To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many miles (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have travelled by taxi in the course of their official duties in each year since 1997; and at what cost to the public purse in each such year. (302717)

The Scotland Office does not record the number of miles travelled by taxi by Ministers or officials in the course of their official duties. The costs of taxi journeys since the Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999 are shown in the following table:

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, for how many days each year the Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission is released or is entitled to take leave for service on the board of the Basildon and Thurrock Hospital Foundation Trust; and if he will make a statement. (304447)

The Electoral Commission informs me that the chief executive is allowed up to five days paid leave a year for service as a non-executive director of the trust, provided that there is no adverse impact on the performance of his duties at the commission. The chief executive does not receive payment from the trust for his services.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the salary or salary band of the Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission is. (304446)

The Electoral Commission informs me that in 2009-10 the salary of the chief executive of the Electoral Commission is £121,800.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish before 9 December 2009 all correspondence his Department has received on the Welsh Language Legislative Competence Order other than from Welsh Assembly Government Ministers and officials. (304685)

The correspondence the Wales Office has received falls into two broad categories—first, the responses received to my predecessor’s call for views on the proposed legislative competence order. Those responses which could be made public were sent to the Welsh Affairs Committee and the First Minister and were copied to the National Assembly for Wales Committee that scrutinised the LCO, on 14 May 2009, and I will place copies of that correspondence in the Library of the House.

The second category is correspondence received either before or after the call for views. This includes:

some 300 e-mails from members of the public seeking a swift publication of the Welsh Affairs Committee report. The vast majority of these were a standard text;

correspondence from members of the public and Welsh language bodies. This totals some 37 letters and e-mails;

some eight items of correspondence from parliamentary committees or committees of the National Assembly for Wales, or from individual members of those committees; and

some 10 letters from businesses or their representative bodies.

We have not sought the permission of these respondents to publish their correspondence, and to do so would incur disproportionate cost. Releasing correspondence from businesses and their representative bodies would also prejudice commercial interests.

To ask the Prime Minister when he last met the Chief of the Defence Staff accompanied by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff. (304721)

I have regular meetings and discussions with ministerial colleagues and others including the Chief of the Defence Staff, Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Air Staff.

To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has met the Government Chief Scientific Adviser in the course of his official duties in the last 12 months. (303989)

I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues, officials and others.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many external consultants work for (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) the Prime Minister’s Office. (303244)

The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office and therefore the answer provided is for the whole of the Cabinet Office.

The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether her Department has entered into any contracts with Kellogg, Brown and Root or its subsidiaries since January 2009. (303286)

The Cabinet Office has not entered into any contracts with Kellogg, Brown and Root or its subsidiaries since January 2009.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) whether any records held by the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee relating to individuals nominated for a peerage have been destroyed; (304581)

No records of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee have been destroyed although criteria for selecting those for preservation at the National Archives (TNA) are presently being considered. Any records over 30 years old that are not selected for transfer to TNA will be destroyed.

Records of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee are held by the Cabinet Office.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding has been provided for women’s refuges and rape crisis centres in Enfield in the latest period for which figures are available. (302364)

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 1 April 2009, Official Report, column 1236W, for detail of individual awards from the Victims Fund and the Government Equalities Office Special Fund 2008-09. Details of the awards made in 2009-10 will be placed in the Commons Library.

The Supporting People programme provides the main source of public funding for housing-related support services in England. This programme is delivered at a local level. The 2008-09 national allocations for Supporting People amount to £1.686 billion.

The most recently available spend data on Supporting People is for 2007-08. Details of this data will be placed in the Commons Library. It shows that Enfield reported an annual spend of £397,817 on housing-related support services with a primary client group of women at risk of domestic violence.

The Government have invested around £11 million over the last five years in specialist services for victims of sexual violence; this is in addition to funding provided locally. Most of this funding has come from the Victims Fund. We do not have a breakdown by local authority area of funding to rape crisis centres.

The Government do not collect information centrally on what services are available for victims of rape and sexual abuse or domestic violence. Information is held on the following central Government funding:

organisations which have received awards from the Government Equalities Office Special Funds in 2008-09 and 2009-10;

organisations which have received awards from the Victims Fund in the last three financial years (2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10);

total Supporting People spend by Administering Authority per Client Group (£), per financial year.

The provision of services to victims of these terrible crimes is an issue for local authorities; decision makers in these authorities are best placed to assess the needs of their area. The majority of services are delivered through local providers who are supported and funded by local bodies, such as councils and health organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average level of fine charged was for late payments in respect of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme; and what estimate he has made of the outstanding amount due relating to payments under the (a) 2005 and (b) 2006 schemes. (303424)

Financial penalties are applied by the European Commission if member states fail to make 96.154 per cent. of payments, by value, under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) by 30 June of the year following each scheme year. To date, such penalties, totalling some £64 million, have only been applied to the UK in respect of the 2005 SPS.

The SPS payments still due are estimated at £9,628 for the 2005 SPS scheme year and £6,440 for the 2006 scheme year. Most of the nine outstanding claims are cases where probate issues still need to be resolved. Some additional sums may become due as a result of changes to claim values following, for example, appeals by farmers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many claims of under (a) £300 and (b) £500 have been made under the Single Payment Scheme in 2009. (303612)

In England, for the 2009 Single Payment Scheme, the Rural Payments Agency received 3,748 claims for less than £300 and 4,223 claims for between £300 and £499.99. These reflect the value claimed; the value paid may differ.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time taken to process a claim made under the Single Payment Scheme was in each of the last five years. (303621)

Based on the information contained within the NAO Value for Money Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, HC 880 Session 2008-09, published on 15 October 2009 and titled “A Second Progress Update on the Administration of the Single Payment Scheme by the Rural Payments Agency”, the average staff time taken to process single payment scheme (SPS) claims in England for each year is set out as follows:

The number of staff shown includes staff employed in shared service and corporate service roles, indirectly supporting processing, as well as those employed directly in processing.

Figures are not yet available for processing 2009 scheme claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cheques under the Single Payment Scheme have been issued by the Rural Payments Agency for less than (a) £60, (b) £40, (c) £20, (d) £10 and (e) £1 in each year since 2001. (303623)

The number of Single Payment Scheme (SPS) cheque payments issued by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) for the bands and scheme years specified in the question are as follows:

Payments for the 2009 SPS scheme year only began on 1 December so we cannot provide equivalent figures at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the accuracy of the digitalised farm maps used by the Rural Payments Agency for the purpose of making payments under the Single Payment Scheme. (303628)

For Single Payment Scheme claims up to and including the 2009 scheme year, the Rural Payments Agency has been using existing Ordnance Survey base-data information on Rural Land Register (RLR) maps.

The mapping update currently in progress uses the most recent Ordnance Survey data available in conjunction with aerial photography to update the RLR maps. This includes improving the positional accuracy of our map data and reflecting any real world change recorded by Ordnance Survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Welsh Assembly Government and (b) the European Commission on the transitional arrangements for the agri-environment scheme in Glastir up to 2012; and what assessment he has made of that scheme’s compliance with the rules stipulated by the Commission. (304141)

The transitional arrangements for agri-environment schemes prior to the introduction of Glastir will be funded under the Rural Development Plan (RDP) for Wales 2007-13. The RDP for Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). Therefore, there has been no need to discuss these arrangements with either WAG or the European Commission, nor has it been necessary to make an assessment of the scheme’s compliance with European Commission rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reports of abandoned animals his Department (a) has received in each of the last five years and (b) estimates it will receive in 2009. (304748)

None. DEFRA does not receive formal reports about the numbers of abandoned animals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the merits of banning the use of wild animals in circuses; and if he will make a statement. (303056)

During the passage of the Animal Welfare Bill through Parliament a Circus Working Group was established consisting of representatives of welfare organisations and the circus industry, together with an academic panel from the scientific community. The group was charged with examining the issues relating to the transportation and housing needs of wild animals (i.e. animals not normally domesticated in the British Isles) used for performance in travelling circuses. The conclusions were that there was not enough evidence to show that the welfare of wild animals in circuses is any better or worse than those in other captive environments and that available scientific evidence was insufficient to justify regulations being introduced to ban wild animals being used in circus performance.

In the light of these conclusions we commenced a feasibility study on the possibility of introducing regulations. The first element, a report and recommendations from two zoo inspectors who have undertaken visits to both travelling circuses and winter quarters, has now been completed. The findings of the first element have been discussed with representatives of welfare and industry organisations and we are aiming for completion by the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on the relocation of badger setts resulting from the development of land for homes. (304538)

DEFRA is not responsible for the policy on determining licences for the purpose of development under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992; this falls to Natural England. However, DEFRA has an agreement with Natural England that it will consult DEFRA if a proposed licensed operation might pose a TB risk. Licences for development can only be issued for interference with badger setts; this is normally by closing down whole or part setts. The taking, and therefore translocation, of badgers, for the purpose of development is not allowed under the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many queen bees were imported in each of the last five years. (304738)

Information on the number of queen bees imported into England from countries within and outside the European Community is available on the Food and Environment Research Agency's National Bee Unit's Beebase website.

The information requested is set out in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of species which became extinct in England in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. (303290)

We have not made an annual assessment of the total number of species that have become extinct in England in each of the last 10 years. In the 2008 UK Biodiversity Action Plan reporting round, seven priority species were reported as having been lost from England in the last 10 years. Natural England is currently carrying out a systematic review of species extinctions in England, which is due to be published in March 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will estimate the carbon savings resulting from the growing of biofuels on land which had previously been (a) used to grow food crops and (b) set aside or unused; and if he will make a statement. (303289)

I have been asked to reply.

Currently, there is no agreed methodology for accurately accounting for the emissions from land currently used for food production, or set aside, if displaced by biofuel production. As such, the guidelines for reporting under the Renewable TransportFuels Obligation do not account for these emissions.

Under the recently adopted Renewable Energy Directive, the European Commission is required to review the impact of indirect land use change from biofuel production on green house gas emissions, and, if necessary, come forward with a methodology for addressing ways to minimise that impact by the end of 2010.

The Department for Transport has commissioned the development of an indirect land use change methodology through expert stakeholder input and will be making its findings available to the Commission in order to feed into the above-mentioned review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms in (a) West Derbyshire constituency and (b) the East Midlands were under bovine tuberculosis restrictions (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) on the latest date for which figures are available. (303191)

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) statistics are collated and reported in the animal health database down to county level. Therefore it is not possible to distinguish the number of herds under restriction in individual constituencies.

The following table shows the number of herds under bovine TB movement restrictions at the end of the last 5 years for the East Midlands (Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire), as well as individual figures for Derbyshire. Data for 2009 are to the end of August. The numbers include herds that were under restrictions for any reason related to bovine TB controls, including for instance a new TB breakdown or an overdue TB test.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle have been slaughtered having tested positive for bovine TB in each of the last five years; how many of those slaughtered did not show signs of TB at post mortem in each year; and how many of those slaughtered had cultures taken at post mortem which subsequently did not confirm the presence of TB in each year. (303534)

The following table shows the number of cattle slaughtered under bovine tuberculosis (TB) control measures in Great Britain over the last five years, and the number of these animals with demonstrable post-mortem evidence of infection having tested positive for bovine TB in each of the last five years.

