Written Answers

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many health clinics in Afghanistan have received funding from the Government in each year since 2001. (301524)

The majority of UK support for health in Afghanistan occurs through contributions to the Afghan Government’s budget. Since 2002, the Department for International Development (DFID) has contributed £360 million to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Fund (ARTF). The ARTF is managed by the World Bank and reimburses proven Government expenditure on operating costs including on health. DFID will provide a further £165 million to the ARTF to 2012-13 which will cover 14 per cent. of the Government’s recurrent costs in health.

Since 2003 DFID has also invested £32 million in the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), which funds small-scale projects selected by communities all across Afghanistan. The NSP has funded the construction of over 100 health projects nationwide.

Construction of individual health clinics in Helmand is undertaken by the UK-led Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), to which DFID contributes staff and funding. In the last six months, the PRT has constructed or refurbished four health centres in Helmand province. Last year, the Bost hospital in Lashkar Gah received approximately £800,000 for a new maternity clinic and college. This would not have been possible under the Taliban.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has provided for rehabilitation projects for (a) health clinics, (b) schools and (c) drinking wells in Afghanistan in each year since 2001. (301522)

The majority of the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) support for health and education in Afghanistan is not through direct construction projects, but rather support to the Afghan Government budget. Since 2002 DFID has contributed £360 million to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Fund (ARTF) which is managed by the World Bank and reimburses proven Government expenditure on operating costs including in health and education. We will provide a further £165 million to the ARTF to 2012-13. This will cover 14 per cent. of the Government’s recurrent costs in health and education.

Since 2001 DFID has also contributed to a number of specific programmes involving the construction of health clinics, schools and drinking wells. Between 2006 and 2009, DFID contributed £30 million to various construction projects in Helmand through the Helmand Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (HARDP). This included almost £4.4 million for the construction of wells and latrines.

Through the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team, the Bost hospital in Lashkar Gah received approximately £800,000 last year for a new maternity clinic and college that would not have been possible under the Taliban.

Since 2003, DFID has also contributed £32 million to the Government of Afghanistan’s National Solidarity Programme (NSP), which funds small-scale projects selected by communities all around Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many road projects in Afghanistan have been funded by the Government in each year since 2001. (301525)

The majority of the Department for International Development's (DFID’s) funding for construction projects in Afghanistan is through support to the Afghan Government’s budget. Since 2003, DFID has contributed £32 million to the National Solidarity Programme (NSP). This funds small-scale projects selected by communities all around Afghanistan, and has funded the construction of almost 12,000 ‘transport’ projects.

Since 2001 DFID has also funded the design, improvement or construction of almost 150 kilometres of roads in Helmand province. This includes:

59 kilometres of small road projects selected by local communities and funded through the Helmand Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (HARDP);

12.5 kilometres in various districts of Helmand as part of the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team's road building programme;

a 2.5 kilometre road providing access to the Gereshk power station, the rehabilitation of which DFID is financing;

the design of the 48 kilometre Lashkar Gah to Gereshk road.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many schools in Afghanistan have been funded by his Department in each year since 2001. (301523)

The majority of UK support for education in Afghanistan occurs through contributions to the Afghan Government budget. Since 2002, the Department for International Development (DFID) has contributed £360 million to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Fund (ARTF). The ARTF is managed by the World Bank and reimburses proven Government expenditure on operating costs including on education. We will provide a further £165 million to the ARTF to 2012-13 which will cover 14 per cent. of the Government’s recurrent costs in education.

Since 2003 DFID has also invested £32 million in the National Solidarity Programme (NSP). This funds small-scale projects selected by communities all across Afghanistan, including the construction of almost 6,000 education projects nationwide.

DFID funded the refurbishment of training infrastructure and a teacher training centre in Kandahar province in 2002. UK support to construct schools in Helmand is, however, normally undertaken by the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), to which DFID contributes staff and funding. In the last six months, the PRT has refurbished five schools in Helmand.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been made to his Department by its staff since 6 June 2006. (301489)

No formal allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing have been made to the Department of International Development (DFID) by current staff since 6 June 2006.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which (a) individuals other than ministerial colleagues and officials of his Department and (b) organisations he met in an official capacity in the week commencing 9 November 2009. (301166)

In its response to a report by the Public Administration Select Committee—‘Lobbying: Access and influence in Whitehall’, the Government agreed to publish online, on a quarterly basis, information about ministerial meetings with outside interest groups. Information for the period 1 October to 31 December 2009 will be published by Departments as soon as the information is ready.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what date he last travelled by train in the course of his official duties. (301205)

I last travelled by train in the course of official duties on 20 November 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of jobs advertised by his Department in the last 12 months were online only applications; and what provision his Department makes for those wishing to apply for jobs in his Department who do not have access to the internet. (301538)

All external vacancies in the Department for International Development (DFID) are advertised in the National press and on our website and we use an e-resourcing system to help us to manage applications.

