14 Feb 2013 : Column 824W

Democratic Republic of Congo

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of (a) the situation of women in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and (b) their exposure to sexual violence; and what humanitarian intervention the UK is making to improve the safety and security of women in DRC. [142458]

Justine Greening: DFID recently undertook an assessment of the situation of women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Women and girls suffer high levels of poverty and have limited access to formal employment and economic assets such as cash and credit. Violence against women and girls is widespread yet prevention mechanisms and services for survivors are limited outside conflict-affected areas.

A significant proportion (£6 million) of the additional £18 million humanitarian assistance that DFID contributed in response to the recent M23 crisis includes assistance to victims of rape, as well as work with armed groups and security forces to raise awareness of their responsibilities under international Humanitarian Law to spare civilians from acts of violence.

DFID is developing a new programme that will test different approaches to meeting the needs of women and girls in the DRC and will improve the evidence base on what actions are effective, to improve the quality of future programming.

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will increase humanitarian funding to (a) Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) the North Kivu region to meet growing needs. [142459]

Justine Greening: In November 2012 I committed £18 million in additional humanitarian support to address growing needs in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resulting from the recent conflict. The majority of this additional funding will be spent in North Kivu, and in neighbouring areas most affected by the M23 crisis. This is in addition to our on-going humanitarian assistance to the DRC of around £27 million per year. The additional funding will deliver assistance to those affected by the conflict, including the following:

100,000 people provided with enough food to last three months;

134,000 people reached with water, sanitation, shelter, essential household items and emergency education;

11,000 severely malnourished children receiving lifesaving treatment;

1.2 million children vaccinated against measles and other diseases;

10,000 complicated births assisted;

Treatment for 80% of reported cholera cases in target zone;

Medical assistance, psychological and economic support to victims of sexual violence;

£500,000 to the International Rescue Committee for an emergency gender-based violence response in North and South Kivu, for six months and we have provided £5.5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross for protection work including assistance to victims of sexual violence and work with armed groups to reduce the incidence of rape as a weapon of war.

14 Feb 2013 : Column 825W

Departmental Responsibilities

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's core statutory obligations are; and what estimate she has made of the annual cost of delivering each such obligation. [142765]

Mr Duncan: DFID is responsible for a wide range of statutory functions and obligations relating to the alleviation of global poverty, providing where appropriate development assistance to the British Overseas Territories, and providing humanitarian assistance. Full details on the Department's responsibilities and its implementation are available in the Department's published Business Plan, available at:

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Documents/DFIDbusiness-plan2012.pdf

Information on the full range of DFID's responsibilities, and expenditure on delivering them, is available through DFID's annual report and accounts, available at:

http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Documents/publications1/departmental-report/2012/Annual-report-accounts-2011-12.pdf

Developing Countries: Multinational Companies

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to ensure that multinational companies pay taxes in those developing countries in which they operate. [143419]

Justine Greening: The Government are committed to supporting developing countries to access sustainable sources of revenue and collect the tax they are due. DFID's work with partner countries actively helps developing countries to establish and maintain effective tax systems. The UK is a strong supporter of improving tax information exchange and also provides funding for assistance on Transfer Pricing in a number of developing countries. The UK's G8 presidency will focus on strengthening international tax standards and working towards greater tax information exchange.

Mali

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she is having with ministerial colleagues to ensure the humanitarian consequences of the Mali conflict and refugee crisis are addressed. [142749]

Mr Duncan: The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), regularly meets ministerial colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), to discuss key topical issues, including the current situation in Mali.

She is also in regular contact with the European Commissioner for International Co-operation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response to discuss the European Commission's ongoing plans for providing

14 Feb 2013 : Column 826W

support to Mali and how to encourage a wider donor response. She has similar such meetings with UN counterparts.

She met her European counterparts at the Informal Meeting of EU Development Ministers in Dublin earlier this week, where she pressed for a wider European response to the humanitarian crisis in Mali and the Sahel.

North Africa

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent in North Africa in each year since 2003; and how much she intends to spend in that region in each of the next three years. [142554]

Mr Duncan: DFID spent the following in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) in bilateral aid since 2003 (per financial year):

Financial yearExpenditure (£ million)

2003-04

3.49

2004-05

3.29

2005-06

0.49

2006-07

0.52

2007-08

0.00

2008-09

0.63

2009-10

0.66

2010-11

10.28

2011-12

7.72

DFID currently provides funding to North African countries through the regional Arab Partnership Economic Facility (APEF), set up in response to the Arab Spring to help fulfil citizens' demands for economic growth and job creation. Our regional programmes focus on Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia in North Africa, but also include Jordan. The tri-departmental Conflict Pool, to which DFID contributes alongside the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will also fund projects in North Africa (Mauritania, Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt) over the next three years.

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the effect of military operations in North Africa on the UK's aid contributions to that region. [142555]

Mr Duncan: DFID's work in North Africa comprises of political and economic reform via the UK Arab Partnership in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Jordan and long-term programmes assist stability and broader security through the UK Conflict Pool. Military operations in the region have had no effect on our UK aid contributions.

Procurement

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 645W, on procurement, how many people are employed in the Procurement Group; whether all staff of the Procurement

14 Feb 2013 : Column 827W

Group are employed by her Department; and who has overall management responsibility for the Procurement Group. [143274]

Justine Greening: The Procurement Group (PrG) currently has 55 full-time equivalents. Not all are employed by the Department. The Director General of the Corporate Performance Group has management board responsibility for the Procurement Group.

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 645W, on procurement, on how many occasions it has been agreed that a supplier contract of a monetary value of over £1,000 does not require a competitive tendering process since 2010. [143437]

Justine Greening: To provide information on how many contracts in excess of £1,000 have not required a competitive tendering process would incur disproportionate costs.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many regulations her Department has repealed in the last six months; and what the estimated cost-saving has been of each such repeal. [141886]

Mr Duncan: The Department has no regulatory function.

