Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 13 November 2008
House of Commons Commission
Tap Water: Committee Rooms
9. Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will ensure that tap water is available to hon. Members and others in committee rooms. [235265]
Nick Harvey: Following a decision taken at its meeting on 20 October the Commission has asked the Administration Committee for its reasoned advice on the arrangements for the provision of water in committee rooms. The advice of the Committee is expected in the early new year.
Olympics
Olympic Games 2012: Health
Mike Penning: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what measures in the bid presented to the International Olympic Committee for the London 2012 Games were related to a legacy of health improvement for (a) children and (b) adults following the Games. [233429]
Tessa Jowell: We included, as part of London's bid to host the 2012 games, a commitment to use the games to set new standards for improving health.
We have set ambitious targets for getting 2 million more people active and increasing the number of hours of sport carried out by children and young people by 2012. Our legacy aspirations were set out in detail in the 2012 Legacy Action Plan which we published in June 2008:
Copies of the 2012 Legacy Action Plan were deposited in the House Libraries in June 2008.
Leader of the House
Government Bills: Carry-over
8. David Taylor: To ask the Leader of the House what recent representations she has received on the number of Government Bills introduced in the current parliamentary Session that will be carried over into the next Session; and if she will make a statement. [235264]
Chris Bryant: I have received no formal representations on this particular subject but I have frequent discussions with colleagues in all parts of the House about various aspects of parliamentary procedure.
Two Bills introduced during the current Session are being carried over into the next Session. These are the Political Parties and Elections Bill and the Banking Bill.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Amess: To ask the Leader of the House if she will hold discussions with Ministerial colleagues on their practices in answering written parliamentary questions. [235261]
Chris Bryant: Successive Leaders of the House and Deputy Leaders have made it a priority to oversee the effective operation of the questions process and to ensure that Ministers and Departments are fully aware of their obligations to the House.
That is why I have this week written to members of Cabinet to emphasise the importance of giving substantive answers to written parliamentary questions before the House prorogues.
In addition, I am happy to receive representations from Members on the issue of answering written parliamentary questions.
Equality Bill
Mr. Harper: To ask the Leader of the House what discussions she has had, with reference to her responsibility for the Government’s legislative programme, on which Minister will have lead responsibility in the House for the Equality Bill; and if she will make a statement. [235266]
Ms Harman: I have overall responsibility for the Equality Bill. I have asked my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General to take charge of the Bill as it goes through the House, working with me and my hon. Friend the Deputy Minister for Women and Equality.
The Equality agenda is at the heart of this Government, who are committed to fairness. And that commitment needs a strong ministerial team to lead forward this agenda, including the parliamentary passage of the Equality Bill.
Transport
Air Traffic Control
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the conclusions of the National Air Traffic Service consultation on the Terminal Control North proposal are expected to lead to a further consultation; [235516]
(2) when he expects National Air Traffic Service to publish a timetable for next steps on the Terminal Control North proposal; [235517]
(3) whether the responses received during the National Air Traffic Service consultation on the Terminal Control North proposal are expected to lead to any proposed options that are different from those contained in the consultation. [235518]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The NATS consultation on the Terminal Control North airspace change proposal closed in June 2008. NATS are continuing to analyse responses to their consultation but published an initial feedback report in July and a progress report in October, both of which are available on the NATS website at
NATS have not set a timetable for next steps on the proposal, given that feedback from the consultation is still under way. They are clear that they will take as long as is necessary to give full consideration to the consultation feedback. If their analysis leads to proposed options that are significantly different from those contained in the consultation, NATS will undertake further consultation in accordance with the Airspace Change Process governed by the Civil Aviation Authority.
It would be premature for the Secretary of State to comment on the proposal while it remains subject to the rigours of the independent Airspace Change Process.
Aviation: Compensation
Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish his review of protection of air passengers in the event of airline insolvency; and if he will make a statement. [234036]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are keen to learn the lessons of the failure of XL Leisure Group. We are working on a range of issues with the Civil Aviation Authority and travel industry stakeholders, with a view to improving the experience of passengers in any future airline or tour operator failures. Our top priority is to look at measures which will help people booking holidays over the coming months. This work has several strands. The issues currently being considered include:
The feasibility of using an insolvent airline's aircraft and crew to return passengers home, including looking at the role of the administrator;
All aspects of repatriation including information flow to passengers abroad about their rights and available travel options, given the different types of protection which passengers will have;
How greater information can be provided to passengers to increase awareness of their options for protection against airline or tour operator insolvency when making a booking.
