| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Cumbria Rail Line
26. Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last used the north-west coast rail line to Cumbria. [34709]
Sir George Young: I have not used the west coast line to travel to Cumbria. However, on 20 May I travelled on the line to Manchester to open the Manchester airport southern spur rail link.
Oxford-Cambridge Railway Line
27. Mr. Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assistance he will make available to secure the re-opening of the Oxford to Cambridge via Milton Keynes railway line for passenger traffic. [34710]
Mr. Watts: The proposal by a consortium of interested local authorities is currently at feasibility stage. I understand that the phase 1 study covered the potential of a number of east-west routes and recommended further work on a central corridor which would use existing rail infrastructure via Bletchley. Railtrack has now joined the steering group but it is too early to say whether this will result in a viable proposal worthy of Government support.
Red Routes (London)
28. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the latest timetable for introducing further red routes in London and for consultation with residential and business occupiers along proposed routes. [34711]
Mr. Norris: The Traffic Director for London is responsible for co-ordinating the introduction of the red route network. Before red routes are introduced, all frontagers are consulted, and full consideration is given to how their needs can best be met. The latest timetable for introducing red routes is contained in the Traffic
8 Jul 1996 : Column: 66
Director's 1995-96 annual report, a copy of which is in the Library. The aim is to have the network operational by the year 2000.
Capital Expenditure
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of capital expenditure on transport during the next financial year will be on (a) roads and (b) non-road transport; and what were the equivalent figures for 1986. [34699]
Sir George Young: The proportion of capital expenditure allocated to national and local roads in the current year is nearly 60 per cent., compared with 70 per cent. in 1986-87--but such an analysis is inevitably subject to fluctuations in the capital budget arising from major projects.
Charter Aircraft
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 June, Official Report, column 34, if he will list the safety reasons that have resulted in the grounding of the aircraft operated by Air Operations of Europe. [35273]
Mr. Norris: I am advised that the Civil Aviation Authority issued a direction, under the Air Navigation Order 1989, to prevent this aircraft from flying because its registration documents, certificate of airworthiness and licences of flight crew appeared to have been issued illegally.
Departmental Property
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the location and function of all buildings owned by his Department but not occupied by Government officials. [35435]
Mr. Norris: Excluding properties acquired for the roads programme, my Department owns but does not occupy the following properties:
Stores Depot at Yate, Bristol
IT Offices at the Oldway Centre, Swansea
Research Sites at Crowthorne and Livingston
International Maritime Organisation Building, London.
Mr. Norris: The following firms have been appointed to advise on the Department's civil estate, including marketing of sites.
| Company | Appointed | Contract end date | Expenditure (£) 1 April 1996 to 30 June 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Ellis | 1 December 1995 | 30 March 1997 | 9,850 |
| Frere Cholmondeley Bischoff | 1 May 1996 | 31 March 1997 | 0 |
| Aspinwall and Co. | 1 June 1996 | 31 July 1996 | 10,500 |
| Healey and Baker | 1 June 1996 | 31 March 1997 | 0 |
8 Jul 1996 : Column: 67
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list (a) the length of leases held by his Department and (b) buildings occupied and run by his Department which contain other Government or next step agency tenants; [35434]
- (2) if he will list all properties held by his Department that are (a) leased and (b) owned with their locations and functions. [35433]
Mr. Norris: I have placed a copy of the answer in the Library.
Disabled People (Access)
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps his Department is taking to improve the access to train services for disabled people at unmanned stations; [35474]
- (2) what measures he plans to ensure disabled access to train services at unmanned train stations. [35484]
Mr. Watts: Under the Railways Act 1993, the Rail Regulator has a duty to protect the interests of disabled rail passengers. All train and station operators are required to submit for the Rail Regulator's approval a disabled people's protection policy, as a condition of being granted a licence to operate. Many franchise operators have committed to improving access for disabled passengers. For example, GNR has committed to spending an additional £400,000 per year on improving access to its stations for disabled passengers. Prism Rail plc will spend £14 million on station improvements which will include improved facilities for disabled passengers.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 provides the Secretary of State with powers to make regulations to require that new public transport vehicles are accessible to disabled people. The Act will apply to new rail vehicles, as well as to buses, coaches and taxis. Discussions have begun with the rail industry and the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee about the shape of the new regulations. The issue of rail vehicles serving unstaffed or partially staffed stations will be considered in that context.
Train Services (Yorkshire)
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what annual funding is made available to West Yorkshire passenger transport authority for operating trains in the Yorkshire area. [35485]
Mr. Watts: A figure is set aside each year from within the all other services block of the revenue support grant for distribution to district councils in metropolitan counties to meet the cost of supporting local rail services. The West Yorkshire passenger transport authority levies the district councils in the WYPTA passenger transport area each year for funding to cover expenditure by the West Yorkshire passenger transport executive on securing such railway passenger services as the authority decides to be necessary. In addition, payments are made to the WYPTE under the terms of certain current deeds of assumption. The combined figure for 1996-97 is £51.18 million. This comprises £45.98 million by way of RSG and some £5.2 million under the terms of those deeds of assumption.
8 Jul 1996 : Column: 68
Newbury Bypass
Mr. Keith Hill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will place a copy of the main construction contract for the Newbury bypass in the Library; [35501]
- (2) what assessment he has made of Costain Group plc's ability to meet its contractual obligations in the construction of the Newbury bypass; [35504]
(3) what action he is taking to ensure that Costain Group plc will meet its contractual obligations in the construction of the Newbury bypass; [35503]
(4) what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department's budget of a failure by Costain Group plc to meet its contractual obligations in the construction of the Newbury bypass. [35502]
Mr. John Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |