Micro-Businesses
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate has he made of the number of micro-entities in the UK. [93603]
Mr Prisk: The current definition of a micro-business is fewer than 10 employees. There are a total of 4,332,565 micro-businesses in the UK. This represents 95% of all UK businesses, out of a total of 4,542,765.
Source:
BIS Population Estimates 2011
Olympic Games 2012: Construction
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the completion of the building of infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympics on levels of employment in the construction industry; and if he will take steps to mitigate any potential increase in unemployment by boosting orders in the construction industry. [94111]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 7 February 2012]: There are no data available on the effect on employment of completion of the Olympic build. What I can say is that the Olympics is a world-class project delivered well ahead of schedule and to budget and is the envy of the world's construction industry.
Over 46,000 people worked on the build of the park and the village between 2008 and 2011. The peak workforce was around 12,000 people during March 2011. Many contractors brought their existing workforce to work on the park and used 450 apprentices across 27 trades. The Olympic Delivery Authority opened a National Skills Academy for construction which provided 3,500 training places for local people and Londoners to help deliver the venues and infrastructure.
The Government have taken steps to protect capital investment in construction by giving approval for major projects in new high value road, regional and local transport schemes, including over £14 billion to Network Rail; providing funding to Cross Rail; spending £6 billion on upgrades and maintenance on London Underground; and providing £860 million to support households and business investing in renewable heat measures.
Anti-counterfeit Trade Agreement
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will reconsider his policy on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) in the light of the resignation of and comments made by Kader Arif, European Rapporteur for ACTA. [94404]
Norman Lamb: The UK has supported the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) from the outset and continues to support the agreement. Kader Arif, European Rapporteur for ACTA, made comments that there was
“no consultation of the civil society”
“lack of transparency since the beginning of negotiations”.
It is normal for international negotiations to be confidential but there are clear rules on how the Members of the European Parliament should be informed and these have been followed. The European Commission also organised four stakeholder conferences and the Intellectual Property Office held a number of stakeholder meetings during the ACTA negotiations. The range of stakeholders included business, internet service providers and consumer interest and open rights groups.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the extent to which the concerns of the European Parliament on the transparency and status of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiation expressed in its resolution of 10 March 2010 have been addressed. [94405]
Norman Lamb: The rules on how the Members of the European Parliament should be informed about international negotiations have been followed. Members of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade have had access to successive versions of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) text. The full text has been fully public since April 2010. The European Commission also organised four stakeholder conferences and the Intellectual Property Office held a number of stakeholder meetings during the ACTA negotiations. The range of stakeholders included business, internet service providers and consumer interest and open rights groups.
The final ACTA text has been reviewed by government lawyers and the European Commission Legal Services who confirm that ACTA will not create new intellectual property rights, laws or criminal offences in the UK or EU. As such, the agreement does not affect the protection of fundamental rights, privacy or data protection and it respects the important role of the internet.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the 40th Report from the European Scrutiny Committee, HC 428-xxxv, if he will assess the level of scrutiny in the House of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. [94407]
Norman Lamb:
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills fully followed the EU scrutiny process with respect to the Draft Council Decisions on the conclusion
9 Feb 2012 : Column 393W
and signing of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. The European Scrutiny Committee felt that these did not raise questions of sufficient legal or political importance to warrant a substantive report to the House.
European Fighter Aircraft
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what assistance his Department has provided to BAeSystems to help them with securing Typhoon export deals; [94183]
(2) how many meetings he has had with his German counterpart to discuss the possibility of selling Typhoon to the Indian Air Force; and what specific topics were discussed at those meetings. [94184]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation has worked closely with BAeSystems over a number of years to assist them with Typhoon export campaigns. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and other Ministers, have met representatives of the company on numerous occasions, and have discussed Typhoon export opportunities with counterparts in other nations.
The Secretary of State has not met with his German counterpart to discuss selling Typhoon to the Indian Air Force. However, there have been a number of meetings to discuss the German led campaign to promote Typhoon to the Indian Government, and how to progress that, between officials of this Government and their counterparts in Germany, as well as Ministers in other Departments.
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effect on unemployment of the decision of the Indian Government not to buy the Eurofighter. [94071]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 7 February 2012]:While the Indian Government have selected Rafale as the preferred bidder for their combat aircraft requirement and have asked them to enter into further negotiations, they have not taken a final decision. No assessment has been made of the likely effect on unemployment of a decision not to buy Eurofighter.
Fireworks: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 641W, on fireworks, whether he plans to meet (a) the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and (b) other animal welfare organisations to discuss the sale of fireworks. [94520]
Norman Lamb: I currently have no plans to meet the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, nor other welfare organisations, to discuss the sale of fireworks.
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Forth Bridge
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on the effect on the steel industry of the Forth Replacement Crossing. [94277]
Mr Prisk: There have been no such discussions. The Forth Replacement Crossing procurement is a devolved matter for the Scottish Government.
Flexible Working
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Modern Workplaces consultation. [94768]
Norman Lamb: The Government expect to publish the response to the Modern Workplaces consultation in the spring of 2012.
Foreign Companies: EU Countries
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage European businesses to expand their activities within the UK. [94016]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 7 February 2012]:To encourage investment into the UK, from Europe and elsewhere, the Government continue to focus on ensuring that the UK offers investors a globally competitive business environment for them to grow their business. This includes: creating the most competitive tax system in the G20 by cutting the main rate of corporation tax from 28% to 26% in April 2011 and to 23% by 2014—the lowest rate in the G7 and fifth lowest in the G20, and making the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business by focusing on reducing the regulatory burden on business.
The UK also has a dedicated support service for companies looking to invest in this country—the Inward Investment Services Network. This service, delivered by United Kingdom Trade & Investment (UKTI), offers individually tailored support, and a single point of contact, for overseas businesses wanting to establish or expand their operations here.
Green Deal Scheme
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings he has had with members of the insulation industry on the (a) Green Deal and (b) Energy Company Obligation. [94300]
Mr Prisk:
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), regularly meets with representatives of a wide range of construction industry organisations at the Strategic Forum for Construction, and through my co-chairing of the Green Construction Board, both of which have discussed the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation (ECO). In light of the new evidence emerging during the consultation period
9 Feb 2012 : Column 395W
for the Green Deal and ECO, I have scheduled an additional meeting with insulation industry representatives to hear their views directly.
Higher Education
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to enable student representatives to sit on the board of private providers who are granted degree awarding powers. [94266]
Mr Willetts: All providers of higher education, whatever their legal structure, are autonomous, independent organisations. As such they are responsible for determining their own arrangements for ensuring that students are effectively represented.
Student representation on boards is not one of the criteria required to be met for the granting of degree awarding powers.
