To ask the hon. Member for South-West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the Electoral Commission’s press release of 7 May 2009, on the Crown Prosecution Service decision on Labour Party donations, whether the Electoral Commission made an assessment of the merits of initiating its own investigation into the donations after the Crown Prosecution Service decision. (323704)

The Electoral Commission informs me that following the Crown Prosecution Service decision in May 2009, the Commission considered what, if any, further action might be appropriate. The Commission concluded that in view of the investigation conducted by the police and the CPS decision, further investigation into the same matters would not be in the public interest.

To ask the hon. Member for South-West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 26 October 2009, Official Report, column 6W, on political parties: finance, from which (a) legal firms, (b) Queen’s counsel and (c) other sources the Electoral Commission sought advice in connection with its investigation into Mr. Michael Brown and Fifth Avenue Partners; how much was paid for such advice in each case; and what the total cost was to the Electoral Commission of the investigation. (323601)

The Electoral Commission informs me that, in addition to legal advice from its in-house legal counsel, it also obtained legal advice from Queen’s counsel, Michael Beloff QC; and from junior barristers, Jane Collier, Tom Hickman and Michael Nield. Payments to Queen’s counsel amounted to £33,625 and payments to junior counsel amounted to £26,650.

The Electoral Commission further informs me that it does not record the precise direct and indirect costs associated with any particular case but, now that the investigation is closed, can estimate that the staff and incidental costs incurred, including the above legal costs, amounted to approximately £170,000.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether Mr. Charlie Whelan holds a House of Commons security pass. (324210)

Mr. Charles Whelan holds a parliamentary photo-identity pass.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham (Mr. Hands) of 2 March 2010, Official Report, column 1006W, on Members: expenses, how much the (a) budget and (b) approved purchase order is for the use of Detica to undertake investigations in 2009-10; and what it was in 2008-09. (323956)

An invoice for £15,640, inclusive of VAT, has now been received in line with the original budgetary provision. This was for a piece of work in support of the internal inquiry into the unauthorised disclosure of information about Members' allowances. No payment for such work was made in 2008-09.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the oral answer of 11 March 2010, Official Report, column 428, on the day nursery, what items of expenditure referred to as having being spent on Bellamy's Bar will be reused in the new scheme; and what estimate has been made of the monetary value of those items. (323949)

Of the £480,000 spent on the refurbishment of Bellamy's Bar, Bellamy's Club Room, and the Astor Suite (including fees and furnishings) it is estimated that approximately £168,000 of the work would be of continuing benefit in the new child care facility. Items include carpets, carpentry and joinery, plasterwork, decorations, mechanical and electrical engineering. In addition, efforts will be made to reuse the furniture elsewhere on the parliamentary estate, which was provided at a cost of £66,000.

To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Peter Luff) of 11 March 2010, Official Report, column 423, on the day nursery, when consultation with experts and providers began; when he expects that consultation to finish; and what consultation is being undertaken with those who will be relocated from 1 Parliament street. (323951)

Consultation with child care experts has been continuous since November 2009, and is expected to continue throughout the duration of the project. Consultation with providers took place to help inform the options paper presented to the Commission in December, but is now in abeyance until completion of the procurement process. Management are consulting with Trade Unions and regularly briefing those staff who are to be relocated from 1 Parliament street.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many smoking shelters have been built for his Department’s staff in the last five years; and at what cost. (324345)

Nil.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years. (324429)

My Department has not incurred any expenditure of this nature.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the benchmark results of the Civil Service People Survey for his Department. (322575)

I will arrange for the results from the Civil Service People Survey for the Wales Office to be placed in the Library of each House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation “if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997” could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement. (323872)

The Scotland Office has not received any such questions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel of each sex were injured in Afghanistan (a) between the deployment of special forces in 2001 and the deployment of the armed forces and (b) since the deployment of the armed forces in that country. (323352)

[holding 22 March answer 2010]: Between October 2001 and February 2010, 1,116 service personnel were injured in action in Afghanistan, of which six were female.

This figure does not include personnel treated by coalition medical facilities before the establishment of the Afghan Field Hospital in March 2006. It is not possible to distinguish on the basis of gender between personnel injured between April and October 2006.

Between April 2006 and February 2010, 2,217 service personnel with non-battle injuries or diseases were admitted to a field hospital in Afghanistan, of which 116 were female.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he takes to ensure the welfare of animals used in scientific procedures as a result of a decision by his Department. (323215)

The Ministry of Defence has always taken the issue of animal health and welfare seriously and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) complies fully with all of the UK legislative requirements.