Following a TB breakdown we aim to carry out post-mortem inspections of all the slaughtered cattle and to take tissue samples from the reactor (or if several animals must be removed, from a representative subset of those), to attempt isolation and molecular typing of the causative organism in the laboratory. This is done to support epidemiological investigations and management of the incident, rather than to validate the ante-mortem test results.

Failure to detect lesions of TB by post-mortem examination, or to culture M. bovis in the laboratory, does not imply that a test reactor was not infected with bovine TB. Indeed, in the early stages of this disease it is not always possible to observe lesions during abattoir post-mortem examination and, due to the fastidious nature of this organism, it is very difficult to isolate it from tissue samples without visible lesions. Meaningful proportions that subsequently did not confirm disease at culture for TB test reactors cannot be provided, as substantial numbers of skin and gIFN positive animals are not subject to laboratory culture—e.g. once infection has already been identified in other cattle from the same herd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on research on a bovine tuberculosis vaccine in each of the last five years. (303622)

The following table provides a summary of TB vaccines research cost to the Department for each of the last five years.

These figures do not include the costs of projects concerning the development of cattle and badger diagnostics which are relevant to the development of TB vaccines, therefore the total expenditure on TB vaccines research for each year represents a slight underestimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science was of operating the CEFAS vessel Endeavour in 2008-09; what estimate he has made of this cost in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; how many days the vessel was at sea undertaking research in 2008-09; and what estimate has been made of the equivalent number of such days in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. (302015)

The following table sets out details of the number of days at sea for the CEFAS Endeavour in support of CEFAS managed projects.

The days at sea figures shown do not take into consideration the time required for mobilisation and demobilisation of scientific equipment before and after each scientific campaign (approximately 40 days per annum). They also exclude the time associated with essential vessel maintenance (approximately 20 days per annum rising to 40 days per annum where scheduled dry docking is required).

Sea trips are increasingly planned to integrate a number of projects with objectives which can be achieved during the same campaign. This typically requires 24 hour operations, so maximising the scientific returns from a single day of sea time.

The annual cost of operating the CEFAS Endeavour include, vessel operations and management, technical support, capital charges, fuel and costs and allowances for CEFAS staff on board the vessel during scientific campaigns. The annual services agreement to operate and maintain the vessel was recently let via open competition with a six year contract signed in March 2009. The agreement is subject to terms of confidentiality, hence annual budgets are not included in this response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days the CEFAS vessel Endeavour was (a) made available by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and (b) used by other organisations during 2008-09; and what estimate has been made of the number of such days in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11. (302016)

The CEFAS Endeavour is available 365 days per annum for the scheduling of sea trips. Schedule planning must allow time for non-sea going activities such as mobilisation, demobilisation and planned maintenance. These non-sea going activities require between approximately 60 and 80 days per year.

The CEFAS Endeavour programme in 2008-09 was 100 per cent. dedicated to CEFAS managed projects and no chartering of the vessel to other organisations took place. The committed programme for 2009-10 is also 100 per cent. dedicated to CEFAS managed projects with no chartering of the vessel to other organisations planned. The forecast programme for 2010-11 is based upon the same premise.

CEFAS managed projects are undertaken on behalf of a range of customers such as DEFRA, the Marine Environmental Protection Fund (MEPF), Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England. In addition, on a project basis, visiting scientists, observers and organisations collaborating with CEFAS (for project delivery) will also be present on the vessel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incentives his Department provides for dairy farmers to establish supplier co-operatives. (303625)

DEFRA has provided over £5 million in grant funding to English Farming and Food Partnerships since 2003 to promote collaboration throughout the food supply chain, including amongst dairy producers. There is also funding available under the Rural Development Programme for England to support co-operation between farmers, including dairy farmers, and between farmers and food processors. So far, approximately £12 million has been committed to this measure. DEFRA has not spent any additional money on specific incentives for dairy farmers to establish supplier co-operatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many non-compliance penalties were imposed by his Department in each of the last five years; what the most common reason was for such penalties being imposed; what the (a) largest, (b) smallest, (c) median and (d) mean penalty was in each such year; and if he will make a statement. (300295)

In answering this question we have taken ‘non-compliance penalties’ to mean all cases where a reduction has been made to farmers’ payments under the single payment scheme. The figures in the following table therefore include minor over-declarations of land area, which in a regulatory sense do not qualify as a ‘penalty’, as well as regulatory penalties for late claims and breaches of both eligibility and cross compliance rules.

We do not yet have data for 2009 as processing checks and inspections have not been completed.

The most common reason for ‘penalties’ being imposed is through over-declared land areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing official cars for the use of (a) Ministers and (b) officials in the last 12 months. (301180)

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Paul Clark) on 16 July 2009, Official Report, column 80WS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of provision of Government cars to special advisers in his Department was in the last 12 months. (301391)

No special advisers are provided with an allocated Government car and driver. As with all civil servants, special advisers may use an official car or taxi in certain circumstances. Information on such use is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date he last travelled by (a) bus and (b) taxi in the course of his official duties. (302726)

The Secretary of State last travelled by taxi in the course of his official duties on 5 November 2009. He has made no journeys by bus in the course of his official duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions brought by the Drinking Water Inspectorate have resulted in (a) convictions and (b) custodial sentences in each year since 1995; and how many (i) prosecutions brought, (ii) cautions given and (iii) enforcement notices served the Inspectorate was responsible for in each region in each such year. (303291)

The Drinking Water Inspectorate has brought 64 prosecutions (including cautions) against water companies in England and Wales since 1995 for offences relating to drinking water quality. All but one of these were successful. There have been no custodial sentences.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate has initiated enforcement action 1,084 times since 1995. It has not been possible to divide these figures by region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expected expenditure on each (a) capital and (b) resource expenditure flood defence project (i) under way and (ii) completed in the last two years was at the date of scheme approval. (303297)

The Environment Agency does not hold the information required to answer this question in a format that could be completed without incurring disproportionate costs.