Since November 2008, a total of 63 posts have been advertised. 58 posts (92 per cent.) were advertised through our e-resourcing system (using online applications) and five posts (8 per cent.) were advertised inviting word applications by e-mail and hard copy.

There is an expectation that applicants will apply online however alternative application methods for all of our posts are considered on request.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mass of paper his Department recycled in each of the last five years. (301565)

All waste paper used by the Department for International Development (DFID) is recycled. The amount of paper in tonnes which has been recycled over the last five years by DFID is set out in the table. This information was provided by our waste contractors, based partly on estimates derived from waste audits which measured the proportion of paper waste out of the total recycled waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what training sessions were attended by (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers in his Department at public expense in each of the last three years. (301373)

Training is provided to Ministers and special advisers as part of their induction and continuing development in order to carry out their respective duties effectively under the ‘Ministerial Code’ and the ‘Code of Conduct for Special Advisers’. Details of training provided to Government Ministers by the National School of Government are publicly available and can be found at:

http://www.nationalschool.gov.uk/policy/MinisterialProgramme/Table.asp

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what proportion of staff of his Department and its non-departmental public bodies work flexibly or part-time; and what his Department’s policy is on making jobs available on a job-share or flexible basis. (301328)

The Department for International Development (DFID) provides a wide range of flexible working options.

Most staff work their contracted hours via the Flexible Working Hours Scheme. This offers flexibility on the hours worked and allows employees to work additional hours and convert them to leave, up to three days in every four-week period. Within this Flexible Working Hours Scheme, staff work alternative working patterns including reduced hours, compressed hours, job-sharing and term-time working. At July 2009, 144 Home Civil Servants worked part-time, equating to 8.6 per cent.

DFID’s policy is that unless there is a clear business reason all jobs are available on a job-share or flexible basis.

DFID does not have any responsibility for any executive agencies. Nor do we have any staff working in non-departmental public bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the value of remittances as a percentage of the gross domestic product of each country which receives support from his Department in each year since 2005. (301221)

The World Bank is the leading source of reliable data on remittances. However, there is no information for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Iraq. The available information for the years 2005-08 is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he made of the amount of remittances sent (a) in total, (b) to Pakistan and (c) to Nigeria in the latest year for which figures are available. (301314)

Total global remittances are estimated at $444 billion in 2008, of which $338 billion flowed to developing countries.

Remittances to Pakistan totalled $7.0 billion in 2008.

Remittances to Nigeria totalled $10.0 billion in 2008.

Data Source:

The World Bank

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has received on UNESCO's decision to establish the UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences; and if he will make a statement. (300240)

The UK Delegation to UNESCO has received one e-mail expressing concern at the creation of this prize, from the Open Society Institute in November 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role his Department played in the processes leading to UNESCO's decision to establish the UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences; and if he will make a statement. (300241)

The proposal to establish this prize was put forward by the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to UNESCO's Executive Board on 29 September 2008; and it was approved by the Executive Board on 17 October 2008. The UK was not a member of the Board and therefore took no part in the decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what involvement the UK has in the World Food Programme's activities in Somalia; what actions the World Food Programme took in Somalia in the last 12 months; and what actions are planned in the next 12 months. (301469)

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received $335 million so far in 2009 from various donors for its emergency food aid operations in Somalia, against stated requirements of $475 million. It expects by the end of 2009 to have delivered 304,000 metric tonnes of emergency food aid to 3.1 million Somalis.

WFP expects to appeal for $309 million to continue its emergency food aid and $40 million for its emergency nutrition operations in 2010. This will include Special Operations to improve the security of staff operating in Somalia, finance a humanitarian air support operation, and improve key port and road infrastructure to facilitate its food aid operations.

In 2008 the Department for International Development (DFID) provided $23.8 million to the WFP Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation for Somalia, which was spent by WFP from June 2008 to March 2009.