All Dstl staff who wish to work with animals are required to attend internal Dstl courses prior to their application for a personal licence. Following the successful completion of the required internal and legislative training, staff continue to undertake on the job training; individual training records are maintained to ensure required competence for procedures.

In order to maintain high welfare standards and share best practice Dstl staff are encouraged to visit other facilities and attend appropriate conferences e.g. meetings of the Institute of Animal Technologists, the Laboratory Animal Science Association and the Laboratory Animal Veterinary Association.

Information gathered is then shared within Dstl via dedicated internal forums.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on funding standard operational requirements for kit and equipment for the armed forces. (323002)

The core Equipment Programme, funded from the Defence budget, delivers the capabilities our armed forces need now and in the future against a range of contingencies and threats. Priorities are reviewed regularly as part of the Ministry of Defence’s annual planning round. In addition, Urgent Operational Requirements respond to urgent requirements specific to particular operational theatres and are funded by the Treasury Reserve.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers at each rank at or above the rank of colonel there were in the British Army, including the Territorial Army and Reserve, in (a) 1990, (b) 1997, (c) 2005 and (d) the latest year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (323708)

[holding answer 23 March 2010]: The information requested is provided in the following table:

In addition, in April 2005 there were three full-time Reserve service colonels, and in April 2009 there were four full-time Reserve service colonels and one brigadier. The 2009 figure is also provisional.

Data on the Territorial Army are not held before January 1993. After April 2007 Territorial Army officer and soldier breakdowns are not included due to JPA data validation issues.

The changes of Army officers numbers is in line with the Army's operational commitments over this period, therefore since 1997 there has been a significant increase in the number of senior officers being deployed on operations. Modern conflict has seen UK Armed Forces deploying an increased number of senior officers in support of NATO and other coalitions far more than in the recent past; moreover, there has also been the requirement for senior officer support for host nations in a variety of advisory roles. Appropriate military representation is required at many levels to command operations, provide staff support in coalition headquarters, and effect coordination. Our operational commitments have demanded increased number of officers at the rank of colonel and above to deploy, and hence numbers have increased in these higher ranks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has sought legal advice on the status of the Minute of Separation under Scottish Law as the equivalent of the Decree for Judicial Separation in applying the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975. (323555)

Yes. Departmental legal advisers referred questions regarding the status of a Minute of Separation under Scottish Law to a Scottish firm of solicitors in April 2006. The advice given by the Scottish firm of solicitors was subsequently applied by the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (“the AFPS 1975”) scheme administrators in deciding an individual’s entitlement to restoration of widow’s pension under the AFPS 1975 rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what differences there are between the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 and the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 in respect of pension payments following the subsequent remarriage or co-habitation of widows. (323556)

Where a widow has been granted a non attributable pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (“AFPS 1975”), i.e.: in circumstances where the death of her husband was not attributable to service, and that widow subsequently marries or co-habits with another person, then the pension is no longer payable.

In cases where a widow has been granted an attributable pension under AFPS 75 where her husband’s death on or after 31 October 2000 was attributable to service, and that widow subsequently marries or co-habits with another person, her pension will remain in payment.

Under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 2005 (“AFPS 2005”), where a widow in receipt of a pension remarries or co-habits with another person, the pension payable under AFPS 2005 is unaffected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence at what locations his Department's officials are based together with (a) Army, (b) Navy and (c) Royal Air Force staff. (322847)

The site level location data for service and civilian personnel are not held in a format that allows cross comparison. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election. (323560)

On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.

Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of displaced people who have fled from Burma to Thailand since January 2010; whether he has had discussions with the government of Thailand on the safety and welfare of those people; and if he will make a statement. (323617)

We received reports of people fleeing from Burma to Thailand since January 2010 but the numbers are unconfirmed. Following news that Thailand was intending to force 3,000 refugees to return to Burma, our ambassador to Thailand raised this matter with the Thai authorities stressing the importance of adherence to international standards and to Thailand's international obligations. We understand that the Royal Thai Government decided not to deport the 30 families it had initially identified for removal. We continue to closely monitor the situation are coordinating closely with UN High Commission for Refugees, US and EU partners and will continue to raise the issue with Thai authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often he receives reports from the EU Special Envoy on Burma on his activities; and if he will make a statement. (323621)

The EU Special Envoy for Burma, Piero Fassino, regularly reports to EU member states including on his 20 November 2009 meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation of Burma and his engagement with regional parliamentarians and officials in Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, also in November 2009. More recently, Mr. Fassino reported on the EU Troika meeting with the Burmese Foreign Minister in December 2009 and on his meetings with Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and other partners, at the United Nations at the end of January 2010.

