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29 Apr 2009 : Column 1304W—continued
Recycling: Schools
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department gives local authorities on the provision of services to collect recyclates from schools. [271659]
Jane Kennedy: The DEFRA funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is providing a training programme which aims to equip local authority waste and recycling officers with the knowledge and skills to implement effective recycling schemes in schools.
WRAP also provides resources for schools, including web-based tools to help schools to put recycling into practice, and targeted teaching resources for primary and secondary schools.
Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009, Official Report, column 334W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, whether his Department plans to invite further bids for pilots for charges for the collection of household waste; and whether post-deadline bids will be accepted. [270143]
Jane Kennedy: We are not actively inviting bids. However the provisions which were requested by local authorities and the Local Government Association remain on the statute book. A local authority is therefore at liberty to submit a proposal which would receive due consideration.
Water Charges
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud of 19 January 2009, Official Report, columns 1015-6W, on water charges, what conclusions he has drawn from his most recent assessment of the effect on youth and community groups of changes to surface water charges; and what steps he plans to take in respect of the affordability of surface water charges by such groups. [268613]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Ministers have repeatedly said that something is very wrong if customers such as community sports clubs and properties owned by scout associations are facing massive increases in bills as a result of the switch to site area charging for surface water drainage by some water companies.
Under the Water Industry Act 1991 it is for companies to propose schemes of charges and for Ofwat, as the independent economic regulator for the water industry, to approve them. Government guidance issued to Ofwat in 2000 states that surface water drainage charges for non-household customers should be set in a way that is sensitive to the actual use of the service by different types of premises and that the phasing in of any large, sudden changes in charges should be considered.
United Utilities, where the problems have mostly arisen, has now announced that it will set its surface water drainage charges for 2009-10 at 2007-08 levels for faith buildings, community amateur sports clubs (and similar sports clubs) and properties owned by scout and guide associations and will develop a long term solution for 2010-11 and beyond. The Government will continue to monitor this issue and engage further with Ofwat as necessary.
Welsh Language
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of establishing the Welsh-language function for each (a) customer call centre and (b) helplines operated by his Department and its agencies that operate in Welsh. [261987]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The DEFRA helpline does not offer currently a dedicated Welsh speaking helpline but the service provider employs two Welsh speakers who could be transferred if needed by DEFRA particularly during a contingency or emergency. Additionally, the helpline provider has access to the Language Line service who provide simultaneous language translators, including for Welsh.
The Rural Payments Agency operate a Welsh speaking helpline for the British Cattle Movement Service, at an annual cost of £129,866 inclusive of overtime, ERNIC and superannuation.
Wildlife: Electromagnetic Fields
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has (a) commissioned, (b) evaluated and (c) undertaken on the effects on (i) the health of wildlife, (ii) wildlife habitats and (iii) wildlife diversity of electro-magnetic fields in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [270783]
Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA has not commissioned any research on the effects of electromagnetic fields on the health of wildlife, wildlife habitats or wildlife diversity in the last 10 years. We commission biodiversity research based on priority need, which is currently focused on delivery of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and increasing our understanding of the factors that can affect biodiversity, such as climate change.
Transport
A303: Stonehenge
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on dualling the A303 in the area of Stonehenge; and if he will make a statement. [270889]
Paul Clark: In December 2007 the Government announced the cancellation of the A303 Stonehenge improvement scheme due to a significant escalation in scheme costs. Following our decision to give regions a greater role in determining priorities for major transport schemes with indicative allocations, it is for the south west region to advise on the relative priority of improvements to the A303 alongside other proposed schemes in the region.
The region's recent advice on its funding priorities recommends an allocation for localised improvements of the A303, to be identified through a study to be undertaken by the Highways Agency, but this does not include dualling the A303 in the area of Stonehenge or elsewhere on the route.
We expect to be in a position to respond to the advice from the region by the summer.
Driving Tests: Derby
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether motorcycle rider tests will be conducted at test centres in Derby following the implementation of the new test modules. [271655]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Motorcycle test candidates in Derby are served by the new multi-purpose test centre at Burton on Trent for both modules of the new practical motorcycle test.
Burton on Trent is 15 miles from Derby city centre. The journey (avoiding motorways) should take less than 30 minutes.
