Special Educational Needs
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what role local authorities will have in co-ordinating specialist support for pupils with special educational needs between schools, health services and other services. [69714]
Sarah Teather: The special educational needs (SEN) and disability Green Paper, “Support and aspiration”, set out a strong strategic role for local authorities in England acting as the champions of vulnerable children, including those with SEN, and their families. The three core features of this role will be: working with local partners, such as Health and Wellbeing Boards, to plan strategically for services to meet the needs of local communities; commissioning high quality provision for disabled children and those with SEN; and enabling families to make informed choices and exercise greater control over services, for example, by setting out a local offer of provision for these children.
For individual children who require specialist support, local authorities will be an important agency, working with the voluntary sector and others, in arranging a single assessment process, drawing up Education, Health
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and Care Plans and agreeing on responsibility among the agencies involved for making the provision set out on the plan.
The Department is considering responses to the Green Paper and the Government will be publishing their plans for the future of SEN and disability provision in England by the end of the year.
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that implementation of the proposal in his Department's special educational needs Green Paper to remove the bias toward inclusions of pupils with special educational needs does not prevent such pupils from accessing mainstream education. [69716]
Sarah Teather: The proposals set out in the special educational needs and disability Green Paper, “Support and aspiration”, will not lead to any lessening of parents', rights. In the move from SEN statements to Education, Health and Care Plans parents will retain the right to request a mainstream education for their children if that is what they want and local authorities will still be under a conditional duty to send those children to mainstream schools and those schools will be under a duty, or obligation in the case of academies, to admit the child.
Except in prescribed circumstances, children with SEN but without statements must be educated in mainstream schools and this will continue to be the case following introduction of the new plans.
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the evaluation of special educational needs personal budget pilots will consider the role of local authorities in developing a market from which parents can choose an appropriate range of services. [69719]
Sarah Teather: The Green Paper “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability” (SEND) (March 2011) outlined proposals to improve the current support system for families, children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in England.
We are commissioning a series of SEND pathfinders to test out a range of new and innovative approaches to improve services, including the use of special educational needs personal budgets. I can confirm that the national evaluation study, commissioned to underpin the SEND pathfinder programme, will consider the local authority role in developing markets to support special educational needs personal budgets.
Special Educational Needs: Autism
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking in response to the conclusions and recommendations relating to autism in the National Autistic Society's report on special educational needs entitled “Great Expectations”. [69715]
Sarah Teather: The National Autistic Society's report “Great Expectations” was published in response to the special educational needs and disability Green Paper and showed that there was welcome support from parents for important proposals in the Green Paper.
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Recommendations in the society's report, such as the call for schools to have access to autism specialists, are addressed by proposals in the Green Paper, such as those for outstanding special schools, including autism specialist schools, to become Teaching Schools, developing their own staff alongside staff in schools throughout their network and sharing their expertise.
“Great Expectations” is being considered alongside other responses to the Green Paper and the Government will be setting out their plans for special educational needs and disability provision in England by the end of the year.
Vocational Guidance
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the outcome was of the careers summit which took place in his Department on 15 July 2011; and if he will make a statement. [68014]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 5 September 2011]: The outcomes of the careers summit on 15 July 2011 have been published on the Local Government Association’s Communities of Practice website, available via
www.communities.idea.gov.uk
Transport
Agility Trains
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates he has met representatives of Agility Trains since May 2010. [61258]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State has met representatives of Agility Trains, a consortium of Hitachi Rail Europe and John Laing Investments, four times since May 2010. Details of the Secretary of State's diary commitments are published quarterly on the DfT website.
Biofuels
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many companies have (a) received and (b) applications pending for funding under the EU Strategic Energy Technology Plan for the development of biofuels from (i) waste, (ii) residues, (iii) non-food cellulosic feedstocks and (iv) lignocellulosic feedstocks. [69556]
Norman Baker: The Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) is the European Union's vision for accelerating the development and deployment of cost-effective low-carbon technologies. The SET Plan is not a funding body but rather the umbrella title for research and demonstration activities. Funding for activities promoted under the SET Plan may be provided from any of a number of sources, including the European Union's Framework Programme 7, individual European member states and private industry. Many of these sources have an interest in research and demonstration activity that predates the SET Plan.
In the last three years Framework Programme 7 has awarded support to 11 projects involving UK organisations for biofuel research and development. Two further bids are currently being assessed. This has provided at least
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7 million euros of support to UK institutions. However, it is likely that not all of this work is directly related to the SET Plan initiative as Framework Programme 7 has a wider scope. The Department for Transport does not provide any direct funding for SET Plan activities and does not have a role in the funding decisions of other bodies that may fund this work.
