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London to Greenwich Transport

Sir Michael Neubert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to increase transport capacity between central London and Greenwich. [18903]

Mr. Norris: Transport links between central London and Greenwich will be substantially improved by both the Jubilee line extension, which is under construction, and the proposed extension of the docklands light railway to Lewisham. Together with members of the River Thames working group, which I chair, the Government are also considering a report by London First on the potential for improving access to Greenwich by boat and ferry services

11 Mar 1996 : Column: 471

via the River Thames. We are also considering the responses received to our consultation document on possible river crossings to the east of Tower bridge.

Scientists and Engineers

Mr. Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many professional scientists and engineers of each category were employed at each grade in the headquarters division of his Department in each year from 1991 to the current year. [19792]

Mr. Norris: I will place a table containing the figures in the Library of the House.

Environmental Appraisals

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of Transport if he will publish the result of the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by the Department of the Environment on the forthcoming transport policies and programmes circular 1997-98. [19547]

Mr. Norris: The transport policies and programme circular contains guidance to local authorities on their annual TPP submissions, and is not in itself susceptible to environmental appraisal. Environmental considerations play a large part in the development of the Government's local transport policies. For example, we have introduced the package approach to local transport investment, which encourages local authorities to develop alternatives to road building and discourages use of the private car where effective alternatives exist.

Ms Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the result of the environmental appraisal conducted under the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment" published by the Department of the Environment on the forthcoming transport policy paper. [19548]

Mr. Norris: The Government have not yet published their report drawing together the threads of the national debate on transport, so it would be premature to discuss the report's contents.

Buses (London)

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for transport what arrangements are in place to ensure that, in central London, bus journeys between the same stops attract the same fares whatever the number of the bus service on the route or the operator; and if he will make a statement. [20240]

Mr. Norris: Fares on London Transport bus services are set by London Transport. With certain exceptions, fares in central London are determined by a zoning system, and are not related to the operator and route. Special fares apply to journeys on night buses, limited stop express services, and the Red Arrow network. For any local service provided independently of the London Transport network, fares would be a matter for individual operators.

11 Mar 1996 : Column: 472

M40

Mr. Tim Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to start on the widening of the M40 between Denham and Loudwater. [19443]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Tim Smith, dated 11 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about widening the M40 between Denham and Loudwater.
As you know, the M40 Junctions 1A to 3 (Denham to Loudwater) widening scheme has been included as part of the larger DBFO project M40 Junctions 1 to 15. Tenders for the DBFO project were invited in June 1995 and bids were received at the end of October. Since then negotiations have been taking place with the tenderers and we would hope to sign a contract with the successful tenderer this summer. On that basis work could still start on the widening in late summer.
I am sorry that I cannot be more precise about the date for the start of works, but that depends on progress with negotiations and the successful tenderer's programme. However, we have included a strong financial incentive in the contract for the contractor to complete the widening as quickly as possible and I expect work to progress speedily once it starts.

Kensington Olympia (Train Marshalling)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last valuation was made of the site at Kensington Olympia where facilities for train marshalling are being provided; and what value was attached to the asset. [20303]

Mr. Norris: The site at Kensington Olympia has been valued during 1995-96 with a historic cost value of £800,000.

English Channel (Collisions)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many collisions were reported in (a) the English channel and (b) the western approaches in each year since 1987. [20309]

Mr. Norris: Figures for collisions reported to the marine accidents investigation branch are available only from 1991 onwards and are as follows:

Collisions in the English channel
1991: 12
1992: 7
1993: 11
1994: 11
1995: 14
1996: 1 (to date) Collisions in the western approaches
1991: --
1992: 1
1993: 1
1994: 2
1995: --
1996: -- (to date)

11 Mar 1996 : Column: 473

Challenge Funding

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce challenge funding into the transport policies and programmes--transport supplementary grant process. [19768]

Mr. Norris: We already incorporate the essential features of the challenge approach in our TPP process, a competitive bidding process which requires local authorities to set out a clear local transport strategy aimed at meeting overarching local objectives, and to prioritise their capital requirements in support of that strategy.

Traffic Flow

Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if new roads are required to meet a British Standard with regard to carriageway traffic flow rates. [20043]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Keith Vaz, dated 11 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking if new roads should be designed to a British Standard with regards to carriageway traffic flow rates.
No. There is no British Standard for carriageway flow rates.

Newbury Bypass

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the clearance work being carried out for the Newbury bypass is on schedule; and if the targets and deadlines for clearance work will be met. [19667]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Rendel, dated 11 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking if clearance work being carried out for the Newbury bypass is on schedule; and if the targets and deadlines for clearance work will be met.
We are broadly on schedule despite the efforts of the protestors. Good progress is being made with felling the trees and shrubs. We may need to carry some work over into the main contract later this year, but we do not anticipate any delays to that contract.

British Rail Freight Business

Ms Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken in negotiations with prospective buyers of the British Railways Board's freight businesses to ensure that he complies with section 113 of the Railways Act 1993. [19860]

Mr. Watts: Negotiations with prospective purchasers are a matter for the British Railways Board. My right hon. Friend considers the board's recommendations for disposal in the light of his objectives under section 113 before deciding whether to consent to a sale.

Ms Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent by (a) his Department, (b) the Office of the Rail Regulator and (c) the British Railways Board in the reorganisation of the British Railways Board's freight business. [19858]

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Mr. Watts: The expenditure by my Department and by the Office of the Rail Regulator on reorganising the British Railways Board's trainload freight division cannot be identified separately, nor could the expenditure by the board without a detailed analysis at disproportionate cost to the board.

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