We do recognise the value of effective student representation and the role which students' unions play in facilitating partnerships between higher education institutions and their students. This was highlighted in the Higher Education White Paper, alongside a number of measures designed to encourage greater student engagement. For example, question and answer (QAA) review teams now include student representatives and we endorse the use of student charters, which are jointly agreed by institutions and students' unions.
Higher Education: Applications
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications had been submitted from home students through UCAS by 15 January 2012 to (a) Russell Group universities, (b) 1994 Group universities and (c) all other higher education institutions; and how many such applications had been submitted by the equivalent date in the previous admissions cycle. [93477]
Mr Willetts: The information, provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), is shown in the table.
| Applications (1) by UK domiciled applicants as at 15 January 2012 | ||
| Year of entry | ||
| 2011 (2) | 2012 (3) | |
| (1) Each applicant can submit up to five applications, or up to four if applying for medical, dentistry and veterinary science courses. (2 )Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2011, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2012. (3 )Applicants applying to enter courses starting in autumn 2012, including those who applied for deferred entry in 2013. | ||
Manufacturing Industries: Greater London
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to support manufacturing firms in South East London. [93880]
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Mr Prisk: The Regional Growth Fund (RGFs) (£2.4 billion) is a national fund which although focused on areas which are heavily dependent on the public sector can support particularly strong proposals from London. Two RGF programmes run by HSBC and RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may be attractive to SMEs, including in manufacturing, as the funding is tied to the purchase of capital assets eg machinery.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) officials meet regularly with manufacturing interests including the new Thames Gateway Manufacturing Alliance (which covers south east London and met recently at the Coca Cola plant in Sidcup) and Made in London, EEF (The Engineering Employers Federation the manufacturers—organisation, and SEMTA (Sector) Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies), with a view to encouraging networking and working together across the sector to improve the image of manufacturing, to offer more apprenticeships and to access appropriate funding eg to tackle skills shortage issues.
We are also encouraging the participation of local manufacturing firms in the new Make it in Britain campaign and hope they will be able to feature strongly in the showcasing of British manufacturing over the summer.
SME manufacturing businesses in South East London can take advantage of our new streamlined Solutions for Business portfolio: eligible companies can gain support in areas such as training and skill development, resource efficiency, exploiting ideas, accessing international opportunities and growing your business. For example, we have just launched the Business Coaching for Growth programme, which aims to help up to 10,000 high growth businesses a year to address barriers to growth and grow more rapidly.
Support is also available from the new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which was announced on 3 January and offers manufacturing SMEs practical support on all aspects of manufacturing, including direct access to manufacturing experts with a proven track record.
Finally, manufacturing companies in South East London will be eligible to apply for the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, announced in December 2011, which will support investment in training to improve skills as well as expenditure on research and development and capital equipment.
Manufacturing Industries: Redditch
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to promote manufacturing in Redditch County constituency. [94369]
Mr Prisk:
Manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Redditch can take advantage of our new streamlined Solutions for Business portfolio: eligible companies can gain support in areas such as training and skill development, resource efficiency, exploiting ideas, accessing international opportunities and growing your business. For example, we have just launched the
9 Feb 2012 : Column 397W
Business Coaching for Growth programme, which aims to help up to 10,000 high growth businesses a year to address barriers to growth and grow more rapidly.
Support is also available from the new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which was announced on 3 January and offers manufacturing SMEs practical support on all aspects of manufacturing, including direct access to manufacturing experts with a proven track record.
Manufacturing companies in Redditch will also be eligible to apply for the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, announced in December 2011, which will support investment in training to improve skills as well as expenditure on research and development and capital equipment.
Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is putting in place a range of local initiatives to complement these national measures. These include a ‘business development’ forum to assist expanding companies experiencing barriers to growth, work to establish sector-specific skills requirements and a recent workshop to promote the opportunities which are still available from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and future international sporting events. Redditch based Slick Seating Systems, AMS Group and Alto Seating are among the Worcestershire firms to have secured Olympic contracts.
The LEP will be holding its first annual conference on 23 February, which will be an opportunity for local manufacturers to put forward their views on priorities for stimulating business growth in the region.
Manufacturing Industries: Trade Competitiveness
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of delays in the speed of supply chain production on the global competitiveness of leading UK manufacturing companies; and if he will make a statement. [94015]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 7 February 2012]:The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not carried out any formal assessment of the effects of delays in the speed of supply chain production on the global competitiveness of leading UK manufacturing industries.
The impact of disruption to global supply chains can have an adverse impact upon the UK economy. As an example, the Office for National Statistics indicates there is some evidence of the transport equipment sub-sector and motor vehicle production being affected by the after-effects of the Japanese tsunami during the second quarter of 2011.
The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, of up to £125 million, was announced on 6 December 2011 and will provide support to improve the global competitiveness of advanced manufacturing supply chains.
Olympic Games 2012: Hospitality
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many invitations to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics (a) he, (b) other Ministers in his Department and (c) senior officials in his Department have accepted; and if he will make a statement. [93646]
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Mr Prisk: Details of hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers and the most senior officials are published on a quarterly basis and will be available for July to September 2012 in due course.
Regional Growth Fund
Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons he decided that Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest and HSBC should facilitate the distribution of £95 million of Regional Growth Fund money; what steps he is taking to monitor (a) the distribution of funds and (b) any commercial advantage; and what steps he has taken to ensure that any interest accrued is used for grants or returned to the Government. [94057]
Mr Prisk: Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC bids were both successful bids from Round 1 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF). These bids were part of a competitive process and decisions taken by the ministerial committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.
The banks schemes are an effective conduit of investment aid to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with projects that would create employment in areas that had become over dependent on the private sector. They are monitored quarterly to ensure that funds are distributed according to the terms of the offer letter which specify:
All the RGF funding must be used for beneficiary grants. The banks may not charge any fees for administering the schemes, and interest earned on any funds held on the bank's balance sheet must be used for additional beneficiary grants or returned to HMG;
Beneficiary grants must only be awarded to SMEs to support the purchase of new capital assets (typically plant and machinery), where the beneficiary agrees to create new employment or safeguard employment that will be lost if the investment in new plant and machinery is not made;
Beneficiary grants can only be awarded alongside an award of a new bank loan (with normal/unsubsidised terms and conditions) for the purchase of a new asset— grants cannot be used to support refinancing of existing debt by a beneficiary. Furthermore, grants cannot be provided where the reason why the original loan application is declined is that the beneficiary has insufficient collateral to support the new debt, as in these circumstances the Government's existing Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme can help the beneficiary access commercial debt;
The banks must use their best endeavours to support the SME project using commercial sources of funding before awarding a grant to a beneficiary;
The schemes must operate in a manner that is consistent with European State aid rules on SME investment aid and regional investment aid. Specifically:
where the beneficiary is located outside of the assisted areas the maximum amount of RGF support that can be provided is 10% (medium sized enterprises) or 20% (small enterprises) of eligible costs (typically the cost of the asset);
where the beneficiary is located in an assisted area then the aid intensity can be increased by an amount between 10% and 30% depending on the level of economic vulnerability.
