| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
27 July 2010 : Column 990W—continued
Departmental Sponsorship
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on (a) sponsorship of and (b) attendance at awards ceremonies in each year since 1997. [11183]
John Penrose: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department and to obtain it, would incur disproportionate cost.
Departmental Taxis
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on taxis in each year since 1997. [11324]
John Penrose: The total expenditure incurred by the Department on taxis since 1998-99, the earliest year for which information is readily available, is set out in the table:
| Financial year | Amount £ |
Some expenditure on taxis and black cabs included under the general travel and subsistence account cannot be separately identified except at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Training
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his (a) Department and (b) its agency and non-departmental public bodies spent on training for its employees in each year since 1997. [7640]
John Penrose: The Department has spent the following on training in the last five financial years:
| Financial year | Spend on training (£) |
We do not hold figures for preceding years.
Information on the amount spent by the DCMS agency and arm's length bodies is held by them and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Flags
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department takes to ensure that the Union flag is not displayed upside down on official occasions. [11504]
John Penrose: The DCMS has issued guidance on the correct way to fly the Union flag, which is available at the following website:
Gaming Machines
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the effects on the adult gaming centre industry of the introduction of a return to a £2 stake for B3 machines and a proportionate increase in Category B3 numbers; [11533]
(2) whether his Department plans to introduce (a) a return of the £2 stake to B3 gaming machines and (b) a proportionate increase in numbers of B3 machines. [11726]
John Penrose: On 23 June 2010, I met representatives of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association (BACTA) to discuss a range of issues affecting the gaming machine industry. This included the case for increasing the stake for category B3 machines to £2 and the proportion of category B3 machines in each establishment as a means of helping the adult gaming centre industry to remain competitive. I am now considering these matters in the context of the public protection objectives of the Gambling Act 2005.
I hope to make an announcement shortly.
Libraries
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on public libraries in each year since 1997. [8800]
Mr Vaizey: The Department provides grant in aid funding to the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), which they use to develop and support museum, library and archive services. The Department does not retain figures from 1997, but the total funding allocated to the MLA from 2002-03, excluding funding for Renaissance but including libraries, is outlined in the table:
| Grant in aid (£ million)( 1) | |
| (1) Excluding funding for the Renaissance museum project. | |
National Lottery: Blaenau Gwent
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Big Lottery funding was awarded to the community and voluntary sector in Blaenau Gwent constituency in 2009-10. [11828]
John Penrose: In 2009-10, the Big Lottery Fund made grants totalling £345,066 to the Blaenau Gwent constituency. Of this, 98.38% went to voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and 1.62% to non-VCS organisations.
National Lottery: Grants
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has carried out an equality impact assessment on his proposed changes to the distribution of lottery funds. [11930]
John Penrose: The consultation we are running until 21 August, which is on the Departments' website at:
includes a draft impact assessment and specifically asks whether consultees believe, or can provide evidence of, any adverse or positive impacts on particular groups from the change. We are not currently aware of any evidence that suggests there will be adverse impacts but the consultation responses will inform a full equality impact assessment.
National Lottery: Public Participation
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what account he is taking of the views of those who purchase lottery tickets for the National Lottery in his review of the allocation of proceeds from the National Lottery. [11915]
John Penrose: Lottery distributors are already working together to identify best practice and to develop options for increasing public involvement in their decisions about lottery funding.
A public consultation on our proposed changes to Lottery shares is on the Department's website at:
I hope that lottery players, along with all of those who are interested in the lottery, will send their views to
mailto:lottery@culture.gsi.gov.uk
Transport
Air Traffic Systems
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds for benchmarking purposes on the privately-owned air traffic systems of other EU member states. [11742]
Mrs Villiers:
The Department for Transport receives the reports produced by the independent Performance
Review Commission of Eurocontrol, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation, which benchmarks the performance of all en-route air traffic service providers across Europe.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific safety criteria and other conditions any organisation seeking to purchase the Government's share of National Air Traffic Services will be required to meet. [11743]
Mrs Villiers: No decision on the sale of NATS has been made, and the specific requirements for any potential purchaser of the Government's shareholding of NATS have yet to be determined. Should a sale of some or all of the Government's shareholding proceed, safety oversight measures would continue to apply in the same way they do currently.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the potential safety implications of the sale of the Government's share of National Air Traffic Services to a private company. [11744]
Mrs Villiers: The Government's overriding priority is that safety should not be compromised and there is no intention to amend the existing robust statutory safety oversight arrangements for NATS.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms will be in place to ensure the continued safety of (a) those working in the aviation industry and (b) passengers in circumstances in which the Government sells its share in National Air Traffic Services to a private company. [11745]
Mrs Villiers: If a decision is made by the Government to sell some or all of its shareholding of NATS, the existing statutory arrangements for the safety oversight of NATS would remain as they are at present.
Association of Train Operating Companies
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will designate National Rail as a public company. [8552]
Mrs Villiers: The Government have a commitment to reform Network Rail and to make it more accountable to its customers and passengers. The Value for Money Study, chaired by Sir Roy McNulty, is currently examining the structures and incentives of the rail industry to see how best to enable this. No decisions on specific measures have yet been made.
Aviation
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent assessment he has made of the case for additional airport capacity in England; [4973]
(2) what his policy is on airport expansion outside the South East; [4987]
(3) whether he intends to publish a national policy statement on aviation. [5065]
Mrs Villiers: Individual proposals for airport expansion need to be judged on their merits, taking into account relevant environmental considerations. We have made clear, however, that we oppose new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, on the grounds that the adverse impacts of such development would be unacceptable.
On the matter of a national policy statement, the Government will issue a more detailed statement later in the summer.
