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14 Feb 2011 : Column 634W—continued
Crossrail
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy to consider extending the Crossrail rail into Kent in the future. [38664]
Mrs Villiers: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 21 June 2010, Official Report, column 42W.
Departmental Marketing
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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. [37235]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport incurred no expenditure in the 2009-10 financial year on the manufacture and distribution of drinks coasters carrying the Department's corporate brand.
A small amount was spent on drinks coasters carrying safety campaign brands owned by the Department, namely £5,022 on "Don't Drink and Drive" beer mats, and £2,026 on "Don't Drink and Drown" beer mats, carrying HM Coastguard and ROSPA logos.
Departmental NDPBs
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets have been set for the work of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. [39333]
Mike Penning: Details of the targets that have been set for the work of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are published in the DVLA Business Plan. This can be found on the DVLA's website at:
under the heading of "publications".
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets have been set for the work of the Government Car and Despatch Agency. [39336]
Mike Penning: I refer the hon. Member to the targets outlined within the written statement, "Motoring and Freight Services Ministerial Targets", made on 30 March 2010, Official Report, column 117WS. Copies of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) Business Plan were deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 30 March 2010.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Barnett consequential funding his Department has provided to each of the devolved Administrations in (a) 2010-11 to date and (b) each of the last three years; and with which programmes such funding was associated. [39379]
Norman Baker: In the 2010 spending review changes in the DEL budgets of the devolved Administrations were determined by the Barnett formula in the normal way. The settlements for the years 2011-12 to 2014-15 were published in table 2.22 of the 2010 spending review document (Cm 7942).
Barnett consequentials relating to each of the devolved Administrations for the years 2008-09 to 2010-11 are published as part of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses Supplementary Material on the Treasury's website under the heading House of Lords Select Committee on the Barnett formula:
Updated tables taking account of adjustments since the publication of the 2010 edition of PESA will be published alongside the next edition of PESA later this year.
Information on the block grants paid by the territorial offices to the devolved Administrations is published alongside the Main and Supplementary Estimates.
Driving Standards Agency
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of amalgamating of the Driving Standards Agency, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and Vehicle Operator Services Agency for the purposes of reducing administrative costs. [38774]
Mike Penning: As part of the Government's Efficiency and Reform agenda we are looking at options to reduce administrative costs. The Department has already merged many of its back-office functions into a single Shared Services Centre, including functions from Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
Driving: Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Sir Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to make changes to the availability of driving tests in Berwick-upon-Tweed. [40625]
Mike Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has no current plans to make changes to the availability of driving tests at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
East Coast: Power Sockets
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the reliability of at-seat power sockets on carriages on Directly Operated Railways Limited East Coast rail services; and if he will make a statement. [38403]
Mrs Villiers: East Coast assesses the reliability of this equipment, and the socket power supply is tested as part of the routine carriage maintenance.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of the logistics industry to discuss the likely effects of scheduled fuel duty rises in the last quarter. [40349]
Mike Penning: Ministers meet regularly with logistic industry representatives to discuss a wide range of issues, including the effects of scheduled increases in fuel duty. Most recently, I attended the annual "Listening to Industry" event on 1 February.
Motorways: Advertising
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and (b) other relevant bodies on the (i) control and (ii) regulation of advertising hoardings adjacent to motorways. [39114]
Mike Penning: No such discussions have taken place.
As part of the Localism Bill there are proposals to introduce measures to allow local planning authorities to remove, and then dispose of, any display structure which is in their area and which in their opinion is used for the display of unauthorised advertisements. Further, local planning authorities will be able to serve an action notice on the owner or occupier of the land in or on which there is a persistent problem with the display of unauthorised advertisements.
The Government believe that local planning authorities already have adequate powers to deal with trailer advertisements under the Control of Advertisements Regulations. Guidance is in DCLG Circular 03/2007 (Annex paragraphs 147 and 148).
North Review of Drink and Drug Driving Law
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to respond to (a) the North Review of Drink and Drug Driving Law and (b) the Transport Committee report on Drink and Drug Driving Law, Session 2010-11, HC 460. [37835]
Mike Penning: A full, combined response to these two reports will be published shortly.
Railway Tracks: Sewage
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the volume of sewage discharged onto railway tracks in the latest period for which figures are available. [38143]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. However, my hon. Friend may wish to contact the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) at the following address to establish what information their members can provide:
ATOC Ltd
3rd Floor
40 Bernard Street
London WC1N 1BY
The Department would like all passenger trains to be fitted with retention toilet systems, an aspiration that is fully supported by the wider rail industry. However, this will take time to deliver given its reliance on the introduction of new trains, which are all fitted with retention toilets, and the extent to which such systems can be retrofitted to older fleets.
Railways: Power Sockets
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the role of providing on-board facilities including power sockets and wi-fi on inter-city rail services in encouraging a modal shift away from the use of domestic flights; and if he will make a statement. [38404]
Mrs Villiers:
The Department for Transport acknowledges that the provision of on-board facilities
on inter-city rail services including power sockets and wi-fi is attractive to many passengers and may encourage modal shift. However, it is for train operators to decide if there is sufficient value and benefit to passengers to warrant the provision of these facilities on their services.
Road Fund Licences
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of road fund licences were issued (a) by the Post Office and (b) in response to an online application in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2010. [39896]
Mike Penning: The following table shows the breakdown of road fund licences issued by the Post Office and Online. Road fund licences are also issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Local Offices and through an electronic link with fleet operators. Figures for these channels area also included.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2010 | ||||
| Volume | Percentage | Volume | Percentage | Volume | Percentage | |
Roads: Safety
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of his Department's decision to reduce the area-based road safety grant. [37834]
Mike Penning: The Government have removed ring-fencing from local authority grants so that councils are able to set their own priorities. Extra funding support for road safety is now being provided in the revenue support grant. I would expect road safety to remain a priority for local communities and for local spending to reflect that.
The Government will shortly publish their draft road safety strategy for consultation.
Sea Rescue
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the incidents handled by HM Coastguard in the UK search and rescue region in the last three years were initiated by (a) digital selective calling and (b) a call on VHF channel 16. [39733]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency could gather the data you have requested only at a disproportionate cost. It is not recorded in a readily accessible format and would require a manual check of all incidents.
Shipping: Pay
Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on steps to equalise differential pay for seafarers working on UK registered ships. [41130]
Mike Penning: I will be introducing affirmative regulations under the Equality Act 2010 very shortly.
These regulations will specify how Part 5 of the Equality Act 2010 applies to work on ships and hovercraft, and seafarers; and will also bring the UK law on seafarers differential pay in to line with EU law.
It is my intention to legislate in a way that minimises to the greatest extent possible, the potential threat to the UK flag.
Southeastern
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail services operated by Southeastern have been cancelled in each year of the current franchise agreement. [38285]
Mrs Villiers: The information requested is given in the following table:
| Trains planned | Trains cancelled | Percentage cancelled | |
Period 9 2010-11 (14 November to 11 December 2010) is the latest data available.
Travel: Costs
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the percentage change in real terms of the cost of travelling by (a) private car, (b) bus, (c) train and (d) domestic aeroplane since (i) 1980 and (ii) 1997. [36672]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has not estimated changes in the real cost of motoring or any other mode of travel.
Data from the independent ONS suggest that between 1980 and 2010 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 10%, bus and coach fares increased by 54% and rail fares increased by 55% in real terms.
ONS data suggest that 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.
Figures from the Office of Rail Regulation's National Rail Trends show that between 1985 and 2010 total government support to the rail industry has doubled in real terms, and that between 1997 and 2010 it increased by 86% in real terms. 1985 is the earliest year for which comparable data are available.
The costs of travelling by air are not available from ONS data. 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:
Alison McGovern: 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 air flight between (i) 1980 and 2010 and (ii) 2000 and 2010. [37928]
Norman Baker [holding answer 9 February 2011]: I have not estimated changes to the real cost of motoring or any other mode of travel.
Data from the independent ONS suggests that between 1980 and 2010 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 10%, bus and coach fares increased by 54% and rail fares increased by 55% in real terms.
ONS data suggests that between 2000 and 2010 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 8%, bus and coach fares increased by 15% and rail fares increased by 20% in real terms.
Figures from the Office of Rail Regulation's National Rail Trends; see:
show that between 1985 and 2010 total Government support to the rail industry has doubled in real terms, and that between 2000 and 2010 it has more than doubled in real terms. 1985 is the earliest year for which comparable data are available.
The costs of travelling by air are not available from ONS data. However, the average cost of a one-way air fare, including taxes and charges, covering domestic flights fell by 34% in real terms between 2000 and 2008, the latest date for which figures are available.
UN Decade of Road Safety
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to mark the launch of the UN Decade of Road Safety on 11 May 2011. [37838]
Mike Penning: Ministers are planning to participate in events organised by road safety groups to mark the launch of the UN Decade of Road Safety on 11 May.
Deputy Prime Minister
House of Lords: Reform
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish a draft Bill on reform of the House of Lords. [39898]
Mr Harper: The cross-party Committee which the Deputy Prime Minister chairs, and of which the right hon. Member for Tooting is a member, is considering proposals for a wholly or mainly elected second chamber. The Government will publish a draft Bill early this year. The Bill will then be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. The Government hope that this will be carried out by a joint committee of both Houses.
Defence
Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many court martials for malingering there have been since the Armed Forces Act 2006 came into force; and how many of those charged of the offence were under the age of 18. [38277]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 9 February 2011]: One individual has been court martialled for malingering since the Armed Forces Act 2006 came into force. Additionally, a Preliminary Court Martial Hearing is due to convene shortly to discuss one count of malingering. Neither of the individuals involved are under 18 years of age.
Armed Forces: Finance
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the funding settlement under the comprehensive spending review to meet the objectives of the Future Force 2020 Model set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review. [39349]
Dr Fox: The spending review sets out the Ministry of Defence's core budget for the next four years. The budget for the spending review period includes ambitious but achievable targets for delivering non front-line and efficiency savings of some £4.3 billion over the next four years. We are determined to deliver these. This period is the start of a process to bring the Defence budget back into balance. As we are continuing to develop and refine our Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) implementation plans it is not sensible to speculate about the overall cost of the future Defence programme.
Funding after 2015 will be an issue for the next spending review. In announcing the SDSR on 19 October 2010, Official Report, columns 797-826, the Prime Minister was clear that his own strong view was that there would need to be real terms growth in the Defence budget in the years beyond the current spending review to make Future Force 2020 affordable.
Armed Forces: Health Services
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review on standards of medical care received by armed forces personnel. [40491]
Mr Robathan: The Strategic Defence and Security Review, undertaken as part of the comprehensive spending review, included a commitment to maintain and further develop the medical support provided by the Defence Medical Services and the NHS. Specifically, it committed an additional £20 million per year for the provision of health care to service personnel. Plans have yet to be finalised but this funding is likely to be applied mostly to providing additional health care personnel, including enhancements to mental health provision, rehabilitation units and at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine and Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
Armed Forces: Housing
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of his Department's Housing Information Centre in Osbaldwick, York. [39864]
Mr Robathan: The future provision of housing services for armed forces personnel and their families, including the role and responsibilities of all seven regional housing information centres, are currently under consideration as part of the ongoing work following up the Strategic Defence and Security Review, and reflecting the next estate generation contracts programme.
For that reason, it is too early to give an indication of the potential impact of this ongoing work on the housing information centre at Osbaldwick, York.
Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with Ministers in (a) the Scottish Executive, (b) the Welsh Assembly Government and (c) the Northern Ireland Executive on the implementation of the aspects of the military covenant relating to (i) housing and (ii) education; and on what dates such discussions took place. [40449]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 11 February 2011]: While no meetings have taken place with Ministers of the devolved Administrations specifically to discuss the implementation of the armed forces covenant, the Ministry of Defence maintains a close dialogue with their officials. For example, the External Reference Group, which delivers independent judgment on the Government's efforts in supporting the armed forces, families and veterans, includes representatives from the devolved Administrations.
Armed Forces: Pensions
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme there are. [40117]
Mr Robathan: The number of members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) can be found on pages eight to 10 of the AFPS Resource Accounts for financial year 2009-10, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
Body Armour
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to improve the quality of body armour procured by his Department. [40317]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence buys body armour on a continual basis as the operational need arises. Osprey body armour was introduced in 2006 and has undergone a number of refinements and improvements since, culminating in the current Mk 4 Osprey. Osprey Mk 4 provides a high level of protection against small arms and fragmentation threats and is ergonomically designed and lighter than previous versions of Osprey.
The next planned update to body armour will be through the VIRTUS programme which is currently in its assessment phase. Meanwhile Osprey will continue to develop in light of operational feedback and outputs from ongoing research.
Civilian Personnel Reductions
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 584, on civilian personnel reductions, on how many occasions since assuming office in 2010 he has met representatives from the PCS union; what future meetings he plans to hold with the PCS union on civilian personnel reductions in his Department; and if he will make a statement. [39786]
Mr Robathan:
The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), met with the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and the other Ministry of Defence recognised trade unions on 2 September 2010 when the potential
for civilian reductions was discussed in advance of the Strategic Defence and Security Review announcement. At that meeting it was agreed that a Minister should be appointed to lead engagement with the Trade Unions on civilian issues. I have taken on this responsibility.
The Secretary of State is scheduled to attend a further meeting with the Trade Unions (including PCS) on 28 February, which I will also attend. This meeting will specifically discuss the civilian workforce reductions.
There is also an ongoing dialogue between officials and the recognised departmental trade unions over the implementation of the civilian reductions.
Defence: Exports
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps his Department has taken to promote UK defence exports to international partners. [39313]
Mr Gerald Howarth: This Government are supporting defence exports through an active and innovative defence diplomacy initiative. Ministry of Defence (MOD) Ministers are actively promoting defence exports to international partners. The Prime Minister has stated that any Government Minister travelling overseas should promote the best that Britain has to offer, including in defence and security. We recognise the important contribution defence exports can make in supporting our key strategic relationships. Exports can also help to maintain the UK's defence and aerospace industry, which employs 300,000 people, many of whom are highly skilled. Defence exports could help to reduce the cost to the taxpayer of MOD acquisition programmes through longer production runs, sharing of overheads on defence industrial facilities and contributing to development costs.
The Defence and Security Industrial Technology Paper contains a section on defence exports. I strongly encourage anyone who has a view on these issues to contribute to the debate as part of the public consultation process which continues until 30 March 2011.
We are embedding exportability in the design stage of the procurement process. By offering partnerships when designing equipment we can consider different capability requirements, thus increasing export opportunities. We are currently in discussions with a number of nations regarding Global Combat Ship new frigate, and opportunities to work with them to develop this capability.
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence has recently set up the Defence Exports Working Group which brings together Ministers and senior officials from across Government to plan and focus support to defence exports.
Defence: Procurement
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on increasing the diversity of the UK defence market. [39314]
Peter Luff:
The Government published a Green Paper in December 2010 on 'Equipment, Support and Technology for UK Defence and Security: a Consultation Paper', copies of which are available in the Library of the House. This started a period of formal consultation on issues such as research priorities, intellectual property,
support to exports and the role of small and medium enterprises. The outcomes of the current consultation process on the Green Paper will be taken forward in a White Paper which will be published later this year.
Departmental Correspondence
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long on average it has taken to respond to correspondence addressed to each Minister who has held office in his Department in each year since 2001. [40786]
Mr Robathan: The information is not held in the format requested.
The Cabinet Office publishes on an annual basis a report on Departments' and agencies' performance on handling ministerial correspondence, and the report for 2010 will be published once figures have been collated. Performance statistics for 2009 were published on 16 March 2010, Official Report, column 47WS.
Departmental Energy
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has saved in (a) energy costs and (b) carbon dioxide emissions since the introduction of real time energy displays. [39631]
Mr Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) real time display data shows electricity, gas and heating energy usage for MOD Main Building only. The displays went live during the period 7 to 29 July 2010. During the period from 1 August 2010 to 28 January 2011, savings of £144,000 had been made compared to energy usage for the same period during the year 2009-10, which represents an equivalent carbon dioxide saving of 1.03 million kg.
Departmental Responsibilities
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans last met representatives of the (a) Navy Families Federation, (b) Army Families Federation and (c) RAF Families Federation. [40785]
Mr Robathan: I met representatives of all three Families Federations on 8 February 2011. This was one of the regular 'Families Forum' meetings which enable the three Federations to raise issues direct with Ministers. I also met all three on 10 February 2011.
Iran: Nuclear Power
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the development of Iran's heavy water research reactor. [38979]
Dr Fox:
Iran is constructing a 40 megawatt heavy water reactor near Arak. Iran says this reactor, also known as the IR-40, is primarily intended for medical purposes. This type of reactor could also be used for plutonium production, and the UN has assessed the heavy water research reactor programme as proliferation sensitive. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
has confirmed that construction is continuing in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions (most recently UNSCR 1929 of 2010), which require that Iran suspend its proliferation sensitive uranium enrichment and heavy water-related projects. The UK continues to implement all UN Security Council resolutions relating to Iran and shares the concerns of the IAEA.
Military Aircraft: Helicopters
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he intends to publish the refreshed Rotary Wing Strategy; and if he will place a copy in the Library on publication; [40797]
(2) what timetable his Department has set for completion of the refreshed Rotary Wing Strategy. [40798]
Peter Luff:
The Rotary Wing Strategy will be revised in line with the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the results of the Department's annual planning round which is expected to conclude in spring 2011. Any
significant further changes to the Rotary Wing Strategy that arise as a result of the planning round will be announced to Parliament in the normal way.
Trident Replacement Submarines
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2011, Official Report, column 581, on Trident replacement submarines, what proportion of the costs of the (a) first, (b) second and (c) third new submarine will have been (i) spent and (ii) committed by 7 May 2015. [39649]
Dr Fox: The initial gate business case for the assessment phase of the programme to replace the Trident submarines is currently being reviewed. During this assessment phase we would expect to order certain parts for up to three boats to ensure they are ready for use once the main construction phase begins after main gate in 2016. However, until the assessment phase programme has been approved it is not possible to confirm the value of these parts.
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