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4 Feb 2009 : Column 1192W—continued
measures to support development of the community transport sector and to extend to the private hire vehicle sector the ability to provide taxibuses.
The Department has implemented the community rail policy on many rural routes, particularly branch lines. This policy aims to bring together the efforts of the train operating company, Network Rail (NR), the local authority and also local communities to put local or rural services on a steady footing by working together to promote and support local rail operations, increase patronage and awareness of the service. In each individual case, the route is assessed and designated as a ‘community rail' route, supported by a community rail partnership.
Railways: Freight
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on the environment of the decision to reduce funding for rail freight schemes. [253179]
Paul Clark: The Government are not reducing funding for rail freight. We have recently announced additional funding of £67 million to the Sustainable Distribution Fund. £61 million of this is allocated to the capital budget from which the freight facilities grant allocations are made, and in the last 18 months the Government have announced record levels of rail freight investment to support continued growth including £200 million towards the development of a strategic freight network and over £150 million of funding towards the provision of infrastructure enhancement for freight through the Productivity Transport Innovation Fund.
Railways: Scotland
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) demand for a high-speed rail link between London and Scotland and (b) the effect of such a rail link on levels of demand for domestic flights. [253501]
Paul Clark: A new company, High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd. has been formed to develop the case for high speed services between London and Scotland
As a first stage, the company is expected to bring forward proposals for Britain's second new high speed line, between London and the West Midlands, by the end of the year, and to consider the potential for new lines to serve the North of England and Scotland.
The company will need to assess the likely environmental impact and business case of different routes—including the propensity for modal shift from road, air, and conventional rail.
Roads: Accidents
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries have been attributed to drivers speeding in the last (i) six months, (ii) 12 months and (iii) five years; [253855]
(2) how many deaths of children under 13 years old have been attributed to drivers speeding in the last (a) six months, (b) 12 months and (c) five years; [253856]
(3) how many deaths (a) in total and (b) of children under 13 years old have been attributed to drivers speeding in the last 12 months. [253857]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of (a) killed and (b) seriously injured casualties and (c) deaths of children under 13 years old resulting from reported personal injury road accidents, where either ‘exceeding speed limit’ or ‘travelling too fast for conditions’ was recorded as a contributory factor are given in the table for each of the last three years.
| Number of casualties | ||||
| All casualties | Children under 13 old years | |||
| Killed | Seriously injured | Killed | ||
| Note: Includes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported. | ||||
Information regarding contributory factors is only available from 2005. Data for 2008 will be available from the end of June 2009.
Roads: Tolls
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 1105W, on tolls, whether the local authorities in road pricing demonstration project areas were consulted about the decision to conduct the demonstrations in their areas. [253514]
Paul Clark: Neither the Government nor their contractors have consulted the local authorities whose boundaries will be used as the framework for data collection within this research project, nor is there a requirement to do so. The locations for the trial activity chosen by our contractors will have no bearing on the project results.
Rolling Stock
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding his Department has allocated for new rolling stock in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12. [253312]
Paul Clark: In July 2007, the Department for Transport issued a statement of funds available for implementing its high level output specification (£10 billion) during Control Period 4 (2009-14). This includes provision for procurement of 1,300 additional coaches. The phasing of expenditure by year which depends on the delivery and implementation programme is not yet finally determined.
Tintwistle Hollingworth and Mottram Bypass
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which organisations he has met to discuss the Mottram Tintwistle bypass. [249318]
Paul Clark: The Secretary of State for Transport has so far met Tameside metropolitan borough council to discuss the Mottram-Tintwhistle bypass. In recent years Ministers in the Department for Transport have met a number of stakeholders to discuss the same scheme.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Birds of Prey: Genetics
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what process his Department has put in place for the use of DNA testing to track the movement of peregrine falcons and merlins suspected of having been taken illegally from the wild after they have been sold on to new owners. [253750]
Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27 January 2009, Official Report, column 319W to my hon. Friend the member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Ms Smith).
British Airports Authority
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) meetings and (b) correspondence (i) he, (ii) other Ministers in his Department and (iii) officials in his Department have had with representatives from BAA since 3 October 2008; when each meeting took place; who attended each meeting; and what the subject of each meeting was. [252765]
Huw Irranca-Davies [holding answer 29 January 2009]: DEFRA Ministers have had no meetings with BAA since 3 October 2008.