Aviation: Exhaust Emissions
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage agreement at global level on reducing aviation emissions. [8972]
Mrs Villiers: The UK actively participates in all discussions on climate change and aviation in international forums, and particularly in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Charge and in the aviation-specific UN body, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
While progress in these forums has been slow, there has been some success. For example in October 2009 agreement was reached in the ICAO on a global, annual average fuel efficiency improvement of 2% per annum until 2020 and on an aspirational global fuel efficiency improvement of 2% per annum to 2050. In addition, earlier this year ICAO states agreed that the organisation should work on developing a CO2 standard for new aircraft.
The steps that have been taken to date by the ICAO do not go far enough in delivering a sustainable global aviation industry and the UK will continue to push for an ambitious, global approach to reducing emissions from international aviation.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change in its report, 'Meeting the UK aviation target-options for reducing emissions to 2050', December 2009. [11991]
Mrs Villiers: We are committed to reducing emissions from transport and ensuring the right framework is in place for aviation to contribute to the UK's climate stabilisation goals. Making clear our opposition to new runways at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick is an important element to that. The Committee on Climate Change's December report was an important contribution to the evidence base, and we will consider the detail of policy and announce our conclusions on the best way to achieve our aims in due course.
Biofuels
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department (1) plans to publish a National Action Plan for meeting EU biofuel targets; [11311]
(2) plans to bring forward mechanisms in support for advanced or second generation biofuels and electric-powered vehicles to meet the requirements of EU Directive 98/70/EC; [11312]
(3) will make a decision on bringing forward legislation on amending the Renewable Transport Fuel
Obligation scheme to meet the requirements of EU Directive 98/70/EC on environmental quality standards for fuel. [11313]
Norman Baker: We are currently working towards implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC (RED), which requires member states to source 10% transport energy from renewables by 2020. This target was agreed in 2009 and is part of a wider requirement to source 15% of overall energy from renewables by 2020.
Our assessment of how the RED targets could be met was published in the UK's National Renewable Action Plan in June 2010. This is available on the European Commission's Renewable Energy Transparency Platform and on the Department for Energy and Climate Change's website.
Detailed options for achieving our renewable energy in transport targets are being considered, and we will be engaging with stakeholders in due course.
On electric vehicles, the coalition agreement stated that we will mandate a national re-charging network for plug-in vehicles. We are considering a range of options for delivering this and are also reviewing future support for the purchase of low carbon vehicles. We will make a statement in due course on this.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's policy is on the provision of subsidies for production of second generation biofuels. [11317]
Norman Baker: We are currently reviewing options for implementing the EU Renewable Energy Directive and to date have not provided specific subsidies for the production of second generation biofuels.
Bus Services: Concessions
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to provide free concessionary bus travel for injured veterans. [2821]
Norman Baker [holding answer 17 June 2010]: Many seriously injured service personnel and veterans are already eligible for the England-wide free concessionary bus travel scheme by virtue of age or disability. Furthermore, the Department for Transport's guidance on eligibility for disabled people sets out that eligibility for a concessionary bus pass may be considered automatic for injured veterans who are in receipt of war pensioner's mobility supplement, where eligibility is linked to the ability to walk. We are currently considering how to extend the scheme to include automatic eligibility for veterans in receipt of similar awards under the new armed forces compensation scheme.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for eligibility rules on concessionary bus travel in England to 2015-16. [10382]
Norman Baker [holding answer 22 July 2010]: The coalition Government have not announced any plans to change the existing eligibility rules on concessionary bus travel in England to 2015-16.
The Government are considering a possible expansion to the scheme to include automatic eligibility for seriously injured veterans and service personnel who are in receipt of a guaranteed income payment under the new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and who fall within the categories of disability set out in the Transport Act 2000.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to change the age of eligibility for concessionary bus travel in the fiscal period 2011-12 to 2015-16; and if he will make a statement. [10389]
Norman Baker [holding answer 22 July 2010]: The coalition Government have not announced any plans to change the age of eligibility for concessionary bus travel in England to 2015-16, beyond those announced by the previous Administration.
Bus Services: Wigan
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which bus services in Wigan constituency received funding from the Bus Service Operators Grant in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [11977]
Norman Baker: All bus operators operating local bus services in Wigan are eligible to claim Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), provided they meet the eligibility criteria set out in regulations. This includes, in the Wigan area:
Arriva
Finch Coaches
First Manchester
Olympia Travel UK Ltd
South Lancs Travel
Stagecoach
Wigan and District Community Transport
Wigan Buses Ltd
Wigan council.
We do not, however, hold information on BSOG payments by individual bus services.
Carbon Dioxide
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on levels of carbon dioxide emissions from (a) biomass-to-liquid biofuels, (b) cellulosic ethanol biofuels and (c) biofuels from algae, straw, grass and wood. [11390]
Norman Baker: To date, no fuels derived from such sources have been supplied for commercial use in the UK. Therefore, no detailed assessment has yet been made of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with these production pathways. We remain interested in emerging biofuels that have the potential to reduce green house gas emissions.
Crossrail Line and London Underground
Mr Lammy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) discussions, (b) meetings and (c) exchanges of correspondence he has had with the Mayor of London on (i) Crossrail and (ii) funding for
the London Underground network since his appointment. [10929]
Mrs Villiers: Ministers and officials regularly discuss and correspond with the Mayor of London and Transport for London officials on a variety of London transport issues, including Crossrail and funding for the London Underground network.
Cycling: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to promote cycling in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Coventry. [11264]
Norman Baker: The Government made a clear commitment to support cycling in the coalition agreement. In 2010-11, we are funding two cycle towns in the West Midlands (Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent) as well as providing £888,000 to support cycle training for children across the West Midlands, including Coventry. This is in addition to funding provided to West Midlands authorities through the local transport plan process. Financial support for cycling in future years will be considered as part of the spending review.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of ceasing to levy the tolls at the Dartford-Thurrock crossing between 2100 on Friday (a) 10 September and 0500 on Monday 13 September and (b) 1 October and 0500 on Monday 4 October 2010 for the purpose of managing additional traffic arising from the closure of the Blackwall tunnel. [11236]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency are liaising closely with Transport for London to ensure effective arrangements are in place for managing additional traffic movements over the Dartford Crossing due to closure of the Blackwall tunnel.
