To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of enacting the proposed special administration regime in the event of a major airport owner going into administration. (283960)

As part of a consultation on proposals to reform the economic regulation of airports, the Department for Transport sought views on a package of proposed measures to strengthen the financial resilience of airports. The Department is currently considering responses to the consultation and will make an appropriate assessment of special administration following analysis of those consultation responses.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport who is responsible for setting the charges for (a) the Severn Crossing, (b) the Dartford Crossing and (c) the Humber Crossing. (285577)

For the Severn Crossing, Severn River Crossing plc is responsible for setting the toll charges. The Severn Bridge Act 1992 sets out the formula to increase toll charges in line with RPI. Under this Act the Secretary of State for Transport is required to make an Order in December each year fixing the toll amounts for the following calendar year.

For the Dartford Crossing, Le Crossing Company Ltd (who operate the tunnel) are responsible for setting the road user charge. The Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for approving this using powers under the Transport Act 2000.

For the Humber Bridge, the Humber Bridge Board is responsible for setting the toll charges. Under the Humber Bridge Act 1971, the Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for approving any proposals for toll increases submitted by the Board.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much capital funding has been allocated to the links to schools cycling programme in (a) North West Cambridgeshire constituency, (b) Cambridgeshire, (c) Huntingdonshire and (d) Peterborough in each year since the inception of the programme. (283415)

Between 2005 and March 2008, Sustrans (Sustainable Transport Charity) has on the Department for Transport’s behalf made available £511,531 in grants for the Eastern region to deliver a Links to Schools programme working with local authorities. Of this amount, £170,281 has been made available to Cambridgeshire county council. More detailed information is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much funding his Department has allocated to encourage bicycle usage in (a) Hemel Hempstead, (b) Dacorum and (c) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years. (284425)

Between 2005 and March 2008, Sustrans (the Sustainable Transport Charity) has on the Department for Transport’s behalf made available £782,667 in grants for local authorities in the East of England region to deliver a Links to Schools programme to encourage more children to cycle to school. Of this amount, £32,436 has been made available to Hertfordshire county council.

We have also been awarding cycle training grants to local authorities since 2006-07 to encourage cycling to school and the Links to Schools programme referred to above. The grants awarded each year to Hertfordshire county council are set out in the following table.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether consultants acting as interim managers in his Department may (a) dismiss civil servants and (b) initiate formal procedures against civil servants on the grounds of (i) poor performance, (ii) attendance and (iii) discipline. (283199)

Consultants acting as managers may take any management action short of dismissal, but a decision to dismiss decision can only be taken by a civil servant.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when his Department plans to update its web browsers from Internet Explorer 6. (285027)

The position regarding updating web browsers from Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) varies between the Department for Transport (DfT) (Central) and its Agencies, and can be summarised as follows:

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many employees of his Department have been posted to work in offices of hon. Members of each political party in each of the last five years. (284886)

Civil servants are required to act in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Code.

Civil servants may shadow MPs as part of a programme run by the Industry and Parliament Trust. Information on the number of staff who have participated is not held centrally.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of a third runway at Heathrow on the Government’s ability to meet the requirements of EU legislation for levels of (a) nitrogen dioxide and (b) particulate matter. (285515)

Our assessment of the nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter (PM₁₀) impacts of adding a third runway at Heathrow was set out in the “Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport” consultation document and the relevant technical reports, published in November 2007.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what his estimate is of the capital value of National Express East Coast Ltd. (284695)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 July 2009, Official Report, column 644W.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2009, Official Report, columns 611-12W, on Network Rail: directors, in what circumstances his Department may appoint directors to private companies. (284555)

The only circumstances where the Department for Transport may appoint directors to private companies is where something is written in law or the constitution of a company which would permit the Department to appoint a director. The Secretary of State for Transport may appoint a special director to the Board of Network Rail at his discretion.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage rail travel in off-peak hours. (284730)

The Department for Transport regulates certain rail fares, particularly where people have little alternative to rail to make necessary journeys (such as season tickets used by commuters). Regulated fares account for in excess of 60 per cent. of all rail journeys made.

