Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 20 June 2007
Culture, Media and Sport
National Lottery
Lottery distributors are required to take into account National Lottery legislation and policy directions issued by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Policy Directions set out the framework for the wider aims of lottery funding and do not specify detailed criteria. Distributors are required to publish policy directions in their annual reports and accounts (copies are available in the Library of the House).
Distributors also determine their own published criteria for funding programmes. These will be informed by consultation and take into account regional funding priorities and the need to promote access for people from all sections of society. Any weighting is a matter for the distributor.
Olympic Games: Greater London 2012
I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 15 March 2007, Official Report, column 450, in which I provided full details of the budget for the Olympic Delivery Authority and a number of issues including wider security, tax and contingency provision.
The specific advice relating to the brainstorming session remains pertinent to the formulation of government policy, and I cannot therefore place the minutes in the Library of the House.
I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to him on 18 December 2006, Official Report, column 1588W, and to that of 14 May 2007, Official Report, column 533W. In addition I gave Parliament a full explanation of the Olympic costs and funding in my statement of 15 March 2007, Official Report, column 450. KPMG’s role was changed to one of providing ongoing advice on Olympic costs, and the report referred to in note 2 of the minutes of the Olympic cost steering group was therefore not produced.
I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave to him on 18 December 2006, Official Report, column 1588W, and to that of 14 May 2007, Official Report, column 533W.
KPMG were commissioned in October 2005 in order to provide advice to inform the development of cost plans and budgets for the Games. No report was produced, as KPMG’s role was changed at the time to one of providing ongoing advice to the Department, as part of the more detailed cost review that we were undertaking.
I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 15 March 2007, Official Report, column 450, in which I provided full details of the budget for the Olympic Delivery Authority and a number of issues including wider security, tax and contingency provision. This was informed by the thorough cost review I instituted after the bid win, for which KPMG provided advice on an ongoing basis. KPMG's advice will also inform the development of the Olympic Delivery Authority’s Corporate Plan, which is due to be published later this year.
Advice provided by KPMG on the cost of the Olympic Games is being used on an ongoing basis in the management of the Olympic budget. This is pertinent to and informs the current formulation of government policy, and cannot therefore be provided.
Site investigation work on the Olympic Park has been focusing on the level of contamination and the required treatment. Initial on-site decontamination work will commence in late July 2007.
Treatment of Japanese knotweed has commenced and the range of treatments will take approximately three years to complete.
In partnership with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), we have committed to conducting regular public meetings to give local people across the United Kingdom the opportunity to question those responsible for delivering the games about all aspects of preparations for 2012. I will be talking to Welsh Assembly Ministers about holding such an event in Wales.
Additionally, Lord Coe, as the Chairman of the London Organising Committee, visited Wales on 8 June and met with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and spoke at the Welsh Local Government Association conference. This is part of regular engagement through the Nations and Regions Group.
Slavery Abolition: Bicentenary
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, together with the Department for Education and Skills, has given £925,000 to the Understanding Slavery Initiative, a partnership between the National Maritime Museum and a number of other cultural institutions which has been running since 2003-04, helping teachers to deal with the sensitive issue of slavery in the classroom.
The Department has also announced a £500,000 capital grant for the new International Slavery Museum (ISM) in Liverpool being developed by National Museums Liverpool. This funding builds on the £250,000 annual contribution to the ISM's running costs which the DCMS has already pledged. The ISM will replace the groundbreaking Transatlantic Slavery Gallery in the Merseyside Maritime Museum and will prove to be a magnificent new national institution and a worthy legacy of 2007.
The Department is principally working through the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) to promote sector engagement in activities happening in 2007 and beyond.
MLA's Strategic Commissioning programme has supported a number of regional projects in 2007 between schools and museums and archives across the country. Organisations have worked with the MLA regional agencies to produce new learning resources’ including exhibitions and websites that draw on local stories about the impact of slavery.
All 41 Renaissance Hub museums have engaged in events and exhibitions to mark the bicentenary. For example, in October 2007 the museum in Docklands will open the only permanent gallery in London that examines the city's involvement in transatlantic slavery and its legacy in the capital.
The MLA Partnership will also be supporting sector and community engagement with the visit of the Amistad replica to England: London (1-12 August 2007), Liverpool (20-26 August 2007) and Bristol (29 August to 6 September 2007).
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded over £13 million to more than 140 projects related to the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade and the slave trade generally. In addition, HLF have given a grant of £10 million to Bristol city council for the Museum of Bristol: The People's Story, which will include a new gallery on Bristol and the slave trade.
Arts Council England has funded 44 projects related to the bicentenary, making grants totalling £1,234,549 so far this year.
The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) has so far committed £647,945 to projects looking at the bicentenary and modern forms of slavery. BLF has also set up the Abolition 200 website designed to let communities know about what is going on around the bicentenary, to develop project ideas, and to make links and look for funding.
The Department is also committed to ensuring a legacy from the bicentenary commemorations. We are working with MLA, ACE, HLF and the rest of the sector to improve the diversity of the staff employed by our museums and galleries, along with the audiences they reach.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Floods: Radioactive Wastes
(2) what progress has been made in deciding the scientific criteria for the initial screening out of areas unsuitable for a geological repository for long-lived radioactive waste.
[holding answer 18 June 2007]: The Criteria Proposals Group (CPG) and the Criteria Review Panel (CRP) were established to develop draft criteria for the initial screening out of areas unsuitable for geological disposal of the UK's higher activity radioactive waste. These criteria will be included in the forthcoming Managing Radioactive Waste Safely consultation document. CPG and CRP have now completed their work. A joint report will be published on the DEFRA website later in summer 2007.
The potential impact of rising sea levels on coastal areas as a result of climate change was considered by CPG and CRP. Sea level rise could affect the location of repository access points and of surface facilities sited in coastal areas during the repository construction, operational and pre-closure phases. CPG and CRP concluded that, because of the potential to protect surface facilities from coastal flooding, for example by engineered means or, where possible, by relocating facilities to higher ground, risk of coastal flooding was not a general exclusion criterion. However, it would need to form part of the future process of site specific consideration.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Africa: Peace Keeping Operations
The UK is a strong supporter of the proposed UN/African Union (AU) hybrid force and of AMIS, the current AU force in Sudan. We have been encouraging key troop contributing countries in Africa to contribute to peacekeeping in general and to AMIS in particular. Although the AU and UN have not yet issued any formal requests for troop generation for the hybrid force, we will urge them to contribute forces. The UK also helps several African nations—through provision of military training—to allow them to send forces to join UN and AU peacekeeping missions.
China: Human Rights
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Willie Rennie) on 5 June 2007, Official Report, column 450W.
