2009-10
  Police staff
  Contracted hours lost to sickness    

Short-term Medium-term Long-term Total Total contracted hours available Hours lost to sickness as a proportion of hours available (percentage)

Avon and Somerset

74,689

42,495

101,740

218,924

4,066,955

5.4

Bedfordshire

23,026

14,060

46,365

83,451

1,739,793

4.8

Cambridgeshire

28,050

19,201

43,550

90,802

2,054,799

4.4

Cheshire

23,517

15,988

56,192

95,697

2,895,640

3.3

Cleveland

18,709

17,494

22,391

58,594

1,510,019

3.9

Cumbria

17,499

13,763

41,675

72,937

1,558,427

4.7

Derbyshire

23,069

19,090

50,417

92,577

2,607,326

3.6

Devon and Cornwall

64,573

43,694

103,023

211,290

3,998,856

5.3

Dorset

31,198

20,379

48,313

99,891

1,987,899

5.0

Durham

16,064

13,276

48,166

77,506

1,807,530

4.3

Dyfed-Powys

15,900

8,790

25,141

49,831

1,289,676

3.9

Essex

68,560

37,001

127,273

232,834

3,207,982

7.3

Gloucestershire

21,907

15,946

29,822

67,675

1,643,116

4.1

Greater Manchester

84,179

65,942

210,551

360,672

7,993,863

4.5

Gwent

18,263

23,939

36,970

79,173

1,531,894

5.2

Hampshire

31,568

21,623

43,365

96,555

3,358,633

2.9

Hertfordshire

39,521

34,560

62,034

136,114

3,220,642

4.2

Humberside

30,321

26,827

32,982

90,131

3,240,169

2.8

Kent

69,180

43,166

87,163

199,509

4,925,077

4.1

Lancashire

33,448

28,840

99,554

161,842

4,197,908

3.9

Leicestershire

19,783

21,884

51,047

92,714

2,475,536

3.7

Lincolnshire

16,888

13,863

48,723

79,475

1,288,478

6.2

London, City of

7,497

3,778

11,424

22,699

537,532

4.2

Merseyside

25,903

29,957

154,032

209,892

4,508,489

4.7

Metropolitan Police

280,972

273,806

685,223

1,240,001

30,714,100

4.0

Norfolk

28,337

19,040

39,787

87,164

2,631,126

3.3

Northamptonshire

37,280

24,200

25,941

87,421

2,195,711

4.0

Northumbria

32,543

30,681

99,541

162,765

4,098,918

4.0

North Wales

13,240

16,862

36,810

66,913

1,765,261

3.8

North Yorkshire

25,302

14,743

49,150

89,196

2,190,848

4.1

Nottinghamshire

37,104

23,553

77,543

138,200

3,101,421

4.5

South Wales

26,655

25,937

102,586

155,178

3,514,173

4.4

South Yorkshire

43,312

31,324

121,700

196,337

4,415,703

4.4

Staffordshire

38,322

24,803

73,096

136,221

2,926,543

4.7

Suffolk

11,334

6,571

21,440

39,344

1,839,282

2.1

Surrey

42,797

26,437

76,654

145,888

3,588,625

4.1

Sussex

59,677

51,173

96,172

207,022

4,213,044

4.9

10 Oct 2011 : Column 91W

10 Oct 2011 : Column 92W

Thames Valley

83,953

48,666

118,982

251,601

5,796,573

4.3

Warwickshire

17,498

14,193

35,983

67,674

1,470,172

4.6

West Mercia

54,361

30,641

59,266

144,268

3,266,965

4.4

West Midlands

59,130

53,995

139,373

252,498

8,039,058

3.1

West Yorkshire

73,610

68,195

108,190

249,995

6,938,523

3.6

Wiltshire

19,943

15,992

33,989

69,924

5,421,869

1.3

  2010-11
  Police o fficers
  Contracted hours lost to sickness    

Short-term Medium-term L ong-term Total Total contracted hours available Hours lost to sickness as a proportion of hours available (percentage)

Avon and Somerset

67,987

48,324

92,026

208,337

5,680,046

3.7

Bedfordshire

21,698

16,268

38,435

76,401

2,584,599

3.0

Cambridgeshire

21,318

15,389

41,703

78,410

2,526,295

3.1

Cheshire

21,420

16,910

68,059

106,388

3,709,246

2.9

Cleveland

12,249

13,736

33,415

59,400

2,299,977

2.6

Cumbria

20,524

13,508

40,853

74,885

2,147,224

3.5

Derbyshire

31,100

29,517

86,450

147,067

3,630,521

4.1

Devon and Cornwall

63,599

45,883

45,889

155,371

6,209,366

2.5

Dorset

27,658

22,672

53,335

103,664

2,605,584

4.0

Durham

12,498

12,479

56,172

81,148

2,573,015

3.2

Dyfed-Powys

25,863

18,141

55,351

99,354

2,046,266

4.9

Essex

46,520

24,896

82,424

153,840

3,177,662

4.8

Gloucestershire

35,124

21,628

44,021

100,773

2,600,252

3.9

Greater Manchester

102,198

91,743

347,052

540,993

14,112,714

3.8

Gwent

22,798

24,905

57,482

105,185

2,660,283

4.0

Hampshire

93,840

0

131,088

224,928

6,497,219

3.5

Hertfordshire

35,535

25,298

62,957

123,790

3,643,567

3.4

Humberside

26,395

28,408

45,449

100,252

3,474,119

2.9

Kent

70,318

40,704

74,216

185,238

6,531,276

2.8

Lancashire

40,866

53,704

149,449

244,020

6,162,497

4.0

Leicestershire

16,365

21,408

36,578

74,352

4,005,408

1.9

Lincolnshire

12,769

10,935

59,154

82,858

2,102,023

3.9

London, City of

12,876

6,286

15,667

34,829

1,539,429

2.3

Merseyside

21,769

37,995

198,681

258,445

7,808,253

3.3

Metropolitan Police

322,180

349,010

1,009,992

1,681,182

58,267,216

2.9

Norfolk

28,939

24,908

48,375

102,221

2,853,253

3.6

Northamptonshire

23,678

9,311

18,694

51,682

2,342,562

2.2

Northumbria

35,653

41,540

162,054

239,246

7,214,439

3.3

North Wales

14,774

21,084

38,025

73,884

2,726,403

2.7

North Yorkshire

22,018

13,452

51,954

87,425

2,600,774

3.4

Nottinghamshire

40,741

21,916

110,973

173,631

4,196,782

4.1

South Wales

29,996

30,516

165,045

225,557

5,341,769

4.2

South Yorkshire

32,695

26,864

85,737

145,295

5,184,483

2.8

Staffordshire

41,819

34,669

89,823

166,312

3,785,676

4.4

Suffolk

27,300

18,612

59,342

105,254

2,235,274

4.7

Surrey

30,806

14,924

41,401

87,131

3,336,813

2.6

Sussex

58,353

46,749

97,679

202,780

5,689,086

3.6

Thames Valley

76,326

50,819

141,758

268,903

7,768,087

3.5

Warwickshire

16,600

15,016

45,963

77,579

1,651,235

4.7

West Mercia

49,588

34,164

82,017

165,770

2,038,357

8.1

West Midlands

109,763

113,690

344,896

568,349

15,362,366

3.7

West Yorkshire

71,714

82,407

112,125

266,247

9,854,597

2.7

Wiltshire

20,234

15,152

41,826

77,212

1,977,959

3.9

10 Oct 2011 : Column 93W

10 Oct 2011 : Column 94W

  2010-11
  Police staff
  Contracted hours lost to sickness    

Short-term Medium-term Long-term Total Total contracted hours available Hours lost to sickness as a proportion of hours available (percentage)

Avon and Somerset

56,317

34,703

58,556

149,575

3,688,242

4.1

Bedfordshire

18,919

11,670

34,489

65,078

1,905,649

3.4

Cambridgeshire

22,636

14,839

41,856

79,330

1,964,197

4.0

Cheshire

20,326

15,966

50,105

86,398

2,796,211

3.1

Cleveland

6,627

6,765

17,040

30,433

926,868

3.3

Cumbria

16,488

11,998

30,134

58,620

1,501,417

3.9

Derbyshire

20,333

25,735

54,909

100,977

2,440,460

4.1

Devon and Cornwall

65,306

41,351

55,577

162,234

3,885,600

4.2

Dorset

29,240

18,200

43,793

91,232

1,973,607

4.6

Durham

8,197

7,211

34,402

49,809

1,702,048

2.9

Dyfed-Powys

14,991

10,216

34,590

59,797

1,268,662

4.7

Essex

36,726

20,993

58,986

116,705

2,005,000

5.8

Gloucestershire

21,604

15,376

22,914

59,895

1,611,155

3.7

Greater Manchester

66,462

55,259

186,391

308,112

7,873,585

3.9

Gwent

15,614

22,141

50,401

88,156

1,585,283

5.6

Hampshire

86,277

0

91,628

177,905

4,373,754

4.1

Hertfordshire

31,410

25,975

53,041

110,426

3,124,529

3.5

Humberside

28,246

32,040

33,305

93,591

3,186,134

2.9

Kent

55,281

34,918

71,489

161,688

4,741,687

3.4

Lancashire

33,062

32,039

81,068

146,169

3,746,923

3.9

Leicestershire

12,059

13,244

33,451

58,755

2,364,310

2.5

Lincolnshire

14,448

11,886

52,760

79,094

1,714,634

4.6

London, City of

6,713

2,670

11,414

20,797

575,681

3.6

Merseyside

19,069

23,565

108,293

150,927

4,584,491

3.3

Metropolitan Police

263,059

251,667

696,166

1,210,892

30,223,093

4.0

Norfolk

26,389

15,971

30,861

73,221

2,193,076

3.3

Northamptonshire

29,341

14,681

28,083

72,104

1,756,589

4.1

Northumbria

26,403

22,285

101,286

149,973

3,932,049

3.8

North Wales

10,076

19,453

26,900

56,429

1,700,889

3.3

North Yorkshire

22,935

13,689

47,697

84,320

2,286,348

3.7

Nottinghamshire

33,454

17,655

78,315

129,424

3,056,324

4.2

South Wales

22,368

19,922

86,009

128,299

3,401,934

3.8

South Yorkshire

39,592

31,346

118,180

189,117

4,290,464

4.4

Staffordshire

32,802

22,177

77,222

132,200

2,782,680

4.8

Suffolk

23,995

16,438

42,766

83,200

1,846,183

4.5

Surrey

41,437

20,748

48,179

110,364

3,651,168

3.0

Sussex

57,797

46,852

81,971

186,619

4,089,421

4.6

Thames Valley

77,162

45,803

99,310

222,275

5,663,811

3.9

Warwickshire

14,792

11,996

34,041

60,829

1,421,683

4.3

West Mercia

47,753

25,223

52,697

125,673

1,610,350

7.8

West Midlands

53,044

49,879

132,218

235,141

7,717,447

3.0

West Yorkshire

49,577

49,965

94,725

194,267

6,801,960

2.9

Wiltshire

23,061

13,233

33,793

70,087

1,785,742

3.9

(1) Data are provisional and have not been verified by forces.

Police: Southwark

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers were assigned to duties in the London borough of Southwark in each of the last five years; [71582]

(2) how many police community support officers were assigned to duties in the London borough of Southwark in each of the last five years; [71583]

(3) how many civilian staff were assigned to duties in the London borough of Southwark in each of the last five years. [71584]

Nick Herbert [holding answer 13 September 2011]: The available information shows the number of police officers, police community support officers and police staff in the London borough of Southwark, in each of the five years to 31 March 2011 (full-time equivalents).

Police officers, police community support officers and civilian staff strength in the London borough of Southwark, 2007-11 (1)
Number
As at 31 March each year Police officers Police community support officers Police staff

2007

846

75

194

10 Oct 2011 : Column 95W

10 Oct 2011 : Column 96W

2008

844

102

184

2009

905

132

174

2010

964

154

156

2011

933

131

151

(1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

Prevent Strategy

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with (a) Universities UK and (b) the British Medical Association on the Prevent strategy. [72082]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is the lead Department for the Prevent strategy but its delivery in particular sectors is managed by other Departments.

