Regional Growth Fund
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Independent Advisory Panel on the Regional Growth Fund (a) ranks the bids and (b) provides reasons for the rejection of bids submitted to the fund when presenting its advice to Ministers. [105701]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 26 April 2012]: The information is as follows:
(a) Regional Growth Fund bids are not ranked by the Independent Advisory Panel (IAP).
(b) In some cases, the IAP provided reasons why bids were not selected.
Students: Finance
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many banks are participating in the career development loan scheme; and what assurances he has received from such banks that the current scheme will continue. [105314]
Mr Hayes [holding answer 26 April 2012]: Barclays Bank and the Co-operative Bank are delivering professional and career development loans (PCDLs) on behalf of the Government.
Both banks remain committed to offering PCDLs. The Skills Funding Agency, as scheme administrator, is currently engaged in discussions with the banks to enhance the learner experience.
A review of PCDLs will take place following the introduction of Government-backed fee loans in further education.
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to monitor hidden costs to students undertaking undergraduate degree courses. [105335]
Mr Willetts: The Department does not monitor the costs associated with specific courses.
Increasing transparency and providing more information to students is central to our higher education reforms. We expect universities to provide useful information to their students and be transparent about additional course costs.
The new UK Quality Code for Higher Education, developed by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in consultation with the higher education sector, sets out an expectation that higher education institutions offer valid, reliable, useful and accessible information about their provision. The Code comes into operation from this academic year (2012/13) when
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the QAA review will also include a judgment on the quality of the information higher education institutions provide.
More widely, through the publication of the Key Information Set, which will be available from September 2012, we are encouraging universities to publish information in those areas that research has shown that students find most useful. This will include the costs of tuition fees, bursaries and the costs of accommodation. Accommodation costs will cover both provision owned/sponsored by institutions and accommodation managed by private landlords and agents.
We are also encouraging universities to produce student charters to set out what the university will provide, and what is expected of students in return. Charters link to more detailed information (e.g. handbooks) for each course. The ‘suggested list of items' for charters includes “essential course costs and estimate of additional costs”. It is expected that charters are jointly developed and agreed with local students' unions, to ensure that priority areas are covered.
We are also putting in place a more progressive living costs package for first time undergraduates in 2012/13, with an increased grant for living costs worth £3,250 for all students from households with an income up to £25,000 and increased loans for living costs of up to £5,500 (or up to £7,675 for students living away from home and studying in London). In fact, most students will receive a more generous living cost package under the new regime than under the current system.
For many of the most disadvantaged students they will have access to the new National Scholarship Programme (NSP). In the NSP, universities have a menu of options through which they can deliver a benefit of at least £3,000 (with pro-rata awards for part-time students). The NSP menu includes help with accommodation costs or other institutional services as well as a cash bursary up to £1,000. Institutions will decide which options they make available and the target group to receive them.
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to review the effects of his Department's student fees and funding charge system over time; and if he will publish the arrangements for any such review. [106015]
Mr Willetts: An impact assessment was published in June 2011 to accompany the Higher Education White Paper ‘Students at the Heart of the System’, which included a post-implementation review plan.
The assessment of the impacts of the higher education reforms will be an ongoing exercise using a range of approaches from monitoring based on administrative data sources to specially designed and commissioned evaluation studies to understand the operation or impact of specific aspects. Many aspects can be monitored from administrative data sources on an ongoing basis for example overall levels of applications, participation and completion of different types of students in different types of institutions, modes of study and subject areas.
A key element of the reforms is the introduction of the National Scholarship Programme (NSP). The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) have recently commissioned a formative evaluation of the
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NSP. A review of the initial set-up and operation of the NSP has just been completed. A final report is due in summer 2015.
In addition, the Office for Fair Access will monitor and review progress made by higher education institutions (HEIs) via access agreements on an annual basis.
Additionally, statistics on student application numbers, student records and finance for the 2012/13 academic year will be provided by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Student Loan Company (SLC).
Student Loans
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of (a) mathematics and (b) science graduates have had their student loans repaid by the Government while remaining teachers. [105099]
Mr Willetts: The information is not available in the form requested. The data collected by the Student Loans Company (SLC) can only confirm entry to the teaching profession for those teachers who have had some or all of their loans repaid as part of the Repayment Teachers Loan (RTL) scheme. It is not possible from SLC data to reflect this figure as a rate for the wider teacher population.
As at 31 March 2012, some 20,000 UK income contingent repayment loan (ICR) borrowers had benefited from full or partial debt repayments by the Department for Education as part of the RTL scheme. Based on returns provided to the SLC that show qualifying course information, we estimate that around 46% of these beneficiaries had studied mathematics and science-based courses. The Department for Education only funded the RTL scheme for borrowers normally domiciled in England.
Subway: Apprentices
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether the training for a Sandwich Artist apprenticeship offered by Subway has been classified as meeting his Department's standards for apprenticeship training; [106139]
(2) whether his Department contributes any funding to Subway's Sandwich Artist apprenticeships. [106142]
Mr Hayes: Employers choose their own terminology in setting job titles for apprentices, as for other staff. The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) learner database shows that apprentices employed by Subway stores in the Dudley area are registered on either the Customer Service or the Hospitality and Catering Apprenticeship framework. Both these are compliant with the statutory Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE).
Subway apprentices in this area receive training from one of two apprenticeship training providers, Babcock Training Limited and Lifetime Training Group Limited. The named training providers will receive public funding for the provision of the Apprenticeships concerned. These organisations are subject to the usual Skills Funding Agency (SFA) audit requirements on the use of public funding, and to inspection by Ofsted. In addition, they have to meet the requirements of external verifiers and
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awarding organisations for the qualifications that form part of the apprenticeship frameworks they deliver.
Notwithstanding these safeguards, the NAS takes any suggestion of poor quality in apprenticeships very seriously and, with the SFA, will review apprenticeships in Subway stores in the Dudley area with the employers and training providers concerned, to make absolutely certain that they meet required standards for quality and use of public funding.
Supermarkets: Competition
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to introduce a Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill. [105542]
Norman Lamb: The Government is committed to introducing the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill as soon as possible. As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House said on 15 December 2011, the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill is a strong candidate for consideration as part of the Second Session of Parliament.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to include in his Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill legislative proposals to give the adjudicator the power to fine supermarkets. [105543]
Norman Lamb: The Government believes that the adjudicator's ability to investigate, make recommendations and instruct companies to publish details of any breach of the code will create a powerful deterrent to breaching the code and lead to high levels of compliance. However, the Government intends to include a reserve power to impose financial penalties in the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill. This will allow the Secretary of State to grant the adjudicator the power to impose fines if the other sanctions do not prove effective.
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will establish a Groceries Adjudicator with powers to impose fines on supermarkets and to launch investigations on the basis of evidence presented by third-sector organisations; and if he will make a statement. [106047]
Norman Lamb: The Government is committed to creating a Groceries Code Adjudicator. It believes that the adjudicator will be able to secure compliance with the Code without needing to fine retailers. However, it intends to include a reserve power to impose financial penalties, to be activated by order of the Secretary of State if the other sanctions do not prove effective.
The Government has agreed to consider further the arguments for allowing third party information made by the Select Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills. It will announce the final decision on this matter at such time that the Bill is introduced into Parliament
Technology: Greater London
Chi Onwurah:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2012, Official Report, column 523W, on technology: Greater London, from what budgets within the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and UK
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Trade and Investment (UKTI) did the TSB's and UKTI's funding for Tech City come; and how much remains within each of those budgets for potential allocation to other cities. [103065]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 16 April 2012]: United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) funds the Tech City activity from its programme budget which is voted by Parliament each year. This programme budget is allocated to UKTI to support its trade development and inward investment work. Of the £26 million allocated this year by UKTI to specific inward investment events and programmes in the UK, the Tech City share from this programme budget was £1.7 million, some 6.5% of the total, with the remainder being deployed for support across the whole of the UK including the devolved Administrations, city regions, local enterprise partnerships etc.
The Technology Strategy Board's Tech City Launchpad activity is funded from its Digital Thematic budget which forms part of the Technology Strategy Board's overall programme budget.
The Tech City Launchpad activity has committed grant funding of £1,732,806 for digital projects seeking matched investment. The total of grants accepted so far is £200,000. Other projects to be supported by this grant have up to 31 January 2013 to find matched funding to exercise the grant.
The Technology Strategy Board will be investigating additional technology areas and cities for other possible Launchpad activities in 2012-13.
Tobacco: Packaging
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received regarding the potential effect of plain packaging of cigarettes on independent retailers. [104115]
Mr Prisk: If the term ‘representations' includes correspondence, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and myself have had some 490 letters (where tobacco advertising and packaging were used in the title) since May 2010. Some of these correspondents support the idea of plain packaging on public health grounds; others raise concerns that it would be bad for tobacco retail business. At this time the Government has no plans to develop proposals to require cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging. However, the Department of Health published a consultation document on 16 April seeking views on whether requiring cigarettes to be retailed in plain or ‘standardised' packaging would add value over and above tobacco control measures already taken by the Government.
The Government will be very interested to hear what independent retail business stakeholders tell us during this consultation so that proper account is taken of their views as the Government decides whether plain packaging for cigarettes is a policy measure to be developed further.
Jackie Doyle-Price:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the
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potential effect of plain packaging of cigarettes on independent retailers. [104117]
Mr Prisk: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and I have had some discussion on the potential effect of plain packaging of cigarettes on retailers generally with the Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), in the context of deciding how we took forward the tobacco display legislation that we inherited from the last Government. However, we have not had any focused discussion on the matter since that time. The Department of Health has now published a consultation document (16 April 2012) seeking views on whether requiring cigarettes to be retailed in plain or ‘standardised' packaging would add value over and above tobacco control measures already taken by the Government. The Government will be very interested to hear what retail business stakeholders tell us during this consultation so that proper account is taken of their views as the Government decides whether plain packaging for cigarettes is a policy measure to be developed further.
Trade Fairs: Jordan
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assistance his Department provided to companies exhibiting at SOFEX in Jordan in 2012; and if he will make a statement. [106204]
Norman Lamb: The Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX) and conference is planned to take place in Amman, Jordan from 7-10 May 2012. In support of UK industrial presence the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) plans to be present on the stand sponsored by the trade association Aerospace, Defence and Security.
Traffic Commissioners: Wales
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the location of the Traffic Commissioner for Wales in Birmingham; and if he will consider relocating the post to Wales. [105128]
Mike Penning: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Transport.
The Traffic Commissioner for Wales is also the Traffic Commissioner for the West Midlands and he has one office based in Birmingham. There are no proposals to relocate that office.
Written Questions: Government Responses
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to answer question 104021 on management consultants tabled on 16 April 2012 for answer on 23 April 2012. [106273]
Norman Lamb: I replied to the right hon. Member on 26 April 2012, Official Report, column 1009W.
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 30 April 2012
Transport
A120
Priti Patel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average number of vehicles using
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the
(a)
A120 and
(b)
A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey per day was in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate she has made of daily traffic volume in each of the next 20 years. [105635]
Mike Penning: The A120 trunk road runs between the M11 junction 8 and the Parkeston roundabout at Harwich. It is split by the A12 at Colchester between junctions 25 and 29. Current and recent traffic flows, from 2005 are set out in the following table. The data prior to 2005 are incomplete and considered unreliable.
Average daily A120 traffic flows | ||||||||
Road section/link | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
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(1) No Data |
The Highways Agency does not have future year forecasts of daily traffic volumes along the A120 for each future year.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations her Department received from the regional development agency in support of the dualling of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey between 2005 and 2010; and if she will place in the Library a copy of each item of correspondence. [105636]
Mike Penning: As part of the first round of the regional funding allocation (RFA) process, in January 2006 the Department received from the East of England regional assembly, on behalf of it and the East of England Development Agency, the document entitled “RFA—Advice to Government from the East of England” which supported the inclusion of the A120 Braintree to Marks Tey scheme in the region’s RFA programme.
This was followed up in February 2009 with a further document setting out the East of England’s updated advice to the Government on the second RFA round which made no mention of the A120 scheme.
Copies of both documents will be placed in the Library of the House.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of journeys along the (a) A120 and (b) A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey were made for (i) residential or commuter and (ii) businesses purposes in the latest period for which figures are available. [105640]
Mike Penning: Current traffic information held by the Highways Agency for the A120 trunk road does not include data relating to the type of journey undertaken and consequently the proportion of residential or commuter or journeys for business purposes is not known for the A120.
A31
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that the A31 between the Hampshire border and the Canford Bottom roundabout is cleared of litter; and if she will publish the arrangements that are in place for litter clearance. [105114]
Mike Penning [holding answer 24 April 2012]:The Highways Agency regularly monitors cleanliness of the all purpose trunk roads. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, the responsibility for litter collection on trunk roads falls with the local authority. On the A31 trunk road, between the Hampshire border and the Canford Bottom roundabout, litter is the responsibility of Dorset Waste Partnership/East Dorset District Council.
Each week, the Agency issues local authorities with a road space report, enabling them to identify opportunities to use Agency traffic management creating a safe working environment for their litter clearance.
Where the standards set by the Environmental Protection Act are not being met, and no contact has been received regarding sharing traffic management, the Agency will write to the relevant authority asking for appropriate action to be taken.
Addison Lee
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contracts her Department holds with Addison Lee. [105958]
Norman Baker: To the best of my knowledge, the Department for Transport holds no current contracts with Addison Lee.