Train operators are free to apply commercial pricing to unregulated fares, which means charging higher fares at peak times when trains are full but lower fares to price-sensitive passengers in the off-peak to attract additional passengers. This helps achieve value for money in terms of both passengers carried and subsidy required.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) how much revenue was taken from each charging category on each of the two Severn crossings in each of the last five years; (285578)

Tolls are levied on the westbound carriageways only from England to Wales. The following table sets out the annual revenue on the Severn Crossing for each class of vehicle (charging category) from 2004-08:

The following table sets out how many category 3 vehicles used the Severn Crossing—by each month and annually from 2004-08)

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will encourage local highway authorities to adopt variable speed limits on roads past schools. (284806)

Local highways authorities already have powers to introduce variable 20 mph speed limits on roads outside schools if they believe it appropriate to do so.

The Department for Transport guidance on setting local speed limits recommends local highways authorities consider introducing 20 mph speed limits, variable 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones in residential areas. This view is reinforced in the document “A Safer Way: Consultation on Making Britain’s Roads the Safest in the World” published in April 2009.

However, there are cost implications related to signing variable speed limits in accordance with regulations.

The Department is working with several local highway authorities to trial more cost effective signing which, if successful, will enable all local highway authorities to more easily introduce variable 20 mph speed limits outside schools.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress his Department has made on its tram-train pilot. (286060)

The Department for Transport is in discussions with Northern and Network Rail about the operation of a tram-train trail on the Penistone line and expects to make an announcement in due course.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport in respect of which of his Department’s (a) projects and (b) budgets underspend is planned in order to provide funding for the proposals contained in the Building Britain's Future document. (284707)

The Department for Transport is continually assessing risk in its programmes. Its current judgment is that it will be able to provide up to £350 million from underspends by the end of the financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evidence his Department holds on the effect of the ban on importation of wild birds into the EU on the number of reptiles imported into the EU since 2007. (284515)

We are aware of reports that the number of reptiles being imported into the EU has increased since 2007, but we do not have access to EU-wide statistics to substantiate these reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the availability of avian vaccines in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza. (284101)

We are currently reviewing our vaccine requirements in the event of vaccination being required as a control measure in the event of an outbreak of avian influenza. We expect to invite tenders on this shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid in bonuses to (a) directors, (b) senior managers, (c) specialist and delivery managers and (d) executive support and administration staff of the Central Science Laboratory in each of the last five years. (283517)

Amounts paid in bonuses to staff in the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) in each of the last four years are listed in the following table. Data for 2009 are not available because on 1 April 2009 CSL became part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people applied for appointment to the committee of the Exmoor National Park as one of his appointments on the last occasion on which such appointments were made; what criteria were used to decide whom to appoint; and what the (a) name and (b) job was of each person on the selection panel. (284405)

Five applications were received for the 2009 round of appointments to Exmoor national park authority.

The Secretary of State members are appointed to the national park authorities to reflect the national importance placed on national parks. Such members will consider strategic issues such as responsibility for conservation, recreation, planning, access, land management and resources issues, as well as reflecting both local and national interests.

The selection process followed the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointment (OCPA) guidelines. The selection panel members were Doug Hulyer (panel chair)—Natural England Board, Councillor John Dyke—chairman of Exmoor national park authority and Tony Swabe—OCPA independent assessor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many flood defence schemes are under construction in the Wessex Water area; and how many such schemes were planned for this year in the capital funding programme for such schemes. (284403)

Within the Wessex area the Environment Agency has 20 flood defence schemes under way and has planned works at 14 other locations. Local authorities have work under way at Weston-super-Mare as well as work planned at Bristol Harbour for later in the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what steps his Department is taking in respect of fishing vessels that do not comply with the provisions of the Incidental Catches of Cetaceans in Fisheries (England) Order 2005; (284510)

The UK is committed to enforcing all aspects of Council Regulation 812/2004 and the provisions of the Incidental Catches of Cetaceans in Fisheries (England) Order 2005 in order to minimise cetacean by-catch.

The Marine and Fisheries agency (MFA) monitor compliance through the inspection activities of the Royal Navy fishery protection squadron. In addition, the MFA conducts training courses for the fisheries protection squadron who undertake boarding at sea. This has led to increased industry awareness of cetacean by-catch issues.

The use of acoustic deterrent devices as specified under Council Regulation 812/2004 has been problematic for the UK and for other member states. UK fishing vessels have identified pinger deployment and safety issues during fishing operations. We reported our concerns to the European Commission and we have been given scientific dispensation to start a research programme to develop appropriate and effective pingers that are safe for our fishers to use.