Departments: Foreign Relations
Records of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are not held centrally. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has only maintained a collection of MoUs since 1997. The FCO database contains records of 352 MoUs, including both MoUs originating with the FCO and MoUs concluded by other Government Departments. However this record is not complete; although there is a widespread practice of other Departments depositing copies of MoUs with the FCO, it is not possible to confirm whether they have done so in every case. To produce a complete record of the MoUs entered into by the FCO and other Government Departments would require lengthy research and would be disproportionally costly. In some circumstances MoUs are deposited in the Library of the House, where hon. Members can consult them. This is a matter for the Department concerned.
Moldova: EU Enlargement
During my visit to Moldova in February, I made clear that the UK will continue to support Moldova’s European aspirations and encouraged them to fully implement the measures set out in the jointly agreed EU-Moldova Action Plan, launched in February 2005. The European Neighbourhood Policy offers many opportunities for Moldova to move closer to the EU. We do not see the European Neighbourhood Policy as an alternative to full EU membership, but as a path towards accession. We will continue to work closely with Moldova and help focus their efforts on implementing the Action Plan and its successor. Successful implementation will be important for Moldova in pressing their case for a closer relationship with the EU.
The Government welcome Moldova’s European aspirations and strongly support efforts to promote economic and political reforms, aimed at bringing Moldova closer in line with EU standards. The Re-uniting Europe Programme of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Global Opportunities Fund supports a number of capacity building projects to support these reforms, as do the Department for International Development through a £2.6 million assistance programme.
Palestinians Security Forces
We remain committed to security sector reform and will continue to work with Palestinian President Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad to strengthen the Palestinian security forces. We are currently considering how best to do this, given recent events.
Somalia
The humanitarian situation in Somalia is primarily the product of 16 years of failed governance and is the prime responsibility of individuals in Somalia.
We are very concerned that, as the UN has reported, about 400,000 people have been displaced and more than 1,000 may have been killed. The UK is particularly concerned about obstacles to access for humanitarian workers wanting to give help to those who most need it. We have raised this in international forums such as the EU, the UN and the International Contact Group on Somalia, which met most recently in London on 5 and 6 June, and we have made our views very clear.
The UK was the Second largest humanitarian donor in Somalia in 2006. Since January, we have committed a further £6.3 million over and above our pre-budgeted funding to seek to help those worst affected by the fighting and the ongoing humanitarian needs.
The UK condemns the recent violence from whichever quarter it comes. We believe the Ethiopians should leave as soon as is practicable. They have told us they want to do so. But for them to leave before an effective alternative security force is in place would risk leaving a dangerous security vacuum and worsening the humanitarian situation still further.
The UK strongly supports the process of national reconciliation in Somalia. This process is a pre-requisite for lasting security in Somalia. We believe that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is the only body that can bring stability across Somalia, as envisaged by the Transitional Federal Charter, but it must be more inclusive and develop a broad base of clan acceptance if it is to succeed in this.
We believe the TFG should reach out to all Somalis who reject violence, regardless of clan, and that the National Reconciliation Congress (NRC), now scheduled to start in mid July, represents an excellent opportunity to do this. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, made this point in person to President Yusuf when he visited the UK in February and to the Somali Foreign Minister in London on 7 June. The meeting of the International Contact Group in London on 6 June sent the same strong message to the TFG through the Somali Foreign Minister. We will continue to work for this and are calling on all groups in Somali society to reject violence and to work together for national reconciliation.
The UK is providing financial support for the NRC, both bilaterally (over £250,000 for the initial stage) and through the EU.
The UK has had frequent contact with both the Government of Ethiopia and the Transitional Federal Government on the situation in Somalia, particularly on security and on humanitarian issues.
Sudan: Darfur
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, will represent the UK at the international conference on Darfur to be held in Paris on 25 June. Our ambassador in Khartoum has raised with the Sudanese Government their attendance at the meeting. However, the Sudanese Foreign Minister has made it clear that the Sudanese Government will not attend.
Suharto
We have no plans to do so.
Venezuela: Press Freedom
Along with EU partners, the UK has been closely monitoring recent events in Venezuela. We are concerned at the Venezuelan Government’s decision not to renew the broadcasting licence for the private media organisation RCTV. The UK strongly supported the EU presidency’s robust statement, which noted with concern the Venezuelan Government’s decision, and recalled undertakings made by the Venezuelan authorities to hold an open competition for the successor licence.
My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, raised our concerns on freedom of expression and freedom of the press with the Venezuelan Vice-Minister for European Affairs on 14 June, noting the non-renewal of RCTV’s licence. My noble Friend Lord Triesman stressed that the UK wanted to see as many broadcasters operating in Venezuela as possible, with as few restrictions as possible.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely, in consultation with our EU partners.
Transport
Bus Services: Peterborough
The Department for Transport does not meet with local authorities on a regular basis to discuss the establishment or cancellation of particular commercial bus routes. However, the Government Office for the East of England regularly meets with Peterborough city council to discuss local transport performance and monitoring in relation to the Local Transport Plan, including bus patronage and bus punctuality targets.
Cycling
We have no data prior to 2001-02. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 29 March 2007, Official Report, columns 1688-9W given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) where the amount provided by the Department on cycling infrastructure for subsequent years can be found.
The information requested is in the following tables. These are based on data available from the National Travel Survey.
Table 1 shows data for 2000-01 to 2005 on the percentage of individuals aged five and over in each Government office region and country of Great Britain who own a bicycle. Data on bicycle ownership were not collected before 2000.
Table 2 shows data for 1999 to 2001, 2003 and 2005 on the frequency with which people in each Government office region and country of Great Britain use a bicycle. No data are held for other years in the specified time period.