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Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much Regional Growth Fund money to be distributed by (a) Royal Bank of Scotland, (b) NatWest and (c) HSBC has been disbursed since the creation of the Fund. [94058]
Mr Prisk: Information relating to the progress of these schemes will be available the beginning of March 2012 when quarterly monitoring returns are due.
Regulation
Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will review the one-in, one-out system for regulation. [93296]
Mr Prisk:
An update on the operation of the one-in, one-out system is published every six months in the
9 Feb 2012 : Column 400W
Statement of New Regulation. This document is a formal report. There are no plans to review the one-in, one-out system for regulation. Good practice is to review Government policies in a proportionate and practicable manner. This also applies to the one-in, one-out rule.
Teachers: Foreign Nationals
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of foreign national academics carrying out research in UK universities. [94064]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information on the employment function and nationality of academic staff is shown in the table. Figures for the 2011/12 academic year will become available from January 2013.
| Academic staff (1) by employment function and nationality (2) , () UK higher education institutions, academic year 2010/11 | ||||
| Nationality | ||||
| Employment function | UK | Non-UK | Not known | Total |
| (1) Covers full-time and part-time staff. (2 )The nationality field of the HESA Staff Record defines the country of legal nationality and is not necessarily the domicile of the person. (3 )Covers academic staff whose primary employment function is not teaching or research: includes vice-chancellors, medical practitioners, dentists, veterinarians and other health care professionals who undertake lecturing and research activities. Notes: 1. Figures in the table are rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. 2. Figures are on a full person equivalent basis (FPEs). Individuals can hold more than one contract with an institution and each contract may involve more than one activity. Staff counts are divided among the activities in proportion to the declared full-time equivalent for each activity. This results in counts of full person equivalents. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Staff Record. | ||||
Thermal Insulation: Training
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on re-training cavity wall and loft engineers to provide solid wall insulation. [94140]
Mr Prisk: Officials from this Department meet officials from the Department for Energy and Climate Change on a regular basis to discuss the Government's green growth agenda, including re-training cavity wall and loft insulation operatives and others to meet the anticipated demand for solid wall insulation. In December we announced that Government funding is available for the training of up to 1,000 Green Deal apprentices, as part of plans to insulate the UK's homes and businesses. Apprenticeships such as these offer the perfect training for creating the skilled workforce we need by providing practical on-the-job training aligned to employers' needs.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change will soon be making an announcement concerning how they are planning to support solid wall installer training.
Trade: Road Shows
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the scheduled (a) dates and (b) locations are for the Explore Export regional road shows due to start in March 2012. [93583]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 6 February 2012]: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will support a road show event for the agri-food sector at the Foodex trade fair at the NEC Birmingham, 25-27 March. UKTI is working on the programme for further road show events next financial year (from 1 April 2012). The dates and locations of these will be agreed with industry and government partners.
UK Trade & Investment: Visits Abroad
Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) UK Trade & Investment staff and (b) Ministers in his Department attended the recent World Economic Trade and Investment Forum in Davos. [93365]
Mr Prisk: No UK Trade & Investment staff or Ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills attended the World Economic Forum in Davos.
UK Trade & Investment: Exports
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what staffing, resources and funding UK Trade & Investment have provided to support the Driving Export Growth initiative in the farming, food and drink sector (a) until the end of 2011-12 and (b) in 2012-13. [93585]
9 Feb 2012 : Column 401W
Mr Prisk [holding answer 6 February 2012]: In 2011-12 UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) had three headquarters-based staff in London and Glasgow responsible for agri-technology, food and drink as part of their duties. A network of international trade advisers with agri-food skills in the English regions and their colleagues in the devolved Administrations delivered UKTI export services to their client businesses. UKTI funded visits by overseas commercial officers to the UK and to international trade fairs and Taste of Britain events where they advised companies on specific markets. Under the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) approximately £680,000 will have been used by the end of 2011-12 to support SMEs exhibiting at agri-food fairs overseas. UKTI has also allocated approximately £100,000 on other agri-food activity such as “meet the buyer” events and outward missions in 2011-12. UKTI is considering staffing and funding for agri-food in 2012-13 under the business planning process now under way. Additional funding from the autumn statement will be made available to TAP, the biggest support instrument for agri-food, and the sector can expect to gain from that increase.
Energy and Climate Change
Biomass
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential role of biomass boilers in helping local authorities reach their carbon emissions reduction targets. [91740]
Gregory Barker: Local authorities do not have carbon emissions reduction targets. However, the Government believe that biomass boilers have an important role to play in meeting our renewable energy and climate change targets along with a range of other renewable and low carbon heating solutions.
Biofuels
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the capacity for domestic wood feedstock to meet the demands of biomass generation in addition to those of UK wood processing industries; from which locations his Department expects any further supply to be sourced; what assessment his Department has made of the effect on UK wood processing industries of biomass demands for domestic wood feedstocks; and if he will make a statement. [94377]
Gregory Barker: The Department is leading a cross-Government UK Bioenergy Strategy considering these issues which we expect to publish in March. We are discussing our assessments closely with representatives of the wood processing and other industries to ensure we have the fullest possible evidence base.
Guy Opperman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the energy that will be generated from domestic wood feedstock supplies in each year up to 2020; and if he will make a statement. [94462]
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Gregory Barker: Estimates of biomass electricity generation will be included in the Government response to the recent consultation on the renewables obligation banding review which will be published later this year.
Boilers: Government Assistance
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2011, Official Report, column 1021W, on boilers: government assistance, what assessment he has made of the effect of a future boiler scrappage scheme on (a) energy efficiency and (b) fuel poverty. [94501]
Gregory Barker: DECC has not undertaken an assessment on the effect of a future boiler scrappage scheme. However, the evaluation report of the initial scheme is publicly available at:
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Publications2/Energy-efficiency/English-Boiler-Scheme-Scrappage-evaluation-report
The Department is carrying out further analysis to determine how best to use the £200 million funds announced in the autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, to drive demand for the Green Deal—which will support installation of wide range of energy efficiency measures. We will use lessons learnt from the boiler scrappage scheme where appropriate.
The new energy company obligation, in particular the affordable warmth element, will also provide further help for those in fuel poverty.
Procurement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which contracts his Department has tendered or will tender in 2011-12 which require successful organisations to have a capital bond of more than £5 million; which contracts have not required such a bond; and if he will make a statement. [94937]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change does not require organisations to have capital bonds for its contracts. All potential suppliers are checked to ensure they have sufficient funds to carry out the services of a contract before the contract is let.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the total value of contracts issued or to be issued by his Department in 2011-12 have required successful organisations to put up a capital bond; and if he will make a statement. [94915]
Gregory Barker: No organisations in 2011-12 have put up a capital bond or been asked to do so.