Cycling
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the involvement of employers in the promotion of cycling as a means of transport to work; how many meetings he has had with employer organisations on promoting cycling in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [68446]
Norman Baker: It is good that many employers help their staff to cycle to and from work.
We see encouraging cycling and walking, along with improving public transport, as key to cutting carbon emissions and enhancing the quality of our urban areas. The Local Sustainable Transport Fund makes £560 million available over the period 2011-2015 to support growth and cut carbon through transport initiatives. Many of the bids to the fund have involved partnership arrangements with local employers, which we view positively.
Earlier this year I met with Business for Life and encouraged it to sign up to the Cycle to Work Guarantee, which forms part of the Department for Health-led Public Health Responsibility Deal.
The Department also funds the National Business Travel Network (NBTN). NBTN launched a DfT part funded “ways2work” tool kit in November 2010 to help people and businesses work more efficiently. The tool kit includes a section on encouraging cycling to work.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of people taking part in the Cycle to Work scheme. [68832]
Norman Baker: There are no precise figures for the number of people taking up Cycle to Work schemes as the tax allowance is covered by an exemption meaning employers do not have to make an annual tax return regarding the benefit.
The Cycle to Work Alliance, made up of the four largest Cycle to Work scheme administrators (Cycle Scheme, Halfords, Evans and Cycle Solutions), reports helping over 400,000 people take advantage of the scheme.
Departmental Correspondence
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters his Department received from hon. Members in June 2011. [68750]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport received 1,462 letters from hon. Members in June 2011.
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Procurement
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual value is of his Department's current contracts in each sector in which contracts are held. [66589]
Norman Baker: The annual value of my Department's current contracts in each sector in which contracts are held is shown in the following table. The category structure is based on the PSPES (Public Sector Procurement Expenditure Survey) taxonomy.
| PSPES Category Level 1 | Amount (£) |
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what methodology (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible used to estimate savings to the public purse made in respect of its procurement and purchasing since May 2010. [69265]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport and its non-departmental bodies followed Office of Government Commerce methodology for estimating savings made via its procurement and purchasing. Cash savings were measured against the indicative contract budget, the initial tendered price and the final price following negotiation.
Electric Vehicles
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the UK Renewable Energy Roadmap published on 12 July 2011 assumes the 25 per cent. grant for eligible ultra-low carbon vehicles will continue beyond January 2012. [69557]
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Norman Baker: Last year's spending review announcement confirmed that the Government have made provision to support the Plug-in Car Grant consumer incentive for ultra-low emission vehicles for the life of this Parliament. This is referred to in the UK Renewable Energy Roadmap.
To ensure continued value for money for the taxpayer, the scheme, and the level of subsidy provided, will be regularly reviewed, with the first review of the Plug-In Car Grant taking place in January 2012.
Government Car and Despatch Agency
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue the Government Car and Despatch Agency received from each Government Department in respect of its (a) allocated service and (b) ministerial car pool in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [69789]
Mike Penning: Details on the revenue that the Government Car and Despatch Agency received from each Government Department for both allocated and ministerial car pool services for the period 2010 to 2011 will be published in a written ministerial statement to the House in due course.
Invalid Vehicles: Public Transport
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's review of legislation on powered mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, whether the national strategy for carrying mobility scooters on public transport vehicles will consider plating wheelchairs that are suitable to be carried on public transport. [69689]
Norman Baker: My Department recognises the need for consistency when it comes to the carriage of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters on public transport, so people can be confident of whether their vehicle can be accommodated.
The consultation on the review of legislation around electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters did not address the issue of carriage on public transport, but, as recommended by the Transport Select Committee, we are now addressing this. We will be working with industry and users to look at the practicality of a plating system, and an announcement will be made once all the issues have been considered.
Metal Theft
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of metal theft was to projects and infrastructure maintained or administered by his Department in each of the last six years. [69811]
Norman Baker: I regret that the information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Motorways: Speed Limits
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what analysis his Department has conducted on the potential effects on the level of (a) fatalities, (b) serious casualties and (c) slight casualties of an increase in motorway speed limits to 80 mph. [69357]
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Mike Penning: The Department is conducting analysis of the effects of a change in the motorway speed limit but does not yet have the results that show what the impact on casualties would be.
Noise: Pollution
Jack Lopresti: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements there are on his Department's agencies to seek to alleviate levels of environmental noise in First Priority Locations identified by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in its noise mapping. [69428]
Norman Baker: The Highways Agency is the DfT agency that has direct responsibility for managing traffic noise in First Priority Locations.
The Highways Agency is required to investigate First Priority Locations identified by DEFRA under the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations (2006).
These regulations require strategic noise maps and action plans to be prepared for urban areas (agglomerations), major roads, major railways and major airports. England's Noise Action Plans were formally adopted by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs on Monday 15 March 2010.
Northern Railway Franchise
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money his Department has received under revenue sharing arrangements from the Northern franchise in each year since the Northern franchise was granted. [69604]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has received the following revenue sharing receipts from the Northern franchise:
|
|
£ million |
The revenue share for 2010-11 has yet to be finalised.
Railways: Cardiff
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train manufacturers he has met to discuss bidding for the Intercity Express Programme trains planned to operate on the electrified line to Cardiff; and on how many occasions he has met each such manufacturer since May 2010. [61257]
Mrs Villiers: Since May 2010 the Secretary of State has met Hitachi, the appointed manufacturer to Agility Trains, which is the preferred bidding consortium for the Intercity Express Programme contract, appointed in 2009 to discuss the procurement process that is nearing completion. A record of these meetings is in my answer given today (UIN 61258).
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Within this period the Secretary of State has also met once with representatives of Bombardier, Alstom and Siemens, each of which pre-qualified for the Intercity Express Programme as part of other consortia.
Railways: Diesel Fuel
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the use of diesel Pacer railbuses after 2019. [69603]
Mrs Villiers: The deployment of rolling stock is typically a matter for train operators and Rolling Stock Leasing companies, with the Department's role being limited to ensuring that tax-payers and fare-payers receive value for money.
The expansion in the number of electrified rail routes may mean that fewer diesel trains will be needed in the future.
The Department has set out the level of accessibility that it expects Pacers to have if they are to remain in service after 2019—it will be for the owners to decide whether to invest in life-extension works. Indeed, one has already released images of interior refurbishment concepts.
High Speed 2
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the effects on train services to Manchester and the North West of England of the completion of a high speed line to Manchester and Leeds. [69605]
Mr Philip Hammond: Subject to the outcome of the public consultation, HS2 would result in faster and more frequent services between London and cities in the North West. A full Y-shaped high speed network to Manchester and Leeds would be able to accommodate trains that can carry up to 1,100 people from Manchester to London in one hour 13 minutes, and from Manchester to Birmingham in 49 minutes. In addition, high speed services through-running on to the conventional network would be able to reach other towns and cities in the North West, for example reducing the journey time between London and Liverpool to as little as one hour 37 minutes.
As per the illustrative service specification for the ‘Y’ network outlined in the Economic Case for the Government's proposals for High Speed 2, there would be four high speed services an hour to Manchester from London in the peak, two services an hour from Birmingham to Manchester, two services an hour from London to Liverpool (with intermediate stops at Stafford, Crewe, and Runcorn and Warrington) and two services an hour in the peak from London to Wigan, Preston and Glasgow.
In addition, HS2 would free up capacity on existing rail lines, which will provide more space for better and new services, including services to and from the North West.
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend high speed services to the North West. [69606]
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Mr Philip Hammond: The Government's proposed strategy for high speed rail is to construct a Y-shaped network linking directly to Manchester and Leeds. This would be able to accommodate 400 m trains carrying up to 1,100 people, enabling a significant increase in capacity to Manchester, as well as reducing the journey time to London to around 73 minutes. Other destinations in the North West such as Liverpool or Preston could also see significant capacity and journey time improvements via high speed services through-running on to the conventional network.
In addition, even the opening of the initial London to West Midlands phase of the proposed network would see through-running high speed trains serving Manchester, Liverpool and other cities in the North West of England.
Rescue Services
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the operational responsibilities of coastguards based in the (a) Maritime Operations Centre and (b) Maritime Rescue Sub-Centres under the revised proposals for the future of the Coastguard service. [69598]
Mike Penning: The operational responsibilities and skill levels of coastguards at a Maritime Operations Centre (MOC) and a Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) are the same and are described within the original consultation document published on 16 December 2010, pages 26 to 28.
The concept of operations is further explained in the supporting documentation to the second consultation document published on 14 July 2011, which may be found on pages 2 to 6 at:
www.dft.gov.uk/mca/supporting_documentation-3.pdf
Roads: Schools
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) name and (b) address is of each school within 150 metres of a road which carries on average over 10,000 vehicles per day. [69435]
Norman Baker: The Department does not hold the information in the form requested, and I regret it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Thameslink: Rolling Stock
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many carriages the Thameslink programme will release for redeployment in each year between 2013 and 2018. [69027]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 6 September 2011]: No existing carriages will be redeployed in 2013 or 2014 as the first of the new Thameslink trains are not expected to enter service until early 2015, with all trains (around 1,200 vehicles) expected to be operating in time for the December 2018 timetable. The exact detail of the deployment and roll-out of the new trains is currently being developed.
