Members: Correspondence
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to question (a) 79849, (b) 79886, (c) 79887, (d) 79888 and (e) 79889 tabled on 7 November for answer on 11 November. [82509]
Damian Green [holding answer 24 November 201 1 ]: I refer the hon. Member to my answers of (a) 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 608W, (b) 10 January 2012, Official Report, column 157W, (c) 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 610W, (d) 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 609W, and (e) 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 610W.
Stephen Lawrence
Ben Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with Scotland Yard on lessons learnt from the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. [89118]
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Nick Herbert: The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has acknowledged publicly its failings in the original investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence and has been learning lessons from it for a number of years, particularly since Lord Macpherson's report of 1999. That report led the MPS to change fundamentally its approach to the investigation of murders. The force is to be commended on its continued commitment to investigating the Stephen Lawrence case and on the recent successful prosecution of two people found guilty of his murder. Home Office Ministers and officials will encourage and work with the MPS and other forces, in order to learn any lessons that this recent successful prosecution has for other cases.
Telecommunications: Databases
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the Government's commitment in section 3 of the coalition agreement to end the storage of internet and email records without good reason. [88929]
James Brokenshire: The Strategic Defence and Security Review assessed that communications data and lawful interception capabilities are vital for counter-terrorism and fighting serious organised crime. It highlighted the importance of preserving the capabilities of law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies as technology changes. The Government will legislate to ensure the maintenance of these capabilities; this will be compatible with the Government's approach to civil liberties. The Home Office Structural Reform Plan committed to publish proposals for the storage of internet and email records. Details will be announced in due course.
UK Border Agency: Sick Leave
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of sickness absence was for UK Border Agency staff at each airport in the last year. [89562]
Damian Green: For operational and security reasons the UK Border Force only publishes resource data at a regional level.
For the period of 1 January to 31 December 2011, the average number of working days lost due to sickness was 7.61 days per employee for Border Force airports. This figure includes long-term sickness.
Transport
A1
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, what the total planned public expenditure on the granted development consent to a scheme to improve the A1 at Elkesley is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project. [88499]
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Norman Baker: The following table shows the total planned public expenditure on the granted development consent to a scheme to improve the A1 at Elkesley. These figures include Nottinghamshire county council's contribution of £250,000 in 2012-13.
| £ | |||
| Financial year | Actuals | Forecast | Total |
The estimated completion date is late 2014.
A64
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will designate work to upgrade the A64 between Scarborough, Malton and York as a major infrastructure project qualifying as one of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s growth and job creation projects. [90132]
Mike Penning: The autumn statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), on 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, identified two current Highways Agency major road schemes which will see their delivery accelerated, and a further six schemes which will be brought forward for delivery in this spending review period.
These schemes were all selected because they are able to be accelerated to start construction and make significant progress in the next three years, and will therefore make the earliest possible contribution to stimulating economic growth.
Proposals to improve the A64 from York to Scarborough had previously not been prioritised as part of the regional funding allocation process; therefore the Department did not have a scheme to consider for accelerated delivery in this spending review period as part of the Growth Review.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions she has had with local businesses along the route of the A64 between Scarborough, Malton and York on the cost and disruption caused to businesses of congestion on the road. [90133]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has not held any recent discussions with local businesses along the route of the A64 between Scarborough and York with regard to any associated disruption caused by congestion on the strategic road network.
The agency continues, through daily operation and maintenance of the network, and future strategic network planning, to promote economic and social growth aspirations along the A64 while actively aiming to improve journey time reliability and reduce congestion.
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Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the congestion on the A64 on the local economy; and if she will make a statement. [90134]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has not made any assessment of the impact on the local economy due to congestion on the A64.
An A64 Connectivity Study was commissioned by North Yorkshire county council in partnership with other stakeholders, including the Highways Agency, and published in 2011. The study identifies a range of short, medium and long-term interventions to meet the strategic transport needs of the area reflecting the wider economic, social and environmental policies that underpin planned growth to 2026.
The study considered that improved connectivity, especially better journey time reliability, on the A64 corridor would have positive economic impacts. On the A64 congestion is largely attributable to incidents which impact journey time reliability. The agency is working to both reduce the number of incidents on the network, and where incidents do occur, working closely with the police, fire and rescue and other emergency services to clear up the incidents and open the road as quickly as possible.
The A64 Connectivity Study is being used by the agency to inform further studies and future potential schemes on the A64 specifically focused on improving journey time reliability, maintaining a safe road network and ensuring that its customers remain well informed.
Aviation: Exhaust Emissions
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the likelihood of securing an agreement at global level through the International Civil Aviation Organisation on a global emissions trading scheme to address international aviation emissions. [89437]
Mrs Villiers: The UK government remains committed to addressing emissions from international aviation and believes that the most effective way of doing this is through a binding global agreement supported by market-based measures.
Limited progress has been made in recent years towards securing an agreement on a global emissions trading scheme. The UK remains hopeful that an agreement will be reached and we will continue to push for this in international fora such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
In the meantime and in the absence of a global system, the UK supports the inclusion of aviation in the European Union Emissions Trading system which came into effect on 1 January 2012.
Aviation: Fuels
Andrew Rosindell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the level of fuel wastage caused by planes circling (a) Luton, (b) Gatwick, (c) Stansted, (d) Bristol, (e) Heathrow,
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(f)
Manchester,
(g)
Southampton,
(h)
London City,
(i)
Cardiff and
(j)
Exeter airport. [89919]
Mrs Villiers: The Government have not made any such estimates.
NATS, the UK's en-route air traffic service provider, may be able to provide some relevant information. Its contact address is: The Chief Executive, NATS, 4000 Parkway, Whiteley, Fareham, Hants P015 7FL.
Aviation: Mergers
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) domestic and (b) European regulatory regimes in ensuring consideration is given to the effect on routes of airline mergers and takeovers. [89474]
Mrs Villiers: None. Mergers are regulated on the basis of whether or not they substantially lessen competition in markets. This test is applied in all mergers by the independent competition authorities, who have discretion to include any relevant criteria appropriate to determine whether or not a merger substantially lessens competition. Previous merger investigations in the airline sector by both the UK and EU competition authorities have considered effects on airline routes.
Aviation: Scotland
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has assessed any change in prices for flights between Glasgow and Heathrow since British Airways became the only airline servicing the route. [89473]
Mrs Villiers: No such assessment has been made.
Mr David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have flown between London airports other than Heathrow and (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow and (c) Aberdeen in each of the last three years. [89529]
Mrs Villiers: The figures requested are given in the following table.
| Number of passengers flying between Gatwick, London City, Luton or Stansted and s elected Scottish airports, 2008- 10 | |||
| Million | |||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
BMI
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the proposed sale of BMI to International Airlines Group on aviation links between Scotland and London; [89153]
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(2) what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government on future aviation links between Scotland and London following the proposed sale of BMI to International Airlines Group. [89154]
Mrs Villiers: I would refer the hon. Member to my written answer given on 28 November 2011, Official Report, column 647W, to the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr Hamilton) and the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse (Jim Fitzpatrick) in relation to the proposed sale of the airline BMI, and to my written answer given on 1 December 2011, Official Report, column 1019W, again to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse, in relation to aviation links between Scotland and London airports.
