Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 15 January 2008
Solicitor-General
Sentencing: Appeals
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Solicitor-General how many appeals against all sentences on the grounds of undue leniency the Attorney-General has made in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [179353]
The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General's office publishes annual statistics on unduly lenient sentence references on its website
The following table shows the number of offenders whose sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal as unduly lenient, the number of offenders whose references were subsequently withdrawn and the number of offenders who were therefore brought before the Court of Appeal in each of the last five years for which full statistics have been published.
| 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | |
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Solicitor-General how many appeals against the minimum tariff applied in cases of indeterminate sentences for public protection on the grounds of undue leniency the Attorney-General has made in each year since that sentence became available to the courts. [179354]
The Solicitor-General: The Attorney-General's office publishes annual statistics on unduly lenient sentence references on its website
The following table shows the number of offenders whose sentences were referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis that the minimum term attached to a sentence of imprisonment for public protection (under section 225 (3) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003) was unduly lenient in each of the years when the sentence was available to the court and for which full statistics have been published.
| Offenders referred | |
| (1) The legislation came into force on 4 April 2005 and applies to offences committed from that date | |
Electoral Commission Committee
Political Parties: Finance
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what research the Electoral Commission has conducted into local spending in constituencies by party organisations with incomes of below £25,000 a year. [177636]
Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that, in 2004 and in 2007, it canvassed all registered accounting units to inquire as to whether their total income or gross expenditure was greater than £25,000 for the prior financial year. Those that were under this threshold were asked to confirm so in writing.
The purpose of the exercise was to confirm which accounting units should be submitting accounts to the commission and which should not. The commission has conducted no research into spending by those associations under the threshold.
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2007, Official Report, column 1235W, on political parties: finance, what research the Electoral Commission initiated on the operation of the political levy and political funds by trade unions. [177700]
Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it plans to undertake research on the operation of the political levy and political funds and has arranged a meeting with the United Kingdom Certification Officer.
Transport
A21
Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2007, Official Report, column 1909W, on the A21, what stage the tendering process for the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury and A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst improvement has reached; and if she will make a statement. [179362]
Mr. Tom Harris: The tender process began in late March 2007, with invitations to tender. These were returned in early July and assessment was completed during mid-September.
The south east regional bodies have been asked to confirm their support for these schemes on the basis of the latest cost estimates. A decision regarding award of contract for the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury and A21 Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst improvement schemes will need to take this confirmation into account.
British Rail
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid in subsidy from the public purse to British Rail in each of the two years preceding privatisation; and how much subsidy for rail services has been paid from the public purse in each year since privatisation. [177164]
Mr. Tom Harris: This information is available in National Rail Trends which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). Copies are available in the Library of the House and on the ORR’s website at:
Cycling: Accidents
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists have been killed in accidents involving left-hand-drive heavy goods vehicles in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [179162]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of pedal cyclists killed in reported road accidents involving at least one foreign registered left-hand-drive heavy goods vehicle in Great Britain for 2005 to 2006 is shown in the following table.
| Number of fatalities | |
| Number | |
This information is not available for years prior to 2005.
Departmental Recycling
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recycling schemes are in operation in each building operated by her Department. [176371]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table details the recycling schemes currently operated in DfT buildings.
Driving Tests
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes she proposes to make to the driving test; what estimate she has made of the effect that her proposals will have on the average length of time it takes a 17-year-old person to qualify for a licence; and if she will make a statement. [178431]
Jim Fitzpatrick: In February 2007 we announced a fundamental overhaul of driver training and testing. We are working to bring proposals forward for consultation and hope to publish them in due course.
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