| Table 3. Number of deaths attributed to drug poisoning where a volatile substance was mentioned on the death certificate, by se x, England and Wales, 2006- 10 (1, 2, 3) | |||||
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning (ICD 10 codes shown in Box 1) and where a volatile substance was mentioned on the death certificate. (2 )Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents. (3 )Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. | |||||
Worcestershire Primary Care Trust: Property
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to reach a decision on the future of property previously owned by Worcestershire Primary Care Trust. [70257]
Mr Simon Burns: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are currently working with national health service providers to agree the portfolio of properties that will transfer to them. The Department expects to sign off the provisional lists by 15 December 2011, and that transfers of estate would commence in 2012.
PCTs will retain those parts of the estate not transferred to NHS providers, for the time being. Further guidance relating to this part of the estate will be issued in due course.
9 Sep 2011 : Column 940W
Solvents: Misuse
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has had recent discussions with the devolved Administrations on the funding of statistical information on the prevention of volatile substance abuse; [70463]
(2) what funding his Department has allocated to the prevention of volatile substance abuse in each of the last three years; [70465]
(3) what recent representations his Department has received on funding for the collation of information on volatile substance abuse; [70466]
(4) what steps his Department is taking to support the collection of statistics on volatile substance abuse deaths during the comprehensive spending review period; [70467]
(5) how much funding his Department has allocated for the collation of statistics relating to volatile substance abuse deaths in each of the last five years. [70468]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is reviewing its existing public health information and intelligence functions and considering what data should be collected to inform the work of Public Health England. Decisions on the data requirements for a drugs early warning system, including the collection of Volatile Substance Abuse (VSA) mortality data in the future will need to be based on the outcome of this work. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and the British Aerosol Manufacturers' Association have made representations about the importance of collecting data on VSA.
Spend by the Department on the collection and publication of statistics on VSA is shown in the following table:
|
|
Spend (£) |
There have been no recent discussions with the devolved Administrations concerning the funding of statistical information on VSA.
Frank, the Government's drug information and advice service, provides young people with knowledge to help prevent drug use. The following table shows Frank campaign funding for the last three years for which figures are available. This excludes spending on the Frank helpline which is funded through a contract for various helplines in which the costs attributable to Frank are not separately identified, but are estimated to be more than £800,000 per annum.
|
|
Amount (£ million) |
9 Sep 2011 : Column 941W
Business, Innovation and Skills
Advantage West Midlands: Assets
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assets Advantage West Midlands holds in Worcestershire; and how such assets are to be disposed of. [69550]
Mr Prisk: Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has a single property asset in Worcestershire, the former Eon substation land adjacent to Bromsgrove Technology Park. This asset is contractually committed to transfer into PxP West Midlands which is the AWM Joint Venture Property Vehicle. PxP West Midlands owns the remainder of the Bromsgrove Technology Park.
Agency Workers Regulations 2010
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the amendment of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010. [70538]
Mr Davey: The Government have recently amended the Agency Workers Regulations using SI 2011/1941.
The Government take the view that the absolute priority must be to retain the 12-week qualifying period agreed between the TUC and CBI and have no current plans for further amendments which could put this qualifying period at risk.
We have worked closely with businesses and the recruitment industry to help them prepare for the changes and have published guidance that will help them fully understand their legal obligations as of October.
Apprentices: Construction
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support the Government offers to self-employed construction workers in taking on apprentices. [67966]
Mr Hayes: The National Apprenticeship Service works with all types of employers in England, including micro businesses, to help them bring apprentices into their business. Employers can access information on apprenticeships by direct telephone or via the website:
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/employers.aspx
Initially, very small businesses may prefer to engage with the programme through an Apprenticeship Training Association (ATA). The National Apprenticeship Service regional work force team can advise employers on the best option for them.
By their very nature, individuals may be employed by the ATA to begin with, but would be expected to be placed with an employer once they have finished their apprenticeship.
Business
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which entrepreneurs and representatives of business (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have consulted on its policy on small and medium-sized enterprises since his appointment. [69257]
9 Sep 2011 : Column 942W
Mr Prisk: Ministers and officials from this Department regularly engage with entrepreneurs and business representative groups on a wide range of issues affecting small and medium-sized enterprises. Regular bilaterals are held with key business representative groups at both ministerial and official level to discuss the impact of current policies and to consult on potential new policies.
There are also more formal mechanisms for ministerial engagement including the Small Business Economic Forum which brings together the business representative bodies, the banks (as required) and a few individual entrepreneurs; and the Entrepreneurs' Forum which comprises 17 entrepreneurs.
Business: Government Assistance
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications were made to the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme in the last 12 months; and how many of those applications were successful (a) in the Dudley metropolitan borough and (b) nationally. [70118]
Mr Prisk: Small businesses apply for a commercial loan from a lender. If the lender deems that the loan applicant is viable but lacks the necessary security or financial track record, the lender is able to offer an Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) backed loan. In the period September 2010 to September 2011, 3,720 EFG backed loans to businesses were drawn nationally, with a total value of £332 million. In the district of Dudley, for the same period, there were 16 EFG backed loans drawn, with a value of £3.9 million.
Competition and Markets Authority
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the inclusion of consideration on health and sustainable development within the remit of the proposed Competition and Markets Authority. [69308]
Mr Davey: We consider that the main focus of the proposed new Competition and Markets Authority should be on competition.