DFID contributed $102 million in 2009 to the cost of WFP's global operations, and plays an active role in the WFP Board in discussion of its programmes and policies.

9. To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what the policy of the Church Commissioners is on the management of their holdings of farm land. (301673)

The Church Commissioners seek the best possible total return from all their assets (not just farm holdings) within an acceptable level of risk and their ethical investment policy.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what formula each diocese uses for calculating parish share. (301363)

The Commissioners do not collect individual dioceses’ parish share formulae. However, I will shortly place in the Library a document entitled “Parish Share Systems by Diocese” which summarises dioceses’ approach to the calculation and allocation of parish share. More detailed information would have to be obtained from each diocese.

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners with reference to the answer of 15 October 2009, Official Report, column 996W, on the Church of England: finance, how the number of church members is calculated; what the average parish share per church member in each (a) parochial church council (PCC) area and (b) diocese is; what the parish share in each PCC in England in 2009 was; what revenue each diocese received (i) in total and (ii) per Church member from the (A) parish share and (B) other sources in the last 12 months; and how much each diocese spent in that period. (301531)

Church membership is estimated as an average of electoral roll, average Sunday attendance and average weekly attendance numbers.

Parish share per church ‘member’ requested in each diocese was given in my answer of 15 October 2009, Official Report, columns 995-96W. Parish share and other income per church ‘member’ received in each diocese in 2007 (the latest year for which such figures are available), using figures from diocesan accounts, is shown in the table.

The Commissioners do not collect the other information requested by the hon. Gentleman.

2. To ask the honourable Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission whether the Electoral Commission has been requested to advise Ministers on the contents of a paving Bill for a referendum on preferential voting. (301666)

The Electoral Commission informs me that it has received no such request.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to facilitate access to manorial documents held by (a) local record offices and (b) other organisations for the purpose of supporting public interest applications for the re-registration of land as common under Schedule 2(4) of the Commons Act 2006. (301457)

It is the responsibility of an applicant under paragraph 4 of schedule 2 to the Commons Act 2006 to obtain and provide evidence supporting his or her application. Where relevant manorial documents are held by local record offices, they will generally be available to the public for inspection. Where they are held by private individuals, arrangements for inspection should be made with the custodian.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider the merits of (a) publishing in electronic format and (b) permitting free access to (i) phase I habitat maps, (ii) the land cover map 2007 and (iii) other resources used by people applying to re-register common land under Schedule 2(4) of the Commons Act 2006. (301458)

Public access is already generally available to similar documents where they are held by public bodies, under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Under regulation 6 of the 2004 regulations, a person may request information to be made available in electronic form, and a public authority must comply unless the exceptions in regulation 6(1) apply. DEFRA has arranged for electronic copies of the decisions of the Commons Commissioners in England and Wales to be placed on the website of the Association of Commons Registration Officers at

www.acraew.org.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons applicants for the re-registration of land under Schedule 2(4) of the Commons Act 2006 are required to provide large-scale ordnance survey maps describing the application area in circumstances in which existing register maps describing that area are available. (301460)

The use of large-scale maps is required for the purposes of an application under paragraph 4 of schedule 2 to the Commons Act 2006, in order to ensure accuracy in determining the boundary line of the land specified in the application. However, we accept that, where the application relates to the whole of a cancelled register unit, the representation of the cancelled unit on the register map could otherwise be suitable for the purpose of identification.

We are reviewing the pilot implementation of part 1 of the Commons Act 2006, and will consider what changes might be made to the regulations relating to applications under paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to the Act when Part 1 is implemented nationally at a later date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether assistance from his Department is available to individuals or organisations applying to re-register common land under Schedule 2(4) of the Commons Act 2006 to (a) identify and (b) serve notice on the owners of that land, with particular reference to circumstances in which such land is not registered with the Land Registry. (301463)

No assistance is available from DEFRA for the purposes of making an application to register waste land of a manor under paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to the Commons Act 2006, regardless of whether the ownership is registered with the Land Registry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the costs expected to be incurred by an individual or organisation applying to re-register common land under Schedule 2(4) of the Commons Act 2006. (301464)

The impact assessment for the pilot implementation of Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006 concluded that the completion of an application form by applicants would impose a very small administrative burden on applicants. In addition, the costs of giving notice of an application to prescribed persons would also generally be low. The impact assessment noted that DEFRA intended to gather further information about the burden on applicants, but to date no applications have been submitted under paragraph 4 of Schedule 2 to enable this to be done.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efficiency savings projects (a) his Department and (b) its agencies put in place under the Operational Efficiency Programme; on what date each such project was initiated; how much each such project was expected to contribute to departmental savings; how much had been saved through each such project on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (300924)