Any solution will need to take account of the potential benefits and impacts, and the need to maintain the safe operation of the Crossing for the millions of its users.
Departmental Billing
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the time taken by contractors employed by it to pay the invoices of their sub-contractors under prompt payment arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9243]
Norman Baker: In general, the Department for Transport does not hold information on the time taken by contractors it employs to pay sub-contractors. Although the Highways Agency, for instance, has undertaken some limited sampling of supplier performance in relation to the prompt payment of sub-contractors, it does not have any full, routine, verified system for monitoring supplier performance in this area.
We are taking the following steps to promote the prompt payment of sub-contractors:
Our guidance to contract managers is being updated to include a requirement to monitor payment performance as part of the contract management process;
The current version of the Department's General Conditions of Contract contains a clause requiring its contractors, where they enter into a sub-contract for the purpose of performing their obligations under the contract with the Department, to ensure that a provision is included in the sub-contract to pay the sub-contractor within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice; and
Our supplier portal is being updated to give sub-contractors information about how to report non-compliance to the Office of Government Commerce's supplier feedback process.
We remain committed to paying invoices within five working days and encouraging our suppliers to ensure that the benefits are felt by all in the supply chain.
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of payments made by his Department to (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available. [11164]
Norman Baker: The 10-day target has been replaced with a five-day target, and information is recorded on this basis.
The percentage of invoices paid within five days of receipt for the Department and its agencies for the past three months is as follows:
| Percentage paid within five working days | |||
| April 2010 | May 2010 | June 2010 | |
The departmental commercial terms generally specify that payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice.
The percentage of invoices paid within 30 days of receipt for the Department and its agencies for the past three months is as follows:
| Percentage paid within 30 working days | |||
| April 2010 | May 2010 | June 2010 | |
We are unable to provide information separately for small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers.
Departmental Buildings
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many separate buildings his Department occupies in (a) London and (b) elsewhere in the UK. [6893]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport occupies the following headquarter buildings in (a) London and (b) elsewhere in the UK:
(a) Great Minster House, 55 Victoria Street, Southside, 123 Buckingham Palace Road and 46 Ponton Road.
(b) The Axis Building (Nottingham), Morriston (Swansea), Spring Place (Southampton), Eastgate Office Centre and Berkeley House (Bristol).
Data on the wider buildings occupied in part by the Department for Transport are not centrally recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Electronic Equipment
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hours of training on using (a) laptop computers (b) mobile telephones and (c) Blackberrys was provided to staff of his Department and its agencies in the last three financial years; and at what cost such training was provided. [11900]
Norman Baker: The information is as follows:
(a) ICT training in the central Department is split into two parts:
(i) General staff training in the use of equipment for either desktop or laptop computers is provided as part of the initial induction. These data exclude software training.
| Hours | Cost (£) | |
(ii) Separate training is also provided for staff working remotely on laptops. Formalised external training began in October 2009.
| Hours | Cost (£) | |
(b) No formal training is provided for staff for use of official mobile telephones.
(c) Information on staff training in the use of BlackBerrys is as follows:
| Hours | Cost (£) | |
None of the Department's seven executive agencies either provide formal training or separately record the cost of this.
Departmental Equal Opportunities
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent (a) in total and (b) on staff costs on promoting equality and diversity in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many people are employed by his Department for this purpose. [5922]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has spent the following amounts:
| (a) Total (including staff costs) in promoting diversity, and fulfilling statutory obligations, in each of the last three financial years | |
| £ | |
| Note: With estimated spend of £500,000 planned in 2010-11. | |
| (b) Staff costs on promoting equality and diversity and faith in each of the last three financial years | |
| £ | |
Departmental Official Hospitality
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on hospitality in each year since 1997. [7443]
Norman Baker: Expenditure by the Department for Transport on hospitality in the four most recent years was as follows:
| £ | |
Due to a major restructuring of accounting records, expenditure in years prior to 2006-07 cannot be provided on a comparable basis without incurring disproportionate costs.
A recent departmental exercise to identify discretionary spending savings in 2010-11 showed that we are planning to spend £458,000-£159,000 less than previously estimated.
The Department adheres to the principles on the management of Public Money as set out in HM Treasury's Handbook on Regularity and Propriety and has strict
rules and cost limits on such expenditure, which in the main consists of refreshments at meetings with external stakeholders.
Departmental Official Photographs
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on official photographs of Ministers since the formation of the present administration. [6435]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has spent £550 plus VAT on official ministerial photographs since the formation of the new Government. The Secretary of State has subsequently directed that future ministerial photographs will be taken by staff of the Department.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the programme areas to be affected by planned reductions in his Department's budget. [11031]
Mrs Villiers: Department for Transport Ministers and officials communicate regularly with Network Rail. As part of the Government's in-year efficiency savings announced on 24 May, Network Rail has agreed to pay the Department £100 million during 2010-11. The cancellation of the programme of station enhancements announced in November 2009 will save £50 million. The detail of where further savings are to be made will be decided by Network Rail.
Departmental Regulations
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of his Department's regulations are under review; and if he will make a statement. [7140]
Norman Baker: In the Budget the Government announced plans for reducing the regulatory burdens on business, including the introduction of a one-in-one- out system for new regulations and a fundamental review of all regulation inherited from the previous Government scheduled for introduction over the coming year. These regulations will not be implemented until they have been reviewed and re-agreed by the Reducing Regulation Cabinet Committee.
As part of a wider review of employment law, the Department will also be reviewing laws within relevant policy areas to "ensure they maximise flexibility for both parties while protecting fairness and providing the competitive environment required for enterprise to thrive".
The Your Freedom website launched by the Deputy Prime Minister on 1 July 2010, will also give members of the public the opportunity to suggest existing regulations for removal, in order to reduce the burden on business.
Departmental Security
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) his Department and its predecessors (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on security in each year since 1997. [7373]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 and includes the Central Department, seven Executive Agencies and a Shared Service Centre. The Department also sponsors a number of non- departmental public bodies.
The figures provided (in the table below) for the costs of protective security for this Department, its Agencies and sponsored bodies are from those records available centrally.
They do not include costs where records are not available centrally or where such records no longer exist. Central records are not to be taken as representative of total costs as there are varying accounting procedures in place across the Department and its Agencies for elements of spend attributed to security costs.
| 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-5 | 2005-6 | 2006-7 | 2007-8 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
Departmental Travel
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of its expenditure on travel undertaken in an official capacity by each Minister in his Department in (a) May 2010 and (b) June 2010. [8232]
Norman Baker: As set out in the Ministerial Code each Department will publish, at least quarterly, details of all travel overseas by Ministers. Information for the first quarter will be published as soon as it is ready. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 508W.
Driving: Licensing
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many UK driving licences were reported stolen in each county in each year since 1997. [11045]
Mike Penning: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not record the number of driving licences reported as stolen, but it does record the number of duplicate driving licences issued due to the licence being reported as lost/stolen/defaced. The following table provides figures for each financial year from 1997. Figures are not available by county and are for GB as a whole.
East Coast Main Line: Travel
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he made of the monetary value of free first class rail travel undertaken by staff of East Coast Main Line in the last 12 months; and what estimate he made of the number of such staff who undertook such travel in that period. [11785]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State has made no estimate of the monetary value of free first class travel undertaken by East Coast Main Line staff. Staff travel arrangements, both on and off duty, are the responsibility of the employing train operating company. East Coast Main Line has inherited the employment contracts and policies of National Express East Coast, which provide for staff travel on the usual industry terms.
Electric Vehicles
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of ending the electric vehicle consumer incentive on (a) jobs, (b) the car manufacturing industry, (c) carbon dioxide emissions and (d) levels of air pollution; [11626]
(2) when he expects to announce his decision on the future of the electric vehicle consumer incentive scheme. [11627]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is currently considering in detail the provision of direct support for purchases of low-carbon vehicles, including electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and will make a statement as soon as possible.
The Secretary of State is aware that supporting green vehicle technology can help the UK meet its environmental obligations and create high-tech low carbon jobs in the UK. The uptake of ultra-low carbon technology will be necessary to meet our national carbon target in the long term and to realise local air quality benefits.
The recent announcement to support Green Buses and the commitment in the Coalition Agreement to mandate a national charging infrastructure illustrates the Government's commitment to a market for ultra-low carbon vehicles.
Felixstowe-Nuneaton Railway Line
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on his Department's funding for the Felixstowe-Nuneaton freight line; and if he will make a statement. [10869]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has received various stakeholder representations on the funding of the rail links between the UK's major ports and cities, including the route from Felixstowe to Nuneaton on the West Coast Main Line. The upgrade of the Felixstowe-Nuneaton line to facilitate the passage of larger and longer freight trains is part of the £200 million Strategic Freight Network investment programme, funded by the Department for the five years to March 2014. All Government expenditure is under review with decisions to be made in the comprehensive spending review, and the deficit reduction programme takes precedence. However we recognise the importance of this freight infrastructure investment and the benefits it provides.
Hotels
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on hotel bills for (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department and its agencies in each of the last three financial years; and which hotels were used in each case. [11829]
Norman Baker: Hotel costs for the Department for Transport (c) and four of its agencies are contained in the following table. The information does not differentiate between Ministers and officials. The figures for the Department for Transport (c), Driving Standards Agency and Highways Agency-represent bookings through central contracts only.
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
The remaining three agencies could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.
A list of the hotels used is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Lobbying
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue guidance to his Department's (a) agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies on the retention and use of lobbying companies for the provision of lobbying and support services to campaign for increased funding. [9458]
Norman Baker: Her Majesty's Treasury issued guidance to all Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies in March 2010, in the form of a document entitled "Reforming Arm's Length Bodies".
Rule 4 and para 3.1.1. of this document states that
"ALBs must not use public funds to employ external public affairs or other consultants to lobby Parliament or Government with the principle aim of altering government policy or to obtain increased funding".
London Underground: Finance
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he has had recent discussions with Transport for London on Government funding for options for the southward extension of the Bakerloo line; [10367]
(2) what recent discussions he has had with Transport for London on Government funding for proposals for extensions to the London Underground network. [10368]
Mrs Villiers: Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with Transport for London and the Mayor on a variety of issues, but no recent discussions have taken place focusing specifically on extensions to the London Underground network.
Luton Station
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the development of Luton rail station; how much his Department has allocated to Luton for the period of the 2010 Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [10953]
Mrs Villiers: Network Rail is continuing to work with local partners to assess what improvements can be delivered at Luton station following the decision to cut the £50 million that had been provisionally allocated to improving the ten priority stations identified in the Station Champions' "Better Rail Stations" report.
In the meantime, as part of the Thameslink programme, £2.1 million is being spent on work to extend the platforms at Luton station and this is scheduled to be completed by end-October 2010. Some £250,000 from the Department's Access for All Small Schemes Fund has also been allocated to improve access at Luton via the footbridge by end-March 2011.
Merchant Shipping
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to his letter to me of 8 July 2010, from which interested parties he has received representations on the effect of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010; if he will place in the Library a copy of each such representation; and if he will make a statement. [8046]
Mike Penning [holding answer 13 July 2010]: I have received three letters containing representations from the hon. Members for Truro and Falmouth (Sarah Newton), Waveney (Peter Aldous), and Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (John Thurso). Copies of these representations have been deposited in the Library. I have also received a number of oral representations including from the British Ports Association and the Chamber of Shipping.
Two Early Day Motions on the subject of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations have been tabled. Details of the early-day motions, and the hon. Members associated with them, are available on:
Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from motoring; and if he will make a statement. [10312]
Norman Baker: We will implement a full programme of measures to ensure that the transport sector contributes to both economic growth and the achievement of the Government's climate change targets. We are considering a wide range of options to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road transport, including how best to support low carbon vehicles, sustainable biofuels, alternatives to travel and modal shift to other forms of transport. The speed of implementation of any measures that have a cost to the public finances will depend, however, on decisions to be made in the comprehensive spending review.