Sahel

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the UK proposes to take to increase the resilience of communities in Mali and other Sahelian countries to drought and food shortages. [142750]

Mr Duncan: The Sahel is locked into a cycle of humanitarian crises due to chronic vulnerabilities that require long term solutions to stop people slipping to future food insecurity.

The UK is currently supporting improved resilience in the Sahel through our core funding to the World Bank, United Nations and European Commission which among other things funds social protection and livelihoods support programmes in Sahelian countries.

Travel

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department spent on (a) the Government Car Service and (b) other taxi or car services for ministerial travel in each year since 2009-10; and if she will make a statement. [142640]

Mr Duncan: Details for the cost of ministerial cars are published in the annual written Ministerial Statement, details of which can be found within the Libraries of both Houses.

PeriodDFID expenditure (£)

1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010

256,656.35

1 April 2010 to 12 May 2010

33,212.22

14 Feb 2013 : Column 828W

13 May 2010 to 31 March 2011

174,565.37

1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012

80,084.35

Details of the costs for 2012-13 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Within the Department for International Development's information system it is not possible to disaggregate spending on taxis between Ministers and civil servants. It is therefore not possible to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate cost, however ministerial use of taxis is negligible.

Cabinet Office

Business Appointments Advisory Committee

Mr Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office on which occasions the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has refused to authorise applications from former Government Ministers for external appointments in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [143420]

Mr Maude: Information about the Advisory Committee's advice on applications from former Ministers under the Business Appointment Rules is set out in the Advisory Committee's annual reports which are accessible at:

http://acoba.independent.gov.uk

Data Protection

Dr Huppert: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the protective markings on the Government's IA Standard No 6 Protecting Personal Data and Managing Information Risk are; and if he will place a copy of such protective markings in the Library. [143270]

Miss Chloe Smith: HMG's IA Standard No 6 Protecting Personal Data and Managing Information Risk is protectively marked UNCLASSIFIED.

A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

Government Departments: Procurement

Nia Griffith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many small and medium-sized enterprises based in Wales have been successful in winning contracts to supply Government Departments; [142818]

(2) what the total value is of contracts to supply Government Departments won by small and medium-sized enterprises based in Wales; [142819]

(3) what proportion of the total value of contracts to supply Government Departments has been won by small and medium-sized enterprises based in Wales. [142820]

Miss Chloe Smith: Direct spend with SMEs across Government continues to increase quarter by quarter. Contract award notices for all contracts over £10,000 are publicly available on Contracts Finder. At the present time we are unable to sample these data by the location of the successful company.

14 Feb 2013 : Column 829W

Life Expectancy: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the life expectancy at birth was in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years. [143487]

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

Letter from Glen Watson, dated February 2013:

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the life expectancy at birth was in (a) Brigg and Goole constituency and (b) Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years (143487).

Life expectancy figures for parliamentary constituencies are not readily available. However, figures are available for local authority districts, unitary authorities, counties and regions within the UK.

Life expectancy figures are calculated as three year rolling averages. The table below provides the period life expectancy at birth for males and females in Yorkshire and the Humber for the period 2004-2006 to 2008-2010 (the latest figures available),

Period life expectancies at birth for males and females for all local authority districts, unitary authorities, counties and regions in England and Wales, for rolling three-year periods from 1991-1993 onwards are published on the National Statistics website at:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/life-expec-at-birth-age-65/index.html

Life expectancy at birth in Yorkshire and the Humber, 2004-06 to 2008-10(1, 2, 3)
 Years of life
Region/PeriodFemaleMale

Yorkshire and the Humber

  

2004-06

81.0

76.6

2005-07

81.1

76.9

2006-08

81.3

77.1

2007-09

81.5

77.4

2008-10

81.8

77.7

(1 )Period life expectancy at birth is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a baby born in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those born in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. (2 )Using boundaries as of October 2010 for all the years shown. (3 )Three year rolling averages, based on deaths registered in each year and mid-year population estimates. Source: Office for National Statistics.

Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of procurement contracts offered by his Department has been advertised on the Contracts Finder website since that website's inception. [138860]

Miss Chloe Smith: As part of the Government's transparency agenda, details of all new contracts let

14 Feb 2013 : Column 830W

since January 2011 and with a value of £10,000 or more, have been published on Contracts Finder as per Cabinet Office policy:

https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder

Defence

Armed Forces: USA

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel of each rank are stationed in the US, including those on exchange. [143400]

Mr Robathan: The information requested is provided in the following table:

RanksTotal

OF 8 (Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral or Air Marshal)

1

OF 7 (Major General, Rear Admiral or Air Vice Marshal)

2

OF 6 (Brigadier, Commodore or Air Commodore)

5

OF 5 (Colonel, Captain RN or Group Captain)

36

OF 4 (Lieutenant Colonel, Commander or Wing Commander)

100

OF 3 (Major, Lieutenant Commander or Squadron Leader)

123

OF 2 (Captain, Lieutenant RN or Flight Lieutenant)

122

OF 1 (Lieutenant, Mid Shipman or Flying Officer)

1

OR 9 (Warrant Officer Class 1 (Army and Navy) or Warrant Officer (RAF))

18

OR 8 (Warrant Officer Class 2)

6

OR 7 (Staff Sergeant, Colour Sergeant, Chief Petty Officer or Flight Sergeant)

53

OR 6 (Sergeant or Petty Officer)

45

OR 4 (Corporal or Leading Hand)

51

OR 2 (Private, Marine, Able Seaman or Senior Aircraftman)

19

NATO: Armed Forces

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of service personnel of each NATO rank have taken premature voluntary release in each of the last five years. [139500]

Mr Dunne: The requested information is provided in the following tables. We are unable to provide data for all services for 2008 because of data quality issues with army outflow data prior to April 2008. Table 1, therefore, provides the combined Naval Service and RAF voluntary outflow figures for 2008. Table 2 contains combined data for all three services for the remainder of the period requested.

