| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Rural Bus Partnership
30. Mr. Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey): If he will make a statement on the distribution of the rural bus partnership fund in England. [39536]
The Minister of Transport (Dr. Gavin Strang): On 28 April, I announced proposals for distribution to English local authorities of an additional £37.5 million for local bus services. That followed the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the Budget, of another £150 million over the next three years to improve rural public transport.
Mr. Wyatt: Given that one in five people in rural areas do not have a car and that a quarter of parishes in England were denied bus services under Conservative Governments, what guarantees can my right hon. Friend give for safeguarding that new investment, so that it goes towards new and additional bus services rather than existing ones?
Dr. Strang: I am grateful for that question. We certainly shall issue guidance to local authorities to ensure
that we get value for money. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said, we want new bus services to be established. As a result of the previous Administration's policies, no fewer than a quarter of rural parishes in England have no bus services, not even on one day of the week, as my hon. Friend pointed out. In the remaining 75 per cent. of parishes, we want better services, such as the introduction of a seven-day service where there is only a five-day service. We want new services to be established with that huge amount of additional money.
Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West): Given that every time a motorist fills his tank, according to the Automobile Association, of the £20 that he may spend £16 goes to the Government in tax revenue, surely the motorist will not get a fair deal by being recompensed in the bus services that will be paid for by a mere £50 million spread throughout the kingdom over five years. How much more money can we expect?
Dr. Strang: I do not think that the hon. Gentleman realises what a quantum change this is in the level of subsidy available for rural bus services. Is he aware that many authorities will receive £1 million extra this year, next year and the year after that? Is he aware that that extra money more than doubles the amount that some local authorities currently have? Of course the car is vital in rural areas, but we want to restore some of the bus services that were lost under the Tories.
Mr. David Borrow (South Ribble): On Friday night, I attended a meeting of the parish council at Longton to discuss rural transport. One of the issues raised was the difficulty experienced by local residents in attending the hospital in Chorley and the administrative centre in Leyland, where there is a jobcentre and so on. Will my right hon. Friend ensure that, in giving guidance to local authorities, consideration is given not only to the network of public transport, but to access to public facilities such as hospitals and administrative centres, which should be a priority in creating any new bus services?
Dr. Strang: My hon. Friend makes an important point about precisely the sort of issue that we will be concerned about in setting out guidance. It is important also that there should be bus services to hospitals and other important centres seven days a week in as many areas as possible. I also think it important, particularly for young people, to re-establish Saturday bus services into small towns.
Railtrack Communication Masts
31. Mr. Crispin Blunt (Reigate): What is his estimate of the number of Railtrack communication masts that are also being used for commercial telecommunications. [39537]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Ms Glenda Jackson): I understand from Railtrack that 300 masts, out of a total of l,000, are used for commercial telecommunications as well as for Railtrack's own needs.
Mr. Blunt: Is the Minister aware that, nine months ago, Railtrack was able to override the objections of people in
Reigate and the local authority by putting up a mast and taking no notice of the requested amelioration of the mast's environmental impact? Is she further aware that, less than nine months later, the local authority has been presented with an application for an Orange mast on the site where the Railtrack mast has been erected? Does her answer indicate that Railtrack is systematically abusing its statutory authority to override the local planning process? Is it time for Railtrack to lose that statutory power to override the objections of local people?
Ms Jackson: There is no statutory requirement under which Railtrack must obtain planning permission, but any commercial company involved in the use of any Railtrack mast is most certainly required to obtain the necessary planning permission.
Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): Will my hon. Friend have a short and fairly firm word with Railtrack to point out that, if it intends to develop, including signalling in ways in which it has not done so in the past, it must ensure that those who work for it, whether contractors or direct employees, not only have the relevant qualifications but understand the whole world of safety? There is clear evidence that Railtrack is not insisting on contractors providing proper care, either for its own work force or for those using the railway system.
Ms Jackson: My understanding is that there are no safety implications--nor any reduction in safety--when there is shared use of a mast. As my hon. Friend will know, there was a very critical Health and Safety Executive report on Railtrack's control of contractors. I understand that Railtrack has introduced new systems for the management of its contractors and for assuring that technical standards are met. The Health and Safety Executive is monitoring those improvements and will not hesitate to take further action to ensure that risks are properly controlled.
Rolling Stock
32. Mr. Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby): If he will introduce measures to accelerate the purchase of new rolling stock. [39538]
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Mr. John Prescott): On 21 January, I asked the rail regulator to conduct a wide-ranging inquiry into the operation of the rolling stock leasing market. One of the issues that I asked him to look at was investment in new rolling stock. The regulator has submitted his report and I am discussing with him whether further action is required in the light of his recommendations.
Mr. Mitchell: I am very glad to hear my right hon. Friend's news. I hope that he will encourage passenger operators to follow the example of the freight operator in buying new rolling stock to boost the British rolling stock and engine industry, which has been disastrously hard hit by privatisation. Will he do so by pushing the rolling stock companies into buying new rolling stock rather than siphoning off their ill-gotten gains, as if they were lottery
profits, as they have been doing? That would be a better way of acquiring new rolling stock than, as Great North Eastern Railway Ltd. wants, extending the franchise.
Mr. Prescott: I think that the House is aware of how the assets under the three ROSCOs were quite shamelessly undersold, costing the taxpayer about £750 million. It is our concern to get investment in the railway system. I was concerned that a number of operators had found it difficult to make leasing arrangements with the ROSCOs, which was one of the reasons why I asked the regulator to conduct his inquiry. As soon as I have considered his recommendations, I shall report to the House.
Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): When will the new rolling stock that was promised last year finally appear on the London underground Northern line? What has been the reason for the considerable delay? As the project was financed under the private finance initiative, have financial penalties been imposed on the contractors?
Mr. Prescott: My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport in London advises me that much of the new rolling stock is being tested. We hope to see that new investment on the line as quickly as possible. For the long term, the question is how much essential investment we can secure to modernise most of the rolling stock on the London underground. If the hon. Gentleman wants, I will find out the exact position and write to him about it.
Mr. Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the previous Government's failure to write rolling stock replacement programmes into franchise agreements has meant that many of our constituents have to travel on ancient, unsafe and inadequate trains, with no prospect of the franchisees replacing the trains throughout the entire life of the franchise? Will he do something about that to ensure that my constituents do not have to travel on such unsafe and dangerous trains?
Mr. Prescott: Yes, that is a matter of major concern. Some operators have asked for an extension of their franchise, tied to an intention to introduce new investment, but I thought that the intention was to introduce new investment without the extension of franchises. That was exactly the case for Great North Eastern Railway. It complained that the ROSCOs would not give it sufficient finances during its short franchise. I do not believe that to be so, and have not found it not to be so. Sometimes, pressure is being exerted to extend franchises instead of getting on with introducing new investment. I am addressing myself to that problem.
| Next Section
| Index | Home Page |