I expect the initial outputs around the end of the year, and will keep the House informed as appropriate.
Aviation: Radar
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of capacity in the certification process for the fitting of Mode S Transponders; [234970]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the availability of Mode S Transponders on the market. [234972]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Proposals for an incremental expansion in the use of Secondary Surveillance Radar Mode Select (Mode S) transponders in UK airspace are a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) who has consulted twice on the subject with the aviation community. The CAA received in excess of 1,900 replies to its latest phase of the consultation and is currently preparing a Response to Consultees document. Until the CAA has concluded this part of the consultation process, it would be premature for the Department to speculate on whether, in what form and to what timetable these proposals might be moved forward.
Departmental Lost Property
Grant Shapps:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) equipment and (b) data was lost
by his Department in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [231430]
Mr. Hoon: The Department for Transport has recorded 27 personal data related incidents in 2007-08 in its resource accounts published in July 2008.
The equipment lost in relation to these incidents recorded was five laptop computers, five Blackberrys, one USB memory device, and one removable hard disk drive.
Gliding
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have had with glider clubs and members of gliding clubs to discuss the Civil Aviation Authority’s proposals on Mode S Transponders; and (i) where and (ii) when each such meeting took place; [234953]
(2) what discussions he has had with (a) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and (b) Sport England on the effects of compulsory fitting of Mode S Transponders on the sport of gliding; [234954]
(3) if he will list the respondents to the Civil Aviation Authority’s consultation on Mode S Transponders; [234997]
(4) what estimate he has made of the number of gliders which would be deemed no longer airworthy under each of the four options for phased implementation of Mode Select Transponder indicated in the recent Civil Aviation Authority consultation; [234998]
(5) when he expects to publish an Order relating to Mode S Transponders. [234999]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Proposals for an incremental expansion in the use of Secondary Surveillance Radar Mode Select (Mode S) transponders in UK airspace are a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) who has consulted twice on the subject with the aviation community. The CAA received in excess of 1900 replies to its latest phase of the consultation and is currently preparing a response to consultees document. Until the CAA has concluded this part of the consultation process, it would be premature for the Department to speculate on whether, in what form and to what timetable these proposals might be moved forward.
Longdendale Bypass
Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Longdendale bypass public inquiry commenced; for how many days the inquiry has sat; and what the estimated cost is of the Longdendale bypass public inquiry process. [235593]
Paul Clark: The A57/A628 Mottram-Tintwistle bypass is also known locally as the Longdendale bypass. The public inquiry commenced 26 June 2007 and sat for 15 days. These dates are listed as follows:
| Date | |
The specific costs for the public inquiry itself are not recorded separately, however since award of contract in August 2004, the scheme has incurred costs of £16,000,000. This includes design costs for the scheme, publication of draft orders, preparation and publication of the environmental statement, traffic modelling, legal costs, Highways Agency staff costs and the public inquiry costs.
M40: Noise
John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been allocated by his Department and the Highways Agency for noise barrier improvements on the M40 at Milton Common. [235368]
Paul Clark: The Highways Agency is continuing to deal with noise mitigation measures on the trunk road and motorway network through a £5 million annual ring-fenced budget. The M40 at Milton Common is not in the current programme and therefore it cannot currently benefit from this funding opportunity. No other funding has been allocated for noise barrier improvements on the M40 at Milton Common.
Parking: Fines
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what requirements exist for private parking companies to advertise their enforcement policy in locations in which they operate; [222577]
(2) what restrictions limit the maximum fine that can be imposed by private parking enforcement companies. [222578]
Paul Clark: The conditions upon which a landowner makes his or her land available for use by the public are generally matters for the landowner, or his or her agent. We are not aware of any specific restrictions or requirements imposed by legislation. The British Parking Association's voluntary code of practice for parking managers covers advertising and enforcement issues.
Taxis: Disabled People
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to consult on the compliance with disability discrimination legislation of hackney carriages outside London. [236099]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport will be publishing a consultation document shortly, which explores this issue in depth.
Transport Obesity
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the merits of issuing national guidelines for the way transport staff deal with bariatric people. [235631]
Paul Clark: There are no specific guidelines relating to bariatric people using transport systems, but we will keep the situation under review. The Public Service Vehicle (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 2002, describe the duties of transport operators and passengers in relation to access to buses and coaches, but does not mention this specifically.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |