| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
4 Mar 2009 : Column 1600W—continued
Floods
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of flooding caused by (a) overflowing waterways and (b) blocked watercourses, culverts and drains in 2008. [259989]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency collects information on flooding from rivers and the sea. It has not estimated the proportion causes of flooding from these sources in 2008.
Floods: Canvey Island
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the effect on the flood plain of the works planned in the flood risk area of Canvey Island in relation to the Roscommon Way extension; and if he will make a statement. [259639]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency has informed the Highways Authority consultants, Mouchel Parkman that a flood risk assessment (FRA) must be submitted as part of the planning application for the Roscommon Way extension. The FRA must determine the flood risk impact of the road and propose mitigation measures so there is no increased flood risk to the surrounding land. To date the Environment Agency has not been consulted on the flood risk assessment.
Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has for managing the coexistence of genetically-modified (GM) and non-GM crops. [260185]
Huw Irranca-Davies: In 2006 DEFRA published a consultation paper on proposals for managing the coexistence of GM and non-GM crop in England. This is available at
On 8 November 2007, Official Report, column 16WS, we made a written statement confirming that we would await further developments before finalising our coexistence plans. That remains the current position.
National Hazards Team
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the national hazards team to be established. [256544]
Mr. Watson: I have been asked to reply.
The Civil Contingencies Secretariat is recruiting members of the natural hazards team now and expects to establish the team very soon; in the meantime, work is in hand to initiate the project to identify and counter the risks to national infrastructure from natural hazards.
Transport
Aviation: Carbon Emissions
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the required average annual reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per passenger relating to aircraft departing from UK airports between 2005 and 2050 in order to achieve the Government’s target of keeping aviation-derived carbon dioxide emissions in 2050 below the 2005 level. [260131]
Jim Fitzpatrick: In announcing their new target to bring UK aviation carbon dioxide emissions in 2050 below 2005 levels, the Government asked the Committee on Climate Change to advise on the best basis for its development. The Committee is due to report by December 2009. The Committee’s advice will inform the Government’s approach in ensuring achievement of the target.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average annual change in carbon dioxide emissions has been per passenger in relation to aircraft departing from UK airports in each year since 1990. [260132]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table provides estimates of aviation carbon dioxide emissions per passenger for all domestic and international air passengers flying from UK airports in each year from 1990 to 2007.
Based on these data, average CO2 per domestic passenger has decreased from 0.10 tonnes in 1990 to 0.09 tonnes in 2007 and per international passenger from 0.41 tonnes in 1990 to 0.36 tonnes in 2007; this equates to an average annual fall of 1 per cent. in CO2 per passenger.
The average CO2 per passenger figures in the table above have been calculated by dividing total CO2 emissions from departing flights by the number of departing passengers. They do not therefore reflect a weighted average of emissions to account for the relative numbers of flights flying different trip lengths. The level of emissions per passenger will be affected by such factors as load factors, type of aircraft used, fuel efficiency changes, etc.
Aviation: Taxation
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his forecast is for the constrained air passenger demand in 2030, taking into account (a) the implementation of the increases in air passenger Duty announced in the 2008 Pre-Budget Report, (b) expectations of future levels of gross domestic product as set out in the 2008 Pre-Budget Report and (c) the effect of aviation being included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on the basis of current proposals; and what adjustment would be made to this forecast if it is also assumed that a barrel of oil will cost $150 in 2030. [260133]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport's UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts, page 48, reports the forecast of 2030 constrained air passenger demand for: each of the individual scenarios (a), (b), (c); and, a 2030 oil price of $150 per barrel (in 2007 prices). This report is available at:
No assessment has been made of the forecast of 2030 constrained air passenger demand taking into account (a), (b) and (c) together. Therefore, no assessment has been made of the adjustment that would be made to such a forecast if a barrel of oil were to cost $150 (in 2007 prices) in 2030.
BRB (Residuary): Empty Property
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by the British Railways Board (Residuary) Ltd is in 2008-09. [258523]
Mr. Hoon: The estimated empty property business rates payable for the year 2008-09 is approximately £1.2 million.
The properties comprise approximately 121,244 sq m of largely office accommodation originally leased by the then British Railways Board to accommodate their own administrative staff. The properties were transferred to BRB (Residuary) Ltd (BRBR)—a wholly owned subsidiary of the Secretary of State—in 2002. The accommodation is now sub-let to a mixture of civil service Departments, the railway industry and other private sector tenants.
The day to day management objective for the Estate is to keep operating costs to a minimum, including empty rates. This is done by renting out as much space as possible, consistent with value for money.
The e-PIMs database identifies some 30,126 sq m as available to let. However, part of this space is also earmarked for redevelopment and early disposal. For example, the Rail House, Manchester space is subject to a major redevelopment to create over 10,000 sq m of accommodation for the civil service, with the Training and Development Agency moving up from London. The Furlong House and John Peyton House properties (6,200 sq m) are currently in the late stages of sale.
Bus Services: Merseyside
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many low-floor wheelchair- accessible buses are used on services funded by Merseytravel in (a) Merseyside and (b) Sefton (i) in total and (ii) as a proportion of the size of the fleet. [259479]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested as the vehicle specification and funding for supported services is a matter for local authorities.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |