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28 Oct 2010 : Column 453W—continued
Business: Equality
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Government Equalities Office on the effect of equalities legislation on small businesses since his appointment. [18899]
Mr Prisk: Officials in BIS have met with officials from the Government Equalities Office on numerous occasions since my appointment to discuss a wide range of policy issues, including equalities legislation, and any such discussions that consider the impact of policy proposals on business include the effects on small businesses.
Business: Females
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what programmes his Department has in the higher education system to encourage female entrepreneurs; and how much his Department spent on each such programme (a) nationally and (b) in the West Midlands in the latest year for which figures are available. [18443]
Mr Prisk: The Department funds the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) to provide programmes in the higher education system that encourage entrepreneurs. "Make it Happen" and "Flying Start" are the two programmes that promote entrepreneurship to students and graduates. The total grant in aid allocated for the NCGE was £1.824 million in 2009/10 and is £900,000 in 2010/11 (subject to finalisation of the organisation's business plan and ministerial agreement).
NCGE is continuing to support young people who joined "Make It Happen" last year. Of these, 1,875 are female entrepreneurs (46% of total numbers), and 117 of those female entrepreneurs are based in the West Midlands (6% of the total).
NCGE ran two of its three-day "Flying Start" programmes specifically for female students during the last financial year. Some 60 women attended these sessions.
The Department does not hold figures aggregating the proportion of funding for "Make It Happen" and "Flying Start" that was spent on women only.
Business: Unfair Practices
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent those previously convicted for offences relating to trading practices in a particular sector owning more than a minority shareholding in a new business in the same sector. [20220]
Mr Davey: There are no plans to bring forward legislation in this area.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many officials in his Department have been (a) subject to disciplinary action, (b) removed from post, (c) transferred to another position and (d) dismissed for matters relating to their (i) disciplinary record and (ii) performance in each year since his Department's inception. [18775]
Mr Davey: Six officials in BIS have been subject to disciplinary action in the calendar year 2010 to date. In 2009, the year of the Department's inception, 11 officials were subject to disciplinary action. Disciplinary action may include warnings, downgrading or dismissal.
We are unable to provide the further breakdown requested as totals of five or less in each category are suppressed on the grounds of confidentiality under section 40 of the Data Protection Act. Also responsibility for commencing capability and minor disciplinary procedures rests with line management across the Department. No records are collated centrally regarding how many such procedures are initiated in the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses he expects to receive assistance from the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme as a result of its recent extension. [20867]
Mr Prisk: An extra 2,000 businesses could benefit from the extra £200 million announced in the emergency Budget in June 2010 for the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, bringing the total able to be assisted during 2010-11 to around 7,000.
European Regional Development Fund
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much and what proportion of the latest round of the European Regional Development Fund allocations to the UK for the period from 2007 to 2013 remains unspent. [20163]
Mr Prisk: For the period 2007-13 the UK has been allocated €5,410 million (approximately £4,630 million) of European regional development funds under the Convergence and Competitiveness operational programmes. To date, some £740 million has been paid to projects, with some £3,890 million (84%) remaining to be spent. However, well over 50% of the ERDF allocation of £4,630 million has already been contracted to projects. Payments to projects are on target and can be made up until end 2015.
Groceries Supply Code of Practice
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to introduce a body to monitor and enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. [20412]
Mr Davey: The coalition statement commits the Government to introduce the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The Government response of 3 August set out how we would take this forward:
We now have approval to publish a draft Bill in the first session of this Parliament. This will be undertaken as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Higher Education: Costs
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the cost of studying as an (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate at a university in (i) London and (ii) outside London; and if he will make a statement. [19765]
Mr Willetts: The 'Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2007/08', published on 21 April 2009, provided estimates of the expenditure of higher education students attending higher education institutions and further education colleges in England and Wales.
The following table shows the average and median expenditure of full-time undergraduate students according to whether they were studying in London or outside London, and includes a breakdown of living, housing, participation and child care expenses.
The 2007/08 study covered a mixture of students to whom the pre and post-2006/07 student support arrangements applied, thus 61% of the full-time student-sample were subject to variable fees of up to £3,225, and 39% were under the previous arrangements.
Differing maintenance loan levels apply for students according to whether they live in London or elsewhere, but these also take account of whether the individual lives independently, or at home with their parents.
| Expenditure of full-time undergraduate students, by whether living in London or elsewhere | |||
| £ | |||
| Living in London | Living elsewhere | ||
| (1) Figures adjusted for joint financial responsibility where relevant. (2) The standard error measures the extent to which we expect the sample mean can differ from the population mean. Plus or minus two standard errors usually provides a 95% confidence limit: that is, we can be 95% confident that the 'true' value lies within that range. (3) Participation costs include spending on tuition fees, travel to/from university, expenditure on books and equipment, and study related child care. Base: All English-domiciled students. Source: NatCen/IES SIES 2007/08. | |||
Imports: Health Foods
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the monetary value of imports of food supplements and other natural health products from the Channel Islands in the most recent period for which figures are available. [20831]
Mr Davey: This information is not available. For the purposes of the Overseas Trade Statistics, "UK" is defined as Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and the UK part of the Continental Shelf, so the Overseas Trade Statistics do not cover trade between these places.
Local Enterprise Partnerships
Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the contiguity of proposed local enterprise partnership areas with county boundaries. [20030]
Mr Prisk: No specific guidance has been issued to local authorities on the contiguity of proposed local enterprise partnership areas with county boundaries. In the joint letter that my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government sent to local authorities and businesses on 29 June they expressed concerns that some local and regional boundaries do not reflect functional economic areas. The letter encouraged partnerships to better reflect the natural economic geography of the areas they serve and hence to cover real functional economic and travel to work areas.
Manufacturing Industry
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to support manufacturing industry in the (a) short term and (b) long term. [18291]
Mr Prisk: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 21 October 2010, Official Report, column 869W.
Mature Students
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students who were 30 years of age or older at the time of admission started university undergraduate courses in each of the last 10 years. [19761]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information for the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the following table. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011.
| Undergraduate entrants( 1) aged 30 and over: UK Higher Education Institutions( 2) academic years 1999/2000 to 2008/09 | ||
| Entrants aged 30 and over | ||
| Academic year | Full-time | Part-time |
| (1) Covers entrants of all domiciles to both full-time and part-time courses. (2) Excludes the Open University due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series. Note: Figures are based on a snapshot as at 1 December and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) | ||
Members: Correspondence
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to reply to the letter dated 1 June 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Sir Gerald Kaufman), with regard to Eleanor Massey, transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions. [11967]
Mr Davey: I apologise for the delay in replying. I will reply to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.
Public Expenditure
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has identified the 500MHz of public sector spectrum below 5GHz which is to be released over the next 10 years as indicated in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [20704]
Mr Vaizey: The Government are keen that there is release of public sector spectrum in order to meet demands from the private sector. Work to identify suitable spectrum for release is now under way, but 180 MHz spectrum has already been identified from within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) holdings.
Regional Development Agencies: Assets
Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) land assets and (b) buildings each regional development agency has in freehold ownership. [15810]
Mr Prisk: I will place a list of the eight RDAs' (excluding London) freehold land and property assets in the Libraries of the House.
Students: Fees and Charges
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students have paid all or part of their tuition fees from their own funds in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [19763]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the following table. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011.
| English domiciled enrolments( 1) by major source of tuition fees( 2) : UK Higher Education Institutions academic year 2004/05 to 2008/09 | ||||
| No award or financial backing | Mix of student and SLC | |||
| Academic year | Full-time | Part-time | Full-time | Part-time |
| (1) Covers enrolments to all levels and modes of study. (2) Excludes those with unknown/missing tuition fee information. In 2008/09 16,005 students had missing information. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) | ||||
Students: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the effect on the number of students entering (a) teacher training, (b) medical degree courses and (c) the police force of the implementation of the Browne Review proposals; and if he will make a statement. [19767]
Mr Willetts: We have endorsed the broad thrust of Lord Browne's proposals because they would place the funding of higher education on a sustainable basis; would protect students from low income backgrounds and low earning graduates; and because those students who benefit most in financial terms from their higher education would contribute most to the costs. Lord Browne also recommended that students need clearer information about the employment outcomes, including future earnings, of particular courses. Taken together, we would expect these recommendations to support appropriate levels of recruitment to graduate entry professions like teaching and medicine. We are considering our detailed response to Lord Browne's recommendations and will respond shortly.
