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5 Mar 2009 : Column 1719W—continued
Robert Hamill Inquiry
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press officers the Hamill Inquiry employs; how many press releases the inquiry has published, broken down by month; and what the budget is for the press office in 2009. [257116]
Mr. Woodward: I am advised by the Robert Hamill Inquiry that the inquiry does not employ a press officer. It retains the services of a public relations consultancy, which provides the full range of press office support, including duties such as handling day-to-day media enquiries, out-of-hours media enquiries, monitoring media coverage and providing professional advice to the inquiry staff and panel.
The Hamill Inquiry has issued 14 press releases to date:
| Press notices issued | |
The Hamill Inquiry does not have a budget for a press office. The predicted expenditure on public relations consultancy services in the calendar year 2009 is £49,222.50.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people the Hamill inquiry has employed since its inception, broken down by (a) month and (b) role. [257124]
Mr. Woodward: From November 2004 there have been two civil servants working as secretary and solicitor to the inquiry.
The following staff changes have been made:
In January 2005, a deputy solicitor, assistant solicitor and deputy secretary were recruited.
In February 2005, a finance officer was recruited.
In March 2005, a higher executive officer and administrator were recruited.
In August 2005, the deputy secretary was released.
In November 2005, the deputy solicitor and assistant solicitor were released.
In January 2006, the administrator was released and a deputy solicitor was recruited.
In September 2006, the deputy solicitor was released and an assistant solicitor was recruited.
In January 2007, a finance/administration officer was recruited.
In May 2007, a deputy solicitor was recruited.
In July 2007, the assistant solicitor was released.
In September 2007, the secretary was released and the solicitor took on the secretarial role.
In January 2008, a witness information officer (50 per cent. full-time employment), a personal assistant (75 per cent. full-time employment) were recruited, and the finance officer moved to 50 per cent. full-time employment.
In February 2008, the witness information manager and personal assistant became full-time, and the 50 per cent. FTE finance officer was released.
In April 2008, a senior finance officer was recruited.
In July 2008, a witness team member (50 per cent. FTE) was recruited.
In August 2008, the witness team member became full time.
In November 2008, an assistant to counsel was recruited.
Rosemary Nelson Inquiry
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many press officers the Nelson Inquiry employs; how many press releases the Inquiry has published, broken down by month; and what the budget for the press office is in 2009. [257101]
Mr. Woodward: I am advised by the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry that the Inquiry uses one press officer on an ad-hoc basis. The press officer is available to provide the full range of press office support, including duties such as handling day-to-day media inquiries, out-of-hours media inquiries, and providing professional advice to the Inquiry staff and Panel.
The Inquiry has released 10 press notices to date:
| Press notices issued | |
| Number | |
The Rosemary Nelson Inquiry does not have a budget for a press office. The predicted expenditure for the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry's press officer in the calendar year 2009 is £12,405.
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people the Nelson Inquiry has employed since its inception, broken down by (a) month and (b) role. [257103]
Mr. Woodward: From November 2004, there have been two civil servants working at the Inquiry, acting as solicitor and secretary to the Inquiry. The following staff changes have occurred:
In January 2005, two legal support officers, an evidence manager, a finance officer and an admin support officer were recruited
In February 2005, a deputy secretary was recruited
In March 2005, a deputy solicitor was recruited
In May 2005, a finance manager was recruited
In June 2005, one legal support officer was released and a second finance officer recruited
In September 2005, an admin support officer was released
In October 2005, one finance officer was released
In November 2005, the evidence manager was released and one legal support officer was recruited
In December 2005 one assistant solicitor, one legal support officer and one admin support officer were recruited
In January 2006, one legal support officer was recruited
In April 2006, a second assistant solicitor was recruited
In August 2006, a team secretary was recruited
In January 2007, a bundle manager was recruited
In February 2007, an admin support officer was released
In March 2007, one legal support officer was released
In April 2007, three legal support officers were recruited
In August 2007, an admin support officer was recruited
In September 2007, a finance officer was released
In October 2007, an assistant solicitor and a legal support officer were released
In January 2008, an admin support officer was released and a writer/researcher was recruited
In March 2008, an admin support officer was recruited
In April 2008, one legal support officer was released
In June 2008, a finance officer, one legal support officer and a witness co-ordinator were recruited
In July 2008, one legal support officer and a witness co-ordinator were released
In August 2008, an admin support officer was recruited
In November 2008, a team secretary and a bundle manager were released.
Transport
A14
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the documentation on the environmental impact of the A14 improvement scheme between Ellington and Fern Ditton. [261101]
Paul Clark: The A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton scheme was included in the roads programme announcement “Britain’s Transport Motorways and Major Trunk Roads” on 15 January 2009.
As part of the scheme development work the Highways Agency is producing an Environmental Statement that will set out the environmental impacts of this scheme. This Environmental Statement is due to be published alongside draft Highways Act Orders in the early summer 2009.
Air Travel Trust Fund
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the current balance of the Air Travel Trust Fund is; and what the limit of its overdraft is. [260903]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The balance of the Air Travel Trust Fund at the end of the 2007-08 financial year and its credit facilities are both detailed in the Air Travel Trust 2008 Report and Accounts at:
Audited accounts for 2008-09 are not yet available. However, given the collapse of XL Leisure Group in September 2008 we expect that the fund will be more in deficit at the end of the 2008-09 financial year.
Aviation
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to amend reform to the Chicago Convention to allow the market pricing of airport departure slots. [259390]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The main legal framework for the management of airport slots is set out in the EC slot allocation regulations (the EC regulations). In April 2008 a European Commission Communication clarified the Commission’s view that secondary slot trading, whereby the exchange of slots takes place with monetary and any other consideration, is compatible with the EC regulations.
Any further moves towards market pricing of slots would require the EC regulations to be amended. We understand that the Commission has no current plans to review the EC regulations. In the case of any proposed change, the Government would consult fully with stakeholders.
Aviation: Taxation
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to extend the one pound levy per passenger per flight to all operators of leisure flights originating in the UK; and if he will make it his policy not to increase the amount of the levy. [260906]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are not planning to extend financial protection for consumers to flight-only sales. However, we are exploring other options for the reform of the ATOL scheme, with a view to increasing the clarity and simplicity of ATOL for the consumer and reducing burdens to ATOL companies.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) intends to consult ATOL license holders this spring on a proposed increase to the ATOL Protection Contribution (APC), currently £1 per passenger. All consultation responses will be carefully considered and a final decision will be made by the Secretary of State in due course.
Departmental Planning Permission
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated average time was for planning clearance of major infrastructure projects commissioned by his Department in each year since 1997. [261008]
Paul Clark: The Crossrail project was given outline planning approval by means of legislation that took three years five months to pass through Parliament.
Otherwise, the only major infrastructure projects specifically commissioned by the Department for Transport are schemes undertaken by the Highways Agency on the Strategic Road Network. The information requested on the planning timetable for such schemes is not held centrally and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
Driving: Licensing
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures his Department has in place to remind drivers of the expiry date of 10 year driving licences. [260869]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Photocard licence holders are sent a personalised renewal reminder two months in advance of the date of expiry of their photograph.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency also provide advice on how to check the expiry date on the photocard in a leaflet issued with every new licence.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drivers were stopped and fined in Scotland for driving without a valid licence in each of the last five years. [260870]
Jim Fitzpatrick: This is a devolved matter for the Scottish Executive.
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