Ministerial Travel Costs
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 31WS, on cost of ministerial cars, whether his Department has any other arrangements for ministerial travel; and how much his Department has spent on (a) private hire vehicles and (b) taxis for each Minister since May 2010. [92825]
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Gregory Barker: The cost incurred by DECC on Ministers travel by using private hire vehicles and taxis since May 2010 is set out in the following table:
| (£) | ||
| Minister | (a) Cost of private hire vehicles | (b) Cost of taxis |
Including the costs incurred by the ministerial use of the Government Car Service, DECC has spent £223,075.68 on ministerial domestic car travel in the 21 months since May 2010 compared to £303,129.83 during the single financial year April 2009 to March 2010 under the previous Administration.
Electricity
Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the lifetime levelised costs, taking into account the requirement for additional capacity resulting from intermittency, of electricity generated from (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind sources. [93393]
Charles Hendry: A recent report by Arup consultants(1), contained current and projected levelised costs for onshore wind and offshore wind, reproduced in the following table.
| Levelised costs of wind technologies | |||||
| £/MWh | |||||
| Financial close | |||||
| 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2025 | 2030 | |
| Source: Arup (2011). Discount rate used is the assumed investment hurdle rate (project IRR required for investment to proceed) for each technology. | |||||
The levelised costs are calculated on the basis of costs up to and including the first land-based sub-station. In other words, they do not include the balancing costs relating to intermittent technologies, such as the requirement for back-up capacity.
9 Feb 2012 : Column 404W
Balancing costs are system costs that depend on the technology generation mix and the balancing methods used. Estimates of these system costs are not available on a strictly comparable basis to the technology levelised costs above.
Analysis by Redpoint consultants (2008) suggests that the additional balancing cost in 2020 per MWh of intermittent renewables could be around £8/MWh, and that this will vary over time according to the proportion of intermittent renewables on the system(2).
(1 )Arup (2011), “Review of the generation costs and deployment potential of renewable electricity technologies in the UK”, available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_ro_review/cons_ro_review.aspx
(2) Redpoint/Trilemma (2008), “Implementation of the EU2020 Target in the UK Electricity Sector: Renewables Support Schemes”, available at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_res/rescon_support/rescon_support.aspx
Fossil Fuels: Exploration
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the regulatory regime for the toxicity level of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. [94514]
Charles Hendry: My officials are in involved in a regular dialogue with all of the UK environment agencies, and other key UK regulators, on issues relating to unconventional gas exploration and hydraulic fracturing. Among other things, such discussions have included the chemicals used or proposed for use in Cuadrilla's hydraulic fracturing operations.
Green Deal
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Green Deal. [94779]
Gregory Barker: The Green Deal is not yet in place. The Government's current assessment of the likely effectiveness of the Green Deal is set out in the Consultation Impact Assessment published on the 23 November 2011. It is estimated that the preferred option under the consultation proposals will deliver net benefits of £8.7 billion and lead to a total reduction in non-traded emissions of 114 MtCO2e over the lifetime of the policy. The Government are currently considering responses to the consultation, which closed on 18 January, and will publish their response in due course, along with an updated impact assessment.
The Consultation IA can be found here:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/consultation/green-deal/3603-green-deal-eco-ia.pdf
Local Energy Assessment Fund
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many projects in London he expects to receive funding from the Local Energy Assessment Fund. [94838]
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Gregory Barker: All LEAF winners have now been announced. A list has been published on our website at
http://ceo.decc.gov.uk
on a map giving the location and further detail of all the winners.
21 of these projects are located within Greater London.
Shale Gas
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effect of shale gas production on (a) the UK's carbon reduction targets and (b) carbon leakage. [94471]
Charles Hendry: Emissions from shale gas extraction processes will be determined by the design and conditions of a particular development and no development has been proposed for the UK. Provided that good practice is adhered to, particularly in the control of fugitive emissions of methane, we consider that shale gas should have a carbon footprint of the same order as natural gas from conventional onshore fields, and significantly lower than that of other hydrocarbon sources including coal. We will include shale gas related emissions in the UK greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
The Environment Agency has commissioned a study to review monitoring and control practices for fugitive methane emissions from unconventional gas, with the focus being on land-based (rather than off-shore) operations. The review will compare life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from unconventional and conventional gas extraction, and assess what additional monitoring and controls might be applied to unconventional operations, if necessary, to minimise fugitive emissions.
Renewable Energy: Heating
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the future of the domestic renewable heat premium payment after 1 April 2012. [94084]
Gregory Barker: An announcement on further support for renewable heating in the domestic sector will be made shortly.
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether commercial-scale air source heat pumps will be eligible for the renewable heat incentive by October 2012. [94413]
Gregory Barker: DECC is considering the inclusion of air source heat pumps for RHI support. Officials have been working with the heat pump industry with the aim of addressing the issues which had previously prevented support for these technologies in the RHI.
We are reviewing the timetable for introducing further support for renewable heat which means I cannot provide exact confirmation of the schedule at the present time, but DECC will be making an announcement on timings in the near future.
9 Feb 2012 : Column 406W
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many jobs he expects to be created in London as a result of the Renewable Heat Incentive. [94811]
Gregory Barker: The RHI offers a standard tariff to installations, differentiated only by size and technology, which is available to any non-domestic property, unaffected by location. The RHI is expected to deliver 39,000 installations through 2015. This is expected to support a large number of jobs, however DECC is not attempting to quantify the regional impacts of job creation or support caused by the RHI.
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many organisations in London he expects to receive support from the Renewable Heat Incentive up to 2015. [94814]
Gregory Barker: The RHI offers a standard tariff to installations, differentiated only by size and technology, which is available to any non-domestic property, unaffected by location. As such, DECC is not attempting to estimate the number of organisations in any given region which will receive support up to 2015. In total, DECC's latest estimates are that some 39,000 installations will be delivered by 2015.
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much investment in renewable heat in London he estimates will result from the Renewable Heat Incentive up to 2015. [94817]
Gregory Barker: The RHI offers a standard tariff to installations, differentiated only by size and technology, which is available to any non-domestic property, unaffected by location. As such, DECC is not estimating the level of investment in any given region up to 2015. In total, DECC's latest estimates are that some 39,000 installations will be delivered by 2015, within a spending envelope of £864 million over the period to 2015.
Warm Homes Scheme
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many pensioners in London are eligible for the automatic £120 rebate on their energy bills through the Warm Home Discount. [94837]
Gregory Barker: Eligibility for the Warm Home Discount Core Group rebate is linked to the type of benefits received. In 2011-12, older people will be eligible for a discount of £120 off their electricity bill if on the qualifying date of 11 September 2011:
they were in receipt of the guarantee credit element of pension credit only; and
they (or their partner) were named on their electricity bill; and
they received their electricity from a supplier participating in the scheme.