Air Travel Organisers’ Licence
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many applications for FlightPlus Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing she estimates the Civil Aviation Authority will process before 30 April 2012; [104522]
(2) how many new Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) holders with a FlightPlus ATOL she expects will be fully licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority by 30 April 2012. [104524]
Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) Regulations 2012 come into force on 30 April 2012. To help industry adapt to the new requirements the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has provided details of its transitional approach to enforcement during May, including for travel firms requiring an ATOL licence or Accredited Body membership for the first time. Details are available on their website:
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/2094/20120412ImplementationPolicy1%200.pdf
Accordingly, the CAA anticipates that there will be two hundred new ATOL licence holders by the end of May 2012. More than one thousand further businesses are anticipated to be compliant with the 2012 ATOL regulations through membership of an Accredited Body, also by the end of May 2012.
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many organisations she expects will receive Accredited Body status under her revised Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing regulations by 30 April 2012. [104523]
Mrs Villiers: The Civil Aviation Authority expects that at least three organisations will have Accredited Body status on 30 April 2012.
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Airbus: China
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has had recent discussions with the (a) aviation industry and (b) Chinese Government on the effect of planned changes to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme on China's relationship with Airbus. [104525]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport has had a number of discussions with the aviation industry at which the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System has been raised. We have been clear that the UK continues to support the aviation ETS in the absence of global action.
The Government meets regularly with representatives of the Chinese Government to discuss a wide range of issues, including aviation issues.
Aviation: Exhaust Emissions
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's work programme on a global agreement to tackle aviation emissions; and if she will make a statement. [103907]
Mrs Villiers: The UK Government remains fully supportive of efforts to secure a global agreement to tackle CO2 emissions from international aviation.
We welcome the recent progress made within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) where we have been closely involved in discussions.
Aviation: Hertfordshire
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012 to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, Official Report, columns 947-48W, on aviation: Hertfordshire, who requested the meeting between the Minister of State and Simon Hoare; and what response policy officials in her Department gave to Simon Hoare's proposal on Radlett strategic rail freight interchange. [104357]
Mrs Villiers: I do not have a record of who originally suggested the meeting take place.
With regard to the e-mail of 10 November, a rail policy official provided Mr Hoare with a standard policy response on 8 December, pointing out that it would not be appropriate for Ministers or officials to comment on a specific development proposal.
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings (a) she, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in her Department have had with (i) Helioslough and (ii) representatives of Helioslough since May 2010. [104358]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has had no meetings with Helioslough or representatives of Helioslough since May 2010.
Neither I nor officials in the Department for Transport have had meetings with Helioslough.
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In addition to the matters referred to in my answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-8W, I held a meeting on 8 June 2011 with various representatives of the logistics industry, including CgMs Consulting and Helio Europe. DFT officials were present. The Radlett proposal was not discussed.
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether the Radlett rail freight site was discussed with Helio Europe and others on 10 June 2011; [104359]
(2) whether minutes were kept of the meeting between the Minister of State and Helio Europe and others on 10 June 2011; [104360]
(3) whether any officials were present at the Minister of State's meeting with Helio Europe and others on 10 June 2011. [104447]
Mrs Villiers: The meeting with representatives of the logistics industry, which included Helio Europe, took place on 8 June 2011. Minutes were kept of the meeting.
The Radlett rail freight proposal was not discussed. Officials from the Department for Transport were present at the meeting.
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-8W to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, on aviation: Hertfordshire, (1) whether the meeting between the Minister of State and the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) was minuted; who requested the meeting; and what aspects of the Radlett site were discussed at the meeting; [104364]
(2) what the outcome was of the Minister of State's meeting with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government. [104446]
Mrs Villiers: The meeting was held at my request. It was minuted. The Radlett development was mentioned in the context of a discussion about keeping the Department for Transport informed on announcements about rail freight interchanges once decisions had been taken.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State confirmed that the Department for Transport would be notified after decisions were taken.
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-8W to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, on aviation: Hertfordshire, what the outcome was of the Minister of State's meeting with Helio Europe and others on 10 June 2011. [104445]
Mrs Villiers: The meeting with representatives of the logistics industry, which included Helio Europe, took place on 8 June 2010. The discussion at the meeting served to inform input into the Growth Review. The Radlett proposal was not discussed.
Mr Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-8W, on aviation: Hertfordshire, (1) on which occasions (a) she and
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(b)
Ministers in her Department have met representatives of (i) Helioslough, (ii) subsidiaries of Helioslough and related commercial organisations and (iii) individuals or other bodies engaged to act on behalf of Helioslough since May 2010; [104448]
(2) what representations her Department has received on (a) rail freight and (b) the Radlett rail freight proposal from (i) Helioslough, (ii) subsidiaries of Helioslough and related commercial organisations and (iii) individuals or other bodies engaged to act on behalf of Helioslough; and what meetings have been held between officials in her Department and such individuals or bodies since May 2010; [104449]
(3) what representations Ministers in her Department received on the Radlett rail freight proposal prior to the meeting between the Minister of Transport and the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) in the autumn of 2010. [104506]
Mrs Villiers: Since May 2010, my office has received the following emails from Community Connect Limited:
(a) 24 May 2010—This was a general inquiry asking for the coalition Government's view on rail freight and Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges. This was passed to a rail policy official who drafted an official response on 4 June 2010.
(b) 10 November 2011—This was the email referred to in my answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-8W.
In addition to the matters referred to in my answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-8W, I held a meeting on 8 June 2011 with various representatives of the logistics industry, including CgMs Consulting and Helio Europe. DfT officials were present. The Radlett proposal was not discussed.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-48W, on aviation: Hertfordshire, for what reason the meetings between the Minister of Transport and the Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government were organised in autumn 2010 and 12 May 2011. [104507]
Mrs Villiers: The conversation with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in the autumn of 2010 was not pre-arranged, taking place at the margins of business in the House.
The purpose of the meeting on the 12 May 2011 was to discuss general policy matters on rail freight interchanges and the planning system.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-8W, on aviation: Hertfordshire, on which occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have met representatives of Community Connect Ltd since the formation of the Coalition Government. [104675]
Mrs Villiers: I refer to my answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947-8W.
There have been no meetings between Community Connect and officials from the Department for Transport.
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Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, column 947W, on aviation: Hertfordshire, (1) when her Department submitted the Rule 11 statement of case to the Department for Communities and Local Government; [104752]
(2) if she will place in the Library the Rule 11 statement of case sent to the Department for Communities and Local Government by her Department. [104753]
Mrs Villiers: In response to invitation for comments from the Department for Communities and Local Government, officials in the Department for Transport made representations in accordance with Rule 19 of the Town and Country [Inquiry Procedures] [England] Rules 2000 on 13 October 2011 and on 11 November 2011.
DCLG made these and all other representations available to all parties for comment under normal planning procedures. A list of the representations received about the Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange planning since May 2010 will be published when the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), issues his decision on the appeal.
The reference to the Department's representation of 13 October as a “Rule 11 statement” in my answer of 26 March 2012, Official Report, columns 947 -8W, was a typographical error.