Percentages/number 2000-01 2002 2003 2004 2005 North East 33 37 32 34 29 North West 38 36 37 37 41 Yorkshire & the Humber 36 37 40 37 42 East Midlands 40 48 46 46 46 West Midlands 36 38 41 39 39 East of England 48 51 50 49 51 London 28 26 29 28 32 South East 42 51 49 48 50 South West 49 48 48 47 51 England 39 41 42 41 43 Wales 36 41 37 39 40 Scotland 39 36 39 37 40 Great Britain 39 41 41 40 43 GB sample size (individuals) 17,560 19,584 20,602 20,250 21,281 Source: DfT National Travel Survey
Percentages/number At least once a week Less than once a week, at least once a month Less than once a month, at least once a year Less than once a year or never All Sample size (individuals) 1999 to 2001 North East 15 7 7 72 100 1,190 North West 15 6 8 71 100 3,128 Yorkshire & the Humber 13 7 7 73 100 2,197 East Midlands 16 9 9 67 100 1,776 West Midlands 14 7 7 72 100 2,262 East of England 16 10 10 64 100 2,404 London 10 6 5 78 100 3,177 South East 15 10 9 66 100 3,730 South West 17 11 9 63 100 2,332 England 14 8 8 70 100 22,196 Wales 10 9 8 73 100 1,398 Scotland 16 8 7 70 100 2,278 Great Britain 14 8 8 70 100 25,872 20031 North East 12 7 5 75 100 902 North West 15 6 7 71 100 2,417 Yorkshire & the Humber 15 9 7 69 100 1,808 East Midlands 17 10 10 63 100 1,490 West Midlands 13 7 8 72 100 1,905 East of England 17 10 10 63 100 1,959 London 11 5 5 79 100 2,680 South East 15 11 10 64 100 2,708 South West 15 10 10 65 100 1,789 England 14 8 8 69 100 17,658 Wales 13 7 8 72 100 1,015 Scotland 14 9 7 70 100 1,927 Great Britain 14 8 8 69 100 20,600 20051 North East 10 6 4 80 100 934 North West 16 7 7 70 100 2,545 Yorkshire & the Humber 16 6 8 70 100 1,890 East Midlands 16 7 10 67 100 1,538 West Midlands 13 7 7 73 100 1,961 East of England 18 9 11 62 100 2,083 London 13 7 6 75 100 2,649 South East 16 10 10 63 100 2,763 South West 18 8 10 64 100 1,813 England 15 8 8 69 100 18,176 Wales 14 7 7 73 100 1,103 Scotland 13 6 7 74 100 2,002 Great Britain 15 8 8 69 100 21,281 1 Excludes children aged under 5 from 2003 onwards. Source: DfT National Travel Survey
Cycling: Helmets
Surveys of cycle helmet wearing rates have been carried out for the Department in 1994, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2006. The findings from surveys from 1994 to 2004 are shown in the table. This shows that in 2004 cycle helmets were worn by:
10.8 per cent. of male cyclists under 16
28.7 per cent. of male cyclists 16 years and over
26.3 per cent. of female cyclists under 16
29.7 per cent. of female cyclists 16 years and over
The 2006 survey of cycle helmet wearing rates will be published in the autumn.
Percentage 1994 1996 1999 2002 2004 Male Under 16 16.0 13.3 12.7 12.3 10.8 16 years and over 15.5 16.7 22.2 25.2 28.7 Female Under 16 21.9 17.6 20.9 24.4 26.3 16 years and over 17.0 17.5 22.2 27.0 29.7 All Under 16 17.6 14.4 15.0 15.3 14.1 16 years and over 15.9 17.0 22.2 25.7 29.0
Most spending on cycle safety in England is undertaken by local highway authorities. It includes revenue spending on cycle training, other educational initiatives and local cycle safety publicity. Revenue spending on road safety is not recorded centrally.
The Department for Transport produces cycle safety publicity and resources at national level, which may include the promotion of helmet wearing. Figures for annual spending are only available as far back as 2002-03. Our road safety challenge grant scheme, which has been running since 2002-03, has funded a number of projects that are wholly or partly to improve cycle safety and may also include the promotion of helmet wearing. Figures for spending on cycle safety projects under previous grant schemes are not available.
Amount (£ million) 2002-03 0.06 2003-04 0.18 200-05 0.07 200-06 0.27 200-07 0.02
Departmental Projects
Schemes that have received an initial approval to proceed to the preferred option stage, which is equivalent to the Office of Government Commerce’s Gateway Review 1, are listed as follows, apart from the local authority schemes stated that are being assessed for this approval. Schemes that have passed the approvals stage equivalent to Gateway Review 3, which gives approval for contracts to be signed and construction to begin, are also omitted, as they are no longer under consideration.
The following projects have received initial funding approval, but have yet to start construction, and cost in excess of £100 million. They are in development or procurement, but are not all under active consideration by the Department at this stage. The first four are referred to in the 6 July 2006 letter from the Secretary of State to the relevant Regional Assembly and Regional Development Agency on regional funding allocations.
Mersey Gateway Bridge
Carlisle Northern Development Route
Manchester Metrolink Phase IIIA
Manchester Metrolink Renewals on Phases 1 and 2
Nottingham Light Rail Phase II—referred to in a statement to the House of Commons by the Secretary of State on 25 October 2006.
Thames Gateway Bridge—referred to on the TfL website
Birmingham Highway Maintenance—referred to in the West Midlands Local Transport Plan 2006
The Department is currently assessing the following local authority schemes for an initial Government approval to proceed to the preferred option stage.
South East Manchester Relief Road
Finningley and Rossington Relief Road (Doncaster)
Birmingham Gateway (New Street Station improvements)
Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway Upgrade
Heysham to M6 Link Road (Lancashire)
Tyne and Wear Metro Reinvigoration
All six of the schemes listed above are referred to in the 6 July 2006 letter from the Secretary of State to the relevant Regional Assembly and Regional Development Agency on regional funding allocations.
The Department is currently preparing the high level output specification for the safety, reliability and capacity it expects on the rail network for the years 2009-10 to 2013-14. This document will be published in July 2007, and is likely to contain many rail projects that cost in excess of £100 million. In particular, the Department continues to take forward the Thameslink programme, and has stated that it is considering when and how to proceed with it in conjunction with the high level output specification and the Spending Review. The Department is also continuing to take forward Crossrail, a Bill for which is currently being considered by a Select Committee of the House of Commons. In addition, the Department has given initial funding approval to proceed to the preferred option stage of the Intercity Express programme.
The following projects appear in the Highways Agency's programme, and have yet to start construction. All of these are referred to in the Highways Agency’s Business Plan 2007-08.
M25 J5-7 Widening
M25J16-23
M25J23-27
M25J27-30
M1 J10-13 Widening
M1J19
M1 J21-30
M1 J30 to J31
M1J32 to J34
M1J34 to J37
M1 J37 to J39
M1 J39 to J42
A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton Improvement
A505 Dunstable Northern Bypass (A5 to M1 link)
A1 Dishforth to Barton
A46 Newark to Widemerpool Improvement
M62 J25 to J27
National Road Telecommunication Services
A57/A628 Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle Bypass
A421 Bedford to M1 Junction 13
In addition to these, the Highways Agency’s programme includes the A30 Garland Cross to Chiverton Cross scheme, which is not currently expected to be funded in the next ten years, following advice received from the South West region. The A303 Stonehenge scheme is under review.
A further project is being led by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which issued a press release in May on the Search and Rescue Helicopters scheme being undertaken jointly with the Ministry of Defence.
Departments: Advertising
We have not generated any revenue from third parties as the Department does not sell advertising space on its websites or public information leaflets.
Department for Transport’s Executive Agencies do receive income for the services they provide, such as booking a driving test, selling vehicle registration numbers or promoting the UK ship register, and there are websites and literature that explain these services, but again, third party advertising is not permitted.
Departments: Institute for Public Policy Research
The Department was formed in May 2002. A search of the Department's accounting systems has identified five payments made to the IPPR since this date.