The redeployment of existing vehicles is dependent on other factors, for example franchise lengths and the exact timing of the electrification programmes. However,
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approximately 400 existing vehicles are expected to be redeployed in the period from 2015 to 2018.
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 June 2011, Official Report, columns 85-86WS, on Thameslink rolling stock, whether he has (a) requested or (b) received legal advice since 10 May 2010 on options for changing the terms of the original invitation to tender for the Thameslink contract; and if he will publish any such advice. [R] [65775]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 13 July 2011]: It is in the public interest that the decisions taken by the Secretary of State are taken in a fully informed legal context where relevant. Communications between the Secretary of State and his legal advisers are subject to the legal advice privilege.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he gave consideration to the July 2009 Competition Commission report on the rolling stock leasing market as part of the assessment of bids for the Thameslink rolling stock contract; and if he will make a statement. [R] [68702]
Mrs Villiers: The Department was aware of, and considered, the report by the Competition Commission on the rolling stock leasing market when it was published.
The Competition Commission did not require any alterations to the Thameslink rolling stock procurement process, and none were made as a result of its report.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any part of the process to assess bids for the Thameslink rolling stock contract was sub-contracted to a third party; and if he will list any such sub-contractors. [R] [68713]
Mrs Villiers: The assessment of bids was led by the Department for Transport, supported and advised by representatives from Network Rail, First Capital Connect, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer, Interfleet Technology and Arup.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) sections of the procurement document and (b) provisions of EU procurement law prevents a re-appraisal of the existing award of preferred bidder status for the Thameslink rolling stock contract. [R] [68733]
Mrs Villiers: The detailed process and criteria for the evaluation of Thameslink bids and the process defining the award of a preferred bidder are clearly set out in section 3 of the Thameslink rolling stock project invitation to tender. In particular section 3.3 defines the process that must be used for the selection of the preferred bidder. Any re-appraisal of the existing bidder proposals against these criteria will only produce the same outcome. As a matter of procurement law the Department would be open to legal challenge if it now sought to change the evaluation criteria or, process, or the process for identifying the preferred bidder.
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Article 4 of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006 requires bidders to be treated in a way which is equal, non-discriminatory and transparent. This reflects European treaty principles.
This article would prevent new requirements being introduced into the evaluation process which discriminate against a particular bidder.
Margaret Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2011, Official Report, column 718W, on Thameslink railway line: rolling stock, on what dates officials in his Department met representatives of Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd between 12 May and 16 June 2011; and what the purpose was of such meetings. [69196]
Mrs Villiers: DFT officials met representatives of Bombardier Transportation UK Ltd on 12, 17 and 19 May 2011. The meetings discussed business matters between the Department and Bombardier.
Trains: Rolling Stock
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on plans to deploy rolling stock to train operators in future; and if he will publish the most recent plans. [69602]
Mrs Villiers: Work is under way to provide additional rolling stock on many routes around the country. Combined with the IEP, Thameslink and Crossrail projects, our plan is that 2,700 new carriages will be in service by the end of 2019. 349 additional carriages were added to the network during the coalition's first 12 months in office and progress has been made on the procurement process for carriages to be delivered under the IEP, Thameslink and Crossrail programmes.
The last formal rolling stock plan was prepared by the previous Administration and published in July 2008. We will be considering Sir Roy McNulty's recommendations on rolling stock but start from the position that the rail industry should be best placed to lead on rolling stock cascade proposals, with the Government's role primarily focused on ensuring that these represent value for money.
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he holds on the number of current rolling stock for train carriages. [69702]
Mrs Villiers: The information is available from a number of industry publications such as Platform 5 and associated trade magazines. The current passenger rolling stock numbers, excluding locomotives, is around 11,600 carriages.
West Coast Railway Line: Rolling Stock
Margaret Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2011, Official Report, column 722W, on West Coast Railway line, on what dates he received information from officials in his Department on the status of the procurement for the Intercity Express programme. [69195]
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Mrs Villiers: Since taking office Ministers have received submissions on the status of the Intercity Express Programme on an ongoing basis.
West Coast Railways Line
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include a requirement to modernise railway stations on the West Coast Main Line in the tender which is to begin in 2012. [69672]
Mrs Villiers: A new franchising system has been devised to facilitate and encourage private investment, and to deliver benefits for passengers.
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In order to lower unit operating costs, the new franchisee will assume full repair responsibilities for the 17 stations it manages under a 99-year lease from Network Rail (at present it is split between the operator and Network Rail). Bidders will be expected to consider what appropriate enhancements should be made and how best to improve service quality at these stations.
A residual value mechanism is being created to account for the long term value of station improvements if these carry on beyond the franchise end date. This could reward operators for investment with a pay back period longer than their franchise term.