Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Culture, Media and Sport
Betting Shops: Licensing
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many applications for a betting shop licence have been refused by London local authorities in the latest period for which figures are available. [2953]
John Penrose: Betting premises licences are issued by local licensing authorities under the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act). Under section 165 of the Act, a licensing authority must give notice of a rejected application to the Gambling Commission.
On the basis of the data supplied to the Commission by local authorities five betting premises licence applications have been rejected by London local authorities since 1 September 2007.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department are entitled to the use of (i) a car with a dedicated driver, (ii) a car from the Government car pool and (iii) a taxi ordered through a departmental account. [3209]
John Penrose: The Department does not offer the use of dedicated drivers or pool cars to civil servants or special advisers.
The Department has an account for taxi services which is only used in exceptional circumstances (e.g. when no other suitable method of public transport is available, or heavy baggage has to be transported).
Departmental Pay
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2010, Official Report, column 27W, on departmental manpower, what the salary range is of staff employed at each grade in the private office of each Minister in his Department. [3246]
John Penrose: The following table shows the pay ranges for staff employed in the private office of each Minister in the Department.
| Civil service grades | Pay range |
In addition to base pay, staff in the private office of each Minister are also entitled to an allowance to cover all additional working hours including travel time and weekend working.
The allowances are set out in the following table:
| Civil service grades | Allowance (£) |
Departmental Reviews
Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2010, Official Report, column 137W, on Government departments: reviews, what reviews his Department is undertaking; and what the (a) purpose and (b) timescale of each is. [2580]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The coalition agreement sets out in detail the Government's future plans, including the key reviews it will be undertaking. My Department will bring forward detailed information about these reviews in due course.
Mass Media
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has met representatives of (a) News International, (b) the BBC and (c) ITV since his appointment. [3560]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I have met the chairman of the BBC Trust and both the chairman and CEO of ITV.
I intend to meet the chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, Europe and Asia, and the director-general of the BBC, in the coming weeks.
Museums and Galleries: Finance
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether proposals to build a national film centre are to be funded (a) at the level and (b) to the timetable set out on 16 October 2009. [3551]
Mr Vaizey: As announced on 16 June, because of the severe financial problems inherited by the Government we are unable at present to contribute to the BFI Film Centre. We are however planning fundamentally to reassess how we support film to ensure that the industry is ready for the challenges it will face in the decade to come.
Television: Licensing
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will extend free television licences to all those of pensionable age. [3736]
Mr Vaizey: Free television licences are currently available to those aged 75 and over. There are no current plans to extend this concession.
Scotland
Departmental Public Expenditure
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many of his Department's contracts with its suppliers are under review as a result of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure; and what the monetary value is of all such contracts which are under review; [3646]
(2) to ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in his Department are working on renegotiating contracts for the supply of goods and services to the Department as a result of recently announced reductions in public spending; what savings are expected to accrue to his Department from such renegotiations; how much expenditure his Department will incur on such renegotiations; and when such renegotiations will be completed. [3668]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office mainly uses framework contracts negotiated by the Ministry of Justice and to a lesser extent the Scottish Government thus allowing it to take advantage of economies of scale. We will ensure that the Scotland Office input into contracts renegotiated by others leads to the reduction of costs. All Scotland Office officials responsible for spending are working actively to reduce expenditure.
Transport
Biofuels: EU Action
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of progress in discussions at EU level on the development of mandatory sustainability criteria for biofuels. [2333]
Norman Baker: The European Commission published a Communication document on 10 June 2010. This provides guidance to member states on implementing the biofuels sustainability requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive and the Fuel Quality Directive. Details of some specific aspects of the sustainability criteria will be established through a process of comitology in which the UK will be fully involved.
Bus Services: Concessions
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the provision of free bus passes for people in receipt of disability living allowance. [3781]
Norman Baker: The categories of eligibility for free bus passes are set out in legislation. It is for local authorities to assess whether a person is eligible to receive a bus pass on the grounds of disability and the Department for Transport issues guidance to assist them in doing this. The Department's guidance advises that eligibility for a concessionary travel pass may be considered "automatic" (not requiring further assessment) where a person is in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance provided that the award of the benefit is expected to be for at least 12 months.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct a study into the costs and benefits of removing the tolls plaza at the Dartford Crossing and collecting the charge electronically. [2762]
Mike Penning: The Coalition Government are committed to supporting new transport technologies, and I have asked for further advice from officials on the costs, possible funding sources and benefits of options to improve the performance of the Dartford Crossing, such as the use of newer charging technologies.
Departmental Internet
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the URL is of each website managed by (a) his Department and (b) each non-departmental public body and agency for which his Department is responsible. [2374]
Norman Baker: The URLs for the websites managed by (a) the Department for Transport and (b) non departmental public bodies and agencies are as follows:
| Departments | URL |
Departmental Public Expenditure
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 10 June 2010, Official Report, column 35WS, on transport (local authority major schemes), which major schemes for local authorities in each region which had been granted conditional approval or programme entry by the previous administration are now under review. [2751]
Norman Baker: All the local authority schemes granted conditional approval or programme entry by the previous administration are subject to review as part of the overall spending review. These schemes are as follows, grouped by region. Those marked with an asterisk were awarded conditional approval. All others were awarded programme entry only.
Ipswich: Transport Fit for the 21st Century (Suffolk)
Luton Town Centre Transport Scheme (Luton)
Watford Junction Interchange (Hertfordshire)
Norwich Northern Distributor Road (Norfolk)
Mansfield Public Transport Interchange Scheme (Nottinghamshire)
A43 Corby Link Road (Northamptonshire)
A509 Isham Bypass (Northamptonshire)
Loughborough Town Centre Transport Scheme (Leicestershire)
Nottingham Ring Road (Nottingham)
Hucknall Town Centre Improvement Scheme (Nottinghamshire)
Sunderland Central Route (Sunderland)
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