The UK’s research into acoustic deterrent devices is being carried out on behalf of DEFRA by the sea mammal research unit (SMRU). SMRU, in collaboration with SeaFish and the industry are currently testing a dolphin dissuasive device (DDD) and they are looking at the effects these devices may have on the population distribution of harbour porpoises. Initial results on the efficacy of these pingers are promising.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects an equality impact assessment of the location of the headquarters of the future Marine Management Organisation to be made. (284381)

The “initial” and “partial” phases of an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) have already been completed on the relocation of the headquarters of the proposed new Marine Management Organisation. The final phase—which will see completion of the “full” EqIA—is currently in process and we still await the outcome of the location of a suitable office for the MMO on Tyneside. Subject to considerations around that however, we aim to finalise the EqIA by the end of August 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had at EU level on the introduction of country of origin labelling for all food products traded between EU member states. (284607)

I have been asked to reply.

There have been no discussions at European Union level on country of origin labelling for foods traded between EU member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) remuneration and (b) pension entitlement is provided for each board member of the Waste and Resources Action Programme. (284928)

This information is provided in the Waste and Resources Action Programme's Annual Report and Accounts, the latest copy of which is available on its website.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of average level of domestic water rates in each region in each of the last 10 years. (284145)

The following table sets out the average water bill for each company in England and Wales for the past 10 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to promote the installation of water meters in newly-built dwellings. (283945)

In general, newly-built houses are fitted with water meters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many water meters were installed by water supply companies in homes in Hemel Hempstead constituency in each of the last three years. (284559)

Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry, does not hold data on how many meters are installed in individual constituencies.

The following figures show how many water meters Three Valleys Water installed in its water supply area in the last three years. This includes the constituency of Hemel Hempstead.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much remuneration the chairman of the Wessex Flood Defence Committee received in each of the last three years; and how much he received in expenses (a) in total and (b) for overseas visits in each of those years. (284404)

The following table shows the salary and expenses of the chairman of the Wessex Flood Defence Committee over the last three years. There have been no claims for overseas visits on behalf of the Environment Agency.

To ask the Prime Minister on what date Sir Alan Sugar accepted the role of the Government's Enterprise Champion; and on what date he was officially appointed to that position. (285301)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 18 June 2009, Official Report, column 452W. I also refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my spokesman on 6 July 2009. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website:

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19941

and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Bloody Sunday inquiry has cost to date. (285189)

The cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry to the end of May 2009 is £188 million, including legal costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many centres for victims of domestic violence have opened in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. (282287)

There are 12 refuges for victims of domestic violence throughout Northern Ireland. These are managed by the Women’s Aid Federation for Northern Ireland and are funded by the Department for Social Development (DSD) through the “Supporting People” initiative. In addition DSD fund the “Sanctuary Scheme” which provides security measures for women who wish to remain in their current home.

While none of these refuges opened in the last 12 months, I announced in December 2008 a capital investment of £350,000 to resource the final phase of refurbishment to the Women’s Resource Centre (The Naomi Centre) in Ballymena. This centre will provide services to more than 2,000 victims and their families every year and was officially opened on 30 June.

Government also fund a 24-hour freephone Domestic Violence Helpline (managed by Women’s Aid) for all victims of domestic violence. Respect who provide a phone line for perpetrators wishing to change their behaviour also receive Government funding for this service.

Government are also committed to introducing Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) throughout Northern Ireland by autumn this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions were secured in Northern Ireland of a person using an illegal firearm in the course of the crime in 2008. (285505)

The information is not available in the format requested as the court databases do not contain background information in relation to offences committed; for instance, it is not possible to specify the number of convictions where an illegal firearm was used in relation to murder.

It is possible, however, to provide conviction statistics for firearm-related offences as specified by firearms legislation, including those that relate to the possession, hiring, distribution or supply of firearms. In 2006 (the latest year for which data are available), there were 56 such convictions.

Data are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the backlog of outstanding claims to the Compensation Agency in Northern Ireland to be cleared. (285506)

The Agency does not have a backlog of claims. The processing of all claims begins as soon as they are received. The Compensation Agency seeks continually to improve its service to applicants by reducing the time taken to process claims, as required by its Framework Document.