Table 1: Trained UK Regular Naval Service and RAF(1) rank structure(2) by Voluntary Outflow (3)
 2008
 VOAverage trained strength(4)VO rate (%)(5)

Total VO

3,950

74,090

5.3

    

14 Feb 2013 : Column 831W

14 Feb 2013 : Column 832W

Officers

510

14,810

4.3

OF-9

0.0

OF-8

10

3.4

OF-7

60

3.0

OF-6

10

170

5.1

OF-5

30

590

4.9

OF-4

110

2,360

4.9

OF-3

170

4,850

4.6

OF-2

180

6,440

4.5

OF-1 / OF (D)

320

0.6

    

Other ranks

3,430

59,280

5.5

OR-9

100

1,930

4.2

OR-8

50

780

2.2

OR-7

490

7,480

4.2

OR-6

480

10,960

3.4

OR-4

500

14,870

4.3

OR-3

40

580

8.3

OR-1/OR-2

1,790

22,670

7.2

“—” denotes zero or rounded to zero. (1 )Trained UK Regular Forces does not include Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists. Army exit reasons including voluntary outflow are not available for 2008 due to data quality issues. (2 )NATO Rank Codes are presented here. Their equivalence in UK Service Rank (Army) is as follows: OF-9 General; OF-8 Lieutenant General; OF-7 Major General; OF-6 Brigadier; OF-5 Colonel; OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel; OF-3 Major; OF-2 Captain; OF-1 Lieutenant/2nd Lieutenant; OF (D) Officer Designate; OR-9 Warrant Officer Class-1; OR-8 Warrant Officer Class-2: OR-7 Staff Sergeant; OR-6 Sergeant; OR-4 Corporal; OR-3 Lance Corporal; OR-2 Private (Classes 1 to 3); OR-1 Private (Class 4)/Junior. (3)( )Voluntary Outflow is defined as all exits from trained personnel which are voluntarily generated by the individual before the end of their agreed engagement or commission period. (4) Average trained strength is calculated as a 12-month average. (5)( )VO rate is the percentage of the trained UK Regular Forces that left as VO at each NATO rank. Source: DASA(Tri Service).
Table 2: Trained UK Regular Forces rank structure by Voluntary Outflow
 VOAverage trained strengthVO rate (%)
 2009201020112012(1)2009201020112012(1)2009201020112012(1)

Total VO

6,810

6,480

7,390

8,130

169,110

173,500

171,580

164,740

4.0

3.7

4.3

4.9

             

Officers

890

810

940

1,010

28,670

29,020

28,860

27,810

3.1

2.8

3.2

3.6

OF-9

10

10

10

10

OF-8

30

30

20

30

OF-7

100

100

100

100

OF-6

30

20

20

20

360

350

340

330

7.8

6.2

6.7

7.9

OF-5

50

50

60

60

1,210

1,220

1,200

1,150

4.5

4.0

5.4

5.9

OF-4

170

140

160

130

4,120

4,130

4,090

3,940

4.1

3.4

3.9

4.1

OF-3

310

250

330

280

9,520

9,550

9,400

9,040

3.3

2.6

3.5

3.6

OF-2

320

340

350

430

11,220

11,380

11,520

11,320

2.8

3.0

3.0

3.7

OF-1 / OF (D)

10

10

80

2,100

2,240

2,170

1,900

0.4

0.4

0.3

             

Other ranks

5,920

5,680

6,450

7,120

140,440

144,490

142,720

136,930

4.2

3.9

4.5

5.2

OR-9

120

160

190

180

3,670

3,600

3,410

3,200

3.3

4.3

5.5

5.8

OR-8

120

170

200

250

5,560

5,530

5,330

5,060

2.2

3.1

3.8

5.0

OR-7

430

380

470

500

13,250

13,140

12,770

12,180

3.2

2.9

3.7

4.1

OR-6

590

510

580

690

20,800

20,850

20,300

19,370

2.8

2.4

2.9

3.6

OR-4

1,040

870

1,000

1,190

29,540

29,960

29,570

28,520

3.5

2.9

3.4

4.2

OR-3

1,030

870

1,000

1,040

16,270

16,510

16,820

16,720

6.4

5.3

5.9

6.2

OR-1 / OR-2

2,590

2,720

3,020

3,260

51,340

54,890

54,540

51,880

5.0

5.0

5.5

6.3

(1)( )1 January 2012 to 30 November 2012.

Warships

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether the Royal Navy has expressed an interest in manning one or more newly-constructed offshore patrol vessels; [142150]

(2) what assessment he has made of the potential utility of offshore patrol vessels in the future surface fleet. [142151]

Mr Dunne [holding answer 13 February 2013]:The role of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) is to ensure the

14 Feb 2013 : Column 833W

Government can exercise sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the territorial and economic waters of the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories in order to defend their integrity and protect offshore interests. The Royal Navy currently mans and operates three River Class OPVs and HMS Clyde which is an OPV (Helicopter), a total of four. We have no plans to operate or man additional OPVs.

Culture, Media and Sport

Local Television: Nottingham

6. Mr Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress is being made on local television in Nottingham. [143153]

Mr Vaizey: We are very pleased with the progress made to put in place the structures to support the delivery of new local TV services.

In January, Ofcom awarded the local TV multiplex licence to Comux.

Sixteen of the 19 local TV licences in Phase 1 have already been awarded—including the licence for Nottingham to Notts TV in November last year.

Ofcom is now in the final stages of awarding the remaining Phase 1 licences and anticipates that the first local TV services will be able to start broadcasting by the end of this year.