The coalition agreement stated that we will mandate a national recharging network for plug-in vehicles, and we are considering a range of options for delivering this. We are also reviewing future support for the purchase of ultra-low carbon vehicles, and we will make a statement on this in due course.
Motorways: England
Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with his Welsh Assembly Government counterpart the improvement of motorway links between England and Wales. [11748]
Mike Penning: I would be happy to discuss any transport issues with my Welsh counterparts. However, any improvements could only be considered once the spending review is finished, and the wider fiscal context is clear.
National Express
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that the National Express Group does not operate in the rail industry after March 2011. [R] [9583]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 19 July 2010]: The Department for Transport will consider any application for a franchise. Such consideration takes account of bidders' previous experience and performance of operating passenger franchises and relevant contracts. Each bid is judged objectively and impartially.
Public Transport: Disability
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to improve the provision of public transport for physically disabled people (a) nationally and (b) in the East Midlands. [11580]
Norman Baker: The Department is committed to ensuring that public transport works for everyone, including disabled people.
By law, all newly built or refurbished public transport vehicles must be accessible to disabled people, including wheelchair users. Over a third of all trains are already accessible, as is half the bus fleet. Deadlines have been set for when all trains, buses and coaches must be accessible. These range between 2015 and 2020.
Free off-peak local bus travel throughout England has given the opportunity for greater freedom and independence to around 11 million older and disabled people.
Transport operators also have a legal duty to consider the needs of disabled people when publishing service information and providing booking and other facilities. Disability legislation also covers infrastructure, such as bus and railway stations.
In addition, the Department's 'Access for All' programme aims to deliver a step-free accessible route to and between platforms at 148 stations across the network by 2015. In the East Midlands, work has been completed at Sleaford, work is undergoing at Boston, and work is at the design stage at Long Eaton, Loughborough and Wellingborough. Under the Access for All Small Schemes fund, the Department has been able to allocate over £300,000 to stations in the East Midlands for smaller scheme improvements reflecting local needs.
We are also seeking to ensure that those who travel have the confidence and basic skills to do so; that transport staff have the appropriate training to help people; and that passengers can travel in a safe environment.
Rail Services
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria will be used for taking decisions arising from his independent review of the procurement of new rolling stock on (a) the East Coast Main Line and (b) the West Coast Main Line; and if he will make a statement. [9178]
Mrs Villiers: For the East Coast Main Line, the Intercity Express Programme and any various alternatives will be assessed on standard value for money and affordability criteria.
After the delivery of the extra 106 Pendolino carriages, there is no further rolling stock procurement currently planned for the West Coast Main Line longer distance services. A procurement for new electric trains to connect Glasgow and Edinburgh with Manchester is under review as part of a re-evaluation of the High Level Output Specification schemes which forms part of the spending review process necessitated by the deficit the Government have inherited from their predecessors.
Railway Stations
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what progress his Department has made on implementing the recommendations in the Better Rail Stations review; [10938]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of facilities at (a) Luton rail station, (b) all category B rail stations and (c) all rail stations operated by First Capital Connect; [10954]
(3) what assessment he has made of the compliance of Luton rail station with the minimum station standards set out in the report of the Better Rail Stations review. [10955]
Mrs Villiers: The "Better Rail Stations" Report highlighted concerns about the state of a number of stations and noted the inconsistent level of facilities at stations. The adequacy of facilities at all stations, including Luton, was considered as part of the review and the report made a number of recommendations around consistent minimum facilities and standards at all categories of stations.
These, along with other proposals within the report, will be considered as part of our programme for reform of the railways, though the need to address the deficit may have an impact on decisions.
We propose to grant longer franchises in order to give operators the incentive to invest in the improvements passengers want, including better stations. We are also considering options to alter the balance of responsibility for stations between Network Rail and the train operators.
Railway Stations: Greater London
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will undertake further investigation of options for a station in Brixton on the East London Line Overground extension. [11451]
Mrs Villiers: The case for a new station at Brixton High Level was assessed in 2007 by Network Rail as part of the South London Route Utilisation Strategy. The station was found to be unaffordable due to the high cost of construction.
I am not aware of any material change in circumstances that would mean that a different conclusion would be reached by a further study. Given our current spending restrictions it would not be appropriate for the Department for Transport to spend further money to investigate this issue in advance of the outcome of the spending review.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the South London Route Utilisation Strategy's recommendation that Wimbledon loop Thameslink trains terminate at Blackfriars from 2015. [11596]
Mrs Villiers: I anticipate that a decision on this matter will be taken some two years before the date of the timetable change, in line with normal railway industry planning time scales.
Railways
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the current economic climate on his plans for high speed rail. [11336]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 26 July 2010]: The coalition Government has rejected further capital spending cuts as an easy, but wrong option for tackling the deficit. As the Chancellor said in his emergency Budget speech:
"Well-judged capital spending by government can help provide the new infrastructure our economy needs to compete in the modern world".
The planned phased construction of a national high speed rail network means that it can be delivered in an affordable way. And over the long-term it is still expected that passenger demand will continue to grow strongly.
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will renew the entitlement to benefits in kind for employees of publicly-owned rail companies. [11787]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State already requires operators, through their Franchise Agreement, or in the case of publicly owned rail companies, their Service Agreement, to participate in the Rail Staff Travel Scheme. This travel scheme allows staff who possess staff travel to use it with all train operators in Britain on broadly similar terms to those which applied in 1995.
Railways: Fares
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to promote lower railway fares. [5740]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 5 July 2010]: The Government are committed to fairness on rail fares. We hope to be able to keep the current formula for the cap on regulated fares, but we need to wait until further work has been done on the spending settlement before making a final decision on the fare formula for next year.