The Environment Agency is on track to deliver a programme of flood and coastal risk management schemes that over three years is set to exceed the challenging target to provide increased protection to 145,000 households.

The Environment Agency continuously strives to improve its procurement and management of construction and engineering projects. Since 2007 it has completed 102 major flood defence schemes that have protected over 63,000 properties from flooding in England.

Through the Environment Agency's Streamlining project it has been able to reduce the cost of project development, meaning that a greater proportion of the money is actually spent on constructing defences than ever before.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps water companies are required to take to ensure that pumping stations for the drainage of low-lying areas are protected against flooding. (303293)

It is for individual water and sewerage companies to decide how best to protect their infrastructure from the effects of flooding. Companies have a duty to provide safe and secure water and sewerage services to their customers.

In its final determinations Ofwat has allowed water companies to invest £414 million on improving the resilience of their water and sewerage services against external hazards such as flooding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration his Department has given to introducing a sustainable seafood public procurement policy. (303619)

We are working closely with the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency on the development of the Healthier Food Mark, an award scheme for public sector catering services offering healthier and more sustainable food. Criteria on sustainable seafood are included at all three levels of the scheme, which is currently being tested in a pre-consultation pilot.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of farmers in the English uplands required to maintain adequate land management capacity. (303631)

The 2007 June Survey data suggest that the number of holdings in the English uplands (Severely Disadvantaged Areas) has increased by approximately 3,000 since 2000. This increase has largely been driven by an increase in small (less than 10 hectares) holdings. There appears to be no change in the number of holdings greater than 10 hectares in size over the same period.

DEFRA recognises the vital role which upland farmers can play in delivering landscape and environmental benefits, and will, therefore, introduce the new Uplands Entry Level Scheme (Uplands ELS) in 2010. Uplands ELS will reward those upland farmers who deliver existing good practice, as well as encouraging positive change. Unlike the current Hill Farm Allowance scheme, Uplands ELS will be open to all farmers in the English uplands, provided they meet the rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether his Department plans to increase its funding for horticultural research in the next three years; (302476)

Funding for DEFRA's farming and food research and development programme is allocated in line with the Department's strategic priorities and policy evidence requirements. DEFRA is currently developing a new Evidence Investment Strategy which will inform priorities for future years.

Research investment in the farming and food area is within cross-cutting programmes, for example agriculture and climate change and sustainable farming systems, and these programmes include activity relevant to the horticulture sector.

Within these programmes, in the current financial year, DEFRA has committed approximately £4.5 million on research relevant to horticulture. £6.7 million was spent on similar work in the 2008-09 financial year.

Overall, DEFRA invested £63 million in 2008-09 on food and agricultural (including horticultural) research. It is anticipated that funding will be similar in 2009-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were (a) proceeded against and (b) convicted of offences under the provisions of the (i) Badgers Act 1991, (ii) Deer Act 1991 and (iii) Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 in 2007; and if he will make a statement. (304217)

Information from the court proceedings database held by the Ministry of Justice showing the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences under the Badgers Act 1911, Deer Act 1991 and Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996, in England and Wales in 2007 is given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms there are in nitrate vulnerable zones in each region of England; and what the (a) size and (b) location is of each such farm. (303451)

The partial impact assessment accompanying the August 2007 consultation on the implementation of the nitrates directive in England estimated the number of farms in the NVZ in each region of the UK on the basis of the 2005 agricultural census.

Details of the size and location of each farm could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether his Department has issued any recent guidance on the development of marinas on canals; (303927)

DEFRA is not responsible for issuing guidance on the construction or location of marinas and there have not been any recent discussions with British Waterways on this issue. Developers of new marinas must comply with the relevant planning requirements. Planning controls are a matter for the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Marinas are however an essential facility to support the use of the waterways network and its significant contribution to the wider visitor economy. Offline marinas prevent congestion along our historic waterways and so free up the navigation for leisure and commercial use. This is particularly important in the light of substantial growth in boat numbers over the past 10 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of turkey sales in the UK was of domestically produced birds in each year since 1997. (304747)

DEFRA does not record information on turkey sales in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criteria his Department uses to determine whether trading in animals as pets constitutes a business for the purposes of section 7(1) of the Pet Animals Act 1951. (303224)

This Department does not use any criteria—it is the responsibility of the appropriate local authority to consider all the relevant factors relating to each individual case. Factors to be considered would include the number of animals being sold and the potential value of sales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition his Department uses of too early an age for the purposes of regulating the sale of primates from the (a) cebus, (b) callithrix, (c) saimin and (d) saguinus species under the Pet Animals Act 1951; and what methodology his Department used to determine such ages. (303225)

The Department does not define too early an age. When determining whether to grant a licence for a pet shop, local authorities must have regard to the need for ensuring that no mammal will be sold at too early an age. Local authorities should be making such decisions based on advice from professional people such as appropriate veterinary surgeons or other suitable experts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 15 July 2009, Official Report, column 388W, on primates, what steps the Government is taking to end the trade in primates as pets. (303226)

The Government have no plans to end the trade in primates as pets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) consultation he has undertaken and (b) representations he has received on the proposed transfer of drains and sewers to water and sewerage undertakers in England and Wales. (304020)

In July 2003 DEFRA published the Review of Existing Private Sewers and Drains in England and Wales consultation paper that sought views on a range of strategic options to deal with the problems of private sewers. The Government published a response to this consultation in October 2004. 81 per cent. of stakeholders favoured a change of ownership, and of these, 90 per cent. held the view that sewerage undertakers should take over responsibility. DEFRA acknowledged the strength of support for this solution and undertook to look at it in more depth.

