Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 14 July 2009
Scotland
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much in (a) rent, (b) service charges and (c) business rates has been paid in respect of each of the premises occupied by his Department in each year since 2005. [284862]
Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office spend on rent, service charges and business rates since 2005 is as follows:
| £ | ||||
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
| (1) Gas, electricity, water and cleaning. | ||||
Leader of the House
Divisions
John Mann: To ask the Leader of the House what information she holds on the number of hon. Members taking part in divisions in the House. [286952]
Barbara Keeley: The number of hon. Members taking part in each division in the House, including deferred divisions, is published in both the Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
East of England Regional Grand Committee
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Leader of the House what factors (a) she and (b) Ministerial colleagues took into account, and what consultations she held, before proposing 8 September 2009 to the House for the first meeting of the East of England Regional Grand Committee; and if she will make a statement. [285863]
Barbara Keeley: The Government proposed that the majority of Regional Grand Committees meet during the summer recess in order to minimise any clash with other business of the House.
The decision to hold the meeting of the East of England Regional Grand Committee on 8 September was approved by the House.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
Tony Baldry: To ask the Leader of the House what the working relationship will be between the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and (a) the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, (b) the Committee on Standards in Public Life and (c) the Committee of Standards and Privileges. [286632]
Barbara Keeley: The Parliamentary Standards Bill which will create and define the role of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is still being considered by Parliament.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Finance
Tony Baldry: To ask the Leader of the House what estimate she has made of the size of the annual budget of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. [285966]
Barbara Keeley: The Parliamentary Standards Bill which will create and define the role of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority is still being considered by Parliament. The budget for the authority therefore has not been finalised. It will be made public as soon as possible.
Legislation: Parliamentary Scrutiny
Tony Baldry: To ask the Leader of the House what provisions she plans to make for time on the Floor of the House for debate on the Government's draft legislative programme for 2009-10. [285656]
Barbara Keeley: The Government hope to make time available on the Floor of the House for a debate on Building Britain's Future, including the Draft Legislative Programme, before the end of the current Session.
My right hon. and learned Friend has also invited the Liaison Committee to consider the Draft Legislative Programme.
Legislation: Public Consultation
Tony Baldry: To ask the Leader of the House with reference to page 113 of the Building Britain's Future document, what the (a) dates and (b) locations are of each regional event in which Ministers will be taking part to highlight the publication of the Government's Draft Legislative Programme and the Building Britain's Future White Paper; which Ministers will participate in each such event; and what estimate she has made of the cost of each such event. [285967]
Barbara Keeley: Since the launch of Building Britain's Future by the Prime Minister on 29 June, regional events have already taken place in Oxfordshire (30 June), Brighton (2 July), Plymouth (6 July), Cambridge (9 July) and Portsmouth (10 July). Participating Ministers included the relevant Regional Ministers, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretaries of State for Justice, Communities and Local Government, and Culture, Media and Sport.
Further events are currently being arranged and they will be detailed on the website at:
The costs of these events are being collated as they happen and they are being kept to a minimum. They will be published once all events have taken place.
Legislatures: EU Countries
John Mann: To ask the Leader of the House what information she holds on the sitting dates of the Parliaments of other EU member states. [286716]
Barbara Keeley: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons does not hold any information on the sitting dates of the Parliaments of other EU member states.
Members: Visits Abroad
John Mann: To ask the Leader of the House how much the House has spent on foreign travel for hon. Members in 2008-09. [286443]
Barbara Keeley: A total of £1.88 million was spent on foreign travel for hon. Members in 2008-09.
House of Commons Commission
Parliament: Security
Tom Brake: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many security officers of each category were working on the Parliamentary estate in each year since 2000. [286437]
Nick Harvey: It is not the policy of the House authorities to answer questions on security matters.
Tony Blair: Allowances
David T.C. Davies: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether records of additional costs allowance claims made by the right hon. Tony Blair when he was Prime Minister have been destroyed; and if he will make a statement. [284608]
Nick Harvey: Original claims made by Tony Blair for additional costs allowance in 2003-04 and previous years have been destroyed in line with the House service's records disposal policy. However, copies of Mr. Blair's additional costs allowance claims in 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04, which have been released under the Freedom of Information Act, have been retained in line with our policy of retaining records which have been the subject of FOI requests.
