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9 Nov 2009 : Column 62W—continued
Patrick Hall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the most recent performance statistics are for the Thameslink route of the First Capital Connect franchise. [299207]
Chris Mole: The official industry performance data provided by Network Rail are for First Capital Connect as a whole. This information is not broken down by route or service group and therefore, we are unable to provide the statistics requested.
Patrick Hall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the proposed changes to Blackfriars station under the Thameslink programme. [299208]
Chris Mole: Officials from the Department for Transport are closely monitoring all works covered by the Thameslink Programme, including works at Blackfriars Station.
Work is now well under way at Blackfriars station, with a number of new temporary measures that are designed to aid the flow of passengers during the construction works.
On completion the station will span the River Thames, with a new entrance on the south bank. In addition, the London Underground station will be completely modernised with an enhanced interchange between the National Rail and London Underground stations.
Patrick Hall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Bedford borough council on changes to Bedford station under the Thameslink programme. [299209]
Chris Mole: The only recent meeting that Department for Transport officials have had with representatives of Bedford borough council has been regarding the location of stabling facilities near to Bedford station. This meeting, convened by Network Rail, took place during spring 2009.
Thameslink: Manpower
Patrick Hall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many construction jobs the Thameslink programme has created. [299197]
Chris Mole: Network Rail estimate that there are approximately 1,500 people currently working full-time in construction related jobs on the Thameslink Programme, with approximately a further 500 to 700 working on a part-time basis.
Patrick Hall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many additional train drivers will be employed in order to operate the full Thameslink service on completion of the Thameslink programme. [299198]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport estimates that about an additional 80 drivers will be required to operate the enhanced Thameslink service.
The exact number of additional drivers will be determined by the final train service pattern and the associated detailed operational plan and timetabling work which will be undertaken in due course.
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency: Haverfordwest
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what recent discussions he has had with road hauliers and bus operators on the future of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency goods vehicle testing station in Haverfordwest; [297816]
(2) what recent representations he has received on the future of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency goods vehicle testing station in Haverfordwest. [297817]
Paul Clark: No discussions have taken place with any party regarding the future of Haverfordwest testing station and no representations have been made regarding the future of the Haverfordwest testing station.
Waterloo International Terminal
Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what expenditure on (a) the operation of, (b) the maintenance of, (c) security at and (d) other matters at Waterloo International terminal British Rail Board (Residuary) incurred in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available. [295308]
Chris Mole: It is the Government's intention that the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo is used to provide increased capacity for domestic passengers.
The former Eurostar terminal and platforms are also likely to be central to the wider redevelopment of Waterloo which would be a key project to transforming the station environment and accessibility, while also increasing capacity significantly. The Secretary of State has asked his station advisers to make early recommendations on the scope and options for the long-term development of Waterloo, including the former international terminal.
The costs that BRB (Residuary) Ltd. have incurred in managing the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo in the 12 months to 31 March 2009 are as follows:
| £ | |
| (1)Operations costs quoted are net of income from rent and service charges of £1,255,000. | |
Waterloo Station
Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the economy over (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years of integrating Waterloo International terminal into the domestic terminal. [297403]
Chris Mole: It is the Government's intention that the former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo is used to provide increased capacity for domestic passengers. The Department for Transport is in discussion with Network Rail and Stagecoach South West Trains to establish what would be the most cost-effective way to integrate Waterloo International terminal into the domestic station that maximises benefits for the short, medium and long term.
The former Eurostar terminal and platforms are also likely to be central to the wider redevelopment of Waterloo which would be a key project to transforming the station environment and accessibility, while also increasing capacity significantly. The Secretary of State has asked his station advisors to make early recommendations on the scope and options for the long-term development of Waterloo, including the former international terminal.
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reason the Waterloo International Terminal has been allowed to remain in the ownership of the British Rail (Residuary) Body. [298458]
Chris Mole: The former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo station is a vital strategic asset of the Department for Transport and is being held pending decisions on its future use as an operational rail facility. BRB (Residuary) Ltd. are holding the facility on behalf of the Department of Transport as the company has the relevant expertise in managing such assets.