Officials and Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as the lead Department for the delivery of Prevent in higher education and further education institutions, regularly meet with representatives from Universities UK.

The Department of Health, as the lead Department for the delivery of Prevent in the health sector, will shortly be discussing the Prevent strategy with the British Medical Association.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals received Prevent-related support (a) in the year to 1 September 2011 and (b) in each of the last five years as a result of intelligence passed on by groups that received Prevent funding in line with section 6.35 of the Prevent strategy. [72083]

James Brokenshire: Prevent-related support for individuals is not the result of intelligence passed on by groups but of referrals made to the Channel scheme.

Channel is a multi-agency process that aims to help individuals who are vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.

The specific information requested is not available but the most recent published data shows that between April 2007 to December 2010, 1,120 people were referred to Channel. Of these, 286 were assessed by a multi-agency panel as needing support.

Recording standards have varied over time and across forces, so this aggregate data may not be internally consistent and there is some evidence of imperfect data which it has not been possible to clean or correct.

Raed Salah

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date she authorised the exclusion order against Sheikh Raed Salah. [65078]

Damian Green: Raed Salah was excluded from the UK on 23 June.

Metals: Theft

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislative proposals she plans to bring forward to amend the Scrap Dealers Act 1964. [72530]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is in discussion with other Government Departments to identify whether any legislative changes should be made to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964 to tackle the theft of metal.

Skilled Workers: Emigration

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made of the level of (a) immigration and (b) emigration between the UK and (i) the US, (ii) China, (iii) Singapore, (iv) Japan, (v) Switzerland, (vi) Jersey, (vii) Guernsey, (viii) the Isle of Man, (ix) Bermuda and (x) the Cayman Islands in each quarter since 2007. [72726]

Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2011:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the level of (a) immigration and (b) emigration between the UK and (i) the US, (ii) China, (iii) Singapore, (iv) Japan, (v) Switzerland, (vi) Jersey, (vii) Guernsey, (viii) the Isle of Man, (ix) Bermuda and (x) the Cayman Islands in each quarter since 2007. [72726]

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) uses the International Passenger Survey (IPS) to estimate flows of international migrants into and out of the United Kingdom. The IPS is a continuous voluntary sample survey conducted by ONS. It covers the principal air, sea and Channel Tunnel routes between the UK and countries outside the British Isles.

The table shows rolling annual estimates of long-term international migration to and from the UK for the USA, China, Singapore and Japan from the year ending March 2007 to the year ending December 2009 (the latest data available). Reliable long term migration estimates are not available for Bermuda, Switzerland or the Cayman Islands due to the small sample sizes in the IPS. Routes between the Channel Islands/Isle of Man and the UK are excluded from the estimates, as is all movement of diplomats and armed forces personnel.

10 Oct 2011 : Column 97W

10 Oct 2011 : Column 98W

International Passenger Survey (IPS) estimates of long-term international migration, rolling annual data to Q4 2009, United Kingdom
Thousand
  Country of last/next residence
  United States of America China (excluding Taiwan) Singapore Japan
Year ending Est SE% Est SE% Est SE% Est SE%

Inflow

               

2007

               

March

22

10

20

12

2

24

6

19

June

24

9

19

13

1

25

6

20

September

24

11

18

12

1

27

5

16

December

22

12

18

12

1

28

5

16

                 

2008

               

March

22

12

19

14

1

28

5

17

June

23

12

19

14

1

25

6

16

September

20

12

17

13

2

24

n/a

n/a

December

23

12

17

14

2

24

n/a

n/a

                 

2009

               

March

21

13

18

12

2

25

n/a

n/a

June

20

14

17

12

3

28

n/a

n/a

September

32

12

22

11

5

26

6

16

December

30

12

22

11

5

25

6

17

                 

Outflow

               

2007

               