There are currently no plans to make a statement but the UK welcomes Mr. Fassino's continued efforts to communicate the EU's position to the Burmese authorities, countries in the region and international partners to try and bring positive change to Burma.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with the Israeli ambassador the matter of adherence to diplomatic protocol in commenting on proceedings in Parliament and internal British political activities. (322131)

I have no plans to discuss these matters with the Israeli ambassador. He, like everyone else, is entitled to his views on proceedings in Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consideration by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development of Israel's application for membership. (322896)

The UK supports Israel's bid for accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. However, there remain a small number of issues, such as the scope of statistical data, which are being resolved in the course of the accession process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made a recent assessment of the security situation in the Nuba mountain region of Sudan; and if he will make a statement. (323618)

We remain concerned by the ongoing instability and humanitarian suffering in the Nuba mountains region of Southern Kordofan. We continue to monitor the situation closely, including through visits to the area. The forthcoming elections period will be crucial: we note that the voting for Governor and the State Assembly in Southern Kordofan has been delayed until a new census can be carried out.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement provides for popular consultations to be held in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. These will be essential to ensuring a lasting peace in Southern Kordofan and across Sudan as a whole. The dates and format of these consultations, and the referendum in Abyei (the third of the Three Areas) are yet to be finalised by the parties. It is essential that this process is inclusive and takes account of the legitimate concerns of the regions' populations.

The UK continues to support projects to mitigate conflict and foster peace in the Three Areas and has committed £30 million over the next three years to provide basic services to households.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department will make the Single Payment Scheme payment to Mrs. Mary Wilkinson of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire for 2007; and if he will make a statement. (321616)

Mrs. Wilkinson has received her payment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost was of processing a single payment in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many payments of less than that amount were made in that period. (322338)

The National Audit Office calculated the average cost for administering a Single Payment Scheme claim for the 2008 scheme year (England only) as £1,743.

29,897 claims under the Single Payment Scheme for 2008 scheme year (England only) had values equal to or less than £1,743. The values of claims could be adjusted however following the application of penalties or for over claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 9 February 2009, Official Report, column 1578W, on carbon emissions: waste disposal, what the reference number is of the research project; which body undertook the research; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the research report on estimating carbon dioxide emissions from domestic burning. (323085)

Research project ED431843 was undertaken by AEA Technology, and provides estimates of dioxin emissions from domestic burning. A copy of the research report has been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to correspondence from Richard D. Hall dated (a) 4 December 2009, (b) 6 December 2009, (c) 15 December 2009 and (d) 2 March 2010 on animal mutilation. (323907)

Neither DEFRA nor its agency, Animal Health, hold a record of having received correspondence of the dates referred to by the hon. Member for Blaydon (Mr. Anderson).

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) disciplinary and (b) capability procedures have been (i) initiated and (ii) completed in his Department in each of the last five years; how much time on average was taken to complete each type of procedure in each such year; how many and what proportion of his Department’s staff were subject to each type of procedure in each such year; and how many and what proportion of each type of procedure resulted in the dismissal of the member of staff. (320632)

The following tables show the number of disciplinary and capability procedures initiated and completed in each of the last five years. In this instance we are referring to capability as performance. They also show the number of staff dismissed in each of the years and percentage of staff subject to procedures who were dismissed for each of the procedures.

The following information is provided for DEFRA and its agencies:

Average time

Information for this element of the questions is not available in all cases, we are therefore unable to provide the information requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people his Department employs to maintain its social media and social networking sites; and at what cost in the latest period for which figures are available. (322615)

DEFRA does not employ anyone to maintain social media or social networking sites.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on maintaining its (a) Flickr channel, (b) YouTube channel and (c) Twitter feed in the latest period for which figures are available. (322618)

The annual licence fee for DEFRA's Flickr channel is $24.95 (US dollars). There is no licence fee for DEFRA's YouTube channel. There are no other costs and both channels are maintained by in-house staff. DEFRA does not have a Twitter feed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election. (323461)

On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.

Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the benchmark results of the Civil Service People Survey for his Department and its agencies. (322567)

The 2009 People Survey results for the Department and its agencies are now available in the Library. The results for core DEFRA and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate are also available on their respective websites, as follows:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/work/staffsurvey/index.htm

http://www.vmd.gov.uk/About/StaffSurvey.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many thefts from his Department have been recorded in the last two years. (318987)

The following tables show items of official property reported as lost or stolen in 2008-09 and 2009-10 (to 24 February 2010 only).

DEFRA takes the loss of equipment very seriously and advice and guidance is issued regularly about security in an effort to minimise losses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) Ministers and (b) staff of each grade in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies spent on first class travel in the last 12 months. (320401)

The following tables show the expenditure for first class air and rail travel for (a) Ministers and (b) staff of each grade, for core DEFRA and the agencies that use the Corporate Travel Framework contract, for the 12-month period of February 2009 to January 2010.

To identify spend by those agencies that do not use the Corporate Travel Framework or where it has been incurred outside these arrangements can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to remove the regulatory provisions which restrict councils collecting recyclable and residual waste from nearby household and business premises at the same time. (323152)

There are no regulatory provisions that prohibit local authorities collecting waste from household and business premises at the same time. However, we are aware that the Landfill Allowances Trading Scheme (LATS) has been cited as a barrier to the collection of waste from business premises by local authorities.

The consultation ‘Meeting EU Landfill Diversion Targets’ published on 18 March asks for views on the effectiveness of existing policies, including LATS. Responses from this consultation and further work by DEFRA will inform a second consultation later in the year on the most effective combination of policies to ensure that England meets its landfill diversion targets. We anticipate that the impact of LATS on council provision of waste services for businesses will be a consideration in this wider assessment of the policies needed to ensure England meets its landfill diversion targets.

Meanwhile, DEFRA is looking at ways to encourage greater recycling of waste from business premises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. In particular, we are funding the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to test a number of trade waste ‘Bring Banks’ and trade waste collection schemes to establish how some of the barriers to higher recycling can be most effectively overcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which urban foxes cause (a) hygiene and (b) litter problems. (323135)

DEFRA has made no assessment of the hygiene and litter problems caused by urban foxes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group in the last 24 months. (323151)

The National Fly-tipping Prevention Group consists of the representatives of landowner organisations, enforcement bodies and Government. It meets on a quarterly basis to advise and influence Government and to share best practice on the prevention of fly-tipping on public and private land.

The group recently created a website which provides information to anybody who wishes to prevent or deal with fly-tipping:

http://www.tacklingflytipping.com/

The most recent available sets of minutes have been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the recycling industry can contribute towards meeting Courtauld II recycling targets in local authority areas; and if he will make a statement. (323701)

Phase II of the Courtauld Commitment includes a new target for a 10 per cent. reduction in the carbon impact of grocery packaging: an estimated 1.1 million tonne CO₂ equivalent emissions reduction through reducing the weight, increasing the recycling rates and increasing the recycled content of grocery packaging.

This new target is a key contribution to our aim of optimising packaging reductions, wider eco-design and increasing recycling, as set out in the Packaging Strategy. It will encourage companies to take up recycled contents in their packaging—another objective of the Packaging Strategy.

Separate from the Courtauld Commitment, DEFRA and the devolved Administrations have recently published a consultation document proposing higher producer responsibility targets for packaging, covering 2011-20. The consultation seeks views on the extent to which the recycling industry (among others) can help achieve local recycling targets. The consultation can be found at

www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/packaging-regs/index.htm

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities did not meet their targets for recycling waste in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what percentage of waste was recycled in each such area in that period. (323703)

During the 2008-09 period, 21 local authorities did not meet their target for recycling household waste in line with National Indicator 192. The targets and percentages of waste actually recycled in each of these authorities are shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reptiles were seized by HM Revenue and Customs under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species in each year 2000; and how many were seized in each seizure. (322454)

The numbers of live reptiles seized by officers of HM Revenue and Customs under the convention of international trade in endangered species (CITES) for the financial years 2005-06 to 2008-09 are given in the following table.