Subsequently, representatives of 50 stakeholder groups were invited to a private sewers seminar in January 2005. This included a workshop looking at the potential impacts on small businesses. DEFRA undertook a telephone survey of over 130 drainage contractors to identify the potential impacts of any transfer on them and also commissioned qualitative customer research to investigate customers' potential views on transfer to water and sewerage companies.

In February 2007 the Government published their decision paper and committed to consult on options for the implementation of transfer. A consultation paper on implementation options was published in July 2007 and The Secretary of State announced on 15 December 2008 the Government's decision to proceed with transfer from 2011.

Copies of the 2003 and 2007 consultation papers and the Government's 2004 response to the review were placed in the Library of the House on publication. A Summary of Responses to the 2007 Consultation on Implementation Options was published in March 2008 and is available from DEFRA. Further consultation on the content of regulations to implement transfer will be published this winter.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has received representations from a range of interested stakeholders during the course of the Review. DEFRA continues to consult with key stakeholders through working groups and meetings in developing proposals for implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided for the protection of the Herdwick indigenous sheep flock in each year since 1997. (303627)

In 2001, DEFRA granted £10,000 to create the Heritage Gene Bank which was set up to preserve semen and embryos from breeds considered to be at risk due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak of the time. The Herdwick was one of the breeds considered to be at risk because the majority of its breeding population were in or near to areas heavily affected by FMD.

DEFRA recognises the need to have a long term view on managing the genetic health of our livestock breeding population and the need for a co-ordinated effort to support initiatives that will encourage the characterisation, conservation and utilisation of our livestock genetic resources—which includes rare, mainstream and heritage livestock breeds. The National Standing Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources is currently advising Ministers on implementing the UK's national action plan on farm animal genetic resources which was published in 2006.

In England, from next year, the use of hardy native sheep breeds will be one of the factors contributing points towards eligibility for payments under the new Uplands Entry Level Stewardship Scheme. Although not confined to Herdwicks, those with Herdwick sheep may be able to gain benefits under the scheme which will thereby provide indirect support for the breed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many waste treatment sites treat toxic waste; at what distance from the nearest residential building each such site is located; and if he will make a statement. (303829)

There are 224 sites that treat hazardous waste. I have arranged for a list of these sites to be placed in the Library of the House.

The centrally available distance data in this list are derived from the system that the Environment Agency uses as part of the risk assessment it carries out before authorising permits for sites. The permitting system is intended to ensure that the waste operations it authorises are carried out in a way that protects human health and the environment. The distances are not limited to residential buildings and cover a far wider range of potential receptors such as commercial and industrial premises, playing fields and parks as well as housing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition his Department uses of (a) toxic and (b) hazardous waste; and if he will make a statement. (303830)

Hazardous waste is defined by reference to the European Commission’s definition of hazardous waste which is based on the list set out in EC Decision 2000/532/EC. Essentially hazardous waste displays one or more of the hazardous properties that are set out in EC legislation at above specified thresholds and which may cause harm to human health or the environment if not managed in an appropriately controlled manner.

Toxicity is one of the properties that may make a waste hazardous. Toxic substances and preparations are those which, if they are inhaled or ingested, or if they penetrate the skin, may involve serious acute or chronic health risks or even death.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department will provide a clear time line for amending the Environmental Permitting Regulations to reflect the adoption of the end of waste concept; and if he will make a statement. (304326)

In DEFRA's view, it would be premature to carry out a review of the requirements of the Environmental Permitting Regulations that apply to fuel manufactured from waste before the conclusion of the procedures necessary to comply with the Technical Standards Directive (TSD) (98/34/EC) in relation to the draft end-of-waste protocol for fuel produced from waste lubricating oils, developed in response to the Appeal Court's judgment in the OSS case. The European Commission and Austria have now commented on that draft protocol under Article 8(2) of the TSD. The UK is required to take such comments into account and this legal obligation is currently being fulfilled. On conclusion of our consideration of the comments made under Article 8(2) of the TSD, we will consider further a review of the requirements of the Environmental Permitting Regulations that apply to fuel manufactured from waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the water industry of meeting the water quality targets contained in the EU Water Framework Directive. (303423)

The most recent estimate of cost to the water industry across England and Wales of achieving water quality targets determined under the first planning round of the Water Framework Directive is £174,000,000. This includes £117,000,000 in one-off costs and £57,000,000 average annual costs over the six years of the first River Basin Management Plans from 2009-2015. These figures include the costs of investigations which are essential to progressing work within the future planning rounds of the Directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether any contracts between Capita Group plc and his Department have been cancelled before completion since 1997; and whether Capita Group plc has been liable for any penalties arising from failings in the administration of contracts since 1997. (303090)

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO), including its arms length bodies and the Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland, but excluding its agencies and NDPBs, has no record of any contracts awarded to Capita Group plc since 1997.