March

31

12

11

21

2

34

6

23

June

26

13

10

22

2

28

5

23

September

21

13

9

20

3

18

4

18

December

19

12

7

17

3

16

4

15

                 

2008

               

March

17

13

7

16

3

16

4

17

June

22

12

8

15

3

17

4

17

September

24

11

8

16

2

19

3

20

December

22

11

8

16

2

20

4

22

                 

2009

               

March

24

11

8

17

2

20

4

24

June

22

10

9

16

2

23

4

24

September

27

10

11

13

2

22

5

21

December

27

10

11

12

2

25

4

18

n/a = not available. Notes: 1. All estimates are uncalibrated. There may therefore be small differences from other published estimates. 2. Standard error percentages (SE%) indicate the robustness of each estimate. A migration figure with a standard error of >25% is not considered to be reliable. For any given estimate there is a 95% probability that the true figure lies in the range: estimate +/- 0.0196 x estimate x standard error %.

Metals: Theft

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps she is planning to take to reduce the trade in stolen metal; [71762]

(2) what progress her Department has made in bringing forward legislative proposals to strengthen regulation of scrap metal yards. [71763]

James Brokenshire: The Home Office recognises the significance of metal theft to the United Kingdom and that some scrap metal yards are a disposal route for stolen metal. The Home Office is in discussion with other Government Departments to identify whether any legislative changes should be made to tackle the theft of metal.

UK Border Agency: Termination of Employment

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are expected to leave the UK Border Agency through natural wastage. [72738]

Damian Green: The number of staff expected to leave the UK Border Agency through natural wastage per annum is in a range from 330 (1.5%) to 500 (2.3%) per annum. Natural wastage has been calculated on retirement and resignation rates in permanent staff.

Violent and Sex Offender Register: Foreign Nationals

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many foreign national offenders

10 Oct 2011 : Column 99W

were on the violent and sex offender register in each of the last five years; and how many foreign national offenders have been added to the violent and sex offender register in each of the last five years; [72370]

(2) how many foreign national offenders on the violent and sex offender register have (a) reoffended, (b) been recalled to prison and (c) breached the terms of their licence on release from prison in each of the last five years; [72371]

(3) for how many foreign national offenders on the violent and sex offender register is their location unknown. [72372]

Lynne Featherstone: The data required to answer this question are not collected in the format requested and could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

ViSOR (previously known as the violent and sex offenders register) is a UK-wide computer database system used by the police as a case management system and by other agencies to share information. ViSOR stores information on a number of offender types, including but not limited to registered sex offenders. The database is not designed as a statistical tool.

Visas

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration her Department has given to the implementation of an online system to enable applicants to monitor the progress of their visa applications. [72138]

Damian Green: Visa applicants in most countries can apply online. They receive a reference number which allows them to track where their documents are at any one time (either in the Visa Application Centre or at the decision-making UK Mission) but which does not monitor the status of the application. The decision to issue or refuse the visa is made known personally to the applicant at the time of return of their documents.

As part of the development of its new immigration case working system, the UK Border Agency is introducing online customer accounts for all applications made online both in the UK and overseas. These will include the ability for customers to receive updates on the status of their application at key junctures in the application process.

Transport

A64

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on road safety on the A64 between York and Scarborough. [72614]

Mike Penning: Representations about safety issues on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) are handled by the Highways Agency.

The Highways Agency maintains a regular dialogue with all relevant stakeholders about the A64 between York and Scarborough. This includes regular meetings with North Yorkshire police and North Yorkshire county

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council and various local committees and transport groups. Safety is a standing item for discussion at each of these meetings. However, no specific representations about road safety have been made to the Highways Agency at these meetings.

I can confirm that the Highways Agency has received a number of representations from the residents of the village of Ganton since 24 January 2011. These representations commenced following a fatal accident at the neighbouring village of West Heslerton. This tragic incident is currently the subject of ongoing police investigations and a coroner's inquest.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met (a) the Highways Agency, (b) North Yorkshire County Council and (c) local community groups to discuss road safety on the A64 between York and Scarborough. [72615]

Mike Penning: I meet regularly with the Highways Agency but there have been no specific discussions about safety on the A64 between York and Scarborough.

