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24 Jun 2008 : Column 171W—continued
Olympics
Olympic Games 2012: Finance
Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent estimate she has made of the total cost of the 2012 London Olympic Games. [212759]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 23 June 2008]: In March 2007, I announced a funding package of £9.325 billion for the Games. In December I announced that within this, the Olympic Delivery Authority’s budget was £6.090 billion including tax and £500 million of initial contingency and this remains unchanged. The remainder of the package covers security, community and elite sports and other non-ODA costs, together with a prudent contingency.
The recent National Audit Office report examined the progress made in preparing for the Games, finding that
“...there is now a clear basis for tracking costs and work to keep the costs within the agreed £9.325 billion budget is continuing”
(National Audit Office report—Preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Progress Report June 2008).
Transport
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Data Protection
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is permitted to reveal the details which it holds on individual citizens to third parties unrelated to the Department of Transport. [213012]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) may disclose information held on its records where it is lawfully permitted to do so, and where the provisions of the Data Protection Act and Human Rights Act may be met.
A full download of the driver and vehicle databases is provided daily to the National Police Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) for inclusion on the Police National Computer (PNC).
Information held on the driver record (i.e. details of driver entitlement to drive, endorsements or photographic images) is released on a case by case basis to the other Government Departments only when DVLA is satisfied that data protection and legal obligations are met.
Information held on the vehicle register (including vehicle keeper details) may also be disclosed in the same circumstances. In addition, vehicle information may be disclosed under Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002. This regulation permits the release of vehicle information to the police, to local authorities investigating an offence or a decriminalised parking contravention and to anybody who can demonstrate ‘reasonable cause’ for that information. All requests are made on an individual, case by case basis.
The term ‘reasonable cause’ is not defined in the legislation. However, the following list details the circumstances that have previously been considered to be a ‘reasonable cause’.
safety recall by vehicle manufacturer— to enable the manufacturer, or an agent acting on their behalf, to trace keepers to ensure that a vehicle is checked and any modifications are made;
abandoned vehicles—to help trace keepers who abandon their vehicles on private property outside the control of local authorities;
minor hit and run incidents—to help trace keepers of vehicles involved in minor hit and run incidents not warranting a full police investigation. Circumstances could include incidents of personal injury or damage to property;
toll/road charges—information may be released to help trace keepers of vehicles that have failed to pay road/tunnel/bridge charges;
drive-offs—to help trace keepers of vehicles that drive off without paying for goods/services. Circumstances could include incidents of failing to pay for petrol or repairs for a vehicle;
unauthorised parking on private land—to help landlords or their agents to trace keepers who obstruct access, contravene parking restrictions or trespass on private land;
suspected fraud—to establish keepers of vehicles where insurance claims have been received;
investigations into suspected vehicle ‘clocking’—to confirm if a vehicle's recorded mileage is genuine;
enforcement of traffic related offences outside the UK—to UK agents acting on behalf of non-UK authorities to pursue keepers for non payment of penalties for parking and toll road violations incurred outside the UK;
stolen cheque payments—to investigate payments related to a vehicle using stolen cheques;
tracing company assets—to a liquidator appointed by the court to confirm the assets of a company following insolvency;
confirmation of keeper details to ensure seizure of correct vehicle by bailiff/debt collection agents under court order;
person acting as an executor of a deceased's estate to confirm vehicle assets.
Five commercial companies are provided with a bulk download of the vehicle data, excluding vehicle keeper data, to provide vehicle checking services. This information is updated periodically and matched with police and insurance industry data so that those considering purchasing a vehicle may confirm that the vehicle is as presented and is not stolen, scrapped or seriously damaged.
Bus Services: Rural Areas
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of trends in reliability and consistency of local bus services in rural areas where an individual bus company has the monopoly. [212245]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department’s survey of bus punctuality and reliability was not designed to identify trends in areas where an individual bus company has a monopoly and those where this is not the case. But, the latest figures from “Bus Punctuality Statistics GB: 2007” (available in the Libraries of the House) show that performance in rural authority areas has improved since the last survey in 2005.
In 2007, 76 per cent. of non-frequent buses (five buses or less per hour) were on time, compared to 73 per cent. in 2005; and excess waiting time for frequent buses was 1.08 minutes, compared to 1.56 minutes in 2005 (figures for all bus stops).
Departmental Assets
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport over what period her Department depreciates the asset value of its (a) vehicles, (b) computer hardware, (c) bespoke computer software, (d) standard computer software, (e) furniture and (f) telecommunications equipment. [213221]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport’s depreciation policy is clearly disclosed in the Department’s resource accounts which provides the asset lives under categories outlined in the FReM.