Employment Agencies: EU Law
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for a suspension of the implementation of the EU Agency Workers Directive. [70524]
Mr Davey: The Government currently have no plans to suspend the implementation of the Agency Workers Directive; the regulations implementing the directive will come into force on 1 October 2011.
The Government take the view that the absolute priority must be to retain the 12-week qualifying period agreed between the TUC and CBI and have no current plans for further amendments which could put this qualifying period at risk.
We have worked closely with businesses and the recruitment industry to help them prepare for the changes and have published guidance that will help them fully understand their legal obligations as of October.
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Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effects on small businesses of the entry into force of the EU Agency Workers Directive. [70537]
Mr Davey: There are no specific cost estimates for small businesses but agency working is less prevalent in smaller firms so the Impact Assessment concluded that the introduction of the directive was likely to have a lesser impact on smaller firms.
The January 2010 BIS Impact Assessment "European Parliament and Council Directive on working conditions for temporary agency workers" estimated that the costs of the entry into force of the EU Agency Workers Directive on private sector hirers amounted to around 0.3% (around £1.5 billion) of the total private sector wage bill.
The Government have worked closely with businesses and the recruitment industry to help them prepare for the changes and have published guidance that will help them fully understand their legal obligations as of October.
English Language: Education
Jon Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the potential effects on community cohesion and integration of planned reductions in funding for English for speakers of other languages. [68561]
Mr Hayes: The potential impact on adult learners participating in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses of the changes to eligibility criteria for fee remission proposed in the Government's ‘Skills for Sustainable Growth’ strategy (November 2010) are described in an equality impact assessment, published by this Department on 18 July 2011. This can be found at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/further-education-skills/docs/e/11-1045-english-for-speakers-of-other-languages-equality-impact
Green Investment Bank
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent assessment he has made of progress in the state aid process for the Green Investment Bank; [68105]
(2) what credit rating he expects the Green Investment Bank to receive. [68111]
Mr Prisk: Implementation of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) will consist of three phases:
1. Incubation from 2012 to state aid approval. BIS will make direct investments.
2. Establishment as a stand-alone institution following state-aid approval.
3. Full borrowing powers from April 2015, subject to public sector net debt falling as a percentage of GDP.
There is no defined time limit for the state aid approval process although the required market investigation and evidence gathering often result in the process taking 18 months or more.
9 Sep 2011 : Column 944W
Phase III will see the GIB obtain borrowing powers and, depending on the chosen borrowing mechanism, work will begin in earnest on developing the credit rating of the GIB. It is not possible to say now what credit rating the GIB will receive. The Government's document “Update on the design of the Green Investment Bank” provides further detail on the proposals for the GIB.
Health Education
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what plans his Department has to promote exercise and wellbeing in the workplace; and if he will make a statement; [70406]
(2) what plans his Department has to promote physical activity at work; and if he will make a statement. [70407]
Anne Milton: I have been asked to reply.
The Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions work closely to promote exercise and well-being in the workplace by developing good practice and positive links between health and work to employers, healthcare professionals and individuals through a range of initiatives including fit for work service pilots, fit note and the helpline for small and medium sized enterprises.
In November 2010 the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), launched ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England’ which sets out the Government's life-cycle approach to improving public health, including physical activity and health and well-being at work.
As a part of this strategy, in March 2011, the Secretary of State for Health launched the Public Health Responsibility Deal to utilise the potential for businesses and other organisations to improve public health and tackle health inequalities through their influence over food, alcohol, physical activity and health in the workplace.
The Health and Work network has developed four pledges, which 150 organisations have currently signed up to at least one pledge of aiming to reinforce understanding of the positive link between health and work amongst employers, employees and the general public. Around 100 organisations have pledged to adopt measures to encourage physical activity in the workplace, including walking and cycling to work. The public sector too will be playing its part and in July of this year, the Cabinet Secretary announced a Civil Service Physical Activity Challenge to encourage all civil service organisations to promote physical activity through the workplace.
Higher Education: Tyne and Wear
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many people from (a) Jarrow constituency and (b) South Tyneside attended university in each year since 1997; and from which constituency the highest number of people attended university in each such year; [70420]
(2) how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England enrolled at university in each year since 1997. [70425]
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Mr Willetts:
The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the table. The parliamentary constituency with the
9 Sep 2011 : Column 946W
highest number of enrolments in each academic year is shown in the last column with the number of enrolments in brackets.
| Enrolments (1) from Jarrow parliamentary constituency, South Tyneside local authority, North East region and England UK higher education institutions, academic years 1997/98 to 2009/10 | |||||
| Academic year | Jarrow | South Tyneside | North East | England | Constituency with highest number |
| (1) Covers enrolments from all levels and modes of study. Notes: 1. Figures are based on a snapshot as at 1 December and have been rounded to the nearest five. 2. Figures exclude students whose geographical location could not be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record. | |||||
Insolvency
Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of micro-businesses in the insolvency profession. [69015]
Mr Prisk: Official sources of business statistics do not contain the information required to answer this question because businesses in the insolvency sector are not identified as a distinct industrial category.