Electric Vehicles: Safety
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned, (b) undertaken and (c) evaluated on sound-emitting electronic vehicles and the safety of blind pedestrians. [270770]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has not commissioned, undertaken, or evaluated any research on this subject. Officials did discuss whether quiet vehicles posed a safety risk to blind pedestrians with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Imperial College in late 2007. It was agreed that there was a lack of data on whether there is such a safety risk in practice. These organisations are considering conducting research on this issue, but we have not as yet seen any results from such work.
Railway Stations: Waste Disposal
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued by his Department to the railway station operators on the provision of refuse bins at railway stations. [271285]
Paul Clark:
The National Railways Security Programme (NRSP), issued by the Department for Transport to Network Rail and train operating companies, includes requirements and guidance in relation to litter bins at stations. This is because litter bins have been used by
terrorists in the past to conceal explosive devices. Due to the sensitive nature of security measures, I am unable to make the guidance public.
Railways: Finance
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much compensation was paid to each train operating company in each case of (a) variations made to franchises and (b) delays caused by problems with infrastructure or upgrades in each year since 1997. [270884]
Paul Clark: Compensation paid to franchise holders in respect of variations made to those franchises is commercially sensitive and cannot be published. Details of the total subsidy paid to train operating companies are published annually in National Rail Trends which is available in the Library of the House.
Compensation payable in respect of infrastructure upgrades is a matter between Network Rail and the relevant train operating company rather than the Department for Transport.
Railways: Repairs and Maintenance
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department are working on the restoration of double tracks to railway lines; and how much funding has been allocated for such work in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [271304]
Paul Clark: At least 10 officials in the Department for Transport are working with Network Rail on strategies and major projects that contain proposals for restoration of double tracks.
The detailed funding allocation by track doubling project by year is a matter for Network Rail. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s chief executive at the following address for a response to his question:
Iain Coucher
Chief Executive
Network Rail
Kings Place
90 York Way
London N1 9AG
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of adding a second track to the railway line between (a) Swindon and Kemble, (b) Yeovil and Exeter and (c) Oxford and Worcester. [271305]
Paul Clark: No estimate has been made by the Department for Transport. These railway lines are owned by Network Rail who are responsible for identifying work that may be required and estimating the cost of doing so.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what major improvements have been made to the UK rail network in the last 12 months. [271475]
Paul Clark: A number of improvements have been made, including:
The £8.9 billion West Coast Main Line upgrade was completed and the new timetable introduced on time in December 2008. This has delivered reduced journey times, an increase in capacity by allowing 45 per cent. more long distance trains out of London Euston, and a full seven-day week fast service to the West Midlands and the North West.
The £5.5 billion Thameslink Programme has already delivered platform extensions at Luton Airport Parkway and Mill Hill stations. Work is now underway at Blackfriars and Farringdon stations to allow 12 car trains to operate at these stations and to improve passenger circulation. Some new trains are now in passenger services on FCC routes, and the number of trains running through central London on the Thameslink route increased from eight to up to 15 per hour in peak hours. There are new journey opportunities for passengers travelling, for example between Bromley South and St. Pancras International with the introduction of additional trains on FCC routes and some Southeastern routes.
In December 2008, on behalf of the Department, Network Rail (NR) completed the scheme to provide fully operational Automatic Ticket Gates (ATGs) on the main concourse and in the Peak Hour Subway (PHS) at Waterloo Mainline station—one of the busiest stations in London. The scheme was one of the largest of its type in Europe with 152 ATGs plus an additional 13 Wide Aisle gates being installed on the main concourse and in the PHS. The scheme is an essential element in the roll-out of Oyster and ITSO ticketing systems across the South Western network and across London.
The Access for All Programme is continuing to install obstacle free, accessible routes into priority stations. 145 stations have been identified for enhancement through to 2015. 20 sites were completed in the last 12 months:
| Station Name | Completion date |
This makes 24 completed stations in total, and Network Rail expect to complete a further 20 during 2009-10. In addition, the Access for All Small Schemes Programme has awarded funding of £6.5 million towards a variety of access improvements with a total value of around £16.7 million at over 200 stations during the 2008-09 financial year.
The Government's Transport Improvement Fund is delivering improvements to freight routes to and from UK ports. In December 2008, the Olive Mount Chord in Liverpool was reinstated while works to Hampstead Heath tunnel have enabled container trains to divert during Olympic construction works on the North London Line.
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