Bus Services: Disability
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to increase access to bus services for disabled people (a) nationally and (b) in Coventry. [88899]
Norman Baker [holding answer 12 January 2012]: The Department for Transport continues to work to improve physical accessibility to public transport. The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) require all new buses and coaches used to provide local or scheduled services and designed to carry more than 22 passengers to be accessible to disabled passengers.
All existing buses and coaches used to provide local or scheduled services will have to comply with PSVAR by end dates between 2015 and 2020, depending on vehicle type. At March 2011, 60% of all buses in Great Britain met the PSVAR requirements.
The Government are also committed to protecting the concessionary bus travel scheme, allowing free off-peak travel anywhere in England for older and eligible disabled passengers.
Cycling: Accidents
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children were (a) killed and (b) injured while riding a bicycle in the last year for which figures are available. [89506]
Mike Penning: The information is available in table RAS30002 of “Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: Main Results 2010” which has been published on the Department's website at:
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ras30002.xls
Debt Recovery
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times her Department has used the services of debt recovery companies since May 2010; which companies were used; and if she will make a statement. [88358]
Norman Baker: DfT(c), GCDA, MCA, VCA and VOSA have not used the services of a debt recovery company since May 2010.
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The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has used the services of Optima Legal Services twice since May 2010.
Since May 2010 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has used both Intercredit International Ltd and Philips Collection Services Ltd to collect continuous registration penalties on behalf of the agency. Around 30,000 cases are referred each month.
The Highways Agency has used the services of Effective Credit Collections Ltd since May 2010, on one occasion.
Apprentices
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many apprentices were employed by each public body for which her Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011 and (b) April and December 2011; and how many apprenticeships she expects each public body to sponsor between (i) January and March 2012 and (ii) April 2012 and March 2013. [88723]
Norman Baker: This Department employed apprentices in one public body, Trinity House Lighthouse Service, who employed three apprentices between April 2010 and March 2011 and April 2011 and December 2011. Three apprentices are expected to be employed between January 2012 to March 2012 and April 2012 to March 2013. Salaries were paid out of the General Lighthouse Fund.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding from the public purse has been allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in each of the public bodies for which her Department is responsible between (a) April 2010 and March 2011, (b) April 2011 and March 2012 and (c) April 2012 and March 2013. [88724]
Norman Baker: There has been no funding from the public purse allocated to sponsor apprenticeships in public bodies which this Department is responsible for.
Equality
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what equality impact assessments her Department has carried out since May 2010; and for what purpose in each case. [88590]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport considers equality issues in exercising its functions, both to comply with equality legislation and to ensure it understands how its activities will affect different people. It provides information about this consideration in various ways. In the specified period, this information was sometimes published in the form of an equality impact assessment, although there is no legal requirement to produce such a document.
Over 50 equality impact assessments have been carried out across the Department and its agencies since May 2010. These are available on the Department's website at:
www.dft.gov.uk
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Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 month period for which information is available. [86994]
Norman Baker: I regret that this information is not centrally recorded in all areas of this Department, and so no meaningful figure is available.
Departmental Manpower
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speechwriters her Department employs at each pay grade. [89396]
Norman Baker: The central Department for Transport currently employs two civil servants (DFT Pay Band 7 and 6) to write speeches and articles for the four DFT Ministers.
As well as the two dedicated speechwriters within the Communication Directorate, policy officials occasionally draft or contribute to ministerial speeches, particularly parliamentary speeches. The Department's special advisers may also contribute to speeches when required. And naturally, Ministers produce much of the material themselves.
None of DFT's seven Executive Agencies employ speechwriters.
Recruitment
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on recruitment agencies in each month since September 2011. [87978]
Norman Baker: The central Department and its seven Executive agencies have not engaged recruitment agencies since May 2010. All recruitment is handled by an internal centralised resource.
Redundancy
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much redundancy pay was paid to civil servants in her Department in each month between September and November 2011. [87976]
Norman Baker: The amount of redundancy pay paid to civil servants in the Department for Transport in the month of September, October and November 2011 is shown in the following table.
| Cost (£) | |||
| Business unit | September 2011 | October 2011 | November 2011 |
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The remaining DFT agencies have not made redundancy payments in the above periods.
Departmental Temporary Employment
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many temporary staff were recruited to her Department between September and November 2011. [87977]
Norman Baker: The central Department and its seven Executive agencies have recruited 28 temporary staff between September and November 2011.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to ensure that the effectiveness of the enforcement activities of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will not be reduced as a result of her Department's proposals for the centralisation of DVLA services. [89176]
Mike Penning: DVLA has a clear commitment to ensure that enforcement activities remain at their present level of effectiveness. DVLA will work with stakeholders to fully understand potential impacts and how these can be effectively managed if the proposals are taken forward.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the potential effect of proposals to close Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency regional enforcement offices on levels of unemployment in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK. [89177]
Mike Penning: No specific assessment has been completed. I can add that no decision about closure has yet been made. The results of the current consultation will be used to inform work looking at changes to DVLA services including the potential closure of local offices. This process will include an economic assessment as well as work to avoid or reduce redundancies and mitigate the consequences of any that are necessary.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to publish the result of the Government's consultation entitled Transforming DVLA Services. [89185]
Mike Penning: We aim to publish a summary of responses and announce our future plans as soon as possible after the consultation has closed. Although this is dependent on the number of responses received and the analysis required.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of providing front office counter services through intermediaries as part of her proposals to centralise Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency services. [89186]
Mike Penning:
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency already has a contract in place with an intermediary to provide vehicle re-licensing and some driver licensing services. This contract, currently valued at £41 million per annum, is held by the Post Office and has been in
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place since 1 April 2007. It will come to an end in March 2013. DVLA is currently engaged in an EU compliant commercial procurement for a range of front office counter services to replace it. The value of the new contract will ultimately be determined through the procurement and negotiation process.
We are extending the scope of the current contract in a number of ways to provide more secure and convenient services to the public in the future. For vehicle licensing services, these extensions have been accorded with initial cost estimates of around £4 million for joint development and then running costs of just over £1 million a year, although these will of course be subject to refinement and downwards competitive pressure through the procurement and negotiation processes.
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will publish the figures her Department used to calculate the estimated savings to the public purse from centralising Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency services. [89187]
Mike Penning: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has estimated annual savings to the public purse of £28 million commencing in the financial year 2014-15. The following table shows how the estimated savings have been calculated:
| £ million | |
These estimates are high level and have been based on a number of assumptions. These estimates will change and be refined as decisions are made following the conclusion of the public consultation.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the likely effect of proposals to close DVLA regional offices on the economy of (a) Scotland and (b) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency. [88142]
Mike Penning: No specific assessment has been completed. I can add that no decisions about closure have yet been made. The results of the current consultation will be used to inform work looking at changes to DVLA services including the potential closure of local offices. Economic impacts will be considered as part of this process.
Driving Under Influence: Rehabilitation
Paul Blomfield:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 1004W, on driving under
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influence: rehabilitation, what evidence her Department used to support its proposals on new arrangements for drink drive rehabilitation courses. [89026]
Mike Penning: We have drawn on a variety of sources of evidence to support our proposals on new arrangements for drink drive rehabilitation courses. The principle driver for change came from the findings of the Transport Research Laboratory report (No. 613, 2004) referred to in paragraphs 18, 19 and 20 of the Driving Standards Agency's consultation paper ‘New approval arrangements for drink-drive rehabilitation courses’ of 9 November 2011.
The proposals were also based on independent audits commissioned by the Department for Transport throughout 2007-09 (referenced in the DSA consultation mentioned above, at Annex A para 10).
Driving: Disability
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she intends to amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1997 following changes to disability living allowance to ensure that people with major mobility issues can drive from the age of 16 years. [88880]
Mike Penning: The Department for Work and Pensions are introducing changes to disability living allowance (DLA) as part of the Welfare Reform Bill. The intention is to replace DLA with a new cash benefit called the personal independence payment (PIP). Replacing DLA with PIP will require a change in driving licence legislation to allow people with major mobility issues to still be eligible to apply for a driving licence to drive a car at the age of 16. The necessary legislative change is currently being taken forward and will be aligned to the DWP introduction date for PIP.
Driving: Eye Sight
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that Group 2 drivers meet the minimum visual requirements set out in EU directives 2006/126/EC and 2009/113/EC. [88934]
Mike Penning: Directive 2006/126/EEC was adopted in December 2006; its provisions will take effect on 19 January 2013. Directive 2009/113/EC amends this directive.
Group 2 drivers are currently required to have a medical examination, which includes an eye test, at first licence application, at the age of 45 and every five years until age the age of 65 when annual medicals are needed. They are also required by law to advise DVLA if they are unable to meet the required medical standards (including the minimum visual requirements) at any time.
From 19 January 2013 Group 2 drivers will still have to undergo a medical examination when they first apply for this entitlement. Licences will have an administrative validity period of five years.
This will mean that they will expire every five years from first application to age 45. A self-declaration of continuing compliance with the minimum medical standards
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for driving, including appropriate vision, will be required on each five year renewal. The arrangements from 45 onwards will remain unchanged.
EU Law
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the regulations her Department brought into force through (a) primary legislation, (b) secondary legislation and (c) other means originated from proposals by the European Commission in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011. [88977]
Norman Baker: No primary legislation that implements proposals by the European Commission was brought forward by this Department in either 2010 or 2011.
In 2010, 25 pieces of secondary legislation transposed EU obligations. In 2011, 28 pieces of secondary legislation transposed EU obligations.
Some EU obligations are implemented by administrative measures and it is assumed that these are the other means on which information is sought. That information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Heathrow Airport
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions her Department has had with Airport Coordination Ltd on changing the way take-off and landing slots at Heathrow airport are used by airlines to reduce congestion. [89357]
Mrs Villiers: The allocation of slots at Heathrow is governed by EU Law. The EU Slot Regulation includes a requirement for member states to ensure that independent airport slot co-ordinators are appointed to manage slot allocation at congested airports. Airport Coordination Ltd is the UK's independent co-ordinator.
The European Commission published its "Better Airports Package" on 30 November 2011, which includes a range of legislative proposals, including proposals to amend the EU Slot Regulation, which are intended to help boost capacity, reduce delays and promote quality at Europe's airports. The Department will be engaging with a range of stakeholders as these proposals are developed.
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has assessed the environment impact of aeroplanes circling Heathrow while awaiting a landing slot. [89496]
Mrs Villiers: The Government have not undertaken any such assessment, but we support the Civil Aviation Authority's Future Airspace Strategy which aims to minimise significantly the need for aircraft to wait before landing at London's major airports.
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has estimated the average time an aircraft will circle Heathrow while awaiting a landing slot. [89497]
Mrs Villiers: According to NATS, the UK's en-route air traffic service provider, 53% of arrivals into Heathrow in 2010 were subject to holding with an average hold time per aircraft held of 8.3 minutes.
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Level Crossings
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will request Network Rail to publish all risk assessments in respect of level crossings; and what assessment she made of the level of transparency in the availability of such information. [89226]
Mrs Villiers: Risk assessments at level crossings are undertaken by Network Rail in order to satisfy their legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. That Act requires duty holders to record the significant findings of risk assessments and reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable. Legislative standards also ensure that the risk assessment process is sufficient and suitable.
There is currently no legal obligation to publish those risk assessments but they are available for consideration by the Office of Rail Regulation.
However, Network Rail is currently revising their risk assessment process for level crossings. Their intention is that future process takes a more collaborative approach to risk assessment with assistance provided by local stakeholders such as the relevant local authorities, level crossing users and train operators. Network Rail will also consider requests on a case by case basis for access to existing risk assessments.
Network Rail is a private sector company and the Government’s policy is to resist the expansion of burdens on companies. On this basis, we do not intend to request that Network Rail publishes all level crossing risk assessments. The Government welcome the fact, however, that Network Rail is taking steps to enhance their own transparency and is developing a voluntary publication scheme.
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of recent trends in the use by Network Rail of remote-controlled level crossings; what safety risk assessment has been undertaken on such crossings; and if she will assess any effects of such crossings on the level of pedestrian injuries. [89227]
Mrs Villiers: The Department has made no assessment of these issues. In the first instance, risk assessment and the reduction of risks at level crossings so far as is reasonably practicable is a matter for the relevant duty holder. As such, the risk assessment process and determination of appropriate safety measures to be put in place, including equipment type, is an operational safety matter for Network Rail.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) monitors that Network Rail is meeting their health and safety duties at level crossings. The ORR, where it administers level crossing orders on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), may also contribute to the risk assessment of the type of equipment deployed at a specific location including remote-controlled (CCTV) type crossings.
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CCTV controlled crossings are one of the safest crossing types in use and a breakdown of level crossing safety by crossing type, and user can be found in the RSSB Annual Safety Performance Report 2010/11, available at:
http://www.rssb.co.uk/SPR/REPORTS/Pages/AnnualSafetyPerformanceReport201011.aspx
The UK has one of the best level crossing records in Europe. A significant proportion of risk in this context results from public behaviour. Network Rail and the British Transport police have various programmes aimed at addressing this problem.
M6
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with the M6 Toll Company on providing a direct link from the M54 to the toll road and the M6 northbound at no cost to the public purse. [90264]
Mike Penning: The statement of the then Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 26 October 2010, Official Report, columns 177-179, “Investment in Highways and Local Transport Schemes” identified the M54/M6/M6 Toll Link road scheme as a ‘future scheme’ for potential construction in future spending review periods and as one of four schemes to be reviewed by the Highways Agency.