£ 2003-04 November 2003 399.50 2003-04 December 2003 399.50 2005-06 October 2005 176.25 and 176.25 2005-06 November 2005 176.25
All these payments were for conferences/seminars.
No payments have been made to IPPR Trading Ltd during this period.
Departments: Marketing
I refer the right hon. Member to my answers of 13 June 2007, Official Report, column 1023W and 7 June 2007, Official Report, column 699W.
Departments: Recruitment
The Department for Transport and its agencies have spent the following amount on recruitment consultancies.
£ 2002-03 1,198,693 2003-04 4,021,132 2004-05 4,220,768 2005-06 8,272,596 2006-07 4,791,412
Departments: Remploy
During the period 1 June 2006 to 31 May 2007 the Department has purchased the following services from Remploy:
£ Disability training for staff 1,249.03 Access audit of the main DVLA site 14,100.00 Printing and Distribution for Search and Rescue 17,322.63
The Department has not purchased any products from Remploy during this period.
Driving Offences: Mobile Phones
The information requested for 2006 will be available on 28 June 2007. Details of forthcoming Department for Transport statistical publications’ including “Road Casualties in Great Britain—Main Results” and “Road Casualties in Great Britain—Annual Report”, can be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/recentforthcoming publications/forthcomingstatisticalpublic5470.
East Coast Railway Line
The Department for Transport published a Consultation Document for the new East Coast Main Line franchise in December 2006. Peterborough city council was consulted, and submitted a response that was incorporated within a Stakeholder Briefing Document that was issued in March 2007.
Bids for the new franchise are currently under evaluation, and the Department does not intend to undertake further discussions in addition to opportunities that have already been available to stakeholders prior to the announcement of the award, expected later in the summer.
East Coast Railway Line: Franchise
The bids for the new franchise were received on 6 June and I expect to be able to make an announcement on the winning bidder later in the summer with the intention that the new franchise commences by the end of this year.
European Geo-Stationary Navigation Overlay System
[holding answer 11 June 2007]: The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission and Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. ESA has overall responsibility for the design and development of the EGNOS system.
The integration of EGNOS into the Galileo programme was decided by the Transport Council in its conclusions of June 2003. The failure of the current concession negotiations for Galileo has also affected the EGNOS augmentation programme since the concessionaire was to provide the long-term management and funding structure necessary for the certification of EGNOS.
At 8 June Transport Council, Ministers agreed a Council resolution which invited the Commission to continue with the implementation of a certifiable EGNOS, with initial service availability by 2008. This is to be distinguished from a service agreed for aviation use. There is not yet a timetable for certification of EGNOS for aviation use because it will first be necessary to identify clearly the funding and management structure that will guarantee an operational system in the long-term. These guarantees are dependent on the decisions to be taken in the autumn on the future of the European GNSS Programme.
Galileo Project
Ministers have attended all transport councils since 1999, when it was agreed at the Cologne European Council that Galileo ‘should be given careful scrutiny'.
Departmental officials have attended all meetings of the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) Supervisory Board, since November 2002, and all meetings of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA), since January 2005. Departmental officials usually attend council working groups where Galileo is discussed, in support of the UK representation. Transport officials have been involved with the meetings of the ESA programme board that deals with EGNOS and Galileo since its inception in July 1999 and have attended many of them. The British National Space Centre takes the lead on ESA.
Information could be provided at disproportionate cost only on the dates of all the meetings that Transport Ministers and officials have held or attended on Galileo, within the Department, with Government colleagues, or with the GJU, GSA, Commission, ESA, and EU or ESA member states. The grade of the civil servants attending meetings has varied as appropriate. Senior officials, including the permanent secretary, have been involved.
An explanatory memorandum on the Commission's Communication of 16 May 2007 has been submitted to the European Scrutiny Select Committee. The Communication is available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy_transport/galileo/doc/com Galileo en_final_16mav2007.pdf
Lorries: Tolls
I have been asked to reply.
The following companies undertook preliminary development work on the principal elements of the lorry road user charge project, as part of the bidding stage of the procurement process:
T Systems International
Serco plc
Siemens plc
Capita Group plc
IBM
Autostrade SPA
Tracs Consortium
A number of other companies also provided ancillary consultancy, technical and administrative support to HMRC policy officials, as part of the day-to-day running of the lorry road user charge project.
Motorcycles: Rural Areas
No estimate has been made of the number of quad bikes used in these circumstances.
Motorways: Driving Offences
Traffic Officers have the power to:
Stop and direct traffic and pedestrians
Place temporary traffic signs
They do not have an enforcement role. This responsibility remains with the police. Both the Highways Agency and the police support this position.
Traffic Officers support the police where there are fatalities or suspected criminality at an incident. The Traffic Officers’ role is to manage traffic in the vicinity of an incident, and in doing this they may liaise with the police on matters of compliance with road-traffic law.
Highways Agency Traffic Officers have a general instruction to report acts of a criminal nature to their control office for reporting to the Police for possible prosecution. This is fully covered in our procedures and in the initial training that Traffic Officers receive.
Railways: Death
This information is not held by the Department for Transport but by the British Transport Police, who can be contacted at: British Transport Police, 25 Camden Road, London NW1 9LN, E-mail:
general.enquiries@btp.pnn.police.uk.
Railways: Portsmouth
The Department has not undertaken any such research.
Roads: Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire county council, which includes North West Cambridgeshire, is the local highway authority for local road schemes. Since 1997 Cambridgeshire county council has been allocated funding via the Local Transport Plan programme for the following major road schemes that cost over £5 million:
£ million A142 Fordham Bypass1 2003-04 0.750 2004-05 6.921 2005-06 4.926 2006-07 0.114 Total 12.711 A1198 Papworth Everard Bypass2 2005-06 0.500 2006-07 4.110 2007-08 0.550 2008-09 30.300 Total 5.460 1 Completed 2005 2 Completed 2007 3 Not yet received.
In Cambridgeshire the Highways Agency have recently completed the following major scheme:
£ million 2002-03 1.0 2003-04 0.00 2004-05 0.99 2005-06 11.42 2006-07 33.27 2007-08 6.24 Total 52.92
In addition, the following major road scheme on the trunk road network in North West Cambridgeshire is currently under preparation by the highways agency for future delivery:
A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton Improvement
For the strategic road network information on expenditure on improvement schemes is only available from 2000-01 and is as follows:
Expenditure (£ million) 2000-01 0 2001-02 0 2002-03 0 2003-04 2 2004-05 2 2005-06 1 2006-07 1
Expenditure (£ million) 2000-01 0 2001-02 0 2002-03 1 2003-04 2 2004-05 3 2005-06 13 2006-07 33
For improvements on the local road network, tables providing a summary of actual, estimated and projected capital expenditure in (a) North West Cambridgeshire and (b) Cambridgeshire county council are set out in the finance forms produced by Cambridgeshire county council. These are available from the local transport section of their website:
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/transport/strategies/local/
Data on expenditure on roads in (c) East of England and (d) England can be found in the following tables from the publication “Transport Statistics Great Britain (TSGB) 2006”, which is available from the House Library:
1997: Table 1.20
1998: 2003 Table 1.19
2004: 2006 Table 7.13
Roads: Noise
It is current Highways Agency policy to use quieter surfacing materials during all planned maintenance works on the network and when constructing new roads.