Creative Industries

19. Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the skills required within the creative industries. [143167]

Mr Vaizey: The Creative Industries Council's Skills group, led by Creative Skillset, produced a report which made 17 recommendations to boost skills and talent in the creative industries in January 2012. Key recommendations, welcomed by both industry and Government included reform of the ICT in the curriculum, a promotional campaign to raise the profile of apprenticeships, and a call to improve the quality of industry internships.

Conditions of Employment

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed on zero-hour contracts in the Government Equalities Office. [141546]

Maria Miller: The Department has no employees with a zero-hours contract.

Food: Waste

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much surplus food was thrown away by her Department in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012. [143448]

Hugh Robertson: The Department does not hold this information centrally.

14 Feb 2013 : Column 834W

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Bangladesh

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the 2013 World Report by Human Rights Watch, what steps he has taken following allegations of serious human rights violations in Bangladesh, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances of political activists and violence against women. [143267]

Alistair Burt: We continue to press the Bangladeshi Government at all opportunities to improve the human rights situation in their country.

We welcome the Bangladeshi Government's assurances that they are committed to protecting human rights and recognise the positive progress that has been made across a range of social development indicators. But allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance and violence against women are deeply concerning. We call on the Bangladeshi Government to conduct an impartial, credible, and transparent investigation into all such allegations.

The Senior Minister of State, my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Warsi, will be raising human rights issues when she visits the country later this month.

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the issue of human rights in Bangladesh with his Bangladeshi counterparts. [143268]

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), last discussed human rights in Bangladesh with the Bangladeshi Government in July when he met with the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.

The Senior Minister of State, my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Warsi, raised the issue of human rights violations in Bangladesh with the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, Dr Dipu Moni, when she met with her in December. More recently, our high commissioner in Dhaka raised among other things, the International Crimes Tribunal; disappearances, including the specific case of Ilias Ali; violence against women; political violence; the Rohingyas; and abuses in rule of law when he met with the Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary on 28 January.

Human rights remain a crucial component of our bilateral and multilateral discussions with Bangladesh. We also provide a range of human rights assistance on rule of law and democracy to Bangladesh as part of our capacity building programmes. Such assistance is fully in line with UK values and international human rights standards.

Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current human rights situation in Bangladesh. [143269]

Alistair Burt: We strongly condemn instances of violence and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their religion. Reports of enforced disappearances,

14 Feb 2013 : Column 835W

extrajudicial killings, attacks on women, and religious intolerance are deeply concerning. The promotion of human rights, including religious freedom, is at the heart of this Government's foreign policy.

We call on the Bangladesh Government to conduct an impartial, credible, and transparent investigation into allegations of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Human rights are core to our foreign policy and a crucial component of our bilateral and multilateral discussions with Bangladesh. For that reason, we provide a range of human rights assistance on rule of law and democracy to Bangladesh as part of our capacity building programmes. Such assistance is fully in line with UK values and international human rights standards.

Burma

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which companies took part in the UK trade mission to Burma in December 2012. [143109]

Mr Swire: Thirteen UK companies participated in the UK Trade & Investment trade mission to Burma in December 2012. They were:

Allen & Overy

Aggreko

Barclays Bank

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP

HTSPE Ltd

Mott Macdonald

Neath Port Talbot College (NPTC)

Norton Rose

Pearson Qualifications International

Rolls-Royce

Standard Chartered Bank

Technical and Vocational Education and Training UK (TVET UK)

Warwickshire College

The trade mission was focused on the power sector with the aim of helping Burma strengthen its ability to meet the power and electricity generation needs of the people of Burma.

Indonesia

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had on increasing violations of freedom of religion or belief in Indonesia during the recent state visit by the President of Indonesia to the UK; and what steps he is taking to offer assistance to Indonesia to help address rising religious intolerance. [138655]

Mr Swire: The British Government remain concerned about individuals and groups in Indonesia who are denied the right to freedom of religion or belief, or who face discrimination and persecution. The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed maintaining progress on human rights with their respective counterparts, President Yudhoyono and Foreign Minister Natalegawa. Following on from the state visit, the UK and Indonesia have agreed to work together on interfaith dialogue.

14 Feb 2013 : Column 836W

Our embassy in Jakarta frequently raises freedom of religion issues with the Government of Indonesia, most recently in December 2012 at meetings at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The deputy ambassador also recently met with the Chairman of the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (KOMNAS HAM) on 16 January 2013 where incidents of violations of freedom of religion were discussed. Embassy staff are in regular contact with members of civil society and members of religious groups facing difficulties—including representatives from the GKI Yasmin church in Bogor where the Mayor has blocked a permit for a new place of worship despite a Supreme Court ruling in their favour. In the UK's statement for Indonesia's Universal Periodic Review in May 2012, we encouraged the Indonesian Government to tackle violence against minority faiths, ensure that those who perpetrate these acts are brought to justice, and to promote a climate where such incidents do not reoccur. We also continue to encourage Indonesia to accept a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion.

Our embassy is using project funds to support a civil society dialogue with the police on religious freedom, run by the non-governmental organisation, Kontras Indonesia. We are also supporting a project which aims to increase understanding of and tolerance for religious freedom through radio, TV, public discussion and social media.

Palestinians

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Palestinian Authority that reported remarks by Mayor Mustafa Fuqaha that Israeli security forces deliberately target children be retracted. [143238]

Alistair Burt: We do have concerns about the treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli detention. However we consider that the reported comments are inaccurate and unhelpful. We have a regular dialogue with the Palestinian Authority in which we reiterate the need for both sides to prepare their populations for peaceful coexistence and to avoid anything which stirs up hatred and prejudice. We most recently raised the issue of incitement with Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad's Office in January 2013.

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the naming of cultural and sporting events in Palestine after Palestinian terrorists. [143271]

Alistair Burt: As the Prime Minister made clear in his speech to the United Jewish Israel Appeal on 15 October 2012, the UK will not tolerate incitement to terrorism and cannot support those who name sporting events after suicide bombers.

We have a regular dialogue with the Palestinian Authority in which we reiterate the need for both sides to prepare their populations for peaceful coexistence and to avoid anything which further stirs up hatred and prejudice. We most recently raised the issue of incitement with Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad’s office in January 2013.

14 Feb 2013 : Column 837W

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Palestinian Authority on reports that Fatah's official Lebanese Facebook page published images of a mother dressing her young son with explosives. [143272]

Alistair Burt: Officials at the British Consulate Jerusalem are looking into these reports. If proven correct it would be a matter of serious concern. The Government condemn the use of racist and hateful language, and most recently raised the issue of incitement with Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad's office in January 2013. We deplore incitement on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including any comments that could encourage violence or stir up hatred and prejudice in a region that needs a culture of peace and mutual respect.

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Palestinian Authority after reports that Fatah's official Facebook page published images of children carrying weapons. [143273]

Alistair Burt: We are aware of these reports, and have asked officials at the British Consulate in Jerusalem to look into them. We deplore incitement on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including any comments or approaches that could encourage violence or stir up hatred and prejudice in a region that needs a culture of peace and mutual respect. We do not hesitate to raise these issues as necessary. Most recently we raised the issue of incitement with Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad's office in January 2013.

Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many regulations his Department has repealed in the last six months; and what the estimated cost-saving has been of each such repeal. [141883]

Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office rarely sponsors regulations and has not been responsible for repealing any regulations in the last six months. It was responsible for revoking 11 Orders in Council relating to the implementation of sanctions measures in the overseas territories since July 2012. Since these measures did not apply in the UK, no cost savings for the UK are anticipated from these revocations.

Travel

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) the Government Car Service and (b) other taxi or car services for ministerial travel in each year since 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. [142637]

Mr Lidington: For spend on the Government Car Service for ministerial travel, I refer the hon. Member to the information on departmental spend published in the annual written ministerial statement, details for which can be found within the Libraries of both Houses:

2009-10

14 Feb 2013 : Column 838W

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm#10102827000372

2010-11

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120116/wmstext/120116m0001.htm#12011611000194

2011-12

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121220/wmstext/121220m0001.htm#12122056000216

Details of the costs for 2012-13 will be published in the normal way later this year.

Additionally, in 2010-11, we spent £76,936 through FCO Services on the London Car Service. In 2011-12 this spend was £148,850 and in the current financial year to December 2012, we have spent £111,931. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office moved from using only the Government Car Service to using the London Car Service (run by FCO Services) in September 2010.

Taxis are only used for ministerial travel in exceptional circumstances, where the Government Car Service or London Car Service is not available. To collate information on spend would incur disproportionate cost.

Communities and Local Government

Affordable Housing: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much affordable housing has been built in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey in each of the last five years. [140241]

Mr Prisk: Statistics on affordable housing supply by local authority district are available in tables 1008 and 1011, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply

These total figures include both new build housing, which accounts for around 85% of additional affordable housing over the last five years, and acquisitions from the private sector.

Billing

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period by his Department were paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [138122]

Brandon Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11 February 2013, Official Report, column 473W.

Fire Services: Finance

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reductions in funding for fire and rescue services on national resilience and firefighter availability in the event of a major national emergency. [143195]

14 Feb 2013 : Column 839W

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 February 2013, Official Report, column 126W.

Homelessness: Bolton

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of children who are homeless in (a) Bolton and (b) Bolton South East constituency; and what steps he is taking to reduce these figures. [139662]

Mr Prisk: As at 30 September 2012, 64 dependent or expected children were in temporary accommodation as members of households accommodated by Bolton metropolitan borough council. This includes households placed by the council in accommodation within another local authority area, for which separate figures are not collected.

To place these figures in context, at the same point over the last four years, the number of children in temporary accommodation was 58 in 2011, 61 in 2010, 46 in 2009 and 68 in 2008.

Looked at another way, of the 83 households accepted as owed the main homelessness duty in Bolton between 1 July and 30 September 2012, 48 included at least one dependent child.

The Department does not collect corresponding figures to those above for individual parliamentary constituencies, except where they happen to be coterminous with the area of a local authority. This is not the case for the Bolton and Bolton South East constituencies.

We are determined to tackle the problem of homeless families. So, from 9 November, local authorities have new powers under the Localism Act 2011 to use good-quality private rented sector accommodation to end the main homelessness duty. Families will no longer need to be placed in temporary accommodation while they wait for social housing to become available.

At the same time, we have also put in place extra protection for the most vulnerable. The Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012 will help prevent the use of temporary accommodation which is a long distance from the family’s previous home and community.

For households already in temporary accommodation the local authority has a duty (under section 193 of the Housing Act 1996) to find that family settled accommodation. Local authorities should continue to work with these households to discuss alternative housing options as they become available.

Mayors: Tower Hamlets

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what sanctions his Department is considering following the report by Ofcom into the political broadcasts of the Mayor of Tower Hamlets. [142111]

Brandon Lewis: In its ruling last month, Ofcom censured five television channels for running advertisements for the Mayor of Tower Hamlets which contravened the prohibition on political advertising. It noted that one of the television channels would have been fined with a

14 Feb 2013 : Column 840W

“substantial statutory sanction” had it not already ceased trading and surrendered its broadcasting licence. The political advertisements were funded by taxpayers' money.

Tower Hamlets' political broadcasts were a breach of the Communications Act 2003, the UK Code of Broadcast Advertising and the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. Although Ofcom has the power to censure or fine broadcasters, it has no power to take any action against an advertiser.