Local Enterprise Partnerships: Lancashire
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding he has made available to the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership since its inception. [68782]
Mr Prisk: Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) are able to apply to Government funding to support their development through this Department's Capacity and Start-up Funds.
The Lancashire LEP was not in place in time to apply for funding from the first round of the capacity fund. They will be eligible to apply for the next round anticipated to open towards the end of this year. The partnership was eligible to apply for support from the start-up fund but chose not to submit an application.
LEPs can also apply for funding to support specific programmes or projects, for example, the Regional Growth Fund or through the Technology Strategy Board. LEPs can also access European funding streams or may receive financial support from local authorities.
Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2011, Official Report, column 1200W, on motor vehicles: industry, if he will initiate discussions with (a) Government Departments and (b) other public bodies to increase the purchase by such bodies of motor vehicles produced in Britain. [70483]
Mr Prisk: There are no current plans to discuss this specific issue. However, as stated by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), on 5 July 2011, the Government are considering whether the UK is making best use of the application of the European Union procurement rules, where they apply, and taking the most effective approach to procurement. Conclusions arising from this work will be published as part of the growth review, alongside the autumn statement.
National Renewable Energy Centre
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress his Department has made in facilitating the commissioning of the National Renewable Energy Centre's Nautilus marine energy testing facility. [69232]
Mr Prisk: Between 2009 and 2011, the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) received a £10 million grant from the “Strategic Investment Fund” in BIS for the Nautilus test rig. In addition, the project has European regional development fund funding in this financial year.
The build and commissioning of the facility is managed directly by Narec as the asset owner. BIS continues to monitor the project both directly and through its partner
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organisations to ensure timely completion. Narec are forecasting that the facility will be commissioned in spring 2012.
Nuclear Power
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what officials or special advisors in his Department provided briefings on nuclear power generation to the Government Chief Scientific Adviser between 10 and 15 March 2011; and if he will make a statement; [67955]
(2) how many (a) emails and (b) other communications officials or special advisors working in his Department sent to representatives of nuclear power companies or the nuclear power industry between 10 and 15 March 2011; how many officials or special advisors working in his Department were directly or indirectly involved in providing research or briefing support on nuclear power generation to Ministers or Government representatives between those dates; and if he will make a statement; [67953]
(3) what meetings took place between members of his ministerial team or officials working in his Department and representatives of nuclear power companies or the nuclear power industry between 10 and 15 March 2011; and if he will make a statement. [67954]
Mr Prisk: There were no briefings given to the Government chief scientific adviser from officials or special advisers in BIS on nuclear power generation. A member of British Energy, now part of EDF energy, took part in a Scientific Advisory Group in Emergencies (SAGE) meeting on 15 March to provide specific advice on the type of reactor used at Fukushima Dai-ichi and its implications in the emerging incident. The individual involved was invited to provide specialist knowledge to the discussion on reactors built in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The minutes of that meeting are available at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/go-science/science-in-government/global-issues/civil-contingencies/sage-15-march-2011
Nine emails were sent to representatives of nuclear power companies by BIS officials between 10 and 15 March. No other communications were sent. No officials or special advisers working in this Department were directly or indirectly involved in providing research or briefing support on nuclear power generation to Ministers or Government representatives.
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, attended a meeting on 11 March 2011, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Areva and Rolls Royce.
Occupational Pensions
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to provide information on the implications of proposed pension changes from 2012 for (a) sole traders, (b) micro firms, (c) small and medium enterprises and (d) large firms. [70154]
Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
9 Sep 2011 : Column 948W
Employers will be staged into the new duties in the Pensions Act 2008 to automatically enrol their workers into a workplace pension and to make contributions to their pension between October 2012 and September 2016. Large employers will be brought into the duties first and small firms will not have to implement automatic enrolment until April 2014 at the earliest. Sole traders are not covered by the reforms.
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) is responsible for ensuring employers are aware of their duties and how to comply with them. As part of this, TPR has already published:
Detailed guidance on the reforms for larger employers and intermediaries to explain the whole process of automatic enrolment:
http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/pensions-reform/detailed-guidance.aspx
Interactive tools which are targeted at smaller businesses, who may not have in-house pension expertise:
http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers/tools.aspx
Leaflets and checklists to introduce the reforms to employers and their intermediaries:
http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/employers.aspx
TPR will be writing to all employers, 12 and three months ahead of the date when the employer duties will apply to them informing them of the date they need to start enrolling staff; where they can find out more information and guidance about the reforms; and a checklist of things they should consider. TPR has already written to the largest companies.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is working closely with TPR to develop an integrated programme of communications for employers explaining the reforms through a variety of media including national press, business websites and online.
In addition, DWP is developing information material to help employers of all sizes communicate the reforms to their workers, including templates to help employers meet their statutory information requirements.
Overseas Trade
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department publishes on future trade missions to be undertaken by Ministers of his Department; how much prior notification is provided to external bodies; and how such information is publicised. [68557]
Mr Prisk: Due to security considerations, these visits are not generally publicised. Only when all elements are finalised, including the business delegation, and at a time very near to the event, are details made more widely available.