I have not discussed road safety matters relating to the A64 at this location with North Yorkshire county council or local community groups.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve road safety and reduce congestion on the A64 between York and Scarborough; and if he will make a statement. [72616]

Mike Penning: Any plans for the A64 will be developed through continuous routine network management, and will be delivered subject to prioritisation and the availability of funding.

Aviation: Working Hours

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to notify pilots of the entry into force of the new European-wide flight-time limitations; and if he will make a statement. [72320]

Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority will notify pilots of the entry into force of European flight and duty time limitations. Currently, we expect the Commission regulation giving effect to the proposed requirements to come into force in the autumn of 2013. We anticipate that airlines will be given an additional period to transition to the new requirements.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with the US Federal Aviation Administration on pilot fatigue; and if he will make a statement. [72321]

Mrs Villiers: At this stage in the development of the European requirements, neither the Department nor the Civil Aviation Authority has had any formal discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration on this subject.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with the Civil Aviation Authority on the Notice of Proposed Amendment on Flight-time Limitations. [72322]

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Mrs Villiers: Neither Ministers nor the Secretary of State for Transport had recent discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority on this topic. However, officials have regular discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority about the development of European requirements on aviation safety including those on flight time limitations.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution his Department has made to establishing new flight-time limitations for pilots; and if he will make a statement. [72323]

Mrs Villiers: Officials from the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority have responded to the European Aviation Safety Agency's consultation on draft implementing rules on flight time limitations. The CAA has published its comments on its website at:

www.caa.co.uk

EASA are in the process of reviewing the responses to the consultation and will be issuing an amended proposal in due course. The Department, taking account of advice from the Civil Aviation Authority, will put forward the UK's views on the proposed requirements. Ministers will determine how the UK will vote when a legislative proposals is made.

Bus Services: Finance

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of the comprehensive spending review on tendered bus services provided by local transport authorities. [72181]

Norman Baker: I am aware that, as a result of local decisions, in some areas of the country bus services are being reduced. The latest statistics on bus services can be found at the Department for Transport website and are updated periodically:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/series/buses/

Changes to bus and community transport services are a matter for bus operators and local transport authorities. The Government do not and cannot make an assessment of every individual change but are working with local transport authorities to get an overall picture.

Buses: Concessions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation he undertook with (a) coach and bus operators, (b) members of the public, (c) charities and groups representing elderly people and (d) charities and groups representing people with disabilities on the change in his Department's expenditure on the Coach Concessionary Travel Scheme. [72340]

Norman Baker: The decision to end Government funding for the half price coach concession was announced as part of the Chancellor's 2010 spending review.

Decisions taken in the spending review were not the subject of public consultation.

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in (a) Sunderland and (b) England have made journeys assisted by the Coach Concessionary Travel Scheme in each of the last five years. [72435]

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Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of people assisted by the coach concessionary travel scheme in the last five years.

The following table shows the number of concessionary coach tickets sold in England in the last five years. Data are not available to show ticket sales in Sunderland specifically.

Concessionary coach tickets sold in England

Number

2010-11

3,247,850

2009-10

3,187,476

2008-09

3,320,378

2007-08

3,011,102

2006-07

2,868,736

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2011, Official Report, column 953W, on buses: concessions, what assessment he has made of the effects of withdrawing funding for the Coach Concessionary Travel Scheme on those aged over 60 in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Dudley borough; and if he will make a statement. [72508]

Norman Baker: A regulatory impact assessment relating to the ending of the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) coach concession in England was drafted and submitted to the Reducing Regulation Committee for clearance. The impact assessment will be published on the DFT website and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House when it is available.

Following the 2010 spending review announcement, National Express said they were already planning for the removal of the coach concessionary fares scheme in October 2011 and would announce new products aimed at the over 60s and disabled travellers in due course. National Express said that they believed the financial impact of the scheme's removal was manageable and would be mitigated by their own plans.