The use of taxpayers' money for political campaigning is simply not acceptable, and this is in addition to Tower Hamlets' disregard of the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity through its continuing publication of its weekly propaganda newspaper, East End Life. Such actions are not just a misuse of public funds, they are ultimately harmful to local democracy and an independent, free press. It is also further evidence of a worrying pattern of divisive community politics and mismanagement of council staff and resources by the mayoral administration.

We are looking at putting the Publicity Code on a statutory basis to address this corrosive abuse of taxpayers' money.

Trading Standards

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many trading standards officers there were in England and Wales in 2008; how many trading standards officers there are in England and Wales; how many trading standards officers work on meat testing; and how many tests on meat were conducted in each of the last three years. [143120]

Brandon Lewis: The information requested is not held by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety and hygiene in England and Wales.

Transport

Aviation: Security

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost is of security screening of (a) flight crew and (b) cabin crew at airports in the UK. [143570]

Mr Simon Burns: Security screening is carried out and financed by airports. The Department for Transport therefore does not hold this information.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the amount that his Department will spend on High Speed 2 in each financial year from now to its completion. [143243]

Mr Simon Burns: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 1 February 2013, Official Report, column 1006W.

14 Feb 2013 : Column 841W

ICT

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) start date, (b) planned completion date, (c) expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) expected cost was of each information technology project with a value in excess of £1 million undertaken by his Department and its executive agencies since 2010; and if he will make a statement. [142363]

14 Feb 2013 : Column 842W

Norman Baker: “Project” is defined as delivering a specific new service, capability or product. Activity to extend or replace outsourced or managed IT services has been excluded. The following is a list of the IT projects in the Department for Transport and its six Executive Agencies with values in excess of £1 million since 2010:

Area/ agencyProject(a) Start date(b) Planned completion date(c) Expected completion date(d) Planned cost(e) Expected cost

DfTc

DfT(c) Replacement telephony service

March 2013

31 March 2018

31 March 2018

£1.040 million

£1.040 million

VOSA

Managed Disaster Recovery Services

February 2012

September 2012

July 2013

£1.17 million (plus £580,000 support charges)

£1.17 million (plus 400,000 support charges)

HA

HAWCS (HAWIS: Highways Agency Weather Central System)

5 August 2011

4 August 2013

4 August 2013

£1.611 million

£1.611 million

HA

Highways Agency Traffic Information System (HATRIS)

12 December 2011

12 December 2014

12 December 2014

£1.91 million

£1.91 million

DSA

Online test booking service for the Agency’s business customers.

1 September 2010

26 September 2012

22 October 2012 (actual go live date)

£2.171 million

£2.186 million

DVLA

Infrastructure Environment Provisioning - Zoning

5 April 2010

30 June 2012

30 April 2013

£1.979 million

£2.37 million

DVLA

Tachonet

1 July 2010

31 January 2011

16 May 2012

£2.11 million

£2.568 million

MCA

Automatic Identification System (AIS)

March 2012

March 2015

March 2015

£2.705 million

£2.705 million

HA

HAGDMS Software Engineering, Second Line User Support & Training

30 March 2010

31 March 2014

31 March 2014

£2.867 million

£2.867 million

MCA

Integrated Coastguard Communications System (ICCS)

December 2012

March 2015

March 2015

£5.4 million

£5.4 million

HA

2/554 Traffic Manager Airwaves Service

21 December 2012

31 October 2014

31 October 2014

£6.1 million

£6.1 million

DVLA

Vehicle Systems Software (VSS) Stack Refresh

1 June 2010

11 May 2012

11 May 2012

£3.5 million

£6.899 million

DVLA

Data Centre Stabilisation

1 November 2010

31 December 2012

31 March 2013

£4.564 million

£7.408 million

HA

National Traffic Information Service (NTIS_ITT)

27 May 2011

26 May 2018

26 May 2018

£57 million

£57 million

The following DVLA projects are currently ongoing and still have elements to be commercialised. Cost information which is considered commercial in confidence and could prejudice negotiations with suppliers has not been included. The date information in relation to these projects is set out as follows:

AgencyProject(a) Start Date(b) Planned Completion Date(c) Expected Completion Date

DVLA

Change of Vehicle Keeper

1 April 2011

1 October 2013

1 December 2014

DVLA

Personalised Registration Online

1 April 2011

1 October 2013

1 December 2014

DVLA

Contract Let Programme

1 March 2011

30 September 2015

30 September 2015

DVLA

Electronic Data Services (EDS) Migration

31 January 2011

31 December 2012

1 June 2013

DVLA

Electronic Links, Implementation & Strategic Enablement (ELISE): Tech Refresh

1 August 2011

31 December 2012

1 June 2013

DVLA

Electronic Point Of Sale Novell Decommissioning

1 June 2012

31 December 2014

31 December 2014

DVLA

Firewalls

24 June 2010

20 June 2013

20 June 2013

DVLA

Fleets

1 April 2011

1 December 2013

1 December 2014

DVLA

Image Capture Data Archive +: Key From Image Refresh

3 June 2010

31 October 2012

31 March 2013

14 Feb 2013 : Column 843W

14 Feb 2013 : Column 844W

DVLA

Indefinite Statutory Off Road Notification (iSORN)

27 June 2012

31 January 2014

31 January 2014

DVLA

Infrastructure Environment Provisioning - Service

5 April 2010

31 March 2012

31 March 2013

DVLA

Insurance Industry Access to Drivers Data (IIADD/Phase 1 Integrated Enquiry Platform)

2 August 2010

11 June 2014

11 June 2014

DVLA

Metro Ethernet Router Switches (MERS)

1 November 2011

30 September 2012

30 April 2013

DVLA

Modernisation of Network Services

31 January 2011

31 December 20 13

28 February 2014

DVLA

Northern Ireland Electronic Vehicle Services (NIEVS)

31 January 2011

17 June 2013

30 December 2013

DVLA

Quick Address System (QAS)

1 June 2010

31 July 2013

28 February 2014

DVLA

Tacho Migration

1 June 2011

31 July 2013

31 July 2013

DVLA

Telecommunications Refresh

26 December 2010

24 June 2013

24 June 2013

DVLA

Weblogic Phase 2 - ATOS Link

6 October 2011

30 November 2011

18 March 2013

Large Goods Vehicles

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned on the relationship between (a) HGV density of traffic flows, (b) speed of those traffic flows and (c) accident levels. [143215]

Stephen Hammond: The Department commissioned an evaluation of a potential increase in the speed limit of heavy goods vehicles (over 7.5 tonnes) on single carriageway roads, from the current limit of 40 mph.

The report was published in November 2012 and is available at

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heavy-goods-vehicle-speed-limit-increase-evaluation-final-report

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the number of petrol stations that supply liquid petroleum gas fuel in each of the last five years; [142878]

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles which use liquid petroleum gas on UK roads in each of the last five years; [142915]

(3) what steps his Department has taken to encourage the use of LPG vehicles; [142972]

(4) how many vehicles have been converted to use LPG in each of the last five years; [142973]

(5) what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the environmental benefits of encouraging the use of LPG in vehicles; [142974]

(6) what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the tax regime for LPG fuel. [142976]

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport has made no estimate of the number of petrol stations that supply liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The numbers of licensed vehicles recorded by DVLA as having a gas-related propulsion code in Great Britain at the end of September 2012 (the latest available figures) and at the end of each of the 5 previous years are shown in the following table. These figures may include vehicles using alternative fuel types other than LPG.

Licensed vehicles with ‘gas'(1) propulsion type, Great Britain
Thousands of vehicles
DateCarsOther vehiclesTotal

31 Dec 2007

45.1

16.1

61.3

31 Dec 2008

49.6

16.2

65.8

31 Dec 2009

50.9

16.2

67.1

31 Dec 2010

51.0

16.1

67.0

31 Dec 2011

50.0

15.7

65.7

30 Sep 2012

49.8

15.6

65.4

(1) Includes gas, gas bi-fuel, petrol/gas and gas-diesel Source: DfT Vehicle Licensing Statistics, derived from the DVLA vehicle register, an operational database used to handle the licensing of vehicles registered in Great Britain.

Cars that have been constructed or modified to run on gas benefit from a £10 reduction in taxation levels for Alternative Fuel Cars under Vehicle Excise Duty. Owners of LPG cars also benefit from paying lower fuel duty on LPG than would be paid on petrol and diesel. LPG road fuel has a duty reduction worth the equivalent of 35.79p per litre compared with petrol. In addition at Budget 2012 we extended the existing 100% first-year capital allowance for gas refuelling equipment for two years to 31 March 2015.

The Department does not hold data on how many vehicles have been converted to use LPG in each of the last five years. Grants for LPG conversions were previously available under the PowerShift grant programme. Following a consultation in 2004, in response to which both industry and the previous Government expressed support for a technology-neutral approach (providing incentives for clean, low carbon vehicles irrespective of the technology used), the programme was suspended.

HM Treasury consults with the Department for Transport and the Department of Energy and Climate Change in determining the overall package of duty rates, and these discussions consider the environmental benefits of support provided through the tax regime.

M180: Road Traffic

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the level of traffic on the M180 motorway over the next 10 years; and what estimate he has made of changes in HGV use of that road over that period. [143193]

Stephen Hammond: The average traffic growth for the M180 over the next 10 years is forecast to be 11%.

14 Feb 2013 : Column 845W

The increase in HGV use over the same period is forecast to grow in line with the overall traffic, ie 11%.

Currently, HGVs constitute 27% of the traffic on the M180 and that is not expected to change over the next 10 years.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what annual traffic flows on the M180 have

14 Feb 2013 : Column 846W

been in each of the last five years; what the level of HGV use of that road has been in that period; and how many accidents have been recorded on that road in that time. [143196]

Stephen Hammond: The annual traffic flows on the M180 are as follows:

 20072008200920102011
LinkAnnual totalHGV totalAnnual totalHGV totalAnnual totalHGV totalAnnual totalHGV totalAnnual totalHGV total

J1-0

8,253,927

2,412,438

8,177,825

2,391,931

7,955,723

2,167,741

7,916,120

2,299,648

8,022,153

2,350,554

J1-2

6,750,310

2,149,917

6,614,713

2,106,722

6,412,138

1,891,193

6,442,068

1,986,846

6,531,858

2,017,748

J2-3

6,726,220

1,862,875

6,573,285

1,807,564

6,473,823

1,663,790

6,092,398

1,586,646

n/a

n/a

The personal injury accidents (PIAs) data are recorded by the police. This information, once validated, is stored on databases managed by local authorities and at a national level. The number of PIAs on the M180 for each year between 2007 and 2011 is recorded in the following table:

 Accidents

2007

35

2008

29

2009

34

2010

42

2011

28

Motor Vehicles: Spare Parts

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent assessment he has made of the availability and use of counterfeit motor vehicle parts; and if he will make a statement; [142916]

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of counterfeit motor vehicle parts on the number and severity of road accidents in the UK. [142977]

Stephen Hammond: The Department has made no assessment of the availability of counterfeit motor vehicle parts or their effect on the number and severity of road accidents in the UK. The Department commissions the Vehicle Certification Agency to purchase and test certain approved components to ensure conformity with legal minimum standards. This activity does not focus on counterfeit parts, although it is possible that such products could have been tested but not identified as such where they comply with the legal minimum standards.

Motorways

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on research into the potential effect on road safety of the replacement of motorway hard shoulders by refuges; and whether he has made an assessment of such research. [142557]

Stephen Hammond: The Highways Agency has completed an assessment of the safety risk for the managed motorways layout all lane running, which includes the permanent conversion of the hard shoulder to a running lane and the inclusion of refuge areas.

This assessment showed a 15% reduction in safety risk when compared to a dual three lane motorway with hard shoulder. This assessment is contained in the Highways Agency's report ‘Managed Motorways All Lanes Running—Demonstration of Meeting Safety Objective Report’ that is available on the agency website and I have also placed a copy in the Library of the House.

The safety risk analysis of all lanes running has learnt from the three year safety performance of the active traffic management operation of dynamic hard shoulder running between junctions 3A and 7 of the M42. An assessment of this performance showed that the average number of personal injury accidents reduced from 5.08 per month before the implementation of active traffic management to 2.25 per month following the introduction of hard shoulder running. This represents a 55.7% reduction in accidents.

Roads

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which roads have been reclassified to become part of the core network of nationally important routes in each of the last five years. [142773]

Stephen Hammond: The strategic national corridors were established in 2009 to define the transport links over which the largest proportion of strategic traffic—that is traffic travelling between the 10 largest urban areas, 10 busiest ports and seven busiest airports in England—moves around the country. The original definition also provided for connectivity between the four nations of the United Kingdom, but there was no specific provision for connecting capital cities.

In September 2010, the Department launched a 12-week consultation which proposed that the routes linking Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast to the nearest urban strategic destination should be recognised for the strategic connectivity that they provide. Specifically, the consultation identified two additional routes as having national significance: namely the A1 between its junction with the A19 north of Newcastle and the Scottish border, providing a defined link to Edinburgh; and a route between Bootle and the Twelve Quays ferry terminal in Birkenhead, providing connectivity with Belfast. The

14 Feb 2013 : Column 847W

additional roads, which extended one of the strategic national corridors to connect via Bootle with the Twelve Quays ferry terminal, included:

the A565 from junction with A5036 in Bootle to A5063 “Leeds Street”;

the A5063 “Leeds Street” from junction with A565 to A59 “Scotland Road”;

the A59 “Scotland Road” to “Kingsway Tunnel”;

the “Kingsway Tunnel” to grade separated junction with A5027;

the A5027 to junction with A5139;

the A5139 to A554; and

the A554 to Twelve Quays Terminal entrance.

After taking account of the consultation responses, the two additional routes became defined as being of national significance in May 2011.

There have been no other changes to the definition of the routes of national importance.

Speed Limits: Traffic Lights

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the use of speed control traffic lights which are activated to turn red by drivers going over the speed limit; and if he will make a statement. [143200]

Norman Baker: There have been no recent requests to use traffic lights to control speed by turning red when an approaching driver goes over the speed limit.

Rather than turning lights red to control speed, we advocate the use of ‘green waves' - programming the signals across a network to turn green if traffic approaches at a given speed. As well as controlling speed, this can improve traffic flow and reduce delays.

Travel

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on (a) the Government Car Service and (b) other taxi or car services for ministerial travel in each year since 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. [142644]

Stephen Hammond: Information on departmental spend on the Government Car Service is published in the annual written ministerial statement, details of which can be found within the Libraries of both Houses. The spend recorded shows a continuing reduction in the amount spent on official cars for Ministers. Costs to Departments have seen a 49% reduction in the latest figures when compared to those of the previous year and a 72% reduction when compared to the figures for April 2009 to March 2010:

2009-10

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm# 10102827000372

2010-11

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120116/wmstext/120116m0001.htm# 12011611000194

2011-12

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121220/wmstext/121220m0001.htm# 12122056000216

14 Feb 2013 : Column 848W

Details of the costs for 2012-13 will be published in the normal way later this year.

DFT Ministers use a mix of ministerial cars and public transport. I regret that the information on other taxi or car services is not held in the format requested.

In accordance with the Ministerial Code, Ministers in the Department always ensure that they make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2013 to the hon. Member for Strangford, Official Report, column 65W, on unmanned air vehicles, what primary and secondary legislation operators are required to take into account when conducting operations using unmanned aerial vehicles in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [143638]

Mr Simon Burns: The use of unmanned aircraft, including remotely piloted aircraft systems, is covered by the Air Navigation Order 2009 and Rules of the Air Regulation 2007. Guidance on the use of such aircraft is contained in the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) publication “CAP 722—Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations in UK Airspace” which is available from the CAA website.

West Coast Railway Line

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2013, Official Report, columns 1014-5W, on West Coast Railway line, when he expects to have collected sufficient years of data to enable a meaningful analysis. [143634]

Mr Simon Burns: The Department expects to review the available data and consider how best to analyse the effects of the west coast route modernisation during 2013-14.

Justice

Bail

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many placements have been available in bail accommodation funded from the public purse in each of the last three years; and what the average occupancy rate was of such accommodation. [125141]

Jeremy Wright: In relation to Bail Accommodation and Support Service accommodation, the figures requested (for the year from 1 September to 31 August) are as follows:

 Available BASS bed spaces (placements)Average BASS Occupancy (%)

2011-12

653

77

2010-11

647

76

2009-10

696

57

Defendants on bail may also be housed in approved premises (APs). Bailees represent only a small percentage of the number of AP residents and no places are specifically allocated to them.

14 Feb 2013 : Column 849W

Bill of Rights

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Commission on a Bill of Rights will publish the responses it has received to its second public consultation before it publishes its report on a UK Bill of Rights and the UK's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. [129414]

Damian Green: The Commission was set up as an independent body and made its own decisions with regard to its consultations, including whether or not to publish responses.

Its website contains a list of all those who responded to its second public consultation:

http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/cbr/consultation-prog

and also invited those who wanted copies of the responses to contact the Commission.

The Commission's final report, ‘A UK Bill of Rights: The Choice Before Us’, was published on 18 December 2012 and contains some details of the responses to the second consultation.