Fisheries: Finance
George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much fisheries-specific funding from (a) grant in aid and (b) other sources of income the Environment Agency spent on (i) committees, (ii) enforcement, (iii) licence checks, (iv) monitoring, (v) fish rearing, (vi) regulation, (vii) fish kills or rescues, (viii) improvements or improvement projects, (ix) promotion and advice and (x) each other budget heading used by the Agency (A) nationally and (B) in each region in each of the last five financial years; and how much funding it has allocated in each category for 2011-12. [61469]
Richard Benyon: The following table gives details of where funding is allocated across national and regional units in 2010-11 and the planned budget for 2011-12.
| Allocation of Environment Agency fisheries funding, 2010-11 and 2011-12 | |||||||
| £000 | |||||||
| 2010-11 | Budget 2011-12 | ||||||
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Department | Gi A | Income | Total | Gi A | Income | Total |
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The Environment Agency undertook a full analysis of Fisheries funding in 2010 to build a detailed picture of current delivery and work programme. This review showed the current method of delivery across activities, and highlighted what activities are dependent on GiA. This approach has proved valuable in planning where changes may be made in delivery.
The following table shows the split of funding across activities undertaken within the Environment Agency regions. Fish rearing budgets are held within regional fisheries improvement budgets.
| Allocation of resources to Environment Agency regions for fisheries activities, 2010-11 | ||
| Activity | Total funding (£000) | Percentage funding |
The following table shows allocation of fisheries funding to regions by activity for the period from 2006-07 to 2009-10.
| Allocation of funding to regions for fisheries activities, 2006-07 to 2009-10 | ||||
| £ | ||||
| Activity | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what fisheries-specific grant-in-aid her Department provided to the Environment Agency in each of the last five financial years; and how much such funding she has allocated for 2011-12. [61420]
Richard Benyon: In 2006-07 and 2007-08, DEFRA provided £5.892 million grant in aid in each year to the Environment Agency specifically for fisheries. Since 2008-09, fisheries grant in aid has been combined with the Environment Agency's other funding from DEFRA, and the Environment Agency has continued to deliver equivalent outcomes.
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George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what fisheries-specific income other than grant in aid from her Department and rod licence income the Environment Agency received in each of the last five financial years; and how much such income it will receive in 2011-12. [61421]
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Richard Benyon: The following table shows the fisheries specific income other than grant in aid and rod licence income received in each of the last five financial years as well as an estimated income for 2011-12:
| Fisheries related income(excluding DEFRA grant in aid, and rod licences) | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| Source of income | 2006 - 07 | 2007 - 08 | 2008 - 09 | 2009 - 10 | 2010 - 11 | 2011 - 12 (1) |
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| (1) Estimated (2) Indicates brace | ||||||
Food
Dr Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to support the sale and production of local food. [62157]
Mr Paice: To meet the growing demand for more food with a local and regional provenance, our food and drink producers' access to market must be improved. We are providing funding under the Rural Development Programme for England for a range of measures aimed at supporting the availability of local food, including assistance to individual food producers and retail outlets, food hubs and farmers' markets.
I welcome the fact that retailers have put in place policies aimed at increasing the availability of regional and local food on their shelves. This provides opportunities for UK farmers to capture a greater market share by becoming more competitive.
Research shows consumers are increasingly concerned about the origins of their food, and the Government are committed to clearer origin labelling to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed choices about the food they buy.
We are also committed to ensuring that food procured by Government Departments, and eventually the whole public sector, meets British or equivalent standards of production wherever this can be achieved without increasing overall costs.
Litter: Publicity
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has allocated for the Love Where You Live campaign. [61558]
Richard Benyon: ‘Love Where You Live’ is a campaign run by the charity Keep Britain Tidy.
The coalition Government provide grant funding to Keep Britain Tidy (£4 million in 2011-12) to work for improved local environmental quality, to provide advice to local and national government on all aspects of litter prevention, management and measurement. Partners from business are also making voluntary contributions to the campaign both financially and in kind.
