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Written Answers to Questions
Friday 1 March 2013
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Ministers have represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture and Fisheries configuration of the Council of the European Union since May 2010; and to how many such meetings Ministers from the UK have submitted apologies in that period. [143920]
Richard Benyon: The Ministers who represented the UK at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council between May 2010 and January 2013 are shown in the following table.
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As all meetings have been attended by Ministers, no apologies have been submitted.
Forestry Commission
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what proportion of staff of the Forestry Commission (a) perform administrative or other support roles and (b) maintain and monitor natural preserve sites; [144401]
(2) what the average number of people employed is at each nature preserve site monitored by the Forestry Commission. [144578]
Mr Heath: Natural preserve or nature preserve is not a recognised designation for any countryside area. The Forestry Commission does not classify its staff into administrative or support roles as many of them carry out a wide range of duties, which may include some administrative tasks. The public forest estate is managed as a series of districts and staff are not usually employed on a single site.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many staff the Forestry Commission employs; [144579]
(2) how many staff the Forestry Commission employs to carry out back-office or administrative tasks. [144581]
Mr Heath: At the end of January the Forestry Commission, as a cross-border non-ministerial department for England, Scotland and Wales, employed 2,909 people in both full and part-time positions.
Forestry is a devolved matter and in England the Forestry Commission does not designate or classify its staff as back office, administrative or by any other similar classification. With the range of tasks being carried out by many of its staff such an assessment could only be made at disproportionate cost.
Horsemeat
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of whether (a) tinned meat and (b) sausages are not contaminated with horsemeat. [144744]
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Anna Soubry: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department of Health.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has required industry to test meat products for horse DNA and to report the results to the FSA. The results reported to date cover 3,644 tests, including 202 on non-beef meat products. The results include tinned meat products and sausages, and the raw materials and ingredients used in these products.
Of all product tested, the overwhelming majority, 3,599 (over 99%), of tests showed no horse DNA present at or above the level of 1%. 35 results, representing 13 products, indicated the presence of horse DNA at or above the 1% threshold. These products have already been named and withdrawn from sale. None of these withdrawn products were sausages or tinned meat products.
The FSA is conducting a United Kingdom-wide meat authenticity sampling survey with local authorities taking official control samples for horse DNA testing across a range of comminuted and minced meat products. Phase 1 of the survey includes testing of beef sausages, and Phase 2 includes sampling of canned ready meals (labelled as containing beef). It is planned to publish results from this survey from week commencing 4 March 2013. Sampling has also started on a further phase as part of a sampling programme being undertaken by European Union member states for horse DNA in products marketed as containing beef. This will also include tinned meat products and sausages.
Horses: Databases
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which databases are used by his Department to track horses in the UK; how many duplicate records for horses have been identified by each such database; what action has been taken to resolve any duplicate records; and what access trading standards departments have to equine databases to check data for their investigations of abattoirs. [144428]
Mr Heath: Horse passports are issued by 75 approved passport issuing organisations (PIOs) in the UK, all of which are required, as part of their approval, to maintain accurate records of the passports they have issued. PIOs are required to verify that no passport has already been issued and to prevent the fraudulent issuing of multiple passports for the same animal, at least by consulting the paper and electronic records available to them. Where owners apply for a duplicate or replacement passport, or a first application for an animal older than 12 months, these are issued to exclude the animal from slaughter from human consumption.
Data held in PIOs' databases are available for the investigation of criminal offences and for other lawful purposes. Local authorities that require access to personal information may apply through DEFRA, which acts as the data controller for this information.
Meat: Contamination
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has discussed with his Irish counterpart potential prosecutions in connection with the adulteration of meat products. [142944]
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Mr Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), has had several discussions with Minister Coveney of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland. The police in both the UK and Ireland have been involved in the ongoing investigations of meat products.
Leader of the House
Parliamentary Procedure
Mr Winnick: To ask the Leader of the House if he will recommend to the Procedure Committee that it should take steps to discontinue the practice of doorkeepers calling out Who Goes Home after the rise of the House each day. [145597]
Mr Lansley: This would be a matter for the House to determine; if the hon. Member writes to the Procedure Committee to consider it, he should write to the Chairman, my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mr Walker).
Treasury
Air Passenger Duty
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of re-banding Caribbean countries into the same band of air passenger duty as south Florida destinations in the US; [145709]
(2) for what reasons Russia has been split into two for the purposes of charging air passenger duty, but not the US; [145641]
(3) what estimate his Department has made of the required level of air passenger duty in each band under a two band system, assuming revenue neutrality for the consultation on reform of air passenger duty in 2011. [145804]
Sajid Javid: Air passenger duty (APD) is intended to be as simple as possible to administer. For this reason the distance-based banding within it generally reflects international aviation codes used by the airline industry. These codes are based on national territories, and as such it is straightforward to base APD on countries, using capital cities as a proxy. In the case of Russia, codes do distinguish between the Eastern and Western halves of the country, and the tax has therefore been designed to incorporate this.
Changes to the banding structure of APD were considered as part of the consultation launched at Budget 2011. Estimates of the required level of APD rates to deliver a broadly revenue neutral move to a two band system can be found in the 2011 consultation document, which is available online here:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/2011budget_airpassenger.pdf
No estimate of the cost of re-banding Caribbean countries into the same band of APD as south Florida destinations in the US is available.
Apprentices: Scotland
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount allocated to Scotland as a result of the apprenticeship programme in each financial year since the scheme began. [145733]
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Danny Alexander: The Scottish Government will have received Barnett consequentials from the allocations made to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills at spending review 2010.
Enterprise and training is a devolved matter and therefore it would be for the Scottish Government to allocate funding according to local priorities and needs based on its Spending Review 2010 allocation.
In addition, as part of Budget 2011, the Government allocated £17.7 million over the years 2011-12 to 2014-15 to the Scottish Government as a result of decisions taken on apprenticeships in England.
Banks: Iceland
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the judgement by the Court of the European Free Trade Authority concerning Icelandic banks; and if he will make a statement. [143826]
Greg Clark: On 28 January the EFTA Surveillance Authority lost its case against Iceland for breach of its obligations under the EU deposit compensation arrangements.
The ruling is disappointing. The EFTA Surveillance Authority bought the case because it, and the European Commission, believed that Iceland should have taken steps to provide the minimum compensation.
The ruling itself should have no impact on our public spending plans. The Landsbanki Winding-up board is now projecting recoveries of 100% of claims in respect of retail depositors. Therefore compensation paid by the Government in 2008 should be repaid and have no negative impact in the public accounts.
BioIndustry Association
Dr Huppert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the Citizens' Innovation Funds investment product called for by the UK BioIndustry Association. [145722]
Mr Gauke: Ongoing discussions are taking place between officials and the BioIndustry Association to gain a more detailed understanding of their proposal for Citizens’ Innovation Funds.
Broadband
Alun Cairns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials from his Department have had with Ofcom on revising the annual licence fees for 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum. [143132]
Danny Alexander: As the independent communications regulator, it is for Ofcom to determine the level of fees payable for commercial spectrum users. Ofcom has been directed to revise the annual licence fees for the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands so that they reflect the full market value of the frequencies in those bands, having particular regard to the sums bid for the 800MHz and 2.6 GHz spectrum in the current auction. (See The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Directions to OFCOM) Order 2010, SI 2010/3024).
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Business: Government Assistance
James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to improve access to non-bank finance routes. [144751]
Greg Clark: The £1.2 billion Business Finance Partnership aims to diversify the sources of finance available to smaller and mid-sized firms and reduce their dependence on bank finance. Successful proposals from the first tranche of investment were announced at autumn statement 2012. These five funds are now open for business. More details can be found at
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bfp.htm
Radio Frequencies
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much interest he expects to earn from holding deposits for the 4G spectrum auction; and if he will make a statement. [145432]
Danny Alexander: No estimate has been made of the likely level of interest accrued from 4G spectrum auction holding deposits, which are yet to be received by the Exchequer. The independent communications regulator, Ofcom, set the initial deposit at £100,000 per bidder and determined the level of further deposits required at subsequent auction stages.
Retail Bonds
James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps the Government are taking to improve access to retail bonds; [144748]
(2) what steps the Government are taking to enable savers to invest in bonds; [144749]
(3) what steps the Government are taking to increase access to retail bonds for individual savers. [144750]
Greg Clark: Retail bonds have seen substantial growth in the past three years, following the launch of the London Stock Exchange's order book for retail bonds. This growth has been largely organic, and driven by market forces matching demand with supply. The Government support retail bonds as a market offering, and permits bonds, including retail bonds, to be held in stocks and shares ISAs subject to ISA regulations.
Revenue and Customs
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to act on information provided through its e-mail customs fraud hotline referred to in its leaflet, “Use of Labour Providers: Advice on due diligence”. [144930]
Mr Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs has a number of routes available to the public to report suspected tax evasion, such as the Tax Evasion and Customs telephone hotlines, online and freepost addresses. The public can also write directly to their local office or provide information in person at any of its inquiry centres.
