1 Mar 2011 : Column 311W
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Bees: Pesticides
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with representatives of the beekeeping industry on new pesticides that are affecting varroa mites. [41712]
Mr Paice: I assume the hon. Member is referring to veterinary medicines that are used in the treatment of varroa in bees. There are currently five veterinary medicinal products authorised for the control of varroa in the UK, two of which have been authorised in the last two years.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is in regular contact with beekeepers about how to tackle medicines issues for bees and has produced an Action Plan on the Availability of Medicines for Bees which is published on its website. This action plan has been developed and is being implemented in close consultation with interest groups.
Circuses: Animal Welfare
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the future use of wild animals in circuses. [42715]
Mr Paice: We are currently considering the 13,000 or so responses to our consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses before we publish a summary. In the meantime, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my noble Friend Lord Henley, has been meeting with representatives of welfare groups and the circus industry.
Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on approval for the planting of genetically modified crops. [41965]
Mr Paice: The Government believe that regulatory decisions on GM crops should be based on a robust, case-by-case assessment of the potential impact on human health and the environment, taking full account of the scientific evidence.
New Forest
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 February 2011, Official Report, column 708W, on New Forest, whether access to such Forestry Commission land by the New Forest Hunt meets the criterion of a public benefit provided by the public forest estate. [42335]
1 Mar 2011 : Column 312W
Mr Paice [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The New Forest hunts carry out drag hunting under the terms of the permissions granted by the Forestry Commission. They are part of the traditions and heritage of the New Forest and could be considered as being a public benefit in this context.
Trees: Sudden Oak Death
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2011, Official Report, House of Lords, column 350, on trees: sudden oak death, whether contingency funding for sudden oak death is held centrally by her Department. [42881]
Mr Paice: No contingency funds are held for this or any other plant disease.
Home Department
Asylum
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department expects to have cleared all outstanding legacy asylum claims. [42992]
Damian Green [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The UK Border agency is on track to conclude the backlog of legacy cases by summer 2011. The agency provides regular updates on performance, including a breakdown into grants, removals and ‘other’ cases such as duplicates or errors, to the Home Affairs Select Committee and is due to report in the spring.
On 1 November the agency reported to the Home Affairs Select Committee that it had concluded 334,500 cases at the end of September 2010.
Asylum: Coventry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were granted asylum in Coventry in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010; [42871]
(2) how many people in the West Midlands were removed from the UK in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010. [42872]
Damian Green: In 2009, 109 individuals with a last known address in Coventry were granted asylum. In 2010, this number was 68.
In 2009, 1,894 individuals with a last known address in the West Midlands were removed from the United Kingdom. In 2010, this number was 1,833.
All figures quoted above are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
Asylum: Detainees
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, columns 511-12W, on asylum: detainees, for what technical reasons information collection on the reasons for asylum claimants leaving detention was discontinued in September 2006. [41862]
1 Mar 2011 : Column 313W
Damian Green [holding answer 28 February 2011]:Prior to September 2006, published detention statistics were obtained from the Detainee Location and Management Information System (DELMIS); this was the main source of data on detention. DELMIS was switched off in October 2006 and information was instead recorded on the Case Information Database (CID).
Following this change from a statistical to an administrative system from which information was collected, figures on all persons recorded as leaving detention solely under Immigration Act powers by reason (other than those removed from the UK) had not been published until the statistical data on the classification of reasons for persons leaving detention, other than for removal, was considered of publishable quality. The Head of Profession for Statistics for the Home Office is now satisfied the quality meets publication standards and publication of this information recommenced in November 2010, relating to the third quarter of 2010.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, columns 511-2W, on asylum: detainees, how many detainees were held under Immigration Act powers at each such centre in the third quarter of 2010. [41863]
Damian Green [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The following table, a subset of the latest published figures (Persons in detention as at 30 September 2010), shows the number of people in detention held solely under Immigration Act powers, who had claimed asylum at some stage, by place of detention as at 30 September 2010.
| Persons in detention in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers, by place of detention as at 30 September 2010 (1,2) | ||
| Number of persons | ||
| Place of detention | Total detainees | Of whom: asylum detainees (3) |
| (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5 (— = 0. * = 1 or 2), may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding and exclude persons detained in police cells, Prison Service establishments and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants. (2) Figures include dependants. (3) Persons detained under Immigration Act powers who are recorded as having sought asylum at some stage. | ||
1 Mar 2011 : Column 314W
The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of people in detention, solely under Immigration Act powers on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
Q4 2010 figures, including persons detained as at 31 December 2010, will be available on 24 February 2011.
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, columns 511-2W, on asylum: detainees, how many of the 1,275 individuals granted temporary admission or release had conditions, such as reporting or tagging, applied. [41864]
Damian Green [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The requested information is not centrally available and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
The Home Office publishes National Statistics on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a quarterly and annual basis and management information on the number of children entering detention, held solely under Immigration Act powers, by month, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many detainees at Campsfield House Immigration Centre have been held for more than one year; and for what reasons; [42705]
(2) how many detainees at Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre have been detained for more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) one year and (e) two years; [42865]
(3) for how long each detainee at Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre who has been detained for more than one year has been held. [42874]
Damian Green: A subset of published information in the table below shows the number of people in Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre, detained solely under Immigration Act powers as at 30 September 2010, broken down by length of detention.
| Persons in detention at Campsfield House, solely under Immigration Act powers, by length of detention as at 30 September 2010 (1, 2, 5) | |
| Length of detention (3, 4) | Total detainees |
1 Mar 2011 : Column 315W
| (1) Figures rounded to the nearest five, may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding and exclude persons detained in police cells, Prison Service establishments and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants. (2) Figures include dependants. (3) Relates to most recent period of sole detention. The period of detention starts when a person first enters the UK Border Agency estate. If the person is then moved from a removal centre to a police cell or Prison Service establishment, this period of stay will be included if the detention is solely under Immigration Act powers. (4) Two months is defined as 61 days; three months is defined as 92 days; six months is defined as 182 days; nine months is defined as 274 days. (5) Management information. | |
It is not possible to provide the reason why a person has been detained in Campsfield House from the data extract used to produce published figures.
Management information provided by UK Border Agency suggests that a significant number of those detained for over a year are former foreign national prisoners who we are seeking to deport from the UK.
Detention plays a key role in maintaining an effective immigration control. It is used only where necessary and is kept to the shortest time possible. Each case is considered on its individual merits, and there remains a general presumption in favour of release. Many factors will be taken into account, including the risk of absconding and the risk of further harm to the public.
Deportation of these individuals can be delayed in a number of ways. Judicial challenges can be used to delay or frustrate removal. This is being tackled through improved legal case working within the UK Border Agency and closer co-operation with the judiciary. Difficulties in obtaining travel documents are taken up directly with the relevant embassy or high commission. There may also be delays in the deportation process if individuals do not comply with the UK Border Agency’s efforts to re-document them.
The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
Q4 2010 figures including information on persons detained as at 31 December will be available on 24 February 2011.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 316W
Departmental Conditions of Employment
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of her Department’s adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice. [42627]
Damian Green: The Home Department is in a strong position to encourage good employment practice across its supply base and has produced a supplier charter jointly with HM Revenue and Customs.
In addition to this, the Home Department fully supports the Government’s initiative on creating opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and third sector organisations. It builds from the Department’s current ability to identify its small business suppliers, which comprises 43% of the suppliers used and represents 12% of its supplier spend as at January 2011.
This is complemented by the Department’s good record of prompt payment within five days.
The Department is actively contributing to the cross-Government agenda which is being led by the Efficiency Reform Group.
Departmental Interpreters
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which services provided by (a) her Department and (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available. [42894]
Damian Green: The response to this parliamentary question has been split into two parts (a) information relating to the Home Department which is made up of four constituent parts—Home Office Headquarters, the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA), the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), and the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and (b) its non-departmental public bodies which is made up of five constituent parts—Security Industry Authority (SIA), Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), and the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), as shown in the following table:
| Home Department | ||||
|
|
Period | Number of employed interpreters (1) | Number of subcontracted interpreters (2) | Total cost of service (£) |
| Non-departmental public bodies | ||||
|
|
Period | Number of employed interpreters (1) | Number of subcontracted interpreters (2) | Total cost of service (£) |
1 Mar 2011 : Column 317W
1 Mar 2011 : Column 318W
| (1) Employed interpreters relate to staff. (2) Subcontracted interpreters relate to those employed through a contract. | ||||
Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left her Department’s employ since May 2010; [42299]
(2) how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff her Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available; [42380]
(3) how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by her Department in May 2010. [42396]
Damian Green: The following tables give details which have been provided using Office for National Statistics guidelines for work force management reporting. The figures given include staff moving internally into the Home Department from other Home Office agencies as well as returning from unpaid absences such as career breaks or maternity leave. This accounts for the apparent discrepancy between the headcount and recorded leavers shown in the response.
| Staff who have left the Department since May 2010 | ||
|
|
(a) Headcount | (b) Headcount FTE |
| Note: Data shown are for all staff who left during the period 1 June 2010 to 31 January 2011. Source: Data View, the Home Office’s single source of monthly Human Resources data. | ||
| Staff who are employed at the latest date for which figures are available | ||
|
|
(a) Headcount | (b) Headcount FTE |
| Note: Data shown are for all paid civil servants as per Office for National Statistics definitions. Source: Data View, the Home Office’s single source of monthly Human Resources data. | ||
| Staff who were employed in May 2010 | ||
|
|
(a) Headcount | (b) Headcount FTE |
| Note: Data shown are for all paid civil servants as per Office for National Statistics definitions. Source: Data View, the Home Office’s single source of monthly Human Resources data. | ||
Detention Centres
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has asked the UK Border Agency to carry out an audit of Immigration Detention Centre Rule 35 reports. [41720]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency conducted an in depth analysis of 216 reports submitted in relation to Detention Centre Rule 35 in 2010. The analysis followed discussions with a number of non-government organisations who have an interest in the UK Border Agency’s detention estate and was not conducted at the request of Ministers.
The UK Border Agency expects to release the findings of the analysis in the very near future.
Domestic Violence: Immigrants
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to protect women with an insecure immigration status from domestic violence. [42253]
Damian Green [holding answer 28 February 2011]: In recognition of the plight of victims of domestic violence, the domestic violence concession, previously outside the immigration rules, was brought under the rules in 2002.
Rule 289A was introduced to enable an applicant who has limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as the spouse, unmarried partner, registered civil partner or same sex partner of a British citizen or person present and settled in the UK and whose marriage or relationship breaks down during the two-year probationary period as a result of domestic violence, to be granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. This offers the victim the security of achieving settled status and access to benefits without the need to complete the two-year probationary period.
Entry Clearances: Olympic Games 2012
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision her Department has made to handle applications for visas from non-EU countries to attend the London 2012 Olympics; and what consideration she has given to allowing extended visas for (a) families of athletes and (b) spectators. [42723]
Damian Green: The UK is obliged to comply with Olympic requirements set out in the Olympic Charter and Host City contract. Under the guarantees, an accreditation card issued to games family members will act in lieu of a visa and work permit for up to six months.