In conducting the review the Agency has looked again at the scheme options currently under consideration to ensure these remain the most appropriate. The business case for the scheme has also been revisited to ensure that it is as up to date as possible.
As part of the review a meeting was held between Department for Transport Officials and a representative of Midland Expressway Limited, the M6 Toll company, to discuss the scheme options for an M54/M6/M6 Toll Link Road and how these might be taken forward under an agreement made in 2006 between Macquarie European Infrastructure Limited and the Secretary of State for Transport.
Informed by the review, the Department for Transport is currently considering the allocation of development funding for the 'future schemes'. This would see investment in a small number of schemes to progress pre-construction work and thereby maintain a pipeline of major investment in the strategic road network. Any announcements will be made in due course.
Members: Correspondence
Mr Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of (a) 13 October and (b) 23 November 2011 regarding a constituent, Mr L Russell. [89100]
Norman Baker [holding answer 12 January 2012]: I have now replied to my hon. Friend's letter, actually dated 11 October 2011. I am sorry that administrative pressures within the Department have delayed this reply until now. Ministers aim to reply speedily to correspondence and I have drawn the pressures within the system to the attention of the Permanent Secretary.
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Unfortunately we have no records of receipt of the letter dated 23 November 2011. If the issues within this letter are not addressed by my response to your earlier letter please feel free to contact me direct.
Motor Vehicles: Testing
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) motorcycles, (b) motor cars and (c) commercial vehicles were submitted for an MOT test in (i) the UK, (ii) England, (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iv) City of York in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many vehicles failed the test in each case. [88848]
Mike Penning: The number of MOT tests undertaken by test class and number of failures in (i) Great Britain, (ii) England, (iii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iv) City of York unitary authority during the calendar year 2010 are given in the following table:
MOT test results for Northern Ireland are not held by the Department.
MOT data are available in raw format from:
www.data.gov.uk
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Motorcycles: EU Law
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on the EU member states where the wearing of motorcycle helmets is compulsory for users of motorbikes and mopeds. [90351]
Mike Penning: The Department does not keep detailed information on this. Many, if not all, EU countries do require helmets to be worn by motorcyclists, but some allow more flexibility for moped riders.
Motorways: Safety
Mr Nuttall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the criteria are which determine whether footbridges over motorways are covered for the purpose of preventing objects being thrown from them onto vehicles travelling on the motorway. [89977]
Mike Penning: The Highways Agency has published criteria for protection to be provided on the edge of new footbridges over motorways and they are described in Standard TD19/06—‘Requirements for Road Restraint Systems’ and in Standard BD 29/04—‘Design Criteria for Footbridges’. These standards are publically available through the agency's website.
TD19/06 covers the criteria for the height and form of the parapet protection that must be provided along the edge of a footbridge, and is governed by the nature of the intended lawful use of the bridge, and whether it carries a footway, cycleway or bridleway. Where a new footbridge is being proposed, designers must consider and balance a range of issues such as cost, accessibility, safety and appearance, in developing the form and layout of the structure to encourage greater use and appreciation by the public.
Designers of new footbridges would need to consider risks and the potential for unlawful activities such as throwing objects on to passing vehicles. In such circumstances where there is an established high risk, BD 29/04 suggests that full or partial enclosures of the bridge may be considered. For existing footbridges a range of factors would be considered, some of which are covered in BD29/04.
The prevention of unlawful activities such as objects thrown from bridges is a policing matter. However, where there are significant risks or a high number of incidents at a particular location on the strategic road network in England, the Highways Agency has worked closely with the police, local community and other partners, and in the past has prepared educational packs which have proved to be effective. The Highways Agency has also arranged for visits to be made to schools and community groups to educate younger people as to the dangers and consequences of objects being thrown onto roads, and to prevent these incidents recurring.
Northern Line: Expenditure
Maria Eagle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, what the total planned public expenditure on the extension of the Northern line to Battersea is in
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(a)
2011-12,
(b)
2012-13,
(c)
2013-14,
(d)
2014-15,
(e)
2015-16 and
(f)
2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project. [88502]
Mrs Villiers: The Government announced their support for the extension of the Northern line to Battersea on 29 November 2011, subject to commitment by April 2013 from a developer to contribute to and develop the site. If an agreement is reached, the Government will consider allowing local borrowing against future receipts of community infrastructure levy (CIL) to support the extension. Given the commercial sensitivity of such an agreement, it would be inappropriate to pre-empt it with a detailed breakdown.
The final timetable of the extension of the Northern line to Battersea is contingent on a successful Transport Works Act Order application to the Department for Transport. Transport for London is planning to submit an application in 2012.
Parking: Fees and Charges
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2011, Official Report, column 497W, on parking: fees and charges, whether privately operated car parks are governed by any statutory provisions; and if she will make a statement. [89376]
Norman Baker: There is no statutory regulation relating specifically to private car parks. Private landowners are entitled to make such conditions for the use of their land as they see fit. However, consumer protection legislation exists to protect consumers from misleading information and unfair contract terms. For example, where signs for motorists in a car park are misleading, or other misleading or deceptive information is given (for example, tickets which look like local authority tickets) there may be a breach of the consumer protection legislation. Local authority trading standards services and the Office of Fair Trading can take enforcement action.
In the absence of a clear indication that a private landowner is content for parking to take place on his/her/its land, motorists should not park on it to avoid any risk of trespassing.
Piers: Redcar and Cleveland
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will provide funding for an additional traditional pier in Redcar and Cleveland. [88829]
Norman Baker: We have not received a funding request for a traditional pier in Redcar and Cleveland and, taken at face value, it seems unlikely a project of this nature would meet transport objectives and provide value for money under a transport appraisal.
Railways
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which rail companies have been provided with permanent access passes to her Department; and what the pass allocation is in each case. [R] [88079]
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Norman Baker [holding answer 12 January 2012]: Five passes have been issued to Directly Operated Railways Ltd which is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Transport.
Regional Airports
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department plans to take to support regional airports; and if she will make a statement. [89037]
Mrs Villiers: We recognise the vital contributions regional airports make to local economies. The Government are currently developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation, which we will publish for consultation in spring 2012.
River Thames: Bridges
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, what the total planned public expenditure on the extension of the new crossing across the Lower Thames is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project. [88501]
Mike Penning: It is too early to specify total planned public expenditure for the development of a new Lower Thames crossing. Our intention is that the new crossing should be privately financed. However we accept the need to incur some public expenditure in preparatory work, including the analysis required to review the location options. The cost of the review could be confirmed once procurement of it has concluded.
Roads: Safety
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance she gives utility companies on the manner in which they leave the public highway after completing works. [89060]
Norman Baker: The Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways is a statutory Code of Practice which sets out the relevant standards. Compliance with the Specification is a requirement under section 71 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. In respect of England, the most recent (third) edition of the Specification came into operation on 1 October 2010.