The reference should have been to a “Rule 19 statement”.
Biofuels
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of regulation on the biofuels industry. [105625]
Norman Baker: The effect of regulation on the biofuels industry is assessed by my Department through the production of impact assessments which present the costs, benefits and potential risks of a proposal or regulation.
A number of biofuel related impact assessments can be found on my Department's website; including the impact assessment for the recent amendment to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation 2007 which transposes the EU Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC).
BMI
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect on regional connectivity between Belfast city and Heathrow of IAG's takeover of BMI. [106229]
Mrs Villiers: The Government has not undertaken such an assessment but recognises that continued air connectivity within the UK is very important to people and businesses in Northern Ireland. Over 18,000 flights a year operate between Belfast’s two airports and the five main London airports, of which nearly 7,000 are between Belfast and Heathrow.
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Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if she will take steps to ensure the continuity of routes currently operated by BMI and its subsidiaries; [105359]
(2) what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on the future of air services currently operated by BMI and its subsidiaries. [105360]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport has not had any recent discussions with the Scottish Government on the future of air services currently operated by BMI but as Aviation Minister I discussed aviation connectivity between Scottish cities and London with Scottish Transport Minister, Keith Brown, when we met in September 2011.
We have also been engaging with the European Commission on the importance of connectivity between London and regional destinations in the UK.
Bus Services: Fares
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will seek a guarantee from Arriva North East that bus fares will not be increased in the Tees Valley during 2012 and 2013. [106174]
Norman Baker: Bus fares are not set by central Government. Local bus operators are free to set their own fares in the deregulated market. However, local transport authorities have the power to set maximum fares as part of a Quality Partnership Scheme and I suggest the hon. Member direct his suggestion to the relevant local council.
In the recent paper Green Light for Better Buses, available in the House Library, the Government set out its plans to improve bus services through more targeted subsidy, by adopting the recent Competition Commission recommendations on regulation and ticketing to encourage competition in local bus markets, and by incentivising partnership working between bus operators and local transport authorities.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Mr Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the closure of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency offices in Scotland on prosecutions for offences relating to vehicle registration and licensing in Scotland. [106246]
Mike Penning: The DVLA has a clear commitment to ensure that enforcement activities remain fully effective. Initial assessments have shown that centralising enforcement would not lead to any degradation in service as the operational processes are largely post and telephone-based. We will work with stakeholders to fully understand the legal requirements specific to Scotland to ensure these can be met.
Driving under Influence
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of her proposals on minimum pricing for drink-drive rehabilitation courses on the quality of course provision. [104828]
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Mike Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) published its consultation paper, “New Approval Arrangements for Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Courses”, on 9 November 2011. The consultation ran until 4 January 2012, and the Agency is currently assessing the responses.
The consultation proposed that the minimum fee (currently £150) for a Drink Drive Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) course be abolished.
Abolishing the minimum fee would allow providers to take into account regional price variations, to make the courses more affordable for offenders. The revised scheme will introduce improved quality assurance and compliance arrangements, to cover all aspects of course provision.
Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of her proposals on multiple provision of drink-drive rehabilitation courses in large geographical areas on the quality of course provision. [104829]
Mike Penning: On 9 November 2011, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) published a public Consultation Paper: “New Approval Arrangements for Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Courses”.
The proposed Drink Drive Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) Course Syllabus was developed working closely with The Association of Drink Drive Providers of Training (ADDAPT)—the representative body for DDRS course providers.
The consultation ran until 4 January 2012, and the Agency is currently assessing the responses.
Edinburgh Airport
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the future prospects of air services between Edinburgh and (a) Brussels, (b) Copenhagen and (c) Zurich. [105358]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State has not undertaken an assessment of future air services from Edinburgh. We recognise the importance of good connectivity from regional airports but airlines operate in a commercial, competitive environment and they decide which routes to operate.
Exeter-Plymouth Railway Line
Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what geological surveys have been undertaken in respect of the Exeter to Plymouth railway line. [105078]
Mrs Villiers [holding answer 25 April 2012]: The Department does not hold geological survey information for railway routes. This is the responsibility of Network Rail as the owner and maintainer of the railway infrastructure.
Network Rail advises that it uses the survey information provided by the British Geological Survey. Where Network Rail does construction work, it undertakes a ground investigation and provides this information to the British Geological Survey. Network Rail monitors earthworks such as cuttings and embankments, on a frequency based on the condition of the assets. With regard to the Exeter to Plymouth line, Network Rail has stabilised the cliffs adjacent to the railway at Dawlish, although this is primarily an issue of coastal erosion rather than geology.
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Heathrow Airport
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times operational freedoms at Heathrow airport have been deployed since the end of Phase 1 of the trial. [104004]
Mrs Villiers: The measures approved specifically for use during phase one of the operational freedoms trial have not been deployed since 29 February which is when the first phase of the trial ended.
However, these measures do share some common features with established Heathrow operating procedures (for example Tactically Enhanced Arrivals Mode) which have continued as normal during and after the trial.
Further details on the procedures in place during phase one of the trial, and how Heathrow operates normally, can be found at the following web address:
http://www.heathrowairport.com/noise/noise-in-your-area/operational-freedoms-trial
Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she has taken to review plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. [105155]
Mrs Villiers: None. The Coalition cancelled plans for a third runway at Heathrow as set out in its programme for government.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will estimate the number of people who wish to sell their homes but are unable to do so as a consequence of the High Speed 2 rail project. [105160]
Justine Greening [holding answer 24 April 2012]: As of 24 April 2012, we have received 348 applications to the Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS). Of these 78 are reapplications and 65 have been accepted.
As I set out in my announcement on 10 January 2012, we are also developing an innovative package of property compensation measures for the longer term, on which we will consult shortly.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she plans to take to ensure that those affected by High Speed 2 receive compensation in a timely manner. [105161]
Justine Greening [holding answer 24 April 2012]: As I set out in my statement on 10 January 2012, the Government intends to consult on a streamlined advance purchase scheme to simplify the statutory blight process for property owners.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure that (a) elderly people seeking to downsize, (b) people wishing to sell their home who are affected by changes in the property market and (c) people wishing to sell a property in a small community where a majority of the community is affected by High Speed 2 and whose property has been adversely affected by High Speed 2 receive compensation in a timely manner. [105216]
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Justine Greening [holding answer 24 April 2012]: The Government intends to consult shortly on the detail of a package of compensation measures for properties affected by HS2. A key part of this package is measures to streamline the statutory blight process to ensure timely payment of compensation.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on homes subject to a compulsory purchase order as a result of High Speed 2 where a change in route would mean that the property was no longer affected. [105217]
Justine Greening [holding answer 24 April 2012]: As set out in the Crichel Down rules, the Government would offer any surplus land acquired through compulsory purchase back to the former owners or their successors.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on the use of homes being made subject to a compulsory purchase order as a result of High Speed 2 before they are demolished. [105218]
Justine Greening [holding answer 24 April 2012]: As I set out in my statement on 10 January 2012, we will shortly consult on a blight and compensation package, including upon proposals for a sale and rent back scheme to allow home owners whose homes would be compulsorily purchased to remain in their homes until their property is needed for construction.