Meat
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the (a) environmental and (b) regulatory implications of the artificial cultivation of meat in laboratories. [62044]
Mr Paice: If the artificial cultivation of meat in laboratories shows signs of becoming a realistic commercial proposition, I will assess the environmental implications. Meanwhile, I have noted that a number of research teams are carrying out their own assessments.
The production of artificial meat has so far been for experimental purposes only.
The Food Standards Agency has advised that under the EU novel foods regulation, artificial meat would require pre-market evaluation and authorisation before it could be placed on the market.
National Parks
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department expects to publish its review of governance arrangements for national parks and the broads. [61610]
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Richard Benyon: We are carefully considering the proposals for change which each of the national park authorities and the broads authority submitted following the public consultation and we will give our response in due course.
Nature Conservation: Outdoor Education
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions Ministers in her Department have had with Ministers in the Department for Education on outdoor education and young people's access to the natural environment; and on what dates such discussions took place. [61556]
Richard Benyon: I have been in regular contact with ministerial colleagues across Government throughout the development of the Natural Environment White Paper, which sets out a range of measures on outdoor education and young people's access to the natural environment. DEFRA Ministers were in regular written communication with their counterparts in the Department of Education (DfE) throughout this process.
Officials are continuing to engage with DfE on this issue as part of the development of the forthcoming Government-wide rural statement and DEFRA Ministers will follow this up with DfE Ministers as part of the implementation process.
Sonae: Pollution
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints her Department and its predecessor have received about air pollution related to the Sonae factory in Kirkby in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost to the public purse was of responding to each such complaint. [61239]
Richard Benyon: Departmental records show officials were aware of concerns about the Sonae particleboard manufacturing plant back to September 2005 and have discussed emissions issues with the local environmental health officers since then. Two parliamentary questions were asked in April 2007, and there was one exchange of correspondence each with the Council Leader and the right hon. Member in November 2007. There have, however, been no official complaints to the Department from members of the public on this issue.
Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential effect on (a) general public health and (b) the health of the local population of air pollution related to the Sonae factory in Kirkby; and if she will estimate the cost to the NHS of treatment of any conditions attributable to such pollution. [61308]
Richard Benyon: Regulation of pollution from the Sonae particleboard manufacturing plant is the responsibility of Knowsley metropolitan borough council under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999.
DEFRA issues guidance to local authorities on what constitutes the Best Available Techniques for minimising pollution from such factories. It would be open to the council to seek guidance from the Health Protection
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Agency (HPA) on potential or actual impacts of emissions on general public health or the health of the local population. The HPA may, as a result, be aware of whether such emissions can be linked to any increase in NHS costs.
Tyres
Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations govern the use of tyre bales for land engineering. [61485]
Richard Benyon: The use of waste tyre bales requires an environmental permit (or the registration of an appropriate exemption from the need for an environmental permit) under EU legislation; this is to prevent harm to human health and the environment. The EU requirements are implemented through the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.
The Environment Agency (EA) is the main competent authority responsible for determining applications for environmental permits and registering exemptions. The EA must be told the location of the site where the waste tyres bales are to be used as part of the application or registration procedure. A land engineering project may require planning permission from the relevant local planning authority.
Karen Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether tyre bales used for land engineering are classified as waste for the purposes of Article 6 (1) and (2) of Directive 2008/98/EC; [61486]
(2) whether her Department has submitted an application under the provisions of Article 6 (4) of Directive 2008/98/EC for tyre bales used for land engineering to be considered as having ceased to be waste; and if she will make a statement. [61489]
Richard Benyon: Tyres that have been discarded are waste in accordance with article 3 of directive 2008/98/EC (the waste framework directive).
We have not notified a decision under the procedures of article 6(4) of directive 2008/98/EC in respect of tyre bales having ceased to be waste.
An Environment Agency and industry project is assessing the suitability of developing a quality protocol for tyre bales. A quality protocol identifies the point at which waste has been fully recovered and may be regarded as a non-waste product or material that can either be reused by business or industry, or supplied into markets without the need for waste management controls. However, further research and investigation needs to be undertaken to develop a quality protocol for tyre bales to meet the end-of-waste criteria and cease to be waste.
