obtain driving licences fraudulently in each of the last five years; [134796]
(2) how many cases of driving licence application fraud the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency detected in each of the last five years. [134801]
Dr. Ladyman: Statistics are not available on the number of people who tried to obtain driving licences fraudulently over the last five years. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) reports suspect applications to the police and other appropriate authorities for investigation. Statistics recording the numbers of suspect applications for driving licences detected by DVLA have been kept since July 2005. Between July 2005 and March 2006, a total of 1,484 suspect applications were detected. Between April 2006 and March 2007, a total of 2,463 suspect applications were detected. These applications were deemed to be suspect because of concern over the authenticity of the supporting identity documents or the accuracy of declarations made on the application form.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of identity fraud the (a) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and (b) Driving Standards Agency investigated in each of the last five years. [134800]
Dr. Ladyman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) operates stringent identity checking procedures so that driving licences are granted only after it is satisfied with the evidence of identity supplied.
DVLA does not itself investigate suspected cases of identity fraud but refers to the appropriate authorities any cases where there appears to be a fraudulent application to obtain a driving licence. Statistics recording the numbers of suspect applications for driving licences detected by DVLA have been kept since July 2005. Between July 2005 and March 2006, a total of 1,484 suspect applications were detected. Between April 2006 and March 2007, a total of 2,463 suspect applications were detected.
The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) takes allegations of impersonation of driving test candidates
extremely seriously and has established a dedicated team to protect the integrity of its processes. DSA investigates incidents of impersonation at driving test that are both reported to it and those that the Agency detects through proactive investigation.
Since 2004, with co-operation from the police, DSA investigations into driving test impersonations have resulted in the arrest of 293 people in connection with a total of 729 offences.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many foreign nationals (a) applied for and (b) were granted UK driving licences in each of the last 10 years. [134802]
Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not available. Statistics relating to the nationality of applicants for driving licences are not kept.
Fuels: Carbon
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with industry on reducing carbon levels in transportation fuels. [136443]
Dr. Ladyman: The Government have announced that, as a way of reducing the lifecycle carbon impact of transport fuels, it will introduce a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) in April 2008. The RTFO has been developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the different industry sectors which will be affected by it. Copies of the Government’s consultation document on the RTFO are available in the House Libraries and also via:
Heathrow Airport
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the number of air transport movements which would take place at Heathrow if a third runway is built and mixed mode is introduced; [136417]
(2) whether the estimate of 720,000 air transport movements each year at Heathrow if a third runway is built referred to in the Air Transport White Paper Progress Report 2006 includes an assumption that mixed mode will be introduced. [136418]
Gillian Merron: As announced in the Future of Air Transport White Paper, the Government are carrying out a study on the future development of Heathrow. This is assessing the air quality and noise impacts, in particular, of both a possible third runway and of using the existing runways in mixed mode operations. The Government intend to consult on its findings later in 2007.
The December 2006 Progress Report on the Future of Air Transport White Paper indicated that mixed mode operations on the existing two runways at Heathrow could provide up to 15 per cent. more air traffic movements than the current annual limit of 480,000. It also said that a third runway could
eventually support up to 720,000 movements but this does not assume the use of mixed mode operations on the existing two runways.
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the forthcoming consultation into mixed-mode, the Cranford Agreement, westerly preference, a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow will also include consultation on the new flight paths which would be required if a third runway went ahead. [136414]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 9 May 2007]: The December 2006 Progress Report on the Future of Air Transport White Paper indicated that the Government would consult in 2007 on the future development of Heathrow. The consultation will present the results of the Government’s study to assess the air quality and noise impacts, in particular, of both a possible third runway and of using the existing runways in mixed mode operations.
The consultation will also describe the flight paths that have been assumed for this study. However, any changes to air routes would not take place without first being subject to separate consultation under the Civil Aviation Authority’s Airspace Change Process.
Heathrow Airport: Exhaust Emissions
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects the new emissions cost assessment designed to inform decisions on major increases in aviation capacity as outlined in the recent Progress Report on the Aviation White Paper to apply to proposals (a) to introduce mixed mode and (b) to construct a sixth terminal or a third runway at Heathrow; who is involved in developing this emissions cost assessment; and what level of consultation there will be in developing the process. [136437]
Gillian Merron: We intend to launch a full public consultation on the development of an emissions cost assessment for the aviation sector in the first half of 2007. The consultation proposals are being developed by the Department in liaison with other Government Departments.
Motor Vehicles: Registration
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency achieved its target of halving the estimated number of unregistered vehicles in the UK by 2007. [134713]
Dr. Ladyman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has a target to reduce by 31 January 2007 the number of persistent vehicle excise duty evaders by 50 per cent. from the baseline figure from June 2002. Work to assess whether this target has been met will commence in July with the results to follow later in the year.
Many of these vehicles are likely to be incorrectly registered. However, there is no target specifically to halve the number of unregistered vehicles by 2007.
Railway Stations: Access
Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations will receive funding from the Access for All scheme. [136595]
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.
