| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Planning: Northern Ireland
Lord Rana asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to take steps to simplify and facilitate faster decision-making by the Planning Service in Northern Ireland. [HL4545]
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): The Planning Service is currently taking forward a significant modernisation and reform programme affecting everyone involved in the planning process. The overriding aim is to make the system faster while at the same time ensuring that it remains open and transparent.
15 Mar 2006 : Column WA236
Pork
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity, Mr Jim Knight, on 11 January (Official Report, Commons, 626W). what steps they have already taken to obtain guaranteed status for Gloucester Old Spot pork and bacon; and what they plan to do to obtain compensation for the 18-month delay in the European Commission's response. [HL4587]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Bach): The application process for obtaining traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) status for products such as Gloucestershire Old Spot pig meat involves two stages. The first stage involves an assessment by Defra that the relevant requirements for registration are fulfilled. This assessment was completed in early 2004 and officials concluded that the application was justified and met the requirements of the EU regulations. The application was therefore forwarded to the European Commission for its consideration (the second stage of the process). As Written Answer (Official Report, Commons, 2043W) stated that we are still waiting to hear the outcome of the Commission's deliberations and have been in regular contact with the Commission to chase up progress.
I share the concern of the applicant group about the long delay. However, there is no provision under the EU protected food name scheme to enable compensation to be obtained for such delays.
Public Expenditure
Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the latest figures for identifiable public spending per head in (a) England; (b) Scotland; (c) Wales; (d) Northern Ireland; and (e) the United Kingdom. [HL4569]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: The latest figures for identifiable public spending per head in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom are published in Table 8.2 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2005 (Cm 6521).
Railways: Bicycles
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What obligation there is on London and Continental Railways to provide secure and convenient cycle storage facilities at (a) St Pancras domestic and international station; (b) Kings Cross stations in London; (c) Stratford International station; and (d) Ebbsfleet stations; and how many cycle parking places will be provided at each of these locations. [HL4469]
Lord Davies of Oldham: There is no obligation to provide cycle storage at any Channel Tunnel Rail Link stations under the development agreement between London and Continental Railways and the Secretary of State for Transport. However, the following provisions are being made:
St Pancras domestic and international station
Thirty cycle spaces have been provided and further provision will be made close to the station and Kings Cross.
Planning applications seek consent to provide a 810 metre square cycle storage facility and would accommodate some 800 cycles within the King's Cross central development scheme. The proposal has been developed in conjunction with Transport for London and the London Borough of Camden and includes a cycle shop, repair and cycle hire facility located opposite St Pancras.
While there is limited provision near the international station entrance, the approved Stratford City development (within which the international station is sited) includes provision of a cycle pool plus secure cycle parking facilities, including provision for 100 spaces adjacent to Stratford regional station.
While there is no current cycle provision either within the station or the adjacent development, LCR is consulting with the local authorities with regard to cycle accessibility to the international station.
Railways: Network Rail
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what circumstances and for what purposes Network Rail is permitted to increase its regulatory asset base. [HL4310]
Lord Davies of Oldham: I refer my noble friend to my Answer of 7 March 2006 (Official Report, col. WA 123)
Revenue and Customs: Average Salaries
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean asked Her Majesty's Government:
For the latest year for which figures are available, what is the average salary of a full-time employee of HM Revenue and Customs. [HL4423]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: In January 2006, the average salary received by an employee of HMRC was £21,074.
15 Mar 2006 : Column WA238
Roads: Improvement Schemes
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 14 February (WA 157–64), what action they are taking to reduce the percentage increase in cost estimates in Highways Agency targeted programme of improvement schemes; and, in particular, whether (a) any staff have been disciplined over these increases; (b) they have provided more funds to meet the extra costs; (c) schemes have been delayed as a result of such cost increases; and (d) Ministers have expressed concern about these increases. [HL4468]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Highways Agency is continuing to work closely with the supply chain to drive down costs of construction across the whole of the targeted programme of improvements (TPI) and is taking a far more realistic view of .the likely final costs of projects. The programme is subject to external cost pressures, including rising energy prices, which have driven cost inflation above the retail price index in the road construction industry. The agency continuously reviews its forecasts of scheme costs and the reported increases record updates in estimates for schemes during their planning phase, not overexpenditure under construction. Rigorous processes for cost control are in place. The agency scrutinises thoroughly individual potential cost increases and a review of the impact on the overall programme is undertaken, together with an independent evaluation of value for money, to inform the decision whether or not to continue to take the scheme forward.
No agency staff have been disciplined over scheme cost increases. The agency's project teams are working hard to identify and manage the risks of potential cost increases in advance of any final commitment to construct the scheme.
The Highways Agency is continuing to deliver its agreed programme, as set out in its 2005–06 business plan, within the funding levels agreed in the 2004 spending review. The level of funding agreed in the 2004 spending review took account of the fact that some schemes were subject to cost increases. Within the Highways Agency's total budget envelope, individual scheme budgets are adjusted to reflect increases in scheme costs, subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary reappraisal and approval procedures.
There has been no significant delay to schemes as a result of cost pressures. Progress of the TPI is monitored through a progress point system where points, up to a maximum of 100, are awarded upon completion of various events during the delivery of a scheme. Each year business plan targets are set for progress points, representing 95 per cent of what the agency is expecting to deliver. The agency met its progress point target in 2004–05 and is on course to do so again in 2005–06.
The agency's chief executive meets regularly with the Department for Transport board and Ministers to consider and review cost pressures and the resultant
15 Mar 2006 : Column WA239
impact on the programme. A robust cost control action plan has been developed to drive down inflation pressures.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |