House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 Oct 2003 (pt 50)

Walking Strategy

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much money has been spent on the development and production of a draft Walking Strategy; and when the final strategy will be published; [132357]

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(3) what plans the Government has made to establish a National Walking Board to implement the findings of the draft walking strategy; [132359]

(4) what plans the Government has made to establish a walking website as a resource for promoting walking as an alternative way of travelling short journeys. [132360]

Dr. Howells: My Department issued a discussion document to inform our strategy on walking on 30 June. "On the move: by foot" sought views on how we might improve conditions for pedestrians and increase levels of walking. The consultation period closed on 26 September. We shall consider carefully all responses received to determine the need for future resources, institutions and additional specific guidance. It is not possible to quantify accurately the costs to Government and to list the many organisations and individuals who have contributed to the development of our strategy on walking to date. We aim to publish a follow-up document before the end of this year.

My Department has implemented a range of initiatives which support sustainable travel options, including walking journeys. These focus on school and workplace travel and traffic management measures.

My Department has pledged part-funding to an alliance of Living Streets, London Walking Forum and the Ramblers Association for the development of an interactive website for practitioners and the public. It will bring together news on publications, conferences, training and good practice, as well as providing a forum for advice and exchange of views.

The Government's 10 Year Transport Plan and Liveability agenda fully recognise the benefits to the environment of more journeys on foot. The recently-established cross-Whitehall Activity Co-ordination Team is also considering how best to promote the health benefits of routine physical activity such as walking.

Wind Farms

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce offshore wind farm safety legislation to create a safety zone around the Robin Rigg Offshore. [131473]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government hope to bring forward legislation to create a comprehensive legal framework which applies to all marine renewable energy developments as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons he decided to legislate for offshore wind farm safety for Scotland; and whether he consulted the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland before deciding to legislate in this area. [131474]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government hope to bring forward legislation relating to renewable energy developments as soon as parliamentary time allows. Officials in the Department of Transport are in regular contact with those in the Scotland Office and Scottish Executive about a range of issues concerning renewable

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energy developments. This will ensure fully effective provisions dealing with navigational safety in the vicinity of all offshore renewable energy developments located around the UK.

ADVOCATE-GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND

Official Engagements

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Advocate-General for Scotland, pursuant to her Answer of 8 September 2003, Official Report, column 17W, on engagements, if she will list the Scotland Office official engagements she has undertaken over the last 12 months. [131559]

The Advocate-General for Scotland: It is not practice to list the individual engagements.

SCOTLAND

Airport Expansion

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on airport expansion in Scotland. [131479]

Mrs. McGuire: The Government will publish an air transport White Paper later this year which will include consideration of issues relating to airport capacity in Scotland and in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Euro

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent in each year by his Department in preparing for UK entry to the euro; how much his Department plans to spend on preparations for UK entry to the euro for each year from the current financial year up to and including 2005–06; and what estimates he has made of the total costs to his Department of changeover to the European Single Currency. [131589]

Mr. Darling: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury at column 142W.

Food Expenditure

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on food by his Department and by each agency for which it is responsible in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; what proportion of that food by value was produced in the United Kingdom; what guidance he has issued to encourage the procurement of home-grown food; and if he will make a statement. [129380]

Mrs. McGuire: Scotland Office expenditure on food is minimal, is generally limited to catering associated with official hospitality and supplied by external contractors. Information on the cost or the source of food supplied is not held centrally.

Holyrood Project

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will make a submission to the Fraser inquiry into the Holyrood project. [131487]

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Mrs. McGuire: Invitations to make written submissions to the inquiry are a matter for Lord Fraser. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made clear, the Scotland Office will provide any information he may request.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department (a) has met and (b) will meet Lord Fraser to discuss (i) the inquiry into the Holyrood project and (ii) the evidence to be provided by Her Majesty's Government for the Scottish Office. [131488]

Mrs. McGuire: Scotland Office Ministers and officials have received no invitation to meet Lord Fraser in the context of his inquiry into the Holyrood project.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Government intends to allow the Fraser inquiry into the Scottish Parliament building access to information relating to internal advice and decisions made by government on this matter, and in particular information which would normally be subject to Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. [131490]

Mrs. McGuire: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear to the Scottish Affairs Committee on 17 June, the Government will co-operate fully in providing information requested in connection with the inquiry.

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WALES

Euro

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent in each year by his Department in preparing for United Kingdom entry to the euro; how much his Department plans to spend on preparations for United Kingdom entry to the euro for each year from the current financial year up to and including 2005–06; and what estimates he has made of the total costs to his Department of changeover to the European Single Currency. [131600]

Mr. Touhig: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave him at column 142W.

Licensing Fees

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was paid to Microsoft in licensing fees by his Department in each of the last three years; and how much has been budgeted for (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05. [130676]

Mr. Touhig: IT equipment is currently supplied to the Wales Office by Siemens Business Services under their contract with the National Assembly for Wales. Relevant licences are held by Siemens.

In the coming year, Wales Office IT equipment will be supplied by Liberata under their contract to the Department for Constitutional Affairs DCA. Relevant licences will be held by Liberata.

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NORTHERN IRELAND

Asbestos

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 24 June 2003, Official Report, column 707W, on asbestos, if he will list the buildings which have been identified as containing asbestos. [130950]

Mr. Pearson: Two schedules, one of which lists those buildings within the Northern Ireland Civil Service office estate which contain asbestos, and one of which lists the specialist buildings owned by NICS departments which contain asbestos, have been placed in the Library.

Assembly Elections

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will announce the date of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections which were originally scheduled to take place in May. [129711]

Mr. Spellar: The Government hopes that it will be possible for elections to be held during the autumn. No date has yet been set, nor has a date been set by which an announcement will be made.

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