167,290 pensioners were in receipt of pension credit guarantee credit only in the London region in May 2011 (the latest available data). We expect that many of these pensioners will meet the other requirements set out above and be eligible for the Warm Home Discount Core Group rebate. The majority of those eligible will receive the discount automatically, although some will
9 Feb 2012 : Column 407W
need to claim. All those who are or may be eligible will receive a letter from Government before the end of February 2012.
In addition to the Core Group, pensioner households may also benefit from assistance with their energy bills through the Broader Group and legacy spending elements of the Warm Home Discount scheme.
Transport
Aviation: Iraq
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her officials plan to visit Iraq to discuss direct flights between Iraq and the UK; and when any such visits will take place. [93034]
Mike Penning: Officials from the Department plan to visit Iraq soon to discuss with the Iraqi authorities the possibility of direct flights.
Blue Badge Scheme: Cumbria
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Blue Badge permits for disabled drivers have been issued in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last five years. [94444]
Norman Baker: Figures are not held by parliamentary constituency. Figures are available at local authority level for the last three years and the data for Cumbria are shown in the following table:
| Total number of Blue Badges issued in Cumbria | |
Bus Services: Olympic Games 2012
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to ensure that any additional buses required in London for the London 2012 Olympics do not affect bus services elsewhere in the country; and what estimate she has made of the number of buses which will be displaced during the Olympics for such purposes. [94078]
Mike Penning: No displacement of buses from elsewhere in the country is expected. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) recognise the need to ensure that people's daily bus services are not adversely impacted by the requirements for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games.
As part of the procurement for spectator bus and coach services to provide the park and ride and rail shuttles and direct services to some venues, ODA awarded the tender to a bus operator who showed that there would be no adverse impact on their existing operations elsewhere in the country.
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Throughout the procurement and planning process for bus and coach services to transport athletes, officials and other members of the Games Family, LOCOG received assurances from its contractors that they can provide the level of resources contracted without impacting their existing day to day operations elsewhere in the country, in particular registered bus services.
Transport for London (TfL) published, in December 2011, its plans for temporary changes to bus services in London. These maintain London's current comprehensive network during the Games while accommodating temporary changes to the road network and enhancing capacity where appropriate to meet increased demand.
Food Procurement
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of food purchased by her Department was produced in the UK in each of the last five years. [93726]
Norman Baker: Between 2007 and 2010 DEFRA published three annual reports on food procurement which covered the period April 2006 to March 2009. The final one of this series is available at
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/documents/100226-food-proc-initiative.pdf
A summary of all three years is on page 4 of this document.
The data for year 4 was not captured by the Department.
For year 5, the available information from across the Department is as follows:
For DFT(c) over the last 12 months, 70% of food purchased, through its food and catering services contractor, was produced in the UK.
For the period 1 September 2011 to 31 January 2012, 54% of food purchased by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) through its food and catering services contractor was produced in the UK.
The Highways Agency (HA) procures food via its Facilities Management contract. The contractor does not report this data to the Department.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) procures food through a PFI contract that has been in place since 29 March 2005. The contractor does not report this data to the Department.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) does not have a significant spend on food and does not capture this data.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has not had any on-site catering facilities since 2009.
The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) have not purchased any food in the last two years.
The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) does not record the requested information centrally.
Infrastructure Investment
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department plans to take to encourage private sector capital investment in its infrastructure investment programme. [93155]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport (DFT) investment programme includes projects in procurement that are estimated to attract £6 billion in capital investments from private sector capital investment.
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DFT is working with Infrastructure UK on developing an integrated view of future investment by identifying and prioritising pipeline infrastructure projects. Infrastructure UK, alongside DFT, will work closely with developers and funders in order to stimulate increased private sector investment in transport infrastructure projects.
DFT has also started work on reforming Rail Refranchising in order to attract increased private sector investment to deliver improvements to the railways.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2012, Official Report, column 476W, on Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, when she plans to publish the results of the consultation; and which organisations in Scotland have been consulted. [94516]
Mike Penning: We aim to publish a summary of responses and announce our future plans as soon as possible after the consultation has closed and analysis has been completed.
Key stakeholders have been invited to participate in the consultation, including the Scottish Government and police forces, courts and local authorities in Scotland. The Scottish Motor Trade Association is also being consulted as part of the wider programme of stakeholder engagement. Additionally, the most frequent customers of each local office have also been asked to give their views. These include a cross section of Scottish businesses involved in the motor trade.
Responses have already, been received from individuals and businesses using the five local offices in Scotland.
Driving: Older People
Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has assessed the efficacy of (a) self-assessment and (b) the use of a compulsory medical assessment to determine the fitness to drive of older people. [93829]
Mike Penning: No formal assessment has been undertaken by the Department on the efficacy of self-assessment or the use of compulsory medical reviews to determine the fitness to drive of older people. Independent research and recent publications on the elderly and driving report that there is no evidence that greater intervention had a positive effect on older driver road safety.
Each year around 70,000 medical investigations result from self-declaration at age 70 and over. For those who declare that they have a medical condition, medical reports and appropriate medical and driving assessments are used to determine fitness to drive.
The declaration of whether a medical condition affecting driving fitness is present, including confirmation that a number plate can be read from the appropriate distance, has proven to be effective.
The current medical licensing regime supports Great Britain having some of the safest roads in the world.
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Heathrow Airport
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what operational freedoms her Department is considering in respect of Heathrow airport. [93518]
Mike Penning: Two measures are being considered under the current operational freedoms trial at Heathrow: the more flexible use of tactically enhanced arrivals measures (TEAM) and the use of tactically enhanced departures measures (TEDM). Further details can be found at:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/noise
Once assessed, the results of the trial will form the basis for a consultation with local communities which will inform the Government's decision on whether an operational freedoms regime should be adopted at Heathrow on a more permanent basis.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) she and (b) her officials have had with BAA on the introduction of mixed mode at Heathrow airport. [93519]
Mrs Villiers: None. As stated in a written ministerial statement on 7 September 2010, Official Report, columns 13-14WS, the Government remain firmly committed to runway alternation and will not be reviving the plans for mixed mode considered by Ministers in the previous Government.
High Speed 2
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has plans for the future mutualisation of High Speed 2 Limited. [94093]
Justine Greening: The Government will explore all the potential options available for long-term ownership of HS2 in order to provide the best value to the taxpayer. No decisions on the long-term ownership of HS2 have been made at this stage.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether compulsory purchase orders served as a result of the High Speed 2 project will proceed in the event of a change of route. [94400]
Justine Greening: No, as the Government would not use compulsory purchase powers unnecessarily.
