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Written Parliamentary Questions: 13th December 2005

Predictive Diallers (ODPM)
Q: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many calls were made from call centres in his Department in 2004–05 using predictive diallers; how many such calls resulted in contact being made with the recipient without a Government agent available to talk to them; and what assessment he has made of the likely impact of Ofcom's policy on silent calls on the use of predictive diallers in departmental call centres.(John Hemming)

A:The central Office of the Deputy Prime Minister HQ does not have a call centre, and its switchboard does not use predictive diallers when making calls to members of the public.(Jim Fitzpatrick, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)

Aircraft Emissions/Noise
Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what modelling the Government has undertaken of the impact of the trend in aviation's proportion of total UK emissions of greenhouse gases on the costs and reduction requirements of other UK emissions sectors with, particular reference to (a) business, (b) public services and (c) residential use. (John Hemming)

A:International aviation is outside the scope of our domestic targets. Domestic aviation was responsible for 0.38 per cent. of UK emissions in 2003. We have not undertaken any modelling of the impact that trends in these emissions would have on the costs and reduction requirements in other sectors. (Karen Buck, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)

Aircraft Emissions/Noise
Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by what amount emissions trading is expected to reduce the Government's forecast of increased climate change emissions from aviation at 2030, expressed as a percentage and in absolute terms.(John Hemming)

A:At present, it is too early to provide a reliable estimate of the impact emissions trading will have on forecasts of emissions from aviation. This will depend on a number of factors including the overall number of allowances and the detailed design for the inclusion of aviation into the ED ETS. These factors have yet to be specified and will be subject to discussion with other member states' Governments.(Karen Buck, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)

Aircraft Emissions/Noise
Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in quantities of emissions produced by UK air travel in (a) 2030 and (b) 2050 compared with 2005; and what assumptions underlie those forecasts.(John Hemming)

A:Our forecasts for aviation and climate change, and the assumptions underlying them, are set out in Aviation and Global Warming, published by the Department for Transport in January 2004. The figures shown relate to estimates of emissions for all flights departing UK airports for 2030 and 2050, with an interpolated figure for 2005.

Carbon emitted (Mt)
(2005) (9.8)
2030 17.7
2050 17.4
(Karen Buck, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)

Aircraft Emissions/Noise
Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department is taking to reduce emissions from aviation as a contribution to the shared Public Service Agreement climate change target to move towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010.(John Hemming)

A:International aviation is outside the scope of our domestic targets, but we are taking action to tackle the climate change impact of aviation as set out in the Aviation White paper. This includes pressing for the inclusion of aviation in the EU emissions trading scheme. The Government is also pressing for the adoption by industry of working practices that minimise their impact on climate change, research into new technologies and voluntary action by industry to control greenhouse gas emissions. We recognise that these measures may not provide a total solution. In view of this, the Government will continue to explore and discuss options for the use of other economic instruments. (Karen Buck, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport)

Air Passenger Duty
Q: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of (a) the increase in air passenger duty which would be required to maintain air fares at a constant level in real terms up to 2010 and (b) what increase in price this would contribute to average air fares.
John Hemming)

A:No estimate has been made of what APD would be necessary to maintain air fares constant in real terms until 2010. Likewise no estimate has been made into what proportion this would contribute to average air fares.

Information on the rates of air passenger duty is available at the UK Trade Info website at: www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=statindex
(John Healey, Financial Secretary, HM Treasury)

Air Passenger Duty
Q: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of air passenger duty has been in each year since 1997 (a) in real terms, allowing for inflation and compared to the increase in gross domestic product, and (b) expressed as average amount per UK passenger. (John Hemming)

A:Reliable estimates of the value of each of the four APD rates for each scenario requested from 1997 are not available due to the restructuring of APD in 2001. However, estimates since 2001 are shown in the following table.

Real terms APD (£)/EEA—Reduced rate/EEA—Standard rate/Non-EEA—Reduced rate/Non-EEA—Standard rate/Average per passenger
2001 5.00 10.00 20.00 40.00 10.12
2002 4.92 9.84 19.68 39.36 9.70
2003 4.78 9.55 19.11 38.22 8.38
2004 4.64 9.28 18.56 37.11 8.24
APD (£) if raised with money GDP

EEA—Reduced Rate/EEA—Standard rate/Non-EEA—Reduced rate/Non-EEA—Standard rate/Average per passenger
2001 5.00 10.00 20.00 40.00 10.12
2002 4.82 9.64 19.28 38.56 9.50
2003 4.56 9.12 18.24 36.47 8.00
2004 4.28 8.56 17.13 34.26 7.61

Information on the rates of air passenger duty is available at the UK Trade Info website at: www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=statindex

(John Healey, Financial Secretary, HM Treasury)

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