Shipping: Oil
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will review the level of liaison between relevant devolved authorities on the environmental effects arising from the recent transfer of oil between two cargo ships off the County Down coast for the purposes of preventing a similar problem from occurring in the future. [89448]
Mike Penning:
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) will shortly commence a review of the UK's National Contingency Plan (NCP) for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations. This periodic review will involve full consultation with UK interested parties, and will take account of lessons learnt from
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previous incidents in the UK and elsewhere. I have asked the MCA to take account of lessons learned from the forthcoming operational de-brief into the Genmar Companion incident.
Swanley Railway Station
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date Swanley railway station was designated as the travel gateway for the 2012 Paralympic road cycling event at Brands Hatch. [89525]
Mrs Villiers: Brands Hatch was the last London 2012 venue to be announced in May 2011. As a result, transport plans and related publicity are only now being finalised.
In the preliminary planning stages for spectator transport service design, Swanley was seen as a preferred venue rail station. Earlier publications including a press release in July 2011 announcing the Swanley improvement programme made reference to this.
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Network Rail had discussions with the Olympic Delivery Authority prior to 1 January 2012 on the need to complete the improvements to Swanley railway station in time for the 2012 Paralympic road cycling event at Brands Hatch. [89526]
Mrs Villiers: The Olympic Delivery Authority continues to take a close interest in the development of all transport infrastructure works associated with London 2012, and has regularly discussed Swanley station with Network Rail. The initial development works undertaken for the scheme indicated a completion date of 15 August 2012.
Given the associated delivery risk with this date, a decision has been made to switch the venue station from Swanley to Sevenoaks, which already has step free access and excellent transport links.
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the improvements at Swanley railway station (a) were originally scheduled to (i) begin and (ii) be completed, (b) began and (c) are now expected to be completed. [89527]
Norman Baker: Works at Swanley station under the Access for All and National Stations Improvement programmes are due to start on site in July 2012 and be completed by April 2013. To allow the station to be used by spectators for the Paralympics, the work has been brought forward and will start in April this year and are due to be complete by the end of July this year.
Transport: Merseyside
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, what the total planned public expenditure on the expansion of the Mersey Multimodal Gateway 3MG Logistics Park is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project. [88453]
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Norman Baker: The Mersey Multimodal Gateway 3MG Logistics Park was allocated £9 million from Round 1 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) in April 2011. The planned expenditure for the project is:
| £ million | |
The project is due to be completed in 2014, as set out in the contractual arrangements included in the grant offer.
Transport: Planned Public Expenditure
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, (1) what the total planned public expenditure on the Western Gateway Enabling scheme at Port Salford is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88454]
(2) what the total planned public expenditure on the project to improve Junction 10A of the M1 motorway is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88466]
(3) what the total planned public expenditure on reinstating the Todmorden Curve is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88480]
(4) what the total planned public expenditure on the A45 Corridor (Damson Parkway to M42 Junction 6) is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88496]
(5) what the total planned public expenditure on the Gateway to the Sheffield City Region Terminal is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project; [88497]
(6) what the total planned public expenditure on constructing and developing the Tees Multimodal Bio-Freight Terminal is in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15, (e) 2015-16 and (f) 2016-17; and what the estimated date of completion is of the project. [88498]
Norman Baker: The Government are currently undertaking the contracting process for the projects which have successfully received a conditional allocation under the Regional Growth Fund. More information will be available from the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), once this process is complete. All funding for successful projects will need to be drawn down by the end of the spending period in March 2015.
Travel Information: Disability
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to increase access to travel advice and information for disabled people. [88897]
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Norman Baker [holding answer 12 January 2012]: As part of the Spectator Journey Planning service for the London 2012 Games, new functionality has been provided by the Department for Transport and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (via Transport Direct and the Olympic Delivery Authority) to enable spectators to request and discover route options that have level access and/or staff assistance available. This is based on a Games Network of Accessible Travel that covers almost 1,000 transport locations including National Rail stations, London Underground, light rail in London, Croydon and Nottingham, coach stations and Thames river piers.
As part of the preparations for London 2012 and as part of the Access for All programme of improvements on the National Rail network, audits have been undertaken of accessible stations and users can access these to see details and photographs of the accessible facilities available.
Education
Special Needs
18. Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the role of parents in decisions on whether their child is independently tested for special educational needs. [89264]
Sarah Teather: Parents will always be central to assessments of their child's special educational needs. Some tell us that local authorities holding responsibility for assessing needs and making provision can appear to be a conflict of interest and lead to a lack of confidence in the process. That is why, through our Green Paper pathfinders, we are testing ways in which the voluntary sector might improve parents' confidence in the assessment process.
Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the level of reductions in local authority funding for the support of children with special educational needs in 2011-12. [89258]
Sarah Teather: In total, in 2011-12, local authorities plan to spend £2,971 million on:
additional support for individual children with statements in mainstream schools;
maintained special schools;
placements in independent and non-maintained special schools;
specialist support services.
This compares with £2,800 million in 2010-11 and represents an increase of 6.1% in the past year.
Apprenticeships
19. Mr Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to prepare young people in schools for apprenticeships in (a) Isle of Wight constituency and (b) England. [89265]
Mr Hayes:
From September, all schools in England will be placed under a legal duty to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance. This will include information about apprenticeships. The National Apprenticeship Service is working with schools to inform
16 Jan 2012 : Column 488W
and prepare young people for apprenticeships. And we are reforming the National Curriculum and raising standards in all our schools so that young people are better prepared for further learning, training or work.
Academies
20. Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have converted to academy status in (a) Tamworth constituency, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England since May 2010. [89266]
Michael Gove: Since May 2010, two schools have become Academies in Tamworth constituency.
Across the West Midlands, 136 Academies have opened since May 2010.
As of 1 January 2012 a total of 1,529 Academies are open across England, of which 1,326 Academies opened since May 2010 (1,194 converters, 132 sponsored).
23. Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of progress in creating academies in (a) England, (b) the south-east and (c) Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency. [89269]
Michael Gove: Almost 18 months ago, in May 2010, we passed the Academies Act 2010. Since then, 1,326 schools have become academies, with hundreds more in the pipeline. A total of 1,529 schools are now academies across England.
220 academies have opened in the south-east (excluding London).
In Sittingbourne and Sheppey there are eight converter academies (four primary, four secondary). One further school has submitted an application to convert.
School Transport
21. Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on school transport; and if he will make a statement. [89267]
Tim Loughton: Local authorities must provide free transport for compulsory school age pupils attending a school further from home than the statutory walking distances. Additional support is available for children from low-income families who meet the eligibility criteria. Local authorities must make arrangements for pupils unable to walk to school because of their special educational need, disability or mobility problems. Local authorities have a discretionary power to provide transport to all other children, though this need not be free.
