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Flight Permits
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department has taken against Air Ops in respect of its operating passenger-carrying flights from the United Kingdom in 1993 without permits. [12176]
Mr. Norris: Permits for these flights in the summer of 1993 were issued to Sultan Air on the understanding that Air Operations of Europe--Air Ops--was operating under a wet lease agreement with that airline. It was not until October 1994 that it emerged that the lease agreement might have been terminated before the flights took place. As announced on 10 January, the Department has now reviewed its permit procedures to clarify permit and safety responsibilities as regards applications involving the use of wet-leased aircraft.
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances airports can be (a) empowered and (b) required to impound aircraft arriving without permits. [12175]
Mr. Norris: There are powers under article 107 of the Air Navigation (No. 2) Order 1995 enabling the detention of aircraft which are likely to be flown in breach of article 102 of the order. Powers also exist under section 48 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 that enable the detention of aircraft which arrive in the UK when they are prohibited from doing so in the circumstances described in the above section of the Act.
Coastguard Service
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to replace auxiliary coastguards with watch assistants; [12193]
- (2) what changes have taken place in the level of coastguard station officers over the last year; and if he will make a statement. [12192]
Mr. Norris:
I have asked the chief executive of the Coastguard agency to write to the hon. Member.
30 Jan 1996 : Column: 617
Letter from C. J. Harris to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 30 January 1996:
Mr. Allen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional development is projected as a result of the Newbury bypass. [12095]
Mr. Watts:
This is a matter for the local planning authorities.
Ms Short:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out all the powers of the rail regulator to compel a change in Railtrack's track access charges before the quinquennial review and to publish the documents in which they are contained. [12014]
Mr. Watts:
The terms on which the regulator can make changes to the charges made to passenger train operating companies are set out in schedule 7 to the track access agreements. These agreements are on the public register of agreements held by the regulator.
Mr. Chris Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contingency plans he has for the modernisation of the west coast main line if the proposed development of a transmission-based signalling system proves not to be viable. [12287]
Mr. Watts:
A major priority of the modernisation of the west coast main line for Railtrack is to maintain and renew the network by using modern technology. During initial studies on the modernisation of the line, more conventional signalling systems were considered alongside the proposed transmission-based signalling system which Railtrack has chosen.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his estimate of the cost of resignalling the west coast main line using the proposed transmission-based signalling system; and what are the financial savings anticipated from its introduction; [12286]
(3) by what dates he will require signalling manufacturers, awarded contracts, to develop the transmission-based signalling system proposed for the west coast main line to complete or demonstrate (a) system design, (b) proof of performance, (c) safety validated working system and (d) manufacture of production equipment. [12283]
30 Jan 1996 : Column: 618
Mr. Watts:
Railtrack is currently considering bids for the contract to develop the proposed transmission-based signalling system for the west coast main line. The system is expected to reduce maintenance and operating costs and provide improved reliability on the line. The other information requested is commercially confidential to Railtrack.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has for a transmission-based signalling system to be installed at major rail junctions on the west coast main line; [12280]
Mr. Watts:
Railtrack intends to introduce a transmission-based signalling system to the west coast main line as part of the core modernisation programme for the line. Railtrack informs me that the transmission-based signalling technology is currently employed in differing forms in various parts of the world, but it is not identical to the system planned for the west coast main line. For this reason, Railtrack intends to let development contracts for the signalling system during the first quarter of this year.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to authorise expenditure on signalling technology for the modernisation of the west coast main line prior to its capability being proven. [12278]
Mr. Watts:
Railtrack will fund the core modernisation programme of the west coast main line, which includes the proposed new signalling system for the line, from the track access charges which it receives from passenger train operators. The level of these charges over the six years from 1995 has been agreed by the regulator.
Mr. Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many signalling manufacturers have expressed reservations to him about the viability of the proposed introduction of a transmission-based signalling system on the west coast main line. [12279]
Mr. Allen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to expand aerial surveillance of the extended sea limits in respect of pollution control; and if he will make a statement. [12463]
Mr. Norris:
The use of aerial surveillance will continue to be reviewed to ensure that it remains a cost-effective method of enforcing marine pollution regulations within the waters under UK jurisdiction, including any future extension to this jurisdiction.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if all trains are equipped with two-way telephones. [12384]
30 Jan 1996 : Column: 619
Mr. Watts:
No. Installation of the line-side transmitter equipment for the national radio network is virtually complete. The planned engineering target is 98 per cent. of the network excluding tunnels and cuttings. Most modern train cabs have also been fitted with the necessary equipment.
In the former Network SouthEast area, British Rail has decided to fit the cab secure radio system, so that further modifications will not be necessary when driver-only operation is extended. About 65 per cent. of passenger train miles in the Network SouthEast area already have cab secure radio.
Mr. Allen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received following the announcement on 19 December 1995 of transport supplementary costs and credit approvals for transport expenditure by local authorities from (a) hon. Members, (b) local authorities and (c) other organisations and individuals. [12387]
Mr. Norris:
I have received 49 representations, including 30 parliamentary questions, from hon. Members following the announcement on 19 December. My officials are in regular correspondence with local authorities and others about transport policies and programme--TPP--submissions and about particular schemes. We have had 22 representations from local authorities and 12 from organisations and individuals, often about specific schemes.
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about Coastguard Station Officers and Auxiliaries.
The Coastguard Agency intends to introduce a new permanent grade of Coastguard Watch Assistant. This new grade will replace the part time voluntary service currently provided in operations rooms by Auxiliary Coastguards and will enhance the reliability, training and expertise at this level. It is hoped that many of the present Auxiliaries will apply for the new post.
There have been no changes to the number of Coastguard Station Officer posts over the last year.
(2) how many companies are included on the shortlist for the development of the transmission-based signalling system proposed for the west coast main line; and if he will list them; [12284]
(2) what assessment he has made of the performance record of the transmission-based signalling technology proposed for the west coast main line; where it is in use elsewhere; how many miles of track it controls; and if it is in use at any rail junctions with traffic densities similar to those on the west coast main line. [12285]
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