Legal Costs
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on fees for legal work in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if she will make a statement. [104586]
Norman Baker: Expenditure by the Department for Transport (including its seven Executive agencies(1) and HS2 Ltd(2)) on fees for legal work in the financial years 2010/11 and 2011/12 is as follows.
Financial year (£) | ||
2010-2011 | 2011-2012 (3) | |
(1) Figures for 2011-12 only cover the period to the end of February 2012 because there is a time lag of approximately one month for invoices paid by Executive agencies and notified to the central Department. (2) The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Government Car and Dispatch Agency, the Driving Standards Agency, the Vehicle Certification Agency, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Highways Agency. (3) HS2 Ltd is developing and promoting a new UK high speed rail network and is owned by the Department. |
These figures include litigation and advisory (non-litigation) fees, but exclude the costs of the Department's in-house Legal Service and the Treasury Solicitor's Department.
In the interests of greater transparency, the Department has been working on how it can better provide more comprehensive legal spend data. Therefore, these figures provide data for the whole department and are compiled on the basis of cash paid in the periods shown.
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Lewes-Uckfield Railway Line
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to ensure no road scheme proposed by East Sussex County Council prevents the reinstatement of the Lewes to Uckfield railway. [105136]
Mrs Villiers: Whether the proposed new road in Uckfield is built with a bridge over the trackbed is a matter for the county council, and the planning process. However, the trackbed is protected from development by the planning policies of both Wealden and Lewes district councils.
London Airports
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the basis is of ownership of take-off and landing slots at London airports; [105467]
(2) what recent consideration she has given to the merits of referring the matter of the operation of slot allocation at London airports to the Competition Commission. [105468]
Mrs Villiers: EU regulation governs the allocation, transfer and exchange of slots at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and London City airports. The regulation requires member states to ensure that independent airport slot co-ordinators are appointed to manage slot allocation at airports where capacity problems occur. Airport Co-ordination Ltd is the UK's independent co-ordinator. The UK Government and Civil Aviation Authority have no role in airport slot allocation processes.
Metal Theft
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has made an estimate of (a) the value of metal stolen from railways in Barnsley in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2011 and (b) costs incurred by (A) Network Rail and (B) train operating companies owing to the theft of metal from railways in the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough in (1) 2010 and (2) 2011. [105870]
Norman Baker: This is a matter for Network Rail and the train operators. However, Network Rail has advised that the cost of compensation it paid to train operators on its London and North Eastern route for delays arising from incidents of metal theft was £3,534,219 in 2010/11 and £4,039,448 in 2011/12.
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties
Caroline Nokes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the number of untaxed cars in use in the last 12 months; and how much revenue was not collected as a result of unpaid vehicle excise duty in 2010-11. [106154]
Mike Penning:
Following the last Roadside Survey of Vehicle Excise Duty evasion, national statistics were published in December 2011. These reveal the number of unlicensed vehicles in Great Britain was estimated at 249,000 vehicles. This was down from the 307,000 vehicles estimated in 2010. It was estimated that £40 million was
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lost through evasion in 2011. Overall, VED compliance increased from 99.1% in 2010 to 99.3% in 2011.
Motorcycles
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of motorcycle MOT tests revealed illegal modification of unrestricted motorcycles in the latest period for which figures are available. [105950]
Mike Penning: Motorcycles do not fail the MOT for illegal modification of power restriction as it is not part of the MOT test.
Motorways: Speed Limits
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost associated with (a) increasing the motorway speed limit to 80 mph and (b) maintaining the speed limit at 70 mph on stretches of the motorway network where 80 mph is not deemed to be appropriate on the grounds of safety. [104002]
Mike Penning: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 7 March 2012, Official Report, column 762W.
Olympic Games 2012
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to discuss with train operating companies special arrangements and reduced fares for designated volunteers for the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. [105448]
Mrs Villiers: Volunteers will be entitled to travel on public transport in London (zones 1-6) for free in order to get to their shifts during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This will include travel between London and the venues close to London. LOCOG will also provide free transport for its volunteers in Weymouth and Portland and the co-host cities (within defined boundaries) of the football competition.
Peter Cruddas
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department have had with (i) Peter Cruddas and (ii) Sarah Southern since 12 May 2010. [104493]
Norman Baker [holding answer 23 April 2012]: Ministers and Special Advisers in the department have not met with either Peter Cruddas or Sarah Southern since 12 May 2010.
Ministerial meetings and the Permanent Secretary meetings with external organisations, are routinely published every quarter. This can be accessed via the following links:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ministerial-transparency/
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/dft-permanent-secretary-meetings-with-external-organisations/+
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Public Consultation
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department collects the IP addresses of respondents to its consultations. [104080]
Norman Baker: Responses to consultations are captured via an online system and the data output for each consultation includes the IP address used by respondents.
We do not analyse IP addresses, although the data is passed to the division relevant to the consultation. The Driving Standards Agency also use this system and other agencies have access to it but have to date not used it.
Radioactive Waste
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she conducted an environmental impact assessment on the sea shipment of radioactive heat exchangers from the decommissioned Magnox nuclear plant at Berkeley from Avonmouth port in Gloucestershire to Studsvik Nuclear AB at Nykoping in Sweden. [106260]
Mike Penning: The movement of the heat exchangers by sea was carried out in accordance with the appropriate international regulations—primarily the provisions of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
In this instance, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) conducted a survey and assessment to confirm the correct classification of the heat exchangers as low level surface contaminated objects in order to ensure the correct provisions of the IMDG Code were applied.
As a result of the classification an environmental impact assessment was not undertaken as it would not be required under the IMDG Code.
Railways: East of England
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding from the public purse was spent on the Great Eastern Main Line in each of the last 10 years. [105641]
Mrs Villiers: The Office of Rail Regulation publishes, as part of its National Rail Trends data, a summary of Government support for the rail industry, which includes the subsidy/premium payment for each train operator on an annual basis:
www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/nrt-government-support.pdf
Details of monthly payments to train operators are set out in the Transparency section of the Department's website, under ‘Department monthly spend over £500 in value’:
www.dft.gov.uk/publications/dft-monthly-spending/
This shows net payments to train operators in each four-week period. It should be noted that no figure is shown if any payments by the train operator to the Department exceeded any subsidy paid by the Department to the train operator.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what surplus was generated by the Train Operating Company running the Greater Anglia franchise in each of the last 10 years; and what her estimate is of the amount that will be generated in each of the next five years. [105642]
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Norman Baker: Details of subsidy and premium payments in respect of all Train Operating Companies are published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation in National Rail Trends. This is available on the ORR's website at
www.rail-reg.gov.uk
Future premium payments for the Greater Anglia (short) franchise have been published on the Department's website at
www.dft.gov.uk
It would not be in the public interest to provide estimates of premium payments beyond the life of the current franchise as to do so would impact on the Department's ability to secure value for money bids.
