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31 Jan 2011 : Column 522Wcontinued
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many (a) certified and (b) chartered librarians his Department has employed in each year since its creation. [37646]
Gregory Barker: The Department for Energy and Climate change has not employed a certified or chartered librarian since its creation.
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse was of the manufacture and distribution of Department-branded drinks coasters in the last financial year for which figures are available. [37243]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change spent nothing on Department-branded drinks coasters in the financial year 2009-10.
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to paragraph 3.3.14 of the Revised Draft Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) doubling and (b) tripling the total installed capacity for electricity generation envisaged as being required by 2050. [37277]
Charles Hendry: In July the Department published the 2050 Pathways report, which as well as presenting the assumptions lying behind the 2050 Calculator, calculated high-level costs in the large scale power generation sector for six illustrative pathways. The analysis set out cost figures for the physical capital; fixed and variable operating costs; fuel; nuclear decommissioning and waste; and infrastructure (such as the electricity transmission and distribution network). It does not consider the cost of financing, carbon, electricity imports, research and development, behavioural change or wider macro-economic impacts. Each of these pathways showed a marked increase in electricity demand, up to a doubling in some cases.
Compared with a 'no effort' pathway, average annual undiscounted fuel costs are £5-12 billion lower in low carbon generation pathways over the period to 2050, while average annual capital costs for the same period are £7-17 billion per year higher. The relative costs of the high and low carbon pathways were heavily dependent on the assumptions made about technology costs and fossil fuel prices.
As promised in the July publication, the Department is continuing to explore this area in further detail, and will publish an updated version of the Calculator including costs data later this year. Respondents to our Call for Evidence in October indicated strong public support for this course of action.
Further detailed analysis looking at the cost of electricity generation in the short- and medium-term is being carried out in conjunction with the electricity market reform project, which is to report later in the year.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the number of people diagnosed with cancer who are experiencing difficulties in paying their energy bills; whether he (a) is taking and (b) plans to take steps to assist such persons; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [36717]
Gregory Barker: The Department holds information on the total number of fuel poor who are long term sick or disabled. This information is not broken down by specific medical condition.
The Department continues to engage closely with interested parties on the issue of fuel poverty, most recently in relation to persons diagnosed with a terminal
illness. The Department has worked closely with interested parties, including with Macmillan Cancer Support, during the Warm Home Discount consultation process.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to prevent persons diagnosed with a terminal illness from living in fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement. [36718]
Gregory Barker: The coalition Government are committed to helping those living in fuel poverty.
The Department continues to engage closely with interested parties on the issue of fuel poverty, most recently in relation to persons diagnosed with a terminal illness. The Department has worked closely with interested parties, including with Macmillan Cancer Support, during the Warm Home Discount consultation process.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many and what proportion of people were living in fuel poverty in each (a) region, (b) local authority and (c) parliamentary constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [37563]
Gregory Barker: The following table shows the number and the proportion of households in fuel poverty by Government office region in 2008, the latest year for which this information is available.
Number of households in fuel poverty (thousand) | Percentage of households in fuel poverty | |
Fuel poverty data at a local authority and parliamentary constituency level are currently available for England in 2006 and are available on the DECC website at:
Fuel poverty is a devolved statistic, with each separate Administration of the UK having their own policy targets, measurement and outputs. In 2008, there were 332,000 fuel poor households in Wales, equivalent to 26% of all Welsh households. There is no further regional breakdown on the Welsh fuel poverty data.
In 2009, there were 770,000 fuel poor households in Scotland, equivalent to 33% of all Scottish households. Fuel poverty data at a local authority level are available for Scotland and can be found in Table 8.10 via the following link:
Mr Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to announce details of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. [37482]
Gregory Barker: We expect to be in a position to announce the details of the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme shortly and to be open for business from 2011.
Mrs Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people in Halifax have participated in the Warm Front scheme in the last five years. [36906]
Gregory Barker: Warm Front has assisted 4,214 households in the constituency of Halifax in the last five years(1).
(1) From 1 June 2005 to 31 December 2010
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many persons responded to his Department's consultation on the Warm Home Discount; and if he will make a statement. [36705]
Gregory Barker: 1,800 responses were received which call for terminally ill people to be included in the core group. 47 responses were received to the consultation as a whole.
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to publish the results of his Department's Warm Home Discount consultation; and if he will make a statement. [36706]
Gregory Barker: A consultation on the Government's proposals for the Warm Home Discount closed on 14 January. The responses to consultation are currently being considered and the Government will publish a response in due course.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose was of the payment of £5,000 from the Audit Commission to the Institute for Public Policy Research in April 2010; and what the title was of the associated conference. [36896]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The payment of £5,000 was for sponsorship of an IPPR seminar held on 14 April 2010 titled: The future of grant allocation for local service delivery in England.
The sponsorship included a Commission exhibition stand and branding at the event and on IPPR marketing materials.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose was of the payment of £1,083 from the Audit Commission to De Vere Whites in May 2010; and how many officials attended the event for which the payment was made. [36898]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The meeting was for staff carrying out and reviewing work on quality accounts in Foundation Trusts in the north of England.
The event considerably reduced the time taken to complete and review the final audit reports, which enabled us to keep the costs of the audits to the clients, who paid directly for them, to a minimum.
An external venue was used as the Commission has no accommodation large enough in that area.
There were 30 attendees.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission has paid to GymWorld Ltd. in the last 24 months; and for what purpose. [36900]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
During the last 24 months, the Commission has paid £1,078 to Gymworld for equipment used by staff in the gym at the Commission's Bristol office. This payment was recovered in total through staff subscriptions.
The Audit Commission does not fund or subsidise the staff gym and there is no cost to the public purse.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose was of the meeting in the City Inn Westminster funded by the Audit Commission at a cost of £466 in April 2010; and how many officials attended the meeting. [36901]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The above meeting took place on 15 March 2010 and was a training event for Chairs of Professional Communities. There were 10 attendees. Meeting facilities were unavailable at Millbank at this time due to building work taking place as part of office downsizing.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose was of the expenditure of £4,813 by the Audit Commission on the Royal Horseguards Hotel in June 2010; and how many officials attended the associated function. [36904]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The above expenditure was for an Audit Commission Alumni event held on 12 May 2010. There were 34 attendees and the event was an information gathering and exchange exercise with both former and current staff.
The Commission no longer holds Alumni events but relies on electronic networking.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose was of the expenditure of £3,635 by the Audit Commission on the Holiday Inn Regents Park in June 2010; and how many officials attended the associated function. [36905]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The expenditure was for a professional development event for senior audit staff on 23 April 2010. Twenty six delegates, travelling from across the country, attended the event and eighteen of these required one night's overnight accommodation.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on external public (a) affairs and (b) relations in each of the last five years. [36940]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Commission spent the following amounts on external public affairs and relations in each of the last five years:
Consolidated Communications | |
£ | |
EMAP | |
£ | |
The Commission subscribes to an online information service provided by DeHavilland (EMAP) that allows our staff to keep informed of developments in Whitehall and Westminster.
Connect Public Affairs | |
£ | |
This contract was terminated in February 2010.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on alcohol in each of the last three financial years. [37027]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Audit Commission does not separately record expenditure on alcohol, because detailed invoicing is inconsistent. It does not allow staff to claim for alcoholic drinks when staying overnight on Commission business.
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to implement its policy on localising and reducing council tax benefit by 10 per cent. [36547]
Robert Neill: The Government are still working to formulate the new arrangements on council tax benefit as announced in the 2010 spending review.
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission has spent on office chairs in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the (a) make and model and (b) cost was of each type of chair. [36895]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 31 January 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Audit Commission has spent a total of £53,507.64 on office chairs in the last 12 months, as detailed on the attached sheet.
Since our abolition was announced on 13 August 2010, no further purchases of office chairs have been made.
Supplier | Make/model | Quantity | Type | Unit price (£) | Total (£) |
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to reduce his Department's expenditure on (a) newspapers and journals and (b) external media monitoring. [36945]
Robert Neill: Since May 2010, the Department has consolidated the seven separate sets of national newspapers previously received by the ministerial and special adviser offices to a single shared set of papers, delivering over £15,000 of ongoing revenue savings.
In addition, the Department's Communications Directorate has undertaken a review that has led to a reduction in the number of magazines and journals it subscribes to and a move to a single supplier, realising further annual savings of approximately £6,000.