School Sport
22. David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to increase participation in school sport. [89268]
Tim Loughton:
Schools should provide competitive sport for all pupils as part of a rounded education. The review of National Curriculum PE will ensure that all pupils aged five to 16 will play sport at school. Additionally, the Departments for Education, Health and Culture,
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Media and Sport are working together to create the new School Games, which will provide competitions in a wide range of sports within school, between schools and at regional and national levels. The Department for Education is providing £65 million to enable PE teachers to help to develop the School Games.
Free Schools
25. Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many free schools he expects to open in 2012. [89271]
Michael Gove: I am delighted to report that the demand from parents for free schools remains strong throughout the country. We have already opened the first 24 free schools, six studio schools and two university technical colleges in response to this demand and there are a further 102 new schools in the pipeline.
Groups behind this next wave have a lot of work to do in the coming months, with 83 planning at this stage to open in 2012. If they continue to show the passion and commitment that was so evident in their proposals, they can provide the new schools that their communities so clearly need and deserve.
In the coming months I will be considering many more exciting proposals for new schools and I will of course keep the House updated on progress in this area.
Children's Centres
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of payment-by-results in children's centres. [89270]
Sarah Teather: We are running a trial to explore the feasibility of introducing payment by results in children’s centres. The trial, involving 27 local authorities, began in summer 2011 and will run until March 2013. The trials will generate an evidence base about the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches and help to inform an assessment of effectiveness.
Magazine Press: Retail Trade
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to encourage small retailers to adopt the voluntary code of practice for the display of adult magazines; and how many letters his Department has sent to small retailers on the voluntary code of practice. [88348]
Sarah Teather
[holding answer 10 January 2012]: Ensuring that magazines and newspapers with sexualised images on their covers are not displayed in easy sight of young children is one of the recommendations made by Reg Bailey in his independent review of the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood, 'Letting Children be Children'. The recommendation calls on retail associations in the news industry to do more to encourage observance of the industry's voluntary code of practice on the display of magazines with sexualised images on their covers, and that publishers and distributors should provide such magazines in modesty sleeves, or make modesty boards available, to all outlets they supply and encourage the appropriate display of their publications.
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The Government have accepted and welcomed Mr Bailey's analysis and the thrust of this and all the other recommendations he has made, which will reduce the pressure on children to grow up too fast.
This Department has not written directly to retailers on this matter since, in line with most of the recommendations of Mr Bailey's report, this recommendation is directed at businesses and their industry associations. It is a matter for those organisations to decide how best to achieve the intended outcome of the recommendation and the Government look to them to see that it is implemented as fully as possible. I therefore welcome the action taken by the Professional Publishers Association to refresh and reissue the voluntary code of practice to its members, and by the Press Distribution Forum to make the code of practice more accessible to parents by providing a link to it from the ParentPort website. This should help any parent who is concerned about the display of magazines with sexualised images on their covers to raise the issue with the retailer in question.
However, we expect to see more progress made on this issue. The Prime Minister chaired a summit meeting on 11 October 2011 to get progress reports from businesses, industry associations and regulators and I subsequently wrote to these organisations to acknowledge the progress made to that point and to set out our expectations for the future, including on the display of magazines. The Prime Minister and I will be holding further such meetings later this year in order to check the progress being made, and there will be a full stock-take of progress by the end of the year. At this point we will consider what further measures may need to be taken to achieve the recommended outcomes, including considering statutory regulation if voluntary action has not been effective.
Treasury
Ministerial Meetings
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) he, (b) any Ministers and (c) officials of his Department have met (i) Mr Michael Hintze, (ii) Mr Tony Buckingham, (iii) Mr Michael Davis, (iv) Mr Poju Zabludowicz, (v) Jon Moulton and (vi) Stephen Crouch; and where any such meetings took place. [78653]
Miss Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
A list of ministerial meetings with external organisations is published quarterly on the HM Treasury website:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm
Bankruptcy
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) people and (b) businesses were declared bankrupt in each year for which figures are available. [89193]
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Mr Davey: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Annual numbers of individual insolvencies in England and Wales back to 1960 are available at the following link:
http://www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/otherinformation/statistics/historicdata/IndividualInsolvencies.xls
These figures show bankruptcy separately from other types of personal insolvency and include those self-employed traders who are declared bankrupt.
Annual numbers of corporate liquidations in England and Wales back to 1960 are available at the following link:
http://www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/otherinformation/statistics/historicdata/CompanyLiquidations.xls
Banks: Finance
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the net Exchequer expenditure on (a) Lloyds TSB, (b) Royal Bank of Scotland and (c) other banks and building societies between 1 January 2008 and 1 January 2012. [89029]
Mr Hoban: The Government publish detailed information on the interventions in the financial system undertaken since 2007. This information is available in the HM Treasury annual report and accounts for each of the years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.
A full breakdown of the interventions undertaken by the last Government has been provided in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report to the House of Commons on the Treasury annual report and accounts for 2010-11. Institution specific information is also outlined in the Treasury accounts as follows:
2008-09: notes 29-38
2009-10: notes 27-36
2010-11: notes 29-38.
Banks: Iceland
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to commission an inquiry into the effects on the UK economy of the collapse of the financial services sector in Iceland. [89135]
Mr Hoban: The Government have no plans to commission an inquiry into the effects on the UK economy of the collapse of the financial services sector in Iceland.
Arrangements have been made for all eligible UK depositors in the Icelandic banks to be fully compensated by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and HM Treasury.
In March 2009, the Treasury Select Committee published a report titled ‘Banking Crisis: The impact of the failure of the Icelandic banks’. The report can be found via the following web link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmtreasy/402/402.pdf
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Banks: Pay
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) Lloyds TSB and (b) Royal Bank of Scotland on provision of bonuses in 2012. [89028]
Mr Hoban: The Government are committed to tackling unacceptable bank bonuses. At the start of 2011 we placed a limit of £2,000 on cash bonuses for the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds in respect of 2010 bonuses. The bonus pool in respect of 2010 bonuses was significantly lower than the previous year and we have introduced the most transparent reporting regime of any major financial centre.
We have made it clear that the bonus pool this year in respect of 2011 bonuses must again be lower and more transparent. Further, the chief executive of LBG, Antonio Horta-Osorio, has decided that he does not want to be considered for a bonus for last year.
The Government are also clear that at a time like this, banks should be following the new Financial Policy Committee's recommendation that bank earnings should be used first and foremost to build capital levels not pay out larger bonuses, so that banks can lend to families and businesses, and are protected against market instability.
Banks: Profits
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the profitability of (a) Lloyds TSB and (b) Royal Bank of Scotland in 2011. [89027]
Mr Hoban: The financial results for these banks are publically available on their websites.
Capital Allowances
Guto Bebb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what definition HM Revenue and Customs uses of financial services for the purposes of enhanced capital allowances; [89451]
(2) what definition of (a) energy, (b) aerospace, (c) advanced manufacturing and (d) automotive HM Revenue and Customs uses for the purposes of administering enhanced capital allowances. [89607]
Mr Gauke: None, as the tax legislation providing for first year (enhanced) capital allowances does not contain these terms.