DEFRA officials attended a meeting on 13 November 2008 with the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee at which representatives of BAA were present, and in which DEFRA officials made a presentation about the public consultation on the guidance for airport operators to produce action plans under the terms of Environmental Noise Regulations 2006.
In relation to correspondence, Richard Norman replied on behalf of BAA to the DEFRA Consultation on the Guidance for Airport Operators to produce action plans under the terms of the Environmental Noise Regulations 2006. There has not been any subsequent correspondence from DEFRA to BAA.
Common Fisheries Policy
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2009, Official Report, column 1587W, on the Common Fisheries Policy, (1) when he plans (a) to complete a detailed impact assessment of the proposals and (b) formally to consult on the proposals; and if will make a statement; [253400]
(2) when he plans to make a formal response to the Council of Ministers and the European Commission on Article 47 of the proposed Council Regulation establishing a community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy; [253429]
(3) with reference to the provisions of Article 47 of the proposed Council Regulation establishing a community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy, how much quota he plans to allocate to recreational sea anglers, broken down by species in each fishing area and expressed as a percentage of overall national quota; and if he will make a statement. [253430]
Huw Irranca-Davies: My officials are currently engaged in discussions with the EU presidency, the Commission and other member states over the detail of the Commission’s proposal for a council regulation establishing a community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy. As part of that discussion, officials will be asking the Commission for further clarification on the intent of article 47. Once we have that clarification, we will be able to better understand the potential impact of article 47 as drafted, including the implications for quota, and can then respond formally to the council. My intention is to consult on the proposal by the end of February. An initial impact assessment will form part of that consultation.
Departmental Catering
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which (a) food and (b) drinks suppliers have been used by his Department in each of the last three years; and how much his Department paid to each such supplier in each of those years. [248386]
Huw Irranca-Davies: From information held centrally, the Department’s expenditure with its major catering services providers in each of the last three years is as follows:
| Supplier | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 April to November |
The ratio of food to beverages expenditure is 55 per cent. to 45 per cent. A detailed analysis of the breakdown of the expenditure on food and beverages across all sites and for all suppliers could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Pay
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy that temporary and permanent employees of his Department employed at the same grade receive the same hourly rate of pay. [248411]
Huw Irranca-Davies: It is the policy of DEFRA and its Executive agencies that both temporary and permanent employees appointed to the same grade are paid within the same pay range. Temporary employees are defined as those employed directly by the department or its agencies and does not include individuals sub-contracted through a third party.
Differences in hourly pay rates between temporary and permanent employees can occur within the same pay range due to a number of business reasons. Permanent members of staff have more opportunity to progress
higher up the pay range due to the likelihood of their being in post for longer and receiving more annual pay awards.
Differences can also occur in hourly pay rates when employees, within the same grade and pay range, are appointed on pay rates above the minimum of the pay range due to the skills and experience that they bring to the position.
Environment Protection: Demolition
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which body is responsible for (a) monitoring the environmental impact of demolition sites and (b) ensuring that correct procedures are followed in the disposal of hazardous waste from building material at such sites. [252652]
Jane Kennedy: The main body responsible for monitoring the environmental impact of demolition sites is the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Some responsibility may also lie with the local authority (e.g. nuisance).
Waste producers have a responsibility under Duty of Care which is monitored by the Environment Agency. All wastes must go to appropriate sites that are permitted by the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency checks compliance at these sites. Much of the waste from demolition is not disposed of but re-used and recycled.
Fisheries: Quotas
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to his Department’s Marine Programme Plan for 2008-09, whether the quota reform task group has been established. [253399]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Access to fisheries is being considered as part of the wider common fisheries policy reform process which is now underway, and due for completion in 2012. The UK governance framework for this negotiation will ensure all stakeholders get the opportunity to feed in their views.
In addition, I have recently announced my intention to establish a more targeted advisory group, including industry and community representatives, to support work to achieve our goal of sustainable access to inshore fisheries. I expect this group to be set up by the spring. This work is closely aligned with the work on CFP reform and long term reform of the wider UK industry.
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the draft proposals of the Quota Management Change Programme (QMCP) produced prior to the withdrawal of the Scottish Executive from the QMCP; and if he will make a statement. [253427]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Discussions on the quota management change programme were incomplete when the Scottish Executive withdrew from the process in June 2007. Moreover, subsequent developments have in any case overtaken certain aspects of these discussions. Therefore, I do not intend to publish documents relating to these internal discussions.
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