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20 Dec 2010 : Column 972W—continued
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff employed by his Department were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage in the latest period for which figures are available. [31222]
Justine Greening: As at the end November, there were no staff employed by HM Treasury who were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the effect of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax on his Department's annual expenditure. [31176]
Mr Gauke: The effect of the forthcoming VAT increase has been taken into account for departmental budgets as defined in the spending review.
Financial Services: VAT
Ian Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effects on the level of value added tax receipts of the change from payment of independent financial advisers by commission to payment by fees from 2013. [31106]
Mr Gauke: The implications of this change, and across all taxes, are being considered by a Treasury Working Group. It is too early to assess any potential effect on VAT receipts.
Manpower
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of staff worked for his Department on the most recent date for which figures are available. [31272]
Mr Gauke: Staffing figures are published annually in the Department's Annual Report and Accounts. The total number of members of staff (full time equivalents) at 31 March 2010 was 1,350, as reported in the Annual Resource Accounts 2009-10.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Warley of 19 October 2010 on behalf of Mr York on beer taxation. [31700]
Justine Greening: I have replied to the right hon. Member.
Mortgage Express and Bradford and Bingley: Complaints
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints his Department received on (a) Mortgage Express and (b) Bradford and Bingley in the latest period in which figures are available. [31989]
Mr Hoban: HM Treasury received approximately 2,017 letters concerning Bradford and Bingley and Mortgage Express between 2003 and December 2010.
The Department classifies cases based on their primary subject. The Department has not separately identified letters concerning Mortgage Express from those concerning Bradford and Bingley as Mortgage Express was a wholly owned subsidiary of Bradford and Bingley. Similarly this is an approximate figure as other letters may have included complaints about Bradford and Bingley but have been categorised under their primary subject.
Railways: Fares
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 613W, on budgets: environmental protection, what assessment his Department made of the environmental impact of the implementation of the proposal in the Spending Review to increase the cap on regulated rail fares to three per cent. above the retail price index for three years from 2012. [26275]
Mrs Villiers: I have been asked to reply.
In my answer of 10 November, Official Report, column 334W, I explained the Department for Transport has not made a detailed estimate of the likely effects of increases in rail fares on transport emissions. Although the announced fare increases may encourage some limited reduction in the rate of growth of rail travel, the overall impact on carbon and air quality emissions is likely to be small.
Research and Development Tax Credit
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the future of the research and development tax credit. [31309]
Mr Gauke [holding answer 16 December 2010]: As a part of the plans for corporate tax reform, the Government published a consultation on the support R and D tax credits provide for innovation, including the proposals of the Dyson Review on 29 November 2010. The closing date for responses is 22 February 2011.
Tax Allowances: Aggregates
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to submit to the European Commission evidence on behalf of Northern Ireland representatives of the quarry industry in relation to the reintroduction of the aggregates credit relief scheme. [31563]
Mr Gauke: Since the European General Court judgment in September which annulled state aid approval for the aggregates levy credit scheme in Northern Ireland, officials have been engaging with the European Commission to pursue reintroduction of the scheme at the earliest opportunity. Following a meeting in October, the Commission asked for evidence by Christmas to inform its reconsideration of the suspended scheme and the scheme the Government are seeking to reintroduce. The Government sent a response on Wednesday 15 December.
Tax Credit
Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households received tax credit awards in 2009-10. [31402]
Mr Gauke: As at April 2010, 6.3 million families, containing 10.2 million children, were tax credit recipients or were receiving the equivalent child support through benefits.
This information is based on provisional snapshot data. More information on this data can be found at:
Taxation: Pensioners
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether discretionary awards of (a) a lump sum and (b) annual compensation made to former employees by local authorities in accordance with part III of the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 will be (i) treated by HM Revenue and Customs as pension payments for the purposes of the revised annual allowance and life time allowance and (ii) taxable under the reformed system for pensions tax relief to be introduced from April 2011. [30927]
Mr Hoban: The tax treatment of any payment under the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 will depend on the nature of the particular payment and how it is paid. If paid out of the local government superannuation scheme, it will be subject to the registered pension scheme tax rules whether paid before or after April 2011, including any potential interaction with the annual allowance and lifetime allowance.
This is a complex area and if the hon. Member wants further information about the tax treatment of these sorts of payments then I suggest he contacts HMRC at:
pensions.policy@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to provide a substantive answer to question 29295, on the European Financial Stability Mechanism, tabled on 2 December 2010 for named day answer on 7 December 2010. [31471]
Mr Hoban: I have replied to the hon. Member.
Energy and Climate Change
Biomass Importation
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the (a) ability of the UK to be self-sufficient in the production of biomass and (b) effects on energy security of biomass importation; and if he will make a statement. [31006]
Charles Hendry:
Biomass has a greater range of uses than just energy production. For example it can also be used to provide a wide range of renewable raw materials and therefore has a significant role to play in the development of a low carbon economy. However, sustainable biomass is likely to be an important contributor to our renewable energy ambitions. Analysis undertaken
last year suggested that heat and electricity from biomass could provide nearly a third of UK needs from renewables by 2020 (about 4.5% of overall energy demand). Delivering our ambition for renewables will not be easy, we will need to ensure that the available mix of biomass feedstocks, both imported and domestically sourced, is sustainable and secure if we are to meet these ambitions.
The Department has not assessed the UK's ability to be self sufficient in the production of biomass. However, estimates provided by E4Tech in 2009 considered the technical potential for domestic biomass production for bioenergy and suggested a maximum technical UK supply of almost 700PJ in 2020, raising to 900PJ in 2030.
Analysis undertaken suggested that we could need around 350-400PJ of solid biomass to meet the deployment trajectories in the heat and electricity sectors.
Security of biomass and sustainability are very important. Together with domestic biomass feedstocks, sustainably sourced imported biomass is expected to play a key role in helping to meet our renewable energy targets. Through our proposals on the renewables obligation and electricity market reform we are providing the transparency longevity and certainty that industry requires to allow it to establish robust, sustainable and efficient supply chains; with long term supply contracts, sourcing from more than one country and ensuring that domestic production is maximised where it is sustainable and feasible.
Carbon Emissions
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate his Department has made of the direct carbon dioxide emissions in kilograms per megawatt hour arising from the combustion of (a) wood chip in large-scale installations and (b) hard coal. [31008]
Gregory Barker: Estimates in the UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory funded by the Department indicate that large-scale combustion of coal and of wood produce direct carbon dioxide emissions of about 309 and 367 kg C02 per megawatt hour of thermal energy released, respectively.
However, in the case of biomass that is sustainably grown the carbon dioxide released on combustion will be removed over several decades by replanting and regrowth. For fossil fuels there is no equivalent process of carbon removal as their formation requires millions of years rather than decades. Therefore it is the assessments of emissions over the wider lifecycle that are important when comparing biomass with coal, including cultivation, processing and transportation.
This is why we are introducing sustainability criteria for biomass, under the renewables obligation, that include a greenhouse gas lifecycle assessment.
Departmental Pay
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many staff employed by his Department were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage in the latest period for which figures are available. [31229]
Gregory Barker: At 30 November 2010 the Department for Energy and Climate change had no staff who earned less than the London living wage of £7.85 per hour.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of the effect of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax on his Department's annual expenditure. [31186]
Gregory Barker: I estimate that the Department will pay around £450,000 more in irrecoverable VAT in 2011-12 than in 2010-11 as a result of the changed VAT rate.
Departmental spending review settlements are set on a tax-inclusive basis, including the increase to the standard rate of VAT and that departments can recover the VAT on some contracted cut services.
Energy Supply
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the availability of gas and fuel oil supplies to domestic customers during the recent winter weather; and if he will make a statement. [31136]
Charles Hendry [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The recent episode of very severe weather has led to significant disruption to road networks and resulted in a backlog of fuel supply deliveries for the heating oil and LPG industry across parts of the UK; heating oil and LPG suppliers are working hard to address delivery backlogs. The Government have provided a temporary relaxation of regulations governing drivers' hours which will help suppliers to make up backlogs and meet seasonal customer demand.
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the implications for commercial landlords of the European Court of Justice's ruling on the provision of third party access to licence exempt electricity and gas networks. [31205]
Charles Hendry: The European Court of Justice's ruling means that all licence exempt electricity and gas networks owned by commercial landlords, such as ports, will be required by law to provide third party access on request to give consumers a choice of electricity and/or gas supplier.
Where meters are required or upgrading is necessary to facilitate third party access, the costs associated with such work will ultimately be met by the customer or the prospective third party supplier rather than the licence exempt network owner. The energy regulator, Ofgem, has confirmed that private network owners, including commercial landlords, will not be obliged to upgrade their networks or become licensed distributors in order to allow third party access.
Dan Byles:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the change in energy costs to consumers of electricity and
gas which will arise from implementation of his proposals to ensure third party access to licence exempt electricity and gas networks in (a) ports, (b) railway stations, (c) London Underground stations, (d) industrial estates, (e) marinas, (f) airports and (g) caravan parks. [31378]
Charles Hendry: The provision of third party access to unlicensed networks will enable consumers of those networks to take advantage of the competitive energy market by choosing their energy supplier. In their 2008 Energy Supply Probe the energy regulator, Ofgem, estimated that customers switching their energy supplier could make a saving of up to 6% on their energy costs.
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons his Department's consultation on the provision of third party access to licence exempt electricity and gas networks lasted five weeks; how many consultations his Department has run which lasted (a) less than six weeks, (b) from six to 12 weeks and (c) 12 weeks or more in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [31379]
Charles Hendry: DECC consultations follow the Government Code of Practice on Consultations
This recommends that, under normal circumstances, consultations should last a minimum of 12 weeks but acknowledges that deviation from the code will, at times, be unavoidable when running a formal, written consultation.
The five week period in this case was a final detailed consultation that followed both the formal 12 week consultation that set out the government's policy intentions and a call for evidence that sought stakeholder views. It also followed an extensive stakeholder engagement programme. The details of that programme, which included a workshop and numerous bilateral meetings, can be found in my reply to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 6 December 2010, Official Report, columns 11-12W.
Since DECC was formed in October 2008, consultations have been run for the following periods:
| Number of consultations | |||
| 12 weeks or longer | 6-12 weeks | Less than 6 weeks | |
Fuel Poverty
Mrs Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the number of households in fuel poverty in (a) North Tyneside constituency, (b) the North East and (c) the UK. [31998]
Gregory Barker: In 2006, the most recent year for which sub-regional figures are available, there were around 6,000 fuel poor households in the North Tyneside constituency.
In 2008, there were 236,000 fuel poor households in the north-east and 4.5 million fuel poor households in the UK.
Fuel Poverty: Finance
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will consider the merits of an adapted Green Deal finance mechanism to provide for a third party to meet the repayment charges for fuel-poor households in whole or in part; and if he will make a statement. [31762]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal finance mechanism sets out that repayments must be made through the energy bill. However it does not prevent a third party meeting the Green Deal part of a household's energy bill.
We are also designing the new Energy Company Obligation to ensure that further support is available under the Green Deal for those in need of additional help, including low income vulnerable households and those in hard to treat properties.
Energy suppliers currently have an obligation to protect vulnerable consumers and to assist those who are struggling to pay for their bills. All existing protections in the gas and electricity market for vulnerable consumers will be extended to Green Deal repayments.
Renewable Energy
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of commercial properties which have solar panels. [31390]
Charles Hendry: The Department does not hold information on the overall number of commercial properties that have installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.