The following table shows the Agency’s progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many assaults in which a knife was involved were recorded in Northern Ireland in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; (286000)

These data are collated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I have asked the Chief Constable to reply directly to the hon. Gentleman, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the outcome was of the screening workshops held recently under the Public Prosecution Service equality scheme in Northern Ireland. (285503)

That is an operational matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Gentleman, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects to publish the report on the escape of liquefied petroleum gas on the Canvey Island Calor Gas site in October 2008. (285502)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will not be publishing a report into its investigation into the release of liquefied petroleum gas at Calor Gas Ltd.'s Canvey Island site in October 2008. This investigation is still ongoing. HSE does not routinely publish incident investigation reports but, as previously undertaken, will arrange to brief the hon. Member as soon as this is appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of claims for disability living allowance in respect of young people with autism have been awarded in each year since 2001. (284260)

[holding answer 8 July 2009]: In October 2008 the set of codes used to record the disabling condition for disability living allowance changed. Primary and Secondary codes replaced codes for Care and Mobility and more fine detail was introduced with respect to disabling condition. Prior to October 2008, there were fewer than 50 categories for disabling condition, but now there are over 500. This information is available for statistical analysis from November 2008.

However, codes for existing disability living allowance claimants were not updated, so the number of cases with new codes is extremely small compared to the total numbers in receipt of disability living allowance. It is, therefore, not yet possible to produce an estimate of the total number of people claiming disability living allowance with a main disabling condition of autism.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what her latest estimate is of the budget for phase one of the Flexible New Deal. (266117)

Expenditure on the flexible new deal is dependant on both the actual numbers of starts on provision, and the success of providers in getting jobseekers into work. Performance offers are subject to on going commercial negotiation.

Flexible new deal forms part of the support for long-term unemployed budget. I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to her on 16 June 2009, Official Report, column 158W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what date the application by Chorley borough council for a grant for modernisation work at Astley Park in Chorley was received by the Heritage Lottery Fund; how much funding was (a) applied for and (b) awarded; and on what date the grant was awarded.[Official Report, 14 September 2009, Vol. 496, c. 37MC.] (284556)

Advice from the Heritage Lottery Fund is that it received the application by Chorley borough council for a grant for modernisation work at Astley Park in December 2004. The monetary value of grant applied for was £2,004,000, and the monetary value of grant awarded was £2,004,000. The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the grant to Chorley borough council on 1 April 2005. Chorley borough council received a grant increase of £373,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund on 27 September 2007, bringing the total grant award to £2,377,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding the Big Lottery Fund has allocated to the Campaign for Better Transport; and for what projects such funding was allocated. (284091)

The Big Lottery Fund has informed me that it has provided no funding to the Campaign for Better Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Government have allocated to ensuring good digital radio signal reception in all areas of the UK in each of the next three years. (284934)

As set out in the recently published Digital Britain White Paper, the Government recognise that building out a Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) infrastructure which meets the needs of broadcasters, multiplex operators and listeners, including improving the quality of the signal, will require additional investment. However, the Digital Radio Upgrade programme, alongside the proposals on co-location and licence-renewals, will offer significant cost-savings for commercial broadcasters, some of which must support investment in improving coverage.

In areas where the BBC's need to deliver universal access is not matched by the economic realities of the local commercial market, the BBC will need to bear a significant portion of the costs. The full cost cannot be left to the BBC alone. It is our intention that where possible the BBC and national commercial multiplex operator should work together to ensure that any new transmitters benefit both BBC and commercial multiplexes. Partnerships between the BBC and commercial local multiplex operators will be even more important at a local DAB level.

We will work with the BBC, transmission providers and Ofcom to agree a plan for the extension and improvement of local DAB coverage, and where the cost would most appropriately fall.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the letters of 7 May and 15 June 2009 from the hon. Member for Forest of Dean on the Friends of Kempley Churches, reference FD3057. (285073)

[holding answer 8 July 2009]: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 July 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the contribution of the proposed National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills in Thurrock to the London 2012 Olympic events including training and technical support; and if he will make a statement. (282467)

[holding answer 29 June 2009]: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has had no discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding the Creative and Cultural National Skills Academy (NSA).

London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games' Culture and Ceremonies teams have had informal discussions with the NSA as part of the organising committee's initial work on workforce needs for 2012, but no decisions have been made on the academy's involvement.

However, the NSA offers a great opportunity to engage with Olympic events as a training and technical support venue for the opening, closing and medal ceremonies. Regional involvement in the development of a cultural Olympic legacy is paramount to raising the aspirations for young people in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are being taken to make tourist attractions more accessible to disabled people. (284372)

My Department works closely with the tourism industry to ensure that there is good access for disabled people at attractions throughout the United Kingdom. As part of the quality assessment scheme, tourism business in the UK are required to prepare an access statement describing their current services and facilities so that disabled people can decide if they meet their particular needs. Accessibility best practice is now incorporated into the new Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) criteria and its quality guidance booklet.