High Speed Trains: Scotland
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2012, Official Report, column 916W, on high speed trains: Scotland, what estimate she has made of the additional capacity for freight which will arise on the West Coast Main Line as a result of High Speed 2; and what discussions she has had with rail operators on such estimates. [94517]
Justine Greening:
The recent Network Rail and Passenger Focus report, “Future Priorities for the West Coast Main Line: Released Capacity From a New High Speed Line”, notes that HS2 is likely to enable in full the forecast growth in rail freight on the southern section of
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the West Coast Main Line (WCML). This is currently the busiest and most congested section of the WCML, for both freight and passengers, and effectively acts as a bottleneck on the level of freight services that can run through to the northern sections of the line.
The second phase of HS2 (the lines from the West Midlands to Leeds and Manchester) will relieve the further freight capacity constraints in relation to traffic to the North West.
Network Rail is currently investigating options for enhancing the capacity of the WCML north of Preston for potential delivery between 2014 and 2019 in order to meet the current forecasts for increases in rail freight demand.
A number of rail freight operators and organisations responded to the recent HS2 consultation.
Large Goods Vehicles
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2012, Official Report, column 566W, on large goods vehicles, which local authorities her Department has answered questions from regarding large goods vehicles trials. [94803]
Mike Penning: The Department has answered questions from South Gloucestershire council and from Banwell parish council, and has agreed to meet representatives of Bath and North East Somerset council.
Olympics Games 2012: Hospitality
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many invitations to attend events at the London 2012 Olympics (a) she, (b) other Ministers in her Department and (c) senior officials in her Department have accepted; and if she will make a statement. [93627]
Mike Penning: Ministers and senior officials in the Department for Transport have not accepted any invitations to attend events during the London 2012 Olympics.
Details of hospitality received by Ministers and special advisers and the most senior officials are published on a quarterly basis and will be available for July-September 2012 in due course.
M1: Fires
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when her Department will publish the report into the scrap yard fire that caused disruption on the M1 in April 2011. [93395]
Mike Penning: The investigation and subsequent criminal proceedings following the M1 Deans Brook Viaduct fire are the responsibility of the Metropolitan police and Crown Prosecution Service.
As a result of the fire, the Highways Agency and Network Rail carried out audits to categorise potential sources of fire risk from third party activities at other critical locations beneath, or adjacent to, their respective networks.
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The Highways Agency audit included recommendations that have been developed into an action plan, which is currently on programme for completion before the end of spring 2012.
M25
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the recommendations of the Report by the National Audit Office on Procurement of the M25 private finance contract, what progress has been made on (a) the development of a strategy for managing the risks of introducing demand management on the M25 by 30 July 2011 and (b) implementing demand management measures on the M25. [94388]
Mike Penning: The National Audit Office Report on procurement of the M25 private finance contract was considered by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts (CPA) in December 2010. The Department of Transport and the Highways Agency gave evidence at that hearing. The resulting CPA report did not recommend the production of a strategy to manage the risks of introducing demand management measures.
The benefits of the current widening of the M25 are not dependent on demand management techniques being implemented. Since 2009, widening of the M25 has been limited to dual four lanes, and once the current widening schemes between junctions 16 to 23 and 27 to 30 are completed a total of 35 miles of M25 will have been widened. Subject to statutory processes all 35 miles will incorporate mandatory variable speed limits. Work is programmed to start upgrading a further 27.4 miles of the M25 by 2015 by managed motorway techniques, which incorporate similar variable mandatory speed limits.
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to revise its national contingency plans to reflect the removal of emergency towing vessels and Maritime Incident Response Group services; and whether she has any plans to test the revised arrangements in the Southwest Approaches. [93055]
Mike Penning: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is about to undertake a major review of the National Contingency Plan (NCP) for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore installations.
This review will reflect the findings and recommendations arising from: the Deep Water Horizon Incident in the Gulf of Mexico; those of the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG); those emergent from Exercise SULA; and those of the UK Oil and Gas Regulatory Review. The reviewed document is expected to be issued in the latter part of 2012 once all stakeholders have had the opportunity to provide input and comment.
Following withdrawal of the emergency towing vessels, the responsibilities for the provision of towage in the waters around the UK will also form part of this review. Similarly, the ending of the Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) as part of the UK's incident response toolbox will be reflected in the new NCP.
9 Feb 2012 : Column 413W
There are currently no specific plans designed to test towage provision or previously undertaken MIRG response activity for the south-west. However, the NCP review will address national exercising arrangements across all levels of emergency incident response, from that deemed as a local area responsibility (Tier 1) through those requiring a wider regional response (Tier 2) and finally, to those warranting the whole range of national engagement (Tier 3). Where appropriate a variety and combination of incident response activities will be programmed and undertaken which best test our capabilities across the waters of the UK.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has made arrangements for shipping to be alerted in the areas affected. The relevant coastguard co-ordination centres are actively monitoring shipping using the automatic identification system (AIS) and will be proactive in contacting ships that are observed to be stopped at sea or behaving erratically. Coastguards will monitor tug availability in the waters around the UK and will encourage ship masters, owners and their insurers to take early action to summon tug assistance should ships get into difficulty or become disabled. Coastguards will also advise the principal salvage and towage brokers about the existence of a disabled vessel so that they can match market capabilities with demand.
Additionally, Her Majesty's Coastguard has long-standing arrangements with ports, harbours and tug brokers for the supply of tugs in an emergency situation using the Coastguard Agreement for Salvage and Towing (CAST).
The CAST establishes pre-agreed terms for the hire of tugs which, subject to availability, can be engaged to assist vessels that get into difficulty or which are disabled. This helps to provide tug assistance of last resort, with the cost being borne by Government. It also serves to provide the Secretary of State's Representative—SOSREP, with the means to exercise his powers of direction and intervention on maritime salvage.
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency roadside tax disc checks there in Kent in each of the last five years; and how many drivers have been prosecuted as a result of such checks. [94287]
Mike Penning: The information requested is not readily available and would incur disproportionate costs to gather. However, during 2011, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency operated 84 roadside tax disc checks using its automated number plate recognition vehicles in Kent.
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency roadside tax disc checks there have been in the London borough of Bexley in each of the last five years; and how many drivers were prosecuted as a result of such checks. [94411]
Mike Penning:
The information requested is not readily available and would incur disproportionate costs to gather. However, during 2011, the Driver and Vehicle
9 Feb 2012 : Column 414W
Licensing Agency operated one roadside tax disc check using one of its automated number plate recognition vehicles in the London borough of Bexley.
Public Transport: Finance
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the funding announced in the autumn statement to limit rail and Transport for London fare increases will be spent on (a) Transport for London services, (b) London and South East rail services, (c) regional rail services and (d) inter-city rail services. [94314]
Mike Penning: As part of the autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that an additional £136 million would be provided, under the GLA Transport Grant, to Transport for London.
This was part of the Government funding package which limited the increase to regulated rail and Transport for London fares in January 2012 to the retail prices index plus 1%.
Under devolution it is for the Mayor of London to decide transport priorities in London and to allocate his budget (including the grant funding received from the Department) accordingly. Decisions about where to spend this additional money will therefore be for the directly elected Mayor and not the Government.