In September 2010 the Department's regional cuttings service was cancelled and the national cuttings service moved to an electronic only format with a limited list of recipients. Neither DCLG Ministers nor officials in the Department now receive hard copy press cuttings. Ministers have taken the view that an excessive and unnecessary amount of taxpayers' money was being spent on press cuttings. The Department estimates that the cancellation of the regional cuttings service and streamlining of the national cuttings service will save approximately £16,000 and £19,000 respectively in the remainder of this financial year.
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on photography since May 2010. [34489]
Robert Neill: This information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, all spending on goods and services over £500 is published by my Department's website.
Moreover, no ministerial photographs have been procured at public expense; this is in contrast to the £2,648 of taxpayers' money spent on ministerial photography from April 2006 to April 2010.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of long-term empty properties following the announcement of his planned reforms to empty dwelling management orders. [36678]
Andrew Stunell: The coalition agreement commits us to exploring a range of measures to bring empty homes back into use. As part of that, we have recently completed a consultation on the New Homes Bonus which includes the option of including empty homes within the scheme. This could provide local authorities with a powerful financial incentive to tackle empty homes as part of their overall approach to meeting housing need.
We will also provide £100 million for housing associations and local authorities to bring over 3,000 empty homes back into use as low cost housing. This will enable local authorities and housing associations to tackle the most difficult properties by providing renovation works and management support.
Our proposals to reform to Empty Dwelling Management Orders will allow local authorities to take action against genuinely derelict housing which blight neighbourhoods, whilst respecting the rights of responsible home owners.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) private, (b) council-owned and (c) registered social landlord dwellings were recorded as being empty for longer than six months in each local authority in each of the last four years. [36680]
Robert Neill: A table showing the total number of dwellings recorded as being empty for longer than six months, and the numbers of dwellings owned by local councils and registered social landlords recorded as being empty for longer than six months in each English local authority in each of the last four years has been placed in the Library of the House.
The number of registered social landlord dwellings that are empty and not immediately available for letting is used as a proxy measure for vacancy of more than six months duration. Figures on council owned dwellings show the number of vacant dwellings owned by each local authority regardless of in which local authority area they are located. Reliable data on the numbers of privately owned dwellings that are empty are nut held centrally.
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what arrangements he plans to put in place to monitor the use of powers proposed to be given to local authorities under the provisions of the Localism Bill. [36910]
Greg Clark: We intend to undertake a post implementation review of the key provisions in the Localism Bill within three to five years of them being commenced. Post implementation reviews examine the extent to which the policy has achieved its objective, assess the costs and identify whether there have been any unintended consequences.
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he has made on formulating a code of recommended practice for local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [36617]
Robert Neill: We are currently considering the Communities and Local Government Committee report, published on 27 January, on our proposed publicity code. We intend to lay a new code before Parliament and publish the Government response to both the consultation and committee's report shortly.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have notified his Department that they do not plan to organise events to mark the festival of Christmas in 2010. [32086]
Andrew Stunell: Local authorities are not required to tell my Department how they are celebrating Christmas as this is a local matter. However, the Secretary of State has received approximately 60 letters supporting his stance on the celebration of Christmas.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take in cases where a local authority does not introduce a voluntary code of conduct for elected members. [36536]
Robert Neill: None. It will be a matter for each local authority, democratically accountable to its own electorate, to decide whether or not to introduce a code of conduct for its members. In taking this decision, a council will have regard to the duty, provided for in the Localism Bill, to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by its elected members. The Bill will make it a criminal offence to deliberately withhold or misrepresent a personal interest.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to make proposals arising from his consultation on the New Homes Bonus. [36526]
Grant Shapps: The New Homes Bonus will commence in April 2011. A consultation on the scheme design closed on 24 December 2010 and we are considering the responses. We will make an announcement on the final scheme design as soon as possible.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms he plans to put in place to ensure that enforcement of planning regulation is strengthened in relation to unauthorised development. [34314]
Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Neil Parish) on 17 January 2011, Official Report, column 503W.