In addition the DCMS has set up the Accessible Tourism Stakeholders Forum to help to deliver improvements in this area which was a central theme in our Tourism Strategy for 2012. VisitEngland has recently published “Easy Does It”, a guide for setting out how tourism businesses can achieve simple, low cost changes to benefit themselves and their disabled customers.

Most recently DCMS, along with VisitEngland, VisitScotland, VisitWales, and other public bodies, has supported the launch of Open Britain, a definitive guide book and website for people with disabilities and special access requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Prime Minister’s statement of 10 June 2009, Official Report, columns 795-99, on constitutional renewal, when he will set out further plans to look at broadening the application of freedom of information to include additional bodies; and if he will make a statement. (285555)

We will publish our full response to the consultation on designating additional public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act through a section 5 order by the summer.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many drivers were convicted of driving while exceeding the blood alcohol limit with levels of alcohol of (a) 80 to 90, (b) 91 to 100, (c) 101 to 110, (d) 111 to 120, (e) 121 to 130, (f) 131 to 140, (g) 141 to 150, (h) 151 to 160, (i) 161 to 170, (j) 171 to 180, (k) 181 to 190, (l) 191 to 200 and (m) over 200mg per 100ml of blood in the last year for which figures are available;

(2) how many drivers have been convicted of (a) driving under the influence of alcohol with a level of alcohol in excess of 80mg per 100ml of blood and (b) failing to provide a specimen of blood in each year since 1980.[284805] (284803)

Available information on the number of findings of guilt at all courts for offences of driving etc after consuming alcohol or taking drugs, by offence type, in England and Wales for the years 1994 to 2007 (latest available) is given in the table. Data held centrally on the Court Proceedings Database by the Ministry of Justice do not identify the amount by which the prescribed limit was exceeded.

Information for the years prior to 1994 can be found on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website under “Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables”. See following link:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/motor1.html

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to respond to the Ninth Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 2006-07, The Meaning of Public Authority under the Human Rights Act HC 410; for what reasons he has not yet responded to the report; and if he will make a statement. (285524)

My noble Friend the Baroness Ashton of Upholland, then Minister for Human Rights, wrote to the hon. Member following the publication of the report in question. She explained that the Government could not at that point fully address the issues surrounding section 6 of the Human Rights Act until the implications of the judgment in YL v. Birmingham city council were known. The Government have since legislated to overturn the principal effects of that judgment through section 145 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, and are also committed to consulting further on the scope of the Human Rights Act. We believe those of the issues raised in the Joint Committee’s report that remain relevant following these developments can best be addressed in that context.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require headquarters of political parties to disclose their spending in each constituency; and if he will make a statement. (285227)

The Government have no such plans.

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 imposes requirements on political parties to keep accounting records showing sums of money received and expended by the party, and to publish annual statements of accounts. As to form and content, the 2000 Act indicates that these statements of accounts should comply with requirements which may be prescribed by regulations made by the Electoral Commission. Since 2008, the commission has been working with political parties to agree standard requirements for statements of accounts. The commission has stated that it will continue to discuss the issue with the parties, with the aim of achieving improved transparency while imposing the minimum necessary burden on parties and their staff, many of whom are volunteers.

The Government believe that any accounting requirements on parties should take account of both the need for transparency and for any requirements to be both reasonable and proportionate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average (a) length and (b) proportion of the sentence served by each offender sentenced for (i) violence against the person, (ii) sexual offences and (iii) robbery was served in a category (A) A, (B) B, (C) C and (D) D prison in each of the last 12 years for which figures are available. (284181)

The average sentence length and proportion of time served for all prisoners discharged from determinate sentences, for the three offence groups requested, in the years 1999 to 2007 are in the following tables.

Data before 1999 are not available.

Data relating to time served in each prison are not held centrally and can not be obtained without exceeding cost limits.

These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) financial and (b) other support the UK Government has made available to support the work of the Calman Commission. (285582)

The UK Government provided around £500,000 for the commission’s work, which concluded on 15 June 2009 with the publication of the final report. The report which was widely welcomed across Scotland was presented jointly to the Scottish Parliament and the UK Government as co-sponsors.