DEFRA and its delivery network are contributing to the Government's target of £35 billion VFM savings in CSR07. Overall progress towards the target will be reported in departmental autumn performance reports. Current savings include those arising under DEFRA's Workplace Support Initiative which will bring much of the DEFRA estate (which currently covers over 234 sites across the Department and its agencies) into a single facilities management contract. DEFRA will save £6 million per year in 2010-11 compared to the preceding year through economies of scale and increasing the flexibility of its facilities. Savings will rise to £11 million per year by 2013-14.

The Department's plans for delivering OEP savings over the next spending review are being developed to contribute to the Government's £9 billion target of OEP savings across the public sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables and (h) fruit procured by his Department that was produced in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (300179)

A second report on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Departments and also supplied to hospitals and prisons under contracts negotiated by NHS Supply Chain and HM Prison Service was published in November 2008, covering the year from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. This report and the first one covering the previous year can be found at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/policy/publicsectorfood/awareness.htm

The report gives details of the proportion of individual meat, fruit and vegetable categories purchased.

Although it is too early to show a trend, the report indicates that the amount of domestically produced food consumed by Government Departments in England is increasing. The proportion of domestically produced food procured by DEFRA has gone up from 79.5 per cent. in 2006-07 to 85 per cent. in 2007-08. We expect to publish a third report at the end of 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 3 August 2009 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, transferred from the Treasury, PO Ref: 1/74240/2009, on surface water charges. (301743)

I replied to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on 17 August and have arranged for a copy of the response to be sent to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 16 July 2009, Official Report, column 568W, on origin marking: Israel, for what reasons the proposals on labelling of goods originating from Israeli settlements have not yet been published for public consultation; and when he expects the proposals to be published. (300306)

[holding answer 23 November 2009]: We fully appreciate the strong opinions that people have about this issue. It is because of the sensitive and complex nature of this case that the Government are still carefully considering possible next steps.

To ask the Solicitor-General what recent discussions she has had with the Attorney-General on the implications of the proposed Bribery Bill for the role of the Attorney-General. (301684)

The Bribery Bill will no longer require the consent of the Attorney-General or Solicitor-General before a prosecution for an offence under the Bill can be started, and instead will require the consent of the Director of the relevant prosecuting authority. The Bill does not alter the role of the Attorney-General in any other way.

To ask the Solicitor-General on what dates the Crown Prosecution Service received (a) the report of the review, (b) the draft report and (c) the notes of interviews with police officers between the end of Mr. Eddie Gilfoyle's trial and the time they were disclosed to the defence for Mr. Gilfoyle's appeal in 1995. (301569)

The Merseyside Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) received the report of the review conducted by Merseyside police on 17 July 1995.

The relevant part of the report, together with the supporting material including the notes with the various officers, was served on the defence by way of a covering letter on 7 August 1995.

The appeal was heard on 11, 12 and 14 September 1995 and the judgment of the Court of Appeal was delivered on 20 October 1995.

To ask the Solicitor-General what recent representations the Director of Public Prosecutions has received on his interim policy for prosecutors on assisted suicide. (301677)

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) published the interim policy for prosecutors in respect of cases of assisted suicide on 23 September 2009. At the same time the CPS launched a 12-week public consultation on it. Up to 20 November 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had received approximately 700 pieces of correspondence in response.

28. To ask the Leader of the House what recent representations she has received on the timeliness of answers to Parliamentary Questions for written answer. (301693)

My right hon. and learned Friend the Leader of the House has today responded to the Procedure Committee report on written parliamentary questions which sets out how the Government plan to improve the quality and timeliness of written parliamentary questions.

To ask the Leader of the House when she plans to reply to the letter of 21 September 2009 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. (301742)

The hon. Member’s letter of 21 September 2009 was transferred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; which is part of the Ministry of Justice, for answer, on 5 October 2009.

I apologise for any confusion and delay caused.

To ask the Leader of the House if she will make arrangements for a full weekly programme of Westminster Hall debates to be held in future in the first full week of a new parliamentary Session. (301892)

There are practical obstacles to holding sittings in Westminster Hall in the first week of a new Parliament. A few days are needed to hold ballots for adjournment debates, for the necessary consultations over the business to be taken at Thursday afternoon sittings, and for the appointment of the Chairmen’s Panel.

I do not therefore believe that it would be feasible for sittings to take place in the first full week of the next Session.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the cost to date was of the Hindhead Tunnel project on the latest date figures are available; and what his most recent estimate is of the total cost of that project. (300744)

Expenditure to date at the end of October 2009 for the Hindhead Tunnel was £258.6 million.

The most recent estimate of the total cost for the project is £365.7 million.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent reports he has received of (a) incidents involving the contamination of aircraft cabin air supply by fumes from engine lubricants and (b) the commercial aircraft types which have experienced a contamination of the cabin air supply from the fumes of engine lubricants. (301292)

Incidents of contaminated air events are reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under the mandatory occurrences reporting scheme (MORS). The latest figures, by commercial aircraft type in the UK, for the first six months of this year are shown in the table.

Between 1 January 2009 and 30 June 2009, there were 38 reported contaminated air events. These figures are out of 553,266 airline flights—passenger and cargo operations—for the corresponding period:

For ease of reference the figures for the last full year (2008) are also included. In 2008 there were 97 reported contaminated air events. These figures are out of 1.2 million airline flights—passenger and cargo operations—for the calendar year 2008.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what statutory basis there is for the use of the automatic number plate recognition technology. (300513)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems to identify offences relating to the use of unlicensed vehicles in contravention of Section 29 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. Evidence relied upon to pursue penalties for these offences is gathered using systems that have been type approved in line with Section 20 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

The Highways Agency uses data from ANPR cameras to help with the effective management of traffic on the strategic road network. The statutory basis for this is covered in the Highways Act 1980 and the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the governance system of the use of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system. (300514)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) uses a range of measures to maintain high levels of compliance with vehicle licensing requirements, including the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. DVLA's compliance approach is kept under review by the Vehicle Excise Duty Collection and Enforcement Governance Board, which meets every quarter.

Data from the Highways Agency's ANPR cameras are scrambled at source into a non-unique code which can apply to more than one vehicle simultaneously. It is understood that this process renders the data as non-personal under the Data Protection Act 1998.

In addition, the Highways Agency operates a system of Information Asset Owners to ensure that data are held and used in accordance with current legislation, namely the Data Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with Cabinet Office data handling guidance issued in 2008.

Data gathered by ANPR cameras are stored at the Highways Agency National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC). The Highways Agency's Information Asset Owner (IAO) has ensured that the information is accredited to Information Security ISO27001 standards. In September 2009 Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) conducted a review of procedures at the NTCC and confirmed that standards still met the requirements of ISO27001.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what the average number of passengers on internal flights within Great Britain in the last period for which figures are available is, expressed (a) in passenger numbers and (b) as a percentage of passenger carrying capacity; (301286)

In 2008 there were 255,000 passenger flights departing airports in Great Britain to fly to another airport in Great Britain. These flights carried 15.3 million passengers. This equates to an average of 60 passengers per flight, equivalent to 64 per cent. of estimated seat capacity.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much aviation fuel he estimates has been used in the UK in each year since 1997. (301288)

The amount of aviation fuel uplifted in the UK in each year since 1997 is as follows:

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what guidance his Department gives to local authorities seeking to reduce their expenditure on concessionary bus fares. (301079)

The Department for Transport does not provide guidance specifically on how to reduce expenditure on concessionary travel. Travel concession authorities (TCAs) are required by law to reimburse bus operators for carrying concessionary bus travellers, with the objective that the operators are left no better off and no worse off by taking part in concessionary travel schemes.

The Department provides guidance to local authorities and bus operators on how to calculate appropriate reimbursement, which sets out the Department’s preferred route for calculating reimbursement (via the use of the reimbursement analysis tool). However TCAs are free to use the methodology of their choice subject to ensuring consistency with the no better and no worse off objective.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the cost to the public purse of subsidising bus services was in each year since 1997. (301294)

The Government subsidise bus services in England through the Department for Transport’s bus service operators grant (BSOG) which is paid to operators of local bus services.

Since 1998, the Government have also provided rural bus subsidy grant which helps local authorities to support rural bus services in England.

The following table shows the amounts paid by Government in each year since 1997 through bus service operators grant and rural bus subsidy grant in England:

Rural bus services are also supported by local authorities’ revenue support grant (RSG) funding. It is for local authorities to decide what bus services to support in their area according to local needs and priorities.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what proportion of the new £50 million allocated for station improvements will be allocated to Cheadle Hulme railway station; (301077)

The new £50 million fund is intended for the 10 major (category B) interchange stations identified as requiring urgent improvement in the Station Champions' report. Cheadle Hulme is a medium staffed (category D) station and is therefore not included on this list.

A site survey was carried out on behalf of the Strategic Rail Authority in 2005, as part of the consultation strategy behind the Access for All Programme. This identified that Cheadle Hulme did not meet modern standards for accessibility in a number of respects, and recommended installation of a new footbridge and lifts to all platforms. We currently expect this work to take place during 2010-11.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants from his Department will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity. (300986)

The UK delegation will be led by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and his officials. There are no current plans for Ministers or officials from the Department for Transport (DfT) to attend. Officials from DfT are in constant contact with their counterparts at the Department of Energy and Climate Change and will stay in touch with them throughout the negotiations to coordinate the Department's contribution to the various negotiations that will be taking place at the Conference.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many traffic accidents involving cyclists were recorded in each constituency in England in each of the last five years. (301293)

A table showing the number of reported personal injury road accidents involving pedal cyclists in each constituency in England in each of the last five years has been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he plans to implement the recommendations made by the review of class (a) two and (b) three powered wheelchairs and powered scooters. (300702)

The Department for Transport expects to take forward the review's principal recommendations in the form of a public consultation in 2010. The issues we propose to consult on include future fitness to drive, insurance, registration and the training requirements for Class 2 and Class 3 mobility vehicle users.

The Government's aim will continue to be to balance the mobility needs of scooter users with the safety needs of pedestrians and other road users.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will commission an inquiry into the number of deaths and serious injuries resulting from accidents involving powered wheelchairs and powered scooters; and if he will make a statement. (300703)

There are no plans to commission an inquiry into to the number of deaths and serious injuries involving mobility vehicles. The Department for Transport is aware that the number of mobility scooters is on the increase and therefore it is procuring a survey to help assess the number of mobility scooter users and the extent to which their use may have injured people. Further, the Department is expecting to publish a public consultation on options for change.

The Government's aim will continue to be to balance the mobility needs of scooter users with the safety needs of pedestrians and other road users.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many incidents causing injury involving mobility scooters have been reported to the police in each of the last five years. (302126)

The information requested cannot be identified separately. Reported personal injury accidents involving mobility scooters are recorded as part of the ‘other motor vehicle’ category.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what percentage of and how many passengers using (a) Heathrow Airport and (b) Gatwick Airport were in transit (i) between domestic and international flights and (ii) between international flights in the last 12 month period for which figures are available. (301290)

The following table shows percentage of passengers transferring between domestic and international flights and between international flights at Heathrow and Gatwick in 2008.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what percentage of journeys made to (a) Gatwick, (b) Heathrow, (c) Stansted and (d) Luton airports were made by (i) train, (ii) bus and (iii) other road vehicles in the last 12 months for which figures are available. (301291)

The following table shows the percentage of journeys made to Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted and Luton airports that were made by train, bus/coach, tube, and other road vehicles in 2008.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average mileage of a car in England was in each year since 1997. (301297)

The following table gives the estimated annual vehicle mileage for cars in England for from 1997 to 2008, based on data from the National Travel Survey:

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average level of carbon dioxide emissions in grammes per kilometre was for (a) new and (b) all cars in (i) the UK and (ii) each other EU member state in each year since 1997. (301295)

A fully comprehensive dataset of fuel efficiency data for new cars is only available for the UK and the EU from 2001 in accordance with EU Decision 1753/2000/EC. The EU Commission collects and reports average CO₂ emission data for new cars sold across the EU by member state. Table 1 is taken from the latest EU Commission monitoring report and shows average fuel efficiency of new cars sold in the UK and other EU member states where data are available between 2001 and 2007 measured in grams of carbon dioxide per km (gCO₂/km). Missing data reflect the expansion of the EU to 25 member states in 2004 and to 27 in 2007 (2007 data for Bulgaria are missing as none were submitted to the EU Commission). Data for 2008 are not yet available.

It is not possible to produce figures for average CO₂ emissions for all cars in the UK or other EU member states because of the relatively few years for which average fuel efficiency data have been collected.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what percentage change there has been in the average level of fuel efficiency of cars sold in the UK in each year since 1997. (301296)

The Department for Transport does not have data on the average fuel efficiency of all cars sold in the UK. However, a fully comprehensive dataset of fuel efficiency data for new cars is available for the UK from 2001 in accordance with EU Decision 1753/2000/EC. Table 1 shows average fuel efficiency of new cars sold in the UK between 2001 and 2008 measured in grams of carbon dioxide per km (gCO₂/km). These figures have been used to calculate the percentage change in fuel efficiency for each year.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the matrix signs over motorways are as up to date as possible; and if he will make a statement. (300470)

The Highways Agency takes a number of measures to ensure sign accuracy.

The majority of signs are automatic and set by sensors or other roadside infrastructure. As a result any message displayed is real-time and takes account of changing road conditions.

Beyond the automatic signs the remaining messages are set manually by operators in either a regional or the national control centre.

To ensure signs are set in a timely manner, performance indicators have been put in place to monitor how quickly a message is placed on a sign. The indicator requires operators in the regional centres to set or remove legends within two minutes of an incident being confirmed.

Further procedures and alarms mean that checks take place while an incident is running. Procedures in the national centre require operators to review incident “Events” every 45 minutes and alarms are tripped for every three-hour period that a variable message sign is not updated.

Steps are also taken to review sign accuracy. Each month, both the regional and national centres review incidents to assess the overall accuracy of their sign settings, and to identify any opportunities to make improvements.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on the siting of pedestrian crossings. (300221)

Current advice from this Department is contained in Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/95, The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings and Local Transport Note 2/95, the Design of Pedestrian Crossings.

The documents can be made available in the Library of the House and are on the internet at the following address:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/ltnotes/ssessment ofpedestriancro4033.pdf

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/tpm/ltnotes/esignof pedestriancrossin4034.pdf

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether the funding for the station improvements referred to in his announcement on 17 November is to come from the National Stations Improvement Programme. (300541)

The £50 million announced on 17 November to tackle improvements at the 10 major interchange stations identified for improvement in the Station Champions' report is in addition to the existing £150 million for station improvements under the National Stations Improvement Programme.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the written ministerial statement of 19 June 2009, Official Report, columns 39-40WS, on rail accidents (Grayrigg and Potters Bar), when he expects an inquest into the Potters Bar derailment to take place. (301147)

The Lord Chief Justice continues to work to identify a suitable judge for appointment by the Hertfordshire coroner to act as his Assistant Deputy Coroner and conduct the Potters Bar inquests. The timing of the inquests is a matter for the Coroner, or the Assistant Deputy Coroner, once appointed.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department has spent on advertising the purpose of driver location signs; and what assessment he has made of the public awareness of such signs. (300471)

The Highways Agency has spent £5,000 on advertising the purpose of driver location signs. This has included the production of leaflets and information on its website.

The Highways Agency regularly engages with its customers to determine if more can be done to improve their awareness of new projects and initiatives. A recent customer report has highlighted the lack of public awareness of the signs and the Highways Agency is currently considering a range of options to correct this.

Research carried out on trial sections of routes equipped with driver location signs showed that response times of emergency service organisations were 10 per cent. quicker than previous responses to similar incidents. Getting the emergency services to the scene of an incident more efficiently ultimately leads to incidents being cleared more quickly.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he has plans to seek to mitigate the environmental impact of the use of roads passing close to Stonehenge. (300745)

English Heritage has recently submitted to Wiltshire county council a planning application for its new Stonehenge Environmental Improvements Project which includes proposals to relocate the visitor centre and to close the A344 local road which currently runs immediately adjacent to the stone circle. The proposals will bring significant environmental benefits and the Highways Agency is working closely with English Heritage to secure the closure of the junction between the A344 and the A303 trunk road to the south east of the stones. Beyond the junction itself, the closure of the A344 is a matter for Wiltshire county council as the local highway authority.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the additional cost per vehicle of the proposed new Intercity Express trains which is directly attributable to the inclusion of a bi-mode capacity, as compared to an electric train operating with a diesel engine coupled for non-electrified sections of track. (301146)

The Department for Transport's analysis suggests that the costs of the bi-mode train, and the electric train followed by diesel loco-haulage, are around the same. The advantages of the bi-mode option are that it will not result in delay to passengers as a locomotive is being attached, that it will provide a more reliable service and that it does not require potentially expensive and disruptive infrastructure work at stations to facilitate the attaching of a locomotive.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much space will be allocated per seated passenger in (a) standard and (b) first class on the new Intercity Express trains; and how it compares with space allocations on existing rolling stock operating on the East Coast Main Line. (301149)

Uni-directional seats (those not located around a bay-table) on the new Super Express Trains will have approximately (a) 750mm knee-room in standard class and (b) 915mm knee-room in first class. Similar seats on current Mark 4 carriages on the East Coast Main Line have approximately (a) 700mm knee-room in standard class and (b) 1010mm knee-room in first class.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when his Department next plans to review the national contingency plan for marine pollution from shipping and offshore installations. (301636)

The National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations (NCP) has traditionally been updated approximately every five years, to take account of lessons learned from marine pollution incidents and exercises that have arisen since the last edition.

The next revision exercise is scheduled to commence in late 2010 and will also include amendments to reflect machinery of government changes.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what (a) conclusions were reached and (b) recommendations were made by the International Maritime Organisation Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers in respect of the safe transit of containers by sea at its meetings on 21 to 25 September 2009; and what steps the Government plans to take in consequence. (301606)

The 14th meeting of the sub-committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC) considered a range of issues relating to container safety. Of particular note were the decisions reached on harmonized interpretations of the International Convention on Safe Containers (CSC) and on a series of amendments to the guidance associated with the convention. It was also agreed to establish a correspondence group to consider further criteria to identify defects in containers before they represent a safety hazard.

The decisions taken by the DSC are subject to endorsement at the 87th Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in May 2010. The Government plan to support the outcome of DSC at the MSC and push for their adoption internationally.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what timetable his Department plans for the distribution of new funding for station improvements to Stockport railway station. (301075)

We are expecting money to be spent in Control Period 4 (up to 2014) on the 10 major interchange stations, including Stockport, which have been identified for priority improvement by the Station Champions. We anticipate a rolling programme of improvements including third party funding from industry stakeholders and local government which may be more forthcoming as we emerge from recession.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proportion of the new £50 million allocated for station improvements will be allocated to Stockport railway station. (301076)

Network Rail will take the lead in deciding the proportion of the new £50 million fund that will be spent on Stockport station, although the Department for Transport will need to approve the plans, which will be subject to a satisfactory business case and the prospect of an adequate financial return. We will also challenge the industry and local government to raise part of the money required for each of the stations themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects the childhood deprivation data which appeared in her Department's annual Opportunity for All reports to be published on her Department's website. (302011)

The vast majority of data contained in Opportunity for All is in the public domain and Secretary of State is currently considering whether there is value in publishing this report given the range of other documents covering similar issues.

Data on children in low income households and in families in low income and material deprivation are published in the Households Below Average Income report, which is available on the Department for Work and Pensions' website.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many Olympic contracts have been awarded to (a) UK registered and (b) other firms to date. (301961)

To date, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded contracts to 1,081 suppliers, of these all but 17 are businesses registered in the UK.

Earlier this month, the ODA published a map showing that many suppliers from across the UK were winning work both directly with the ODA and within its supply chain. Details are available in business section of the London 2012 website:

http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/index.php

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what he expects the (a) final severance and (b) pension arrangements to be for the outgoing executive director of Arts Council England in the West Midlands. (301897)

This is a matter for Arts Council England, which operates independently of Government.

I have therefore asked Arts Council England’s chief executive to consider the question raised by my hon. Friend and to write to him direct.

Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which parliamentary constituencies received funding through the Sea Change programme in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09; and what the monetary value was of each grant. (302006)

The Sea Change Programme, which has allocated £38 million to 32 resorts, has only been in place since 1 April 2008. The parliamentary constituencies which received funding in 2008-09 (Wave 1 of the programme), and the value of each grant are set out in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on conferences in 2008-09. (302009)

My Department spent £133,398.30 on holding conferences in 2008-09. This figure includes running costs, room hire, hospitality and accommodation charges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which (a) individuals other than Ministerial colleagues and officials of his Department and (b) organisations he met in an official capacity in the week commencing 9 November 2009. (301156)

In the week commencing 9 November, I met members of the International Press Institute; David Davies, the chair of the Listed Events Review; diplomats at the German embassy and young artists at the unveiling of an art work to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall; members of the House of Lords Communications Committee at a formal hearing of the Committee; representatives of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and Britain’s architectural community at a reception at 10 Downing Street; and organisers of the London Jazz Festival at a parliamentary reception.