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Commission for Integrated Transport

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future role of the Commission for Integrated Transport. [1032]

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Mr. Spellar: The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) was established in July 1999 to provide independent advice on the implementation of integrated transport policy. Its remit was set out in the Integrated Transport White Paper.

CfIT has been asked to monitor progress on the implementation of the 10-Year Plan for Transport, and to identify any further policy measures that might be needed to achieve 10-Year Plan objectives.

At the CfIT Plenary on 22 March 2001 it was decided that the three priority areas for CfIT were to be:

Monitoring, Delivery and Review of the 10-Year Plan

Work on securing best value for public subsidy in the bus industry

European best practice.

Rail Freight

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps are being taken by his Department to promote the greater use of the railways for freight. [1028]

Mr. Spellar: Our policy is to help establish an integrated, sustainable freight distribution system to support economic growth and to bring social and environmental benefits. We set out our long-term strategy in the 10-Year Transport Plan in July last year. We have established the Strategic Rail Authority with a duty to promote rail freight. The SRA set out its Strategic Agenda, including its plans for freight, earlier this year and is now consulting the industry on its detailed Freight Strategy.

National Air Traffic Services

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made in the contract negotiations for the National Air Traffic Services public-private partnership. [1035]

Mr. Spellar: The PPP remains subject to certain conditions. We are working with the Airline Group to ensure that those conditions are satisfied at the earliest opportunity.

SPADs

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Uff-Cullen inquiry into technical solutions to the problem of railway signals passed at danger. [1017]

Mr. Spellar: The Government welcomed the publication on 29 March of the Joint Inquiry Report by Lord Cullen and Professor Uff into train protection systems and reaffirmed the Deputy Prime Minister's undertaking to Parliament on 20 July 2000, Official Report, columns 549–52, that the measures arising from the report will be brought within the 10-Year Plan for Transport.

The report endorsed the Government's existing policy to install the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) across the network by the end of 2003, and set out a programme for the new European Train Control System (ETCS) on high-speed and other main lines.

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The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) will be advising the Government on regulations to take ETCS forward and will publish a progress report in September.

Railway Industry

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the state of industrial relations in the railway industry. [1022]

Mr. Spellar: Industrial disputes are properly matters for the employers and the trade unions to resolve.

Successful negotiation between the train operators and the trade unions avoided strike action in all but one of the 25 train operating companies on 25 June. We would greatly regret any possible further industrial action on the railway which would cause yet more inconvenience to passengers.

Strategic Rail Authority

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects the Strategic Rail Authority to (a) begin the next stage of the competition for the new Wales and Borders franchise and (b) recommence the competition for the Central Trains franchise. [1027]

Mr. Spellar: Further announcements will be made by the Strategic Rail Authority in due course.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many additional employees have been recruited by the Strategic Rail Authority during the past year. [1014]

Mr. Spellar: On 1 June 2000, 261 people were working at the shadow Strategic Rail Authority (sSRA), which comprised the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and British Railways Board staff.

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) was set up on 1 February 2001 under the provisions of the Transport Act 2000 , with 330 staff. This included 259 from the sSRA and, to cover additional functions transferred on that date, 70 from the Office of the Rail Regulator (including those working for Rail Passengers Committees) and one from the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The SRA also took responsibility for the 2,297 British Transport Police.

On 1 June 2001, 362 people were working at the SRA.

Second Channel Tunnel

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made on the feasibility study for a second channel Tunnel. [1031]

Mr. Spellar: At the end of 1999 Eurotunnel sent to the Governments of France and the UK, through the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission, a package relating to two tunnel projects, one road the other rail. Eurotunnel submitted that package in order to discharge an undertaking in the Concession Agreement to submit, before 2000, a proposal for a drive through link.

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Eurotunnel described these as proposals which are likely to evolve in the light of technical and economic developments. There is no cause for the Government to take a decision for several years.

Multi-modal Studies

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the multi-modal studies. [1033]

Mr. Spellar: The Multi-Modal Studies are looking for solutions to some of the most severe and urgent problems on our transport network. They exemplify our integrated approach to transport and will be central to the delivery of the 10-Year-Plan.

We are moving the studies forward as quickly as possible, bearing in mind their complex nature and the need for full and proper consultation.

Midlands-Manchester Multimodal Study

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will ensure that the conclusions of the multi-modal study into the transport corridor between the midlands and Manchester are published in time to be taken into account in the formulation of the new regional planning guidance for the west midlands. [1330]

Mr. Jamieson: The final study report and the Steering Group recommendations will be formally submitted to the West Midlands Regional Planning Body and the North West Regional Assembly in autumn 2001. Interim outputs from the study will be available this August to inform the development of the draft West Midlands Regional Planning Guidance due for publication in autumn 2001.

Ladbroke Grove Rail Disaster

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will respond to the recommendations of Lord Cullen's inquiry into the Ladbroke Grove rail disaster. [1016]

Mr. Spellar: My right hon. Friend responded to Part One of Lord Cullen's report in a statement issued on 19 June, the day of its publication. The statement reads:

"I am grateful to Lord Cullen for today's report into the causes of the Ladbroke Grove rail crash. On such a day our thoughts turn to the survivors and bereaved of that tragic accident. We cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering felt by these people and it is important that we bear their experiences in mind as we act to improve rail safety in this country.

Safety is paramount and at the very heart of our policies on revitalising the railways. Our railways are safe, but we must never be complacent. Safety is a matter of continual improvement and I have asked the HSC to ensure that the recommendations are acted upon, and to report to me within six months.

I now await the final part of Lord Cullen's report into the culture, management and regulation of safety on the railways. This will be a particularly valuable document which will enable us to take the further necessary measures to enhance rail safety."

Bus Companies

Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his

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Department is taking to encourage bus companies in the south-east of England to offer commuter services to London; and if he will make a statement. [1068]

Ms Keeble: The 10-Year Transport Plan recognises that coach services have a valuable role in expanding transport options including for commuting journeys into major cities. Coach services will benefit from increased investment in the strategic road network, including measures to tackle bottlenecks and improve network management.

The public consultation draft of the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy said that additional commuter and scheduled express coach services on particular routes could fulfil a valuable role in supplementing rail capacity. It said that Transport for London would work with coach operators to review opportunities for extending the role of commuter coaches, taking account of traffic and parking issues. I understand that the Mayor will publish his final Transport Strategy shortly.

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