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that future rail fare increases in the South East are proportionate to average earnings growth for regular pay for passengers in the South East. [7011]
Mrs Villiers: The Government are committed to fairness on rail fares. The present formula provides for annual increases of RPI +3% on South Eastern franchise up to and including 2011 and RPI +1% on other franchises in the South East region. We hope to be able to keep the current formula for the cap on regulated fares, but we will need to wait until further work has been done on the spending settlement before making a final decision on the fare formula for next year.
Railways: Franchises
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 17 June 2010, Official Report, column 58WS, on transport: rail franchising, when he expects to respond to the consultation on the future of rail franchising; when he expects to be in a position to announce a new policy on rail franchises; and if he will make a statement. [8902]
Mrs Villiers: The 'Reforming Rail Franchising' consultation document was released on 22 July 2010 and a copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library. It is available on the Department for Transport website at:
The closing date for responses is 18 October 2010. A response to the consultation and an announcement of the Government's future plans will be made after that date.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include in the forthcoming review of rail franchises measures to encourage more flexible fare structures for commuters who work part-time and those who work from home on certain days; and if he will make a statement. [9802]
Mrs Villiers: There are ways in which fares structures could be changed to be more flexible using the benefits of smart card technology. The revenue work streams of the rail value for money study being carried out by Sir Roy McNulty is expected to provide valuable input in the medium term.
Railways: High Speed Two
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on his proposals to link the High Speed Two rail line to Heathrow Airport. [11341]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 26 July 2010]: On 21 July Lord Mawhinney published his independent overview of high speed rail access to Heathrow. High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) is also doing some detailed work in this area which will take more time to complete. We will therefore carefully consider Lord Mawhinney's recommendations alongside this further work by HS2 Ltd and will announce our conclusions later this year. In addition, the Department for Transport has received a range of correspondence and other representations from interested parties.
Railways: Liverpool
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the economic effects on the North West of the proposed electrification of the Liverpool-Manchester line. [11399]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has assessed electrification of the Liverpool to Manchester line, via Newton-le-Willows, as being high value for money. Electrification of the line, coupled with the introduction of electric trains, would increase train capacity and reduce passenger journey times. It would also help to cut carbon emissions and reduce the cost of running the railway.
The Government supports rail electrification. However, our priority is tackling the fiscal deficit and Ministers will consider the full range of proposed transport projects in parallel with the spending review process to ascertain what is affordable.
Railways: Manchester
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on whether peak-time train services on the Manchester-Huddersfield railway line are operating at over-capacity. [11398]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport does not hold detailed information for every station stop on individual services on the Manchester-Huddersfield railway line. However, the critical load information for peak services arriving into Manchester Piccadilly during autumn 2009 suggests that some trains on this line are operating at over-capacity.
First TransPennine Express, the train operator that provides most services on this route may be able to provide more information. First TransPennine Express can be contacted at the following address:
Customer Relations
First TransPennine Express
Freepost
ADMAIL 3878
Manchester
M1 9YB.
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide previously planned new rolling stock for the (a) Manchester-Glossop and (b) Manchester-Huddersfield railway line. [11402]
Mrs Villiers: The Government recognises the concerns around rail crowding levels on a number of routes into Manchester. However, in view of the pressure on the public finances and the priority we have placed on tackling the deficit, we are reviewing the full range of transport projects to assess them for affordability and value for money. That review includes the carriages in the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) programme which have not yet been contracted.
I recently visited Manchester to discuss this issue with local stakeholders and I have also met a delegation of MPs from affected constituencies. The outcome of these meetings will be considered as part of the re-assessment of the HLOS carriages programme. Our conclusions will be announced on completion of the Spending Review in the autumn.
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on whether peak-time train services on the Manchester-Glossop railway line are operating over at capacity. [11404]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport does not hold detailed information for every station stop on individual services on the Manchester-Glossop railway line. However, the critical load information for peak services arriving into Manchester Piccadilly during autumn 2009, suggests that trains on this line are not currently operating at over-capacity.
Northern Trains, the train operator that provides these services may be able to provide more information. Northern Trains can be contacted at the following address: Northern Rail Limited, Northern House, 9 Rougier Street, York, YO1 6HZ.
Railways: Overcrowding
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of levels of overcrowding on commuter rail services into (a) London, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Bristol, (e) Leeds and (f) Sheffield. [5533]
Mrs Villiers: Comprehensive annual assessments are made of the usage of rail commuter services for these cities (London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds and Sheffield) during the autumn of each year, when commuter demand is at its most stable. The assessments will be published in due course.
Railways: Parking
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made a recent estimate of the average cost to train passengers of parking in a railway station car park; and if he will make a statement. [8906]
Mrs Villiers: Parking charges at railway stations are set by train operators or other private sector providers, and are not regulated as part of franchise agreements. The Department for Transport does not hold information on the level of parking charges at individual stations or the average parking charge across the network.
Railways: Travel
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he made of the (a) operating cost and (b) public subsidy per passenger made in respect of rail travel (i) on services run by each train operating company and (ii) nationally in the last 12 months. [11786]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport does not estimate the operating cost for each train operating company. This is a matter for the individual train companies. The Secretary of State for Transport does, however, review each train operating company's actual operating costs against their budget. This takes place on a periodic basis as part of his normal review into the financial health of each train company.
Subsidy per passenger kilometre is published by the Office of Rail Regulation for all train operating companies in its National Rail Trends Yearbook. The most recent figures published are for 2008-09, and can be located on page 59 using the following link:
Road Traffic Offences: Fines
Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to enable motorists charged under the Traffic Management Act 2004 to pay a charge and to appeal against it. [953]
Norman Baker: We have no plans to adopt the policy the hon. Member suggests. A motorist served with a penalty charge notice for parking in contravention of regulations under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 should pay the penalty charge quickly or challenge it if s/he believes that it has been served in error. This does not, of course, apply in cases where the vehicle has been immobilised and/or removed.
