Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 8 April 2010
Transport
Bus Services
Sir John Butterfill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he plans to regulate audio-visual information systems on local bus services, as set out in the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000. [325887]
Mr. Khan: Widespread implementation of audio visual systems presents some significant technological challenges. The Department for Transport is conducting research to assess whether these challenges can be overcome before it considers whether to make amendments to the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 to include a requirement for such systems to be fitted to buses. The research has brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including Guide Dogs, Royal National Institute of Blind People and Royal National Institute for Deaf People. The project is scheduled to report in summer 2010.
Bus Services: Concessions
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Transport for London, (b) local authorities in England and (c) other transport authorities on the time taken to process (i) applications for and (ii) renewals of concessionary travel passes to those aged over 60 years; and if he will make a statement. [325872]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport is not responsible for issuing passes and so does not hold information on the time taken for Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs) to process applications and renewals of concessionary travel passes. The Department has not had any recent discussions with Transport for London, local authorities in England or other TCAs on this issue.
TCAs are responsible for issuing concessionary travel passes to their residents. The maximum life of a pass is five years from the date of issue but there is no recommended minimum life. TCAs are therefore free to set the expiry dates, and renewal arrangements.
All English concessionary travel passes must now conform to a standard design and be ITSO smartcards. London was given until 1 April 2010 to meet these requirements which is why they have recently renewed all of the Freedom Passes in the capital.
The Department would expect TCAs to process routine applications for concessionary travel passes within a reasonable time frame although it is understandable that a bulk reissue of all passes may take slightly longer.
Railways: Construction
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport through which parliamentary constituencies (a) in the present Parliament and (b) in the next Parliament the Government's preferred route for High Speed Two will pass. [325255]
Chris Mole [holding answer 30 March 2010]: HS2 Ltd.'s preferred route option passes through the following parliamentary constituencies in force in the present Parliament:
Aylesbury
Banbury
Beaconsfield
Birmingham Erdington
Birmingham Hodge Hill
Birmingham Ladywood
Brent East
Brent South
Buckingham
Chesham and Amersham
Daventry
Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush
Ealing North
Holborn and St. Pancras
Hampstead and Highgate
Lichfield
Meriden
North Warwickshire
Regents Park and Kensington North
Rugby and Kenilworth
Ruislip Northwood
South West Hertfordshire
Stratford-upon-Avon
Sutton Coldfield
Tamworth
Warwick and Leamington.
HS2 Ltd.'s preferred route option passes through the following parliamentary constituencies that will come into force in the next Parliament:
Aylesbury
Banbury
Beaconsfield
Birmingham, Erdington
Birmingham, Hodge Hill
Birmingham, Ladywood
Brent North
Buckingham
Chesham and Amersham
Ealing Central and Acton
Ealing North
Hammersmith
Hampstead and Kilburn
Holborn and St. Pancras
Kenilworth and Southam
Kensington
Lichfield
Meriden
North Warwickshire
Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
South Northamptonshire
South West Hertfordshire
Sutton Coldfield
Tamworth
Uxbridge and South Ruislip
Westminster North.
Roads
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to establish (a) standards and (b) targets to encourage the adoption of unadopted alleyways; and if he will make a statement. [325874]
Mr. Khan: Under the Highways Act 1980, local highway authorities may adopt public rights of way that they are not currently responsible for maintaining. Such rights of way may include some types of alleyway or other local access routes. It is for individual authorities to decide whether they wish to adopt an alleyway or not, taking account of local priorities and standards.
The Government have no plans to set national standards or targets for the adoption of unadopted alleyways or other rights of way, as we believe this remains a matter for local consideration and decision.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport under what legislation a local authority can adopt an alleyway; and if he will make a statement. [325876]
Mr. Khan: Under the Highways Act 1980, local highway authorities may adopt public rights of way that they are not currently responsible for maintaining. Such rights of way may include some types of alleyway or other local access routes. It is for individual authorities to decide whether they wish to adopt an alleyway or not, taking account of local priorities and standards.
Women and Equality
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Robert Neill: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will place in the Library a copy of the handbook for staff of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. [323182]
Maria Eagle: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is independent and manages its own affairs; the following is based on information it has provided.
The Commission is in the later stages of developing a full range of human resource policies. The policy is undergoing final consultation with the trade unions and is expected to be completed at the end of April 2010. Copies will be placed in the Library once finalised.
Justice
Departmental Pay
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been paid in reimbursable expenses to special advisers in his Department since April 2008. [325101]
Mr. Straw: Since 1 April 2008 a total of £1,102.65 has been claimed in reimbursable expenses by the Department's special advisers.
Magistrates: Age
Jacqui Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons upper age limits for magistrates are in place. [325672]
Mr. Wills: Magistrates retire on reaching the age of 70, as this is the statutory retirement age for judicial office holders.
It is vital the magistrates reflect the diverse communities they serve. Over 80 per cent. of magistrates are over 50 and the average age is 57. The contribution of magistrates of all ages is invaluable. However, increasing the retirement age for magistrates would take them out of line with other judicial offices and hinder work to redress the age imbalance by reducing the number of available vacancies.
Jacqui Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has made a recent assessment of the merits of (a) appointing magistrates over the age of 65 and (b) employing magistrates over the age of 70 years. [325673]
Mr. Wills: No recent assessment has been made on the merits of appointing magistrates over the age of 65 or employing magistrates over the age of 70 and there are no plans to undertake one for the reasons set out below. Magistrates retire on reaching the age of 70 as this is the statutory retirement age for judicial office holders.
Magistrates sit in a part-time capacity and generally have little previous experience of the court system, so will require training, mentoring and the opportunity to gain experience. The Lord Chancellor expects that part-time magistrates will be able to sit for at least five years before retirement. He will, therefore, not normally appoint anyone over the age of 65.
It is vital the magistrates reflect the diverse communities they serve. Over 80 per cent. of magistrates are over 50 and the average age is 57. The contribution of magistrates of all ages is invaluable. However, increasing the retirement age of magistrates, as set out in statute under Section 13 of the Courts Act 2003, would take them out of line with other judicial offices and hinder work to redress the age imbalance by reducing the number of available vacancies.
Prisoners: Ethnic Groups
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners there were of each ethnicity in each (a) prison and (b) young offender institution in England and Wales as at 1 March 2010. [325842]
Maria Eagle: The following table shows the numbers of prisoners by each ethnicity in all prison establishments including young offender institutions, which are indicated, in England and Wales as at 30 June 2009 (latest published figures).
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
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