Information on all CITES seizures made by the former HM Customs and Excise prior to 2005 is available on the DEFRA website at:

www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/wildlife/trade-crime/cites/action-uk.htm#enforcement

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the most recent survey on rodents derived from data from the English House Condition Survey to be published. (323150)

The next report covering the period up to 2007 will be available soon. Final revisions are under way and we aim for it to be available by the end of May 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many days staff of his Department and its agencies spent on trade union activity in the latest year for which figures are available; and what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of such activity. (320612)

We have interpreted ‘Trade Union Activity’ as the facility time DEFRA and our agencies provide to our trade union representatives.

DEFRA and our agencies currently provide trade union representatives with approximately 6,805 days facility time annually.

For the year 2009-10 the cost to the Department has been estimated as £1,200,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of each response to his Department's consultation on household waste incentive scheme (a) application and designation guidance, (b) technical issues guidance, (c) finance guidance, (d) coverage and disadvantaged groups guidance and (e) unauthorised deposit or disposal guidance. (323053)

Copies of responses received to the Department's June 2008 informal consultation on draft guidance for waste reduction schemes will be made available in the Library in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the respondents were to his Department's consultation on (a) incentives for recycling by households of May 2007, (b) draft guidance on household waste incentive schemes of June 2008 and (c) statutory good recycling service guidance of September 2008. (323054)

The list of respondents for the Consultation on the Incentives for Recycling by Households, May 2007, can be found in the summary of responses which is available on DEFRA's website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/incentives/documents/incentives-responses-summary2007.pdf

The respondents to the informal consultation on draft guidance, June 2008, are as listed. Some respondents submitted more than one response.

Absorbent Hygiene Products Manufacturers Association

Association of Charity Shops

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Birmingham City Council

Bromsgrove District Council (did not comment on consultation documents)

Cambridgeshire County Council

Campaign for Real Recycling

Chartered Institution of Wastes Management

County Surveyors Society

Coventry City Council

ESRC BRASS Centre, Cardiff University

GMB Union

Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority

Hampshire County Council

Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee

London Borough of Sutton

Norfolk County Council

Paediatric Continence Forum

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

Responses from private individuals

South Gloucestershire Council (did not comment on consultation documents)

Waste Watch

The list of respondents to the formal consultation on statutory Good Recycling Service guidance, September 2008, can be found in the summary of responses which is available on DEFRA's website:

www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/incentives/documents/summary-consultation-responses.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2010, Official Report, column 322W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, if he will place in the Library a copy of each response received to the informal consultation on draft guidance except the responses received from private individuals. (323532)

Copies of responses received to the Department’s June 2008 informal consultation on draft guidance for waste reduction schemes will be made available in the House Library in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research has been commissioned by (a) his Department, (b) the Environment Agency and (c) the Waste and Resources Action Programme on public attitudes to (i) waste collection and (ii) waste disposal in the last three years; and what the (A) title and (B) completion date of each such research project was. (323180)

DEFRA commissioned the following projects on public attitudes to waste collection and waste disposal in the last three years:

Building Greater Understanding of the Techniques and Processes Required to Promote Sustainable Waste Management through Behaviour Change Programme—completed June 2008.

The Organic Waste Use Collection—completed October 2007.

Enhancing Participation in Kitchen Waste Collection—completed March 2010.

Attitudes to the Use of Organic Resources on Land—completed February 2009.

Tracker Survey of Public Attitudes and Behaviour Towards the Environment—completed September 2009.

Testing Innovative Approaches for Achieving Sustainable Behaviours - Maiden Lane Gardens Food-Loop project—ongoing.

The Environment Agency has not carried out any research in this area.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) undertook the following projects:

Consumer Attitudes to Waste and Recycling Services. The conclusions from this research were used to inform the development of the Waste Collection Commitment—completed in September 2009.

Barriers to Recycling at Home—completed in August 2008.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department and its agencies have spent on rooms for staff leisure in each of the last five years. (324427)

The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the meat and dairy products procured by his Department and its non-departmental bodies are free range or produced to standards equivalent to those of the RSPCA Freedom Food scheme. (323072)

The Department for Transport conducts its procurement in accordance with UK Government's value for money policies and principles, utilising collaborative arrangements where these are available and in accordance with the legal and regulatory framework.

The Department and its agencies generally provide staff catering and vending services via either an estates private finance initiative or facilities management contracts. These provisions are typically provided on a commercial basis and are not directly subsidised, and they operate in a competitive environment.

For example, the Department's HQ facilities management contract requires the contractor to comply with Government guidance on sustainable food and farming in the delivery of the contract. The contract requires the contractor to take account of the various Government food initiatives, and directs them to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs websites, where the contractor is encouraged to consider higher level schemes such as The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Freedom Foods standards.