Coinage
Lyn Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what duties banks have in respect of requests from members of the public to exchange coins for notes. [88935]
Miss Chloe Smith: This is a matter for the individual banks: there is no legal obligation for them to exchange coins for notes.
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Coinage: Local Government
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment was made of the likely effect of the proposed introduction of new five and 10 pence coins on local authority ticket machines. [88926]
Miss Chloe Smith: In 2010 the decision was taken to delay the implementation (originally planned for early 2011) in order to allow industry—including local councils—additional time to complete the required recalibration of machines and thereby substantially reduce their costs.
The full impact assessment concerning the change in composition of 5p and 10p coins is available at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ria_coin_composition_change.htm
Household Debt
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average level of household debt was in the last year for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the likely level of such debt in each of the next five years. [89192]
Miss Chloe Smith: The total amount of household debt in 2010 was £1,540,976 million. There were 27.264 million households in the UK at the end of 2010. The average amount of household debt was therefore approximately £56,500. Official economic forecasts are produced by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). While the OBR do not produce forecasts for the average household debt, projections have been made for aggregate household debt alongside the Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in November 2011. The forecasts are available from the OBR website.
Secondment
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are seconded to his Department from (a) UK and (b) other banks. [88986]
Miss Chloe Smith: As at 31 December 2011 HM Treasury did not have any staff seconded in from UK or other banks.
Financial Services: Compensation
Chris Leslie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme Directive applies compensation limits to brands a well as financial institutions. [89524]
Mr Hoban: Negotiations on the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme Directive are currently in progress.
The directive aims to improve depositor protection across the EU and EEA. The Government will ensure that depositors in UK institutions continue to benefit from rapid effective compensation arrangements under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
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Members: Correspondence
Mr Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure the hon. Member for Walsall North receives a reply to his letter to the Economic Secretary of 23 November 2011, transferred to HM Revenue and Customs, ref 57082/2011. [89468]
Mr Gauke: I understand HM Revenue and Customs have now replied to the hon. Member.
Pensions: Greece
Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have had with the European Commission about the extent of ghost pensions in Greece and its economic impact on the eurozone. [80473]
Mr Hoban: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), has discussions with EU counterparts on a variety of issues on a regular basis, and it would not be appropriate to provide a commentary on such meetings.
The Government believe that the agreement reached on 26 October represents good progress towards a resolution of the situation in Greece; the agreement is based on private sector participation on a voluntary basis. More work is now needed to put the agreement into practice, including detailed negotiations with the private sector.
Ultimately, the onus is on the euro area to deliver a solution for Greece that reflects a rigorous and realistic assessment of Greece's debt dynamics.
Personal Pensions
Mr Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he (a) has met and (b) plans to meet Dr Christopher Sier and Mr David Norman to discuss the future of private pensions; and if he will make a statement. [88444]
Miss Chloe Smith: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Petrol: Prices
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of differential revenue receipts on petrol due to regional and local variations in the price of petrol. [89031]
Miss Chloe Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the then Economic Secretary, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), gave on 17 May 2011, Official Report, column 192W, to my hon. Friend the Member for South West Norfolk (Elizabeth Truss). Fuel duty is paid by petrol importers and UK producers at a fixed amount of 57.95 pence per litre.
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Revenue and Customs: Manpower
Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were employed in HM Revenue and Customs dynamic response team in each of the last three financial years. [89331]
Mr Gauke: The HMRC national minimum wage (NMW) dynamic response team is a flexible multi-grade team drawn from an existing pool of experienced NMW compliance staff located across the UK. The number of staff attached to the team in the two years since its formation is:
December 2009:11
December 2010: 20
December 2011: 20.
Tax Evasion
Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with officials in HM Revenue and Customs on the practice of offering sweetheart deals; [89924]
(2) what his policy is on the practice of offering sweetheart deals; [89925]
(3) what estimate he has made of the loss in revenue to the Exchequer as a result of sweetheart deals entered into by HM Revenue and Customs. [89926]
Mr Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
HMRC treats all taxpayers even-handedly and does not give any of its customers favourable treatment or do sweetheart deals to allow them to settle for less than the full amount.
Tax Evasion: Northern Ireland
Fiona Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are in place for liaison with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on tax evasion. [89476]
Mr Gauke: Ministers engage with their colleagues in the Northern Ireland Executive on a variety of matters, including tax evasion.
This Government and HMRC are determined to tackle tax evasion of all kinds, regardless of where it occurs, and ensure that the tax system operates fairly and efficiently for all. As part of the 2010 spending review settlement we announced that just over £900 million would be made available to HMRC to step-up their activity, in tackling tax loss. So for the four year period from April 2011 HMRC will reinvest £917 million of the savings they make to maximise additional revenues, which will include putting extra resource into tackling both evasion and avoidance. This reinvestment will fund a range of measures which will enable HMRC to bring in around £7 billion each year by 2014-15 in additional revenues.
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Taxation: Self-assessment
Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of employers who were given penalty charges for failure to meet the deadline for returning P35 forms in each of the last five financial years for which figures are available; how much revenue to the Exchequer was raised from such penalties in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [88452]
Mr Gauke: The information requested is available only at disproportionate cost, as the data are not centrally held by HM Revenue and Customs data systems.
The number of penalties issued and associated amount due depends on the number of employees an employer employs (who are subject to PAYE deductions) and the length of time the PAYE Employer Annual Return was actually late or remained outstanding after the statutory filing deadline on 19 May following the end of the tax year (penalty calculation is based on £100 per 50 employees for each month or part month that the return is received late or is outstanding).
VAT: Charities
Mr Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to amend section 41(7) of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 to ensure the equal treatment of charities and the NHS in relation to VAT recovery; what recent representations he has received on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [88835]
Mr Gauke: The Government have no plans to bring forward such proposals. Section 41 of the VAT Act provides limited recovery of VAT for Government Departments, including the NHS, in respect of certain outsourced services. The VAT which is refunded to the NHS and other bodies is fully taken into account as part of those bodies' overall funding arrangements, and the schemes that are in place represent the most efficient means of delivering this part of their funding.
VAT: Home Care Services
John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his policy is on exempting from VAT the charges for home care for people with disabilities; [89570]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of exempting from VAT the charges paid for home care by people with disabilities. [89571]
Mr Gauke: Welfare services are exempt from VAT but only if the services are supplied by a charity, a state-regulated private welfare institution or agency, or a public body. If provided by any other body then they will be taxable at the standard rate. No estimate has been made of the VAT paid at the standard rate on such supplies as the data are not collected.
Veolia Environment: Taxation
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs takes steps to review the data it holds relating to Veolia Environmental Services to ensure it is paying the correct level of taxation in the UK. [89536]
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Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs cannot for reasons of taxpayer confidentiality comment on the tax affairs of individual companies. Veolia Environmental Services will be subject to the same compliance checks as any other company.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to question 78653, tabled on 1 November 2011 for answer on 3 November 2011, on meetings. [88439]
Miss Chloe Smith: I have now replied to the hon. Member.