Railways: Tickets
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding her Department has provided to (a) Transport for London and (b) train operating companies in the south-east for the implementation of smartcard ticketing in each of the last five years; and how much funding her Department has provided in (A) Passenger Transport Executive areas, (B) Bristol and (C) Nottingham in each of the last five years. [94117]
Norman Baker: Funding has been provided to TFL to ensure that the London Oyster estate is equipped with the capability to read and accept ITSO products. The Department does not directly finance train operating companies for the implementation of smart ticketing.
The Department provided a smartcard grant of £1.11 million in each of the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11 to each of the passenger transport executives (PTEs) and to Bristol and Nottingham.
The Department for Transport provided £31 million of grant to English local authorities in 2007-08 for the cost of producing and issuing the new England-wide bus passes. Of this, PTEs received £9.44 million, Bristol unitary authority £0.29 million and Nottingham unitary authority £0.25 million.
Tables 1 and 2 provide a breakdown of funding provided.
| Table 1 | ||
| £ million | ||
| (a) Transport for London | (b) Train operating companies | |
9 Feb 2012 : Column 415W
| Table 2 | |||
| £ million | |||
| (A) PTEs | (B) Bristol | (C) Nottingham | |
Regional Airports
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to ensure the long-term sustainability of (a) Blackpool airport and (b) other regional airports. [94141]
Mike Penning: We recognise the vital contribution regional airports make to local economies. The Government are currently developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation which will support economic growth and address aviation's environmental impacts. We will publish the framework for consultation in March 2012.
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Roads: Accidents
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal road accidents involved drivers (a) under 25 years, (b) under the influence of alcohol, (c) using hand-held mobile telephones and (d) who passed their driving test in the 12 months preceding the accident in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each of the last five years. [94443]
Mike Penning: The information requested on item (a) is detailed in the following table:
| (a) Number of reported fatal road accidents involving drivers under 25 in the Westmorland and Lonsdale (1) parliamentary constituency 2006-10 | |||||
| Number of accidents | |||||
| Westmorland and Lonsdale (1) | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1) Based on 2010 parliamentary boundaries. | |||||
Information relating to items (b), (c) and (d) is not available at parliamentary constituency level. However the Department does collect information on factors contributing to road accidents, which is available at regional level. The relevant figures for north-west region are given in following table:
| Number of reported fatal road accidents (1) in the former north-west Government office region by contributory factor 2006-10 | |||||
| Number of accidents | |||||
| Contributory factor reported in accident | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1 )Includes only accidents where a police officer attended the scene and in which a contributory factor was reported. | |||||
The contributory factors reflect the reporting officer's opinion at the time of reporting and are not necessarily the result of extensive investigation. Moreover it is recognised that subsequent inquires could lead to the reporting officer changing his opinion. It is important to note where some factors may have contributed to a cause of an accident it may be difficult for a police officer attending the scene after the accident has occurred to identify these factors.
Roads: Repairs and Maintenance
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of expenditure by each local authority (a) overall and (b) per head of population on road maintenance in each of the last 10 years. [92907]
Norman Baker: The Department for Communities and Local Government publishes overall local authority data on expenditure by service, which includes categories on road maintenance. The raw data for 2010-11 are available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/revenue201011localdata
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/capitallocaldata201011
We do not hold these data per head of population by local authority.
However, the following table provides data on total road maintenance expenditure in England on an annual basis, including per head of population. This does not provide a breakdown of expenditure by each individual local highway authority as the Department for Transport does not hold these data. The grant formula and distribution of this funding are the responsibility of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
| Table 1: Maintenance expenditure (1) on local authority managed roads, England: 1996-97 to 2009-10 | |||||
| £ million at 2009-10 prices | |||||
| Treatment | |||||
| Road class | Structural | Routine and other | Total | per capita | Population estimate (2) |
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| (1 )Includes expenditure on bridges. (2 )Population estimates for the first year of the financial years (e.g. data for mid-2007 is presented for 2007-08). Source: Department Communities and Local Government LA Outturn, ONS Population Estimates | |||||
Severn River Crossing
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Severn Bridges Act 1992 Account 2010-11, what estimate she has made of the date on which the Severn Bridges concession will expire; and what discussions she has had on the ownership of the bridges after that date. [94599]
Mike Penning: The concession will end when a defined sum is collected from the tolls, currently set at £995.83 million in July 1989 prices. The end date is variable due to the unpredictability of traffic flows and other factors. At present, we estimate that the concession on the Severn Crossing will expire in 2017. However, we are currently negotiating with the concessionaire over how changes to the tax regime in 2007 should be handled under the concession agreement, and the projected date of expiration may change as a result.
No decisions have been taken on the future of the Crossing; officials meet regularly with the Welsh Government, and are in communication over alternative post-2017 scenarios.
Speed Limits: Schools
Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions her Department has had with Lancashire county council on variable 20 mph speed limits outside schools. [94543]
Norman Baker: My officials have had various discussions with officials in Lancashire county council on this subject between April 2011 and January 2012.
In October 2011, the Department for Transport issued a national authorisation to all local authorities (including Lancashire) which permitted them to erect traffic signs to indicate advisory part-time 20 mph speed limits without further reference to the Department. Authorities may continue to apply to the Department for authorisations to permit the erection of signing to indicate mandatory part-time 20 mph speed limits.
An authorisation for the use of the signs to indicate a mandatory part-time speed limit at 12 school sites was issued to the council in January 2012.
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Transport: Finance
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of her Department's integrated transport block and highways maintenance grants she has allocated to (a) integrated transport authorities, (b) shire counties and (c) unitary authorities in 2011-12. [94313]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has published tables on its website providing information on how much local transport capital funding has been allocated for integrated Transport and Highways Maintenance Block grants in financial year 2011-12 for (a) integrated transport authorities, (b) shire counties and (c)unitary authorities. These are available at:
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-transport-capital-block-funding/block-capital-grants-2011-2012.pdf
Further details were published following the additional £50 million allocated to the Integrated Transport Block grant, as announced in the autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810.
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/local-transport-capital-block-funding/top-up-allocation-data.pdf
Deputy Prime Minister
Constitutional Reform
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will establish a commission to consider constitutional reform. [94975]
Mr Harper: The Government have established a Commission on Devolution in Wales, led by Paul Silk, which is looking at the case for devolving fiscal powers and will review the powers of the National Assembly for Wales in general, recommending modifications to improve the present constitutional arrangements.
The Government have also established a Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons, led by Sir William McKay, to consider how the House of Commons might deal with legislation which affects only part of the United Kingdom, following the devolution of certain legislative powers to the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National Assembly for Wales. The Government have no current plans for any further commissions into constitutional reforms.
West Lothian Question
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent progress he has made on the West Lothian question; and if he will make a statement. [94616]
Mr Harper: I made a written ministerial statement on 17 January 2012, Official Report, columns 35-36WS, on the establishment of the Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons. The Commission will begin its work this month and is due to report during the next parliamentary Session.