Transport
Rail Fare Increases
15. Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effects of rail fare increases on the mobility of people seeking work. [19926]
Mrs Villiers: The Secretary of State for Transport has not discussed this specific subject with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. However, the rail fare increases were part of the overall CSR package which received general Cabinet scrutiny and approval.
Human Trafficking: Port Security
16. Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on an increase in security provision at ports for the purpose of preventing human trafficking. [19927]
Mrs Villiers: The Department for Transport contributes to the wider cross-Government effort to tackle organised crime at UK ports. The Ports Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), would be happy to have discussions on this issue with the Home Office.
M4 Bus Lane
17. Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the future of the M4 bus lane; and if he will make a statement. [19928]
Mr Philip Hammond: We have received correspondence from both hon. Members and members of the public.
It is our intention to remove the bus lane, initially for a trail period from December this year until the Olympic games and thereafter on a permanent basis, subject to the outcome of the trial and consultation.
In opening the M4 bus lane to all traffic, we are looking to ensure that the road capacity which all taxpayers have contributed to paying for is efficiently used and accessible to all.
Motorways and Major Trunk Roads Programme
18. Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Highways Agency has for the future of its Motorways and Major Trunk Roads programme. [19929]
Mr Philip Hammond: I refer the hon. Lady to my oral statement "Investment in Highways and Local Transport Schemes" made to the House on 26 October 2010, Official Report, columns 177-79 and the supporting details entitled "Investment in Highways Transport Schemes", placed in the Library of the House on the same day.
Mersey Gateway Bridge Scheme
19. Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to make a decision on the statutory orders sought by Halton Borough Council in respect of the Mersey Gateway Bridge scheme. [19931]
Norman Baker: We will not be able to issue decisions immediately on the statutory orders, as there is still some work to be done to ensure that our decisions on these complex orders are thorough and robust. We also need to ensure, in liaison with the Department for Communities and Local Government, that decisions issue at the same time on all 10 orders and planning consents relating to the Mersey Gateway Project. We will, however, make every effort to conclude the statutory processes as soon as is reasonably possible.
Airports: Public Lavatories
Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to require commercial passenger airlines to provide free lavatory facilities for passengers on all international flights using UK airports. [20888]
Mrs Villiers: The Government do not currently have any proposals to introduce regulation requiring airlines to provide free toilet facilities for passengers on international flights. We are not aware of any airlines which levy additional charges for the use of such facilities.
Alloy Wheels
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a legal weight limit for alloy wheels fitted to vehicles used on public roads in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [17447]
Mike Penning: The Department for Transport has no plans to introduce a legal weight limit (minimum or maximum) for alloy wheels fitted to vehicles used on public roads in the UK.
Recently a new United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation has been agreed for the test methods and performance of replacement light vehicle alloy wheels. No decision has been made on whether to implement it in the UK, or across Europe.
Existing legislation already requires new products, including wheels, which are placed on the market to be safe and fit for purpose. Action can be taken if a product is found to be unsafe.
Blue Badge Scheme
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the blue badge scheme; and if he will make a statement. [16892]
Norman Baker: The Government are reviewing the existing Blue Badge scheme and considering options for reform. There will be an announcement about the future of the scheme made shortly.
Bus Services: Concessions
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the eligibility of higher rate taxpayers for concessionary bus passes. [18085]
Norman Baker: The Secretary of State has recently received many representations regarding concessionary travel, mainly through correspondence, on a number of issues.