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail journeys were made on Greater Anglia franchise services in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate she has made of the number of rail journeys that will be made on the Greater Anglia franchise in each of the next 20 years. [105643]
Mrs Villiers: The number of rail passenger journeys made on Greater Anglia franchise services in each financial year since 2004-05 (the earliest year for which data are available) are as follows:
Greater Anglia passenger journeys 2004-05 to 2010-11 | |
Number (million) | |
Source: Office of Rail Regulation |
The Department has not made any forecasts for the next 20 years for Greater Anglia franchise services. The Department is in the process of developing its High Level Output Specification in which some demand forecasts will be published. However these are unlikely to be at a franchise specific level.
Railways: Electrification
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Prime Minister's support for rail electrification in South Wales during his visit to Wales on 5 April 2012, on what date she expects to make an announcement on her plans for rail electrification; and what geographical areas that announcement will cover. [106217]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport is in ongoing discussions with Welsh Ministers regarding the proposed electrification of rail lines in South Wales. If electrification is funded through the High Level Output Specification for the railway, an announcement is expected by July 2012.
Railways: Tickets
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance she has given to the Rail Fares and Ticketing Review on the closure of ticket offices. [105915]
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Mrs Villiers: We have set out our current position on ticket office opening hours in our consultation on the Rail Fares and Ticketing Review, which can be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-09/
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train operating companies have been given permission by her Department to close ticket offices in the latest period for which figures are available; and in respect of which stations such permission has been given. [105916]
Norman Baker: Since May 2010, no train operating companies have been given permission to close ticket offices.
Ministers in the last Administration approved reductions in ticket office opening hours under the Minor and Major Change procedures at approximately 300 stations between May 2005 and May 2010.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent communications have taken place between her Department and London Midland on the closure of station ticket offices; and on what dates such communications took place. [105984]
Norman Baker: Ministers at the Department for Transport have not had any communications with London Midland to discuss this matter.
Departmental officials have met and had correspondence with London Midland on a regular basis to discuss a variety of issues, including LM's proposal to reduce the opening hours of some ticket offices.
In addition to these meetings, DFT officials work closely with each train operator on a wide range of issues relating to the rail network. The frequency of communications can vary, and can be as often as every day when there are significant operational matters to discuss. The DFT does not maintain a record of each issue that is discussed on every occasion.
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether decisions on the closure of station ticket offices are taken by her Department or by train operating companies. [105985]
Norman Baker: It is for Train Operating Companies (TOCs) to decide whether or not to propose a closure of a station ticket office. If the TOC does decide to progress a proposed closure then they must consult with the appropriate stakeholders, including Passenger Focus and London TravelWatch (if appropriate), other train operators, the Association of Train Operating Companies, and any affected Passenger Transport Executives. If the proposal is agreed by all the consultees then the Secretary of State (SOS) has no role in the process.
However if following the consultation the TOC is unable to agree the proposal with Passenger Focus or London TravelWatch, then the TOC must refer the matter to the SOS for arbitration if it wishes to proceed with the closure.
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Retirement
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff of her Department retired in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; how many of such staff were taking early retirement in each such year; and if she will make a statement. [104584]
Norman Baker: In 2010/11, 446 staff retired from the Department for Transport, including its Executive Agencies, 183 of whom retired before their normal pension age. In 2011/12, 262 staff retired, 40 of whom retired early.
143 of the early retirements in 2010-11 were as a result of Voluntary Early Exit schemes being run across the Department under the previous Civil Service Compensation Scheme which allowed for voluntary early retirement terms.
Changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme in December 2010 removed the ability for staff to take voluntary early retirement and therefore there were no voluntary early retirements in 2011/12.
Roads: Accidents
Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the role of the Health and Safety Executive in reducing accidents by people who drive as part of their employment. [104352]
Mike Penning: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), has had no such discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith).
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries there were on roads in the London Borough of Bexley in each of the last five years. [105579]
Mike Penning: The information requested is given in the following table:
Reported fatalities and serious injuries in road accidents in the London borough of Bexley, 2006-10 | |||||
Number | |||||
Casualty severity | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
The data for 2011 will be published at end of June 2012.
Mr Evennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on how many road traffic accidents were reported on (a) the A2 in Bexley borough, (b) the A20 in Bexley borough, (c) Brampton Road, Bexleyheath, (d) Okehampton Crescent, Welling, (e) Gravel Hill, Bexley, (f) Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, (g) Knee Hill, Abbey Wood, (h) Park View Road, Bexleyheath, (i) Broadway, Bexleyheath, (j) Avenue Road and Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath, (k) Long Lane,
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Bexleyheath, (l) Colyers Lane, Erith,
(m)
Thames Road, Crayford,
(n)
North End Road, Erith and
(o)
Erith Road, Bexleyheath in 2011. [105580]
Mike Penning: The information requested for 2011 is not yet available. The first road safety statistics for 2011 are due to be published at end of June 2012.
Roads: EU Grants and Loans
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what EU funding programmes are available to support spending on UK road infrastructure. [105638]
Mike Penning: The Trans European Network—Transport (TEN-T) programme supports the development of infrastructure for all modes of transport. Some regions of the UK can also use European regional development funding from the structural funding programme to develop transport infrastructure, including roads.
Shipping
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to respond to the conclusions of the legal working group on application of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to seafarers working on non-UK registered vessels travelling between UK ports; and if she will make a statement. [R] [106280]
Mike Penning: A legal working group has now concluded its consideration of the application of the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 to seafarers working on non-UK registered vessels travelling between UK ports. The Minister of Employment Relations, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), will be responding to the conclusions of the working group in the near future.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to convene a working group to assess the monitoring and enforcement of the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011. [R] [106281]
Mike Penning: A review of the operation and effect of the regulations will be undertaken after five years in the usual way. To inform that review, I intend to convene a working group next year. I envisage the working group looking at the impact and the enforcement of the regulations in particular and it is possible that it could look into ways in which awareness of the regulations could be developed.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South, of 23 March 2012, Official Report, column 912W, on shipping: EU law, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 will prevent social dumping in the (a) shipping and (b) offshore industries; and if she will place in the Library a copy of any such assessment. [R] [106282]
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Mike Penning: The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 addresses fair competition and should hinder social dumping through the creation of a level playing field across the international shipping industry.