Transport
Bus Services: Concessions
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 16 June 2009, Official Report, column 170W, on bus services: concessions, if he will seek the consent of the local authorities listed for their written representations to be placed in the Library. [283969]
Mr. Khan: Department for Transport officials are contacting the relevant authorities seeking consent to place their written representations in the Library of the House.
Crossrail Line
Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects Crossrail passenger services to commence. [286059]
Mr. Khan: The first Crossrail services are expected to commence in 2017. Services are expected to be introduced on a phased basis with full operation due in 2018.
Crossrail Line: Finance
Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he plans to review the level of his Department's contribution to the cost of constructing Crossrail. [286057]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport has no current plans to change the level of contribution to the Crossrail funding package. However, the Crossrail project governance arrangements do make provision for the project sponsors (Department for Transport and Transport for London) to review costs and funding at agreed points in the programme.
Driver Information Systems
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will estimate the number of vehicles on the road in the UK which use satellite navigation devices. [285837]
Paul Clark: This information is not currently available. However, a question on the presence of satellite navigation devices in vehicles was added to the National Travel Survey with effect from January 2008. Results from the 2008 National Travel Survey are planned for release later in the year.
Driving: Licensing
Mark Hunter: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on how many occasions the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has withdrawn driving licences after receiving notification that the licence holder was medically unfit to drive from (a) the licence holders and (b) a general practitioner in each year since 1997. [286839]
Paul Clark: The information as requested is not available; however, while the separate figures are not available, the combined figures for the total number of driving licences revoked following a medical notification since 2004 are shown in the following table.
| Number | |
Mark Hunter: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the procedure for withdrawal of driving licences as a result of persons being medically unfit to drive; and if he will make a statement. [286840]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is currently reviewing the system in place in Great Britain for ensuring that only those drivers who are fit to drive are licensed to do so. We are in the process of considering the complex issues raised in this review and intend to consult on how we can improve the service offered to all drivers.
East Coast Railway Line: Franchises
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the statement of 1 July 2009, Official Report, columns 424-27, on National Express East Coast franchise, what recent assessment he has made of the viability of other franchises held by National Express. [284817]
Chris Mole: All rail franchises are formally regularly monitored through the monthly and quarterly franchise performance meetings. Both National Express East Anglia and National Express c2c are monitored in this way and are currently meeting their obligations under their franchise agreements.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to Chart 5 of his Department's publication, Franchise Evaluation Process Charts, May 2008, Selection of Winning Bid, whether the difference between the risk-adjusted net present value of the National Express East Coast bid for the Intercity East Coast Franchise and the risk-adjusted net prevent value of the next best bidder for the same franchise was greater than the materiality threshold, after an assessment of the affordability, compliance and deliverability of the bid had been completed. [285882]
Chris Mole: The Intercity East Coast Franchise was let on 13 August 2007. A January 2007 version of the Franchise Evaluation Process Charts was used in the evaluation process.
The lead bidder's risk adjusted net present value and National Express East Coast risk-adjusted net present value were both within the materiality threshold as stated in the Franchise Evaluation Process Charts. The risk adjusted net present values included risk adjusted elements for specification compliance, deliverability and affordability.
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to chart 4 of his Department's publication, Franchise Evaluation Process Charts, May 2008, categorisation of financial risk, whether his Department ascertained from National Express Group plc whether they were prepared to provide an additional unfettered facility or an on-demand loan to National Express East Coast; and whether the schedule 12 ratio fell below 1.05 per cent. at any time during the franchise. [285883]
Chris Mole: The Intercity East Coast Franchise was let on 13 August 2007. A January 2007 version of the Franchise Evaluation Process Charts was used in the evaluation process.
As part of their submission, National Express Group committed a loan facility of £40 million that was sufficient to maintain the bid in the medium financial risk category and the schedule 12 ratio above 1.05 at any point during the franchise.
Mr. Tom Harris: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) whether the new franchise on the East Coast Main Line will be required to provide rail services to Glasgow; [286055]
(2) if he will require the specification for the new East Coast Main Line franchise in preparation by the Department to maintain services at or above the level of service in the franchise awarded to National Express East Coast. [286056]
Chris Mole: Work has now started to develop proposals for the specification of the replacement franchise. This will include looking at service patterns and destinations. The draft specification will be consulted on with stakeholders, including passenger groups, parliamentarians and the Scottish Executive.
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