Cycling
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase the standard of highway authority delivery of cycle-friendly planning and design. [20187]
Norman Baker: Local highway authorities are responsible for the planning, design and delivery of cycle-friendly infrastructure within their areas. To assist them in this, the Department for Transport has published a considerable amount of evidence-based technical advice on good practice in the design and provision of cycle infrastructure, including 'Local Transport Note 2/08 Cycle Infrastructure Design, Manual for Streets and Manual for Streets 2':
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department (a) is undertaking and (b) plans to undertake on measures to improve cyclists' safety. [20189]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport commissioned a research project looking at a range of road safety and cycling issues in August 2008 which has examined the following topics:
Road user safety and cycling data
Cycling infrastructure
Attitudes and behaviours
Bicycle helmets.
To date the Department has published three reports:
"Collisions involving cyclists on Britain's roads: Establishing the causes" (December 2009)
"The potential for cycle helmets to prevent injury: A review of the evidence" (December 2009)
"Cycling, safety and sharing the road: Qualitative research with cyclists and other road users" (September 2010)
A report on infrastructure and cycle safety is in progress.
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence his Department holds on the effect of helmet promotion campaigns on the level of cycle use. [20190]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport commissioned a research project looking at a range of road safety and cycling issues in August 2008. This includes a strand of research focussing on cycle helmets. An initial review of the literature on road safety and cycling revealed a lack of robust and reliable evidence on the effect of cycle helmets on the behaviour of cyclists and other road users. An exploration of road users' views on possible interventions to improve driver and rider behaviour was undertaken within the qualitative research task. The report for this work was published in September 2010 and is available via the Department's website.
"Cycling, safety and sharing the road: Qualitative research with cyclists and other road users" (September 2010):
Cycling: Finance
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on funding programmes delivered by Cycling England; and if he will make a statement. [17102]
Norman Baker: Cycling England was set up as the independent expert body to advise on the promotion of cycling. The Government believe that this work can now be better delivered within the Department for Transport through the newly announced Local Sustainable Transport Fund, so Cycling England is to be wound up at the end of this financial year.
Bikeability-cycle proficiency for the 21(st) Century-will be supported for the remainder of this Parliament (i.e. until 2015) from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. We will be announcing further details about this shortly. We want arrangements in place so that cycle training for children can be delivered in spring and summer 2011.
Cycling England still has a programme of work to deliver for the remainder of this financial year and funding for this is not affected.
DfT is also considering establishing an expert panel on wider sustainable travel which would promote cycling as part of the wider green agenda.
Cycling: Railways
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to provide financial support to (a) train operating companies and (b) Network Rail for the integration of cycling and rail travel after April 2011; [20191]
(2) if he will take steps to require rail franchisees to provide space for cycles (a) at railway stations and (b) on new or refurbished rolling stock; [20192]
(3) if he will take steps to require (a) rail franchisees and (b) Network Rail to (i) consult on and (ii) monitor the effectiveness of measures to combine cycling and rail travel. [20193]
Mrs Villiers: The Government recognise the importance of investing in station improvements and is committed to facilitating this investment through reforms to the way the railways are run.
We will grant longer rail franchises in order to give train operators the incentive to invest in the improvements passengers want including better cycle facilities at stations.
We will also be considering options to alter the balance of responsibility for stations between Network Rail and the train operators.
It is a commercial consideration for the individual train operating companies to provide storage space for cycles on their trains. It is not for the Department to dictate how many cycle spaces an operator should provide but we do encourage train operators to accommodate folding bicycles at all times.
The Station Travel Plan pilot scheme being run by the rail industry aims to encourage passengers to travel to and from the station by more sustainable means. It is considering the provision of cycle storage facilities at stations and safe cycle routes to stations.
