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9 Nov 2009 : Column 47W—continued
Review of Defence Airfields
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will implement the recommendations of the Tri-Service Review of Defence Airfields in the United Kingdom. [297901]
Bill Rammell: We have implemented a number of recommendations from the Tri-Service Review of Defence Airfields in the United Kingdom. Other findings from this work have been taken into account when drawing up future plans for the defence estate. These are kept under constant review to ensure that the best use is made of the defence estate for our armed forces.
Territorial Army: Deployment
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army personnel have been mobilised for three or more overseas deployments. [297895]
Bill Rammell: Territorial Army personnel are protected by the Reserve Forces Act 1996 which restricts a reservist from being re-mobilised for a specified period depending upon the operation on which they have served.
Information on the number of personnel mobilised for three or more deployments is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in the Territorial Army are liable to be deployed on service overseas. [297897]
Bill Rammell: As of 1 September 2009 the strength of the Territorial Army was 34,380. Of these approximately 19,000 had completed phase 2 training, were not bound by limitations of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 and were therefore available for mobilisation, subject to their being releasable from their civilian commitments and completing additional pre deployment training. The figure of 19,000 does not include the 1,200 TA personnel currently mobilised in support of operations. The figure of 34,380 includes University Officer Training Corps Cadets who are, of course, non deployable.
Trident
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department plans to (a) participate in the US Navy Conventional Trident Modification programme and (b) equip Trident missiles with conventional warheads. [298617]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The UK has no plans to arm its Trident missiles with conventional warheads or to participate in the United States' Conventional Trident Modification programme.
Unmanned Air Vehicles
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many unmanned aerial vehicles of each type are (a) in service and (b) operationally deployable. [297925]
Mr. Quentin Davies: There are 176 Desert Hawk III unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) in service.
The Hermes 450 UAV capability is procured on a service provision basis. The service specifies the number of flying hours to be provided, not the number of air vehicles. The service is, however, currently supported by 10 air vehicles.
Four Reaper UAVs have been delivered into service, one of which was lost on operations in April 2008. Two others are on order.
I am withholding information on the number of UAVs that are operationally deployable as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.
Transport
A1: Speed Limits
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reason a temporary 50 mph speed limit has been introduced on the A1 at Wyboston at times when no road works are taking place and no lanes are coned off; on what date the temporary speed limit was introduced; what the reason is for the duration of the restriction; for what reasons the limit has been in place for several weeks; and if he will make a statement. [298246]
Chris Mole: This temporary 50 mph speed limit came into effect on the A1 between Wyboston and the junction for Little Paxton on Friday 4 September to coincide with the start of the A1 Eaton Socon Bypass resurfacing scheme. Most of the works are undertaken at night or at weekends and the limit will remain in place until the completion of the works in December 2009.
The speed limit is permanently in force for safety reasons since there can still be incomplete safety fencing, temporary road surfaces, raised iron work and unprotected drainage ditches on both the northbound and southbound carriageways. In addition, the workforce can still be present on the road at any time carrying out routine tasks such as surveying and preparation work for the next carriageway closure.
The Highways Agency has concluded that the speed limits need to be in place for the duration of the works, given these safety reasons and that it would not be practicable to keep removing and reinstating the speed limit to reflect whatever is happening on site at any given time.
A1079: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment his Department has made of the state of the A1079 in East Yorkshire; and what plans he has to upgrade it. [298250]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport has not made any assessment of the state of the A1079 in East Yorkshire and has no plans to upgrade it. As a local authority road this is the responsibility of the East Riding of Yorkshire council.
Airports
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he plans to publish his national policy statement within the framework envisaged by the Planning Act 2008 on airports; what recent representations he has received on this issue; what recent discussions he has had on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [298268]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport plans to publish a draft National Policy Statement on Airports by 2011 with a view to designating it later that year. I have had no recent representations or discussions specifically on this issue.
Airports: Expansion
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what representations he has received from hon. and right hon. Members of each party in favour of (a) a third runway at Heathrow Airport, (b) a second runway at Gatwick Airport, (c) further expansion of Stansted Airport and (d) a new airport in the Thames Estuary. [298409]
Paul Clark: No central records are held on any such representations and to search for the information would involve disproportionate cost.
Bedford Station
Patrick Hall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects Bedford station to have capacity for 12 carriage trains as a result of the Thameslink programme. [299196]
Chris Mole: Network Rail is currently forecasting that work to enable 12 car operation at Bedford station will be complete by late 2011. This will enable a 12 car service to operate on this route from December 2011 as originally planned.
Biofuels: Carbon Emissions
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what his assessment is of the potential contribution of users of high blend biodiesel towards the UK's energy target of a 34 per cent. reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020. [296796]
Mr. Khan:
The Department for Transport is currently engaging with stakeholders, and undertaking wide ranging
economic analysis regarding our 2020 renewable transport energy targets. The potential uptake of different renewable transport fuels, including high blends of biofuel, will be assessed as part of this analysis. This will inform our National Action Plan, due for publication next summer, in which the Department will set out a clear strategy for meeting our targets.
Cycling: Accidents
Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many people aged (a) 16 years and under and (b) over 16 years (i) received serious head injuries and (ii) died as a result of accidents involving bicycles in each year since 2003. [297964]
Paul Clark: The number of people aged (a) 16 years old and under and (b) over 16 years old killed or seriously injured as a result of personal injury road accidents involving bicycles between 2003-08 (the latest year for which figures are available) is given in the table.
| Reported casualties( 1) , killed or seriously injured in personal injury road accidents involving pedal cycles, by age, Great Britain, 2003-08 | ||||||
| Killed | Seriously injured | |||||
| 0-16 | 17 and over | Total( 2) | 0-16 | 17 and over | Total( 2) | |
| (1) Includes pedal cyclists and other casualties. (2) Includes casualties where age was unknown or unspecified. | ||||||
Information on people who received serious head injuries as a result of a cycling accident is not available.
Departmental Advertising
Mr. Scott: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on advertising (a) in the printed press, (b) on television and (c) on radio in each of the last three years. [295206]
Chris Mole: The majority of press, television and radio advertising media investment by the Department for Transport is in support of the THINK! road safety and the Act on CO2 campaigns. Major advertising investment by executive agencies has been by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, in support of Electronic Vehicle Licensing, Sale of Marks and Vehicle Excise Enforcement (Continuous Registration).
The information sought is not held in the format requested by all parts of the Department and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information available is included in the following table:
| £000 | |||
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
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