The UK Border Agency has introduced an Olympic/Paralympic games visit visa to facilitate entry to the UK in advance of the games for participants. The visa (valid for multiple entries until 8 November 2012) is now available for the price of a six month single entry visit visa. This visa will facilitate easy and cheaper entry to the UK for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members, competitors and officials coming for the test events and training before the accreditation period. At games time, participants will be issued with an accreditation card which will act as a visa waiver.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 319W
This visa is only available to those individuals identified as participating in the games in a professional capacity. Spectators and families of athletes coming to visit the UK during the games will be subject to the usual requirements of a visit and will be required to apply for a standard visitor's visa. For foreign nationals not requiring a visa it will be possible to visit the UK for up to six months without a visa.
The UK Border Agency has been working with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic games (LOCOG) and the IOC to communicate key messages about visa requirements to the Olympic/Paralympic Family.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what bogus colleges have been closed in each year since 2007. [42159]
Damian Green: Prior to April 2009, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and previously the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) was responsible for the register of education establishments able to bring in students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). At the point it was replaced by the Points Based System register of licensed Tier 4 sponsors, the register listed a total of 14,838 establishments, of which approximately 4,000 regularly took non-EEA students. As of 1 February 2011 the Tier 4 register lists 2,313 licensed Tier 4 sponsors.
Since 31 March 2009 the following total numbers of educational establishments’ licenses have been revoked:
|
|
Number |
Revocation of an educational establishment’s sponsor licence does not prevent it from operating. The UK Border Agency is unable to close education or training providers, but it can remove their ability to recruit students from outside the European Economic Area.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received from foreign Governments on the Government’s proposals for student visas. [42831]
Damian Green: A consultation on the student immigration system closed on 31 January. Four submissions from overseas Governments were received. In addition, the UK Border Agency officials have held meetings with a number of representatives from missions in the UK. Responses to the student consultation are being considered. The results of the consultation and an impact assessment, including details of those who have responded, will be published in due course.
Human Trafficking
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been arrested on suspicion of human trafficking offences in each local authority area in each of the last five years. [40282]
1 Mar 2011 : Column 320W
Damian Green: This information is not collected at local authority level.
Illegal Immigrants
Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overstayers were identified (a) on embarkation from the UK and (b) through enforcement action in each of the last five years. [42763]
Damian Green: It is not possible to provide the number of overstayers identified on embarkation from the UK, as this information is not recorded centrally. To establish these figures would require the manual examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost. By 2015 exit checks will have been reintroduced which are vital in checking that people have left the country when they are supposed to.
The following table shows the number of individuals, recorded as overstayers, arrested during enforcement operations for each financial year from 2007-08 (the earliest year for which such data are available) to date.
Please note, all data are sourced from management information tools and are not quality assured under National Statistics protocols. Figures provided do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.
National Statistics on removals and voluntary departures from the UK are published on a quarterly and annual basis, which are available from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
However, it is not possible to separately identify overstayers from the published figures.
|
|
Overstayers arrested |
Immigrants: Detainees
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the UK Border Agency to release its audit of forms completed in accordance with Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules, on victims of torture and others with special illnesses and conditions. [42706]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency audit in relation to Detention Centre Rule 35 has been concluded. The UK Border Agency expects to release the report in the near future.
Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the UK Border Agency plans to publish in full an unedited audit of forms completed in accordance with Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules on victims of torture and others with special illnesses and conditions. [42707]
Damian Green: The UK Border Agency audit report in relation to Detention Centre Rule 35 will be published in a full and unedited format in the near future.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 321W
Immigrants: Human Rights
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she was consulted on the Positions on the rights of migrants in an irregular situation Position Paper (CommDH/PositionPaper/2010/5) from the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights; and if she will make a statement. [41900]
Damian Green: The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights acts in an independent capacity. Accordingly the Home Secretary was not consulted on his findings and recommendations. They will be taken into account to the extent that they are consistent with the Government's immigration policy and are in the national interest.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department was represented at the 1103rd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers held on 19 January 2011; what her response is to the recommendations adopted on interaction between migrants and receiving societies (CM/Rec(2011)1) and on validating migrants' skills (CM/Rec(2011)2); what assessment she has made of the potential effect these recommendations would have on the UK; and if she will make a statement. [41901]
Damian Green: The UK was represented in the meeting of the Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers on 19 January by the UK Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe. The recommendations adopted at this meeting are not binding on the member states. The Government will consider the implications of these recommendations in developing the Government's overall approach to integration and immigration policy and will take into account any recommendations that it considers to be in the UK's national interest.
Immigration Controls
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been admitted to the UK at (a) sub-tier Tier 1 (Investor) and (b) sub-tier Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) of the points-based immigration system in each year since the system's inception. [41582]
Damian Green: The available statistics on the number of persons given leave to enter the United Kingdom on (a) sub-tier Tier 1 (Investor) and (b) sub-tier Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) of the points-based immigration system, 2008-09 are given in the table.
| Passengers (1) given leave to enter the United Kingdom under PBS (2) Tier 1—Investor (3) or Entreprenuer (3) categories, excluding EEA and Swiss nationals, 2008-09 | ||
| Number of journeys | ||
| Categories | 2008 | 2009 (4) |
| (1) Figures rounded to three significant figures. (2) Points Based System (PBS). (3) The Tier 1 Investor and Entrepreneur categories were introduced on 30 June 2008. Data for that year are therefore not comparable with 2009 as they are for a partial year. (4) Provisional figures. | ||
1 Mar 2011 : Column 322W
It is planned to publish statistics on passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom by purpose of journey for the first two quarters of 2010 on 24 February 2011 in the Home Office publication, “Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical summary United Kingdom October-December 2010”.
Subsequently, quarterly arrival data will be released every six months, with quarters 1 and 2 published in February of each year and 3 and 4 published in August. These data will be available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
Yarl's Wood Detention Centre
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 527W, on Yarl's Wood Detention Centre, whether the police were involved in either investigation. [41948]
Damian Green [holding answer 28 February 2011]: I can confirm that the police were notified of both cases I referred to in my answer of 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 527W.
In both instances, the police advised the UK Border Agency and Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre when their inquiries had been concluded and that they would be taking no further action.
Culture, Media and Sport
Arts: West Midlands
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much the Arts Council spent per head of population in the (a) South Staffordshire district council and (b) Birmingham city council area in the latest period for which figures are available. [42824]
Mr Vaizey: This information is not held in the manner requested.
However, Arts Council England (ACE) has advised that council and constituency boundaries are similar. As such, ACE has provided the following figures that relate to constituencies only:
(a) South Staffordshire: £1.18 spend per head (incorporating: South Staffordshire and Stafford)
(b) Birmingham: £24.68 spend per head (incorporating: Edgbaston, Erdington, Hall Green, Hodge Hill, Ladywood, Northfield, Perry Barr, Selly Oak, Yardley, Sparkbrook and Small Heath).
Departmental Policy
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what account he has taken of the Compact between the Government and Civil Society in policy development. [42612]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: My Department takes the Compact into account in developing relevant policies.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 323W
Gambling
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what evidence he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the (i) effectiveness of the problem gambling helpline and (ii) relative merits of the freephone helpline in improving access to treatment and advice for those seeking assistance. [41759]
John Penrose: The Gambling Commission, the Responsible Gaming Strategy Board and the Responsible Gambling Fund (RGF) have all looked into this issue and have concluded that an easily recognised name and national freephone number would remove barriers to take-up; particularly among the vast majority of the population that uses mobile phones. The RGF is currently tendering for the operation of such a service.
National Lottery: Retail Trade
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will instruct the National Lottery Commission to review the appropriateness of decisions by Camelot National Lotteries relating to the supply of lottery terminals to (a) Tesco, (b) The Co-operative and (c) independent retailers. [42804]
John Penrose [holding answer 28 February 2011]:Camelot takes into account clear criteria when selecting retailers, such as footfall, store size and sales projection. The same selection criteria apply across all retailers and each case is judged on its own merits. As long as Camelot follows these criteria, the decision as to where to place national lottery terminals is a commercial decision and the National Lottery Commission is not involved in this process.
Olympic Games 2012: Northern Ireland
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that Northern Ireland benefits from the London 2012 Olympics. [41800]
Hugh Robertson: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy from London 2012. This group works directly with representatives from each of the nations and English regions to realise the sporting, economic, and cultural benefits of the 2012 Games.
Northern Ireland stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the 2012 Games through businesses winning Games-related work, increased tourism and cultural celebrations. Some examples of how Northern Ireland will benefit from the Games are as follows.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded contracts to five direct suppliers in Northern Ireland. For example, Lagan Construction was awarded the contract to construct ‘central park bridge’ in the Olympic Park that links the Basketball Arena, the Aquatics Centre and the Olympic Stadium.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 324W
Information on businesses in Northern Ireland that have directly supplied the ODA is available in the business section of the London 2012 website at the following link:
http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda-suppliers/index.php
This information does not include contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers two, three and so on, which are awarded by the tier one contractors and not by the ODA. Examples of companies based in Northern Ireland further down the supply chains include McGrath Brothers from Belfast, which supplied architectural metalwork for the Olympic Village and Macrete Concrete from County Antrim, which has worked on support structures for bridges and highways.
So far, 1,561 companies in Northern Ireland have registered on Competefor (the website where London 2012 contract opportunities are advertised), and four contracts have been awarded to Competefor suppliers in Northern Ireland.
Over 16,000 schools and colleges across the UK have registered for LOCOG's London 2012 education programme Get Set, 220 schools and colleges are registered in Northern Ireland. 10 schools in Northern Ireland have also developed links with nine schools and one youth centre in Jordan as part of the London 2012 International Inspiration Programme.
Over 1,000 cultural or sporting projects across the UK have been awarded the Inspire mark, 31 of these are in Northern Ireland. One example, Active8—a SportNI-led participation programme with the Olympic Values at its core—is engaging pupils aged seven to 11 in sport and physical activity. Activ8 Eatwell is a recent programme which promotes active and healthy lifestyles for children by teaching them about physical activity and healthy eating.
In addition, Northern Ireland has received £1.31 million from the Legacy Trust for a programme which will tackle aspects of personal development, communication and physical ‘literacy’ with elements of dance, gymnastics, music and poetry, theatre and visual arts.
Olympic Games 2012: Hertfordshire
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he plan to take to encourage children and young people in St Albans to participate in events that are part of the London 2012 Olympics. [42739]
Hugh Robertson: It is important that children and young people from across the UK are actively encouraged to participate in the wide range of opportunities created by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Over 16,000 schools and colleges across the UK have registered for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games’ (LOCOG) education programme Get Set, with 487 schools and colleges registered in Hertfordshire. LOCOG launched the official London 2012 mascots last year, which are now inspiring children and young people. LOCOG hosted a ‘Get Set to make your mascot’ school competition. The winning primary and secondary schools win a visit from Wenlock or Mandeville in the summer term—ideally to their school sports day.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 325W
Over 1,000 cultural or sporting projects across the UK have been awarded the Inspire mark, with 84 of these in the East of England. One example, which schools in Hertfordshire including St Albans are participating in, is Supporter to Reporter (S2R). S2R gives young people sports reporting opportunities at national and local events. Participants receive training to produce audio, video, text and image reports with content then published on the youth-led website.
Young Ambassadors is a London 2012 programme managed by Youth Sport Trust which has been running in England, Scotland and Wales. It was the first initiative to receive the London 2012 Inspire mark for education. It involves young people being recruited to be ambassadors, working in their schools and communities to champion sport and the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The School Games will give every school the opportunity to get involved. Sport England has commissioned the Youth Sport Trust to test how to deliver School Games in nine pilot areas. In June or July 2011, these sites will host the first ‘School Games’ Days in 500 schools and the first nine ‘Festivals of Sport’. All schools will be given the opportunity to participate from September 2011 with the first national finals taking place in the Olympic Stadium in May 2012.
In addition, I announced the ‘Places People Play’ programme in November, which will bring sporting legacy to life in communities across the country. This will be achieved by transforming the places where people play sport, inspiring people to make sport happen at a local level and creating sporting opportunities that give everyone the chance to become part of the mass participation legacy. Further detail can be found at the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/7565.aspx
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many contracts related to the London 2012 Olympics have been awarded to businesses and organisations in (a) St Albans constituency and (b) Hertfordshire; and what the monetary value of such contracts is. [42740]
Hugh Robertson: Information on businesses in the East of England that have directly supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is available in the business section of the London 2012 website at the following link:
http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/oda-suppliers/index.php
The estimated value of contracts awarded to businesses in Hertfordshire is £1,147,811,580, of this the value of contracts awarded to businesses in St Albans is £3,179,151. These figures only account for the contracts awarded by the ODA to its own top tier of contractors (tier one contractors). The figures do not include the value of contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers two, three and so on, which are awarded by the tier one contractors and not by the ODA. The ODA estimates that the total value of supply chain contracts to the regions runs into millions of pounds, but these are not public procurements and so the full value of contracts won across the UK is not captured by the figures provided. The ODA estimates that overall up to 50,000 contracts will be generated throughout its supply chains.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 326W
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many residents of (a) St Albans and (b) Hertfordshire are employed (i) by the London Organisational Committee of the Olympic Games, (ii) by the Olympic Delivery Authority and (iii) at the London 2012 Olympics site; what steps his Department is taking to increase employment opportunities created by the hosting of the London 2012 Olympics; and how many jobs in Hertfordshire he expects to be created by the London 2012 Olympics. [42741]
Hugh Robertson: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG) is a private company and so does not report its staff figures to the Department. Its annual report, which includes information about the numbers of staff it employs, is available at:
www.london2012.com
As at 31 December 2010 the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) had 288 directly employed members of staff, of which one resided in St Albans and five in Hertfordshire.
The ODA publishes information on the Olympic Park contractor work force in its quarterly ‘Jobs, Futures, Skills’ newsletter. The most recent edition can be found at the following link:
http://www.london2012.com/documents/oda-publications/jobs-skills-futures/jsf-bulletin-january11.pdf
The ODA forecasts that 30,000 people will work on the Olympic Park and Village over the life of the construction programme. LOCOG estimates that during Games-time it will require a work force of approximately 6,000 paid staff, up to 70,000 volunteers and 100,000 staff working for the contractor work force. No specific assessment has been made of the numbers that have been or will be employed from Hertfordshire.
The ODA and its partners have put a range of measures in place to help local people in particular access training and employment opportunities on the site. These include investing in training and apprenticeship opportunities. LOCOG published its employment and skills strategy in August 2010 and is available at:
http://www.london2012.com/
Olympic Games 2012: Tickets
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many tickets to Olympic events have been allocated for sale; and what estimate has been made of the revenue which will accrue from sales of tickets to (a) members of the public in the UK and the EU, (b) sports federations, (c) national Olympic committees, (d) members of the public in other countries, (e) corporate sponsors, (f) rights-holding broadcasters and (g) hospitality package buyers. [42738]
Hugh Robertson: The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is the private company responsible for staging the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the ticketing arrangements. LOCOG needs to raise around £500 million from ticket revenues towards its primarily privately financed £2 billion budget to stage the Games.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 327W
There are no free tickets. 8.8 million tickets will be available for purchase for the Olympic Games from 15 March 2011, with a further 2 million tickets available from September for the Paralympic Games. Around three-quarters will be available to the UK public for purchase. The application process must also be open to EU residents, but the vast majority of the 2.3 million people signed-up with LOCOG for ticketing information in advance of the 15 March are UK residents. Of the remaining 25% of tickets, approximately 12% will be available for purchase to 205 National Olympic Committees around the world for international sports fans; 8% will be available for purchase to sponsors and stakeholders; and 5% will be available for purchase to International Sports Federations, the International Olympic Committee, broadcast rights holders, for prestige hospitality packages and for domestic holiday packages via Thomas Cook.
Olympic Games 2012: Wales
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the proportion of work carried out in preparation for the London 2012 Olympics that has been undertaken by companies based in Wales. [42908]
Hugh Robertson: Welsh companies have made a significant contribution to the delivery of the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 games, either by supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) directly or through the supply chains of the major tier one contractors. These include Rowecord in Newport, who have provided the steel for the Aquatics Centre, Cardiff based Euroclad have won contracts on both the Olympic Stadium and the Media Centre, and Fairfield Mabey from Newport who have supplied structural steel for infrastructure on the Olympic Park.
It is not possible to provide a definitive figure for the work undertaken by Welsh companies on the 2012 construction programme. However, the ODA estimates that approximately £37 million pounds worth of contracts have been awarded to Welsh companies operating at tiers two and three of the ODA's major contractors.
Sports: Finance
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011, Official Report, column 800W, on sport: finance, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of monitoring regional variations in funding for (a) the Big Lottery and (b) Sport England. [42689]
Hugh Robertson: There is no need for any monitoring by, or cost to, the Department. The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) asks applicants to identify where its funding will be used. This information is collected and analysed at minimum cost. BLF regularly monitor these data to ensure that communities receive a fair share of lottery money. It is freely accessible throughout the organisation and therefore the BLF does not monitor its cost. Sport England does not hold a regional breakdown of funding, and while I have not made an estimate, it would exceed the disproportionate cost limit considerably to commission the work, and that is without considering the cost of monitoring.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 328W
Third Sector
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the extent of regional variation in funding per head in the distribution of Big Lottery funding in the last year for which figures are available. [42553]
John Penrose: I have not made such an assessment and my Department does not hold lottery grant information in this format. However, details of lottery grants made by the Big Lottery Fund and other lottery distributors can be found at the following link:
http://www.lottery.culture.gov.uk
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to support the Big Society initiative. [42637]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: My Department’s Business Plan includes details of the work it is undertaking to support the big society which can be found at the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/DCMS-Business-Plan_2010-15.pdf
Tourism
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on support for the development of tourism in the South West. [41550]
John Penrose: The Government are creating a new international marketing fund for tourism. We are looking to create a fund of more than £100 million, with major companies already pledging support to help match the £50 million of public money the Government have committed through VisitBritain over the next four years.
We are also investing nearly £33 million in VisitEngland over four years which will focus on promoting the domestic tourism industry and supporting destination management organisations, local authorities and emerging local enterprise partnerships. Tourism in the South West will benefit from both funding initiatives.
In addition, the £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund (RGF) presents an important opportunity for tourism. Ministers have encouraged the tourism sector to apply.
Tourism: Kent
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will take steps to provide assistance to tourism businesses in Maidstone and the Weald constituency. [42593]
John Penrose: The Government are creating a new international marketing fund for tourism. We are looking to create a fund of more than £100 million, with major companies already pledging support to help match the £50 million of public money the Government have committed through VisitBritain over the next four years.
We are also investing nearly £33 million in VisitEngland over four years which will focus on promoting the domestic tourism industry and supporting destination management organisations, local authorities and emerging local enterprise partnerships. Tourism in Maidstone and the Weald will benefit from both funding initiatives.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 329W
In addition, the £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund (RGF) presents an important opportunity for tourism. Ministers have encouraged the tourism sector to apply.
Transport
A14: Ipswich
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of road (a) maintenance and (b) improvements on the A14 between junctions 53 and 55 in 2009-10. [42826]
Mike Penning: Maintenance costs of £6.122 million were incurred on the A14 between junctions 53 and 55 in 2009-10. In addition, technology works over this section, as part of a complete A14 improvement project, were valued at £1.038 million.
The maintenance costs are made up as follows:
Two road maintenance schemes between the Claydon Interchange (junction 52) and the Copdock Interchange (A12/A14 junction 55) totalling £4.322 million. A safety improvement scheme (£3.472 million) involving improvements to drainage and safety barriers, and a maintenance scheme (£0.850 million) involving the refurbishment of the carriageways.
A structural maintenance scheme valued at £1.8 million.
Aviation
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of (a) airlines and (b) pilots since May 2010. [40967]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 176W given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Aviation: Conditions of Employment
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the maximum amount of time airline pilots should be expected to fly in 24 hours. [40963]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 177W, given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Air Travel Trust Fund
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Air Travel Trust Fund to next report a surplus. [40729]
Mrs Villiers: The Air Travel Trust Funds meets the cost of refunds and repatriation arising from the insolvency of a travel company under the Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) scheme. The deficit of the Air Travel Trust Fund was reported as £31.8 million in the Funds' annual accounts for the year ending 31 March 2010. One of the objectives of the reforms to the ATOL scheme that I announced to the House on 3 February 2011 is to reduce the Air Travel Trust Fund's deficit and return it to financial sustainability. It is expected that the Fund will be in surplus within three years of the reforms being implemented. The precise timing depends on a number of factors including the frequency and cost of travel company insolvencies.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 330W
Aviation: Safety
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects of the European Aviation Safety Agency's proposals to reduce the minimum rest period for airline pilots to seven and a half hours; [39742]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that national standards on flight time limitations for commercial pilots are maintained once the European Aviation Safety Agency takes responsibility in this area. [39743]
Mrs Villiers: The European Aviation Safety Agency published draft legislation for consultation on 20 December 2010. The consultation closes on 20 March. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently reviewing the proposals. It will respond to the consultation once it has completed its review. Our aim is to ensure that the final requirements maintain a high level of safety for UK airlines.
The EU already has competence in this area and it will not be possible to apply additional national standards once the requirements have come into effect.
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the airline industry on the European Aviation Safety Agency's proposals to change flight time limitations for pilots. [39753]
Mrs Villiers: I have not so far received any formal representations from the airline industry on this matter.
Aviation: Working Hours
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings Ministers in his Department have had with (a) airlines and (b) pilots' representatives since May 2010 [40848]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 176W, given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Council of Ministers on (a) the European Aviation Safety Agency and (b) flight time limitations. [40851]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 178W, given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the airline industry on the European Aviation Safety Agency's proposals to change flight time limitations for pilots. [40853]
Mrs Villiers: I have not received any formal representations from the airline industry on this matter so far.
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the implementation of the European Union Bill will affect the transfer of authority over flight time limitations from the Civil Aviation Authority to the European Aviation Safety Agency. [40854]
1 Mar 2011 : Column 331W
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 177W, given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the maximum amount of time airline pilots should be expected to fly in one day. [40855]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 177W, given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Mr Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government plans to respond to the European Aviation Safety Agency's Notice of Proposed Amendment for flight time limitations. [40856]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, columns 177-178W, given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to respond to the European Aviation Safety Agency's notice of proposed amendment for flight time limitations. [40964]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, columns 177-78W given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has with the Council of Ministers on (a) the European Aviation Safety Agency and (b) proposals for limits on flight times. [40966]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 176W given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effect of implementation of the provisions of the European Union Bill on the transfer of authority over flight time limitations from the Civil Aviation Authority to the European Aviation Safety Agency. [41004]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 28 February 2011, Official Report, column 177W given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Stephen Lloyd).
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the airline industry on the European Aviation Safety Agency’s proposals to change flight time limitations for pilots. [41005]
Mrs Villiers: I have not so far received any formal representations from the airline industry on this matter.
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors he will use to determine whether his policy on the changes to pilots’ flight time limitations proposed by the European Aviation Safety Agency provide an appropriate level of safety. [41074]
1 Mar 2011 : Column 332W
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr Gray) of 17 February 2011, Official Report, column 966W.
Cycling: Accidents
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to protect cyclists from injury in accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (a) in inner city areas and (b) elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [42724]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport is pursuing a number of measures to reduce pedal cycle fatalities in collisions with HGVs. We continue to raise the standard of driver training and support local authority initiatives in raising awareness among both cyclists and HGV drivers of the risk. In particular we support the initiatives by TfL to address this issue in London.
Vehicle safety regulation is made at the EU level and Regulations mandate side guards and improved mirrors on most HGVs. However, there is still an issue of a blind spot on many vehicles and research is currently under way how to address the issue of improving driver vision from all types of HGVs. I visited a manufacturer in my constituency last week which is addressing these specific issues.
Cycling: Training
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on the provision of cycle training funded by Bikeability of adopting (a) one, (b) two and (c) three year funding cycles. [42946]
Norman Baker: The Government have committed to support Bikeability cycle training for the remainder of this Parliament to signal our strong and continuing support for this programme. For 2011-12, £11 million of grant funding will be made available to local authorities and School Sports Partnerships, providing the opportunity for more than 275,000 children to receive Bikeability training. Later this year, prior to decisions on 2012-13 funding, the Department for Transport will review the allocation of Bikeability grants, including consideration of any benefits of multi-year grant arrangements.
Departmental NDPBs
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets have been set for the work of the Driving Standards Agency. [39334]
Mike Penning: The Driving Standards Agency’s targets are laid out in its annual business plan. Business plans are published on the agency’s corporate website and copies of which have been laid in the Libraries of both Houses.
Departmental Regulation
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010. [37390]
1 Mar 2011 : Column 333W
Norman Baker: Since May 2010, my Department has not revoked any regulatory measures other than those revoked by measures that replaced them. However, it is possible that regulations sponsored by the Department for Transport have been revoked by instruments for which other Departments have policy responsibility. In the last few months, the Department has launched a review of employment law and is conducting a fundamental review scrutinising the overall stock of Department for Transport regulation, alongside legacy measures inherited from the previous Administration. These have yet to conclude.
Driving: Training
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will put driver awareness courses on a national footing so that those who elect to go on such courses as an alternative to a driving penalty are able to do so at a local centre rather than in the area where the offence was committed. [42165]
Mike Penning: These driver awareness courses are offered by police forces as alternatives to intended prosecutions. There are nationally recognised schemes developed by the National Driver Offender Retraining Schemes (NDORS) initiative and operated by many police forces.
For example, the NDORS initiative for speed awareness courses is used by the vast majority of English police forces. Hence it offers drivers resident in a participating police force area the opportunity to take a course at a local centre rather than one near where they were detected speeding, provided the force detecting the speeding also participates in the scheme.
I am working with the police towards the aim of all English forces participating in NDORS.
However, the decisions about whether, and if so what, alternatives to potential prosecution to offer are for local police forces and police authorities to make. I am therefore reluctant to dictate how police forces must operate in respect of driver awareness courses. Such decisions are rightly influenced by local priorities, policies, resources and other circumstances.
Electric Vehicles
John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the average rate of use of charging points for electric vehicles in the last six months. [37672]
Norman Baker: We do not have access to data on recharging for all EV charging points in the UK, as many of these have been put in by businesses for use by employees or the public.
Data will be available on the usage of EV charging infrastructure installed as part of the Plugged-In Places programme. These data will start to be available once the back-offices for the schemes are installed. All eight back-offices are expected to be complete by autumn 2011.
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects on levels of (a) nitrogen dioxide and (b) particulate matter emissions of greater use of electric power by buses and taxis. [41876]
1 Mar 2011 : Column 334W
Norman Baker: No detailed assessment of the air quality benefits a greater use of electric buses and taxis has been undertaken by the Department for Transport. However, as electric vehicles have zero tail pipe emissions there will be local air quality benefits with the increased use of such vehicles.
Maritime Rescue Services: Closures
Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2011, Official Report, column 58W, on sea rescue: closures, who conducted the impact assessment associated with the proposals set out in “Protecting our Seas and Shores in the 21st Century”; and if he will make a statement. [41432]
Mike Penning: The consultation document, together with the suite of documents published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 11 February, represents the collective, corporate position of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and its chief executive, Sir Alan Massey.
Lorries: Accidents
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries were caused by accidents involving large goods vehicles in each year from 2000 to 2010. [41872]
Mike Penning: The number of (a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries in reported accidents involving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) for each year from 2000-09 is given in the following table. It is not possible to determine from the data whether the HGV caused the accident.
| Number of casualties by severity in reported accidents involving at least one HGV (1 ) GB: 2000- 09 | ||
| Number of casualties | ||
|
|
(a) Killed | (b) Seriously injured |
| (1) Goods vehicles with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or over. | ||
Data for 2010 will be published in summer 2011.
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in how many road traffic accidents involving large goods vehicles driver tiredness was found to be a contributory factor in each year from 2000 to 2010. [41873]
Mike Penning: The number of reported personal injury road accidents where the contributory factor “Fatigue” was assigned to the driver of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) is given in the following table. It is not possible to determine from the data whether the HGV caused the accident:
1 Mar 2011 : Column 335W
| Reported personal injury road accidents involving a driver of a HGV (1) to whom a contributory factor “F atigue” assigned: Great Britain, 2005- 09 | |
| Contributory factor (2) : Fatigue | Number of accidents |
| (1) Goods vehicles with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 3.5 tonnes or over. (2) Includes only personal injury road accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported. | |
Contributory factor data have only been collected since 2005. Data for 2010 will be published in summer 2011.
Lorry Drivers: Sleep Apnoea
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in how many road traffic accidents involving large goods vehicles the driver was found to be suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea in each year from 2000 to 2010. [41874]
Mike Penning: Some crashes involving heavy goods vehicles are identified as being wholly or partly caused by fatigue or falling asleep at the wheel, but there are no figures to indicate the role of obstructive sleep apnoea in most of these cases.
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicle licence holders have had their licences suspended pending treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea in each year from 2000 to 2010. [41875]
Mike Penning: Driving licences cannot be suspended, instead the law allows for them to be revoked. Data on the number of licences revoked pending treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea is only held since 2004 and combines drivers with both large goods vehicle and/or passenger carrying vehicle driving entitlement. These volumes are shown in the following table.
|
|
Number |
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for heavy goods vehicle licences were refused because the applicant was suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea in each year from 2000 to 2010. [41967]
Mike Penning: Information on how many applications for a driving licence were refused because the applicant was suffering from sleep apnoea is only available since 2004 and combines both large goods vehicle and/or passenger carrying vehicle driving entitlement. These volumes are shown in the following table.
1 Mar 2011 : Column 336W
|
|
Number |
Network Rail: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what savings Network Rail has identified to date to contribute to its efficiency savings over the regulatory period; and in what areas of its operations such savings are expected to arise. [42312]
Mrs Villiers: The independent Office of Rail Regulation has set Network Rail a requirement to make efficiency savings of 21% over Control Period 4—which covers 2009 to 2014—in the operation, maintenance and renewal of the national network. It falls to the Office of Rail Regulation to monitor Network Rail's progress towards achieving this target on a continuous basis.
Pedestrian Crossings
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which bodies are responsible for providing safe crossing routes for (a) school children and (b) other pedestrians at locations where lights-controlled crossings are not operational; and if he will make a statement. [42190]
Mike Penning: The provision of pedestrian crossing facilities on the public highway, including crossing facilities not controlled by traffic signals, is a matter for the relevant highway authority.
Maritime Rescue Services: Fife Ness
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions the Fife Ness coastguard service was called out in the last three years; and for what types of incident. [42815]
Mike Penning [holding answer 28 February 2011]: The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Forth is located within Fife Ness. The following statistics outline the incidents the MRCC coordinated over the last three years.
It should be noted that the MRCC coordinates search and rescue during incidents. It is the volunteer coastguard rescue service and other search and rescue responders, such as the RNLI who respond to incidents.
| Incidents for Forth (Including alarm, distress and uncertainty(ADU)) by revised incident Type/Year | ||||
| Revised Incident type | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Total |
1 Mar 2011 : Column 337W
1 Mar 2011 : Column 338W
Roads: Safety
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in the level of the (a) Road Safety Capital Grant and (b) Road Safety Revenue Grant reduction in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [42822]
Mike Penning: No payments of either the specific road safety capital grant or the dedicated road safety resource grant (or road safety funding stream within the area based grant) are planned to be made during the comprehensive spending review period from 2011-12 to 2014-15.
In the case of the specific road safety capital grant this is because the capital funding streams paid by the Department for Transport to local authorities have been simplified radically. The number of these transport capital funding streams has been reduced from 26 to four.
This is to assist increasing local control, participation and accountability in the use of resources by enabling local communities to decide their own priorities and set their budgets according to local, not national, priorities. More details about local transport capital funding are on the Department for Transport's website.
In the case of revenue funding, the local transport elements of the former area based grant have been rolled into the general formula grant for the comprehensive spending review period. These local transport elements were the resource funding streams for road safety, the maintenance of de-trunked roads and rural bus subsidy grant.
The general formula grant paid to local authorities has been increased for 2011-12 and subsequent years by an adjustment of £112 million in the 2010-11 baseline. This adjusted figure for 2010-11 is then used in the calculation of the 2011-12 revenue support grant settlement.
Detailed information is published in the local government finance section of the Department of Communities and Local Government's website at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ssas.htm