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11 Mar 2009 : Column 447W

Departmental Press

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each year since 1997. [261254]

Mr. Hoon: The Department for Transport was formed in May 2002. Total payments coded as expenditure for magazines, newspapers and other publications in the Department's accounting systems since this date are recorded as follows:

 £

2002-03

155,654

2003-04

84,884

2004-05

68,447

2005-06

553,881

2006-07

277,389

2007-08

302,267

2008-09 to date

217,144


Magazines, newspapers and other publications are purchased to support the day to day activity of the Department. Professional journals and other trade publications are purchased to support professional activities and specialist activities such as civil engineering and contract work, the work of the Department's legal services, marine engineering activity. The ‘other publications’ category includes a wide range of types and may include one-off purchases.

It should be noted that the totals for 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 show the position for the Vehicle Certification Agency and Maritime and Coastguard Agency only. The remainder of the Department could provide this information only at disproportionate cost for these years.

The totals from 2005-06 onwards include all but the data from the Government Car and Despatch Agency and the Driving Standards Agency who could provide this information only at disproportionate cost.

From 2006-07 the central Department introduced a revised coding structure. Prior to this it was not possible to separate expenditure on books and purchases of other official material. The total for 2005-06 therefore includes this expenditure.

The figure provided by the Highways Agency for 2005-06 also includes publications purchased and recorded against specific road projects.

Heathrow Airport

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure any disruption to travellers at Heathrow resulting from the visit to London by those attending the G20 summit is minimised. [262526]

Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 10 March 2009]: The Department for Transport has been working with the organisers of the summit from the outset to ensure that the arrangements for the event involve minimum disruption to airline operators and passengers.


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Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold discussions with (a) the National Air Traffic Service, (b) the Civil Aviation Authority and (c) BAA plc on minimising disruption to airline operators and passengers at Heathrow airport during the forthcoming G20 summit. [262501]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has been working with the organisers of the summit from the outset to ensure that the arrangements for the event involve minimum disruption to airline operators and passengers.

Heathrow Airport: Road Traffic

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009, Official Report, column 2131W, on Heathrow airport: road traffic, what the daily traffic composition was for the main road corridors to Heathrow in 2008. [261626]

Jim Fitzpatrick: Road traffic data for 2008 are not yet available. They will be released as part of the “Road Traffic Statistics 2008: Traffic, Speeds and Congestion” publication in summer 2009.

Road traffic data for specific roads will be published at:

Humber Bridge Board

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the most recent occasion was on which he or his predecessor met or spoke to a representative of the Humber Bridge Board; and if he will make a statement. [262257]

Paul Clark: The then Minister of State for Transport, my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) met with the Humber Bridge Board early in 2007 to discuss revision of interest rates on the debt owed to the Secretary of State. There have been no further discussions with the board.

Humber Bridge: Tolls

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the merits of introducing a local residents’ scheme for the Humber Bridge Toll; and if he will make a statement. [262258]

Paul Clark: This is a matter for the Humber Bridge Board.

Railways: Fares

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his latest estimate is of the cost to the public purse of bringing UK rail commuter fares into line with those in other European countries; on what basis he arrived at that estimate; and if he will make a statement. [261885]

Paul Clark [holding answer 9 March 2009]: The latest estimate was outlined at the Transport Committee by my noble Friend, the Minister of State (Lord Adonis) on 25 February. We believe lowering fares to the average levels on the continent, as estimated by Passenger Focus,
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would cost a minimum of £500 million. The Government have no data independent of Passenger Focus on which to undertake modelling.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Mr. Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many highways authorities have introduced a street works licence scheme under the new Roads and Street Works Act 1991, as amended by the Traffic Management Act 2004. [262364]

Paul Clark [holding answer 10 March 2009]: Neither the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, nor the Traffic Management Act 2004, allows for a street works licence scheme. However part 3 of the Traffic Management Act 2004, which came into force in April 2008, allows local authorities in England, with the consent of the Secretary of State, to operate a permit scheme, under which anyone carrying out works in the public highway must seek permission for those works before proceeding.

No authorities have yet been authorised to operate a permit scheme. Transport for London and 13 London boroughs submitted a London Common Permit scheme for the Department for Transport’s approval in July 2008. The Department sought clarification about the proposed scheme last September and we await further information.

In January 2009 Kent county council submitted a separate application to run a permit scheme. This is being considered by officials.

Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the energy consumption, exclusive of passenger capacity, of (a) an Intercity 225 train and (b) the proposed Intercity Express programme train. [261554]

Paul Clark [holding answer 6 March 2009]: Exclusive of passenger capacity, and when compared to an Intercity 225 train, the Super Express train will consume just over 2 per cent. less energy on a typical journey between London and Edinburgh.

The energy consumption rate increases as the train's speed increases. Super Express trains will offer faster journeys than today's Intercity 225 trains. The new trains could be made more energy efficient if they were to operate as slowly as the current trains, although this would result in a less competitive rail service.

Transport: Crimes of Violence

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many victims of violence were recorded by British Transport police in each force area in each year since 1997. [262329]

Paul Clark: This information is not held by the Department for Transport, but by the British Transport police who can be contacted at:

E-mail:


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Justice

Graveyards: Safety

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the implementation by (a) churches and (b) local authorities of his Department's guidelines on health and safety in graveyards. [261741]

Bridget Prentice: We are now discussing with relevant representative organisations how best to obtain early feedback on our recently-published guidelines on managing the safety of memorials. We are also planning to undertake a fuller assessment, probably through a questionnaire, a year after publication.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review the accuracy of summaries produced of his Department's guidelines on graveyard health and safety over the last three months. [261840]

Bridget Prentice: We will address any questions or concerns about the application or interpretation of the guidance on memorial safety as they come to our attention.

Legal Aid: Housing

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice at which courts in England and Wales free legal representation funded by the Government at repossession hearings is available; and how many legal advisers have been allocated to each court. [261930]

Mr. Malik: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) funds free legal representation at repossession hearings via the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme. The scheme is available at 112 courts. There follows a full list of the courts where the scheme is available.

The LSC does not record the number of advisers per court and there is no specific number of advisers required. The LSC does require that legal aid providers ensure there is at least one adviser in court when the possession lists are heard and that all sessions are covered.


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