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Railways: Income
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the present and projected future income from URENCO, the Tote, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the Dartford crossing; what is their calculation of the amount they would receive from the sales of those assets after the payment of fees and other costs of such sales; and what would be the likely saving on interest payments on the national debt arising from those sales, assuming a long-term interest rate of four per cent. [HL5635]
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The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): Historic financial information for Urenco, the Tote, and HS1 is available in their annually published report and accounts, which can be found on their websites or at Companies House. Income from the Dartford crossing user charges is available in the Department for Transport annual report and resource accounts, available on the department's website.
The Government do not publish forecast financial data for the companies that they own. Nor do they publicly state the value expected to be received from an asset that may be for sale, as it could have a negative impact on the proceeds received.
Schools: Primary Curriculum
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government in the light of the recommendations made by Sir Jim Rose in his review of the primary curriculum, what level of funding is available for the workforce development programme in support of language learning for the current year; and what funding was available in each of the last five years. [HL5721]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Baroness Morgan of Drefelin): The level of funding this year and in the past five years is set out in the table below. We have given increased funding through local authorities via the Standards Fund to support the teaching of languages in primary schools—£32.5 million in 2009-10. Schools can use this for a variety of purposes, including paying for in-service training for teachers and teaching assistants.
In addition, the Government have provided funding to the Training and Development Agency for Schools for a primary initial teacher training (ITT) course in a languages specialism and, more recently, for additional training routes to increase the language qualification levels of the primary workforce; to CILT, the National Centre for Languages, to run training courses for local authority staff and schools on practical classroom activities, teaching practice and methodology; and to the British Council to run the Primary Teacher Project, through which primary teachers undertake a two week programme of language tuition through a partner school in Europe, to develop their confidence and linguistic competence.
| Standards Fund | TDA Primary ITT course in a languages specialism | TDA additional training routes | CILT training courses | British Council2 week primary teacher project | |
Shipping: Ferry Operators
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 7 July (WA 147) concerning the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Rathlin Ferry, what documentation the agency examined when it issued the short-term passenger certificate for the MV “Canna” on 12 September 2008; why the certificate was issued; and what period it covered. [HL5645]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): Marine surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) examined the international safety management (ISM) code safety management certificate (SMC), ISM document of compliance (DOC), UK load line (UKLL) certificate and DOC dangerous goods (DG) certificate during the inspection carried out on 12 September 2008 on the MV “Canna”. The MV “Canna’s” previous passenger certificate was also examined prior to issuing the new short-term passenger certificate. However, the administrative error (as set out in my Answer of 17 June (Official Report, cols. WA 216-17) was. not detected on 12 September.
The short-term passenger certificate for the MV “Canna” was issued on 12 September 2008 because the MV “Canna’s” operator was unable to arrange the passenger vessel's annual survey before 18 September; the date which the operator and the MCA surveyor both incorrectly believed was the end of the annual survey range date for the MV “Canna”.
The new short-term passenger certificate covered the period 12 September to 12 October 2008.
Shipping: Pollution
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the finding of the Government of Denmark's Environmental Agency research published in 2009 that the health risks of shipping pollution have been underestimated. [HL5636]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider funding or supporting comprehensive research on the effects on United Kingdom coastal
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The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): While we have not seen the Government of Denmark's Environmental Agency research, the impact on human health of pollutant emissions from shipping has been the subject of other studies in recent years, and both the distance which such emissions can travel and the harmful effects of these emissions are well known.
Moreover, the Government already undertake a significant amount of research into airborne pollutants from both shipping and other sources, including research undertaken in the production of the national air emissions inventory and the research which the Maritime and Coastguard Agency commissioned this year on the impacts of the revised annexe VI of the MARPOL convention.
The Government are therefore not convinced of the need for additional extensive research on this issue.
The Government have taken, and are continuing to take, action to address pollutant emissions from ships, both in the International Maritime Organization (where we played a prominent role in the revision of annexe VI to the MARPOL convention which will significantly reduce pollutant emissions from ships and improve air quality in our coastal regions) and in the European Union (where we are currently implementing Directive 2005/33/EC on the sulphur content of marine fuels).
St Andrews Agreement
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the limited number of outstanding issues which remained to be resolved, referred to in paragraph two of the St Andrews agreement of 2006. [HL5589]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: As stated at paragraph 2 of the St Andrews agreement, the issues which required resolution at St Andrews included support for and the devolution of policing and criminal justice, changes to the operation of the Good Friday agreement institutions and certain other matters raised by the parties or flowing from the preparation for government committee. These included issues relating to human rights, equality and victims and the financial package for the newly restored executive.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was agreed as part of the St Andrews agreement of 2006 about the creation of a motorway between the border and Londonderry; and what part the Government of Ireland will play in that arrangement. [HL5647]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The St Andrews agreement did not contain any agreement about such a motorway.