Justice
Bail
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the highest number of previous convictions was for failing to surrender to bail for an individual convicted of an offence of failing to surrender to bail without being sent to prison in each of the last three years; and how many offences they had committed in total at the point of sentence for that offence. [89454]
Mr Blunt: The following table shows the highest number of previous convictions for failing to surrender to bail, for individuals convicted of this offence in the years 2008 to 2010 who received a sentence other than immediate custody. It also shows their total number of previous cautions and convictions, and previous immediate custodial sentences. Although these individuals did not go to prison for their index offence, they had all previously been to prison for the same offence. Each individual has been cautioned or convicted of a large number of prostitution-related offences.
These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
Brain: Injuries
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has received representations on the effect on offending of an acquired brain injury. [89292]
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Mr Blunt: No formal representations on the effect on offending of an acquired brain injury are known to have been received, but Department of Health officials responsible for developing police custody and court liaison and diversion services for individuals with mental health problems and learning disabilities have met with the Disabilities Trust Foundation on related issues. I have had discussions with interested professionals, including at the Children’s Trust, Tadworth and remain interested in any emerging academic research in this area of study.
Chief Coroner
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many meetings (a) he and (b) officials in his Department had with the Lord Chief Justice on the appointment of a chief coroner in November and December 2011. [89294]
Mr Djanogly: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), discussed this matter with the Lord Chief Justice in November 2011. While Ministry of Justice officials have not met the Lord Chief Justice, they held meetings with colleagues from the Judicial Office on two occasions in November and December to discuss the appointment of the chief coroner and this dialogue is ongoing.
Civil Justice Council
Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the two main items of non-staff running costs are that have been reduced by the Civil Justice Council as part of its 23% reduction in spending in 2011-12 compared to 2010-11. [89295]
Mr Djanogly: Further to the answer that I have previously given to the hon. Member, the main items reduced were conference costs and research.
Civil Proceedings
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library copies of all correspondence received from media organisations in response to his Department's consultation on the reform of civil litigation. [88903]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: Nineteen media organisations responded to the Government's consultation on the reform of civil litigation. The responses to the consultation were identical and referred to a submission by the Media Lawyers Association (MLA). I am placing the relevant correspondence and the MLA submission in the House Library.
Community Orders
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what timetable he has set for the development of his proposals on reforms to ensure that community sentences effectively punish and rehabilitate offenders. [89319]
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Mr Blunt: We will be consulting on proposals to reform sentences in the community to ensure that they effectively punish and rehabilitate offenders. We intend to publish the consultation shortly.
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the flexibility of the time, date and location of community service offered to offenders sentenced to community service. [89362]
Mr Blunt: Community service is now the unpaid work requirement of a community or suspended sentence order, which is also known as community payback. It is a legislative requirement that, so far as is practicable, the obligations imposed by a community order should not conflict with an offender's religious beliefs, employment, education or training. Community payback work placements are therefore operated flexibly seven days a week. Offenders are allocated to work placements within reasonable travelling distance of their home address. The precise location and nature of the work placement will also be determined by other factors such as the risk posed by the offender, the location of victims, the offender's availability and any specific needs which the offender may have, such as carer responsibilities or disability. Employed offenders are normally required to work a minimum of one day a week, while unemployed offenders may be instructed to work their sentence more intensively.
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders sentenced to a community service sentence have been remanded in custody for failing to complete the required community service (a) in Wales and (b) nationally in the last 12 months. [89363]
Mr Blunt: With the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, community service became the unpaid work requirement of a community order or suspended sentence order. It is also known as community payback.
The information requested is not held centrally. Statistics are available separately on the number of unpaid work requirements which fail to complete and on the number of immediate receptions into custody for breach of a community order or suspended sentence order. Data-matching to combine them to calculate the number of receptions into custody which were specifically related to breach of an order with an unpaid work requirement would incur disproportionate cost.
The latest available data show that in 2010-11 1,402 unpaid work requirements attached to community orders and suspended sentence orders supervised by the Wales Probation Trust were revoked for failure to comply or for conviction of a further offence. The total number of such requirements revoked for these reasons in England and Wales was 22,264(1).
Data published for the calendar year 2009, the latest available, show that 3,996 persons were received into prison establishments in England and Wales for breach of a community sentence and 4,361 for breach of a suspended sentence(2). It is not possible to disaggregate the figures for establishments in Wales from these totals.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
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(1) Source:
Table 18, NOMS Annual Report 2010/11: Management Information Addendum, Ministry of Justice
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/hmps/noms-annual-report-2010-11-addendum.pdf
(2) Source:
Table 6.9, Offender Management Caseload Statistics 2009, Ministry of Justice
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonand probation.htm
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidelines his Department has issued on performance standard targets for community service work. [89364]
Mr Blunt: With the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, community service became the unpaid work requirement of a community order or suspended sentence order. It is also known as community payback.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Service Specification for Unpaid Work / Community Payback and the Community Payback Operating Manual issued by NOMS define the minimum outputs and delivery standards which must be met by probation trusts and other organisations responsible for community payback. They have been published on the Ministry of Justice website at the following location:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/guidance/prison-probation-and-rehabilitation/probation-instructions/pi_02_2010_unpaid_work_community_payback_service_ specification.pdf
In addition, as part of their contracts, probation trusts are required to deliver a certain volume of successful completions of unpaid work requirements in the year as agreed with the commissioner. As management information NOMS also collects data on the percentage of unpaid work requirements which are successfully completed and the percentage of unpaid work offender days lost because of stand-downs (where the offender is sent home on the day or notified in advance not to attend). Outturns against each of these measures are reported at regional and national level in the NOMS Annual Report 2010/11: Management Information Addendum, which is published on the Justice website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/hmps/noms-annual-report-2010-11-addendum.pdf
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the measures available to probation officers to deal with offenders (a) who do not complete community service and (b) whose community service work falls below a satisfactory standard. [89365]
Mr Blunt: Community service is now the unpaid work requirement of a community or suspended sentence order, which is also known as community payback. Legislation requires that offenders sentenced to unpaid work are returned to court and prosecuted for breach of their orders following a maximum of two apparent failures to attend for work without good reason, or a maximum of two failures to work as instructed, or to a satisfactory standard. On conviction, the court's current powers include imposing additional unpaid work hours, or revoking the order and imposing an alternative sentence.
There are currently no executive powers for probation offender managers to deal with breach.
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Courts: Video Conferencing
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the virtual court pilot scheme; and what plans he has to implement such a scheme nationwide. [89310]
Mr Djanogly: A pilot evaluation of virtual courts was published in December 2010 which concluded that first hearings in the magistrates courts could be conducted over secure video link from the police station.
Virtual courts are currently being rolled out to four areas (London, Kent, Cheshire and Hertfordshire) to enable criminal justice agencies to continue to refine their operating models and to inform a ministerial decision on whether to implement them further.