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department have been (a) subject to disciplinary action, (b) removed from post, (c) transferred to another position and (d) dismissed for matters relating to their (i) disciplinary record and (ii) performance in each year since 1997. [18721]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002 comprising a central Department and seven agencies. The Department for Transport does not keep disciplinary records for the years prior to 2006 in accordance with Data Protection Act. The information reported is as follows:
| (d) Dismissed for matters relating to their: | |||||
| (a) Subject to disciplinary action | (b) Removed from post( 1, 4) | (c) Transferred to another position( 4) | (i) Discipline record( 3) | (ii) Performance | |
| (1) Highways Agency does not have information about staff who have been removed from their post as a consequence of disciplinary action. (2) Maritime and Coastguard Agency does not keep records of spent disciplinary penalties. For the period in question they are only able to report on disciplinary penalties which have led to a dismissal. Figures reflecting a number of disciplinary penalties that are still in force are for 2009 and 2010 to date only. (3) Vehicle and Operator Services Agency combined their answers for (d) (i) and (d) (ii) as more detailed information can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The information is therefore reflected in (d) (i). (4) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is unable to provide information about the number of officials who have been removed from post or transferred to another position due to disproportionate cost. Their information therefore is recorded in (a), (d) (i) and (d) (ii) only. | |||||
There are over 18,000 people employed by the Department for Transport and its agencies.
Departmental Sick Leave
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department have had (a) fewer than five days, (b) five to 10 days, (c) 10 to 15 days, (d) 15 to 20 days, (e) 20 to 25 days, (f) 25 to 50 days, (g) 50 to 75 days, (h) 75 to 100 days, (i) 100 to 150 days, (j) 150 to 200 days, (k) more than 200 days, (l) more than three months, (m) more than six months and (n) one year on paid sick leave (i) consecutively and (ii) in total in each year since 1997. [18723]
Norman Baker: I am afraid that the information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Department reports sickness absence figures to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and update our results on the external website:
Driving Tests: Qualifications
Mr Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence. [19597]
Mike Penning: The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) was introduced in September 2008 for coach and bus drivers, and September 2009 for lorry drivers to implement the requirements of EU Directive 2003/59/EC. It is too early yet to make any assessment of the scheme's effectiveness.
EU Law
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department and its non-departmental public bodies of compliance with (a) domestic, (b) European and (c) other international human rights requirements in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [18718]
Norman Baker: The Department for Transport does not collate information on the costs of compliance with human rights requirements or the benefits that accrue. The Department takes account of the domestic and international human rights framework in developing all its policies and practices, as it does other relevant legal obligations; an accurate estimate of the total cost of compliance with human rights obligations could not be made without incurring disproportionate cost.
First Great Western: Electrification
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether funding for the electrification of the Great Western Line will be allocated during the Spending Review period; [20364]
(2) what timetable has been set for the completion of the electrification of the Great Western Line. [20365]
Mrs Villiers: We are currently considering revised proposals from Agility Trains for the Intercity Express Programme. An announcement on the electrification of the Great Western Main Line will be made in light of the Government's final decision on that programme.
Network Rail: Scotland
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expenditure of Network Rail was in Scotland in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [20223]
Mrs Villiers: In 2009-10, Network Rail's total expenditure in Scotland was £589 million.
Ports
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to increase the international economic competitiveness of domestic ports. [19831]
Mike Penning: UK ports have a strong record of operating competitively both domestically and internationally. Our policy is to enable ports to build on this success by avoiding the creation of any unnecessary burdens or impediments to fair competition.
The Government's National Infrastructure Plan, published on 25 October, sets out the wider context for infrastructure to support economic investment and our international competitiveness.
Railways: North West
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rail improvements he plans to fund in (a) Lancashire and (b) the North West during the comprehensive spending review period. [20038]
Mrs Villiers: We are funding a range of rail improvements across Lancashire and the North West. These include:
The routes between Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Blackpool will be electrified.
Power supplies on the West Coast Main Line will be upgraded to support the running of more services.
Some platforms will be lengthened where necessary to accommodate patronage growth.
We are investing to improve line speeds on the Liverpool-Manchester-Leeds route.
North West stations have been highlighted for improvement through the National Stations Improvement and Access For All programmes.
In Manchester, we are providing funding for the extension of Metrolink. In addition to work under way, a further £170 million extension plan was announced in July.
A further announcement on investment in rail will be made shortly.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what rail electrification schemes in the North West his Department plans to fund during the Comprehensive Spending Review period; [20579]
(2) what timetable his Department has set for the completion of rail electrification work between Liverpool and Manchester. [20580]
Mrs Villiers: On 20 October, the Chancellor announced that electrification of the lines between Manchester, Liverpool, Preston and Blackpool would go ahead. We are working with Network Rail to determine the timetable for the completion of these schemes, and will make an announcement in due course.