Plant and machinery (including vehicles): Three to 25 years
Information technology (computer hardware, bespoke computer software, standard computer software and telecommunications equipment): Three to 10 years
Furniture and fittings: Two to 10 years
Fairtrade Initiative
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008, Official Report, column 1417W, on the Fairtrade initiative, how much her Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this expenditure was on Fair Trade products. [211572]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The requested information is as follows:
| £ | |
The Department for Transport does not centrally record the quantities or value of Fairtrade products purchased or the proportions they constitute of total spend and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, at our main London HQ building all tea and coffee served as part of the hospitality service is sourced from Fairtrade suppliers.
Liverpool Street to Chelmsford Railway Line
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2008, Official Report, columns 791-92W, on the Liverpool Street to Chelmsford railway line, what options for reducing congestion on the Chelmsford to Liverpool Street line she has discussed with National Express; and on what dates such discussions took place. [213190]
Mr. Tom Harris: Discussions with National Express East Anglia (NXEA) began in November 2007 and are envisaged to continue for several months more.
The discussions have encompassed enhancements to capacity on all routes operated by National Express East Anglia into Liverpool Street. Options that have been discussed for the Great Eastern mainline (encompassing Chelmsford to/from Liverpool Street) include lengthening more trains to 12 carriage formation in both the morning and evening peaks, running limited numbers of additional trains and amending stopping patterns and destinations of trains to/from Liverpool Street.
Detailed proposals are being prepared by National Express East Anglia for further discussion with the Department for Transport.
Network Rail: Pay
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has issued guidance to Network Rail on bonuses and salaries to be paid to senior staff. [211404]
Mr. Tom Harris: No. Bonuses and salaries paid to senior staff at Network Rail are a matter for the company’s remuneration committee, not for Ministers.
Ports: Imports
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which harbours from Lymington to Dartford and in the Isle of Wight are subject to open port duty regulations. [213189]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Harbour authorities are each governed by their own statutes but nearly all significant commercial harbour authorities have incorporated section 33 of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847 or an equivalent in their legislation.
That is the section which provides that
“upon payment of the rates made payable by this and the special Act (i.e. the Act which incorporates section 33) and subject to the other provisions thereof, the harbour, dock and pier shall be open to all persons for the shipping and unshipping of goods and the embarking and landing of passengers”.
I understand the hon. Member's question is intended to refer to the River Dart rather than Dartford. The Department does not have a definitive list of those harbour authorities which have incorporated section 33 but we understand that among the harbour authorities in the relevant geographical area that have done so are Cowes, Yarmouth, Lymington, Poole, Weymouth, Portland, Torbay, Exmouth and the Dart.
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many investigations into the deaths of civilians in Afghanistan have been initiated by the Royal Military Police's Special Investigations Branch in the last three years. [212380]
Des Browne [holding answer 19 June 2008]: Since 2005, there have been seven investigations into the deaths of civilians in Afghanistan by the Royal Military Police's Special Investigations Branch. These include the deaths of civilians working with ISAF forces as a result of insurgent attacks and deaths resulting from force protection incidents. These investigations take place when there is a possibility of a death resulting from a either a criminal act, a breach of rules of engagement, or a breach of the law of armed conflict, by UK forces or others, or at the request of commanders.
Armed Forces: Pay
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the letter to The Independent on Sunday of 18 May by Vice-Admiral Peter Wilkinson, if he will place in the Library a copy of the calculations supporting the assertion that a lance corporal deploying to Afghanistan for six months could have a total benefits package worth over £31,000. [207104]
Derek Twigg: The calculation was based around a 12 month period within which a six-month operational tour was undertaken. The figures were calculated by inputting data to the Armed Forces Benefits Calculator (ABC) as follows:
| £ | |
| (1) Maximum 27,599.00. (2) Pro rata. | |
Armed Forces: Schools
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the mobility rate was for each service children’s education (a) primary and (b) secondary school in the last academic year. [177594]
Derek Twigg: In order to combine primary and secondary statistics within a single database, Service Children’s Education (SCE) is currently revising the Data Collection System employed to monitor pupil mobility rates in SCE schools. I shall write to the hon. Member once this information becomes available.
Substantive answer from Derek Twigg to Liam Fox:
I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 14 January 2008, Official Report, column 878W about the mobility rate for schools operated by Service Children's Education (SCE). I apologise for the delay in replying.
The Mobility Index for each SCE School for the academic year 2006-07 was as follows:
| School | Percentage |
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