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5 Feb 2008 : Column 1020W—continued
Rolling Stock
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average weight of a two-car train in the EU-15 was in the latest year for which figures are available. [184192]
Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 4 February 2008]: The Department for Transport does not hold this information.
Rolling Stock: Safety
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the Health and Safety Executive’s report on the safety of type 142 carriages; what assessment she has made of the suitability of type 142 stock for use on the Manchester-Southport line; what reports she has received of (a) safety and (b) overcrowding issues on this service; and if she will make a statement. [184316]
Mr. Tom Harris: Following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive report into the train accident at Winsford South Junction on 23 June 1999, the rail industry has taken forward a programme to make improvements to the crashworthiness of class 142 vehicles. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), the current regulator for rail safety, has been monitoring industry progress on implementing this programme.
Train operating companies are responsible for deploying appropriate rolling stock to meet the capacity demands for the train services they operate. The ORR has received six complaints about safety and crowding issues on Northern Rail services generally since April 2007.
Severn Bridge: Tolls
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2007, Official Report, column 605W, on Severn Bridge: tolls, what defined amount is required to be raised by the Severn Bridge toll; and how much has been collected in tolls to date. [184330]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The defined amount, known as the Required Cumulative Real Revenue, is £995,830,000. On the same basis (July 1989 prices), the Accumulative Real Revenue of tolls collected up until 1 July 2007 is £587,000,000.
The final 2007 toll revenue figure is not yet available.
Communities and Local Government
Community Relations: Islam
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Islamic scholars are employed by her Department to advise on the Prevent strand of Project Contest. [183319]
Mr. Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not employ any Islamic scholars to advise on the Prevent strand of Contest.
Council Tax: Parking
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what data the Valuation Office Agency collects for council tax valuation and revaluation purposes on (a) off-street parking space, (b) the number of parking spaces and (c) the amount of garage space associated residential property. [178686]
John Healey: The Valuation Office Agency collects data on the number of (a) off-street parking spaces, (b) parking spaces and (c) garage spaces which form part of a dwelling for the purpose of its responsibilities in maintaining the current council tax lists.
Council Tax: Payments
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities in England do not allow council taxpayers to pay their council tax in cash over post office counters. [184093]
John Healey: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Accountancy
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what accounts were submitted for audit by her Department in the last period for which figures are available; and if she will place a copy of each submission in the Library. [184335]
Mr. Dhanda: The audited resource accounts for 2006-07 (the last period available) were laid in the House of Commons on 12 July 2007, and published by the Stationery Office on that date (HC 836). They were published on the Communities website on 16 August 2007.
Departmental Expert Panels
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who the members are of her Department's external expert panels. [182568]
Mr. Dhanda: In response to the Department's capability review, the Department set up three expert panels to provide analytical advice in the following policy areas:
(i) housing markets and planning;
(ii) neighbourhoods, cities and regions; and
(iii) housing and communities (social and affordable housing).
Membership of the respective panels is shown in the following tables Al, A2 and A3 respectively.
| Table Al: Membership of the Housing Markets and Planning Analysis (HMPA) Expert Panel | ||
| Panel | Organisation | Notes |
| Table A2: Membership of the Neighbourhoods, Cities and Regions (NCRA) Expert Panel | ||
| Panel | Organisation | Notes |
| Table A3: Membership of the Housing and Communities (HCA) Expert Panel | ||
| Panel | Organisation | Notes |
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