No assessment of the effects of ending the coach concession in the west midlands or Dudley borough has been made.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2011, Official Report, column 953W, on buses: concessions, what estimate he has made of the number of over-60s in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Dudley borough who have used the Coach Concessionary Travel Scheme in each of the last five years. [72509]

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of over 60s who have used the coach concessionary travel scheme in the last five years.

The following table shows the number of concessionary coach tickets sold in England in the last five years. Data are not available to show ticket sales in west midlands or Dudley specifically.

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Concessionary coach tickets sold in England

2010-11

3,247,850

2009-10

3,187,476

2008-09

3,320,378

2007-08

3,011,102

2006-07

2,868,736

Departmental Air Travel

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which travel management companies his Department uses for the purchase of airline tickets. [72679]

Norman Baker: DFT(c) and two of its agencies (Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Vehicle Certification Agency) use Capita Business Travel. Highways Agency uses NYS Corporate Ltd and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency uses Redfern Travel Management Services. Driving Standards Agency uses Portman Travel for the purchase of some long haul airline tickets. The remaining two agencies (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and Government Car and Despatch Agency) do not use travel management companies for the provision of air tickets, but use direct booking if the need arises.

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) contractual obligations and (b) other processes his Department uses in respect of travel management companies to ensure the best value is achieved when purchasing airline tickets. [72710]

Norman Baker: DFT(c) and four of its agencies (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, Highways Agency, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and Vehicle Certification Agency) use contracts under the Government Travel Framework established by Buying Solutions (now Government Procurement Services). The framework provides its users with the benefits arising from collaborative procurement processes. In addition, the framework suppliers offer the centrally negotiated discounts contained in the Government Air Programme which provides savings when tickets are necessarily bought at short notice.

The remaining three agencies (Driving Standards Agency, Government Car and Despatch Agency and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) have very low demand for air tickets and use direct booking if the need arises.

Chief Scientific Adviser

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the resource budget allocation was for the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72491]

Norman Baker: Support for the Department’s chief scientific adviser was provided through a small unit which also had responsibility for related science, technology and research issues. The resource budget allocations (running costs) were:

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Running costs (£000)

2007-08

836

2008-09

907

2009-10

814

2010-11

722

2011-12

748

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the salary, including benefits, was of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many individuals have held the post in the last five years. [72492]

Norman Baker: One individual held the post of chief scientific adviser in the Department for Transport between October 2006 and May 2011. The post was part-time and for both 2010 and 2011 received a salary in the range £80,000 to £84,999. The post is currently vacant.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and on what date the office was established. [72493]

Norman Baker: Support for the Department's chief scientific adviser was provided through a small unit which also had responsibility for related science, technology and research issues. The full-time equivalent staff allocated in that unit were:


Full-time equivalent staff

2007-08

14.1

2008-09

12.6

2009-10

11.7

2010-11

10.7

2011-12

9.5

The unit predates this period and was substantially revised when DFT was created in 2002.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on requiring his Department's (a) agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (b) contractors to have a written code of practice or protocol relating to the provision, conduct and quality assurance of scientific evidence and advice. [72494]

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport (including agencies and non- departmental public bodies) is committed to handling science and engineering advice in accordance with the Government chief scientific adviser's “Guidelines on the use of science and engineering advice in Policy Making”.

Scientific Advisory Committees that advise the Department operate in line with the “Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees”.

Commissioned research is carried out externally under contract by academia, industry and other research organisations and must comply with the “General Conditions of Contract of Services”. This includes provisions that any work undertaken is in line with the

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required Quality Standards (which may vary from commission to commission) and is performed in accordance with the Law and Good Industry Practice.

Research undertaken and managed by social researchers within the Department is also subject to a Code of Practice set out by the Government Social Research Service (GSR), the professional membership organisation for social researchers in government. These principles apply to research undertaken by the Department's social researchers and by the external contractors they manage.

Heathrow Airport: Railways

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government about a railway transport hub at Heathrow airport. [71507]

Mrs Villiers: No discussions have been held with Ministers in the Welsh Assembly Government about the proposal for a railway transport hub at Heathrow airport.

