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London Underground
44. Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he plans to encourage greater private sector investment in London Underground. [490]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
We are developing a new public/private partnership to improve the London Underground, safeguard its commitment to the public interest and guarantee value for money to taxpayers and passengers. To this end my hon. Friend the Paymaster General is currently carrying out an urgent review of the Private Finance Initiative to see how it can be made to work better.
45. Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has for meeting the Rail Regulator to discuss penalties for non-delivery of services. [491]
50. Mr. Gerald Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the powers of the Rail Regulator. [496]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I have already met the Rail Regulator and made clear our view that the regulation of the rail industry, and the sanctions available to the regulator and the Franchising Director, need to be strengthened.
We are conducting a thorough review of rail regulation to identify exactly what improvements need to be made.
46. Mr. Timms:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are his priorities for transport infrastructure development within the Thames Gateway region. [492]
Mr. Prescott:
Our manifesto for London "Because London Deserves Better", recognised the need for modern transport links to enhance accessibility and support regeneration within the Thames Gateway; we are currently studying options and priorities.
47. Ms Abbott:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to visit Dalston Kingsland station to discuss a London transport policy. [493]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions nor I have arranged to visit Dalston Kingsland station to discuss a London transport policy, but I should be willing to consider such an invitation.
48. Mr. Skinner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make it his policy to refuse the applications by Stagecoach and others for extended franchises. [494]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Franchising Director has no powers under the Railways Act 1993 to extend franchises unless provision was made for this in the original franchise agreement or he is directed by the Secretary of State. There is no such provision in the South West Trains franchise agreement, and there are no plans to direct the Franchising Director to extend this or any other franchise.
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49. Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has for expediting electrification and improvement of the railway between Holyhead and London along the north Wales coast. [495]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government have no plans for the electrification of the Crewe to Holyhead line but Railtrack are also taking forward a strategy for improvements on the Crewe to Bangor section of the North Wales Coast line which will increase line speeds to 100 mph and are progressing the modernisation and upgrade of the West Coast Main Line, which the North Wales line links into at Crewe.
51. Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the roads programme. [497]
Dr. Strang:
We intend to discharge our manifesto commitment to carry out a strategic review of the trunk roads programme.
52. Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for improving the A36 road through West Wellow. [498]
Dr. Strang:
The second phase of a traffic calming scheme on the A36 at West Wellow will be completed this year. Design work for a third phase to provide a roundabout at Whinwhistle road is under way.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what action the channel tunnel safety authority proposes to take against Eurotunnel following the publication of its investigation into the channel tunnel fire; [8]
(3) what time scale has been given by the channel tunnel safety authority to Eurotunnel for implementing each of the recommendations in its report into the channel tunnel fire. [57]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The channel tunnel safety authority made it clear in its report into the channel tunnel fire that it expected its recommendations to be taken into account at the highest level within Eurotunnel. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister made the same point when he discussed the report with the company's Co-Chairmen. The majority of the recommendations were implemented before approval was given to the restart of HGV services and, as a pre-condition to that approval, the Intergovernmental Commission required Eurotunnel to provide a timetable, satisfactory to the safety authority, for the implementation of the remaining
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recommendations. The safety authority will continue to monitor implementation through the action of its specialist working groups, appointed safety inspectors and at its regular meetings with Eurotunnel.
The Intergovernmental Commission has wide supervisory functions under the Treaty of Canterbury to issue directions to Eurotunnel to comply with recommendations from the safety authority.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the extent to which Eurotunnel is fulfilling its safety obligations in relation to the operation of (a) the Shuttle and (b) Eurostar services. [6]
Ms Jackson:
Eurotunnel are required to comply with national and international laws including those relating to safe operation. It is their responsibility to ensure compliance or they face possible prosecution by national authorities or action by the intergovernmental commission on behalf of both Governments.
Eurotunnel's organisation includes a health safety and quality directorate whose work includes internal audit to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
The Governments have also appointed the channel tunnel safety authority to advise and assist the intergovernmental commission on all matters affecting safety in the construction and operation of the fixed link.
The safety authority monitors Eurotunnel's shuttle operations and Eurostar services throughout the channel tunnel from detailed incidents reports and regular operational reports from Eurotunnel; from regular reports of inspections from safety authority appointed inspectors; from examination of detailed reports from its specialist working groups on investigations into incidents; from reports on the outcome of safety exercises; and through regular meetings with Eurotunnel.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the regions if he will place in the Library a list of the roads his Department assesses to be most in need of repair. [1]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Highways Agency prepares an annual programme of capital maintenance works on sections of Trunk Roads, intended to be the most cost effective way of maintaining the Trunk Road network as a whole. At the moment, the Highways Agency plans major roads capital maintenance projects for 1997-98 ont eh following sections of roads:
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Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the revised design for the A6 (M) route in the Stockport Metropolitan Borough area has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [1555]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We will shortly be taking forward a strategic review of the trunk road programme, and expect that this scheme will be included within that review. It is clear however that as a result of the continuing examination to which individual schemes are subjected that there is a need for modification of this particular scheme. The details of any such changes are still to be considered.
(2) what action the channel tunnel safety authority proposes to take to ensure that Eurotunnel carry out the recommendations in the report into the channel tunnel fire; and what sanctions are available to the Authority in the event of Eurotunnel failing to carry out recommendations; [58]
M1: J25-J26
M5: J14-J15
M5/M6: Ray Hall interchange
M6: J14-J15
M23: J8-J9
M25: J23-24
M27: J8-J10
M42: J3-3A
M42: J7A-J8
M53: J9-J10
M62: J11-J12
A249: Westminster-Sheerness
This is in addition to capital maintenance carried out by DBFO operators. Comparable information for local roads is not available. These roads are the responsibility of local highway authorities.
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