Another example is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's estates private finance initiative contract, which requires the service provider to comply with the sustainable food procurement initiative and other Government guidance on food and farming in delivery of the service.

As and when each of the Department's catering contracts needs to be renewed, consideration will be given to emerging higher level welfare standards when specifying replacement contracts.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether the dates of publication of any regular statistics or reports by his Department have been affected by planning for the forthcoming general election. (323455)

On the announcement of a general election, the Cabinet Secretary issues guidance to Departments on their activities during the pre-election period. This will be published on the Cabinet Office website.

Regular statistical releases and reports will continue to be issued and published during the election period on dates which have been pre-announced.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to deter theft from within the Department. (322655)

The Department for Transport has in place access control measures in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance, issues staff awareness guidance on its Intranet and provides lockable pedestals and personal lockers. It operates a clear desk policy, ensuring that all personal or sensitive material is locked away at the end of each working day. Reminders on security awareness are disseminated to employees via security liaison officers within the Department teams and 24/7 security staff are employed at principal sites within the Department.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of an electromagnetic pulse strike caused (a) deliberately and (b) through solar activity on the critical infrastructure of his Department. (321758)

The Government's Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom, published alongside and reflected in the National Security Strategy update of June 2009, considers a number of methods of cyber attack, including those that generate high levels of radio frequency power that can damage or disrupt unprotected electronics.

In addition, the Communications Electronic Security Group (CESG) provides Government Departments with advice and guidance on how to protect against, detect and mitigate various types of cyber attack.

It is not in the interests of the UK's national security for this Department to confirm whether it holds information about assessments of the effects of an electromagnetic pulse. Such disclosure could undermine the integrity and security of the UK's critical national infrastructure and thereby expose it to potential threats, which is not in the public interest.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the route for the High Speed Two rail link; and if he will make a statement. (323478)

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has spoken to a number of stakeholders, including representatives of the Chilterns Conservation Board and the National Trust, as well as Members of this House whose constituencies lie on the recommended route. The Department for Transport also receives general correspondence covering many policy areas, including high speed rail and the conurbations it may serve, from a number of individuals, organisations and companies.

In identifying its recommended route for a high speed rail line from London to the west midlands, HS2 Ltd. held confidential discussions with relevant county and local planning authorities regarding specific options. A summary list and the full text of various detailed submissions which stakeholders submitted during the engagement process undertaken by HS2 Ltd. was published alongside the Command Paper.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what costs his Department has incurred in the preparation of High Speed Two proposals for a new rail line linking London with the West Midlands. (323699)

HS2 Ltd.'s budget for the period between 14 January 2009 and the end of the 2009-10 financial year is £8.6 million.

In addition, existing staff and budget resources within the Department for Transport were deployed in the preparation of the Command Paper, ‘High Speed Rail’.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely number of construction jobs that will be created by High Speed Two. (323712)

HS2 Ltd.’s report, published by the Government on 11 March 2010, estimates that around 10,000 jobs could be created during construction, with a further 2,000 permanent jobs through operation of High Speed Two.

Should High Speed Two be taken forward, Government will work with industry to draw up a High Speed Rail Industrial Strategy, including the establishment of a high level supply chain forum. Further details can be found in chapter 12 of the High Speed Rail Command Paper (CM 7827), copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) employees and (b) contractors of Network Rail have been (i) killed and (ii) injured at work in each year since its inception; and what cause was attributed to each incident. (323728)

Accidents and incidents on the railways are reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95).

Table 1 lists the number of Network Rail employees and its contractors fatally injured while undertaking railway operations reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation. These data exclude such employees fatally injured in road traffic accidents and fatalities arising out of a railway under construction, the latter being reported to the Health and Safety Executive.

The data also exclude other railway employees (e.g. train crew) that have been fatally injured on Network Rail infrastructure. Table 2 lists all reportable railway employee fatalities that have occurred on Network Rail infrastructure since Network Rail was formed in October 2002 to the end of 2008.

Injury data for Network Rail employees and contractors, and information on the cause of each incident could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many staff were employed at Network Rail in each year since its inception. (323722)

This is an operational matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s chief executive at the following address for a response to his question:

Iain Coucher

Chief Executive

Network Rail

Kings Place

90 York Way

London, N1 9AG.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many signals passed at danger incidents have occurred in each of the last five years. (323718)

The number of signals passed at danger incidents that have occurred in each of the last five years are shown in the following table.