Highways Agency: Government Procurement Card

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) transaction date, (b) transaction amount and (c) supplier was of each transaction undertaken by the Highways Agency using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and which of these transactions attracted level three or enhanced transaction entry. [70835]

Mike Penning [holding answer 12 September 2011]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Large Goods Vehicles: EU Action

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the EU Transport Commissioner relating to proposals to increase the permitted length of HGVs; and whether he plans for further such representations. [72189]

Mike Penning: I have not discussed this matter with the EU Transport Commissioner. We intend to announce our conclusions and proposed way forward on longer semi-trailers, in the light of the responses to the recent consultation exercise, early in the new parliamentary session.

Large Goods Vehicles: Tolls

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the scope and goals are of the HGV road user charging scheme. [72206]

Mike Penning: The primary aim of the HGV road user charging scheme would be to ensure a fairer competitive environment for UK hauliers. We are still working up detailed proposals, but our current intention is that it would apply to all HGVs, both foreign and UK-registered, of 12 tonnes and above.

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Metals: Theft

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the conclusions were of the interdepartmental working group on the theft of metals held on 14 September 2011 and chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport; and if he will make a statement. [72604]

Norman Baker: I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave to him on this issue on 15 September 2011, Official Report, column 1172. I should also record that this ministerial meeting was in fact chaired by my noble Friend Baroness Browning, then Minister of State for crime prevention and antisocial behaviour reduction.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the consolidation of existing support mechanisms for low and ultra-low emission vehicle research and development; and if he will make a statement. [72190]

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has consolidated its existing support mechanisms for low and ultra-low emission vehicle research and development by channelling all future programmes through Technology Strategy Board (TSB). The Department has been working with the TSB and industry to identify key areas of research with the aim of inviting bids by end of this financial year.

Passenger Focus

Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he plans to make to the functions of Passenger Focus. [72622]

Mrs Villiers: There are no plans to change the functions of Passenger Focus. However, it has reduced the scope of its activities as part of a major restructuring programme to fit in with a substantial reduction in its budget. The inclusion of Passenger Focus in schedule 3 of the Public Bodies Bill could facilitate changes to the Passenger Focus Board.

Public Transport: Concessions

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate his Department has made of the cost to local authorities of renewing concessionary travel passes when they expire in 2013; [72174]

(2) whether his Department plans to provide financial assistance in 2012-13 to local authorities for the renewal of concessionary travel passes when they expire in 2013; [72175]

(3) what plans he has for the validity of concessionary travel passes beyond five years; and if he will make a statement. [72177]

Norman Baker: In the spending review last autumn the Government stated that they will protect the statutory entitlement for concessionary bus travel, ensuring that older people can maintain greater freedom and independence.

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Not all England National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) passes expire in 2013. Legislation requires that the maximum life of an ENCTS pass is five years from the date of issue, but there is no recommended minimum life. Travel concession authorities (TCAs) are free therefore to set the exact expiry date provided it is no more than five years. Consequently, many passes have an expiry date of less than five years and will be up for renewal before 2013. The Department has always recommended that TCAs consider staggering the expiry dates on passes so that they do not all need to be replaced at the same time. This could be done, for example, by setting expiry dates at monthly intervals by alphabetic distribution of surname, or by date of birth.

The Department will not be providing additional funding for the cost to local authorities of renewing ENCTS passes. Local authorities in England receive funding for the National Concessionary Travel Scheme through Formula Grant funding administered by DCLG. It is expected that some of this funding will be spent on administering the scheme, with the majority being spent on reimbursement to bus operators for carrying ENCTS passholders.

The Department has not made an assessment of the cost to local authorities of renewing ENCTS passes, and costs will depend on the efficiency of each TCA's individual renewals process.

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of increasing the state retirement age on the cost of providing concessionary travel. [72179]

Norman Baker: I refer the hon. Member to page 15 of the Explanatory Memorandum to The Travel Concessions (Eligibility) England Order 2010 No. 459 which can be found at the following link:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/459/pdfs/uksiem _20100459_en.pdf