Waste and Resources Action Programme: Government Procurement Card
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level three or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the Waste and Resources Action Programme using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [61769]
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Richard Benyon: The Waste and Resources Action Programme does not use Government Procurement Cards.
Transport
Bus Services: Finance
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on small and medium-sized bus operators of reductions to the Bus Service Operators Grant, changes to concessionary fares and reductions in county council funding. [58260]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has not made any assessment of the effect on small and medium-sized bus operators of reductions to Bus Service Operators Grant or reductions in county council funding.
The Department has published its impact assessment for the changes to reimbursement arrangements on its website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/2010-34/ia.pdf
A copy of the Impact Assessment for the Mandatory Travel Concession (England) Regulations 2011 has been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament. Both impact assessments consider the impact of the reimbursement reforms on different sizes of bus operators.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on small and medium-sized bus companies of changes to (a) arrangements for reimbursement of concessionary fares, (b) payment method of Bus Service Operators' Grant to the administered by local authorities and passenger transport executive groups. [58764]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has published its impact assessment for the changes to reimbursement arrangements on its website at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/2010-34/ia.pdf
A copy of the Impact Assessment for the Mandatory Travel Concession (England) Regulations 2011 has been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament. Both impact assessments consider the impact of the reimbursement reforms on different sizes of bus operators.
The Department published in 2009 an impact assessment of the impact of devolution of all bus subsidy, including Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG), to local authorities which is available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/busgrants/bsog/ia-bsog.pdf
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effect on bus services and fares of changes to the payment method of Bus Service Operators Grant to be administered by local authorities and passenger transport executive groups. [58768]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the potential effect on bus services and fares of changes to the payment method of Bus Service Operators' Grant to be administered by local authorities and passenger transport executive groups.
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The Department published in 2009 an impact assessment of the impact of devolution of all bus subsidy, including BSOG, to local authorities which is available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/buses/busgrants/bsog/ia-bsog.pdf
The Department is working with bus operators and local government to look at smarter ways of delivering bus subsidy, and are keen to see what can be developed by consensus between local authorities and operators.
Channel Tunnel Railway Line
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the number of journeys made by freight trains travelling to and from London along the High Speed One link in each year since it opened. [62192]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. This is a matter for HS1 Ltd.
Crossrail: Rolling Stock
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 574W, on Crossrail: rolling stock, how many carriages are to be allocated to the Manchester to Scotland subfleet as part of the London Midland allocation of 69 vehicles. [62462]
Mrs Villiers: The 69 London Midland vehicles are diesel trains that London Midland ordered in 2007 to replace older trains within their existing fleet, and therefore have no connection with the proposed new Manchester to Scotland electric trains.
Subject to successful completion of commercial negotiations between the parties and value for money criteria being achieved, the Department expects that later this year at least 36 vehicles will be ordered for Manchester-Scotland services in combination with additional vehicles for London Midland capacity enhancement, the number of which has yet to be finalised.
Driving Offences: Insurance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many uninsured drivers have been issued with a fixed penalty notice for the offence in each year since its introduction; and how much accrued in fixed penalty fines in each such year. [61279]
Nick Herbert: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested on the number of fixed penalty notices for vehicle insurance offences issued (and paid), from their introduction on 1 June 2003 to 2009 (latest available) is provided in the table.
The charge imposed for these fixed penalties is £200.
| Fixed penalty notices issued (1) for vehicle insurance offences, England and Wales, 2003-09 | |
|
|
Number |
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| (1) Includes only fixed penalty notices paid. (2) Offence introduced in June 2003. | |
Driving Tests: Bury
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department is taking steps to enable the driving test centre in Bury, Lancashire to re-open. [62188]
Mike Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is committed to re-opening the driving test centre (DTC) at Bury. The property suffered extensive damage from flooding in late 2010.
DSA took the opportunity presented by the temporary closure to review the design and layout of the centre to improve facilities for customers and staff. However, obtaining feasibility studies, architectural and engineering plans and costings has taken longer than expected. Building works, which will be subject to a competitive tender exercise, and the planned reopening is scheduled for late 2011.
Driving: Diabetes
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to (a) amend the rules for issuing Group 2 medical licences to drivers with insulin-dependent diabetes in line with EU Directive 2009/113/EC and (b) permit insulin-dependent diabetics to obtain a Group 2 licence where, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner, their condition is properly controlled and they pose no risk to themselves or other road users. [62190]
Mike Penning: Proposals to revise the medical standards for vision, epilepsy and diabetes and driving were detailed in a public consultation which closed on 28 April. The responses made are now being analysed and further input from some of those who have responded may be necessary. The outcome of this will inform our decisions on what changes, if any, are appropriate.
The medical licensing standards currently in place contribute to the UK having some of the safest roads in the world. Any decisions about changes, which may potentially relax these standards, cannot be taken lightly.
Driving: Licensing
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any changes have been made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority form D45 in the last 10 years. [62557]
Mike Penning: The form that the hon. Member may be referring to is the D46 form which was used by drivers to renew their driving licence at the age of 70. This form was amended in March 2004 when the requirement to pay a fee for this transaction was removed. It was further amended in July 2005 to include a facility to attach a photograph of the driver. At this point, the form number was amended to the D46P.
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First Capital Connect
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to investigate the events surrounding the train failure incident involving a First Capital Connect service near Kentish Town on the evening of 26 May 2011. [61885]
Mrs Villiers: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has confirmed that it will be conducting an investigation into the incident on 26 May 2011, and in particular, looking into First Capital Connect’s response to the train failure.
Her Majesty's railway inspectorate is also carrying out an investigation in line with its regulatory role.
I await the findings of these bodies who are responsible for investigating such incidents.
High Speed Two Railway Line
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what date his Department is using to determine the pre-blight value of properties purchased under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [62185]
Mr Philip Hammond: Valuations of properties accepted for purchase under the Exceptional Hardship Scheme are made using an independent assessment by qualified valuers. The valuers use their professional knowledge and expertise to establish the unaffected realistic open market value of the property on the date that the valuation takes place (that is, what would have been the value of the property without any adverse effect arising from proposals for a high speed rail line).
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the process is for awarding tenders to companies bidding to design trains running along the proposed High Speed Two line from London to Birmingham; and which firms have (a) inquired about submitting and (b) submitted bids. [61757]
Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 23 June 2011]: No rolling stock procurement strategy has yet been determined, no procurement process commenced, and, therefore, no bids have been received. As the Department is currently consulting the public on the principle of High Speed Two (HS2) and is yet to seek powers from Parliament, it would be inappropriate to prepare a procurement strategy at this stage. However, the Department would ensure that any future procurement is undertaken in accordance with EU treaty principles which ensure fair and open competition and thereby value for money for the taxpayer. No inquiries have been received in relation to submitting bids for the design of rolling stock for HS2.
High Speed Two: Fares
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of High Speed Two on fares on (a) the west coast main line and (b) other services on similar routes. [61756]
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Mr Philip Hammond [holding answer 23 June 2011]: The business case for High Speed Two (HS2) assumes that the existing fares structure would operate on both the existing lines and on HS2. Depending on the franchise or other management and operating arrangements introduced on each respective line, it would be possible that the increase in passenger capacity would apply a downward pressure on fares. The project is currently at an early stage; subject to the outcome of the current consultation, these issues would be considered in more detail as the project is developed. Failing to provide sufficient additional capacity on the west coast and other main lines would be likely to lead to an upward pressure on fares.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Scotland
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with which bodies the Maritime and Coastguard Agency holds contracts relating to accommodation and facilities management for its offices in Scotland. [62143]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) uses 163 properties in Scotland, including volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service (CRS) accommodation and radio sites. To provide contract details for all of these properties would incur disproportionate cost.
However, the MCA currently has two main contracts relating to accommodation and facilities management for its properties in Scotland. One is with the property advisors James Barr Ltd, which provides specialist advice on building management and facilities management; and the other is with Carillion Planned Maintenance for mechanical and electrical plant maintenance and support.
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the size is of the areas covered by the coastguard centre at (a) Shetland, (b) Stornoway, (c) Aberdeen, (d) Clyde and (e) Forth. [62144]
Mike Penning: The area of coverage in terms of square nautical miles of sea for each co-ordination centre is:
|
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Area of coverage (nm (2) ) |
Motorways: Carbon Emissions
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential change in carbon emissions attributable to any increase in the national speed limit on a motorway from 70 to 80 miles per hour. [61637]
Mike Penning [holding answer 23 June 2011]: We are undertaking some preliminary analysis of the possible effects of changing the national motorway speed limit. This includes the potential change in carbon emissions.
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Olympic Games 2012: Taxis
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on access for London taxis to designated traffic lanes during the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement. [60247]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 16 June 2011]: Transport for London (TfL), which leads on the implementation of the Olympic Route Network (ORN), has received a number of representations on this matter since consultation began on the designation of the ORN in 2008.
The ORN is a requirement of the host nation contract between London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is considered vital to ensure that athletes, technical officials, accredited media and others working at the Games can get to their events on time. It is being designed and implemented to seek to minimise disruption in London. For example, temporary Games Lanes for official Games vehicles, and blue-light emergency vehicles on call will only be used on the busiest parts of the ORN—less than 1% of London's roads—and where there is sufficient space for other traffic.
TfL has engaged extensively with the taxi and private hire trades in the development of the ORN plans, and is currently working on information for drivers to help them make the most of the opportunities the Games offer.
Public Transport: Vandalism
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of vandalism of public transport vehicles in each of the last five years. [55319]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested. These services are provided by a large number of different operators and costs from vandalism form part of the operating costs and will fall to individual operators. There is therefore no direct cost to the public purse.
Railways
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Final Independent Report of the Rail Value for Money Study, whether he plans to publish a revised version of the Delivering a Sustainable Railway White Paper. [61227]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport's Business Plan sets out its commitment to publish a detailed policy statement on rail by the end of November 2011.
Railways: Franchises
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department uses a model ticketing and settlement agreement in its negotiations with train operating companies on rail passenger franchise contracts. [R] [61450]
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Mrs Villiers [holding answer 22 June 2011]:The Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA) is the agreement between train operating companies (TOCs) that sets out how fares are created, honoured, and sold, and how revenue is settled. The TSA preserves through ticketing and ticket inter-availability, and provides the mechanism by which ticket retailing is regulated.
Each TOC's franchise agreement with the Secretary of State, and Passenger Licence granted by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), requires it to be a party to and comply with the TSA.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much each train operating company holding a franchise has received from the public purse in (a) subsidy and (b) other funding since May 2010. [61453]
Norman Baker [holding answer 22 June 2011]:The Department for Transport publishes all payments to train operating companies on its website as part of the Government commitment to transparency across its operations. Details are available on the Departments website at:
www.dft.gov.uk/transparency
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to reform the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to mitigate the effects on the sustainable biodiesel industry of fluctuations in certificate prices. [62529]
Norman Baker: As part of the Government's measures to address climate change, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) ensures a growing proportion of UK road transport fuels are from sustainable renewable sources. The RTFO includes a certificate trading mechanism to increase the efficiency of compliance. The value of individual Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) is determined by the market and depends upon the relative cost of supplying biofuel and fossil fuels. RTFCs for the obligation period 2010-11 have sold at 15p to 24p at auction. We continue to monitor the market value of RTFCs and consider that to date the RTFO has met its objective of driving a market for renewable transport fuels in the UK.
We are currently analysing responses to proposals to amend the RTFO to implement the Renewable Energy Directive. These proposals include providing additional support for biofuels derived from waste, such as biodiesel made from used cooking oil, and advanced biofuel, so long as it meets certain mandatory standards for sustainability. This would be achieved through awarding two RTFCs to each litre of such fuel supplied.
