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Citizens Charters
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list those national citizens charters which (a) provide complaints procedures in line with recommendations of the complaints task force and (b) provide financial compensation for users when particular standards have not been met; and if he will
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publish for each the figures for compensation paid out in each financial year since the charter was implemented; [21798]
(3) how many of the national citizens charters are available (a) in an appropriate form for the visually impaired and (b) in two or more languages other than English; and if he will identify those charters under (a) and (b); [21814]
(4) if he will list all national citizens charters, indicating which involved consumer consultation in (a) the setting of their performance standards and (b) their preparation. [21800]
Mr. Michael Forsyth:
I shall write to the hon. Member and arrange for a copy of the letter to be placed in the House Library.
Mr. Trotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what monitoring his Department carries our concerning the assurance given by the Government that previously acceptable rail routes would continue to be available after privatisation; and if he will make a statement about the change in the validity of Newcastle upon Tyne to London full-fare tickets for travel to Euston; [21614]
Mr. Watts:
I have been asked to reply.
A routeing guide has been prepared by the Association of Train Operating Companies, which sets out clearly the permitted routes by which passengers may travel on their journeys. This guide requires the approval of the franchising director and the Rail Regulator and they will be concerned to ensure that if protects all reasonable routes that were allowed by BR before privatisation.
The guide has been given interim approval for an experimental period until 31 May. At this stage it does not include Newcastle to London via Birmingham.
Comments are being sought via rail users consultative committees on the accuracy and completeness of the guide. These will be taken into account before final approval is granted.
I have made no assessment of the impact on business men of using single one-day tickets.
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Mr. Trotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that nationwide rail rover tickets continue to be (a) available and (b) widely publicised; and what assessment he has made of the importance of such tickets to the United Kingdom tourism industry [21615]
Mr. Watts:
I have been asked to reply.
The all-line rail-rover continues to be available. Promotion of the product is the responsibility of the Association of Train Operating Companies and its members. I have made no assessment of the importance of the product to the United Kingdom tourist industry.
Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library all the reports obtained by his Department concerning accidents or reported near misses within the Milford Haven Port Authority area involving vessels in the 10 years prior to 15 February 1996. [16263]
Mr. Bowis:
My noble Friend the Minister for Aviation and Shipping will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of his letter in the Library.
Mr. John Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many crimes were committed on London Underground in each of the last six years. [21534]
Mr. Bowis:
Total notifiable offences in 1995-96 in the London Underground area were 14,971. The comparable 1994-95 figure was 15,149. In the time available, it has not been possible to obtain comparable figures for earlier years.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the Health and Safety Executive will investigate the overcrowding which occurred at Clapham Junction station early in the evening of 13 March; and what British Transport Police and Railway Company staff resources were available to alleviate or control the crowds. [21771]
Mr. Watts:
I understand that HSE will be making inquiries with the station operator, South West Trains Ltd., to ensure that it is complying with its Railway safety case by having adequate procedures in place to control passenger congestion.
The British Transport Police sent four constables to assist with crowd control at Clapham Junction station. It is for railway companies to decide the staffing necessary to meet their safety duties.
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Dr. Goodson-Wickes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits for 1996-97. [21779]
Sir George Young:
The cash limit for class V vote 2--administration and transport services--will be reduced by £11,000,000 from £154,645,000 to £143,645,000 and the cash limit for class V vote 4--Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency--will be reduced by £2,000,000 from £180,451,000 to £178,451,000.
The reductions in these cash limits arise from the need to offset payments accounted for on class V votes 1, 3 and 5 for trans-European network infrastructure projects in the UK.
Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he plans to publish the marine accidents investigation branch report on the Sea Empress before 1 May. [21583]
Sir George Young:
The marine accidents investigation branch's report into the Sea Empress has not yet been submitted to me. If it is submitted to me during the period of the general election campaign, it will not be published, in line with the convention that Departments should avoid announcements which might be likely to compete with political parties or parliamentary candidates for media attention.
Interim recommendations were made by the chief inspector in relation to matters on which he considered early action should be taken, and the necessary action has already been taken.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the projected starting date and date of completion for the A500 Shavington bypass; and what funds have been set aside for its construction. [21506]
Mr. Watts:
Timing of construction will depend upon the availability of resources. The next stage is to serve notices to treat upon landowners and I have instructed the Highways Agency to commence this action. The works are expected to cost some £21 million and to take two years.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the reasons for the delay in the construction of the A500 Shavington bypass. [21507]
Mr. Watts:
The A500 Basford-Hough-Shavington bypass is one of many schemes in the national road programme competing for funds. We are taking schemes forward to construction on the basis of economic benefit, environmental impact, route importance and importance for regeneration. The timing of construction of the A500 scheme will be determined by these factors.
Mr. Trotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of (a) the change in the availability of through full-fare rail tickets from Newcastle to London for business men seeking to break their journey at places between Birmingham and
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London and return directly to Newcastle upon Tyne, and (b) the impact on business men of the need to use single tickets which are valid for only one day; [21612]
Mr. Watts:
A routing guide has been prepared by the Association of Train Operating Companies which sets out clearly the permitted routes by which passengers may travel on their journeys. This guide requires the approval of the franchising director and the Rail Regulator and they will be concerned to ensure that it protects all reasonable routes that were allowed by BR before privatisation.
The guide has been given interim approval for an experimental period until 31 May. At this stage it does not include Newcastle to London via Birmingham.
Comments are being sought via rail users consultative committees on the accuracy and completeness of the guide. These will be taken into account before final approval is granted.
I have made no assessment of the impact on business men of using single one-day tickets.
(2) how many citizens charters adopted by national public services (a) have their performance indicators validated and verified by an external body and (b) specify enforceable rights for particular standards of service; and if he will identify those services under (a) and (b); [21805]
(2) if, for the purposes of the Government's assurance concerning continued acceptance for full-fare ticketing of routes accepted by British Rail, all routes accepted by British Rail prior to privatisation, including Newcastle to Euston, are regarded as reasonable routes. [21616]
(2) what assessment he has made of the degree of compliance with the Government's assurance that routes accepted by British Rail before privatisation for full-fare ticketing purposes would continue to be accepted, (a) nationally and (b) for journeys from Newcastle upon Tyne to Euston. [21613]
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