The main support for solar PV panels is the feed-in-tariffs (FITs). OFGEM provides data on installations accredited for FITs by technology, which can be viewed at:
As at 3 December 2010, there were 109 commercial installations claiming FITs.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential role of small and medium-sized businesses in providing electricity from solar sources; and if he will make a statement. [31393]
Charles Hendry: No quantitative assessment has been made of the potential role of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in generating electricity from solar sources. However, an impact assessment supporting the start of the UK's feed-in tariffs (FITs) scheme offers projections of installations in the commercial sector, available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/publications/basket.aspx?FilePath =Consultations%5cRenewable+Electricity+Financial +Incentives%5cl_20100204103559_e_%40%40_FITsImpact AssessmentaccompanyingGovernmentResponse.pdf&filetype=4
The impact assessment confirms that FITs will create new opportunities for SMEs which install small-scale low-carbon electricity generating technologies. Technologies supported by FITs include solar photovoltaics.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has any plans to establish regional strategies for the production of renewable energy; and if he will make a statement. [32094]
Charles Hendry: We have made a clear commitment in our Coalition programme for government to give more power to local communities to shape the environment in which they live. The Localism Bill published on 13 December 2010 sets out proposals which will underpin this power shift, including the abolition of regional spatial strategies.
DECC is funding nine renewable and low carbon capacity assessment studies, covering England. The results of these studies will help local authorities identify and maximise opportunities for renewable energy deployment in their areas. The results of all nine studies should be available by next spring.
Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many milliwatt hours of renewable electricity has been generated by each micro technology under the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme since its inception; how much of that energy has been generated in Yorkshire; and how much FIT funding has been paid for each of these technologies. [32299]
Charles Hendry: The FITs scheme began in April 2010, and information on FITs funding is not yet available in the form requested. However, the Ofgem statistics confirm that FITs payments made over the first two quarters of the scheme were £182,059 (April-June) and £2,504,712.55 (July-September).
Information on the number of installations registered for feed-in tariffs (FITs), broken down by technology and geographical location, is available from Ofgem at:
Statistics from Ofgem on the first six months of the FITs scheme, available at:
includes a map showing the regional breakdown of FITs activity. This shows that in Yorkshire and the Humber, 4.336 MW of installed capacity was registered for FITs.
River Severn: Tidal Power
Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) from what budgets funding was drawn for the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study; and how much funding each organisation contributed under each budget heading in respect of that study; [30006]
(2) what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study. [30017]
Charles Hendry: The cost to the public purse of the Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study is expected to be £6.355 million. This is the cost of external research studies and technology development support and does not include the administration costs of the cross-Government STP team, led by DECC.
The above figure is broken down as follows, drawn from the budget headings indicated:
DECC-£5.646 million from the Environmental Transformation Fund
DEFRA-£325,000 from the Climate Change Mitigation Programme
WAG-£213,000 from the Economic Research line within the Economic Policy budget and from the Environment Sustainability and Housing Main Expenditure Group
SWRDA-£171,000 from their general budget.
Sheffield Forgemasters: Finance
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 523W, on Sheffield Forgemasters, whether he has had discussions with his ministerial colleagues on Sheffield Forgemasters since the collective Government decision not to proceed with the loan to the company on the grounds of affordability was taken. [31943]
Charles Hendry: Yes. Following the decision not to proceed with the loan we had discussions about the possibility of the company being able to secure private sector investment to enable them to take the project forward.
Solar Power
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2010, Official Report, column 676W, on solar power, if he will publish the minutes of his meeting with Renewables UK and the microgeneration sector on 24 November 2010; and whether any actions were agreed upon as a result of that meeting. [32248]
Charles Hendry: There are no formal minutes of the stakeholder briefing and discussion session on feed-in tariffs (FITs) that the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker) hosted on 24 November 2010. The event considered the spending review commitment on FITs, including the possibility of an early review being triggered by higher than expected uptake. It also considered possible approaches to setting this trigger.
Attendees were invited to follow-up in writing with further thoughts and to indicate any interest in future involvement. Ministers are reflecting on feedback from the event and the Department will confirm the way forward in the near future.
Tidal Power: Wave Power
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has to provide capital funding for commercial deployment of wave and tidal energy technologies following the withdrawal of the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund. [31354]
Charles Hendry: The funding for marine energy demonstration is being treated in the same way as all departmental innovation funding streams in the light of the spending review.
The Government are currently developing its detailed plans for the allocation of the £200 million to support the development of energy technologies announced in the spending review-and measures to support wave and tidal technologies are being considered as part of that process.
Warm Front Scheme
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the proportion of households in fuel poverty who are eligible for assistance under the Warm Front scheme. [31114]
Gregory Barker: The latest available figures for England (2008) show that around 34% of fuel poor households are eligible for Warm Front under the existing eligibility criteria(1).
(1 )Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics 2010 (DECC).
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households received grants through the Warm Front scheme (a) nationally and (b) in Liverpool, Wavertree constituency in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [31473]
Gregory Barker: The following table shows the number of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme nationally and in the constituency of Liverpool, Wavertree in 2009-10:
| Households, 2009-10 | |
| Number | |
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the likely effect on the number of fuel poor households of changes to the funding for the Warm Front scheme. [31568]
Gregory Barker: The Warm Front scheme is expected to assist approximately 170,000 households in 2010-11. As announced in the spending review, DECC will fund a smaller, more targeted Warm Front scheme over the next two years and has estimated that the scheme will assist approximately 57,000 households in 2011-12, and 50,000 in 2012-13.
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of work carried out under the Warm Front scheme was completed within six months of commencement in the latest period for which figures are available. [31803]
Gregory Barker: In 2009-10, the Warm Front scheme completed 92.8% of heating installations and 99.5% of insulation installations within six months.
Wind Power
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many wind turbines were retro-fitted to properties in each year since 2005. [31099]
Charles Hendry: The Department does not hold information on the overall number of wind turbines fitted to existing properties. Under the previous "Low Carbon Building Programme" (2005-10), the following grants were made for small wind turbines which were not new builds.
| Number of g rants | ||||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Total | |
| Value of g rants | ||||||
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
Domestic, commercial and community installations of wind turbines can claim the feed-in tariffs (FITs). Ofgem is providing live data on installations accredited for FITs by technology which can be viewed at:
This online information includes some wind turbine installations funded under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
Wood
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) whether his Department has made an estimate of the level of global (a) supplies and (b) demand for wood chip and pellet-derived biomass in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) the next five years; [31005]
(2) what estimate he has made of the likely level of demand for wood fibre arising from the construction of large-scale biomass power plants in the next 10 years. [31007]
Charles Hendry: Wood fibre in the form of wood chip, pellet or log is one of several forms of biomass that can be used to produce renewable energy.
Based on an IEA study, estimates of global supplies of woody biomass have been provided by E4Tech. This indicates that current supplies available for bioenergy are around 7,000 PJ, doubling to about 14,000 PJ by 2015. This report is available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what%20we%20do/uk%20energy%20supply/energy%20mix/renewable%20energy/renewable%20energy%20strategy/1_20090716112412_e_@@_ e4techbiomasssupplycurvesfortheukurn09d690.pdf
The Department is currently updating this information, aiming to publish revised figures early next year.
Information is also published by the UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section, providing forest resource analyses and forestry sector outlooks.
The Department has not carried out an analysis of global demand for wood fibre. However, the IEA 2009 report: Bioenergy a Sustainable and Reliable Energy Source, summarises available analyses on biomass availability to 2050. This reports that currently biomass supplies some 50,000PJ (1.2Gtoe) of energy globally per year.
Current estimates suggest that in the UK, there is 784 MW of new bioelectricity capacity under construction; 1,710 MW of new capacity that has been through planning consent and is awaiting construction; and 3,535 MW of new capacity is under planning consideration. This information is taken from the Renewable Energy Planning Database which is regularly updated.
Assuming all this capacity became operational, this would result in a maximum total demand for biomass of around 600PJ, equivalent to 32Mt wood, including demand from existing generators. However, these plants would use a variety of biomass feedstocks, including wastes, sewage, straw, energy crops and forest products including residues.
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations on financial support for biomass energy generation his Department has received from representatives of the wood processing industry. [31009]
Charles Hendry: On 13 September, the Minister for Climate Change, my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker), met representatives of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Wood Panel Industry and the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF). A wide range of issues, including the financial incentives for bioenergy generation, were raised at the meeting.
DECC officials have also met representatives from the wood processing industries. The WPIF, the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor) and the Confederation of Paper Industries have responded to recent consultations such as the Renewable Heat Incentive or regarding changes to the Renewables Obligation. Their responses are available from the DECC website.
Defence
Afghanistan: Armed Forces and Police
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of retention rates in the Afghan National (a) Army and (b) Police in 2010; and if he will make a statement. [30600]
Peter Luff: We are making good progress on growing the Afghan National Security Forces and are currently ahead of schedule for meeting the target of 171,600 Afghan National Army and 134,000 Afghan national police by the end of 2011.
Retention is a matter for the Government of Afghanistan but we will continue to work closely with them to help build their capacity and capability.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects winter clothing to be issued to members of the armed forces stationed in Kabul. [31886]
Peter Luff: Service personnel who will require winter clothing for use in Afghanistan are either issued it prior to their deployment or in theatre when weather conditions necessitate it. There is no shortage of winter clothing for troops in Afghanistan and Commanders are able to draw upon stocks of winter clothing in theatre if necessary, for example if an item is lost or damaged.
Armed Forces: Redundancy
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely effect on standing commitments of the redundancies in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) RAF announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [30602]
Dr Fox: The Strategic Defence and Security Review sets out the requirements for the armed forces' contribution to standing commitments and identifies the re-structured forces we will need over the next 10 years to meet them. Changes in manpower in the three services will not affect our non-discretionary standing commitments. We will make manpower reductions in a structured way to protect operational capabilities.
Army: Manpower
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what budgetary allocations he has made for an army of 96,000; if he will assess the affordability of an army of that strength; what estimate he has made of the allocation required for an army of 82,000; and what budgetary allocations he has made for the army in each year to 2015 as a result of the outcome of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [31724]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) made estimates of the cost savings which could result from the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) for the purposes of formulating policy. Final budgetary allocations are subject to the ongoing planning process. Until that process is complete, the MOD is unable to release more detailed figures.
British Overseas Territories: Navy
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on naval operations in British Overseas Territories of changes to Royal Navy capability resulting from the outcome of the strategic defence and security review; and if he will make a statement. [31098]
Peter Luff: The Government reiterated our commitment to the defence of the UK's overseas territories in the strategic defence and security review. The Royal Navy is a modern, powerful and capable force and remains able to deploy a taskforce worldwide in support of our national interests. Inevitably, with fewer ships there will have to be some reduction in activity, but the Royal Navy will continue to send ships to priority regions such as the north and south Atlantic, the Indian ocean and the Gulf.
Departmental Consultants
Mr Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on consultants since 1 May 2010. [31141]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The Ministry of Defence has spent £13.42 million on consultants in the period 1 May to 30 October 2010, the latest period for which information is available; this figure includes MOD trading fund agencies. The majority of the expenditure was the result of contracts placed prior to 24 May 2010, the start of the Consultancy Moratorium enacted by the Coalition Government.
Consultancy covers management consultancy, specialist lawyers, commercial bankers and IT expertise.
Departmental Energy
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the recommended ambient room temperature is for offices on his Department's estate. [31089]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence does not mandate a recommended ambient room temperature for its offices on the Defence estate beyond ensuring that the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings is in accordance with the requirements of the Approved Codes of Practice to the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 which require a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius when offices are occupied.
It is up to heads of establishment at individual buildings to determine what the ambient temperature should be providing that the minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius is achieved.
Departmental Information Officers
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many press and communication posts in his Department are remunerated at (a) between £50,000 and £99,999 and (b) £100,000 or over. [30400]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 13 December 2010]: Our records indicate that in March 2010, 52 press and communication posts across Defence were remunerated at between £50,000 and £99,999. These posts are across the military and civilian defence community, in the UK and overseas in Headquarters and in the single Service units.
