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28 Jan 2010 : Column 1000W—continued
Railways: Franchises
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 21 January 2010, Official Report, column 35WS, on rail franchises, whether the consultation with key stakeholders in respect of the proposed rail franchise for InterCity East Coast will include (a) Peterborough City Council, (b) Opportunity Peterborough Urban Regeneration Company, (c) Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce, (d) Peterborough Environment City Trust and (e) Members of Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [314030]
Chris Mole: The InterCity East Coast Franchise consultation document has been published on the Department for Transport's website at:
We welcome responses from all interested parties. Peterborough city council and Members of Parliament with constituencies in the InterCity East Coast franchise area are formal consultees and have been notified that the consultation is taking place, but it is also open to any other interested party to request a copy of the consultation document and respond to the consultation.
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many rail franchises he expects to re-tender in each of the next four years. [314277]
Chris Mole: Three new franchises are expected to start in 2011, two in 2012, one in 2013 and one in 2014.
This assumes that the operators of franchises containing break points meet the continuation review criteria related to performance in the cases where these reviews have not yet taken place.
Railways: Glasgow
Jim Cousins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the timetable is for the public consultation on the future of direct London Kings Cross to Glasgow via Newcastle rail services will be; and when he expects a final decision to be (a) made and (b) implemented. [313698]
Chris Mole: Public consultation on proposals for a new East Coast Main Line timetable, including services between King's Cross and Glasgow via Newcastle, is being carried out by East Coast-the current operator of those services. Consultation has already commenced and will run until the end of February. Details of the new timetable will be finalised during spring and summer 2010 for implementation in May 2011.
Railways: Olympic Games 2012
Bill Etherington:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions he has had with the Olympic Delivery Authority on the likely effects of any removal of the through East Coast Main Line rail service to Glasgow on the level of spectator
access to Olympic football tournament matches at Hampden Park from the North East; and if he will make a statement. [313340]
Chris Mole: As part of a recasting of the East Coast Main Line timetable there is a change to the rail services between Edinburgh and Glasgow currently provided by East Coast. The number of services will remain the same as at present; however, from May 2011 they will be provided by Arriva Cross County.
While Department for Transport Officials are in regular contact with the Olympic Delivery Authority about public transport for the games, there have been no detailed discussions about this specific service.
Transport planning for the games, both in terms of infrastructure and services, is the responsibility of the Olympic Delivery Authority.
They consider both the likely demand for all Olympic events and the travel patterns of spectators. Where they believe additional capacity is required the Olympic Delivery authority are in discussions with the train operating companies to provide enhanced services during the games.
Railways: Public Sector
John Austin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the value for money of operating rail passenger services under public ownership; and if he will make a statement. [313112]
Chris Mole: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 7 January 2010, Official Report, column 501W.
Railways: Tickets
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the financial consequences arising from the introduction of main line station gating. [314280]
Chris Mole: The financial consequences of station gating schemes will be dependent on the level of fare evasion on a particular route, the yield per passenger from that station, and effectiveness of other revenue protection measures.
Gating schemes can also help reduce crime and increase the attractiveness of the service by increasing the visible presence of staff at a station, further increasing revenue.
Recent gating schemes have shown significant revenue increases, even when considering the capital costs of installation and increased staff costs.
Shipping: Yemen
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) how many vessels carrying (a) crude oil or refined products and (b) liquefied gas which berthed at UK ports in each of the last six months had berthed in Yemen en route to the UK; [313034]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the risks to UK security from vessels which have travelled from Yemen berthing at UK ports; and what recent steps he has taken to minimise such risks. [313040]
Paul Clark: According to statistics reported to the Department for Transport no oil or liquid gas was shipped direct to the UK from Yemen in 2008, the latest period for which statistics have been published. The Department does not hold statistics on whether ships carrying such cargo from other sources might have called in the Yemen.
Both transport and other security procedures are in place as appropriate for all vessels berthing at UK ports.
Southend Airport: Carbon Emissions
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the level of greenhouse gas emissions of (a) passenger and (b) cargo aircraft using Southend Airport in the last 12 months; what representations he has received on this matter since January 2009; and if he will make a statement. [313150]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport's latest assessment of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from passenger and freight aircraft using the UK's main airports is published in Annex G of "UK Air Passenger Demand and CO2 Forecasts 2009". This is available at:
However airport-level assessments are only produced for the UK's 31 largest airports and therefore no assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from passenger and freight aircraft using Southend Airport is available. We have not received any representations on the issue since January 2009.
Southend Airport: Noise Pollution
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on aircraft noise at Southend Airport; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement. [313152]
Paul Clark: No recent representations have been received. However in compliance with EU requirements, Southend airport -in common with other major airports-is preparing a noise action plan in consultation with local communities. The development of the action plans provides a key opportunity for local consultation on noise issues.