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Health
Ambulance Services: Greater London
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions the response time by the London Ambulance Service to an emergency call has been over nine minutes in (a) the London borough of Bromley and (b) London in the last six months. [94286]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not centrally held. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the chief executive of the London Ambulance Service.
Cancer
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the level of investment made in the Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology's proposed satellite centre. [94052]
Paul Burstow: Decisions about the provision of local health services, including cancer services, are a matter for the local national health service. As such, no assessment has been made by the Department.
A number of proposals are in development following an independent review of the future configuration of cancer services in the Liverpool area, commissioned by the Merseyside and Cheshire NHS Cancer Network on behalf of the Merseyside and Cheshire primary care trusts.
The outline business case for the proposals is at an early stage. Investment figures will be identified through the development of the business case.
Dementia: Research
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was provided for medical research into dementia in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and what proportion of the health research budget this represented in each year. [94406]
Mr Simon Burns: Dementia is a research priority for the Government. Through the National Institute for Health Research and the Policy Research Programme, the Department funds a wide range of research on dementia including research on causes, diagnosis, treatment, and organisation and delivery of health and social care services. The amount spent by the Department on dementia research in the years from 2008-09 to 2010-11, and the proportion of the Department's central research and development revenue budgets this represented, is shown in the following table:
| Spend (£ million) | Proportion (percentage) | |
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Eating Disorders
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what Government guidelines his Department publishes for the (a) treatment of eating disorders and (b) prevention of eating disorders; and what targets exist in respect of such conditions; [94129]
(2) what his Department's total budget for prevention of eating disorders was in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12. [94132]
Paul Burstow: This Government take the issue of eating disorders, especially among young people, very seriously.
NICE guidance, ‘Eating disorders: Core interventions in the treatment and management of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa arid related eating disorders’ was published in 2004 and is due for review in January 2014. Early intervention is essential for those with eating disorders and we have been clear that general practitioners are expected to use NICE guidance when choosing the most appropriate treatments, from physical and psychological treatments to medicines.
There are no specific targets in respect of the prevention of eating disorders, nor has the Department set aside a specific budget. The Government Equalities Office have begun a campaign which aims to reduce the burdens that popular culture places on an individual's well-being and self-esteem. The Government have convened a group of experts to identify non-legislative solutions to tackling low levels of body confidence. This includes representatives from health care, fashion, beauty, media, advertising, and the voluntary sector.
Gynaecology: Medical Treatments
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) with reference to his proposals for reform of the NHS, how he proposes that the NHS Commissioning Board will ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups (a) follow the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidance and (b) ensure that women have access to Uterine Artery Embolisation as a first-line treatment for symptomatic fibroids where clinically appropriate; [94081]
(2) how he proposes that the NHS Commissioning Board will ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups commission appropriate treatment options for women with symptomatic fibroids including minimally invasive procedures such as Uterine Artery Embolisation. [94083]
Mr Simon Burns: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the safety and efficacy, of Uterine Artery Embolisation for fibroids through its interventional procedures programme. NICE interventional procedures guidance makes recommendations on whether procedures are sufficiently safe and efficacious for use in clinical practice, but does not provide guidance on whether they represent a clinically and cost-effective use of national health service resources.
Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will be established and will publish a range of evidence-based products providing advice and guidance
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for the NHS on the promotion of good health and prevention of ill health. The Government have committed to ensuring that NHS commissioners will continue to be required to make funding available for drugs and treatments recommended by NICE technology appraisals. NICE'S other advice and guidance will be a valuable source of advice for local commissioners in their decision-making.
The NHS Commissioning Board will be able to support implementation of NICE guidance by clinical commissioning groups through commissioning guidance.
Health Services: Bolton
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the costs of NHS reorganisation in (a) Bolton and (b) Bolton South East constituency. [94137]
Mr Simon Burns: The impact assessment, published alongside the Health and Social Care Bill in January 2011 and republished when the Bill was introduced into the House of Lords in September, estimated the cost of the NHS modernisation to be £1.2 to £1.3 billion. This upfront cost will be more than recouped as a result of the associated cost-savings by the end of 2012-13. The saving of the modernisation will be £4.5 billion over the lifetime of this Parliament, and £1.5 billion per year from 2014-15 onwards.
The Department has not estimated a regional breakdown of these figures, as these will depend on local decisions.
A copy of the impact assessment has already been placed in the Library.
Health Services: Young People
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the number of people under the age of 18 being treated by NHS hospitals rose between 2010 and 2011. [94054]
Anne Milton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 20 December 2011, Official Report, columns 1145-47W.
We are advised that the overall increases in finished admission episodes (FAE) and accident and emergency (A&E) attendances for people under the age of 18 are not statistically significant. However, in both cases the major identifiable causes of increase are respiratory conditions. FAE for respiratory disease increased from 124,558 in the period January to August 2010 to 134,339 in the same period in 2011, an increase of 9,781 FAE (51% of the total increase in FAE). A&E attendances for respiratory conditions increased from 77,706 in the period January to August 2010 to 90,506 in the same period in 2011, an increase of 12,800 A&E attendances (10% of total increase in A&E attendances). The single largest increase in A&E attendances was attributed to ‘Diagnosis not classifiable’ which represented 56% of the total increase in attendances.
We accept that the care of children and young people with respiratory conditions is an area for improvement and is recognised as such in the NHS Outcomes Framework 2012-13. Under ‘Helping people to recover from episodes
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of ill health or following injury’ an area for improvement is “preventing lower respiratory tract infections (LRU) in children from becoming serious. 3.2 Emergency admissions for children with LRU”.
On 26 January 2012 the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), announced the development of the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Strategy. The strategy will seek to ensure that the outcomes measured are the ones that matter most to children, young people and their families and the professionals that support them, and set out how different parts of the system will contribute to delivery of these outcomes.
Hospital Wards: Inspections
Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to implement the Government's proposals that local people should inspect hospital wards; and how his Department will ensure that balanced and informed conclusions are made by such people. [94298]
Mr Simon Burns: Formal governance arrangements for the new patient-led inspections are being established. The new inspections will have patients' views at their heart from concept to delivery. Most importantly, patients and their representatives will drive the development of the new system, under the auspices of the National Quality Board, and a Department steering group.
The Department will be working closely with patient representative groups to ensure the involvement of patients at all stages, including development of the system, the inspection process and the validation of inspections. Local Involvement Networks, Local HealthWatch and HealthWatch England will also play a pivotal role during all stages of the project delivery to ensure the new system remains focused, and provides an informed view.
To ensure that the new inspection process delivers a balanced and informed conclusion, the Department will use lessons learned from existing inspections of the hospital environment, alongside extensive stakeholder engagement. Training and ongoing support will also be provided.