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British Rail Passenger Companies
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each former British Rail passenger company (a) the estimated value of the assets, (b) the sale price, (c) the levels of subsidy to be paid for those years for which information is available and (d) the length of the subsidy period. [20981]
Mr. Watts: The asset value of the former British Rail train operating companies at the point of sale was a matter for the British Railways Board. The TOCs were each sold at a net asset value of £1--that is assets net of all liabilities. Subsidy levels to be paid for each franchise by franchise year are set out in my answer of 31 October 1996, Official Report, columns 241-42; and my answers to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) on 13 January, Official Report, columns 118-19 and 27 February, Official Report, columns 294-95.
Railfreight Distribution
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the amount of the subsidy paid to English, Welsh and Scottish Railways following the sale of Railfreight Distribution and the length of time this subsidy will be paid; [20917]
- (2) if he will list the estimated value of the assets of Railfreight Distribution; [20918]
(3) if he will list the income received by the Exchequer following the sale of Railfreight Distribution; [20919]
(4) if English, Welsh and Scottish Railways Holdings Ltd. will be allowed to operate through the channel tunnel without payment being made by the company; [20920]
(5) if his Department will be making payments to Eurotunnel as part of the financial arrangements made following the sale of Railfreight Distribution; [20921]
(6) if English, Welsh and Scottish Railways have been allowed a pensions holiday as part of the financial arrangements following its purchase of Railfreight Distribution; [20914]
Mr. Watts: The financial terms of the sale will be made known after sale completion.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the companies which bid to purchase Railfreight Distribution. [20922]
Mr. Watts: Bids were received from English, Welsh and Scottish Railway Holdings Ltd. and from a consortium led by Management Consortium Bid Ltd.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis the sale of Railfreight Distribution requires the approval of the European Commission. [20911]
Mr. Watts:
The Commission has been notified of the offer for sale under article 93(3) of the treaty.
20 Mar 1997 : Column: 765
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total cost of advisers, consultants and legal advice of the sale of Railfreight Distribution. [20912]
Mr. Watts:
The sale of Railfreight Distribution has not yet been completed.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff are currently employed by Railfreight Distribution; and at what location. [20913]
Mr. Watts:
The number of staff currently employed by Railfreight Distribution is 1,182, based principally at Allerton, Birmingham, Crewe, Derby, Dolland's Moor, Mossend, Paddington, Saltley, Tinsley, Trafford Park, Wakefield, Wembley and Willesden.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if English, Welsh and Scottish Railway Holdings Ltd. has applied for a safety case for (a) new locomotives and (b) rolling stock. [20915]
Mr. Watts:
English, Welsh and Scottish Railway is discussing with Railtrack a prospective route acceptance safety case for its new Class 66 locomotive.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the former British Railfreight companies (a) the estimated value of the assets, (b) the sale price, (c) the amount of subsidy to be paid to the purchaser and (d) the length of the subsidy period. [20916]
Mr. Watts:
The answers are as follows:
(a) The price for each sale reflects the value to the purchaser of the assets and liabilities of the company.
The sale of Railfreight Distribution has yet to be completed.
(b) The gross proceeds for each of the former BR freight companies were as follows:
Rail Express Systems Ltd.: £24.2 million;
Loadhaul Ltd., Mainline Freight Ltd. and Transrail Freight Ltd.: £225.15 million;
Freightliner (1995) Ltd.: £5.39 million.
(c) and (d) None of those sales involves subsidy. Freightliner is receiving track access grant of up to £75 million over five years.
Payment of Bills
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of bills to his Department for the financial year 1995 to 1996 were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied.[21200]
Mr. Bowis:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the President of the Board of Trade on 18 July
20 Mar 1997 : Column: 766
1996, Official Report, columns 613-14. Additional information could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was his Department's expenditure on roads in each of the past five years. [21347]
Mr. Watts:
The information is as follows:
1991-92: 2,635
1992-93: 2,859
1993-94: 3,099
1994-95: 2,933
1995-96: 2,703.
A34
Sir Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the A34 in Great Wyrley in the South Staffordshire constituency; and if he will make a statement. [21189]
Mr. Watts: The Highways Agency will start construction on the first phase of the A34 Great Wyrley traffic calming scheme in 1997-98.
M6
Mrs. Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his plans for improving the M6 between junctions 11 and 16; and if he will make a statement. [21232]
Mr. Watts: We now intend to widen the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and 16 to dual four lanes by adding one lane to each side.
Seventy per cent. less land will be needed, greatly reducing the impact of adjacent land and the local environment. A high standard of environmental measures will also be provide, including noise mounds and landscaping. Many properties close to the motorway will benefit from reductions in noise and 10 properties will be spared from demolition. Along with these benefits, we have also saved over 40 per cent. of the cost of the original scheme.
To minimise congestion and diversion during construction and future maintenance, we have devised an innovative method of providing continuous hard shoulders at bridges. This will allow three lanes in each direction to be maintained for 90 per cent. of the time during the works. Most existing bridges will be retained, reducing disruption during construction to local communities.
Widening will help to keep traffic moving and will encourage use of the motorway instead of less suitable local roads.
The previous draft orders are being withdrawn.
Mr. Bendall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about London taxi fares and fees. [21463]
20 Mar 1997 : Column: 767
Mr. Bowis:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has made an order increasing London taxi fares by 4 per cent. with effect from Saturday 26 April. The new tariff will be:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has decided that there will be no change in the Public Carriage Office's fees for a London taxi driver's licence--£87 for a three-year licence--or in the annual fee for licensing a London taxi--£78.
Sir Roger Moate:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his letter of 14 March to the hon. Member for Faversham, when he confirmed the publication of the draft compulsory purchase order for the A249 Iwade to Queensborough improvement scheme; what is the hoped for start date for the construction of this project; and how this date will be affected if the procedures are foreshortened by the absence of objections. [21153]
Mr. Watts:
I have instructed the Highways Agency to give this scheme high priority.
Initial minimum charge: £1.40--for the first 483 m (528.4 yd) or 108 seconds.
Then 20p for each additional 241.5 m (264.2 yd) or 54 seconds until the fare exceeds £9.00 fare represents a journey of about 6 miles.
Once the fare exceeds £9.20p for each 161 m (176.1 yd) or 36 seconds.
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