Overseas Trade: East Midlands
Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage the development of business and trade links between India and (a) Leicester and (b) the east midlands. [69680]
Mr Prisk:
The coalition Government have committed to an enhanced partnership with India, with trade and investment at the centre of our prosperity and growth agenda with it. A year on from the Prime Minister's
9 Sep 2011 : Column 949W
visit to India we have enhanced our engagement with India politically and commercially, including:
the launch of an India-UK CEO forum;
a reinvigorated Joint Economic and Trade Committee;
the launch of UK-India Research and Education Initiative II;
the recent Economic and Financial Dialogue; and
many successful business deals which have led to the creation of jobs and an increase in our bilateral trade.
The Government, through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), continue to deliver a full programme of work related to increasing UK exports, attracting more Indian investment into the UK and improving the business environment in both countries.
In respect of the east midlands, following the closure of the East Midlands India Business Bureau, UKTI's east midlands team has taken over their work and appointed Stuart Muir to lead the development of Leicester and east midlands companies into India. He is developing an India strategy for the East Midlands. In the meantime current activity includes:
Support for the UK-India Food Conference and Buyer-Seller Meeting being organised by the Leicester-based Indo-British Trade Council to be held at the University of Leicester from 30 August to 1 September;
An inward visit to the East Midlands by a UKTI trade specialist from Mumbai in September focusing on the creative and media, and education and training sectors;
An Institute of Directors/UKTI seminar with the Deputy High Commissioner for Chennai in October at the Nottingham Conference Centre focused on India;
An east midlands trade mission to Mumbai and New Delhi in February/March 2012.
East midlands companies have access to UKTI and UK India Business Council services to assist them to enter the markets most suitable to their overseas business development needs.
Package Holidays: Consumers
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the consumer protection afforded to holidaymakers under Regulations 16 to 22 of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992; [70799]
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness as a deterrent of the sanctions applicable to organisers who conduct tour operating businesses in contravention of the financial protection measures enacted by Regulations 16 to 22 of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992; [70800]
(3) whether he plans to amend the financial protection measures enacted by Regulations 16 to 22 of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. [70801]
Mr Davey: The Department has made no formal assessment of the effectiveness of regulations 16 to 22 of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 recently; neither has it formally assessed the effectiveness of the sanctions applicable to tour operators which operate in contravention of those provisions.
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The Department is in regular contact with the enforcement authorities, package travel organisers and their representative organisations and consumer representatives. This contact has given us no cause for concern that these regulations are not generally complied with by those who organise packages, nor that the regulations do not provide adequate protection against organiser insolvency in respect of the vast majority of the millions of consumers who travel on packages every year.
The Department has no plans to amend the relevant regulations. We expect the European Commission to propose changes to the European directive which these regulations implement in the course of next year. We envisage that it will be necessary to amend the regulations generally when those negotiations have concluded.
Parthenon Group
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Minister for Universities and Science first met representatives of the Parthenon Group following his appointment; and whether subsequent meetings have taken place. [68166]
Mr Willetts: I have not met with representatives of the Parthenon Group.
A quarterly-updated list of all BIS ministerial meetings with external organisations is also available at:
http://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/disclosure-ministerial-hospitality-received-department-for-business
Postal Services: Fraud
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps Royal Mail takes to intercept postal scams (a) in general and (b) those targeted on elderly and vulnerable people. [70530]
Mr Davey: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail.
I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, to respond directly to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Library of the House.
Postal Services: Redditch
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the quality of postal services in Redditch constituency. [67495]
Mr Davey: This Department does not hold any information pertaining to the quality of the postal service in Redditch. Quality of service is an operational matter which is the responsibility of Royal Mail.
I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Moya Greene, to respond directly to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Library of the House.
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Rolling Stock: Exports
Margaret Beckett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what steps he has taken to assess the overseas market for the export of railway rolling stock manufactured in the UK; [68843]
(2) what steps he has taken to promote the export of railway rolling stock manufactured in the UK. [68852]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) rail sector team collects market intelligence from our commercial sections in UK embassies, high commissions and industry sources. This feeds into an annual UKTI rail sector action plan which is devised to identify overseas business opportunities for the UK rail sector. It is agreed in partnership with industry representatives who sit on the UKTI Rail Sector Advisory Group (which includes a roiling stock manufacturer) and the promotion of rolling stock equipment exports is part of that action plan. UKTI and relevant parts of the industry actively pursue these opportunities through a number of targeted activities including trade missions to key markets, inward VIP visits, and major rail exhibitions.
Vocational Education: Costs
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost to the public purse was, in current prices, of the Capita IT system for individual learning accounts. [65633]
Mr Hayes: The value of the contract with Capita for the delivery costs of the Individual Learning Accounts between the financial years 2000/01 and 2002/03 was set out in the 10th report from the Public Accounts Committee concerning the individual learning accounts. This is set out in the following table, alongside the respective amount in today's prices.
| £ | ||
|
|
Delivery costs—Capita contract (1) | Real terms (2) |
| (1 )Source—Public Accounts Committee Tenth Report—Individual Learning Accounts, published 17 April 2003. (2) These figures have been calculated using HM Treasury Deflators, last updated 28 June 2011. | ||
Transport
Aviation: Olympic Games 2012
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the statement of 19 July 2011, Official Report, columns 113-4WS, on Olympics: airspace, what estimate he has made of the potential change in the (a) number of night flights at Heathrow and (b) unexpected over-flights in respite periods during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. [69531]
Mrs Villiers:
The announcement about Olympics airspace restrictions will have no effect on the number of night
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flights at or over-flying Heathrow. There are no plans to amend the existing night flights regime at Heathrow during the Games period.
Biofuels
Mr Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the contribution of imports of biofuels from (a) EU and (b) non-EU sources to the achievement of the renewable transport target set under the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC); [69495]
(2) what estimate he has made of the proportion of sustainable biofuels derived from feedstocks grown in the UK in each year to 2020; [69555]
(3) what assessment he has made of the potential for investment in sustainable biofuels between 2014 and 2020. [69558]
Norman Baker: The Government support biofuels through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). 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. 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.
The Department for Transport now administers the RTFO and produces statistics on the country of origin of feedstocks used for biofuels supplied under the RTFO. Unverified data for April 2010 to April 2011 are available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/biofuels-statistics-quarterly-year-to-april-2011
These statistics suggest that 22% of biofuel supplied to the UK is derived from domestically sourced feedstocks. This is up on the figure from the previous year, when only 11% of biofuel came from feedstocks produced in the UK. The year before that, the figure was 9%.
There is no estimate made of the contribution of imports of biofuels to meeting targets in the renewable energy directive, or on the proportion of sustainable biofuels derived from feedstocks grown in the UK in each year, to 2020. However, the Department has commissioned a number of research projects, collectively known as the “Biofuels Modes research” to investigate the potential supply and use of biofuels in the UK out to 2020 and 2050.
This Biofuels Modes research is considering the availability of biofuel feedstock supply from the UK, and from EU and non-EU imports and will be published later this year. Further details on this work are available at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/sustainable/biofuels/research/
Buses: Concessions
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the withdrawal of the coach concessionary travel scheme; and if he will make a statement. [70429]
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Norman Baker [holding answer 7 September 2011]: By 6 September 2011, the Department for Transport had received representations on changes in the funding of the concessionary coach travel scheme from a number of MPs on behalf of their constituents, from one coach operator and from a number of individuals. The funding changes were announced as part of the 2010 spending review.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of people aged over 60 years (a) in total and (b) with a disability who are eligible for the Concessionary Coach Travel Scheme in (i) England, (ii) west midlands and (iii) Dudley borough. [70517]
Norman Baker [holding answer 7 September 2011]: The following table shows population estimates from the Office for National Statistics of the number of people aged 60 years and older in mid-2010 who are eligible for the concessionary coach travel scheme in England:
| Area | 2010 |
The Department does not hold information on the number of people with a disability who are eligible for the concessionary coach travel scheme in England, the west midlands or Dudley borough.
Cars: Tyres
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions his Department has had on the provision by car manufacturers of non-standard tyres for use as spares in new vehicles; [70691]
(2) whether he has any plans to introduce a mandatory requirement for all motor vehicles to carry a spare wheel and tyre. [70692]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport is routinely engaged in discussions on EU and UNECE vehicle construction standards. These include standards on ‘space saver’ temporary use spare tyres. However there have not been any recent discussions on this particular issue.
There are no plans to introduce a mandatory requirement for vehicles to carry a spare wheel and tyre.
Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for which reason the Dartford Crossing tolls were not lifted on 16 July 2011 in line with the protocol he announced on 30 June. [68673]
Mike Penning: On 16 July at 13.01pm a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) broke down on the QEII bridge which affected southbound traffic. The recovery took 50 minutes to complete because the HGV's air brakes had to be released mechanically.
The operation protocol set out the conditions which have to exist for a senior Highways Agency official to consider whether the Dartford Crossing charge can be
9 Sep 2011 : Column 954W
suspended on a case by case basis. The conditions are that there has been or is likely to be an emergency situation, where continuous queues, travelling at less than 10 mph, extend back—or have the potential to extend back—to junctions 4 or 28 of the M25 or beyond, and where the suspension of the charge would ease the congestion and assist in managing the emergency situation. The protocol is set out in full at:
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/documents/Dartford_ Crossing_Charging_-__Suspension_Protocol_Rev_A.pdf
On 16 July, traffic at its most severe extended back for five miles from the Crossing and did not reach junction 28. This does not meet the criteria for suspending the tolls.
The HA will continue to assess all traffic conditions that occur at the Dartford Crossing on a case-by-case basis, against the criteria for severe congestion, during the six-month trial of the operational protocol, to evaluate its effectiveness in dealing with such circumstances.
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons tolls on the Dartford Crossing were not lifted on 26 July 2011 to take account of circumstances where queues on the M25 exceeded 10 miles. [69460]
Mike Penning: The traffic conditions on 26 July did not meet the specified criteria for severe congestion set out in the operational protocol being trialled by the Highways Agency. The Road User Charge was therefore not suspended.
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions Dartford tolls have been suspended since 1 July 2011. [70371]
Mike Penning: Since 1 July 2011, the Dartford Crossing Road User Charge has been suspended once, at 2.18 pm on 26 August.
East Coast Railway Line: Franchises
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to re-let the Intercity East Coast rail franchise. [63200]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 4 July 2011]:The new InterCity East Coast franchise will commence in December 2013.
Electric Vehicles: Visual Impairment
Mr Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) meetings and (b) representations (i) he and (ii) Ministers in his Department have had with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association on the audibility of (A) electric and (B) hybrid vehicles. [71208]
Norman Baker: Departmental officials have had some correspondence with Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to inform them of the start and publication of research the Department had commissioned on audibility and accident risk of hybrid and electric vehicles. Guide Dogs for the Blind also provided the Department with guidelines they had developed for artificial sound for hybrid and electric vehicles.
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I have recently received a request from Richard Leaman, chief executive of Guide Dogs for the Blind for a meeting to discuss the results of research conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory on this issue and will be responding shortly.
Large Goods Vehicles
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the (a) public health, (b) safety and (c) environmental effects of increasing the length of lorries; and if he will make a statement. [70689]
Mike Penning: The public health, safety and environmental effects of increasing the length of lorries were set out in the Impact Assessment and supporting research published alongside the consultation document. Further evidence provided in responses to the consultation is being reviewed.
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent consultations he has undertaken to ensure that his Department's proposals for longer lorries takes account of the views of (a) cyclists, (b) motoring organisations, (c) local government and (d) the rail industry; and if he will make a statement. [70690]
Mike Penning: The Government's consultation on whether to allow an increase in the length of articulated lorries was widely circulated to interested parties including cycling bodies, motoring organisations, local government bodies (the Local Government Association and the and Welsh Local Government Association) and the Rail Freight Group and rail freight operators.
In support of the consultation, the Department also offered to meet key bodies potentially affected by the proposals. Invitations were sent to the Freight Transport Association (FTA), the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the Rail Freight Group, Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT), Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), Road Safety GB, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the AA, Campaign for Better Transport, Freight on Rail, SUSTRANS, CTC, Campaign to protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth, the London Cycling Campaign (LCC), British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF), and Motorcycle Action Group UK (MAG).
The following organisations accepted the offer and met officials to discuss the proposals: FTA, RHA, the Rail Freight Group, CIHT, Campaign for Better Transport, Freight on Rail, CTC, LCC, BMF, MAG and Cambridge Cycling Campaign.
Merchant Shipping: Training
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has had recent discussions on steps to increase the number of Merchant Navy training facilities for (a) officers and (b) other ranks. [70340]
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Mike Penning: None to date. In July, I visited Fleetwood Nautical Campus where I saw the excellent work of both the campus staff and the Merchant Navy Training Board in promoting and developing seafarer education, training and skills.
Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Merchant Navy training facilities there were for (a) officers and (b) other ranks in the latest period for which figures are available. [70341]
Mike Penning: There are 12 colleges and universities around the UK that provide seafarer education and training programmes and courses aimed at both new entrants to the industry and experienced seafarers at all levels. The range of programmes and courses they provide is wide and varied.
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment the Government has made of the level of use of the Motor Insurance Database by insurance companies for reasons other than reducing the number of uninsured cars on the road. [70783]
Mike Penning: None. The motor insurance industry is responsible for the Motor Insurance Database (MID) and for any decisions on access to or use of its data.
Network Rail: Biodiversity
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department gives to Network Rail on sustaining biodiversity (a) alongside rail tracks and (b) on other land owned by Network Rail. [70819]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 8 September 2011]: The Department for Transport does not provide specific advice or guidance on biodiversity management to Network Rail. However, Network Rail's network licence conditions as agreed with the Office of Rail Regulation require it to have a written policy designed to protect the environment.
In addition, and as set out in the Government's Natural Environment White Paper, “The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature” published in June 2011, we are committed to working with our transport agencies and key delivery partners, such as Network Rail, to contribute to the creation of coherent and resilient ecological networks, supported, where appropriate, by organisation-specific biodiversity action plans. In support of this the Department intends to host a forum with environmental stakeholders to inform future priorities for the enhancement of transport green corridors.
Northern Rail
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what subsidy has been paid from the public purse (a) directly and (b) via Passenger Transport Executives to Northern in each year of its franchise. [69028]
Norman Baker
[holding answer 6 September 2011]: Details of subsidy and premium payments in respect of all train operating companies along with payments to
9 Sep 2011 : Column 957W
Passenger Transport Executives are published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation in National Rail Trends. This is available on the ORR's website at:
www.rail-reg.gov.uk
In addition, all transactions over £500 by the Department are published monthly on our website at:
www.dft.gov.uk/transparency
Official Cars
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any discretion is given to Ministers in the selection of a make of car for the purposes of official travel. [69553]
Mike Penning [holding answer 7 September 2011]: Cabinet Ministers are able to choose a car for official travel from the Government Car and Despatch Agency fleet. Models available include the Jaguar XJ and XF Diesel and the Toyota Avensis or Prius Hybrid. Other Ministers who use the ministerial car pool service are driven in a hybrid model from Toyota or Honda.
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the make and model of each vehicle currently used by the Government Car and Despatch Agency's (a) allocated service and (b) ministerial car pool. [69771]
Mike Penning: The Government Car and Despatch Agency has a number of different car makes and models in its ministerial fleet as follows:
(a) Allocated service comprises:
1 x Jaguar XF
5 x Jaguar XJ
2 x Toyota Avensis Diesel
5 x Toyota Prius.
(b) Ministerial car pool comprises:
6 x Toyota Avensis Diesel
22 x Honda Civic Hybrid
42 x Toyota Prius.
Oil: Pollution
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Government has used the European Maritime Safety Agency oil spill response vessels to respond to an oil spill in the last 10 years. [70047]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has not used the European Maritime Safety Agency oil spill response vessels in response to an oil spill in the last 10 years.
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the European Maritime Safety Agency's oil spill response vessels are included in the UK's response to any oil spills. [70048]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency can use the European Maritime Safety Agency's oil spill response vessel in response to an oil spill in UK waters if appropriate.
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Railways: Fares
Sheryll Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects passengers travelling between Bristol and the far South West to pay the same ticket price per mile as those travelling between Bristol and London after the completion of planned electrification works. [70236]
Mrs Villiers: The Government will be conducting a general review of fares policy but we do not currently have specific plans to change fares regulation on the two routes referred to by my hon. Friend.
Railways: Greater Manchester
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of peak-time rail travel in Greater Manchester. [70527]
Mrs Villiers: In May 2011, Network Rail produced a Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) for the north of England. This included forecasts for increases in peak passenger demand into Manchester, as follows:
| Percentage | ||||
|
|
2014 | 2019 | 2024 | 2029 |
| Base year: 2008-09 financial year | ||||
Railways: Passengers
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answers of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 188W and 10 June 2011, Official Report, column 496W, on railways: passengers, when he expects to provide an update on expected passenger demand on the London to Alton and London to Petersfield rail lines. [70239]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport is continuing to work with Stagecoach South West Trains and Network Rail to assess future demand on the London to Alton and London to Petersfield rail lines with a view to securing additional passenger capacity. An announcement is expected to be made in due course.
Rescue Services
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether emergency calls would first be routed through the proposed Maritime Operations Centre under the revised proposals for the future of the Coastguard Service; and whether his Department has conducted a risk assessment of such a change in the coastguard's operations. [69443]
Mike Penning: The concept of operations in the revised proposals still provides, as at present, that distress alerts, whether from radio or the 999 system, would be routed in the first instance to the nearest co-ordination centre for handling.
This represents no change to the process currently in place for the handling of emergency calls and therefore no risk assessment is necessary.
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Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many outage incidents there have been at (a) Milford Haven and (b) Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in the last year; and how many servers have been replaced in each location in that period. [70710]
Mike Penning: Outage is defined as:
“Failure of Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) communication systems such that the ability to communicate via VHF radio, DSC or telephone is compromised to the extent that alternative ‘off station' procedures are put into place to continue service.”
(a) there have been three unplanned and two planned outages at Milford Haven MRCC; and
(b) one planned outage at Swansea MRCC.
In respect of the unplanned outages at Milford Haven, the failures have been traced back to a root cause of excess moisture in the power and equipment space and remedial work has been undertaken to rectify this. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has taken the opportunity under the planned outages to proactively replace elements of the mains wiring infrastructure that were shown to be close to capacity.
Under the proposed technical design for the future coastguard architecture, the types of failure that have affected Milford Haven would not have the same impact to operational frontline services as they have had to date. The services would be connected to two separate data centres housed away from the local operations rooms, and as such any local power or server failure would only affect the local operator's ability to connect to the resources and other operators around the UK would be able to maintain operational communications within the area(s) affected.
(a) there have been three servers replaced, three new servers installed, and one server removed at Milford Haven MRCC; and
(b) four servers replaced, two new servers installed, and one server removed at Swansea MRCC.
These server changes have all been as the result of planned project upgrades as part of the Radio Equipment Replacement upgrade project.
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he consulted local coastguard management in reaching his decision that there are no operational or financial factors that favour retention of either Milford Haven or Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre over the other. [70712]
Mike Penning: The announcement we made on 14 July took full account of the advice of the senior management of the MCA. We included a specific question in the consultation document to provide everyone, including local coastguard managers, with an opportunity to bring to our attention any additional factors to be addressed before reaching final conclusions.
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) rooms, (b) working space and (c) facilities are available at (i) Milford Haven and (ii) Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre. [70713]
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Mike Penning: The descriptions of the space and facilities at Milford Haven and Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCC) are as follows:
(i) Milford Haven MRCC Facilities (418.3 Square Metres)
MCA Marine Surveyors unit and office
Administration unit office/Reception area
Operations Room
Radio Room
Emergency Planning/Training/Meeting Room (30+ persons)
Spare office for visiting officers/Press/Second meeting room (12 persons)
Large Rescue Co-ordination Centre Manager's Office/Third meeting area
MCA Vessel Traffic and Monitoring Systems Manager's Office
Kitchen/Galley
Gents/Ladies WC
Disabled WC
Shower Room
Rest Room
Locker room
Store/Archive room
2(nd) Store/File room
Cleaner/utility room
Boiler room
Plant room (A/C)
Integral Fuel store/Generator room
Bike/General purpose shed
MCA (HSE licensed) Expired Pyrotechnic Bunkers (x two)
Own car park and shared overflow car park (with co-sited Port Authority Control HQ Building)
(ii) Swansea MRCC Facilities (574.5 Square Metres)
Regional Business Unit Office
Operations Room
Emergency Planning Room
Radio Room
Coastal Safety Manager's Office
Spare Office for visiting officers
Regional Business Manager's Office
Conference/Training Room
Kitchen/Galley
Gents/Ladies WC
Disabled WC
Shower Room
Rest Room
Regional Civil Contingencies Manager's Office
Press Office
Rescue Co-ordination Centre Manager's Office
Locker room
Store room
File room
Boiler room
Plant room (A/C)
Regional Business Unit Archive Store
Aerial tower (next to building)
Bike shed
Fuel store/Generator room (near to but separate from the main building).
