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12 May 2009 : Column 641W—continued
The Government also fund several helplines which local authorities can contact for practical and technical advice on monitoring, modelling, emission inventories and air quality action plan measures. All local authorities are invited each year to bid for air quality grant aid, and applications are considered and awards made towards the cost of air quality projects in local areas.
Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to announce which areas have been chosen for the bovine tuberculosis wildlife vaccination pilot. [273462]
Jane Kennedy: We have been working in liaison with the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England, epidemiologists and other key industry and stakeholder groups to identify criteria for selecting the areas where the bovine TB badger vaccine deployment project will take place. We anticipate the areas will be announced shortly.
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the veterinary profession
and its representatives on (a) the Government's strategy for dealing with bovine tuberculosis and (b) means of communicating that strategy through the work of veterinary surgeons. [273463]
Jane Kennedy: The Bovine TB Eradication Group includes representatives from DEFRA's Food and Farming Group, Animal Health, the farming industry and the veterinary profession.
In addition, the TB Advisory Group, which played a key role in obtaining stakeholder buy-in to TB control policies, also included representatives from the veterinary profession. The group disbanded on 8 April after publishing its final report to Ministers.
As part of planning for the badger vaccine deployment project, we have recently met with representatives of key veterinary organisations to discuss both their input into the project and the best ways of communicating to and through local vets.
Also on a recent visit to the south-west I met local animal health vets and affected farmers to learn of the growing TB problem and the challenge of tackling the disease.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to tackle testing fatigue among (a) farmers and (b) veterinary surgeons in relation to testing for bovine tuberculosis. [273464]
Jane Kennedy: I am aware from discussions with representatives from the farming industry and veterinary profession, and the recent report from our TB Advisory Group, that testing fatigue can become an issue in areas with high numbers of TB breakdowns. We are considering the report in detail.
The TB Eradication Group for England (TBEG) was set up last year to consider, and advise on, the TB control framework, including the cattle testing programme. Part of their remit is to look at options for helping farmers in high incidence areas maintain viable businesses, which may include options for managing the impact of TB controls on the farming industry and the veterinary profession.
Regular skin testing of cattle herds is an important part of our TB programme, both for tackling disease in cattle and ensuring the risk to public health remains low. Regular TB testing is also legally required if herd owners wish to retain their officially tuberculosis free (OTF) status and their ability to trade.
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been prosecuted under sections 1(3), 3(1) and 3(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each year since 2006; and if he will make a statement. [272367]
Jane Kennedy: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under sections 1(3), 3(1) and 3(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in England and Wales for the years 2006-07 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
These data are on the principal offence basis. Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
Tourism: Rural Areas
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009, Official Report, column 381W, on tourism: rural areas, how much of the £35 million was devolved to each of the regional development agencies. [274944]
Huw Irranca-Davies: Each regional development agency (RDA) has been provided with an indicative budget for the entire programming period (2007-13) to enable them to deliver the full range of regional priorities. The figure of £35 million is an indicative allocation to the programme measure that provides for support for rural tourism. It is for each RDA to determine the actual level of spend and this will be influenced by a range of factors, including the number and quality of projects coming forward and changes to regional priorities agreed during the programming period.
Trade Unions
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009, Official Report, column 439W, on trade unions, which trade unions his Department’s agencies recognise. [271930]
Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department’s agencies recognise PCS, Prospect and FDA trade unions, all of which are members of the Council of Civil Service Unions (CCSU).
Water Charges
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Ofwat undertook an impact assessment of the implementation of its proposals for water rate structures on community groups and churches. [271952]
Huw Irranca-Davies: In 2003 Ofwat reported the outcome of its review of company charging polices for surface water drainage. It concluded that site area charging was the fairest method of charging non-households for surface water drainage.
Ofwat said at the time that companies which are thinking about implementing site area charging would need to consider the impact on individual customers’ bills and the potential negative effects associated with charging for sensitive properties. Ofwat also highlighted that companies would need to take into account the scale and speed of any bill changes to see if they were reasonable and acceptable to customers.
It is for the companies to undertake the appropriate impact assessments of any changes in their charging policies on their customers.
Transport
Departmental Air Conditioning
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 since the Regulations entered into force. [272134]
Mr. Hoon: The Department for Transport has spent a total of £32,925.20 on carrying out inspections of air conditioning systems within departmental buildings in accordance with the Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations (2007/991).
Departmental Air Travel
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East of 6 October 2008, Official Report, column 477W, on departmental carbon emissions, what the figures for (a) domestic, (b) short-haul and (c) long-haul air travel for 2007-08 are. [271934]
Mr. Hoon: The Department for Transport's contribution to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund for 2007-08 was based on the following mileage: (a) domestic 694,279 miles, (b) short-haul 821,645 miles, and (c) long-haul 1,940,261 miles.
Departmental Capital Expenditure
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009, Official Report, column 1413W, on departmental capital expenditure, what progress his Department has made in allocating the £700 million capital spending advanced to 2009-10. [274185]
Mr. Hoon: Pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2009, Official Report, column 1413W, on capital expenditure, the £700 million advanced to 2009-10 has been allocated as follows: £400 million to the Highways Agency for strategic network road improvements, including dualling the A46 Newark to Widmerpool and £300 million to the Rail group for train procurement.
Departmental Consultants
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies spent on consultancy contracts in 2008-09. [272586]
Mr. Hoon: The Department for Transport spent £57.3 million on consultancy in 2008-09 and its Executive Agencies spent £20.9 million on consultancy in 2008-09.
Departmental ICT
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to reduce the level of carbon dioxide emissions arising from the operation of ICT systems in his Department under the Greening Government ICT Strategy. [273562]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 April 2009, Official Report, columns 797-98W.
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people work in his Department’s Communications Directorate. [274719]
Mr. Hoon: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 8 May 2009, Official Report, column 486W.
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department issues on whether members of staff may claim for travel in first class carriages on trains if there are no seats in standard class. [268543]
Mr. Hoon: Rules relating to travel claims are set out in the Civil Service Management Code.
Departmental Training
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the practice of holding departmental away days outside the Department's buildings. [268535]
Mr. Hoon: The Department for Transport and its agencies hold staff away days as part of its commitment to staff and team development. The Head of the business area arranging the event will determine whether to hold the away day outside the Department's buildings. The underlying assumption is that the Department's own building will be used where appropriate.
Driving: Licensing
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) provisional and (b) full driving licences were issued in each year since 1998. [273836]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of provisional licences issued in each financial year since 1998-99 are:
| Financial year | Provisional licences issued |
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not record the volumes of how many drivers exchanged their provisional licence for a full licence. However, we do record the number of drivers who have passed their test, as follows:
| Financial year | Number |
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