Skips
There is no restriction on the discretion used by local authorities when imposing the provisions of the Highways Act 1980 on skips.
There are no powers under the Highways Act to set a national standard for the conditions imposed on skips placed on the highway.
South East Manchester Relief Road
We are committed to working in collaboration with Stockport, Manchester and Cheshire local authorities on considering all possible options for securing funding, including phasing of works, for the South East Manchester Relief Road. Officials will take stock of all the available options following the completion of the current Comprehensive Spending Review.
Speed Limits: Cameras
The Department has not commissioned or reviewed any research into the effectiveness of speed cameras for 20 mph zones. The Department considers that, and have advised local authorities that, 20 mph zones should be self enforcing through proven traffic calming measures.
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line between London and Glasgow, including the Cumbrian section, has been made suitable for the Virgin Pendolino high speed trains that currently operate along the route. Network Rail is responsible for the renewal, upgrade and maintenance of the rail infrastructure along the entire route.
Wales
Council Tax: Valuation
Since publication of the compiled council tax lists on 1 April 2005, no further costs have been incurred in relation to the revaluation process.
Details are published on the Valuation Office Agency’s website (www.voa.gov.uk).
The information requested is as follows:
£ 2004-05 924,125 2005-06 1,011,999 2006-07 1,071,188 2007-08 1,130,830
Severn Barrage
I have been asked to reply.
There is no specific proposal at present to build a Severn Barrage. The Sustainable Development Commission is however producing a report, with financial support from various parties including my Department, looking at various options for harnessing the potential tidal energy resource that exists around the UK, including within the Severn estuary. The SDC will, of course, be looking at the Severn Barrage proposal in detail as part of their report.
It is too early to speculate in detail about what might happen after the SDC have issued their report, expected in the autumn, or what role the Infrastructure Planning Commission might have. Clearly it would be for the private sector rather than the Government to lead in developing the concept into a specific proposal.
House of Commons Commission
ICT
(2) how many (a) servers, (b) printers and (c) computer display screens are in use in the House of Commons part of the Parliamentary Estate; and what the estimated daily energy usage is of these devices.
Records show that there are 250 servers in use within the House of Commons. Estimated energy consumption for the servers is 75k per day, based on an average server. There are approximately 1,300 printers and approximately 2,670 desktop computers in use in the House of Commons, most of which will have an attached display screen. It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the energy consumption for printers and computer display screens due to their varying use.
Northern Ireland
Orange Halls
Attacks on Orange halls are included as criminal damage offences. The following table provides details of the number of offences recorded and the approximate value of property damaged.
Calendar year Number of crimes Value of property damaged2(£) 2002 35 14,510 2003 38 30,030 2004 29 3,617 2005 47 81,645 2006 51 276,781 1 Criminal damage includes criminal damage, malicious damage and arson offences. 2 These values are an approximation of the damage caused. Please note that some crimes did not have a value recorded, thus caution should be used when drawing conclusions from this data. Note: Please note that this information is provisional and may be subject to revision. Source: Central Statistics Unit, PSNI
Electoral Registration
The Electoral Commission commented on individual registration and other administrative matters to do with the March Assembly election in its statutory report which has just been published. The report comments that their findings
‘reflect an increasing understanding of the electoral process in Northern Ireland, with individual registration and the requirement for photographic identification resulting in elections that are now largely free from allegations of electoral fraud’.
The detail of the report can be accessed online at www.electoralcommission.org.uk and I have placed a copy of it in the Library.
Juvenile Justice Centre
The information requested is as follows:
Number of chaplains Number of visits Church of Ireland 10 0 Methodist 1 10 Presbyterian 1 38 Roman Catholic 1 29 1 Church of Ireland chaplaincy post is currently vacant.
The information requested is as follows:-
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Nurse (grades H, G, F) 2.5 2.5 2.5 4.5 4.5 13.5 Psychologist 1 1 1 1 1 1 Attending medical Doctor (weekly) 1 1 1 1 1 1 Psychiatrist (sessional) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 One nurse post is currently vacant.
The nurses and psychologist are employed directly by the Youth Justice Agency. The attending medical doctor and psychiatrist are contracted-in services.
None. The Juvenile Justice Centre does not have a passive drugs dog.
Regular searches are undertaken at the Juvenile Justice Centre for all types of contraband including drugs. Specific drugs detection equipment has been used on occasions in the last 12 months when drugs misuse has been suspected. Results were negative on both occasions.
Defence
Armed Forces: Hospitals
The latest analysis of the pilot patient survey (now covering the period from late December 2006 to 31 May 2007) confirms earlier findings that the overwhelming majority of military in-patients treated at the trust's hospitals who responded to the survey consider their overall care to have been “excellent”, “very good” or “good”. Questionnaires were returned by around three-quarters of in-patients surveyed over the period. Participation in the anonymous survey is voluntary.
Armed Forces: Housing
Recording of pest infestation information is the responsibility of the individual Heads of Establishments and Records only have to be retained for three years. Given the large number of establishments it will take a little time to ascertain what information can be collected and collated.
I will write to the hon. Member as soon as inquiries are complete and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Defence Housing Executive
Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts are available in the Library of the House.
Departments: Advertising
The Ministry of Defence engages in a range of recruitment and public relations campaigns in order that the work of the MOD and armed forces is communicated to the general public. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Gurkhas: Medical Treatment
Medical treatment for the individual Gurkha soldier is the same as that provided to his serving British counterpart.
Iraq and Afghanistan: Medical Suppliers
Highly effective procedures are in place, at all levels of the Ministry of Defence, to monitor the provision of medicine and medical supplies to deployed forces.
Specialist medical supply staff are deployed in both theatres to monitor usage on the ground and ensure timely and accurate re-supply demands to the UK base.
There are also specialist medical officers in the headquarters in both Iraq and Afghanistan and part of their role is to oversee the provision of medical supplies. Similarly, there are medical personnel within the permanent joint headquarters to advise senior commanders on medical matters, including if necessary, the provision of supplies.
Medical supplies are given a high priority and, in the case of medicines, are always transported by the fastest means.
Maritime Role Three Medical Capability
The Maritime Role Three Medical Capability will contribute to the medical care of UK personnel deployed on operations. The project is currently undertaking research to confirm the overall defence requirement. Accordingly, the precise nature of the capabilities, infrastructure and equipment to be provided have not yet been determined.
Princess Royal Barracks
The outcome and reporting of the review by the Devon and Cornwall police on the Surrey police investigation into the deaths of four recruits at Deepcut is entirely a matter for the police authorities involved and the Home Office.
No. The website was set up by Nicholas Blake QC for the duration of the review and closed recently, more than a year after the report was published in March 2006. The report is still available on the internet on Nicholas Blake’s webpage at Matrix Chambers at:
http://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/WhoWeAre_Members_NicholasBlakeQC.aspx
A copy will also shortly be put on to the MOD’s website at:
www.mod.uk
RAF Northolt
[holding answer 17 May 2007]: The following table details on how many occasions the Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Crown have flown from RAF Northolt in each financial year since 2003:
Financial year Prime Minister Ministers of the Crown 2003-04 21 118 2004-05 28 76 2005-06 20 108 2006-07 18 53
Somalia: Piracy
The UK currently has forces deployed as part of the Coalition Naval Task Force which operates in the Arabian sea and Indian ocean, including off the coast of Somalia. These assets are deployed on a range of maritime security tasks, and could respond to incidents of piracy should they arise.
Submarines: Pay
[holding answer 18 June 2007]: The total cost of submarine pay is currently approximately £27 million per annum of which £12 million per annum is paid to personnel not currently serving on board a submarine.
Territorial Army
(2) when the Armed Forces Minister was first informed of the potential impact of the reduction of funding for the Territorial Army in financial years 2007-08 to 2008-09.
[holding answer 15 June 2007]: A range of measures was considered collectively during the Department’s Planning Round to balance the Defence Programme and ensure that all areas of Defence, including the Territorial Army, operate as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. It was judged that we could make a small adjustment to TA expenditure in order to ensure that resources were allocated in line with Defence priorities, while ensuring that TA support to current operations remained unaffected.
This measure formed part of the Defence Programme 07 submitted to Ministers in February 2007 for consideration and approval, as part of the departmental planning round process.
International Development
Developing Countries: Education
(2) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that targets set at the last G8 summit for education for every child will be met by 2015.
While the G8 did not agree additional long-term education targets at the Heiligendamm summit, the G8 did agree to implement the commitments on development made at Gleneagles. This includes support for long-term funding for education, and to continue to work with partners and other donors to meet shortfalls in all Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) endorsed countries, estimated by the FTI Secretariat at around $500 million for 2007.
With regard to the Millennium Development Goal target of achieving universal primary education by 2015, faster progress and a concerted effort by all donors is needed. The UK has already made a long-term commitment to help achieve this target through our promise to provide £8.5 million over 10 years in support of education, announced in April 2006. The support for long-term funding agreed at Heiligendamm is welcomed and shows that the UK approach and example should be adopted. We will continue to use all opportunities to urge other donors to also meet their promises.
Malawi: Water
The UK is looking to contribute to the World Bank’s second National Water Development Programme in Malawi through the World Bank’s Africa Catalytic Growth Fund (ACGF). The ACGF, part of the Bank’s Africa Action Plan, aims to help Africa make faster progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and increasing the rate of economic growth. Financed by voluntary contributions, the ACGF complements other sources of development financing, including those from the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). The UK has committed £200 million to the ACGF, of which £90 million has been paid to the Bank, to date, to support five projects. We are currently discussing with the Bank a proposed ACGF allocation of about $30 million (£15 million) to the Malawi National Water Development Programme, which would focus on strengthening the rural water supply and sanitation component, to be financed from the next UK contribution to the ACGF (due in April 2008).
Somalia: Overseas Aid
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 14 June 2007, Official Report, columns 1250-51W, which outlines the details, effectiveness and tangible examples of the UK’s support to the Somali Transitional Federal Government.
Our assessment is that funding for humanitarian activities is adequate, but we remain concerned about access issues for agencies trying to work on the ground, and about the continuing restrictions being placed on humanitarian actors by the Transitional Federal Government.
The United Nations appeal is $262 million (£132 million), of which 54 per cent. is currently funded. The ICRC appeal is 46 million Swiss francs (£18.7 million), of which 57 per cent. has been received and 72 per cent. pledged.
The UK is committed to addressing humanitarian needs in Somalia. So far in 2007, DFID has committed £6.3 million in additional funds to help those worst affected by the fighting and the ongoing humanitarian needs. We keep in close contact with UN agencies and our partners on the ground to ensure that DFID’s humanitarian response fits the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.
Sudan: Asylum
Following the aerial attack on the southern Darfur town of Dafak in May, a total of 2,650 Sudanese refugees fled over the border to north-eastern Central African Republic. The United Nations humanitarian agencies have assessed the situation and have begun an airlift to deliver essential food, shelter and household items to those in need. This assistance is funded by the $100,000 from the UN’s local Emergency Response Fund, to which DFID contributed £550,000 in April, in addition to the $6.4 million provided from the UN’s global Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) since 2006. DFID is the single largest donor to the CERF, providing $154 million since 2006.
DFID remains concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Central African Republic, and the impact on refugees and other vulnerable people. In response, we have increased our humanitarian commitment to the country to £2 million in 2007.
Tanzania: Debts
Tanzania completed the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) in 2001, receiving debt cancellation worth $861 million from the World Bank and $155 million from the African Development Bank. In 2006, Tanzania received a further $1,375 million of debt cancellation from the World Bank and $245 million from the African Development Bank under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). All figures are in 2005 Net Present Value (NPV) terms.
Tanzania’s debt cancellation under HIPC and MDRI is irrevocable. Tanzania will not be required to make any payments on any debts disbursed by the World Bank before the end of 2003 and by the African Development Bank before the end of 2004. In their 2006 Status of HIPC and MDRI Implementation Report, the World Bank and IMF reported that $595 million of the debt cancellation at the World Bank and $102 million at the African Development Bank was yet to be delivered. The World Bank has advised us that this will be corrected in the 2007 report, which will show that all HIPC and MDRI debt cancellation for Tanzania and the other countries that have completed the HIPC Initiative has been delivered.
Trade and Industry
Clay
(2) what tonnage of shale was extracted in the UK in each quarter of (a) 2004, (b) 2005, (c) 2006 and (d) 2007 to date.
[holding answer 18 June 2007]: The Office for National Statistics publishes annual figures for Product Sales and Trade: Mining of Clays and Kaolin (PRA 14220). One table covers common clays and shales for construction use including for bricks, tiles, pipes, and cement but excluding bentonite (sodium and calcium smectite), attapulgite and sepiolite, fireclay, expanded clays, and kaolin and kaolinic clays; it does not separate clay from shale and while it provides annual figures for UK manufacturer sales, the most recent figure for volumes which has not been suppressed as disclosive was for 2003, namely 11.3 million tonnes, and in the same year there were UK manufacturer sales of fireclay of 0.5 million tonnes.
HM Revenue and Customs Overseas Trade Statistics give the following figures for imports of HS2508: clays, andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite whether or not calcined, mullite, chamotte or dinas earths (excluding kaolin and other kaolinic clays, and expanded clay):
Quarter Weight (thousand tonnes) 2004 Q1 54 Q2 85 Q3 85 Q4 92 2005 Q1 74 Q2 82 Q3 93 Q4 84 2006 Q1 56 Q2 67 Q3 92 Q4 93 2007 Q1 66 Source: Overseas Trade Statistics
Coastal Towns: Conferences
The following people attended the conference:
Margaret Hodge MP—Minister for Industry and the Regions;
Kitty Ussher MP—Parliamentary Private Secretary;
Vicky Pryce—Department of Trade and Industry;
David Southworth—Department of Trade and Industry;
Paul Steeples—Department of Trade and Industry;
Keith Thorpe—Communities and Local Government;
Annabel Houghton—Department of Culture Media and Sport;
Paul Nicol—Department of Culture Media and-Sport;
Bill Wells—Department of Work and Pensions;
John Scott—Government Office South East;
Peter White—North West Development Agency;
Sandra Rothwell—South West Regional Development Agency;
Steve Weaver—Blackpool council;
Mark Smith—Bournemouth borough council;
Nicola Precious—East Lindsey district council;
Peter Wright—Great Yarmouth borough council;
Ray Williamson—Scarborough borough council;
Richard Samuel—Thanet district council;
Peter Hampson—British Resorts and Destinations Association;
Jessica Courtney Bennett—British Urban Regeneration Association;
Paul Jess—British Urban Regeneration Association;
Christina Beatty—Sheffield Hallam university;
Steve Fothergill—Sheffield Hallam university; and
John Walton—University of Central Lancashire.
Representatives of the following organisations were invited, but were not able to attend:
HM Treasury;
Durham county council;
Hastings borough council;
North Tyneside council;
Penwith district council;
Restormel borough council; and
Worthing borough council
Microgeneration
The Low Carbon Buildings Programme offers grants to householders for a range of microgeneration technologies including solar thermal hot water. There is no rationing of grants for any of the technologies supported, but we do have different grant levels with an overall cap of £2,500 per household.
The Chancellor announced in the Budget 2007 that an additional £6 million would be allocated to the household stream, taking the total available to £18.7 million. The scheme was then suspended so that we could work with key stakeholders to address operational issues encountered over recent months, and decide how to make best use of the new money.
Since the re-launch of the programme on 29 May, we have removed the cap on grants which means there are now no waiting times. Online applications are processed instantly, and paper applications are processed within five days in line with the terms and conditions of the programme.
Departments: Homeworking
The information requested is not available as central records of instances of home working are not maintained. However, in the November 2006 Staff Survey, 246 staff (16 per cent.) reported that they had a regular home working arrangement (e.g. one day per week). In addition, 260 (18 per cent.) replied that they had access to occasional home working on request. 72 per cent. of respondents were satisfied with the Department's flexible working policies. 70 per cent. of all staff participated in the staff survey.
As part of policy on alternative and flexible working patterns, the Department is willing to consider home working arrangements where they are compatible with the work and business needs and with the skills and preferences of individual members of staff.
Departments: Manpower
The information requested in part (a) and (b), relating to temporary contracts is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on permanent staff recruited in each of the specified years is as follows:
Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time 2004 74 0 72 3 4 0 9 0 2005 65 1 69 4 4 1 11 0 2006 67 0 49 5 4 0 9 0
Available information, as at 1 June 2007 and including UK Trade and Investment and Office of Manpower Economics is as follows:
Percentage ofDTI staff Male 58 Female 42 Declared disability 8 Age 55+ 17
Departments: Special Advisors
Special advisers' involvement in party political matters is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, including section 22 (iii), and the guidance issued by the Cabinet Secretary in December 2006 and May 2007, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.
Departments: Official Cars
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Minister of State for Transport on Thursday, 14 June 2007, Official Report, column 1269W. Ministers in the Department for Trade and Industry are provided with two Toyota Prius, one Rover 75, one Vauxhall Vectra and one Honda Civic.
Departments: Peninsula Business Services
Central records indicate that no payments have been made to Peninsula Business Services in any of the last five financial years.
I have asked the chief executives of the executive agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member.
Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departments: Publications
[holding answer 9 May 2007]: The following list details the newsletters/magazines that have been produced since April 2006 as notified to the DTI’s Publications Unit:
Miners Compensation Newsletter
Space UK—published by BNSC
Overseas Trade: published by UK Trade and Investment
Environmental Opportunities Overseas—published by UKTI
UK Global—published by UKTI
TPI News—published by UKTI
DTI News: The staff publication of the Department, is published monthly and distributed internally to all staff.
Drugs: Prices
[holding answer 19 June 2007]: Ministers are still considering the full implications of this important and complex report. Due to the need to assess all of the information provided by OFT, including detailed annexes published after the main report, the timing of the Government response has been delayed.
Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal
The Government are committed to the principles of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR) and ensuring that producers recognise the importance of design in the sustainability agenda and will continue to work with the business community on this issue.
As part of the WEEE system, the DTI will be establishing an independent WEEE Advisory Body to provide advice to Government on issues arising from the implementation of the WEEE Regulations and on how to encourage product design to assist with IPR. This will be one of the areas the DTI will ask them to address.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive encourage producers of electrical equipment to consider design of new products to facilitate environmentally sound treatment and reprocessing when equipment reaches its end of life.
The UK has addressed this issue through Regulation 59 of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (SI 3289).
Regulations implementing the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic and Equipment (WEEE) Directive require producers to finance the treatment, recovery and environmentally sound disposal of WEEE. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006—were laid before the House on 12 December following extensive consultation with business, including a number of electronic producers.
Energy Supply
As set out in the Energy White Paper (paragraph 4.36) the new energy markets outlook is to be jointly managed by the Department of Trade and Industry and Ofgem and will provide energy market information relating to security of supply.
The Government's strategy to move towards a low carbon economy is also set out in the Energy White Paper, which explains how the domestic sector and planned new housing will play its part in meeting our climate change objectives. The Climate Change Bill will establish legally binding carbon budgets, and targets (or milestones) to help this country meet its commitment to tackle climate change.
Imports: Motorcycles
The following table shows HM Revenue and Customs' Overseas Trade Statistics for the value and number of UK imports from China of motorcycles, including mopeds, with engines of 50cc or less:
Month Value (£000) Number 2006 January 653 9,667 February 448 3,409 March 176 1,878 April 378 2,894 May 257 3,066 June 366 3,502 July 310 4,000 August 380 4,486 September 380 6,403 October 260 3,161 November 323 4,149 December 273 2,883 2007 January 175 1,209 February 70 672
Imports: Wood
HM Revenue and Customs Overseas Trade Statistics give the following figures for imports of the following Combined Nomenclature trade codes; the first four cover spruce and silver fir seeking to provide figures for “whitewood”, while the second four cover pine, particularly Scots Pine, seeking to provide figures for “redwood”:
CN44032011: Coniferous wood, in the rough or roughly squared, not treated with paint, stains or preservatives: Sawlogs of coniferous wood in rough, not treated: spruce of kind picea abies karst or silver fir
CN44032019: Coniferous wood, in the rough or roughly squared, not treated with paint, stains or preservatives: Other coniferous wood in rough: spruce of kind picea abies karst or silver fir not treated other than sawlogs
CN44071031: Coniferous wood, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed etc., of thickness greater than 6 mm: Wood sawn lengthwise—planed—spruce of the kind picea abies karst or silver fir (abies alba mill)
CN44071091: Coniferous wood, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed etc., of thickness greater than 6 mm: Wood sawn lengthwise coniferous wood spruce unsorted and other than unsorted
CN44032031: Coniferous wood, in the rough or roughly squared, not treated with paint, stains or preservatives: Sawlogs of coniferous wood in rough not treated: pine of kind pinus sylvestris L.
CN44032039: Coniferous wood, in the rough or roughly squared, not treated with paint, stains or preservatives: Coniferous wood, in rough, not treated: pine of kind pinus sylvestris L, other than sawlogs
CN44071033: Coniferous wood, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed etc., of thickness greater than 6 mm: Pine of the kind of pinus sylvestris L.
CN44071093: Coniferous wood, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed etc., of thickness greater than 6 mm: Sawn lengthwise coniferous wood pine unsorted mixtures of spruce/pine and other coniferous wood
CN44032011 CN44032031 CN44032019 CN44032039 CN44071031 CN44071033 Year/Quarter CN44071091 CN44071093 2004 Q1 387 292 Q2 501 365 Q3 439 298 Q4 392 264 2005 Q1 436 299 Q2 483 332 Q3 430 266 Q4 372 268 2006 Q1 386 245 Q2 419 268 Q3 383 219 Q4 389 210 2007 Q1 352 192 Source: Overseas Trade Statistics
Limestone
[holding answer 18 June 2007]: The Office for National Statistics publishes annual figures for Product Sales and Trade: Quarrying of Limestone, Gypsum and Chalk (excluding Uranium and Thorium Ores) in PRA 14120. However data on volumes of UK manufacturer sales of limestone are not available. UK manufacturer sales of crushed limestone aggregates are reported as part of crushed stone of a kind used for concrete aggregates, for roadstone and for other construction use excluding gravel, pebbles, shingle and flint in the ONS report Product Sales and Trade: Operation of Gravel and Sandpits in PRA 14210, but are not separated from many other aggregates.
HM Revenue and Customs Overseas Trade Statistics give the following figures for imports of CN25210000 limestone flux, limestone and other calcareous stone used for the manufacture of lime or cement, and of CN25171020 limestone, dolomite and other calcareous stone, broken or crushed for road metalling, railway or other ballast:
Quarter CN25210000 CN25171020 2004 Q1 0 78 Q2 2 114 Q3 2 105 Q4 6 91 2005 Q1 25 103 Q2 38 128 Q3 30 172 Q4 31 107 2006 Q1 3 103 Q2 14 108 Q3 4 37 Q4 2 57 2007 Q1 5 51 Source: Overseas Trade Statistics
Mobile Phone Masts
To my knowledge, None.
In 2000, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones chaired by Sir William Stewart undertook a comprehensive review of the scientific literature. It concluded that the “balance of evidence to date suggests that exposure to radiofrequency radiation below international guidelines does not cause adverse health effects to the general population” (www.iegmp.org.uk). A more recent report by the Health Protection Agency in 2004 on Mobile Phones and Health came to the same conclusion. This advice is available on the website of the Health Protection Agency
(www.hpa.org.uk/radiation).
Nanotechnology
The Government's 10-year Science and Innovation Investment Framework, published in July 2004, reaffirmed the commitment to support businesses investing in new and emerging technologies, such as nanotechnology. The delivery mechanism for this work is the Technology Strategy Board, comprising mainly experienced business leaders, which will identify the new and emerging technologies critical to the growth of the UK economy into which Government funding and activities can be directed.
Over the period 2005-08, £320 million is available to businesses in the form of grants to support research and development through the Technology Strategy Board.
This includes over £100 million already invested in nanotechnology on collaborative R and D and a network of development facilities. A new nanotechnology knowledge transfer network was established in May 2007 to take forward the work of the Micro and Nanotechnology Network. Future decisions on technology and funding priorities will lie with the new TSB.
The research councils provide funding in responsive mode for research including nanotechnology related activities. This is a flexible mechanism and can support larger longer term grants where this is appropriate. This will, by stimulating competition, ensure that the councils continue to support a healthy research base in the UK.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is implementing a programme in nanoscience through engineering to application, in order to build on the platform of earlier investments and to realise the benefits of the technology for society and the economy. Key features will be:
strong partnership with the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to achieve pull-through to a range of sectors;
the participation of science and technology facilities council (STFC) and other research councils where relevant;
a grand challenge approach to identify the highest impact research areas;
leadership and co-ordination by a senior strategy advisor from the community.
Over £100 million has already been invested in nanotechnology by the Technology Strategy Board over the period 2005-2008.
National Institute for Medical Research
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The MRC has met Camden council on three occasions relating to the fixture location of the NIMR.
The national Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC). The Medical Research Council is currently preparing a detailed business case for the relocation of the NIMR to central London.
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The Mill Hill site of the NIMR is in a conservation area.
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The MRC has not consulted the British Library about the relocation of the NIMR to a site near to the British Library.
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The MRC has not taken a final decision on the preferred site for the NIMR.
(2) how much has been spent on the process of purchasing and considering the development of the Temperance hospital site in Camden for the future location of the National Institute for Medical Research, excluding the direct purchase price of the site.
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC paid £28 million for the National Temperance hospital site and has spent an additional £0.8 million on development costs.
(2) what planning and development restrictions apply to building on the British Library site intended as the future home for the National Institute for Medical Research.
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The interim Director of NIMR ‘Sir Keith Peters’ communicates regularly with NIMR staff about the development of a business case including the option of relocating NIMR to the National Temperance hospital site, as well as work to determine the feasibility of relocation to a larger site adjacent to the British Library. No decision has been made.
The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a wholly owned institute of the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The MRC is currently preparing a detailed business case for the relocation of the NIMR to central London. This will address the cost of various options.