The NIO departmental disposal policy states that records of contracts do not have to be held longer than six years and financial records seven years. Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) records go back to 2001. No records are available beyond this year.

The information provided is based on contracts which have been conducted through the NIO central procurement unit prior to November 2003 and the Department of Finance and Personnel’s CPD since November 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) are employed by and (b) work for his Department. (303604)

There are a total of 8.5 press officers employed by, and work for, my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criminal offences have been (a) abolished and (b) created by primary legislation sponsored by his Department since 1 May 2008. (303255)

The primary legislation made by the Northern Ireland Office since 1 May 2008 which abolished or created criminal offences is as follows:

The Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008, implemented in February 2009, reformed the body of law on sexual offences. The order contains all criminal offences in relation to sexual offending behaviour. Articles 81 and 83 and schedules 1 and 3 to the order list the old offences which were repealed and article 5 abolished the common law offence of rape.

The Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, made in May 2008, created nine new offences. Articles 52, 53, 65(6) and 91(4) contain four new driving-related offences; article 68 created one new offence in relation to alcohol consumption in designated public places; and the remaining offences relate to prison security. Article 71, a single offence of assisting or permitting a person to escape from lawful custody has replaced the separate offences of rescuing, or assisting or permitting the escape of, a person sentenced to death or for life, and rescuing or assisting or permitting the escape of other prisoners, formerly in sections 29 and 30 of the Prison Act (NI) 1953. Articles 77 and 78 create offences in relation to conveying articles into or out of prison. These replace the offences of conveying spirits or alcohol or other articles into prison (formerly in sections 34 and 35 of the Prison (NI) Act) with a more extensive prohibition. No offences were repealed by the order.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff in his Department received bonus payments in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09; what proportion of the total work force they represented; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if he will make a statement. (300892)

Non-consolidated performance payments are made to staff in the senior civil service in line with Cabinet Office Guidance and also to staff at grades D2 to A in line with HM Treasury Guidance. These payments are made at the end of the reporting year to reward performance throughout the year retrospectively.

Under a separate scheme special performance payments are awarded to staff at grades D2 to A.

Figures for the last two years are set out in the following tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to his Department was of the provision of office facilities to (a) special advisers and (b) press officers in the 2008-09 financial year. (302967)

Northern Ireland Office (NIO) special advisers and press officers are located alongside other NIO staff in a number of buildings. Rent, rates and utilities, etc., are charged on the basis of the entire building, and the cost of specific areas of the building or accommodation for groups or individuals within the building could not be separated from the overall running costs of the entire building.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what meetings he has had with disability organisations since his appointment. (303472)

I have not met directly with any of the disability organisations since my appointment as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what position each official in his Department seconded to the Iraq Committee of Inquiry held between January 2001 and December 2003; and for what matters each was responsible in each such year. (303145)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Tessa Jowell) on 3 December 2009, Official Report, columns 974-75W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many foreign national prisoners were discharged from a sentence of imprisonment in Northern Ireland in (a) 2008 and (b) each month in 2009 for which figures are available. (303832)

In 2008, the Northern Ireland Prison Service discharged 188 sentenced foreign national prisoners.

From 1 January to 30 November 2009, the service discharged 234 sentenced foreign national prisoners, as shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many sex offenders were housed in dormitory accommodation in HM Prison Magilligan (a) in the nine months up to August 2009 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available; on what authority they were so housed; and what steps have been taken to move them to single cell accommodation; (304438)

In the nine months up to August 2009 there was an average of 55 sex offenders held in dormitory type accommodation; at 3 December 2009 there were 47 sex offenders held in this accommodation unit. Staff at Magilligan are in the process of reallocating prisoner accommodation, following the refurbishment of H blocks, which will reduce the numbers in dormitory accommodation to 32, with the intention of introducing partitions to provide for increased privacy.

All prisoners, regardless of offence, may occupy cellular accommodation, single rooms or dormitories.

On 24 September 2009 five sex offenders were transferred to Foyleview semi-open accommodation unit (a low supervision unit within the Magilligan prison complex) and as of 3 December 2009 nine sex offenders were located there. This is part of our strategy to make the most effective use of prisoner accommodation, based on prisoners satisfactorily completing a risk assessment and meeting the strict criteria necessary for their placement.

Before being transferred to Foyleview, prisoners must be assessed at category C level—the lowest category of risk assessment. Each prisoner accepted to Foyleview has been admitted as a result of his progression through the prison regime, though where a prisoner fails to comply with the requirements of the unit, they may be returned to the main prison complex.

There is no obligation on NIPS to inform the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to seek to ensure the implementation of EU guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders in Colombia in 2009. (302764)

When I visited Colombia, I issued a joint statement with President Uribe and the Foreign Minister declaring that

“the defence of human rights is necessary and legitimate for democracy, in a country like Colombia which is proud of being fully open and ready for international Scrutiny on this subject”.

We work closely with EU partners, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and human rights defenders on implementation of the EU guidelines on human rights defenders. For example, we have made visits to rural communities, including the Curvarado River Basin, and more recently Popoyan, to visit communities and human rights defenders that are under threat, and we are planning further visits in conjunction with EU partners.

We also make representations to the Colombian authorities in specific cases of violence or threats against individual or collective human rights defenders. Our ambassador recently wrote to the Colombian Director of Human Rights, Carlos Franco, to request a greater level of protection for a human rights defender under threat. We also make our support clearly visible by visiting those under threat at their places of work.

We undertake a range of project work alongside Colombian and international NGOs aimed at supporting the work of human rights defenders. For example, we run two projects on tackling impunity in the criminal justice system, and three specifically aimed at promoting and strengthening the position of human rights defenders in Colombia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has plans to monitor the trial in Colombia of Jorge Noguera Cotes, former head of the internal security department in that country. (302765)

Yes, we will follow this trial with interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to assist human rights defenders in Colombia in each quarter of 2009; and if he will make a statement. (302766)

We are involved in a number of activities to help human rights defenders in Colombia, and to support their cause. In October 2009 I visited Colombia, where I urged President Uribe to ensure that human rights defenders were properly supported and protected.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary recently met Eduardo Carreno, a Colombian human rights lawyer, to discuss the problems human rights defenders face, and to express the UK’s support for their cause. Our ambassador in Bogota and his officials make representations to the Colombian Government in specific cases of violence or threats against human rights defenders, and visit them at their offices to demonstrate the UK’s support.

In addition to our lobbying activities, we also provide practical support through our project work in the areas of freedom of expression, tackling impunity, equality and promoting civil society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many residential properties his Department owns; and how many (a) are occupied and (b) have been empty for more than six months. (303999)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office owns 1,391 residential properties throughout our overseas network. This includes the official residences of our heads of post and other staff accommodation. We do not own any residential properties in the UK.

Monitoring the occupancy of our residential properties is not done centrally, as the day-to-day management of the estate is carried out by our overseas missions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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. (301541)

Within the last 12 months, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advertised for 211 vacancies in the national press and on our website. Online application forms were used for 164 (78 per cent.) of these vacancies. The remaining 47 vacancies (22 per cent.) were advertised inviting applications via email and hard copy. Alternative application methods are considered on request for all our vacancies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the UK Permanent Representative to the EU has had with (a) the Welsh Assembly Government and (b) the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission on the application of European Commission rules to the transitional arrangements for EU agri-environment schemes in Wales. (304194)

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what EC legislative instruments, including provisions on criminal law, which apply to the UK and are in force or are due to come into force, have been adopted on the basis of provisions of the Treaty establishing the European Community other than those in Title IV of Part Three of that Treaty. (302582)

I have been asked to reply.

Two legislative instruments containing criminal law provisions in the first pillar were adopted under the provisions of the treaty establishing the European Community other than those of Title IV of Part III of the treaty. Directive 2008/99/EC on the protection of the environment through criminal law was adopted on 19 November 2008. The instrument is in force and the deadline for transposition is December 2010. The amending directive 2005/35/EC on ship source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements was adopted in March 2009. The instrument is not yet in force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial penalties the Government has paid to European Union institutions in the first six months of 2009. (304005)

The UK has never incurred a financial penalty for failure to comply with a European Court of Justice judgment under Article 228 (ex Article 171) of the treaty establishing the European Community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage Fiji to rejoin the Commonwealth. (304711)

Following the military coup in December 2006, Fiji was suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth. The situation deteriorated further in April 2009, with the abrogation of the constitution, suspension of the courts, censorship of the press and re-establishment of Public Emergency Regulations. In July, Military Commander and interim PM, Voreqe Bainimarama, announced a ‘Roadmap for Change’, which ruled out holding democratic elections until 2014. As a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, the UK took a full role in discussions which led to Fiji's full suspension from the Commonwealth on 1 September 2009. The regime can be erratic: the Australian and New Zealand Heads of Mission were suddenly expelled on 3 November 2009. This was the third New Zealand Head of Mission expulsion since the coup.

Full suspension from the Commonwealth means Fiji is no longer eligible for Commonwealth technical assistance, and can no longer participate in Commonwealth sporting events. While the Commonwealth Games Federation has voted to exclude Fiji from the Commonwealth Games, Fiji officials continue to lobby for Fiji participation. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) reinforced suspension from the Commonwealth calling for an early return to democracy, respect for human rights and respect for the rule of law. CHOGM also made clear that sporting ties under the Commonwealth name are inseparable from the values of the association.

The Commonwealth is keen to readmit Fiji, but only when the regime demonstrates a clear and committed willingness to return to democracy and adhere to the principles of the Harare Declaration, which includes a commitment to the respect for fundamental human rights. The UK continues in its policy of engagement with the regime to work towards these common objectives, both in Suva and in other capitals, and works closely with the EU, UN and regional partners in encouraging Fiji towards an early return to democratic principles and the rule of law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have (a) died whilst abroad and (b) had their death reported to the British Embassy in the relevant country in each of the last five years. (304710)

Figures collated by consular directorate in previous years related only to deaths that required action by our staff. Since April 2008, we have updated our guidance to include cases where we have been notified of a death even if no action has been necessary.

Based on the above criteria, the number of deaths recorded by consular staff overseas over the last five years are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the (a) conditions under which Daniel Fitzsimmons has been detained since the incident in respect of which he is to stand trial in Iraq and (b) judicial process by which that trial will be conducted; and what representations he has received from relatives of those who died in that incident. (304040)

Mr. Fitzsimons is being held at a police station in the International Zone in Baghdad where he is visited regularly by our consular staff. He has not raised any concerns with us about the conditions in which he is being held.

The judicial process is a matter for the Iraqi authorities. However, we will make representations to the authorities should it become clear that there are concerns around the ongoing legal proceedings in comparison with internationally recognised standards or local procedure.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular staff have been in regular contact with the deceased British national's family to ensure he was repatriated to the UK as soon as was practicably possible and to discuss any other ongoing concerns they have.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department’s most recent assessment is of the level of threat to national security posed by foreign extremists, violent extremists and terrorists on student campuses in the UK. (303023)

[holding answer 30 November 2009]: I have been asked to reply.

