Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether secondary legislation could be used to increase the number of ministers that can be paid in order that all ministers receive the relevant current rate, and if not how might this be done.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)

The payment of ministerial salaries is governed by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act (MOSA) 1975. To answer these questions, we have treated ministers who hold more than one office (“joint ministers”) but are paid only for one as paid ministers, and therefore have counted only those ministers who do not receive a salary under MOSA.

There are currently 108 ministers who receive a government salary. The current number of ministers in total is 125, meaning that 17 are unpaid, 3 in the House of Commons and 14 in the House of Lords.

If the 17 unpaid ministers were to claim a ministerial salary on the same basis as those who receive a salary the additional sum payable would be £1,146,358 per annum, excluding pension contributions. We have counted the Party Chair, the Rt Hon Richard Holden MP in these calculations, as he is unpaid by the government. He is, however, by convention paid by the party.

Primary legislation would be required to increase the number of ministers entitled to receive a salary to include the 17 ministers who are currently unpaid. Secondary legislation in the form of an Order in Council under the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 may be used to increase the rate at which ministerial salaries are payable.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for introducing identity cards for the legal population of the United Kingdom, in particular to deal with illegal immigration.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

My Lords, the Home Office has made no recent assessment on identity cards. In 2010 the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition decided to end the ID card scheme and the associated National Identity Register. The Home Office has held no further discussions on the reintroduction of identity cards.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of introducing identity cards for the legal population of the United Kingdom.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

My Lords, the Home Office has made no recent assessment on identity cards. In 2010 the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition decided to end the ID card scheme and the associated National Identity Register. The Home Office has held no further discussions on the reintroduction of identity cards.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many ministers in each House receive a government ministerial salary, and how many receive none; and what the total extra cost of paying all ministers the relevant current rate would be.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)

The payment of ministerial salaries is governed by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act (MOSA) 1975. To answer these questions, we have treated ministers who hold more than one office (“joint ministers”) but are paid only for one as paid ministers, and therefore have counted only those ministers who do not receive a salary under MOSA.

There are currently 108 ministers who receive a government salary. The current number of ministers in total is 125, meaning that 17 are unpaid, 3 in the House of Commons and 14 in the House of Lords.

If the 17 unpaid ministers were to claim a ministerial salary on the same basis as those who receive a salary the additional sum payable would be £1,146,358 per annum, excluding pension contributions. We have counted the Party Chair, the Rt Hon Richard Holden MP in these calculations, as he is unpaid by the government. He is, however, by convention paid by the party.

Primary legislation would be required to increase the number of ministers entitled to receive a salary to include the 17 ministers who are currently unpaid. Secondary legislation in the form of an Order in Council under the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 may be used to increase the rate at which ministerial salaries are payable.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the declining numbers of salmon in national rivers, especially the River Ure.

Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller

The assessment of salmon stocks in rivers at a national scale is undertaken by the Environment Agency through a combination of rod catches, automated fish counters and juvenile monitoring programmes.

The focus for salmon stock assessment is focused on the 42 designated principal salmon rivers in England, many of which have significant salmon fisheries still in existence. The River Ure and wider River Ouse catchments are considered to be recovering salmon rivers and consequently assessment of their salmon stock status is primarily based upon angler declared rod catches that provide a useful measure of the improving status of salmon.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they or the Environment Agency are taking steps to support the Yorkshire Dales Salmon Group in stocking the River Ure with salmon; and if not, why.

Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller

The Environment Agency wishes to work constructively with both River Ure salmon fishing interests and other interested collaborative partner organisations in developing a well thought out salmon restoration plan for the River Ure that takes account of the need for habitat restoration in combination with a suitably approved hatchery scheme to support salmon population recovery. This is despite there being no conclusive scientific evidence to suggest that the previous Ure salmon stocking programme has had a significant influence on River Ure salmon stock performance.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Environment Agency approved proposals by the Yorkshire Dales Salmon Group to stock the River Ure with young salmon in 2012; if so, whether it still supports that initiative; and if not, on the basis of what evidence.

Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller

The Environment Agency (EA) gave a time limited approval to the development of a River Ure salmon stocking programme in 2012. Subsequently, the EA reviewed the international scientific evidence on the risks of salmon stocking and revised its guidance for stocking schemes. This revised guidance should be followed to minimise the risks associated with salmon stocking.

The EA is currently working with the Yorkshire Dales Salmon Group to improve its approach to support the continuation of the River Ure salmon stocking programme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the current work on the A1's Wentbridge Viaduct started, and when they expect traffic flows to return to normal.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The original estimate for the Wentbridge Viaduct was £5,403,583, however, at present the expected cost for the works is £16,079,669. The change in costs is due to significant change of scope as additional essential repairs were identified, including but not limited to reconstruction of both deck ends, extensive renewal of drainage throughout the structure, replacement of the Vehicle Restraint System foundation plinths, repairs to the underslung hanger walkway, repairs to deck haunches and concrete repairs to the abutments, all of which were not known nor could have been identified until the existing bridge deck was exposed.

National Highways began the enabling works and upgrading Jacksons Lane on 24 February 2023 but the main works on the carriageway commenced on 11 April 2023 with an expected completion date of September 2023. The current expected completion at Wentbridge Viaduct is Spring 2025. This is in part due to the decision to bring forward the Wentedge road bridge works originally planned to be undertaken in 2026 so that they can be completed at the same time due to the proximity of the two structures, and this will minimise long term disruption while ensuring that both works are completed efficiently. Works to both structures is now expected to be completed by August 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what was the original estimate for the cost of the current repair works to the Wentbridge Viaduct on the A1; and what they expect the final cost to be.

Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)

The original estimate for the Wentbridge Viaduct was £5,403,583, however, at present the expected cost for the works is £16,079,669. The change in costs is due to significant change of scope as additional essential repairs were identified, including but not limited to reconstruction of both deck ends, extensive renewal of drainage throughout the structure, replacement of the Vehicle Restraint System foundation plinths, repairs to the underslung hanger walkway, repairs to deck haunches and concrete repairs to the abutments, all of which were not known nor could have been identified until the existing bridge deck was exposed.

National Highways began the enabling works and upgrading Jacksons Lane on 24 February 2023 but the main works on the carriageway commenced on 11 April 2023 with an expected completion date of September 2023. The current expected completion at Wentbridge Viaduct is Spring 2025. This is in part due to the decision to bring forward the Wentedge road bridge works originally planned to be undertaken in 2026 so that they can be completed at the same time due to the proximity of the two structures, and this will minimise long term disruption while ensuring that both works are completed efficiently. Works to both structures is now expected to be completed by August 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government which further education establishments in England provide courses which include instruction in the construction of tunnels for the use of railway or road traffic.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

It is for providers to determine what courses to deliver based on employer and learner demand. Statistics are published on sector subject area, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/further-education-and-skills. The department does not hold information on which institutions are providing provision covering the construction of tunnels for the use of railway or road traffic.