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Roads: Devon
Mr Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on the South Devon economy of the construction of the South Devon Link Road; and whether the Government plan to provide assistance to local authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership to ensure that maximum economic benefit from the link road is procured. [145264]
Danny Alexander: The construction of the South Devon Link Road seeks to address the problem of congestion on the A380 through Kingskerswell, on the main route into Torbay from Exeter. The adverse impacts of this congestion include (1) stifling of the economy of Torbay, (2) environmental detriment to the village of Kingskerswell and (3) poor reliability of public transport. The section of the road in question is the only non-dualled section on the A380 until it reaches Torquay.
The economic benefits are expected to be £5.40 per £1 of public money spent comprising: time savings (79%), vehicle operating cost savings (5%) and reliability benefits (16%). The scheme is likely to have a positive impact on employment in the Torbay Regeneration Area, particularly in the tourism industry.
The Government continue to provide support to local authorities for transport projects by way of grants, including the Integrated Transport Block and LA Majors. IUK also supports the delivery of major infrastructure projects where there is capital investment from the public sector.
Tax Allowances
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what specific instructions HM Revenue and Customs' Large Business Service and Local Compliance (Large and Complex) directorates have been issued with to identify companies in the employment industry operating travel and expenses schemes; and if he will place a copy of such guidance or procedures in the Library. [144729]
Mr Gauke: No specific instructions have been issued within HM Revenue and Customs' Large Business Service and Local Compliance (Large and Complex) directorates to identify employment industry businesses with travel and expenses schemes. There is existing guidance to assist case teams to-identify risks around agency workers that relates mainly to status and dispensations and touches on the travel and subsistence rules for temporary workers.
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many investigations HM Revenue and Customs undertook of companies in the employment industry claiming substantial tax relief due to travel and subsistence expenses in 2012; and how many times that tax relief was disallowed. [144731]
Mr Gauke: The data required to assist in answering this question are held across multiple HMRC systems and can be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
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Tax Avoidance
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any employment business or umbrella company cases involving travel and subsistence schemes are waiting to be heard before tax tribunals. [144890]
Mr Gauke: There is one case involving travel and subsistence schemes currently waiting to be heard before the upper tax tribunal.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the UK presidency of the G8 will bring forward proposals to require G8 companies to disclose in their home country their tax avoidance schemes in developing countries; [145812]
(2) whether he intends to introduce legislative proposals to require British companies to disclose in the UK their tax avoidance schemes in developing countries. [145817]
Mr Gauke: The Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (DOTAS) Regime is the main way that avoidance schemes are notified to HMRC. The requirement to disclose is restricted to arrangements defined in UK tax legislation. It can apply to arrangements affecting UK tax from activities carried on outside the UK provided the arrangement is captured by the DOTAS Hallmarks (the descriptions of scheme requiring disclosure); but there are no plans for the regime to be applied to other countries' taxes. HMRC has held discussions with a number of countries who are looking to introduce their own disclosure rules to share our experiences of DOTAS.
Taxation
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2013, Official Report, column 146W, on taxation, for what reasons the requested information is not held centrally; [145028]
(2) what figures regarding the under and overpayment of tax are held centrally; [145029]
(3) what steps he is taking to aid those individuals who have underpaid tax and are subsequently asked to make further payments after the end of the financial year. [145030]
Mr Gauke: Under or overpayments of income tax may arise for a variety of reasons and are usually calculated after the end of the tax year through Pay as You Earn (PAYE) or Self Assessment (SA). Information relating to the calculation, collection and payment of income tax liability is held on multiple IT systems across HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The detailed analysis require to extract and analyse these data could be achieved only at a disproportional cost.
Where possible, underpayments of income tax are collected by making an adjustment in the taxpayer's PAYE tax code for a later year. Anyone experiencing difficulty paying their income tax should contact HMRC immediately. Further information is available on the HMRC website.
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John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2013, Official Report, column 146W, on taxation, (1) what recent discussions he has had with HM Revenue and Customs regarding the under and over payment of tax; [145031]
(2) what assessment he has made of the accuracy of HM Revenue and Customs initial taxation decisions; and if he will make a statement. [145032]
Mr Gauke: Ministers regularly meet HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials and discuss a wide variety of tax issues.
The accuracy of tax decisions is a matter for HMRC. Where taxpayers disagree with HMRC's decisions they may appeal or seek a review of that decision.
Taxation: Developing Countries
Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he plans to take to increase tax information exchange between the UK and developing countries; and if he will make a statement. [145810]
Mr Gauke: The Government are fully committed to promoting tax transparency and exchange of information including taking actions to ensure developing countries benefit from this.
We are already working through HMRC and DFID to build capacity in tax administrations in developing countries and through the Global Forum on Tax Transparency and Exchange of Information. In June 2012, as a result of UK support, Ghana successfully joined the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. We will continue to offer this assistance where appropriate.
The Prime Minister has also stated that the UK's G8 Presidency will focus on strengthening the tax transparency agenda and working with developing countries to enable them to collect the tax that is due to them.
Temporary Employment: Tax Avoidance
John Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Worthing West of 17 December 2012, Official Report, column 567W on temporary employment: tax avoidance, how many such dispensations HM Revenue and Customs issued in 2012; how many instances of dispensations the specialist team reviewed in the same period; and how many dispensations were revoked as a result of those reviews. [144819]
Mr Gauke: HMRC issued 265 new dispensations in 2012. The specialist team reviewed 2,163 dispensations and dispensation applications; of these, 1,861 were refused or revoked.
Trade: British Overseas Territories
Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to recent studies conducted by the Financial Action Taskforce, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Financial Stability Board and the International Monetary Fund, what the Government's assessment is of the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies' compliance with international regulatory standards. [144893]
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Greg Clark: Many of the UK Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories including all of those with significant financial centres—Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Anguilla, Bermuda and Montserrat—have achieved a satisfactory level of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) International standards for combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing.
The Financial Stability Board, based on IMF and World Bank analysis, regularly publishes updates on global adherence to regulatory and supervisory standards on international cooperation and information exchange. The Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies included in the updates were all deemed to have demonstrated sufficiently strong adherence. As shown during the Global Forum's Peer Review process, the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories have been found to meet the international standard on tax transparency.
VAT
John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether it is the Government's policy to offer any exemption from VAT where a private firm offers a service funded from the public purse which could be provided by a public sector body; [144733]
(2) whether it is Government policy to exempt private firms from VAT where they are the successful bidders for work funded by the public purse which could have been bid for by a public sector body. [144734]
Mr Gauke: There is no specific exemption from VAT for private firms offering a service funded from the public purse which could be provided by a public sector body. Supplies by private firms may be relieved from VAT where the normal VAT rules permit.
Communities and Local Government
Building Alterations: Planning Permission
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Government intends to publish its response to the consultation on extending permitted development rights for homeowners and businesses which closed in December 2012. [145595]
Nick Boles: We are considering the responses to the technical consultation on extending permitted development rights for homeowners and businesses before confirming the changes we will make. We will also publish a summary of the consultation responses.
Fracking
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether it is possible for a local development plan to impose a ban on installation of fracking rigs. [144948]
Nick Boles:
The planning process should not impose arbitrary blanket bans; rather, it should broadly shape where development should and should not go within a
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local authority area, and determine what types of land, heritage and environment deserve particular protection. Planning applications should then be considered in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Guidance on the sustainable use of minerals is outlined in section 13 in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Housing Benefit
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Local Housing Allowance rates for one bedroom properties are in each Broad Rental Market Area; and what the average rates are for such properties in each local authority. [145699]
Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Local Housing Allowance Rates are published by the rent officer and tables showing the current and future, rates can be found at:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/RentOfficers/lharates/april2013lha.html
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/privaterent/tenants/money/localhousingallowance/Figures-1/2013
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housingandcommunity/housing/private/renting/rentofficers/publication/lha13/?lang=en
Information on average rates in each local authority is not available.
Housing: Older People
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has plans to update the Town and Country (Use Classes) Order 1987; and what assessment he has made of whether the current system caters adequately for new forms of housing for older people. [144839]
Nick Boles: Housing for older people can be provided in a variety of forms, which can already be classified within the broad framework set out in the Use Classes Order. The National Planning Policy Framework states that local authorities should plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends.
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made on 24 January 2013, Official Report, columns 16-18WS, which outlines several new permitted development rights allowing for changes of use without the need for a planning application. These changes will be implemented via the General Permitted Development Order 1995. The statement also indicates that we will continue to keep the operation of use classes under review.
Mayors
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2013, Official Report, column 696W, on local government: conditions of employment, whether elected mayors are employees. [145811]
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Brandon Lewis: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 10 January 2013, Official Report, column 406W, neither councillors nor elected mayors are employees, rather they hold elected office.
Social Rented Housing
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of single bedroom units of accommodation in each local authority area in England under the control of (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords which are (i) in use and (ii) not in use. [144880]
Mr Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 February 2013, Official Report, columns 128-29W.
Prime Minister
Middle East
Mr Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister (1) in his recent discussions with the US Secretary of State, what emphasis was placed on supplying aid to (a) children in Syria who have lost parents in the conflict in that country and (b) other children in Syria; [145594]
(2) what discussions he has had with the US Secretary of State on a new US initiative to bring about fresh negotiations in the Palestinian-Israel conflict. [145725]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the press notice issued by my office on 25 February 2013 which is available on the No. 10 website. A copy has been placed in both Libraries of the House.
Transport
A31: Dorset
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to include within the planned works on the A31 at the junction with the lorry park at Ashley Heath work to install dropped kerbs at the junction of the A31 with St Leonards Hospital. [144398]
Stephen Hammond [holding answer 25 February 2013]: The distance between the planned works on the A31 junction at Ashley Heath for the lorry park and St Leonards Hospital is too great to include the dropped kerb work at minimal additional cost and as such, this work could not be incorporated if funded.
Air Passenger Duty
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent meetings he has had with representatives of the travel industry to discuss air passenger duty. [145710]
Mr Simon Burns:
Department for Transport Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of the travel industry to discuss a range of transport and aviation issues. The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales
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(Mr McLoughlin), has had a number of recent meetings with airlines and airports in which air passenger duty has been raised by them. Decisions concerning taxation, including air passenger duty, are a matter for the Chancellor.
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) other Ministers in the Treasury on air passenger duty. [145711]
Mr Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), has frequent discussions with the Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers on a range of subjects. Decisions concerning taxation, including air passenger duty, are taken by the Chancellor.
Brigg
Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding his Department has allocated to projects in Brigg and Goole constituency since 2010. [145584]
Norman Baker: The most recent data available for regional expenditure are the National Statistics Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses for 2011-12. These are identifiable expenditure on services, including transport, by function, country and region. In 2009-10, spend on transport for Yorkshire and the Humber was £1,482 million, in 2010-11 it was £1,393 million and £1,326 million in 2011-12.
Spend is not broken down below regional level.
The Department for Transport is not the only public body responsible for transport and a large proportion of expenditure is covered by local government bodies.
Committed spend is not analysed at a regional level.
Crossrail Line: Stansted Airport
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission research on extending the proposed route for Crossrail 2 to Stansted Airport. [144944]
Stephen Hammond: The Government have made no decision in relation to Crossrail 2, and the scheme is currently unfunded. The constraints on public finances mean that the Secretary of State for Transport has no immediate plans to commission research into extending the proposed route for Crossrail 2 to Stansted airport. The Department continues to work with Network Rail and the rail industry on its long-term planning process which is considering future rail services to Stansted and other major airports.
Dee Harbour
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the reasons are for the time taken to finalise the Dees Harbour Revision Order; and by what date he expects to have completed the Order for implementation. [144939]
Stephen Hammond:
It has taken a long time to consider and reach a decision on the Dee Estuary Harbour Revision Order due to the fact that a separate harbour
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revision order has been put forward by Mostyn Port and the two harbour revision orders conflict with each other. In addition, following an accident, consideration of the two harbour revision orders was deferred while the Marine Accident Investigation Board investigated the accident. There was then further representations about the extent of the jurisdiction of the harbour authorities. Since then the consideration has had to be prioritised alongside other work and the resources are now available to progress this matter to a decision.
Driving Tests
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many driving tests were carried out in languages other than English, Welsh or Scots Gaelic in 2012; which languages such tests were carried out in; and how many tests took place for each such language. [145313]
Stephen Hammond: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) conducted 36,770 practical driving tests with a foreign language interpreter present in 2012. DSA records the presence of an interpreter but does not record the language for which the interpreter was required.
In the same year DSA conducted a total of 99,427 driving theory tests with a foreign language voice-over. The numbers of tests delivered using foreign language voice-overs, broken down by language and test type are:
| Language | Test type | Number of tests |
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In 2012, DSA also conducted a total of 2,085 driving theory tests with a foreign language translator present. The numbers of theory tests delivered with a foreign language translator present broken down by language and test type are:
| Language | Test type | Number of tests |
Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age is of people who pass the driving test and obtain a full driving licence in (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (b) the North West and (c) England. [145636]
Stephen Hammond: In 2012 the average age of candidates who passed their practical car driving test and obtained full driving entitlement was:
(a) 22.5 years in St Helens South and Whiston constituency
(b) 23.3 years in the North West
(c) 23.6 years in England
East Coast Railway Line
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with Network Rail on service standards on the East Coast Main Line; and if he will make a statement. [145164]
Norman Baker: I regularly meet senior rail industry representatives to discuss performance matters on the rail network. Recent issues affecting the East Coast route will be discussed at the next such meeting.
Euston Station
Rory Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of potential disruption at Euston Station due to High Speed 2; and what steps he plans to take to minimise any such disruption. [145083]
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Mr Simon Burns: HS2 will bring many benefits for the travelling public across the country through new high speed railway services and by releasing capacity on the existing railway network. During construction of HS2 at Euston there will inevitably be some disruption to passengers and other station users. HS2 Ltd is working closely with both Network Rail and Transport for London to ensure the disruption to services during construction is minimised and what disruption remains is managed effectively to enable the travelling public to complete their journeys.
As part of the pre-hybrid Bill consultation planned for later this year we will be assessing the impacts of Phase One of HS2, including the implications of construction at Euston.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's plans are for the compensation consultation for Phase 2 of High Speed 2. [145543]
Mr Simon Burns: We are currently consulting on an Exceptional Hardship Scheme for Phase Two. The consultation document can be found at
http://www.hs2.org.uk
Answers can be made online via the same website. Alternative formats are available and consultation responses can also be sent by post or by e-mail. The consultation will run from 28 January 2013 to 29 April 2013, after which the responses will be considered and we will publish a summary report along with next steps.
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2012, Official Report, column 243W, on High Speed 2 railway line, what the total cost to the public purse of High Speed 2 has been to date across all Government departments. [145818]
Mr Simon Burns: I refer my right hon. Friend to my answer of 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 588W.
The expenditure on High Speed 2 by other Government Departments is not held by the Department. My right hon. Friend would need to approach other Departments directly for this information.
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to bring forward a paving bill to authorise further spending on High Speed 2; how much capital the bill will secure for the project; and which specific aspects of High Speed 2 will be funded by the capital so authorised. [145819]
Mr Simon Burns: When parliamentary time allows, it is the Secretary of State’s intention to introduce a HS2 paving Bill. The content of the legislative programme for the third session will be set out in the Queen's speech in May.
The proposed paving Bill would ensure that we are able to deliver the HS2 project as fast as possible. It would provide the Secretary of State with parliamentary approval to incur essential expenditure on preparatory works in advance of the proposed hybrid Bill achieving
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Royal Assent. This would allow the construction programme to proceed as quickly as possible thereafter. These preparatory works will include undertaking detailed construction design, procurement activities and further ecological surveys for the project.
We have not assigned a direct cash correlation to the distinct amount of expenditure the paving bill will facilitate separate to the rest of the HS2 project.
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the current spending limit put in place for the High Speed 2 project is; and how close his Department is to reaching that limit. [145820]
Mr Simon Burns: The current total budget in the financial year 2012-13 for both HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport is approximately £224 million. Forecast expenditure for this financial year is expected to be around £214 million. For the financial years 2013-14 and 2014-15 the budgets are yet to be determined and are going through a process of finalisation.
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected average speed is for trains on (a) phase one of High Speed 2, (b) the Manchester route of phase two of High Speed 2 and (c) the Leeds route of phase two of High Speed 2. [145821]
Mr Simon Burns: Trains would initially be capable of reaching a maximum operating speed of 225 miles per hour (360kph). The railway alignment is being designed to be capable of operating at up to 250 miles per hour (400kph).
Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis compensation packages will be calculated for those properties affected by noise pollution and visual impairment as a result of High Speed 2; and whether such properties will be eligible for compensation before completion of the track. [144737]
Mr Simon Burns: We will follow the existing compensation code, as set out in Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973, subject to any enhancements offered following the Phase 2 property compensation consultation we intend to carry out in the future.
Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department defines areas on the route of High Speed 2 as (a) rural and (b) urban; and how his Department classifies Woodlesford, West Yorkshire under such a definition. [144738]
Mr Simon Burns: The Phase two initial preferred route of HS2 has not been categorised into either urban or rural for the appraisal work undertaken to date.
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether and to what extent the maximum distance a property must be from the route of High Speed 2 to be eligible for an exceptional hardship payment will be affected by the relative height above ground of the route at that point. [144937]
Mr Simon Burns:
We are currently consulting on the Exceptional Hardship scheme for Phase Two of High Speed 2, and I cannot pre-judge the outcome of that
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consultation. However, for the Exceptional Hardship scheme for Phase One there is no maximum distance within which a property must be in order to qualify for the Exceptional Hardship scheme. The decision is a matter of judgement, with each property being considered against a range of factors. In considering the location of a property, aside from the property's distance from the line of route, there these factors include:
the particular characteristics of the property and the nature of its local area, including its position and its surroundings;
the character of the line once completed (for example whether it will run in a cutting or on a viaduct);
the likely impacts of the construction of the line in the area;
the topography of the area (for example if it is a flat flood plain or hilly); and
the distance to any nearby points of significant change to the character of the line, for example a cut and cover tunnel entrance or a viaduct.
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultants are working in his Department on High Speed 2 and related matters; by which organisations such consultants are employed; and what amount (a) has been paid to date and (b) is due to be paid to all consultants working on High Speed 2. [145013]
Mr Simon Burns: There are currently no consultants working in the Department for Transport on High Speed 2 or related matters.
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many civil servants of each grade are working on High Speed 2; and what the total cost of such officials is in (a) salaries and (b) overheads associated with their employment. [145018]
Mr Simon Burns: The number of civil servants in each grade working on High Speed 2 together with total salaries and overheads are shown in the following table. This includes those working in the Department as well as those seconded to HS2 Ltd.
| Grade | Number of civil servants employed | Total monthly cost of salaries(1) |
| (1) This comprises 21 staff working in HS2 Ltd as at January 2013 at cost of £101,000 and 45 staff working in DFT at monthly cost of £207,000. (2) Represents brace. | ||
The Department does not apportion its central overheads but the approximate total cost of the civil servants monthly overhead working at HS2 Ltd is £59,000.
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) his Department and (b) HS2 Ltd has paid in fees to WS Atkins for advice concerning High Speed 2 in each financial year for which information is available. [144928]
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Mr Simon Burns: The fees paid to WS Atkins Ltd in the last four financial years for advice and transport assessment modelling are as follows:
| Payments by HS2 Ltd to WS Atkins Ltd | |
| Financial year | Fee amount paid (£) |
| (1) From April 2012 to end of January 2013 as this is the latest information available. | |
| Payments by DFT to Atkins Ltd | |
| Financial year | Fee amount paid (£) |
Large Goods Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the carbon emissions produced by heavy goods vehicles at (a) 40 mph and (b) 50 mph; and if he will make a statement. [144740]
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Stephen Hammond: In 2009 the Transport Research Laboratory developed a set of carbon dioxide emission speed curves for road vehicles. Different emission curves were developed for articulated heavy goods vehicles and rigid heavy goods vehicles and also the various emission standards for heavy goods vehicles were taken into consideration. Size of vehicle is another important factor. The parameters of these curves were published at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-vehicle-emission-factors-2009
and in particular in a spreadsheet at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/4256/regulated.xls
This enables the calculation of average emission factors in grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre for a heavy goods vehicle travelling at a particular speed. The actual carbon dioxide emissions of a vehicle also depend on driver behaviour and age of vehicle. Average carbon dioxide emissions for different heavy goods vehicle types are given in the following table:
| Carbon dioxide emissions from heavy goods vehicles at 40 mph and 50 mph | ||||
| Vehicle type | Weight limit (tonnes) | Emission standard | CO2 grams per kilometre at 40 mph (64 km/h) | CO2 grams per kilometre at 50 mph (80 km/h) |
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Motor Vehicles: Testing
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there is a requirement in MOT vehicle testing for there to be a visual inspection of a vehicle to ensure that a diesel particulate filter fitted at manufacture is still present. [144827]
Stephen Hammond: There are no physical checks to establish whether or not a diesel particulate filter is fitted to a vehicle for MOT purposes. If the required emission values are met during a metered smoke check the vehicle will pass the emission test.
Roads: Litter
Andrew Gwynne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the
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hard shoulder lane on the M60 between the River Tame in Denton and Junction 23 in Audenshaw is kept clear of litter; [145379]
(2) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M67 Junction 1a slip roads in Denton are kept clear of litter; [145380]
(3) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M60, M67 and A57 roundabout at Junction 24 in Denton is kept clear of litter; [145381]
(4) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M67 Junction 1 slip roads in Denton are kept clear of litter; [145382]
(5) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M67 Junction 2 slip roads are kept clear of litter; [145383]
(6) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M67 embankments between Junction 1 and the River Tame in Denton are kept clear of litter; [145384]
(7) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M67 central reservations between Junction 1 and the River Tame in Denton are kept clear of litter; [145385]
(8) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the hard shoulder lane on the M67 between Junction 1 and the River Tame in Denton are kept clear of litter; [145386]
(9) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M60 Junction 24 slip roads in Denton are kept clear of litter; [145387]
(10) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M67 Junction 23 slip roads in Audenshaw are kept clear of litter; [145388]
(11) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M60 embankments between the River Tame in Denton and Junction 23 in Audenshaw are kept clear of litter; [145389]
(12) what steps he plans to take in respect of his duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 section 89(1)(b) and (2)(b), to ensure that the M60 central reservations between the River Tame in Denton and Junction 23 in Audenshaw are kept clear of litter. [145390]
Stephen Hammond:
The Highways Agency is obliged, by the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to remove litter from motorways and a small number of trunk roads in England. This includes slip-roads, central reservations, verges, and embankments. This
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arrangement has regard to the nature and use of the highway, and the need to limit disruption to traffic. The Act is supplemented by a code of practice which specifies standards of cleanliness and response times.
The code of practice grades litter into four levels (Grades A to D), in which Grade A is ‘no litter or refuse’ and Grade D is ‘heavily affected by litter and/or refuse with significant accumulations’. Each grading specifies a response time for the removal of litter. The code requires highways to be generally maintained to Grade A level although it recognises that this level cannot be maintained at all times. It also recognises that it may not be practicable to remove all litter items from some softer or non-metalled surfaces, such as grass or sand, and the grading system reflects this.
The agency undertakes a regime of sweeping and litter picking on the M60 and M67 motorways in compliance with the code. I have asked the agency to ensure that these standards are being maintained.
Responsibility for litter removal from most trunk roads falls to the relevant local authority where the route runs through its geographical area. Tameside metropolitan borough council is responsible for removing litter from the A57 trunk road circulatory carriageway at Junction 24 of the M60. These arrangements at the interface of the local and strategic road networks are well established.
Rail Value for Money Review
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made in achieving the 30 per cent savings identified in the McNulty Review. [145336]
Mr Simon Burns: Network Rail is due to achieve significant efficiency savings between April 2009 (i.e. the baseline year used by McNulty) and March 2014. Its Strategic Business Plan for 2014-19, published in January 2013, sets out how it will achieve further savings over the period 2014-19. Its goal by 2019 is to close the efficiency gap against the best international comparators identified by Sir Roy McNulty.
Meanwhile, following the pause in our franchise programme, we will set out this spring our proposals for future franchise competitions that can facilitate key train operator efficiencies.
Railways
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Rail in the North proposals made by Integrated Transport Authorities. [145643]
Mr Simon Burns: Following our consultation on Rail Decentralisation last year, ‘Rail in the North' (RiN) submitted an expression of interest in taking responsibility for train services currently provided in the Northern and Trans Pennine Express franchises. Informal discussions are continuing at official level and we are currently expecting RiN to submit a detailed proposal later this year for our consideration.
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Railways: Franchises
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the benefits and disadvantages of (a) decentralisation and (b) increasing local democratic control of rail franchises. [145183]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government set out their commitment to devolution in the Command Paper: “Reforming our Railways: Putting the Customer First”. Local bodies who wish to take greater responsibility will have to submit a business case setting out the costs and benefits of their decentralisation proposal.
Railways: Greater London
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of passenger satisfaction levels for London Overground since 2007; and how that assessment will inform his Department's approach to future suburban rail services. [145184]
Mr Simon Burns: As part of their consideration of devolution of suburban rail services, the Government have analysed improvements in customer satisfaction (from the National Passenger Survey) and train performance on London Overground since Transport for London (TfL) took over in 2007. Both measures have improved dramatically, partly due to major investments and other expenditures and partly due to TfL's good management of its concession. This assessment is one of a number of factors that will inform our decision on any further devolution.
Rescue Services: Belfast
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has reviewed the risk-assessed staffing levels at Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Belfast since it took over responsibility for the area of coast previously covered by MRCC Clyde. [143237]
Stephen Hammond: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 26 February 2013, Official Report, column 371W.
Roads: Litter
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Highways Agency has spent on clearing litter from the road network in each of the last five years. [145301]
Stephen Hammond: The Highways Agency is responsible for picking litter on England's motorways and a small proportion of the all purpose trunk road network. Local authorities are responsible for picking litter on the rest of the road network.
The Highways Agency's maintenance contracts are structured so that managing agents are paid a 'lump sum' for a wide range of general maintenance duties. These include sweeping, cleaning and litter clearance duties. The agency does not disaggregate its budget and spend on these types of activities—and exact litter clearance costs cannot be extracted as the activity is performed on both a routine and ad-hoc basis to meet contractual requirements.
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It is estimated that over 180,000 sacks of litter are collected by the Highways Agency every year. The cost of collection, after allowing for overheads, traffic management to protect staff and the cost of disposal is currently estimated to be in the region of £10 million per annum.