Our assessment is that there is some extremist activity happening in Higher Education Institutions within the UK. The problem is not widespread but where it does occur it is serious. For national security reasons, we cannot release details of which institutions.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what net subsidy was paid to Arriva Buses from the public purse in (a) England and (b) West Yorkshire in the latest period for which figures are available. (303016)

The Government subsidises bus services in England through the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) which is paid to operators of local bus services.

In 2008-09, Arriva England were paid £66,753,127.18 and Arriva Yorkshire West Ltd. were paid £2,042,380.03.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if his Department will ensure that details of all air flights over London are publicly available and open to public inspection so that any resident is able to obtain accurate information as to how many flights fly over a particular London borough. (304760)

These are operational matters for NATS and the Department for Transport does not hold the information in the form and detail requested. Assistance may be available from the chief executive of NATS with his inquiries. His address is:

Paul Barron

Chief Executive

NATS

Corporate and Technical Centre

4000 Parkway

Whiteley

Fareham

Hants PO15 7FL

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has any plans to improve the provision of information relating to noise levels from air traffic in London. (304759)

The Secretary of State for Transport publishes annual aircraft noise contour maps for Heathrow airport which are designated under section 80 for the purposes of section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 for noise control purposes. These follow the standard UK practice of producing aircraft noise contours for the average summer’s day (Leq 16 hour, 07.00 to 23.00) where ‘summer’ is the 92 day period from 16 June to 15 September.

The contours are produced in three dB bands starting at 57 Leq which the Department for Transport regards as the approximate onset of significant community annoyance. Therefore the contours will encompass those areas of London exposed to 57 Leq or more. Contour details are available on the Department’s website at:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/nec/

The Secretary of State is not responsible for the production of noise contour maps at non designated airports. However London City airport also produces annual noise contours on a similar basis which are available on the London City Airport Consultative Committee’s website at

http://www.lcacc.org/

Modelling aircraft levels at lower levels becomes increasingly uncertain as the noise level decreases, primarily because of difficulties in obtaining aircraft noise measurements that are not contaminated with other sources of noise, such as traffic noise.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the number of people who cycle. (302687)

The Department for Transport is providing considerable support for projects to increase cycling, through Cycling England. Cycling England was established by the Department to get more people cycling, more safely, more often. We have increased their budget to £140 million over three years (running from 2008-09 to 2010-11).

Current cycling projects include the Cycling Demonstration Towns and Cycling City (we are investing £48 million in these) and ‘Bikeability’ cycle training. The first six cycle demonstration towns showed an average increase in cycling of 27 per cent. Our grants for Bikeability will enable an extra 500,000 children to take part in cycle training which meets the National Standard by 2012¹. This year, we are providing almost £10 million to train around 200,000 children.

In September of this year, the Secretary of State for Transport, announced a major £14 million package to transform facilities for cyclists at rail stations (£4 million of which is from Cycling England’s budget).

In October of this year, the Department set up the Cycle to Work Guarantee. Signing up to the guarantee commits employers to helping their employees cycle to work, by providing them with improved cycle facilities, and giving them access to the Government’s tax break scheme for new bicycles and equipment.

The Department is also developing the evidence base for the outcomes and benefits of cycling, and provides guidance on increasing cycling to local authorities. For example, in November this year, we produced guidance to local authorities on delivering sustainable low carbon travel².

We have also invested £10 million from 2004-09 on the ‘Sustainable Travel Towns’, initial results of which indicate cycling increases of at least 12 per cent.

¹ The ‘National Standard’ for cycle training (for children and adults) was launched by us in 2005.

² Delivering Sustainable Low Carbon Travel: An Essential Guide for Local Authorities (November 2009).

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to increase cycling safety. (302686)

The Department for Transport has taken a number of steps to increase the level of safety for cyclists. We are aware that safety concerns are a deterrent for many people to cycle more, or to allow their children to cycle, and so it is an important aspect of our cycling promotion work.

To this end we have:

Developed a new National Standard for Cycle Training suitable for children and adults. We provided grants to local authorities to enable an extra 500,000 children to take part in Bikeability training by 2012. (Our Bikeability training meets the National Standard.) This year, we are providing almost £10 million to train around 200,000 children.

Through Cycling England’s Links to Schools Programme, funded improvements to infrastructure which will include at least 250 safer routes to approximately 500 schools.

Launched a new THINK! education website with resources for primary school teachers, pupils and parents covering the themes of cycle training, wearing the correct clothes, cycle maintenance and using the Highway Code.

Proposed, in our consultation on a new road safety strategy, to provide greater encouragement for local authorities to introduce 20 mph limits and zones in streets which are primarily residential in nature.

Commissioned a two-year research project looking at a range of road safety and cycling issues including casualty data, infrastructure, attitudes and cycle helmets.

And finally

We have recently completed a study considering the safety aspects of a range of supplementary devices on large goods vehicles, including the Fresnel lens, in order to reduce blind spots which can be particularly dangerous to cyclists.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when he expects the panel of members for the Quality Contract Scheme approvals board to be appointed. (304143)

I expect to make an announcement about Quality Contracts Schemes shortly.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many bus monitoring officer posts there were in each traffic commissioner area in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in each of the last five years; and how many such posts were funded by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. (304144)

The information requested is in the following table:

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency does not fund bus monitoring officer posts.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many research projects his Department has commissioned in the 2009-10 financial year to assess the likely effects on bus services of changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant; and what the (a) title and (b) remit was of each such research project. (304145)