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Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the relocation of the Regional Business Unit of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency based at the Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre. [70714]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) currently has no intention to vacate the building at Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) due to the other MCA functions that operate from the site. Therefore the MCA has no current plans to relocate the MCA's Regional Business Unit from its present site.
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used to identify the location for Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres to be retained in the coastguard reform process. [70715]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) published a suite of documents about the impact and risks in respect of the coastguard modernisation proposals in the first consultation document, published on 16 December 2010. The Location Impact Assessment, sub-centre rationale and supporting tables can be found on the MCA's website at the following link:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/8.location_impact_assessment_and _sub-centre_rationale_v3.pdf
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents were dealt with by (a) Milford Haven and (b) Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in the last five years. [70716]
Mike Penning: Incident statistics for the years 2006-10 for all Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCC) are available on the MCA's website at the following link:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/hmcg_adu_2006-2010_by_station.pdf
The incident numbers for Milford Haven and Swansea MRCCs are as follows:
| MRCC | ||
|
|
Swansea | Milford Haven |
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the running costs were of (a) Milford Haven and (b) Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in the last five years. [70717]
Mike Penning: The following table shows the annual running costs for the Swansea and Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCC) for the last five complete financial years. These include costs for telecoms; utilities; rates; repairs and maintenance to the estate; grounds maintenance; cleaning; waste disposal; and furniture and fittings.
9 Sep 2011 : Column 962W
| £ million | |||||
|
|
2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the consultation exercise on his revised proposals for reform of the coastguard service will be subject to the same independent review procedure as the original consultation, Protecting our Seas and Shores in the 21st Century. [71059]
Mike Penning: Yes. The consultation will be subject to the same review procedure as the original consultation.
Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from which local authority area each of the successful applicants came in the last three trawls for new coastguard officers to serve at Milford Haven Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. [71096]
Mike Penning: Six new coastguard officers were employed as a result of the last three trawls for positions at Milford Haven Maritime Coordination Rescue Centre. At the time of their recruitment the individuals lived in the following local authorities:
Two in Pembrokeshire county council;
Two in Ceredigion county council;
One in Powys county council; and
One in city and county of Swansea.
Rolling Stock: Procurement
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the procurement of new diesel trains. [69487]
Mrs Villiers: The procurement of rolling stock is usually a matter for train operators and rolling stock leasing companies, with the Department's role being limited to ensuring that taxpayers 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.
Rolling Stock: Public Finance
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse was of administering rolling stock procurement in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010; and how much was spent in each category of expenditure. [69600]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 7 September 2011]: I regret that this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
9 Sep 2011 : Column 963W
Shipping: EU Law
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to establish a vessel traffic monitoring and information system following the request from the EU Commission of 16 June 2011. [69202]
Mike Penning: The UK already has established vessel traffic and monitoring systems in place based on the requirements of the original EU directive in 2002. The EU Commission's letter of 16 June 2011 concerns the UK's implementation of the 2009 amending directive, which makes several changes to the systems already established.
Secondary legislation and the appropriate guidance required to implement the 2009 amending directive are being prepared with a view to them being in place by the end of the year.
Shipping: Sulphur
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the (a) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) International Maritime Organisation on the effects on shipping of the sulphur emission levels in emissions control areas. [68870]
Mike Penning: While no Secretary of State level meetings have been held on this issue, officials at the Department for Transport (a) are in discussion with their colleagues in DEFRA and (b) play an active role in the discussions on this subject in the International Maritime Organisation.
Thameslink: Rolling Stock
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) senior departmental officials had with representatives of (i) Bombardier and (ii) Siemens between 10 July 2008 and 16 June 2011 at which the Thameslink rolling stock contract was discussed. [68666]
9 Sep 2011 : Column 964W
Mrs Villiers: The information is as follows:
For the answer to (a) I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr Denham) of 8 September 2011, Official Report, column 767W.
In the period 10 July 2008-16 June 2011 senior departmental officials had a large number of meetings with representatives of both Bombardier and Siemens regarding the Thameslink rolling stock contract.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the (a) invitation to tender, (b) bid assessment criteria and (c) bid evaluation for the Thameslink rolling stock contract. [R] [68703]
Mrs Villiers: I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 12 July 2011, Official Report, column 236W and 19 July 2011, Official Report, column 969W.
Vehicle Number Plates: Flags
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on how many vehicles have failed an MOT test due to an issue with the vehicle's number plate in the last 12 months. [70871]
Mike Penning: Figures for the number of vehicles which have failed their MOT tests solely because of issues with the vehicle registration plate are not available. However, in 2009-10, the latest year for which figures are available, 135,809 cars, light vans and motorbikes failed an MOT due to an issue with the registration plate or vehicle identification number. These vehicles could have also failed the MOT for additional reasons.
A vehicle can fail an MOT due to the registration plate being missing; insecure; faded, dirty, deteriorated or obscured to the point that it is not easily legible to a person standing 20 metres from the vehicle; or the letters and figures being incorrectly spaced, of unequal width over the whole length, or likely to be misread.