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13 July 2009 : Column 103W—continued


Tolls

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what forecast his Department has made of the future trends in traffic congestion following the decision not to introduce national road pricing. [284705]

Mr. Khan: The latest forecasts published in December 2008 suggest that congestion across the English road network as a whole will increase by about 37 per cent. between 2003 and 2025. The modelling underpinning the Department for Transport's central forecasts does not assume the introduction of national road pricing.

Transport Innovation Fund

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what projects his Department plans to fund from the (a) productivity strand and (b) congestion charging strand of the Transport Innovation Fund. [284811]

Mr. Khan: Under the productivity Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) programme, resources have been allocated to:

In addition, the Department for Transport's contributions to the Crossrail project will be supported by the Fund. Funding also remains available through congestion TIF to support packages that tackle local congestion problems by combining investment in public transport and demand management such as road pricing.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has received from the sale of property in each of the last three years. [286025]

Paul Clark: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) received the following amount in respect of property sales in the last three years:


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Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many Vehicle and Operator Services Agency testing centres in (a) England and (b) Wales have closed in each of the last three years. [286026]

Paul Clark: No testing centres were closed in 2007. In 2008 the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) closed one test centre in England which was immediately replaced by a new facility in an improved location. VOSA has closed two English test centres so far in 2009.

VOSA plan to close two further test centres, one in England and one in Wales.

Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many vehicle testing centres in England and Wales operated by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency staff are owned by (a) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and (b) private companies. [286029]

Paul Clark: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) does not hold ownership details of designated premises which are owned by private companies.

There are 68 sites in England and Wales which are either owned by the Department for Transport, or held on leases exceeding 40 years-the latter category numbering 13 sites. Of these, four sites are owned by private companies, the remainder are owned by local authorities.

West Coast Railway Line

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether maintenance work is planned on the West Coast Main Line on the weekend of 28 and 29 August. [285583]

Chris Mole: Maintenance work is planned on the weekend of 28 and 29 August when all lines will be blocked between Watford Junction and Leighton Buzzard between Saturday morning and Monday lunchtime.

I understand that Virgin West Coast is proposing to operate additional services between London and Birmingham via an alternative route.

Prime Minister

Iraq Committee of Inquiry: Finance

Mr. Davey: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how much funding he expects to allocate to the Chilcot Inquiry into Iraq; [285360]

(2) how many staff the Chilcot Inquiry into Iraq will have; [285361]

(3) whether witnesses to the Chilcot Inquiry into Iraq will be permitted legal representation; and if he will make a statement; [285362]

(4) which experts have been appointed to assist the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war; [286444]

(5) if he will request Sir John Chilcot to (a) publish the rules of procedure which his inquiry into the Iraq war will follow, (b) establish a website for the inquiry to communicate with the public and (c) announce a venue for the public hearings to be held during the inquiry; and if he will make a statement; [286445]


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(6) what assessment he has made of the merits of making provision for immunity for witnesses to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war in respect of any prosecution which might arise as a result of their evidence; and if he will make a statement; [286446]

(7) whether provision has been made for legal representation for Ministers and former Ministers giving evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war; [286447]

(8) what discussions he has had with the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war on arrangements for him to give evidence to the inquiry; what such arrangements have been made; and if he will make a statement; [286448]

(9) what guidance he has issued to Government Departments on (a) preparations for and (b) responses to requests for evidence from the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war; and if he will make a statement. [286449]

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Prime Minister (1) pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2009 to Question 283370, on the Chilcot Inquiry, if he will direct the Committee to publish a list of those Privy Council members serving on the Committee who attend each closed session of the inquiry; and if he will make a statement; [285588]

(2) pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2009 to Question 283372, on the Chilcot Inquiry, whether a verbatim record of the public sessions of the inquiry will be published daily; and if he will make a statement; [285589]

(3) pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2009 to Question 283458, on the Chilcot Inquiry, for what reasons Sir John Chilcot plans not to have legal representation for the tribunal; and if he will make a statement; [285590]

(4) pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2009 to Question 283460, on the Chilcot Inquiry, under what powers Sir John Chilcot plans to exclude legal representation for witnesses to the inquiry; and if he will make a statement; [285591]

(5) pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2009 to Question 283459, on the Chilcot Inquiry, whether he provided guidance to the persons invited to serve on the Committee of Inquiry on the likely time commitment involved and the frequency of meetings; and if he will make a statement; [285592]

(6) when there will be an announcement on the form in which witnesses to the Committee of Inquiry on Iraq will give evidence when doing so on a basis equivalent to giving evidence under oath; [285681]

(7) pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2009, Official Report, column 505W, on Iraq Committee of Inquiry, what level of (a) remuneration and (b) expenses will be provided to (i) Sir John Chilcot and (ii) other members of the Committee of Inquiry on Iraq; and if he will make a statement. [285682]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Members to the statement I made to the House on 15 June 2009, to my letters of 17 and 22 June 2009 to the right hon. Sir John Chilcot GCB and his reply to me of 21 June 2009, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. I also refer to the written answer I gave on 6 July 2009, Official Report, column 505W.


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As Chairman, it is for Sir John, in consultation with the Inquiry Committee members, to take decisions on how the inquiry conducts its work, and he will make public his intentions. The Cabinet Office, as the sponsoring Department for the inquiry, is taking forward work on the Government's support to and liaison with the inquiry, in consultation with other relevant Government Departments. We will continue to update the House.

Letter from t he Prime Minister, dated 17 June 2009:

Letter from Sir John Chilcot, dated 21 June 2009:

Letter from the Prime Minister, dated 22 June 2009:


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