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications his Department (a) called in and (b) otherwise recovered for decision from each local authority in each of the last three years. [36685]
Robert Neill: A table setting out planning applications called in and planning appeals recovered for the Secretary of State's decision have been placed in the Library of the House.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish proposals arising from his Department's consultation on the publicity code. [36535]
Robert Neill: We are currently considering the Communities and Local Government Committee report, published on 27 January, on our proposed publicity code. We intend to lay a new code before Parliament and publish the Government response to both the consultation and Committee's report shortly.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of holding a referendum relating to council tax increases for the average (a) county, (b) district and (c) unitary local authority; [36550]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of holding a referendum on a local issue for the average (a) county, (b) district and (c) unitary local authority. [36551]
Robert Neill: The provisional figures in my Department's impact assessment for the council tax referendums consultation paper published on 30 July 2010, show that the estimated costs was around £70,000 to £250,000. This would be around £1.50 per elector, or around 50 pence per elector if a local referendum was held at the same time as an election in the area concerned. The impact assessment is available to view on the departmental website:
An impact assessment, on the Localism Bill covering referendums' costs will be published in due course.
We believe our referendum proposals will be more democratic, especially since the right to veto excessive council tax increases will replace the top-down system of council tax capping by Whitehall, which gives no say to local residents.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to appoint a representative of the London borough of Tower Hamlets to serve on the Board of the Thames Gateway Development Corporation; and what the reason is for the time taken to make this appointment following the submission of the borough's nomination. [36807]
Robert Neill: I hope to make an appointment shortly. My officials are currently consulting the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments on the process to be followed in appointing a representative of the London borough of Tower Hamlets as a member of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation. While this consultation takes place, arrangements have been made for a representative of the borough to attend and speak at all meetings of the corporation.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on airport capacity in the South East. [35480]
Mrs Villiers: We have made clear that we do not support the construction of additional runways at Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted.
We have established the South East Airports Taskforce with key players from across the industry to explore the scope for measures to make the most of existing airport infrastructure and improve conditions for users of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
We are also committed to producing a new policy framework for UK aviation which supports economic growth and protects Heathrow's status as a global hub,
as well as addressing aviation's environmental impacts. We will issue a scoping document in March 2011, setting out the key strategic questions we are seeking to answer, followed by publication of a draft policy framework for consultation in March 2012.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of requiring the introduction of audio and visual information systems on all new buses. [35999]
Norman Baker: Research has been commissioned to assess the costs and benefits of installing audio visual systems on buses. The research project has brought together a cross section of stakeholders, including Guide Dogs, Royal National Institute of Blind People and Royal National Institute for Deaf People.
We will take account of the results of this work in considering any changes to the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR).The project is due to report shortly.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2011, Official Report, column 29W, on bus services: finance, what definition of impact on services he uses. [35173]
Norman Baker: The term "impact on services" in the answer given on 10 January 2011 relates to the estimated percentage reduction in bus mileage in each of the specified areas.
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many (a) women and (b) men have been appointed to public duties by his Department since May 2010; [35395]
(2) what public appointments he has made since his appointment; and to what payments each person so appointed is entitled. [35415]
Norman Baker: Information on key public appointments made since May 2010 is published in individual press releases. These should include information on remuneration. Press releases are available at
In addition, information on the gender of those serving on the boards of public bodies is published annually. Information for the 2010/11 period will be published in due course.
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of expenditure by the Driving Standards Agency on the design, promotion and implementation of the programme of continuing professional development for driving instructors in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [35388]
Mike Penning [holding answer 24 January 2011]: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) can provide the answer in full only at disproportionate cost.
Continuing professional development (CPD) for driving instructors was developed as an element of the agency's modernising driver training (MDT) project and is being promoted on a voluntary basis.
Since 1 April 2008, DSA has spent £111,532 on the design and promotion of voluntary CPD within the driving instructor industry.
DSA is, at this time, unable to readily identify other costs relating specifically to CPD, such as the cost of implementing it, as it is only one element of the wider MDT project.
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he took the decision to close the Driving Standards Agency office in Cardiff. [34976]
Mike Penning: I was first made aware of the intention of chief executive of the Driving Standards Agency to close the agency's office in Cardiff on 13 December 2010.
Further work needed to be done before details of the proposal could be finalised and the chief executive advised DSA staff of this on 15 December.
The final decision was announced on 18 January 2011.
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent (a) discussions and (b) correspondence Ministers and officials of his Department have had with the Wales Office on the closure of the Driving Standards Agency in Cardiff. [35075]
Mike Penning: The Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Wales, on a range of issues affecting Wales including the restructuring of the Driving Standards Agency.