Treasury
Alcohol: Excise Duties
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the level of fraud in respect of duty on (a) beer, (b) wine, (c) spirits and (d) cider. [297957]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The most recent estimate of the spirits level of fraud was published by HMRC in "Measuring Indirect Tax Gaps-2008" in October 2008 and is available in the House of Commons Library.
The Department's most recent estimate of the level of fraud in beer for 2006-07 gives a range of between £270 million and £490 million in respect of duty. This is a provisional internal estimate that may be subject to revision.
Estimates for the level of fraud in wine and cider are not available.
Bank Services
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent discussions he has had with Lloyds Banking Group on competition in the retail banking sector; and if he will make a statement; [298841]
(2) what recent discussions (a) he, (b) officials of his Department and (c) the Competition Commission have had on competition in the retail banking sector; and if he will make a statement; [298842]
(3) what discussions he has had with Lloyds Banking Group on divestments of its retail banking operations further to those announced on 3 November 2009; and if he will make a statement. [298843]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which indicators of competition in the UK retail banking sector his Department monitors; and if he will make a statement. [298844]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury has a departmental objective to support fair, stable and efficient financial markets. In pursuit of this objective the Department has regard to a range of quantitative and qualitative information including from the Office of Fair Trading, Financial Services Authority and other bodies.
Banks
Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) financial and (b) due diligence checks will be undertaken in relation to any new entrant into the UK financial services market arising from the sale of branches or subsidiaries of RBS or Lloyds Banking Group. [298629]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The package of restructuring and other measures is now subject to agreement by the College of Commissioners. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) will scrutinise any potential purchasers of the divestments and, in doing so, consider the buyer's intention for the business. Any purchaser will have to satisfy the FSA as to the adequacy of its financial resources, the competency and experience of its leadership, the adequacy of its risk and control standards, and the long-term viability and sustainability of the entity as assessed by reference to its business plan.
Banks: Debts
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of indebtedness of (a) RBS, (b) Lloyds Banking Group and (c) Northern Rock is. [298247]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Details of the banks' liabilities can be found in their published accounts, available on their websites at:
Banks: Yorkshire and the Humber
Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the sale of subsidiaries of RBS and Lloyds Banking Group on employment in Doncaster and the Yorkshire region; [298627]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the sale of subsidiaries of RBS and Lloyds Banking Group on retail lending and banking activities in Doncaster and the Yorkshire region. [298628]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government are confident that the proposed package of restructuring for RBS and Lloyds will increase competition throughout the UK retail and SME banking markets benefiting consumers, businesses and the wider economy, including Doncaster and the Yorkshire region.
Child Care Vouchers
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies in Slough constituency claimed tax and national insurance contribution exemption for childcare vouchers in the latest period for which information is available. [297905]
Mr. Timms: Companies are not required to make a tax return reporting the provision of childcare vouchers for use by their employees. As such HM Revenue and Customs does not hold information about which companies are providing childcare vouchers or in which constituency they are based.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of employees who have taken part in a childcare voucher scheme since the introduction of such schemes; and if he will make it his policy to collect data on employer-supported childcare. [298786]
Mr. Timms: HM Revenue and Customs commissioned research in 2006 to collect data on employer supported child care, which was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research and is available at:
This published research estimated that there were 174,000 employees using child care vouchers in late 2005.
Child Trust Fund
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children were eligible for a child trust fund account in each year since the policy was introduced. [298411]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The annual statistical information on child trust fund accounts can be viewed on HM Revenue and Custom's website:
Children: Day Care
Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief on employer-supported childcare has been in each year since the scheme's inception. [298469]
Mr. Timms: The estimated costs of employer supported child care were published in the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs supplementary document alongside the 2008 pre-Budget report, available at
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr08_taxready reckoner_287.pdf.
Council Tax: Valuation
Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 27 February 2009, Official Report, column 1180W, on council tax: parking, how many domestic dwellings in each local authority in England, or the closest local administrative unit used, have been assigned the dwellinghouse coding for parking of (a) G1, (b) G2, (c) G3, (d) G4, (e) G5, (f) G6, (g) G7, (h) G8 and (i) G9 according to records held by the Valuation Office Agency. [298482]
Ian Pearson: The information requested is publicly available in the Freedom of Information Disclosure Log on the VOA's website.
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