Railways: Overcrowding
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which five train services had the highest number of passengers in excess of capacity levels in each of the 10 largest cities in the UK in the most recent period for which figures are available. [135917]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department only has access to data covering Passengers in Excess of Capacity (PIXC), which applies to weekday commuter trains arriving in London between 07:00 and 09:59 and those departing London between 16:00 and 18:59.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) publishes PIXC figures in its National Rail Trends publication; the most recent version covering 2005 was published on 5 July 2006 and is available in the Library of the House.
Railways: Shropshire
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has made to help develop rail infrastructure in Shropshire on the line between Wolverhampton and Central Wales. [136161]
Mr. Tom Harris: Network Rail plans to complete line speed improvements between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury to achieve a 90 mph line speed in 2008-09. It is also considering signalling and track changes to permit direct access to platform 3 of Shrewsbury station from the Craven Arms direction. The Department’s long term rail strategy, to be published in the summer, will include our high level output specification for the passenger railway. Network Rail’s detailed plans will then be updated in its Strategic Business Plan to be published in October 2007.
Railways: Wales
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with his Welsh counterpart on improvements to the Cambrian line between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth. [136160]
Mr. Tom Harris: Our respective officials have discussed train operating performance on the Cambrian line; potential funding by the Welsh Assembly Government of an hourly train service on the route between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth including the necessary improvements to infrastructure; and improvements to Machynlleth Train Maintenance Depot.
Road Signs
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the operating costs were of (a) electronic messaging signs and (b) electronic variable messaging signs in each of the last 10 years. [134658]
Dr. Ladyman: Operating costs for both electronic message signs and electronic variable messaging signs on the Highways Agency network are not separately identifiable. They are maintained as an integral part of traffic technology systems. Data are available for the period 2001-02 to 2006-07 in the following table.
| Cost (£ million) | |
The costs in the table are for maintaining all traffic technology, including electronic messaging signs, but excluding energy and technology renewal scheme costs.
Treasury
Education for All
1. Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he expects to make on the Education for All initiative in 2007; and what discussions he has had with international finance ministers on this issue. [136445]
Mr. Gordon Brown: On 2 May the UK co-convened an international conference with the European Commission and World Bank. From the UK’s overall £8.5 billion pledge, we announced a long term commitment of £500 million to support 10-year education plans in Tanzania and Ethiopia. We welcomed the strong progress from African countries—with 15 countries having completed 10-year plans and 13 of these endorsed. The UK will continue to work with other donors to ensure the necessary funds for education are committed.
Fiscal Policy
16. Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect of his fiscal policy on the UK economy; and if he will make a statement. [136461]
John Healey: In the last decade, the introduction of strict fiscal rules and clear objectives for fiscal policy have put the public finances on a more sound and sustainable footing than in previous economic cycles.
This responsible management of public finances, in line with the Government’s objectives, has enabled fiscal policy to effectively support monetary policy over the current cycle.
The UK’s macro-economic policy framework continues to deliver unprecedented growth and stability. GDP in
the UK has now expanded for 59 consecutive quarters, the longest unbroken expansion since quarterly National Accounts data began.
Over the past 10 years, the UK has enjoyed more stability in terms of GDP growth and inflation than in any decade since the war.
Employment
17. Mrs. James: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards his aim to achieve full employment. [136462]
John Healey: The Government’s measures to increase employment build on a platform of macro-economic stability and economic growth, and include continued investment in the new deal, investment in skills and training, welfare reform to help people move from inactivity to work, and the national minimum wage and tax credits to make work pay. Employment is at record levels, with over 2.5 million more people in work than in 1997, and the highest employment rate of the G7 economies.
21. Mr. David: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to achieve the goal of full employment; and if he will make a statement. [136466]
John Healey: The Government’s measures to increase employment build on a platform of macro-economic stability and economic growth, and include continued investment in the new deal, investment in skills and training, welfare reform to help people move from inactivity to work, and the national minimum wage and tax credits to make work pay. Employment is at record levels, with over 2.5 million more people in work than in 1997, and the highest employment rate of the G7 economies.
Millennium Development Goals
20. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with international counterparts on resources for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. [136465]
Ed Balls: Recent OECD figures show that global ODA in 2006 was up by $20 billion, an increase of 25 per cent. in real terms since 2004. The UK is working hard with international partners to ensure that global ODA stays on track for our goal of providing an extra $50 billion by 2010, and to ensure an adequate proportion goes to basic services to help meet the MDGs.
Together with international partners, the Chancellor recently launched the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, which will quickly release $4 billion of development aid to support essential vaccination programmes. And in February the G7 endorsed a pilot Advanced Market Commitment, which will provide $1.5 billion to accelerate the development of a pneomococcus vaccine. To accelerate progress towards the Education MDGs, I co-convened a high level international conference, together with the World Bank and European Commission, to renew the political commitment needed to deliver more aid for education.
In February the G7 stated that they expect spending on Aid for Trade to increase to $4 billion.
But we must do more. The Chancellor will be raising the need for countries to deliver on their ODA commitments, in order to meet the MDGs, at the next G8 Finance Ministers in Potsdam.
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