A further 109 posts were filled by military ranks or civilian grades for which the salary range straddled £50,000. The range of salaries that these posts could have been paid is between £45,190 and £56,078. It is not possible to say how many of these individuals were paid more than £50,000.
There was one press and communications post remunerated at £100,000 or over, which is a military two-star appointment.
We are taking a number of steps to reduce expenditure on defence media and communications. This will include further post reductions.
Departmental NDPBs
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many fixed-term appointments each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies has made since May 2010; [31641]
(2) what the average salary was of staff of each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies on fixed-term contracts in (a) April 2010 and (b) each subsequent month; [31642]
(3) what the total cost to his Department was of staff on fixed-term appointments in each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies in (a) April 2010 and (b) each subsequent month; [31643]
(4) what the total cost to his Department was for staff of each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies on fixed-term contracts in (a) April 2010 and (b) each subsequent month; [31644]
(5) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies in (a) April 2010 and (b) each subsequent month. [31645]
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies in (a) April 2010 and (b) each subsequent month; [31566]
(2) what the staff cost was of each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies in May 2010; and what estimate he has made of the likely cost in (a) financial years (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and, (iii) 2013-14 and (b) each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [31569]
Peter Luff: The Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), will write to the hon. Members soon after the Christmas recess, to enable officials to collect the required data.
Departmental Pay
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff employed by his Department were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage in the latest period for which figures are available. [31219]
Mr Robathan: The London living wage is designed to ensure that the unemployed in London are better off in work than living on benefits. It is not a statutory requirement.
Calculations have been made on base pay including separate London allowances (inner/outer London weighting).
Excluding trading funds, there are 265 civilian staff employed in London by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) currently not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage. All MOD staff are paid above the statutory national minimum wage.
Departmental Redundancy
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on redundancy costs since 1 May 2010. [31296]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 December 2010]: It will not be until the departmental resource accounts are published and laid before Parliament in July 2011 that it will be possible to give definitive figures for the current financial year.
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the cost of redundancies in the Department in 2010-11. [31411]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The financial provision made for redundancy and early release costs for the 2010-11 financial year amounts to £62 million.
No firm forecast has yet been made of redundancy/early release costs for the comprehensive spending review.
Departmental Travel
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on use of the Government Car Service in each month since April 2010. [31692]
Peter Luff: Ministry of Defence (MOD) payments to the Government Car and Despatch Agency for use of the Government Car Service since April 2010 have been as follows:
| Payment (£) | |
The MOD generally uses its own car pool for providing a car service to our Ministers, senior officials and Service officers, which gives us better value for money and operational flexibility.
European Defence Agency: Finance
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding the Government provided for the European Defence Agency in each year since 2005; and what proportion of the Agency's funding this figure represented in each such year. [30423]
Mr Gerald Howarth: The amount paid by the Ministry of Defence to the European Defence Agency's budget in each year since 2005 and the proportion of the Agency's funding that the amounts represent are as follows:
| Calendar year | £ million | Proportion of UK share to total Agency budget (percentage) |
Military Aircraft
Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2010, Official Report, columns 317-19W, on military aircraft, whether he estimated that the retention of 50 selected Harriers and 50 selected Tornados would be less costly than retaining 137 Tornados only; to what refitting in respect of the 15 Harrier GR9s which have returned from operations in Afghanistan he referred to in his answer; for what reason a mixed force of Harriers and Tornados has not been retained; if he will place in the Library a suitably redacted copy of the advice given to the Prime Minister on the fast jet fleet; and whether the final decision on retaining Tornados only was taken by (a) the chiefs of staff, (b) the National Security Council, (c) the Cabinet and (d) the Prime Minister. [30068]
Peter Luff [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The overriding factor in deciding between removing either the Tornado GR4 or Harrier was the ability to support operations in Afghanistan. A fleet of 50 Tornado and 50 Harrier aircraft would have been unable to maintain continuous support to operations in Afghanistan at current levels and maintain the ability to support concurrent operations. In addition, withdrawal of an aircraft type delivers greater savings than partial reductions, due to the fixed costs associated with supporting an aircraft platform; therefore running two smaller fleets would not have been cost-effective.
When the 15 Harrier GR9 aircraft returned from their deployment to Afghanistan, the funding to support their urgent operational requirements ceased and as such this equipment was removed from the aircraft. If Harrier had been required to redeploy to Afghanistan, these capabilities would need to have been re-activated, either with new funding streams or replacements where they had been superseded and could have taken up to 18 months.
In relation to release of further details regarding the military advice given to the Prime Minister, including savings estimates, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him, and to the hon. Member for Portsmouth North (Penny Mordaunt) on 24 November 2010, Official Report, columns 317-19W.
The Strategic Defence and Security Review decisions were taken by the National Security Council, chaired by the Prime Minister.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which aircraft are equipped with the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System; and whether the Nimrod MR4A aircraft was equipped with the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System. [30116]
Peter Luff: Aircraft currently equipped with the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) are as follows: Tornado F3, Typhoon, E-3D Sentry, Nimrod R1, Sentinel R1, VC10, TriStar, Hercules C130 and Sea King Mk7.
In addition to those aircraft that currently have JTIDS, it is planned to install the system on the following aircraft in future: Tornado GR4, Joint Strike Fighter, Rivet Joint, FSTA and A400M.
The Nimrod MRA4 would have also been equipped with JTIDS.