The convention provides that ships of non-ratifying countries should have “no more favourable treatment” in the ports of ratifying countries. The impact assessments which we have prepared in support of the proposed UK regulations to implement the MLC, which will be published as part of the consultation package on implementing legislation, will include the impact of applying the convention's provisions to ships of non-ratifying flags.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South, of 23 March 2012, Official Report, column 912W, on shipping: EU law, whether the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 applies to all seafarers working on vessels in UK territorial waters, irrespective of (a) seafarer nationality and (b) flag of state. [R] [106283]
Mike Penning: The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 will provide comprehensive rights and protection at work for all seafarers regardless of their nationality and the flag of their ship when working on ships to which the MLC applies, as defined in article II of the convention.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 876W, on shipping: treaties, what legal advice she has received on the Maritime Labour Convention 2006; and if she will place in the Library a copy of any such advice. [R] [106284]
Mike Penning: As a matter of general policy, and in keeping with the approach taken by other public bodies, the Department does not disclose any legal advice it may receive, and does not disclose whether any such advice has been sought or obtained in any particular case.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2012, Official Report, column 876W, on shipping: treaties, what the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 that the UK is already compliant with are; what recent meetings she has had with (a) the shipping industry and (b) trade unions at which UK compliance was discussed; how many such meetings there have been since May 2010; and on what dates any such discussions have taken place. [R] [106285]
Mike Penning: There are a number of areas in which the UK is already fully compliant with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006; these include Titles 1.2, 1.3, 2.3, 2.7 and 4.5. In addition, current legislation already complies with a number of provisions within the other Titles. Where amendments to existing legislation or new provisions are required, the Government will consult. A first package of such measures will be issued for public consultation shortly.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency continues to chair meetings of a tripartite working group to keep the shipping industry and trade unions informed of progress
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with UK implementation of the MLC and to address any concerns expressed by stakeholders. Since May 2010, the working group has met on nine occasions as follows: May 2010, July 2010, September 2010, November 2010, January 2011, April 2011, June 2011, November 2011 and March 2012.
Taxis
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if her Department will review and terminate any contracts with any private hire company whose drivers have been instructed to breach road traffic regulations. [106206]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has no current contracts with private hire companies. However, in the event that any such contracts were placed, the Department's contracts include a range of provisions for their termination. If officials had evidence that a private hire company under contract to the Department was instructing its drivers to break the law in any way, officials would take whatever action was appropriate under the terms of the contract, including termination if necessary.
Transport
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will publish the level of transport spending in each English region for each of the last five years. [105330]
Norman Baker: The requested information can be found in the Department's annual report and accounts for 2010-11, Table 6 (page 44)
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc1012/hc09/0972/0972.pdf
Transport: Standards
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department is taking to encourage transport authorities to consult on the introduction of voluntary partnerships or quality contracts; and if she will make a statement. [105843]
Norman Baker: Local transport authorities have a statutory duty to consult on Quality Contract Schemes should they wish to introduce them. The Department has issued guidance which sets out its expectation that prior to the statutory notice and consultation stage, local transport authorities will discuss their proposals with local bus operators, passenger groups and other interested parties. There is no statutory duty to consult on voluntary partnership schemes, but the Department would expect a similar approach to be adopted.
Health
Accident and Emergency Departments
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have waited longer than four hours for treatment in accident and emergency units since January 2012. [106165]
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Mr Simon Burns: Data from the Accident and Emergency Clinical Quality Indicators, which include an indicator that specifically measures time to treatment, have not yet been published for January 2012 onwards.
Data for January 2012 will be published on 25 May 2012.
Alcoholic Drinks
Mr Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of trends in alcohol consumption over the last 10 years. [105924]
Anne Milton: We expect to set out shortly our assessment of trends in alcohol consumption and harm over the last 10 years as part of written evidence to the Health Committee's inquiry on the Government's Alcohol Strategy.
Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Royal College of Surgeons' conclusions and recommendations on the role of dental teams in identifying and treating alcohol misuse; and if he will incorporate this advice as part of his strategy to tackle alcohol abuse. [105363]
Mr Simon Burns: We will consider the recommendations made by the Royal College of Surgeons for further work in relation to the benefits of introducing alcohol screening and brief interventions in a primary dental care setting. As the report notes, the Government intend to strengthen the approach to prevention in the planned new dental contract. Under the pilot care pathway, all patients receive an oral health assessment that screens for risk factors including alcohol consumption. Where patients report that they consume alcohol beyond the safe limits they receive targeted advice including, if required, signposting to appropriate specialist services.
Anti-depressants
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2012, Official Report, columns 413-4W, on anti-depressants, for what reason the number of prescriptions for anti-depressants increased between 2009 and 2011; and how many prescriptions for anti-depressant drugs were issued in each region in each year between 2004 and 2008. [106215]
Mr Simon Burns: Information is only available on prescription items dispensed in the community in England. The following table shows the number of prescription items dispensed for drugs classified as anti-depressant drugs in British National Formulary section 4.3 for the period 2004 to 2008.
Number of prescription items (thousand) | |
Source: Prescription Cost Analysis system |
We are unable to provide a conclusive account for the increase in the number of prescription items dispensed.
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Autism
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to publish quality standards for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders. [103733]
Paul Burstow: We have asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to develop a Quality Standard on autism in children, young people and adults, as part of a library of approximately 170 NHS Quality Standards. NICE has not yet published a time scale for the development of this Quality Standard.
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific guidance and support he expects clinical commissioning consortia should receive to ensure that they commission an appropriate range of services for people with autism. [103760]
Paul Burstow: Once it is established, it will be for the NHS Commissioning Board (the Board) to issue commissioning guidance to Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). The Department will hold the board to account through the Mandate to the Board, which will include the indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework. NHS Outcomes Framework indicators include measurements on long term conditions.
Quality Standards will be positioned at the centre of the new commissioning architecture: the provisions in the Health and Social Care Bill will make Quality Standards an integral part of the proposed new duties of quality that will apply to the Board and CCGs. This means that, in the future, Quality Standards will be used to judge the performance both locally and nationally of the national health service. This will help to embed the needs of adults with autism into the health and social care system as never before.
Aviation
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many air miles have been accrued from travel by each Minister in his Department since 2010; how many were (a) forgone and (b) donated to each charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials in this period were required to be (i) forgone and (ii) given to charity. [105451]
Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. According to the latest statement received by our travel provider at the end of February, the Department as a whole, (all Ministers and officials travelling on departmental business), had over 53,000 air miles available. Air miles and any other benefits accrued through travel paid for from public funds are used for official purposes or else forgone, in line with the Ministerial Code.
Breasts: Plastic Surgery
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to support women resident in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency who have received faulty PIP breast implants. [105456]
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Mr Simon Burns: Women in Birmingham, Ladywood who received PIP implants as a result of national health service treatment are eligible—as are women throughout England—for a consultation, imaging if appropriate, and removal and replacement of the implants if, informed by an assessment of clinical need, risk or the impact of unresolved concerns, a woman with her doctor decides that it is right to do so. If the woman received the implants from a private provider which has gone out of business or is unwilling to meet its moral and legal obligations to help, the NHS will remove but not normally replace the implants. Details are given in a letter from the NHS Chief Executive, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/01/pip-breast-implants-letters-to-professionals/
Cancer
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will issue guidance on the functions, funding and accountability of cancer networks; [105545]
(2) whether cancer networks will be established as strategic clinical networks; [105546]
(3) how much his Department spent on cancer networks in the last three years for which figures are available. [105547]
Paul Burstow: We have made it clear that there is a role for clinical networks, such as cancer networks, in the reformed national health service. The networks are a place where clinicians from different sectors come together to improve the quality of care across integrated pathways.