Crop-based biofuels will continue to get one RTFC per litre, as long as they meet the mandatory sustainability standard. So the proposed change will give twice the financial support to biofuels derived from waste, and advanced biofuel, as conventional biofuels, and no support to biofuels that do not meet required sustainability standards.
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Rescue Services: VAT
Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in implementing a VAT exemption for mountain rescue. [62421]
Mike Penning: I refer my hon. Friend to my response to the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron) on 5 April 2011, Official Report, columns 876-77W.
Roads: Bridges
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on the A194/A184 Whitemare Pool Bridge improvement project. [62377]
Mike Penning: Following the serious delays to these essential maintenance works, the traffic restrictions on the A184 will be lifted on 12 July, with the remainder of the works on site completed by 10 August 2011.
Salvage
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Secretary of State's Representatives for Maritime Salvage and Intervention there have been since the creation of the post; and on what date the present representative was appointed. [62500]
Mike Penning: There have been two Secretary of State's representatives (SOSREP) for maritime salvage and intervention, since the creation of the post in 1999. The present SOSREP was appointed on 1 January 2008.
Trade Unions
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any staff of his Department are entitled to work full-time on trade union activities while receiving a departmental salary. [60252]
Norman Baker: Some staff in the Department are entitled to work full-time on trade union activities and I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 17 June 2011, Official Report, column 1024W.
Transport: Finance
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to update the High Level Output Specification Statement of Public Funds Available process to include those objectives specified in his Department's business plan. [61267]
Mrs Villiers: The High Level Output Specification and the Statement of Funds will reflect the objectives specified in the Department for Transport's business plan.
Justice
Angling: Licensing
George Hollingbery:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in each region were prosecuted for not being in possession of a rod licence in each of
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the last five financial years; what the total monetary value of fines issued in respect of such prosecutions was in each year; and how much was recovered in payment of fines in each year. [61471]
Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply.
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The following tables show the total number of prosecutions, fines given, and total costs awarded for rod licence evasion in the past five financial years. The courts award costs to the Environment Agency. The fines given go to the Treasury.
| Number | |||
| Region | Prosecutions | Fines | Costs (£) |
| Total prosecutions by region for the last five years | |||
| Number | |||
| Region | Prosecutions | Fines | Costs (£) |
| Total prosecutions by r egion, from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2010 inclusive | ||||||
| Region (Prosecutions) | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | Total |
| Region (Fines) | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-44 | Total |
| Region (Costs) | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | Total |
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Convictions
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for offences of (a) burglary, (b) sexual assault, (c) grievous bodily harm, (d) manslaughter, (e) attempted murder, (f) forgery, (g) fraud, (h) theft of a motor vehicle, (i) theft from a person, (j) robbery, (k) sexual activity with a child under 16, (l) sexual activity with a child under 13, (m) sexual assault of a female, (n) rape of a female, (o) sexual assault of a male, (p) rape of a male, (q) child abduction, (r) abandoning children, (s) cruelty or neglect of children, (t) wounding or other acts endangering life, (u) causing death by aggravated vehicle taking, (v) causing death by driving, unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers, (w) causing death of a child or vulnerable person, (x) causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink and drugs, (y) manslaughter due to diminished responsibility, (z) causing death by reckless driving, (aa) threat or conspiracy to murder, (bb) perverting the course of justice, (cc) violent disorder, (dd) kidnapping, (ee) blackmail, (ff) intent to supply a controlled drug, (gg) possession of a controlled drug, (hh) criminal damage, (ii) arson, (jj) common assault, (kk) dangerous driving and (ll) firearms there have been in each year since 1997; and what proportion of such convictions followed a guilty plea at the first instance in each such year. [61615]
Mr Blunt: Defendants found guilty at all courts for requested offences in England and Wales, from 1997 to 2010 (latest available), can be viewed in the following tables.
Plea data for specific offences, which are only available centrally for defendants tried in the Crown court, do not identify at which stage of criminal proceedings defendants entered their plea.
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