During the commission's consideration the UK Government provided evidence and factual information to assist the commission with its deliberations. Both the Scottish Parliament, UK Parliament and the UK Government also provided resources such as committee rooms and technical support for some of the commission’s oral evidence sessions.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland indicated in his written ministerial statement to the House on 15 June 2009, Official Report, column 5WS, the Government warmly welcome this report.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 11 May 2009, Official Report, column 497W, on Parliament: internet, when the new area of the Parliament website focusing on Parliament's heritage will be launched; whether it will include audio files; and if he will make a statement. (285497)

The new area of Parliament's website focusing on Parliament's heritage was launched on 2 July 2009 and can be found at:

www.parliament.uk/livingheritage

Relevant audio content will be added to this area over the coming weeks either as embedded files or as links to audio content elsewhere on the Parliament website. For example a podcast about the suffragettes is currently being produced and will be published in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Invincible class aircraft carriers can be serviced from HM Naval Base Faslane. (284820)

The feasibility of deep maintenance upkeep work, such as refits and docking periods, being carried out to the Invincible Class aircraft carriers at HM Naval Base Clyde was considered as part of the Naval Base Review. It was assessed that as the berths at Faslane were designed to accommodate submarines further work would be required to make them suitable to accommodate the heavier aircraft carriers. In addition, there are insufficient waterfront facilities, such as for equipment storage and ship's company living accommodation, available to allow deep maintenance work to be carried out there. However, other maintenance work such as that carried out onboard the ship by its company and which does not require the vessel to be berthed for a significant period of time, can be carried out at the naval base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the planned Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers will be based at HM Naval Base Faslane. (284821)

Neither of the two aircraft carriers in the Queen Elizabeth Class will be base ported at Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde. As the then Minister for the Armed Forces, the right hon. Member for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow (Mr. Ingram) announced on 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 232W, both aircraft carriers are to be based at HMNB Portsmouth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much (a) chicken, (b) beef, (c) lamb and (d) pork supplied to the British armed forces was sourced from within the British Isles in the latest period for which information is available. (284818)

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. These two reports covering the years 2006-08 can be found at the following link:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/awareness.htm

The report gives details of the proportion of individual meat 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 MOD has gone up from 43 per cent. in 2006-07 to 59 per cent. in 2007-08. We expect to publish a third report at the end of 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average cost is of fitting a kitchen in a service family accommodation unit under his Department's upgrade programme. (284684)

It is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the average cost of installing a kitchen in a service family accommodation property, as the cost will depend on a number of variables. For example, not only does the size of kitchen and amount of work required vary from property to property (plumbing, wiring, plastering, tiling, etc), but the cost will be dependent on the number of properties included in a programme on any given site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Willie Rennie) of 7 May 2009, Official Report, column 380W, on armed forces: housing, for which geographical area each grading board is responsible. (284685)

Grading boards are convened at brigade or unit level rather than by geographical area and therefore the information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of units of (a) single living accommodation and (b) service family accommodation at each location in Scotland are at each grade. (284819)

At each of the following locations in Scotland, as at December 2008 single living accommodation (SLA) was at the following grade, an assessment of the condition of both the accommodation and ‘scale’ (as defined in Joint Service Publication 315 which is available to view on the Defence Estates website:

http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/publications/jsp/jsp315/volumel/

Details of service family accommodation (SFA) cannot be provided on the same basis as for SLA. However, SFA properties in each of the Department's housing areas in Scotland are at the following Standard for Condition:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reported break-ins to service personnel accommodation there have been in Scotland in each year since 2004. (285565)

The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of progress in respect of the cut and sew contract for army uniforms; and if he will make a statement. (284643)

The cut and sew contract tendering process began in April 2009, with nearly 50 companies expressing interest. A pre-qualification exercise is currently under way and the contract is scheduled to be awarded later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times the (a) Defence Council and (b) Defence Ministerial Committee has met in the last three years. (284517)

The Defence Council has met once, on 18 October 2006. The Defence Ministerial Committee was established in 2008 and has met on the following dates: 20 May 2008, 25 June 2008, 17 September 2008, 13 November 2008, 17 December 2008, 4 March 2009 and 3 June 2009. This information is available on the MOD website found at the following link:

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/DefenceManagement/

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for implementation of the European Defence Agency code of conduct on offsets; and if he will make a statement. (285009)