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Passenger Ferries
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has had with his counterpart in the Irish Republic concerning the vetting of sewerage system safety in design and operation on Welsh-Irish passenger ferry services ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : My officials have been in regular contact with the Irish Department of the Marine, and the Polish authorities, since the tragic accident on the Celtic Pride on 12 August. My surveyors agreed with the operators and the Irish administration a programme for the implementation of modifications to the sewerage system, to provide a permanent solution to the venting problems which caused the accident. Following completion of these modifications, and subsequent tests on the ship in an operational condition, the ship has now been allowed to continue operations. However, monitoring of the situation on board the ship continues on a regular basis.
My Department, and the Irish administration, have circulated an urgent notice to all ferry companies operating from United Kingdom and Irish ports, about the checks to be made on sewerage systems. The Irish administration is currently conducting an inquiry into the tragedy, and will provide my Department with full details of its findings and any recommendations.
East London River Crossing
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last visited Oxleas wood ; when he last had communication with the European Commission regarding the east London river crossing ; and if he will make a statement
Mr. Norris : I visited Oxleas wood in May. The United Kingdom sent its response to the European Commission's article 169 letter in December 1991. The Commission announced on 31 July that it will be proceeding to reasoned opinion on the alleged non-compliance with the EC Directive on Environmental Assessment. No further communication has been received.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the original estimate of the cost of construction of the east London river crossing ; what is his current estimate ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : The original estimated cost of the east London river crossing, as set out in the White Paper "Policy for Roads : England 1980" Cmnd. 7908, was £90 million, for construction works only, at 1978 prices.
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Following detailed development of the scheme, including substantial changes discussed at the two public inquiries, the current estimated cost including land is about £300 million at 1989 prices.Air Routes
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what concessions his Department made to allow an American airline to have a direct air route between Glasgow and Washington ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Norris : Under the Bermuda 2 air services agreement, the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom each have the right to designate an airline or airlines to operate services on routes between Glasgow and a number of United States gateway cities, including Washington. These rights were negotiated as part of the original agreement in 1977.
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London Transport
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to alter the capital programmes of London Transport.
Mr. Norris : London Transport's external financing requirement for the three years ahead is reviewed annually. I cannot anticipate the Chancellor's autumn statement announcement on the financial provision for the years 1993-94 to 1995-96.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what capital spending has been authorised for London Transport on (a) bus replacement and (b) the underground railways in each of the last five years ; and what sums have been published for the next two years.
Mr. Norris : The appointment of capital spending between bus purchase, the undergound railways and other types of investment is a matter for London Transport not the Government. The table which gives the information on spending for the past five years is as follows :
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£ million cash
|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bus purchase |3.1 |8.5 |15.3 |15.7 |23.8
London Underground Limited (inc new lines) |213 |215 |302 |458 |368
Disaggregated figures for the next two years are not available, but the total London Transport investment implied by the 1991 settlement was £1,519 million in 1993-94 and £1,370 million in 1994-95.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment plans he approved in 1991 for London Transport.
Mr. Norris : My right hon. Friend does not approve LT investment plans. However, the levels of capital investment implied by the 1991 autumn statement for LT, including new lines, for the next three years are :
Year |£ million cash --------------------------------------------- 1992-93 |1,197 1993-94 |1,519 1994-95 |1,370
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the change in unit costs for bus travel in London over the past 10 years.
Mr. Norris : The following figures show local bus operating costs in London over the past 10 years. They comprise services operated under contract to London Transport, and all operations by London Buses Limited, other than commercial services by London Coaches Limited. They exclude depreciation and renewals, and are rounded to the nearest five pence.
Year |Cost per bus
|kilometre (£)
|1990-91 prices
---------------------------------------------
1980 |2.15
1981 |2.15
1982 |2.20
1983 |2.20
1984-85 |2.20
1985-86 |2.05
1986-87 |1.90
1987-88 |1.80
1988-89 |1.80
1989-90 |1.70
1990-91 |1.65
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extension and the returns on bus priority and selective vehicle identification schemes for buses in London.
Mr. Norris : The Department of Transport issued advice on bus priority measures last December, and a number of schemes are now being prepared by the London boroughs in conjunction with London Transport. The Government have allocated £1 million for these schemes in the current year.
A selective bus identification trial scheme in the south-east London--north -east Kent area is producing substantial benefits to buses and their passengers. London Buses is now fitting its buses with the equipment necessary to extend the benefits to other parts of outer London.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the economic effects on the efficiency of London Transport's capital programmes of short-term changes in authorised spending.
Mr. Norris : Careful cash control and management of the large stock of projects which LT has in various stages of development enables LT to adjust its capital investment programme from time to time in the light of available resources, as any other business may have to do.
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Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has on the changes in bus miles and in bus passenger numbers for London Transport bus services compared with out-of-London services.
Mr. Norris : For the past five years, the information requested is as follows :
Passenger journeys (millions)
|London |Outside London
------------------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |1,164 |4,179
1987-88 |1,240 |4,081
1988-89 |1,240 |4,001
1989-90 |1,207 |3,881
1990-91 |1,197 |3,654
Passenger journeys (millions)
|London |Outside London
------------------------------------------------------------
1986-87 |1,164 |4,179
1987-88 |1,240 |4,081
1988-89 |1,240 |4,001
1989-90 |1,207 |3,881
1990-91 |1,197 |3,654
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the average age of London Transport's buses in each of the last five years.
Mr. Norris : The average age of London Buses Ltd.'s fleet is heavily influenced by the presence of around 650 routemaster vehicles whose average age in 1991 was 27 years. I understand from it that the information is as follows :
Year |Average age (years) ------------------------------------------------------------ 1987 |9.6 1988 |9.5 1989 |9.9 1990 |10.3 1991 |10.3
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his responsibilities, objectives and targets for public transport in London.
Mr. Norris : The Secretary of State's objectives, targets and responsibilities are set out in the Departmental Report "The Government's Expenditure Plans for Transport 1992-93 to 1994-95". A copy of the report has been placed in the House Library.
Since that report was published, there have been two major developments. First, new quality of service objectives for London Transport bus and underground services were announced. I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on 2 June, Vol 208, col. 524-26 and on 29 June, Vol 210, col. 388-90 .
Secondly, following publication of the white Paper, Cmd. 2012, "New Opportunities for the Railways", a consultation document--"The Franchising of Passenger Rail Services"--was published on 12 October. A copy has been placed in the House Library. This gives further information on how the franchising system will work and
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seeks views from prospective franchisees. This is in pursuit of the Government's overall objective for British Rail to extend the involvement of the private sector in the operation of the railways, ensure continuity of services, assure safety, and provide value for money.Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in which years since 1972 the capital spending by London Transport has maintained asset standards.
Mr. Norris : Information in the form requested is not held by the Government or by LT.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list link London Transport's (a) higher priority projects and (b) lower priority projects included in his consideration of capital spending plans.
Mr. Norris : No. It is for LT and its subsidiaries, not the Government, to decide what priority is given to specific investment projects.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sum of money is neded to prevent an increase in the average age of London Transport's buses.
Mr. Norris : It is not possible to give a precise figure. London Buses Ltd's bus replacement programme is not driven by the aim of maintaining a particular average age of the fleet.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which conclusions and options of the central London rail study have been accepted by him and by London Transport.
Mr. Norris : The central London rail study recommended a major upgrading programme to make the best use of existing infrastructure and proposed two options for new lines. Since then investment in existing infrastructure has been raised to record levels, a Bill has been deposited in Parliament for Crossrail and the route of the Chelsea-Hackney line has been safeguarded.
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the import share in London Transport's capital spending.
Mr. Norris : No such calculation is made or could meaningfully be made. It is for London Transport to place orders where best value for money can be obtained.
Canary Wharf
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the numbers who will live within 40 minutes travel time of Canary Wharf if the Jubilee line extension is (a) built or (b) not built.
Mr. Norris : This information is not available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Department of Transport
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have held the position of (a) Secretary of State for Transport, (b) Minister for Public Transport, (c) Permanent Secretary and (d) Deputy Secretary for Public Transport since January 1989.
Mr. Norris : Four people have held the position of Secretary of State for Transport since January 1989. Two
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people have held the position of Minister of State for Public Transport since January 1989. Two people have held the position of permanent secretary and three people have held the position of deputy secretary for public transport since January 1989.Bus Deregulation
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider modern stored value and integrated ticketing before deregulation of buses in London.
Mr. Norris : I understand that London Transport is currently undertaking a trial of stored value ticketing on bus route 212 in north London. London Underground is also developing a stored value ticketing system and London Transport intends that both systems should be compatible. On British Rail services, stored value ticketing is not so appropriate because of the cost and safety implications of providing ticket gates at all stations.
Capital Spending
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates or research his Department has published on the economic and financial effects of sudden changes in capital spending.
London Underground
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sustained level of investment in London's underground was endorsed or recommended in the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report.
Mr. Norris : The Monopolies and Mergers Commission report of 5 June 1991 into London Underground Limited, LUL, did not endorse or recommend any specific level of investment in London Underground.
Transpennine Roads
Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he proposes to take regarding transpennine road links following publication of the recent study undertaken on this subject ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : There are a number of schemes in the national roads programme to improve transpennine road links. These include widening M62 between junctions 18 and 24 ; provision of a new M1/M62 link ; improvements to A628/A616 from M67 to Stocksbridge and improvements to A66.
I will be better placed to make a statement regarding transpennine roads strategy once the public consultation period has finished on 5 March and all responses have been considered. At this stage the Government are not committed to any of the strategies in the consultants' report.
A140
Mr. Cann : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities have occurred on the A140 between Norwich and the A45 in the last 10 years.
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Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Forty-nine. The figures for the years 1982 to 1992, to 30 September, are as follows :
Year |Number of fatalities --------------------------------------------------------------- 1982 |3 1983 |6 1984 |7 1985 |1 1986 |2 1987 |3 1988 |3 1989 |12 1990 |3 1991 |5 1992 |4
The figures relate to the between its junctions with the Norwich outer ring road and the A45.
Bus Stops (Information Systems)
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated financial return and the estimated value to passengers and potential passengers of real time information systems at bus stops.
Mr. Norris : London Transport plans to start trials of Countdown in November. The purpose of those trials is to establish the cost, benefits and practicability of real time passenger information systems.
Victoria Line
Mr. Peter Bottomley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has has made of the economic value of the Victoria line.
Mr. Norris : None. The practice of carrying out backchecks on investments for which Government approval has been given is a relatively new one, and this has not been done in the case of the Victoria line.
Transport Security Annual Report
Sir Paul Beresford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the 1991-92 annual report of the director and co- ordinator of transport security.
Mr. MacGregor : Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.
Red Star
Sir Paul Beresford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the British Railways Board parcels service, Red Star.
Mr. MacGregor : I have received representations from the British Railways Board seeking approval to the early trade sale of Red Star, and on 7 October I announced my agreement to that proposal. The detailed sale arrangements will be drawn up by the board, subject to Government scrutiny in the usual way. I welcome the board's commitment to Red Star privatisation. An early sale is the best way to revitalise the business and return it to profitability.
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Passenger Railway Services
Sir Paul Beresford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to consult potential franchisees on his proposals for franchising passenger railway services ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. MacGregor : I published a consultation document on 12 October with the aim of seeking the views of potential franchisees on the areas, geographically and in terms of specific activities, which may be of interest, and on the ways in which the franchising of passenger services might best be carried out. This should ensure that we implement franchising in the most market oriented way, so maximising competition and ensuring value for money. I have placed copies of this document in the Library.
DVOIT
Sir Paul Beresford : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the future of the DVOIT executive agency.
Mr. MacGregor : Following a review of its activities, DVOIT will be the first next steps agency to be privatised. Under the citizens charter we are committed to improving service to the public. This means introducing the market to many areas of government. Privatisation brings choice and efficiency, and I am confident that the privatisation of DVOIT will lead to continuing improvements in value for money in the IT services provided for my Department.
A1 Red Route
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken on the Transport Research Laboratory technical paper TD/TP/173/92 about the patronage of businesses on the A1 red route.
Mr. Norris : I have noted with interest that the shopping activity section of the technical paper reproduces the findings published in the autumn monitoring report on the red route pilot scheme. Those findings support the view that trading activity depends more on the type of business being conducted and the economic climate than on red route measures.
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish his Department's estimates of the change in patronage of businesses along the A1 red route between its opening and the latest available date.
Mr. Norris : All monitoring reports including surveys of shopping activity at sites along the pilot red route have been published and copied to the hon. Member.
East Suffolk Railway Line
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the expressions of interest he has received from potential operators wishing to franchise the East Suffolk railway line.
Mr. Freeman : Before the issue of the consultation document on 12 October we had received expressions of interest about running franchised passenger railway services from around 50 companies. I am sure that the consultation document will engender further interest. At
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this early stage, it is for the companies themselves to indicate publicly whether they are interested in particular services.Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit and travel upon the east Suffolk railway line to study the possibilities for its future development ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : I would be delighted to travel on the east Suffolk line when I am next visiting my hon. Friend's constituency.
Rail Accident, Walton-on-the-Naze
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the report of the inspector of railways on the accident at
Walton-on-the-Naze in August 1987 will be published ; when the inspector's inquiries were completed ; when the report was completed ; what are the reasons for the delay in publishing the report ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : Although the inspector's inquiries were completed in 1988 it has not yet been possible to publish a report due to continuing pressure of work. His principal findings were published in the Official Report on 21 October 1991, col. 466 , and he discussed them with British Rail shortly after the completion of his inquiries. BR have taken remedial action to prevent any recurrence. I have asked the Health and Safety Commission to ensure publication of more detailed recommendations and conclusions by 31 December 1992.
Transport, London
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his latest estimates for the respective construction and running costs and the contribution to London's economy and to London's transport system of (a) Crossrail, (b) the Hackney to Chelsea underground line and (c) the Hackney, Chelsea and East Putney underground line.
Mr. Norris : The latest estimates for the construction and operating costs of Crossrail, at 1990 prices, but reassessed in 1991, are £1,704 million for construction and £14.5 million per annum for operating costs. The latest estimates for the construction and operating costs of the Chelsea-Hackney line, at 1990 prices, are £1, 776 million for construction and £31 million per annum for operating costs. The latest estimates for the net present value--NPV--of the costs and benefits of the two schemes, made in October 1990 for the Chelsea-Hackney line and in 1991 for Crossrail are reproduced in the table as follows :
(Cost)-Benefit |Crossrail |Chelsea-Hackney line
|£ million (March |£ million (March
|1990 prices, NPV at |1990 prices NPV at
|1 October 1990) |31 March 1990)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital cost |(1,354) |(1,300)
Operating cost |(95) |(204)
Extra revenue to LUL/NSE |321 |358
|------- |-------
Funding gap |(1,128) |(1,146)
Passenger benefits |1,170 |1,182
Road user benefit |393 |395
|---- |----
Net benefit |435 |431
Benefit:cost ratio |1.30:1 |1.29:1
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There are currently no plans for a Hackney, Chelsea and East Putney underground line. London Underground Limited is, however, reviewing the costs and benefits of an alternative alignment of the Chelsea-Hackney line via Sands End and Wandsworth and expects to report on the outcome in 1993.Cars
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of (a) Welsh and (b) English households in 1991 (i) had no car available to them and (ii) had two or more cars.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Information on car ownership is given in Transport Statistics Great Britain. Table 3.13(b) of the recently published 1992 edition showed that, in 1989, 30 per cent. of Welsh households had no car available to them and that 17 per cent. had two or more cars available to them. The equivalent figures for English households were 33 and 19 per cent. respectively.
Cyclists
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists were (a) killed and (b) injured in each of the last five years ; and how many in each category were cycling without lights during lighting up times.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : Cycling casualties over the past five years are given in the table as follows :
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Pedal cycle casualties: by severity of casualty
Great Britain 1987-91
|1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991
------------------------------------------------------------
Killed |280 |227 |294 |256 |242
Seriously injured |4,851 |4,652 |4,836 |4,344 |3,946
Slightly injured |21,063|20,970|23,383|21,822|20,615
All casualties |26,194|25,849|28,513|26,422|24,803
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Cycle light use is unknown, but cycle casualties occurring during daylight and darkness are shown in the table as follows :Column 211
Pedal cycle casualties: by severity of casualty and time of day
Great Britain 1987-91
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
|Day |Dark |Day |Dark |Day |Dark |Day |Dark |Day |Dark
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Killed |209 |71 |173 |54 |226 |68 |179 |77 |173 |69
Seriously injured |3,858 |993 |3,669 |983 |3,841 |995 |3,436 |908 |3,156 |790
Slightly injured |17,323|3,740 |17,008|3,962 |19,146|4,237 |17,870|3,952 |16,752|3,863
All casualties |21,390|4,804 |20,850|4,999 |23,213|5,300 |21,485|4,937 |20,080|4,723
Vehicle Registration
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many inquiries have been made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency by the police service to establish the name and address of the registered keeper of a motor vehicle leading to the detection of a hit-and-run driver.
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