Road Traffic: Economic Situation
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made of the cost to the economy of road congestion in each region in the latest year for which figures are available. [9954]
Norman Baker:
The 2006 Eddington Study estimated that, using the Department for Transport's National Transport Model, the direct costs of congestion to business could rise by £10-12 billion from 2003 to 2025
(in 2002 prices). Adding in the value of the lost time experienced by other travellers raises this figure to £23-24 billion per annum. This report is available at:
The following table provides estimates of the cost of congestion to business and other travellers in lost time in 2003 (in 2002 prices) in each English region.
| Estimated cost of congestion by English region, 2003, at 2002 prices | |
| Region | £ billion |
These figures are based on the difference between the actual time taken to make a journey and the time that would be taken under theoretical 'free-flow' conditions. They do not necessarily represent the net benefit that would result from removing congestion.
Roads: Accidents
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the proposed Road Accident In-Depth Study has been cancelled; and whether he has plans for an alternative research project on the causes of road accidents. [11599]
Mike Penning: The proposed components of the Road Accident In-Depth Study (RAIDS) relating to on scene accident investigations have not been taken forward this year as it was not affordable given the difficult fiscal circumstances the Government inherited. However, a new integrated RAIDS database has recently been completed containing data from the legacy 'On the Spot' and 'Co-operative Crash Injury Study'. This database will make it easier to make better use of the very extensive data collected in recent years.
In addition, all fatal accidents are investigated by specialist police accident investigators, and DFT also make extensive use of the police STATS19 data which cover all personal injury road accidents reported to the police. STATS19 includes many items relevant to the causes of accidents, including junction details, weather conditions and the factors that police consider contributed to the accident.
Roads: Construction
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria will be used to determine which previously approved road building projects will proceed following the in-year reductions in his Department's budget. [9529]
Mike Penning: As part of the £6 billion package of savings announced in May, we announced that the start of works on some road schemes would be postponed. Final decisions on these schemes will be taken following the spending review, and will depend upon the overall level of capital spending agreed across Government.
Roads: Metals
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the annual cost to the public purse of substituting (a) metal and (b) non-metal replacements for metal items stolen from highways for scrap. [10889]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has no plans to make such an estimate. It is for each highway authority (or, in the case of utility apparatus covers, the relevant utility company) to determine the most appropriate materials to use in replacing stolen highways ironwork, bearing in mind the particular circumstances of the site in question.
Seafarers
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the European Commission on seafarers' pay differentials. [11966]
Mike Penning: The Secretary of State met the European Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, on 8 July 2010 and, among other things, discussed differential pay for seafarers.
Department for Transport officials have discussed seafarers' pay differentials with European Commission officials on various occasions since the Commission first raised their concerns about the UK legislation. Officials from the Department for Transport and the European Commission are next due to meet to discuss this issue on 29 July 2010 in Brussels.
Severn Bridge: Tolls
Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to introduce legislation to enable the use of credit cards for payment for tolls on the Severn crossings. [11793]
Norman Baker: In March this year, an amendment was made to the Severn Bridges Regulations to allow card payments to be accepted at the tolls. Work has started to amend the tolling software to accept credit and debit cards, and we hope this will be resolved before the Ryder Cup begins.
Shipping: Pay
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have held with the British Chamber of Shipping on the Carter Review into seafarers' pay differentials; [11956]
(2) what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have held with the European Commission on the Carter Review into seafarers' pay differentials; and whether the European Commission has expressed support for the Carter Review recommendations.; [11957]
(3) whether his Department has received any (a) legal advice or (b) guidance from the European Commission over the last five years on the Government's obligations on seafarers pay differentials. [11958]
Mike Penning: Since I published the Carter report on 9 June 2010, Official Report, column 9WS, I and my officials have met representatives from all sides of the industry, including the Chamber of Shipping and trade unions, and heard first-hand their views and concerns on differential pay.
On 23 June 2010, Department for Transport officials provided European Commission officials with a copy of the Carter review into seafarers' pay. There have been no discussions between the Department for Transport and the European Commission regarding the Carter review.
The views of the European Commission and its officials on legal issues relating to seafarers' pay differentials have been set out on several occasions in the last five years in correspondence or at meetings with Department for Transport officials.
Transport for London: Finance
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish each item of correspondence between Ministers in his Department and the Mayor of London on the budget for Transport for London since his appointment. [5456]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State meets and corresponds with the Mayor regularly on London transport issues including Transport for London funding. These discussions are currently taking place in the context of the spending review and it would not be appropriate to release details.
Transport: Greater London
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the (a) agenda and (b) minutes of each meeting he has had with the Mayor of London on transport matters since his appointment. [6897]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer given today (UIN 5456).
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2010, Official Report, column 189W, on the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA), if he will discuss the future of VOSA with the relevant trade unions before any decision on the Agency's future is taken; and whether he (a) has commissioned and (b) intends to commission any consultancy advice on the future of VOSA prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review. [12047]
Mike Penning: As is normal practice, discussions will be held with the relevant trade unions before any decisions are taken on the future of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). No consultancy advice has been commissioned and there are no plans to commission any consultancy advice on VOSA prior to the comprehensive spending review.
Wrexham-Bidston Railway Line: Electrification
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on the electrification of the Wrexham to Bidston rail line. [9944]
Mrs Villiers: The Welsh Assembly Government are responsible for Arriva Trains Wales' services between Wrexham and Bidston. We continue to keep in touch with the Welsh Assembly Government and Merseytravel about options for the line.
Cabinet Office
Civil Servants: Pensions
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the change in central Government expenditure on the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme attributable to the use of the consumer prices index for pension indexation in the next five years. [11058]
Mr Maude: The Government have not made a separate estimate of the change in central Government expenditure for the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) relating to the announcement at Budget that the uprating of the majority of state benefits, State Second Pension and public service pensions would be moved from RPI to CPI, with effect from April 2011.
