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11 Mar 2010 : Column 408W—continued
Departmental Energy
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the estimated (a) amount and (b) cost was of energy used in his Department and its agencies in each year since 1997; what proportion of the energy used was generated from renewable sources in each of those years; and if he will make a statement. [317236]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 and therefore no records exist for the Department prior to that date.
The following tables show the electricity, gas and other fuels used by the Department for Transport and its Agencies since 2004-05.
| Total electricity | |||||
| kWh | |||||
| Business u nit | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
The following table gives the percentage of electricity consumed by the Department that came from renewable resources for each of the last five years.
| Electricity from renewable resources | |||||
| Percentage | |||||
| Business unit | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
The reducing percentage of electricity from renewable resources depicted above is as a result of a change in the main supply contract from Buying Solutions which now has a reduced renewable allowance in order to ensure renewable energy is available in the private sector.
| Total gas | |||||
| kWh | |||||
| Business unit | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
| Total other fuels | |||||
| kWh | |||||
| Business unit | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
Part of the progressive increases shown in the above tables is accounted for by improvements in the standard of data collection.
The following table provides the total annual cost of the energy used in the above tables.
| Total fuels | |||||
| £ | |||||
| Business unit | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
In addition to the above listed energy use the Highways Agency is responsible for the provision of roadside technology and lighting which incurred £23.9 million in energy costs in 2008-09. It is not possible to provide consumption data for this facet of departmental activity.
Departmental Manpower
Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many staff from BAA (a) are seconded to his Department and (b) were so seconded in each of the last five years; what the roles were of such personnel; and if he will make a statement. [320137]
Chris Mole: The Department's records indicate that no staff from BAA have been seconded to the Department for Transport in the last five years.
Departmental Theft
Mr. Watson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many thefts from his Department have been recorded in the last two years. [318998]
Chris Mole:
The figure provided here is for all items recorded as stolen in the past two years and is for the entire Department for Transport including its agencies and shared service centre. The figure provided does not
include thefts where records are not available centrally, or such thefts that were not reported. While some of this information may exist in records held locally within the central Department and the agencies, it could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Central records show that since 10 February 2008, 76 items have been reported stolen. Of these 54 were reported stolen from within departmental premises.
The Department has in place access control measures in accordance with cabinet office guidance, issues staff awareness guidance on its Intranet and provides lockable pedestals and personal lockers. Reminders on security awareness are also disseminated to employees via security liaison officers within the Department teams.
Official Cars: Senior Civil Servants
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the annual cost to the public purse is of the provision by the Government Car and Despatch Agency of official cars with drivers to senior civil servants. [318635]
Paul Clark: The annual cost of providing official cars to senior civil servants by the Government Car and Despatch Agency is £371,379.00.
Roads: Litter
Mr. Soames: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will take steps to bring A-roads under the responsibility of the Highways Agency for the purposes of removal of roadside litter. [320963]
Chris Mole: The Highways Agency retains responsibility for litter collection on the motorways and also on some all purpose trunk roads. A list of these roads has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Highways Agency will continue to collaborate with local authorities to ensure the effective removal of roadside litter.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much of the £6 billion allocated has been spent on completion of schemes funded under the first tranche of the National Roads Programme. [316869]
Chris Mole: The following table gives the amount spent on completing work on the first tranche of schemes out of the up to £6 billion allocated to the National Roads Programme in the January 2009 Roads Announcement.
| Amount allocated from £6 billion national roads programme | |
| £ million | |
Thameslink Railway Line
Patrick Hall: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proportion of the increase in capacity provided by the Thameslink Programme will be attributable to the (a) Key Output 0, (b) Key Output 1 and (c) Key Output 2 phase. [321211]
Chris Mole: Key Output 0 has already delivered an increase of 2,500 seats in each peak period. The Key Output 1 service, from December 2011, will increase the capacity into central London initially by approximately a further 1,000 seats in each peak period.
As the new Key Output 2 trains are progressively brought on to the rail network, capacity will increase in to the central London section of the Thameslink route by up to approximately 30,000 additional seats in each peak period.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund: Nottinghamshire
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund money by Nottinghamshire county council in villages directly affected by quarrying. [321601]
Huw Irranca-Davies: It is for local authorities to decide how to spend money provided via ALSF as a non ring fenced area based grant. These monies are spent according to local priorities.
Nottinghamshire county council uses all money allocated to it on aggregates projects and reports through the DEFRA ALSF database, which can be viewed at:
The database currently records 73 projects funded by Nottinghamshire county council with a total value of nearly £2 million, of which £495,000 is from ALSF grants.
DEFRA is currently undertaking an assessment of the effectiveness of the ALSF, including funds provided to local authorities, in advance of the next spending review.
Compost: Mushrooms
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions his Department has had with Bassetlaw council on the prosecution of mushroom composters in breach of regulations on odour emissions. [321602]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Our officials continue to receive regular updates from Bassetlaw council about the regulation of the mushroom composting plant in their district, most recently from council officers on 3 March. DEFRA officials spoke to the newly-employed consultant to the council on 9 March. The decision on whether or not to prosecute is a matter for the council, having regard to, among other matters, the statutory Regulators' Compliance Code.
Noah's Ark Farm Zoo
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ensure the compliance of Noah's Ark Farm Zoo, North Somerset, with section 7.13 of the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice as a condition of its zoo licence. [321598]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 places responsibility for the inspection and licensing of zoos with local authorities, in this case North Somerset council. The Act provides local authorities with all the powers they require to ensure that zoos operate to high standards consistent with the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.
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