Probation: South West
Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how long it took to merge the Avon and Somerset probation trusts. [197847]
Jeremy Wright: Avon and Somerset probation trust, which was established on 1 April 2010, replaced the Avon and Somerset Probation Board, which had been created on 1 April 2001 following the merger of the two separate probation committees for Avon and for Somerset.
Public Defenders
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the decision was made to embark on an expansion of the Public Defender Service advocates. [197516]
Simon Hughes: The decision to expand the Public Defender Service was taken shortly before the advert for advocates was published on 20 January 2014.
Registration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil Partnerships
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many births were registered later than 42 days in England and Wales in each of the last five years. [197838]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
On behalf of the Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Justice how many births were registered later than 42 days in England and Wales in each of the last five years [197838].
Figures for live births have been compiled from birth registration data. The latest year for which figures are available is 2012. The table below shows the number and percentage of live births registered more than 42 days after the birth occurred and the total number of live births for England and Wales, 2008-2012.
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| Live births registered later than 42 days after the birth, 2008-12, England and Wales | |||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
RSPCA
Sir Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answers of 18 March 2014, Official Report, column 638, on Freedom of Information Act, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to designate the RSPCA as a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [197248]
Simon Hughes: The Government currently have no plans to extend the Freedom of Information Act to the RSPCA. However, we are considering ways in which the Act can be extended further to enhance transparency.
Serco
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answers of 28 February 2014, Official Report, columns 556-57W, on Serco, what liability his Department has for termination payments to Serco for its surrender of the contract for running community payback in London; and how much his Department will have to pay to Serco for its surrender of that contract. [197683]
Jeremy Wright: I refer the right hon. Member to the response given to him on 28 February 2014, Official Report, columns 556-57W, for PQ 187896, PQ 187897, PQ 187898 and PQ 187894, which can be found in Hansard under the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140228/text/140228w0003.htm
Television: Licensing
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tooting of 3 April 2014, Official Report, column 754W, on sentencing, how many women were committed to prison for fine default related to non-payment of the television licence fee in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012; and how many of those women had children who were taken into care as a result of their imprisonment. [196564]
Simon Hughes: No published information is available. The information in the table is taken from a live case management system. As such, it is subject to change and is not checked to the level of official statistics. No information is available in respect of children taken into care where the imprisonment of a parent is a contributory factor.
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HM Prison Service will be completing the Basic Custody Screening Tool (BCST) for every prisoner who enters custody within 72 hours of reception once the planned Community Rehabilitation Companies have been established. The BCST has specific questions relating to family circumstances, including whether the prisoner has children, whether the prisoner is the main carer for their children and if social services are involved with the family. This will allow for consistent collection of information on the family circumstances of prisoners.
| Women received into prison for non payment of a fine given for TV licence evasion, 2008-12, England and Wales | |||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Data Sources and Quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. | |||||
Transport
Brighton
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to relocate (a) staff and (b) offices of his Department to Brighton; and if he will make a statement. [197442]
Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport is a federated organisation comprising DFT (Central), the headquarters functions responsible mainly for policy issues, and five executive agencies responsible for the delivery of various services.
DFT Central has no current plans to relocate staff or offices to Brighton. The Department for Transport (including our Executive agencies) will consider opportunities for relocation as they arise, for example, through departmental reorganisation and reviews of estates requirements.
Cambrian Railway Line
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects an hourly rail service to commence between Birmingham and Aberystwyth. [197810]
Stephen Hammond: The train service between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth is funded and specified by the Welsh Government. They have announced the two-hourly service will be enhanced by four extra journeys from May 2015 for an experimental period of three years. There are no UK Government plans to extend these extra services to Birmingham as the half-hourly frequency between Shrewsbury and Birmingham is considered sufficient to meet passenger demand.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions officials in his Department have had with High Speed UK about alternatives to High Speed 2. [197638]
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Mr Goodwill: We are not aware of any request from High Speed UK for a discussion with officials in the Department engaged on HS2, nor of any such discussions having taken place. We are, however, aware that High Speed UK has responded to consultations on issues related to HS2.
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average speed of travel of a Pendolino train was on the west coast main line between (a) Euston and Birmingham, Curzon Street and (b) Euston and Handsacre in Staffordshire; and what the average speed of a train on the HS2 line is expected to be on each route. [197745]
Mr Goodwill: The average journey time of a Pendolino between Euston and Birmingham city centre (New Street) is 1 hour 21 minutes. As set out in the Strategic Case for HS2 (October 2013), the average journey time of an HS2 train between Euston and Birmingham city centre (Curzon Street) will be 49 minutes–a saving of 32 minutes.
The maximum line speed for a Pendolino travelling on the west coast main line is 125mph. HS2 is designed for a top speed of 250mph. Plans envisage services running at up to 225mph, which is becoming the standard capability for new high-speed trains.
There is no station for Handsacre on either the existing network or the HS2 network. The nearest relevant station is Crewe, for which comparative journey times are 1 hour 30 minutes for current services and 55 minutes by HS2 services–a saving of 35 minutes.
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance on the procurement process is available to companies wishing to bid for work on the High Speed 2 project; and if he will make a statement. [198040]
Mr Goodwill: HS2 Ltd is undertaking a national market engagement exercise to ensure that businesses can comment on the HS2 Outline Procurement Strategy. Businesses are encouraged to share their views on HS2’s approach to procurement via a HS2 Market Engagement Survey at:
www.hs2.bravosolutions.co.uk
By registering, businesses will automatically receive relevant updates from HS2 Ltd as they engage with the market. Already, over 700 businesses have registered, of which, approximately 50% are indirect (tier 2/tier 3) suppliers.
The findings from the market engagement exercise will be shared with the market at the next Supply Chain conference in the autumn.
In addition, HS2 Ltd is developing the following mechanisms:
HS2 Ltd encourages businesses to regularly visit its website at:
www.hs2.org.uk
to access further information on the programme and stay up to date on the latest news and events. HS2 Ltd is developing the website to help businesses understand how HS2 will undertake its procurement. The website will provide information on future contract opportunities, policies and a ‘Supplier Guide’.
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HS2 Ltd will promote the use of an online business networking portal which will signpost businesses to supply chain opportunities. This will be launched at the next Supply Chain conference in the autumn.
HS2 Ltd’s direct suppliers will be required to participate in annual events that promote future supply chain opportunities to a wide range of businesses including small and medium-size enterprises.
Highways Agency
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what civil service restrictions will be removed should the Highways Agency be moved to a GoCO. [198246]
Mr Goodwill: The Government intend to turn the Highways Agency (HA) into a Government-owned Strategic Highways Company (SHC), as confirmed in the response to consultation published on 30th April. As announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in June 2013, the new company will operate with guaranteed multi-year funding settlements and have the flexibility to move funds between years.
As a company, outside of the civil service but inside the public sector, the SHC will have more autonomy over its internal governance arrangements and delivery processes so that it can respond to business needs more effectively.
The Government are continuing to work through the details of their relationship with the SHC to provide the necessary commercial freedom to boost delivery and improve efficiency, whilst ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.
The rights of existing HA staff will be protected in accordance with TUPE principles.
Large Goods Vehicles: Noise
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken into (a) the safety effectiveness of voice warnings on freight vehicles reversing, (b) the extent of noise pollution arising from such warnings and (c) the potential benefits of introducing visually triggered automatic systems for giving warnings. [198143]
Stephen Hammond: The Department has undertaken no recent research on voice warnings on reversing freight vehicles or on the benefits of visually triggered automatic systems.
Large Goods Vehicles: Northern Ireland
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the goods vehicle levy in Northern Ireland. [197878]
Mr Goodwill:
The levy is supported by a majority of hauliers in Northern Ireland, all of whom pay it alongside their vehicle excise duty. Hauliers from Ireland must also pay before they use roads in Northern Ireland. A typical large HGV from Ireland visiting Northern Ireland twice a day, as would be the case for a round trip, would
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effectively pay only £1.28 per visit if it had purchased an annual levy. Smaller vehicles pay less, and those under 12 tonnes pay nothing. These represent small amounts compared to the running cost of a UK HGV of £80,000 to £100,000 per year, and much less than the tolls a typical Northern Ireland HGV would face doing a round trip to Dublin at around £8. Parliament has already debated the exempting of some border roads in Northern Ireland, totalling around 7 miles. These exemptions are a practical measure meaning that vehicles entering Northern Ireland for a short distance do not have to pay the levy, and exempting them simplifies enforcement.
Railway Stations: Access
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he used to select which stations would receive funding under the Access for All scheme from 2015 to 2019. [197885]
Stephen Hammond: The rail industry was asked to nominate stations for Access for All at the end of 2013 and 278 stations were put forward. These were assessed using the same criteria that have been used since the programme was launched in 2006.
Stations were selected based on their annual footfall figures (using data from the Office of Rail Regulation), weighted by the incidence of disability in the area (using census data). We also took into account the preferences of the train operating companies, local factors such as proximity to a hospital and the availability of any third party funding. A number of stations were also selected to ensure a fair geographical spread across the country. Stations that already had step free routes, or which were due to be upgraded as part of other programmes, were not considered for funding.
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which stations in each region (a) applied for and (b) received funding under the extension of the Access for All scheme from 2015 to 2019. [197886]
Stephen Hammond: The breakdown of successful stations against nominations by region is shown in the following table.
| Region | Nominated | Successful |
River Thames: Bridges
Jim Fitzpatrick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what written correspondence he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) officials from Transport for London within the last 24 months regarding proposed river crossings east of Tower Bridge that are
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included within the Mayoral Transport Strategy; and how they impact on the options for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing; [197497]
(2) what written correspondence he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) officials from Transport for London within the last 24 months regarding the tolling of proposed river crossings east of Tower Bridge that are included within the Mayoral Transport Strategy; and how that will impact on traffic levels at the Dartford Crossing; [197498]
(3) what meetings he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) officials from Transport for London within the last 24 months regarding proposed river crossings east of Tower Bridge that are included within the Mayoral Transport Strategy; and how they impact on the options for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing; [197499]
(4) what meetings he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) officials from Transport for London within the last 24 months regarding the tolling of proposed river crossings east of Tower Bridge that are included within the Mayoral Transport Strategy; and how that will impact on traffic levels at the Dartford Crossing. [197500]
Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State for Transport has regular meetings with the Mayor of London at which a range of London transport measures are discussed. Other Ministers also discuss various London transport issues and projects with senior officials from Transport for London.
The Mayor of London wrote to the then Secretary of State for Transport on 1 June 2012 to request the designation of the proposed Silvertown tunnel as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. The Secretary of State responded on 26 June 2012 outlining her agreement to grant the request.
On 16 July 2013, the Mayor of London wrote to me to respond to the Department’s consultation on the Lower Thames Crossing proposals.
The Department’s review of options for a new Lower Thames Crossing included a sensitivity test to assess whether the proposed Silvertown crossing scheme would be likely to impact on the forecast flows for the existing Dartford crossing, and any potential new crossing. The conclusion of that test was that the effect was likely to be negligible. The review findings were published in May 2013 as part of consultation on the options.
Roads: Lighting
Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken on the relationship between levels of street lighting and (a) road traffic accidents and (b) injuries to pedestrians. [198000]
Mr Goodwill: The Highways Agency is responsible for lighting on the strategic road network and local authorities for street lighting in their areas. It is for the authorities themselves to decide the level of service they wish their street lighting network to deliver.
No recent research has been undertaken by the Department for Transport on the relationship between levels of street lighting and (a) road traffic accidents
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and
(b)
injuries to pedestrians. The Department does, however, collect accident data and those will include factors including whether or not the area was in darkness or lit.
In 2006 investigations were carried out by the Highways Agency which concluded road lighting reduced the number of night-time personal accident injuries on the strategic road network by 10% on motorways and dual carriageways, and 12% on single carriageway roads. The Highways Agency has not conducted any specific research on the impact of road lighting on accidents involving pedestrians due to their low numbers on the strategic road network.
Where the Highways Agency has undertaken the switching off of lights at midnight at certain site locations, these were subject to a detailed safety assessment. By selecting sites with a good safety record and where night-time traffic flows are low, the Highways Agency is confident there will be no adverse impact on road safety.
This Government are providing over £4.5 billion from 2010 to 2015 to local highway authorities in England for highways maintenance, including street lighting. If a local highway authority is considering upgrading or improving their street lighting stock, the Department for Transport encourages them to consider the “Invest to Save” Guidance produced by the Association of Directors of Environment, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) which is available from the Institution of Lighting Professionals.
Roads: Yorkshire and the Humber
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Highways Agency in maintaining roads in (a) Huddersfield, (b) Kirklees and (c) Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [197643]
Mr Goodwill: The Highways Agency business plan sets out the strategic objectives and the in-year targets to be achieved. It includes a target covering road surface condition. Each Highways Agency region contributes to those targets, including Yorkshire and the North East. The agency's performance against the targets for the financial year 2013-14 is due to be published in its annual report by summer 2014.
The agency is unable to identify separately the contribution to business plan targets by individual constituency or local authority area.
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much central Government have spent on road infrastructure in (a) Huddersfield, (b) Kirklees and (c) Yorkshire in each of the last three years. [197644]
Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport is responsible for the strategic road network which is managed by the Highways Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin). The remaining roads are the responsibility of local highway authorities under the Highways Act 1980.
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Highways Agency spending on improving road infrastructure (including smaller schemes and technology improvements) on the strategic road network in the Yorkshire and Humber area in the last three financial years is shown in the following table.
| Financial year | Funding for Yorkshire and Humber area (£ million) |
The Department for Transport also provides funding to local highway authorities through integrated transport and highways maintenance block grants. This funding can be used to improve local roads that they manage, if they so wish. The following table provides this information.
| Highways maintenance block | |||
| £ million | |||
| Kirklees | West Yorkshire | Yorkshire and Humberside | |
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| 1 Made up of the individual payments to Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. |
| Integrated transport block | |||
| £ million | |||
| Kirklees | West Yorkshire | Yorkshire and Humberside | |
| 1 Includes top up announced in 2011 autumn statement. | |||
In addition, the Department also provide capital funding for local major schemes, costing over £5 million. The figures for spend on local major road infrastructure in the last three years is shown in the following table.
| £ million | |||
| Area | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
Revenue funding for highway maintenance is provided through the Communities and Local Government revenue support grant (RSG). RSG is an un-hypothecated grant provided to local authorities to enable them to carry out their functions, and local authorities can choose to spend this on any services for which they have responsibility, as per local spending priorities.