Road Safety: Finance
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department (a) has allocated and (b) plans to allocate to road safety in the financial year 2010-11; and how much was allocated in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. [17159]
Mike Penning: The UK has the safest roads in Europe and the Government wish to ensure that we maintain that position. However, the Government have made clear that their urgent priority is to tackle the UK's record deficit in order to restore confidence in our economy and support the recovery. As a contribution to the in-year spending reductions as part of our programme to address the record deficit, we have reduced the planned level of road safety grant in 2010-11. At the same time, local authorities were given greater freedom and flexibility in the management of their finances and the use of grant funding streams. Therefore, the fact that this grant has been reduced does not mean that the Government necessarily expect local authorities to reduce their road safety spending by a similar proportion. It is for local authorities and local communities to determine the priorities for their areas. The Department currently forecasts allocating £76.5 million towards dedicated road safety programmes and administration in 2010-11. It allocated £145.0 million in 2008/09 and £143.1 million in 2009-10 towards comparable activities.
These totals include the road safety funding stream in area-based grant and the specific road safety grant. Other items included are expenditure on THINK! campaigns, road safety research and statistics, vehicle safety and related administration.
These totals do not include expenditure by the Department's agencies, nor do they include funding support for other organisations used in part for, but not dedicated to, road safety (for example the integrated transport funding for local authorities and the block grant for Transport for London).
Thameslink
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) by what date he expects 24 trains an hour to be running on the Thameslink route between Kings Cross and Blackfriars; [19996]
(2) to which phases of the Thameslink programme his Department has not committed funding; [19997]
(3) by what date he expects the Thameslink infrastructure and rolling stock programme to have been completed; [19998]
(4) by what date he expects delivery of the last unit of 12-carriage Thameslink rolling stock to have been completed; [19999]
(5) what capital expenditure he plans to allocate to new Thameslink rolling stock from its proposed budgets under the 2010 Spending Review. [20000]
Mrs Villiers: As set out in the spending review on 20 October, the Government are still finalising their position regarding a number of rail projects, including Thameslink. An announcement is expected to be made shortly.
Thameslink: Rolling Stock
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable has been set for purchasing new rolling stock for the Thameslink upgrade. [20363]
Mrs Villiers: As set out in the spending review on the 20 October, the Government are still finalising their position regarding a number of rail projects, including Thameslink. An announcement will be made shortly.
Transport: Finance
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to invite bids for funding for the Local Sustainable Transport Fund; and if he will make a statement. [20515]
Norman Baker: We intend to invite bids to the Local Sustainable Transport Fund later in the year. The Department for Transport will at that stage publish guidance on the bidding process and set out an indicative timetable for the submission and assessment of bids.
Education
Academies
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons academies are not required to (a) have regard to the local Children and Young People Plan, (b) promote the well-being of pupils and (c) promote community cohesion. [12271]
Mr Gibb: Academies are currently required to have regard to the Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) in the same way as maintained schools. However, the Government intend-subject to parliamentary approval-to withdraw the regulations requiring CYPPs to be prepared.
Academies have a very important role in promoting the well-being of their pupils and we trust the governors to exercise their functions with the aim of promoting their pupils' well-being, responding to local circumstances and the wishes of their parents.
Finally, in relation to community cohesion, one of the conditions of grant in the model Funding Agreement is that the Academy will be
"at the heart of its community, promoting community cohesion and sharing facilities with other schools and the wider community".
Academies are therefore required to promote community cohesion as part of their Funding Agreement which includes the right of the Secretary of State to call for information on their outreach work with other schools and the local community.
Academies: Finance
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has provided per pupil to schools with academy status in each local authority area in England in each of the last five years. [12673]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 6 September 2010]: The amount of funding per pupil paid to academies in each relevant local authority area for academic years from 2005/06 to 2009/10 is shown in the table. Since April 2010, payment has been made by the Young People's Learning Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State. It does not include start-up grants (since these would distort comparisons), nor standards fund grants, which for many academies in the years in question were paid by local authorities.
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