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Road Safety Schemes
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much money has been spent, in each of the past five years, on community road safety schemes in the UK; and what statistics his Department collects centrally on such schemes. [139472]
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Mr. Hill: My Department receives figures annually from local authorities (in England) on road safety expenditure. Over the last five years expenditure has been:
| Year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 50 |
| 1996-97 | 55 |
| 1997-98 | 60 |
| 1998-99 | 40 |
| 1999-2000 | 60 |
Statistics for road safety schemes are not held centrally but are a matter for each local authority.
Rural Bus Challenge (Kent)
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what powers he has to fine Kent county council in respect of the implementation of the Swale Unified Network in the Rural Bus Challenge 1999 Fund; [139673]
- (2) when Kent county council will implement the Swale Unified Network; [139672]
(3) if Kent county council accrues interest on unspent elements of the Rural Bus Challenge 1999 Fund; and if this is ringfenced. [139671]
Mr. Hill: Kent county council were successful in the Rural Bus Challenge 1999 with a bid for the Swale Unified Network project. None of the Department's grant awarded to this project has yet been paid to the council, though an initial payment will shortly be due on the basis of forecast expenditure in this financial year. The question of interest on unspent grant has not therefore arisen.
Grant is available, up to the amount awarded, in respect of the costs actually incurred by the council in implementing the project as described in its successful bid. The conditions of the grant are set out in Special Grant Report No. 54, approved by Parliament in March this year. These conditions include the requirement on the authority to repay to the Department any grant received which is found after audit to have been used otherwise than provided for under the terms of the Report.
The timing of the implementation of the project, subject to the conditions in the Special Grant Report, is a matter for the council. I understand there have been some difficulties implementing the project as quickly as planned, but that it is now being taken forward.
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how much of the Rural Bus Challenge 1999 awarded to Kent county council has been spent to date; [139441]
- (2) when Kent county council (a) applied for funding for the Rural Bus Challenge 1999 and (b) was awarded funding; and how much was awarded. [139440]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 21 November 2000]: Kent county council submitted its bid for the 1999 Rural Bus Challenge competition on 30 September 1999. The results of the competition were announced on 11 January 2000. Parliament approved the Special Grant Report authorising this and other Challenge awards in March. Kent was awarded £381,000 for the Swale Unified Network project.
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I understand that the county council has had some difficulties implementing this project as quickly as planned, but that it is now being taken forward. None of the grant awarded has yet been paid to the council, though an initial payment will shortly be due on the basis of forecast expenditure for this financial year.
Millennium Dome
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guarantees have been (a) sought by his Department and (b) given by Legacy plc in relation to the proposed acquisition of the Millennium Dome site. [140187]
Ms Armstrong: The details of discussions so far with Legacy plc and the issues to be pursued through negotiations are all commercially confidential while negotiations continue. In general terms, the Government have sought assurances about Legacy's scheme in relation to each of the published evaluation criteria for the competition.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what the value is of the bid by Legacy plc for the Millennium Dome site; [140188]
- (2) if the arrangements for Legacy plc to acquire the Millennium Dome site will include provision for a down payment; and if he will make a statement. [140189]
Ms Armstrong: Details of the proposed overall financial consideration for the sale of the Dome to Legacy plc must remain commercially confidential at this stage. The arrangements for Legacy plc to acquire the Millennium Dome will include a cash consideration on exchange of contracts and a further cash consideration on completion of the sale, as well as other components.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the terms and conditions attached to the granting of preferred bidder status for the Millennium Dome site to Legacy plc. [140186]
Ms Armstrong: Such issues are commercially confidential while negotiations with Legacy plc continue.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 20 November 2000, Official Report, column 25W, on the Millennium Dome, from which parties he received expressions of interest in procuring the Dome after Nomura withdrew its bid. [140219]
Ms Armstrong: Both the Dome Europe and Legacy bids have been assessed within the framework of the competition to find a long-term sustainable use for the Millennium Dome. A number of unsolicited expressions of interest in the Dome have separately been received from third parties, mostly submitted in confidence or of a superficial nature. Since the Government have been pursuing a competition on a defined basis, these expressions of interest have not been evaluated.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2000, Official Report,
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column 25W, on the Millennium Dome, what the outstanding contractual issues are; and if he will publish the agreed timetable for resolving all such issues. [140217]
Ms Armstrong: The details of the issues to be pursued through negotiations with Legacy plc are commercially confidential while negotiations continue. If all goes well, we expect to exchange contracts during February. Progress will be reviewed regularly.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on local roads of the development and operation of a business park inside the Millennium Dome. [140184]
Ms Armstrong: The evaluation criteria for the Dome legacy competition include that schemes should demonstrate minimum reliance on access by car and maximum use of public transport. The Legacy plc scheme conforms with this principle. The details will be addressed through the planning process, initially through consideration by the London Borough of Greenwich, who are familiar with the issues.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contingency plan the Government have in the event of the failure of negotiations with Legacy plc to procure the Millennium Dome site. [140190]
Ms Armstrong: In the event of the failure of negotiations with Legacy plc, the Government would pursue other possible uses of the Dome.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of commercial demand for a business park inside the Millennium Dome. [140185]
Ms Armstrong: The evaluation criteria for the Dome legacy competition include the expectation that the winning scheme will be commercially and financially successful. Legacy plc has provided advice on likely commercial demand for a business park and a business plan related to this, which have been evaluated by the Government advisers. This evaluation is confidential. Further development of evidence of commercial demand will be important in conducting negotiations towards exchange of contracts.
GoVia
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the Strategic Rail Authority awarded the South-Central rail franchise to GoVia in preference to Connex. [140312]
Mr. Hill: The proposals put forward by GoVia and Connex Transport UK Ltd. both offered substantial improvements over current standards of service. However, the Franchising Director considered that GoVia demonstrated that they have the vision to bring about a step change in quality, and the capacity to deliver, while offering better value for money.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if the franchise agreement reached with GoVia in respect of the South-Central franchise (a) precludes the closure of any
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station and (b) maintains at present levels as a minimum the present timetable operated by Connex on each of its South-Central routes; [140307]
- (2) on what date he expects responsibility for the South-Central franchise to transfer to GoVia. [140313]
Mr. Hill: A new franchise agreement will be signed with GoVia once detailed negotiations and funding plans have been developed and terms have been agreed between them and Connex Transport UK Ltd. for the early transfer of the existing South Central franchise. GoVia do not currently propose the closure of any station included in this franchise. Service provision will be based on existing Passenger Service Requirements (PSRs), which provide a specified minimum service level. Where the PSR is currently augmented by higher levels of service, the aggregate additional train mileage will be incorporated as a separate contractual obligation.
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