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Turks and Caicos Islands
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current status of direct rule in the Turks and Caicos Islands; and whether any charges have been brought against those mentioned in Sir Robin Auld's report into irregularities on the islands. [HL5616]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Chris Bryant, on 12 October 2009 (Official Report, col. WS 14).
The special investigation and prosecution team have presented their initial scoping project to the governor. No charges have yet been brought against any individuals mentioned in the commission of inquiry's report.
Ulster-Scots
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 13 October (WA 24) which said there is no board-level champion for the Ulster Scots community in the Northern Ireland Office, whether they will consider appointing such a champion. [HL5706]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: I have nothing further to add to my previous Answer of 13 October 2009 (Official Report, col. WA 24).
Vehicles: Carbon Emissions
Questions
Asked by Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope
To ask Her Majesty's Government what further plans they have to provide financial incentives to meet European Union targets for new car emissions by 2015. [HL5642]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): The EU New Car CO2 regulation, adopted in April 2009, sets sales-weighted, fleet average CO2 targets for car manufacturers at the EU level. The regulation requires manufacturers failing to meet their targets to pay an excess emissions premium, which is designed financially to incentivise compliance.
Although not directly targeted at meeting the EU targets, the Government are taking a range of actions to support car makers, consumers and other parties in making the transition to a lower-emitting future, which will help the targets to be met. In February 2009 the Government launched the £2.3 billion automotive assistance programme, with the development of green technologies to reduce CO2 emissions as one eligibility criterion. We have made £140 million available for
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The Government will shortly announce details of how the £230 million consumer incentive to reduce the up-front cost of purchasing an electric or plug-in hybrid will operate. Consumers are also encouraged to purchase low-emitting vehicles through the taxation system, notably through the structures of VED, company car tax and enhanced capital allowances.
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the then Minister of State at the Department for Transport, Stephen Ladyman, on 25 June 2007 (Official Report, House of Commons, 522—3W), what are the current emissions figures for diesel and petrol engines. [HL5655]
Lord Adonis: The Written Answer of 25 June 2007 gave air quality and carbon dioxide emissions expressed as fleet average emissions in grams per kilometre, broken down by vehicle type. The Department for Transport does not hold an updated version of this information using the latest modelling assumptions.
However, an emissions factor demonstration tool, enabling users to produce similar estimates, was published as part of research on updating vehicle emissions inventory modelling assumptions, on 29 June 2009. This is available on the department’s website at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/emissions/.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce air pollution scores and greenhouse gas scores for vehicles sold in the United Kingdom similar to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's green vehicle guide; and, if so, when. [HL5656]
Lord Adonis: New cars are already labelled with a user-friendly, colour-coded, CO2 emissions rating in most new car showrooms. The system used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency would not be appropriate for use in the United Kingdom where, in contrast to the more complex arrangements in the United States, legislation imposes the same air pollutant emission standards on all cars using a given fuel type.
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the then Minister of State at the Department for Transport, Stephen Ladyman, on 25 June 2007 (Official Report, House of Commons, 522—3W), what are the current average emissions figures for new vehicles on sale in England and Wales. [HL5657]
Lord Adonis: For new passenger cars sold in the UK in 2008 the average CO2 emissions were 158g/km. This breaks down into an average of 160g/km for petrol cars and 157g/km for diesel cars (reflecting the fact that, counteracting their higher efficiency, average diesel cars are larger than average petrol cars).
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Registration weighted fleet average figures for air quality emissions are not available and, unlike CO2 emissions, it is not possible to produce meaningful averages from type approval data.
Vehicles: Electric Power
Questions
Asked by Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to promote the use of electric vehicles. [HL5643]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): The new cross-Whitehall office for low emission vehicles (OLEV) has been established to promote the uptake and delivery of ultra-low carbon vehicles (such as plug-in hybrid and electric cars) into the UK transport mix.
£230 million will be available between 2011 and 2014 to create a consumer incentive scheme to reduce the cost of electric and plug-in hybrid cars by between £2,000 and £5,000.
Up to £30 million will be available for the plugged in places infrastructure framework to help regional consortia of cities, private businesses and utility companies install electric vehicle charging infrastructure to help create a UK network of electric car cities.
The Government have also provided more than £140 million for research, development and demonstration of low carbon vehicles through the Technology Strategy Board's low carbon vehicle innovation platform and the Department for Transports low carbon vehicle public procurement programme.
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Separately to this, electric vehicles (EVs) are also generously supported through the taxation systems: owners of EVs are exempt from paying vehicle excise duty and fuel duty, businesses which purchase electric and low carbon cars can claim enhanced capital allowances and people who use electric cars as their company car pay the lowest rate of benefit in kind.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what encouragement they will give to those who use electric road transport instead of oil-based vehicles. [HL5758]
Lord Adonis: The new cross-Whitehall Office for low emission vehicles (OLEV) has been established to promote the uptake and delivery of ultra-low carbon vehicles (such as plug-in hybrid and electric cars) into the UK transport mix.
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