Military Bases
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has to consult (a) local authorities, (b) hon. Members, (c) economic development agencies and (d) the devolved administrations during his Department's base review; [30686]
(2) what methodology will be used to decide which bases will be recommended for (a) closure and (b) realignment under his Department's base review; [30687]
(3) what other Departments are being consulted as part of his Department's base review; and what information his Department has asked such departments to provide. [30852]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan) on 6 December 2010, Official Report, column 8W, to the right hon. and learned Member for North East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell)
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent under each budgetary heading on running costs for each (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Marines and (c) Army base in the UK (i) in each of the last five financial years and (ii) in 2010-11. [30688]
Peter Luff: The information requested is not held at that level of detail and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Through the implementation of the strategic defence and security review and the work of the Defence Reform Unit, we are seeking to better establish how costs are driven and to make more efficient use of resources. We expect the work on Defence Reform to report by July 2011.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions he has met (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Secretary of State for (i) Northern Ireland, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Communities and Local Government to discuss his Department's base review. [30853]
Dr Fox: I meet frequently with Cabinet colleagues to discuss a range of issues relating to the strategic defence and security review, including the implications for the Defence estate and basing. This will continue as will my officials' ongoing consultations on this subject with their colleagues in other Government Departments, and with trade unions, local councils and other external organisations.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to review the continuance of RAF bases; and if he will make a statement. [31204]
Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans, my hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan) on 6 December 2010, Official Report, column 8W, to the right hon. and learned Member for North East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell).
Ministry of Defence Police
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any proposals contained in the Strategic Defence and Security Review will affect the policing by Ministry of Defence Police of the St Fergus gas terminal and Garlogie compressor plant. [31143]
Mr Robathan: The current policing arrangements at St Fergus and Garlogie will not be affected by the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on the establishment of a permanent base for Ministry of Defence Police at the St Fergus gas terminal. [31144]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence Police deployment is fully funded by the gas companies through an arrangement with the Office for Gas and Electricity Market under provisions contained within the Counter Terrorism Act 2008. Costs are reimbursed to the Ministry of Defence.
MR1185 Study
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the criteria for inclusion in the MR1185 study are; what progress has been made on the study to date; and which veterans' groups have participated in the study. [31051]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
The reference MR1185 is not known but is assumed to incorrectly refer to MR185, the national health service information centre's reference number for the Nuclear Weapons Test Participants Study (NWTPS) undertaken by the former National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB).
The NWTPS study was commissioned in 1983 and three successive analysis projects have been completed by the NRPB researchers. Details about the study and the three analysis projects have been published in peer-reviewed journals and as NRPB reports. References for each of these papers and reports can be found through the website link shown.
The criteria for inclusion in the NWTPS study are described in detail in the NRPB reports but, in summary, the study group consisted of men who were recorded as having attended at least one of the sites used in the United Kingdom atmospheric nuclear weapon tests during the relevant periods and whose details were confirmed from contemporary records.
The British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA) and the former British Atomic Veterans Association as well as the British Legion were consulted during the first NRPB analysis project and contacts with BNTVA continued through to the third analysis. In particular, a BNTVA representative was included, as an observer, in the third analysis Project Management Group. Pre and post-publication presentations relating to the NRPB studies have been made to veterans' audiences, including a BNTVA AGM, by NRPB researchers.
Further information about the NWTPS study can be found on, or through references from, the HPA website at:
Nuclear Submarines
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the number of warheads deployed on each Vanguard class submarine will be reduced to no more than 40; when the stockpile of operationally available warheads will be reduced to no more than 120; and when warheads which have been removed from the operation stockpile will be dismantled. [20822]
Dr Fox: I will write to the hon. Member.
Rescue Services
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times search and rescue helicopters based at RAF Lossiemouth have been involved in operations to rescue individuals from mountains in Scotland in each of the last five years. [31142]
Peter Luff: The information requested is provided in the following table. The numbers provided are for all occasions when an aircraft was launched in response to a distress situation. We consider mountain rescue incidents to comprise callouts to casualties or missing persons in remote areas or hilly terrain.
| Number of mountain rescues | |
Sri Lanka
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) upon whose invitation he is visiting Sri Lanka on 18 December 2010; in what capacity; and what meetings he plans to have during his visit; [31849]
(2) whether he plans to report to (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) the House on the situation in Sri Lanka when he returns from his visit to that country on 18 December 2010. [31851]
Dr Fox: I have postponed my private visit to Sri Lanka due to an extended scheduled official visit to the Gulf. I intend to carry out an official visit to Sri Lanka in the course of next year.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who will be responsible for bearing the costs of his visit to Sri Lanka on 18 December 2010. [31850]
Dr Fox: This was to be a private visit, and privately funded. However I have postponed it due to an extended scheduled official visit to the Gulf. I intend to carry out an official visit to Sri Lanka in the course of next year.
Strategic Defence and Security Review: Costs
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of printing copies of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [31290]
Dr Fox [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The Ministry of Defence spent £2,300 on copies of the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of communications for the (a) consultation and (b) launch of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [31291]
Dr Fox [holding answer 16 December 2010]: Consulting and communicating on the Strategic Defence and Security Review was core departmental business and it is not possible to identify costs separately.
Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of overnight accommodation for (a) Ministers and (b) civilian staff required as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review process. [31292]
Dr Fox [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) was core departmental business incorporated into the routine work of Ministers and staff. No overnight accommodation costs were incurred by Ministers solely as part of the SDSR process. A significant number of civilian staff were engaged at various stages, and it is not possible to identify what element of detached duty costs incurred by civilian staff during the period of the SDSR was required specifically as part of the review process.
Strategic Defence and Security Review: Public Consultation
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation process was followed as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [30603]
Dr Fox: My ministerial colleagues and I, and officials from the Ministry of Defence (MOD), engaged a variety of academic organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, and industry representatives during the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). We also discussed the review with our allies and partners.
I invited contributions to the SDSR in July 2010. The MOD received over 6,000 responses from MPs, members of the armed forces, public servants within and beyond Defence, industry, academics and the public, together with over 1,000 letters and e-mails. Every response was read during the review by a member of the SDSR team, and the ideas and concerns they contained contributed to the MOD's thinking on the choices we faced.
In parallel with this activity, the Cabinet Office also engaged with external experts during the SDSR.
Transport
Airports
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the merits of introducing measures at all airports allowing expedited access for uniformed crew. [31382]
Mrs Villiers: Aviation security search measures apply equally to all (passengers, airport staff and aircrew including pilots) regardless of gender, race, age and occupation, with only a very limited number of exemptions, for example in respect of heads of state. The more people we exempt from search, the greater the risk this creates.