The estimated savings in annually managed expenditure for public service pension expenditure in each year of the forecast period are set out in the following table. These savings form part of the overall savings figures for benefits, tax credits and public service pensions published in line 22 of Table 2.1 in Budget 2010. These figures include savings for the PCSPS, and all other public service schemes apart from the Local Government Pension Scheme.
| £million | |
Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what progress he has made in discussions with the Public and Commercial Services Union on changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. [11944]
Mr Maude: Discussions on changes to civil service terms and conditions are conducted with the Council of Civil Service Unions rather than with individual unions.
I wrote to Paul Noon, chairman of the Council of Civil Service Unions, on 6 July inviting the unions to begin talks on a future compensation scheme with my officials. One key area for discussion is to what extent the future scheme can provide proportionately better terms for the lower paid. I have since met the unions once and my officials have had further meetings with them.
Government Departments: Travel
Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish the revised travel guidance for Government departments on first class rail travel. [27]
Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
A revised set of guidance for travel and subsistence has been issued to departments. I shall place a copy of the guidance in the Library.
Jobseeker's Allowance: Lone Parents
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents in Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. [11884]
Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
In May 2010 there were 160 lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
The figure has been rounded to the nearest five.
Manufacturing Industries: Carlisle
John Stevenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate has been made of the proportion of people in Carlisle constituency employed in the manufacturing sector. [9317]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate has been made of the proportion of people in Carlisle constituency employed in the manufacturing sector. (9317)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) and its predecessor the Annual Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
The proportion of people of working age who were resident in Carlisle employed in the manufacturing sector was 9.7 per cent. These figures have been taken from the APS for the period January 2009 to December 2009.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
Public Sector: Cumbria
John Stevenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of the working population in (a) Carlisle constituency and (b) Cumbria employed in the public sector. [9144]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the most recent estimate is of the proportion of the working population in (a) Carlisle constituency and (b) Cumbria employed in the public sector. (9144)
The ONS compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions. Individuals are classified to the public or private sector according to their responses to the APS. Consequently, the classification of an individual's sector may differ from how they would be classified in National Accounts.
The proportion of the working age population employed in the public sector in the Carlisle constituency is 17.7 per cent and for Cumbria 17.0 per cent. These figures have been taken from the APS for the period January 2009 to December 2009.
As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
Public Sector: Manpower
John Stevenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of those working in the public sector work in the (a) education, (b) health and (c) local government sectors; and how many work in other sectors. [9143]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated July 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning, what proportion of those working in the public sector work in the (a) education, (b) health and (c) local government sectors; and how many work in other sectors. (9143).
The requested data are attached at Annex A.
| Annex A: Proportion of public sector workers employed in (a) education (b) health (c) local government (d) other sectors and (e) total public sector( 1) | ||||||
| Percentage-Not seasonally adjusted | ||||||
| Health | ||||||
| Education( 2) | NHS | Other health and social care( 3) | Local Government( 4) | Other s ectors( 5, 6) | Total p ublic s ector | |
| (1) Estimates of employment for education, health, local government and other sectors are not mutually exclusive. People employed in education, for example, are also included as part of local government employment estimates. (2) Estimates of employment in 'education' are based on Standard Industrial Classification 2007 Division 80. (3) Estimates of employment in 'other health and social care' are based on Standard Industrial Classification 2007, Divisions 86, 87 and 88. (4 )Includes some employment in 'education' and 'other health and social care'. (5) The public sector comprises central government, local government and public corporations. 'Other sectors', in this context, refers to employment in central Government and public corporations. (6) 'Other sectors', includes employment in the NHS (central Government) and some employment in education and other health and social care. Source: Office for National Statistics | ||||||
Prime Minister
Parliament: Security
Jim Shannon: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure the personal details of security personnel are not disclosed. [11344]
The Prime Minister: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on security matters.
Church Commissioners
Bishops: Females
Miss McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners what recent representations he has received on the subject of the appointment of women bishops in the Church of England; and if he will make a statement. [10718]
Tony Baldry: I have received numerous representations on the subject of the appointment of Women Bishops in the Church of England. I addressed the General Synod on this matter in York on 10 July 2010, and I have placed a copy of my statement in the Library.
Attorney-General
Human Trafficking: Prosecutions
Mr Bone: To ask the Attorney-General how many cases have been brought for offences relating to human trafficking in each of the last three years. [11477]
The Attorney-General: The Crown Prosecution Service's records show that, in the last three years, the following prosecutions have been brought on charges under sections 57, 58 and 59 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, alleging trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation:
| Number of prosecutions | |
Prosecutions brought on charges under section 4 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004, alleging trafficking for other exploitative purposes:
| Number of prosecutions | |
The data relates only to the number of charged offences which reached first hearing in the magistrates courts.
House of Commons Commission
Catering
Damian Collins: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of (a) all food, (b) meat, (c) fresh vegetables, (d) fresh fruit, (e) frozen vegetables and (f) eggs procured by the House of Commons Catering and Retail Services in the last 12 months for which figures are available was produced in the UK. [11550]
Sir Stuart Bell: No record is held of the country of origin of food procured by the House of Commons catering service and so it is not possible to state the proportion of meat, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit or frozen vegetables produced in the UK in the 12 months to March 2010.
However, butchery suppliers are periodically required to confirm the country of origin of meat and poultry supplied to the House of Commons, and when this was last done in April 2010, an estimated 0.04% of combined fresh meat and poultry purchases were not of British origin.
All fresh eggs supplied to the House of Commons in the 12 months to March 2010 were supplied by a British producer in Kent and were BEIC British Lion standard approved.
Damian Collins: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, what contracts the House of Commons Department for Facilities has with food producers and suppliers in Kent. [11552]
Sir Stuart Bell: The House of Commons catering service purchases most of its food supplies through wholesalers for reasons of economy and logistics. Of the 36 contracts in place for supply of foodstuffs to the House of Commons, one is held by a company based in Kent for the supply of fresh eggs. No record is held of the number of food producers and suppliers in Kent who might be indirectly supplying the House of Commons through these wholesale suppliers and intermediaries.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |