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17 Jan 2008 : Column 1412W—continued
Heathrow Airport
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether Heathrow Airport has exceeded the number of flights operating during the night quota period in each season since winter 2006-07; [179291]
(2) whether Heathrow Airport has exceeded the quota count points system for noise levels during the night quota period in each season since winter 2006-07. [179292]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Heathrow airport has operated consistently within the Government’s night flight regime requirements. This regime specifies seasonal maxima covering both aircraft movements and noise quota amounts. The maxima for the seasons from winter 2006-07 to date are as follows:
| Winter 2006-07 | Summer 2007 | Winter 2007-08 | |
The night restrictions regime has recognised for a number of years that there will be occasions when the airport can be affected by extraordinary circumstances which cannot be anticipated (for example aircraft delays caused by security, severe weather or ATC situations). Accordingly, in such circumstances, there is provision under the regime that flights may be dispensed i.e. will not count against the limits.
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which individuals and organisations have been sent a copy of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation document; and if she will make a statement. [179450]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 16 January 2008]: On the launch of the ‘Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport’ consultation we sent out 766 consultation documents to a wide range of organisations, as set out in Annex G of the consultation document. The full list of these organisations has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
We also sent out over 217,000 Summary Documents to residents around the airport, which recommends that they request the full Consultation Document to inform their response. To date we have sent over 900
copies of the consultation document to a range of different organisations, interests and members of the public who have requested a copy. Our obligations under data protection legislation prevent us from releasing the names of individuals concerned. The consultation document is available at the consultation exhibitions which we are running in the communities around the airport. To date, 470 copies of the Consultation Document have been given out at the exhibitions. Seven of these exhibitions had taken place by 15 January, with five remaining.
Heathrow Airport: Pollution
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate her Department has made of nitrogen dioxide emissions at Heathrow airport in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [179437]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 16 January 2008]: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 7 January 2008, Official Report, column 4W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Henley (Mr. Johnson)
Heathrow Airport: Sustainable Development
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment was made as part of the Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow of the carbon dioxide emissions in relation to option (a) 1, (b) 2 and (c) 3 from the additional passenger traffic travelling to and from Heathrow under each option; and if she will make a statement. [179963]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The carbon dioxide emissions from additional passengers travelling by air under options one, two, and three in the “Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport” consultation are set out in annex B of the consultation document, available at:
Carbon dioxide emissions from additional surface access trips to Heathrow would depend on the detail of the surface access strategy accompanying any extra capacity. This would need to be developed by the airport operator as part of a comprehensive transport assessment prior to a planning application.
Network Rail: Private Roads
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many unadopted roads in the UK Network Rail owns. [179709]
Mr. Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.
Iain Coucher
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London NW1 2EE
Parking
Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations are placed on local parking enforcement authorities to make refunds when an adjudicator has ruled a particular parking zone or bay illegal or not fully in compliance with legislation. [179698]
Ms Rosie Winterton: An adjudicator who allows an appeal against a penalty charge may direct an authority to refund any money already paid in respect of the penalty charge, sale, or release of the vehicle. The authority must comply with such a direction without delay. Adjudicators can only make such directions in relation to individual appeal cases.
Railways
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the profit margins achieved by rolling stock companies and the contingent effect upon the rail network. [179138]
Mr. Tom Harris [ holding answer 15 January 2008]: This is a matter which is being considered as part of the Competition Commission’s investigation into the leasing of rolling stock to passenger rail operators.
Railways: Essex
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons were for the overrunning of engineering works affecting train services between Liverpool Street and Essex over the Christmas and New Year period; and if she will make a statement. [179569]
Mr. Tom Harris: The independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has launched an investigation into Network Rail’s management of engineering projects including the causes of the major engineering over-run at Liverpool Street over Christmas and the new year. The ORR expects to publish its findings by 29 February 2008. We will not seek to pre-empt the ORR’s investigation by speculating on causes before its report is issued.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the reasons are for the disruption of the Liverpool Street to Chelmsford rail line experienced since 31 December 2007; what steps are being taken to improve the quality of service for commuters on that line; and if she will make a statement; [179431]
(2) for what reasons Liverpool Street Station was not fully operational for commuters on 1 January 2008; and if she will make a statement. [179432]
Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 16 January 2008]: The independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has launched an investigation into Network Rail’s management of engineering projects including the causes of the major engineering over-runs at Liverpool Street over Christmas and the new year. The ORR expects to publish its findings by 29 February 2008. We will not seek to pre-empt the ORR’s investigation by speculating on causes before its report is issued.
Railways: Finance
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the costs of running a Sunday rail service (a) overall and (b) for each train operating company (i) on Christmas day and (ii) on Boxing day. [177334]
Mr. Tom Harris: We have no plans to do so. Whether or not to run services on Christmas day and Boxing day is primarily a matter for the commercial judgment of Network Rail and train operators who are best placed to assess the potential costs and revenue. This has, though, to be balanced against the need to carry out major infrastructure upgrades at times when trains are not running.
Railways: Overcrowding
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of levels of overcrowding (a) at peak times, (b) at off-peak times and (c) on Saturdays at each station on the Portsmouth to Cardiff via Salisbury rail route in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [179505]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department for Transport has made no estimate of the levels of crowding at each station on the Portsmouth to Cardiff rail route.
Railways: Tamworth
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the time taken to complete the works on Upper Gungate Bridge in Tamworth constituency by Network Rail. [179768]
Mr. Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.
Iain Coucher
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London NW1 2EE
Tyres: Safety
Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is considering to raise the awareness of driving with under-inflated tyres; and what data she has on numbers of vehicles on the road with under-inflated tyres. [179696]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport launched the ACT ON CO2 communications campaign in March 2007. One element of the campaign is to provide drivers with tips for more fuel efficient ‘smarter’ driving techniques to help reduce CO2 emissions. This includes ensuring that tyres are maintained at the correct pressure.
The Department has used a variety of media to raise awareness of the campaign, including television, radio, online and print media, directing people to the ACT ON CO2 website for more detailed advice.
In October 2007 the Department for Transport endorsed TyreSafe’s ‘Tyre safety month’ to raise awareness of the issue.
The Department does not collect data on the numbers of vehicles on the road with under-inflated tyres, however a survey in 2007 carried out by Michelin found that 80 per cent. of cars were running with incorrect tyre pressures. Further research conducted by TNO for the Dutch Ministry of Environment showed that 50 per cent. of cars were running on under-inflated tyres.
Work and Pensions
Accidents: Farms
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many farm accidents there were in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [176848]
Mrs. McGuire: A total of 1,315 accidents were reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) in 2006-07 by duty holders in the agriculture and hunting industry; including farms. This also includes accidents to workers, the self-employed and members of the public from work activities in the agriculture and hunting sectors.
The total includes fatal and ‘major injuries’ and ‘over three day injury’ accidents as defined in RIDDOR. In simple terms, a major injury is defined as an amputation, fracture (not in fingers/toes), certain dislocations, and injury requiring immediate medical treatment or a stay in hospital for over 24 hours. An over three day injury is one where the injured person was required to be absent from normal (work) duties for more than three whole days (including week ends). It also includes accidents to workers, the self-employed and members of the public from work activities in the agriculture and hunting sectors.
2006-07 is the most recent full year for which data are available. However, because of late reporting to HSE, the data are provisional and will be finalised next year in 2008.
Health and Safety Executive: Bureaucracy
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Health and Safety Executive minimises administrative burdens to business in carrying out its functions. [176988]
Mrs. McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive has, alongside other Departments and regulators, outlined its commitment to reducing administrative burdens by 25 per cent. through the publication of its second simplification plan in November 2007, accessed at:
To date, HSE's plan identifies projects that are designed to do so by 22 per cent. by 2010.
Industrial Health and Safety: Local Authorities
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance the Health and Safety Executive has given to local authorities on (a) outdoor Christmas lights, (b) outdoor lighting in general and (c) working at heights. [176246]
Mrs. McGuire: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not provided any specific guidance to local authorities on (a) outdoor Christmas lights or on (b) outdoor lighting in general.
HSE has provided good straight forward guidance to local authorities on (c) working at heights. An operational circular (No 200/31) for HSE and local authorities on the interpretation and enforcement of the work at height regulations 2005 was published along with an inspection pack for enforcing authorities. These can be accessed through HSE’s website www.hse.gov.uk together with other guidance on work at height.
Jobcentre Plus: Administration
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on average per year on the administration of Jobcentre Plus in the last five years; and what proportion of this has been spent on the delivery of frontline services. [172629]
Mr. Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to reply to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mel Groves, dated 17 January 2008:
The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Executive to reply to your question concerning how much has been spent on average per year on the administration of Jobcentre Plus in the last five years and what proportion of this has been spent on the delivery of frontline services. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Ms Strathie as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. I am replying in her absence as Acting Chief Executive.
The information available is set out in the table below. This contains details of the administration expenditure in Jobcentre Plus over the past four years since 2003/4. Not all costs can be accurately split between customer facing and non customer facing activities. However, the proportion of staff deployed on customer facing activities provides a good approximation of the proportion of costs spent on customer facing activities. This is because most costs are either staff or staff related.
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