The airport is currently conducting a public consultation on the draft plan. This consultation closes on 9 February. The airport will then consider consultation responses before submitting a final draft plan to the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for consideration for formal adoption.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what research his Department has commissioned on levels of noise pollution in the area surrounding Southend airport in the last three years. [313153]
Paul Clark: No research relating to noise pollution and Southend airport has been commissioned by the Department for Transport in the last three years.
Speed Limits: Cameras
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reasons the Highways Agency has installed a speed camera on the A46 southbound near the Carholme roundabout at Lincoln; and what criteria were used to determine the location of such a camera. [313421]
Chris Mole: The safety camera was installed in 1998 by Lincolnshire police following a number of accidents at the location. This was prior to the introduction of national guidance about the installation of safety cameras. The camera is now managed by the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership and its operation is reviewed at six monthly intervals.
Transport: Disabled
Mr. Harper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions officials in his Department have had with the Joint Committee on Mobility for Disabled People; and what steps his Department takes in order to meet its disability equality duty through its relationship with the Committee. [314062]
Mr. Khan: Department for Transport officials attended two of the regular meetings in December 2008 and June 2009 arranged by the Joint Committee on Mobility for Disabled People. The Chair of the Committee was also invited to, and attended, a meeting about enforcement of the Blue Badge scheme that was convened by the DFT in March 2009. Members of the Committee have been invited to a seminar on Blue Badge reform in June 2010.
The Department is meeting its disability equality duty by ensuring that disabled people are actively involved in and consulted on aspects of the Blue Badge reform programme. As well as the seminar that is being arranged for June 2010, members from some representative groups, for example, Mobilise, are participating in steering groups. Regular newsletters are issued to all stakeholders and officials continue to meet regularly with other representative groups, for example, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, as well as with the Joint Committee on Mobility for Disable People.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dangerous Dogs: Kent
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dogs have been seized and put down in (a) Ashford constituency and (b) Kent in the last 12 months. [313522]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Figures relating to the numbers of dogs seized and put down are not held centrally. Such information may be held by Kent police and the various local authorities.
Departmental Location
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons his Department decided not to complete a sustainability appraisal prior to relocating offices in 2007-08. [310826]
Dan Norris: The office move in 2007-08 saw DEFRA staff situated in 1a Page Street relocated to our principal offices at Nobel House and Ergon House. This move was facilitated by restructuring of the DEFRA business, including a reduction in staff numbers, and provided an opportunity to reduce property costs.
The Department did not complete a sustainability appraisal because it was satisfied that the reduction in the estate DEFRA occupied, together with better use of the space in the remaining offices would contribute positively over time to DEFRA's overall environmental performance.
DEFRA has now explicitly incorporated the sustainability appraisal into our criteria for location decisions, which also include business and financial considerations.
Departmental Pay
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department received bonus payments in 2008-09; what proportion of the total work force they represented; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if he will make a statement. [300896]
Dan Norris: An element of DEFRA's overall pay award is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance. These payments are used to drive high performance and form part of the pay award for members of staff who demonstrate exceptional performance, for example by exceeding targets set or meeting challenging objectives.
Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls, and have to be re-earned each year against predetermined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill costs. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for performance-related awards for the SCS is based on recommendations from the independent Senior Salaries Review Body.
The following tables provide details of the number of staff who received non-consolidated performance pay, the proportion of the total work force they represented, the total amount paid on non-consolidated performance payments paid and the largest single payment in 2008-09, reflecting performance in the 2007-08 performance year.
Table 1 covers staff at Grade 6 and below in core-DEFRA and those executive agencies covered by the core-Department's terms and conditions, i.e. Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Marine and Fisheries Agency.
Table 1 also includes senior civil servants in core DEFRA and its executive agencies (Animal Health, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Rural Payments Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Central Science Laboratory-which is now part of the Food and Environment Research Agency, which was created on 1 April 2009.)
Tables 2 to 5 cover staff at Grade 6 and below, employed in those executive agencies who operate delegated pay arrangements (Rural Payments Agency, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Central Science Laboratory-which is now part of the Food and Environment Research Agency, which was created on 1 April 2009).
| Table 1: core DEFRA | |
| Number, percentage, amount ( £ ) | |
|
Number of staff who received non-consolidated performance pay | |
| Table 2: Rural Payments Agency | |
| Number, percentage, amount ( £ ) | |
|
Number of staff who received non-consolidated performance pay | |
| Table 3: Veterinary Laboratories Agency | |
| Number, percentage, amount ( £ ) | |
|
Number of staff who received non-consolidated performance pay | |
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