We will continue to have such discussions regarding the proposed closure of the Cardiff DSA office throughout the consultation period.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the chief executive of Eurostar since 1 December 2010; what the outcomes were of such discussions; and if he will make a statement. [35867]
Mrs Villiers: Department for Transport's Ministers have not had any discussions with the chief executive of Eurostar since 1 December 2010. However, officials in the Department continue to hold regular discussions with the company.
I spoke to the chairman of Eurostar, Richard Brown, by phone in December.
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the (a) cost and (b) benefits of the electrification of the Great Western Main Line between London and Oxfordshire. [33828]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State announced on 25 November 2010 that the line between London, Oxford, Didcot and Newbury will be electrified over the next six years. Switching to electric trains will speed up journeys, improve reliability and reduce the impact on the environment. The exact costs and benefits of the scheme will depend on the full extent of electrification beyond Didcot, and a further announcement will be made in the coming weeks.
Chris White: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the forthcoming consultation on High Speed 2 will be open to responses from constituencies not only directly along the line of the proposed route, but also those adjacent to such constituencies; and if he will make a statement. [35677]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 24 January 2011]: All interested parties will be welcome to respond to the consultation regardless of their geographic location or any other factor.
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of (a) the remaining capacity on the West Coast Main Line and (b) the maximum increase in capacity from upgrading the Chilterns Line if High Speed Two is not constructed. [36106]
Mr Philip Hammond: I have made no estimate of the remaining capacity on the West Coast Main Line. In December 2010, Network Rail published a draft West Coast Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy for consultation which indicates that by 2024, the route, particularly at its southern end, will effectively be full.
The Department for Transport published a report by Atkins in March 2010 which reviewed options for upgrading the Chiltern line as an alternative to High Speed Two. This indicated that additional capacity could be provided with substantial investment in the route, but that the economic case for such expenditure would be poor. The report can be viewed on the Department's website at:
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an estimate of the likely economic benefits to (a) Tamworth, (b) Staffordshire and (c) the West Midlands from High Speed Two. [36019]
Mr Philip Hammond: The forthcoming consultation will include a detailed economic appraisal of the proposed line between London and the West Midlands and a higher-level assessment of the economic case for the 'Y'-shaped network. While it is hard to disaggregate these benefits for specific locations, Tamworth, Staffordshire and the West Midlands would each benefit from high-speed rail, including from capacity being released on existing lines.
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2011, Official Report, column 83W, on the Highways Agency: telephone services, what proportion of calls to the Highways Agency public helpline were unanswered in each week of November and December 2010. [36817]
Mike Penning: The following table shows the proportion of calls unanswered in each week of November and December 2010. Calls abandoned within 60 seconds are not counted as part of our abandoned call target as customers are given information in front end messages which may provide the answer required without the need to speak to an adviser. This is the agreed internal key performance indicator in line with industry standards.
Week commencing | Received | Answered | Abandoned after 60- second wait | P ercentage abandoned after 60- second wait |
Mr Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the acknowledged stopping time is for heavy goods vehicles travelling within each legal speed limit; and if he will make a statement. [35732]
Mike Penning: Stopping time and distance depends on a number of factors, including road conditions, driver-reaction time and also the condition of the vehicle including its tyres.
We would expect the minimum stopping time for heavy goods vehicles would be according to the following table:
Speed (mph) | Time (seconds) |
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make anti jack-knifing technology such as anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, electromagnetic braking systems or manually operated trailer brakes mandatory for all freight vehicles on UK roads; and if he will make a statement. [37185]
Mike Penning: Legislation introduced in Great Britain in May 2002 requires all heavy commercial vehicles and their trailers, with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3500kg, to be fitted with anti-lock braking systems.
A large number of new heavy commercial vehicles and their trailers are also fitted with electronic braking systems. In addition, electronic stability systems will be required on new vehicles and trailers under a phased introduction starting in November 2011.
European wide legislation on vehicle and trailer construction standards is already in place. While there are no plans to mandate specific anti jack-knifing technology, the introduction of advanced stability and braking systems on new vehicles will help to reduce loss of control situations which can lead to vehicle jack knifing.
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the monetary value was of contingent labour contracts funded by Network Rail in each of the last five financial years; [34797]
(2) how much funding Network Rail plans to allocate to (a) track maintenance, (b) overhead lines maintenance and (c) contingent labour in each of the next four financial years. [34798]
Mrs Villiers: These are operational matters for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's acting chief executive at the following address for a response to his questions:
Peter Henderson
Acting Chief Executive
Network Rail
Kings Place
90 York Way
London
N1 9AG
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with Network Rail and First Great Western steps to deal with overcrowding on weekday services to London Paddington departing from (a) Bristol Temple Meads at 06.00, (b) Oxford at 07.10 and (c) Reading at 07.42. [36286]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 26 January 2011]: The Department for Transport is currently in discussions with First Great Western regarding steps to reduce overcrowding on its services.
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the 10 rail services with the highest usage were in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available. [36198]
Mrs Villiers: Passenger counts are currently collected from franchised train operators twice a year: in the spring and autumn. Count data held by the Department for Transport are classified as commercially confidential and the data are not normally released at a service level. However, a list of the 10 most overcrowded peak-time London commuter train services in autumn 2009 was released recently by the Department. A copy of this list has been placed in the House Libraries.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answers of 21 December 2010, Official Report, column 1302W and 14 March 2005, Official Report, column 4W, on railways: disputes, for what reasons the information is no longer released on grounds of commercial confidentiality; and if he will make a statement. [36162]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 27 January 2011]: The answer to the question of 21 December 2010 covers a single payment, which would thus be identifiable. To release the information requested would constitute a breach of commercial confidentiality.
This contrasts with the answer referred to within the question on 14 March 2005, which provided aggregated information relating to a number of payments. In this case, disclosure of the total amounts paid did not provide information that was sufficient to identify individual payments or the operators to whom they were paid.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which 50 rail passenger routes showed the greatest excess of load over capacity in the most recent survey period for which figures are available. [36055]
Mrs Villiers
[holding answer 25 January 2011]: Passenger counts are currently collected from franchised train operators twice a year: in the spring and autumn. Count data held by the Department for Transport are classified as commercially confidential and the data are not normally released at a service level. However, a list
of the 10 most overcrowded peak-time London commuter train services in autumn 2009 was released recently by the Department. A copy of this list has been placed in the House Libraries.
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of funding in his Department's Statement of Funds Available will be spent on railways in (a) England and (b) Wales as a result of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review. [34644]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport does not hold information which separates out the statement of funds available in England and Wales.
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what price of oil per barrel his Department used in its estimates of congestion in the next five years. [34925]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport forecasts changes in congestion using the National Transport Model (NTM). The most recent forecast report, "Road Transport Forecasts 2009: Results from the Department for Transport's National Transport Model", contains congestion forecasts for 2015, and is available at:
The oil price projections assumed in the above forecasts are those published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
DECC's latest forecasts of fossil fuel prices and a description of the scenarios are available at:
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents involving under-age drivers were reported in each police authority area in each of the last five years; and how many such incidents resulted in prosecutions. [37088]
Mike Penning: The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving at least one driver below the minimum legal age required to drive that vehicle is given in the following table:
The court proceedings database held by the Ministry of Justice, contains information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. Other than where specified in a statute, statistical information available centrally does not include the circumstances of each case. It is therefore not possible to separately identify from motoring offences proceeded against those which resulted in an accident.
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents involving uninsured drivers were reported in each police authority area in each of the last five years. [37093]
Mike Penning: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Department for Transport.
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the number of accidents involving (a) motorcyclists, (b) cyclists and (c) pedestrians. [37252]
Mike Penning: We are aiming to publish the new strategic framework for road safety by April of this year and intend for the measures that it will set out to continue to increase road safety for all road users, including motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many recorded accidents on (a) A-roads and (b) motorways were attributable to escaped farm animals and horses in each of the last five years. [37706]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport collates information on animals identified as carriageway hazards in reported personal injury road accidents. However, information on the types of animals involved in accidents and whether they were escaped farm animals or horses is not available.
The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving animals as hazards in the carriageway by (a) A-roads and (b) motorways in the last five years is shown in the following table:
Number of reported personal injury road accidents where an animal( 1) was identified as carriageway haza rd, by type of roads, Great Britain, 2005-09 | ||
Type of r oad | ||
A-r oads | Motorways | |
(1) Except ridden horse. |
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set a precise date for the publication of his Department's new strategic framework for road safety. [36371]
Mike Penning [holding answer 27 January 2011]: The Department for Transport's business plan for 2011-15 sets out that the date for developing the new strategic framework for road safety is by April 2011.
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors he took into account in reaching his decision that Sole Bay should be the only place where ship-to-ship transfers of oil can be made in UK coastal waters. [36348]
Mike Penning: I took into account the fact that these waters off the Suffolk coast are the only area where the Department's Maritime and Coastguard Agency currently allows ship-to-ship transfers (other than those in a harbour authority area) to be carried out, and that these waters are recognised by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and by the industry as a suitable area for carrying out ship-to-ship transfers on navigational safety grounds. I also considered whether there was a demand from the industry for ship-to-ship transfers in other locations around the UK coast, and I considered the implications of introducing ship-to-ship transfers to waters where they are not currently carried out.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps is he taking to make speed camera data (a) in Sussex and (b) nationally more accessible to the public. [35729]
Mike Penning: We have made a commitment that information about cameras will be easily available to the public by April 2011. This could include data about accident rates at camera sites, vehicle speeds and the numbers of motorists prosecuted or offered training after offences recorded by cameras.
Public bodies should be accountable and if taxpayers' money is being spent on speed cameras then it is right that information about their effectiveness is available to the public. These proposals will help show what impact cameras are having on accident and casualty rates and also how the police are dealing with offenders. This is in line with our commitment to improve transparency of Government data so that the public are able to make more informed judgments about the work of local and central Government.
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances train companies are required to provide water to passengers free of charge. [36349]
Mrs Villiers: There is no legal or contractual requirement for train operating companies to provide water to passengers free of charge.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in real terms of the cost of travelling by (a) private car, (b) bus, (c) train and (d) domestic aeroplane since (i) 1981 and (ii) 1997. [35486]
Norman Baker [holding answer 21 January 2011]: Between 1981 and 2010 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 10%, bus and coach fares increased by 56% and rail fares increased by 51% in real terms. These figures are based on the transport components of the retail prices index.
Between 1997 and 2010 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 7%, bus and coach fares increased by 24% and rail fares increased by 17% in real terms.
The costs of travelling by air are not available from the retail prices index. However, the cost of the average UK one-way air fare, including taxes and charges, covering domestic flights fell by 35% in real terms between 1997 and 2008, the latest date for which figures are available.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many major infrastructure projects his Department is committed to funding (a) in London and (b) elsewhere in England; and what the value is of each such project. [34167]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 17 January 2011]: My Department is committed to funding the following major infrastructure projects:
Rail projects | |
Project | Value (£ billion) |
(1) DFT contribution (total value c.£14.6 billion) |
Other major transport infrastructure projects in London, such as investment in the London Underground network, are funded by Transport for London (TfL), drawing on financial support provided by the Secretary of State and on TfL's other sources of income, including fares.
The funding agreement between the Secretary of State and the Mayor of London, available at:
sets out the level of financial support for the next four years. The Mayor has confirmed that this agreement will allow TfL to deliver the infrastructure projects listed at Annex B of the funding agreement.
Rail projects | |
Project | Value (£ million) |
Other rail infrastructure projects are funded by Network Rail (NR), drawing on income from the Department for Transport and NR's own borrowing.
Road schemes | |
Existing schemes | Value (£ million)( 1) |
(1) These values are central estimates within a range estimate for each scheme. |
Forthcoming committed schemes (due to start before 2015)
M1 junctions 28-31
M1 junctions 32-35a
M1 junctions 39-42
M25 junctions 5-6/7
M25 junctions 23-27
M4 junctions 19-20 and M5 junctions 15-17
M6 junctions 5-8
M60 junctions 8-12
M60 junctions 12-15
M62 junctions 18-20
M62 junctions 25-30
A11 Fiveways-Thetford
A23 Handcross-Warninglid
A556 Knutsford-Bowdon
My Department has asked the Highways Agency to develop by spring this year an optimised programme for delivering the 14 schemes confirmed as going ahead in my announcement of 26 October 2010. This programme will deliver maximum efficiency savings across the programme. The programme was previously valued at £2.3 billion (the total of central estimates within a range
for each scheme). Given that the agency's work to develop an optimised programme for the schemes is not yet complete, and that the work involves commercial negotiations with the supply chain, it would not be appropriate to attempt to set out scheme estimates in more detail or against individual schemes.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the possibility of using tax increment financing to fund regional transport infrastructure projects. [35061]
Norman Baker: This is a matter for the Treasury. The Local Government Resource Review is assessing the implications of using tax increment financing and developing options for taking it forward through legislation.
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