The cancer networks are a clear example of how this way of working delivers better quality care and we are continuing to fund the networks in 2012-13. From April 2013, the funding of the networks will be a decision for the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB). The NHS CB will also set levels of accountability.
A review of clinical networks, is currently underway, to consider the functions, structures and governance that will most effectively support commissioners to deliver improved quality and outcomes in the future.
Information on the funding of cancer networks is not held centrally. Funding to support cancer networks is mainly provided through what is called the Strategic Health Authority bundle. In addition to funding from the bundle, networks receive funding from other sources, such as their constituent primary care trust or from one or more of their provider trusts.
Cardiovascular System
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Cardiovascular Outcomes Strategy will provide for implementation of the 2008 NICE guidance on familial hypercholesterolemia in respect of family screening. [105663]
Mr Simon Burns: Familial hypercholesterolemia will be one of the issues considered during the development of the Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy.
Clinical guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) represent
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best practice and the Government expect commissioners to take them fully into account in their decision-making. In view of their complexity and because of the different states of readiness for implementation in the national health service, NICE clinical guidelines are not subject to the same statutory funding direction as NICE's technology appraisals.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress his Department has made in its Cardiovascular Outcomes Strategy; when he expects the strategy to be published; and if he will make a statement; [105664]
(2) which organisations and individuals (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have met as part of the development of the Cardiovascular Outcomes Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [105665]
(3) how the Cardiovascular Outcomes Strategy fits into the proposed NHS Outcomes Framework; and if he will make a statement. [105666]
Mr Simon Burns: The development of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes strategy is in its early stages, so a date has not yet been set for publication.
Following a national engagement event in May, a series of engagement events will be held around the country this year. In addition, there will be other opportunities for organisations and individuals with an interest to feed in their views during the production of the strategy.
The CVD outcomes strategy will provide a joined up approach, across the national health service, public health and social care, to secure the delivery of improvements in CVD related outcomes as set out in the NHS Outcomes Framework, the Public Health Outcomes Framework and the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework.
Care Homes
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to ensure that primary care trusts consult independent nursing homes when making changes to their payment terms for funded nursing care payments; [105977]
(2) whether he has recently had discussions with Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) about changes to its payment terms for funded nursing care payments; and whether he has made an assessment of the subsequent effects on cash-flow for independent nursing homes receiving payments from Buckinghamshire PCT. [105978]
Paul Burstow: The annual level of the national health service contribution towards the cost of a place in a care home with nursing for those people assessed as requiring the help of a registered nurse is set at a national level. Once the need for NHS funded nursing care is determined, primary care trusts (PCTs) have a responsibility to pay a flat rate contribution towards registered nursing care costs.
The Department would not hold discussions with individual primary care trusts about the level of the NHS funded nursing care contribution or local arrangements for administering such payments.
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Eligibility for NHS funded nursing care may be considered when an individual is not eligible for NHS continuing health care and where it is considered that a place in a nursing home is the best option for meeting their needs.
NHS continuing health care is a package of health and social care funded by the NHS where the individual is assessed as having a primary health need. NHS continuing health care can be provided in a range of settings including care homes.
Liz Kendall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of people in (a) England and (b) each local authority who sold their homes to pay for residential care in each of the last five years. [106236]
Paul Burstow: None. Information about the sale of property to pay for residential care by service users supported by councils is not collected centrally. Local councils may also not know if properties are sold by those who arrange their own care, for example, where a person sells a property and contracts with a care provider privately without the involvement of social services.
Cholesterol
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of treating the effects of high cholesterol levels in each of the last three years. [105443]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Raised cholesterol levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and are modifiable in some people. Awareness raising, prevention, early detection and management of modifiable risk factors will be considered as part of the development of the forthcoming cardiovascular disease outcomes strategy.
Commission on the Funding of Care and Support
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps his Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the Dilnot report. [105849]
Paul Burstow: We will publish a White Paper on social care and a progress report on funding reform in spring 2012. The progress report will set out the Government’s response to the Commission’s recommendations.
Community Hospitals
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on community hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [106175]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government are committed to helping the national health service work better by extending good practice on improving discharge from acute hospitals and increasing access to care and treatment in the community. Community hospitals can be an important part of delivering this, especially in rural communities, providing both planned and unplanned care and diagnostic services closer to home.
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The Health and Social Care Act 2012 devolves more power to local communities where the people, patients, general practitioners (GPs) and councils are best placed to determine improvements to their local NHS. Responsibility for commissioning services will be devolved to local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), which will mean that the design of patient pathways and local services is always clinically-led and based on more effective dialogue and partnership with hospital specialists. Any changes to services must have support from CCGs, patients and the public, be based on sound clinical evidence and support patient choice.
Computers
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many computers and related equipment have been purchased by his Department and its public bodies since May 2010; and what the (a) makes and (b) costs were. [105837]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has purchased through its information technology (IT) provider 402 items of computers and related equipment made by Hewlett Packard, Lenovo and Apple, where computers and related equipment are considered to include desktop PCs, laptops and tablet PCs and 1,157 Hewlett Packard monitors, in financial year 2010-11 and 2011-12.
In addition to this, during the period much of the departmental desktop infrastructure reached the end of its service life and was replaced as part of a planned technology refresh by 3,187 Wyse Thin Client devices. This refresh has improved performance while reducing support costs and carbon emissions.
The total cost of these items was £1,021,680.
The number of computers and related equipment purchased by public bodies is not held centrally and to provide this information for the Department's public bodies would incur disproportionate costs.
General IT expenditure is contained within each public body's annual accounts, which can be accessed via the public bodies websites listed as follows. The Health Research Authority and NHS Commissioning Board Authority, as recently established bodies, do not yet have any published accounts.
Alcohol Education and Research Council
www.alcoholresearchuk.org
www.appointments.org.uk
www.cqc.org.uk
Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
www.chre.org.uk
www.gscc.org.uk
Health and Social Care Information Centre
www.ic.nhs.uk
www.hpa.org.uk
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
www.hfea.gov.uk
www.hta.gov.uk
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Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts (Monitor)
www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
www.mhra.gov.uk
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
www.nice.org.uk
National Patient Safety Agency
www.npsa.nhs.uk
National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse
www.nta.nhs.uk
www.nhsbt.nhs.uk
NHS Business Services Authority
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
www.institute.nhs.uk
www.nhsla.com