We would be wary of creating a two tier screening system that may increase the likelihood of people becoming targets for coercion. Even professional pilots with the highest levels of integrity and honesty can find themselves the subject of coercion or blackmail from those who might seek to force them to carry prohibited items into a critical part of an airport.
All screening measures are kept under review. The Department for Transport has regular dialogue with industry partners, including representatives of airline pilots, to ensure that security measures are commensurate with the existing threat.
Airports: Freight
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the levels of freight passing through each of the UK's airports were in each year since 2001. [30882]
Mrs Villiers: The level of air freight in tonnes in each year from 1999 to 2009 at the UK airports, that report to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is published in Table 13.2 of the CAA's Airport Statistics 2009. This table is available on the CAA website at:
Airports: Radiation Exposure
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on aircrew of repeated exposure to backscatter radiation from airport body scanners. [30479]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport commissioned advice from the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) on the effective dose of radiation from a back-scatter security scanner.
The HPA concluded that the effective dose from one scan is 0.02 micro Sv or less. This compares with the effective dose received for 1.4 minutes flying at airline cruising height of 0.12 micro Sv. The HPA recommends a dose constraint of 300 micros Sv/year to a member of the public from practices involving the deliberate use of ionising radiation sources.
Given the very significant difference between the effective dose from a back-scatter security scanner and the HPA's annual recommended dose constraint, the Department for Transport has not considered it necessary to commission research on the cumulative effects beyond this limit.
The HPA assessment was published on the DfT website on 1 February 2010.
Aviation: Security
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with the British Airline Pilots' Association on a potential opt-out for airline pilots from body scanning for the purposes of reducing cumulative exposure to radiation. [28616]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport is currently considering responses to a public consultation on the 'Code of Practice for the Acceptable Use of Security Scanners' in the UK. As part of this exercise, the Department consulted representatives from the aviation security industry, including the British Airline Pilots Association. A decision on the future use of security scanners will be made in due course. The Department for Transport commissioned advice from the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) on the effective dose of radiation from a back-scatter security scanner.
The HPA concluded that the effective dose from one scan is 0.02 micro Sv or less. This compares with the effective dose received for 1.4 minutes flying at airline cruising height of 0.12 micro Sv. The HPA recommends a dose constraint of 300 micros Sv/year to a member of the public from practices involving the deliberate use of ionising radiation sources.
Given the very significant difference between the effective dose from a back-scatter security scanner and the HPA's annual recommended dose constraint, the Department for Transport has not considered it necessary to commission research on the cumulative effects beyond this limit.
The HPA assessment was published on the DfT website on 1 February 2010.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the cumulative effect of regular use of bodyscanners on those who are already subject to higher than average levels of cosmic radiation, including pilots. [28833]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport commissioned advice from the UK Heath Protection Agency (HPA) on the effective dose of radiation from a back-scatter security scanner.
The HPA concluded that the effective dose from one scan is 0.02 micro Sv or less. This compares with the effective dose received for 1.4 minutes flying at airline cruising height of 0.12 micro Sv. The HPA recommends a dose constraint of 300 micro Sv/year to a member of the public from practices involving the deliberate use of ionising radiation sources.
Given the very significant difference between the effective dose from a back-scatter security scanner and the HPA's annual recommended dose constraint, the Department for Transport has not considered it necessary to commission research on the cumulative effects beyond this limit.
The HPA assessment was published on the DFT website on 1 February 2010.
British Transport Police: Arrests
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many arrests British Transport Police made in each year since 2007. [31239]
Mrs Villiers: This information is not held by the Department for Transport, but by the British Transport Police who can be contacted at 25 Camden road, London, NW1 9LN or by e-mail at:
parliament@btp.pnn.police.uk
Departmental Manpower
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average salary has been of people on fixed-term contracts in his Department in each month since April 2010. [30943]
Norman Baker [holding answer 15 December 2010]: The average annual salary for fixed-term contracts in the Department for Transport and its seven Executive agencies in each month since April 2010 is shown in the following table.
| £ | |
Departmental NDPBs
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what payroll costs each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) incurred in May 2010; and what estimate he has made of each such NDPB's expenditure on payroll in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2013-14 and (d) the spending review period. [30828]
Norman Baker [holding answer 16 December 2010]: Estimates of the future payroll expenditure of the Department's non-departmental public bodies will be dependent on the outcome of the review of public bodies. We would expect to make this information available in due course.
The payroll costs for the Department's non-departmental public bodies incurred in May 2010 are:
| Payroll costs incurred in May 2010 (£) | |
| Notes: 1. Cycling England: does not exist as its own legal entity-it is essentially part of DfT. It ceases to exist after March 2011. 2. Rail Heritage Committee confirm there is no expenditure. | |
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by each non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department in each month since April 2010. [31020]
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff were employed by each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies in (a) April 2010 and (b) each subsequent month. [30908]
Norman Baker [holding answer 16 December 2010]: The number of staff employed by each non-departmental public body sponsored by this Department in each month since April 2010 is as follows:
| Number of staff employed | ||||||||
| RFA | BTPA | DPTAC | DOR Ltd. | Northern Lighthouse Board | Passenger Focus | Trinity Lighthouse | TCs and DTCs | |
Department for Transport non-departmental public bodies are:
RFA-Renewable Fuels Agency
BTPA-British Transport Police Authority
Cycling England
DPTAC-Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
DOR Ltd.-Directly Operated Railways Ltd
NLB-Northern Lighthouse Board
Passenger Focus
TCs and DTCs Traffic Commissioners and Deputy Traffic Commissioners
TLS-Trinity Lighthouse Service
Cycling England does not exist as its own legal entity-it is essentially part of Department for Transport. It ceases to exist after March 2011.
Healthier Travel Options: Commuters
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to implement (a) greener and (b) healthier travel options for commuters. [31079]
Norman Baker: The coalition agreement commits to supporting sustainable travel initiatives, including walking and cycling. The introduction of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, funded to £560 million over this Parliament, will enable the delivery by local transport authorities of sustainable transport solutions geared, among other things, to bringing about changing patterns of travel behaviour and greater use of more sustainable transport modes and so deliver a reduction in carbon and other harmful emissions. It will also facilitate the delivery of additional wider social, environmental, health and safety benefits for local communities, including commuters.
In addition, the recently published public health White Paper-Healthy Lives, Healthy People-promotes active travel and physical activity, as well as emphasising the importance of road safety.
High Speed Two: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the budget for High Speed Two is; and how many staff of his Department are working on the project. [31250]
Mr Philip Hammond: High Speed Two (HS2) Limited has an agreed budget of £21.1 million (plus the cost of any incurred VAT) for 2010-11. HS2 Limited currently has 56 staff (54.2 FTE).
In addition, five members of staff in the Department for Transport's Rail Strategy Directorate currently work on high speed rail policy.
London and South Eastern Railways: Franchises
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the performance of Southeastern in discharging its obligations under its franchise agreement. [30738]
Mrs Villiers: Department for Transport Officials monitor Southeastern's performance against the contract on a four weekly basis. This review includes operational performance and the delivery of committed obligations.
The Southeastern franchise agreement is currently due to end on 31 March 2012, though the option does exist for a two year extension to the agreement to allow the franchise to end on 31 March 2014. In order for Southeastern to be offered that two year extension, they must pass a performance based continuation review. That review period concluded on 12 December 2010 and the Secretary of State expects to notify the operator of the outcome early in the new year.
London and South Eastern Railways: Standards
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of rail services run by Southeastern was subject to a delay of over 10 minutes in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [30735]
Mrs Villiers: The information requested is given in the following table.
| Period | Trains planned | Trains more than10 minutes late | % of trains more than 10 minutes late |
| Notes: 1. Results are reported on a four weekly periodic basis each year, starting with period 1 on 1 April to period 13 ending on 31 March. 2. Rail Industry Period 8, running from 17 October to 13 November 2010, is the latest period from which this data is available. | |||
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail services Southeastern has cancelled in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010. [30736]
Mrs Villiers: The information requested is given in the following table.
| Period | Trains planned | Trains cancelled | % of trains cancelled |
| N otes: 1. Results are reported on a four weekly periodic basis, starting with period 1 on 1 April to period 13 ending on 31 March. 2. Rail Industry Period 8, running from 17 October to 13 November 2010, is the latest period from which this data is available. | |||
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had recent discussions with Southeastern on ensuring the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its service. [30742]
Mrs Villiers:
Department for Transport officials review Southeastern's delivery of its services on a four-weekly
basis. This includes its train performance and the financial delivery. The effectiveness of the operator's delivery is also tested on an annual basis through the business planning requirements of its franchise agreement.
Separately, as this House is aware, Sir Roy McNulty has published his interim report into the Value for Money of the railway, available at:
which identifies potential savings of up to £1 billion a year in the running of Britain's railways. The Government will be taking forward these savings with train operators and Network Rail, to ensure a more efficient and effective railway.
London and South Eastern Railways: Tickets
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms are in place to ensure that Southeastern carries out efficient ticketing enforcement on its rail services; and if he will make a statement. [30734]
Mrs Villiers: All franchise agreements entered into since 2004 require train operators to implement a structured revenue protection strategy.
Southeastern's revenue protection strategy includes a penalty fares scheme, approved by the Department for Transport. Under the scheme, a passenger who cannot show a valid ticket for their journey, where ticket facilities were available at their starting station, may be liable to a penalty fare of £20 or twice the single fare.
Revenue protection officers operate on the Southeastern network to combat instances of ticketless travel and, where appropriate, to issue penalty fares. The Southeastern network is also served by teams of rail enforcement officers, who are authorised collectors of penalty fares under the penalty fares scheme.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Manpower
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Maritime and Coastguard Agency personnel of each grade were employed in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years. [31947]
Mike Penning: The number of people employed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years by grade is shown in the following table:
| 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
Midland Main Line: Standards
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the statement of 25 November 2010, Official Report, columns 466-68, on rail investment, what plans he has to improve the line speed, reliability and capacity of services on the Midland Main Line. [30441]
Mrs Villiers: The spending review confirmed approval for a package of works totalling £69 million to allow increased line speeds on the Midland Main Line by 2013. The work will enable an improvement of at least eight minutes in the journey time between London and Sheffield. At the south end of the route the Thameslink programme will increase capacity and improve accessibility to, from and through London. The first stage is planned to be delivered by 2012.
Motorways: Speed Limits
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which sections of the (a) M5, (b) M6, (c) M1, (d) M25, (e) M4 and (f) M3 are subject to lower speed limits because they do not meet current visibility requirements or have sub-geometric features. [31889]
Mike Penning: There are no sections of M5, M6, M1, M3 or M25 which are subject to lower statutory speed limits because they do not meet current visibility requirements or have sub-geometric features. There are, however, two locations on the M5 between junctions 1 and 4 where advisory speed limits of 50 mph are in place. One is on an elevated section between junctions 1 and 2 (Oldbury) and the other is at junction 4 (Lydiate Ash); both are due to the locations having a tight radius curve.
The M4 eastbound between junction 4 and just prior to the start of the elevated section just before junction 2 is subject to a permanent mandatory speed limit of 60 mph due to sub-geometric features.
The M4 eastbound just prior to the start of the elevated section at junction 2 to the end of the elevated section at junction 1 is subject to a permanent mandatory speed limit of 40 mph due to sub- geometric features.
The M4 westbound from junction 1 to the end of the elevated section just past junction 2 is subject to a permanent mandatory speed limit of 40 mph due to sub-geometric features.
The M4 junction 4 to junction 4a Heathrow Spur (both directions) is subject to a permanent mandatory speed limit of 50 mph due to sub-geometric features.
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