Since the introduction of the Train Protection and Warning System, there has been a significant and sustained reduction in the risk from signals passed at danger.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many signals passed at danger incidents were attributable to (a) driver error, (b) defective signals, (c) obscured signals or (d) another cause in each of the last five years. (323730)

There have been no fatalities or injuries caused by signals passed at danger on Britain's railways in the last five years, and the numbers of signals passed at danger are decreasing year on year. Information on specific causes of these incidents could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) fatalities, (b) injuries and (c) incidents of damage to property have been caused by signals passed at danger incidents in each of the last five years. (323731)

There have been no fatalities or injuries caused by signals passed at danger on Britain’s railways in the last five years.

Data for incidents of damage to property caused by signals passed at danger are not held.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) drivers, (b) conductors or other train staff and (c) passengers have been (i) killed and (ii) injured in railway accidents that did not occur within railway stations in each of the last 10 years; and what cause was attributed to each incident. (323727)

Accidents and incidents on the railways are reported to the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95). Under these regulations, the geographical location of the accident/ incident is recorded. There is no further breakdown of location into a sub-category, e.g. station, signal box, on the line. Therefore, the breakdown of the data for accidents that have not occurred at stations and the cause of each accident could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

However, the number of fatal injuries and non fatal injuries for the period 1999 to 2008 for all railway employees, including contractors, and passengers that have occurred on railway infrastructure can be provided and is shown in Tables 1 and 2. The data for railway employees have been broken down into train drivers, conductors and other train crew and other railway employees.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) fatalities, (b) injuries and (c) incidents of damage to property on the railways have been recorded in each of the last five years; and what cause was attributed to each incident. (323729)

The number of fatalities and injuries on the railways for the period 2004-08 is shown in Tables 1 and 2. The information is based on accidents notified to the independent Office of Rail Regulation under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95).

The number of incidents of damage to property is neither reported or held by the independent Office of Rail Regulation.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the last 100 railway incidents reported to the Office of Rail Regulation, Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate and the Health and Safety Executive were in each constituent part of the UK. (323733)

In line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, the independent Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is unable to provide information on the last 100 incidents reported to them.

Statements of how ORR is following the code can be found on its website at:

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1862

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many (a) individuals, (b) firms, (c) companies and (d) other organisations have been prosecuted for breaches of (i) health and safety and (ii) other legislation in respect of railway incidents in each year since its inception. (323734)

Since its inception as the independent safety and economic regulator for Britain’s railways on 1 April 2006, the independent Office of Rail Regulation has brought 20 successful prosecutions for breaches of health and safety legislation in respect of railway incidents. Details of these prosecutions can be found on the independent Office of Rail Regulation’s website at:

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk

The independent Office of Rail Regulation has not brought any prosecutions for breaches of other legislation.

Details of prosecutions taken by the Health and Safety Executive prior to 2006 can be found in the Health and Safety Executive annual reports on railway safety, copies of which are available from the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent progress has been made on the provision of through tickets; and if he will make a statement. (323600)

Each train operator's passenger licence requires them to be a party to, and comply with, arrangements for through tickets approved by the Secretary of State.

The arrangements are contained in an inter-operator agreement called the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement and ensure that through tickets are available to all other rail destinations in Great Britain. There are also arrangements for through tickets to other networks including, for example, the London Underground.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport when his Department last assessed the traffic flows across the Severn crossings. (323583)

The Highways Agency reviews traffic flow data on a monthly basis which is collected by Severn River Crossing plc, the operator for the crossings.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what information his Department holds on the volume of traffic moving across the Severn crossings at different times of the day. (323584)

The Highways Agency holds traffic data broken down into hourly, daily and monthly flows for westbound traffic on the Severn crossings.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the average number of vehicles using the Severn crossings at each time of day; and if he will make a statement. (323585)

Vehicle numbers are counted in the westbound direction as part of the toll collection, which is in that direction only. The average numbers of westbound vehicles using the Severn crossings during 2009 for each hour of the day are given in the following table:

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many vehicles in each charging category travel across the Severn crossings on average each day at each time of day. (323586)

Vehicle numbers are counted in the westbound direction as part of the toll collection, which is in that direction only. The average hourly flows of vehicles in each charging category travelling westbound during 2009 across the Severn crossings are detailed in the following table.