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Railway Industry
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to review the Government's policy regarding the ownership and structure of the railway industry. [1018]
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Mr. Spellar: The framework provided by the Transport Act 2000 is now in place to enable the Government's objectives for rail in the 10-Year Plan to be achieved. We will work with the industry to drive up performance and to identify obstacles to progress, and we wish the industry to focus on these objectives rather than on another structural reorganisation.
Transport Projects
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will give details of contracts undertaken by his Department with private firms for transport projects which do not contain a clause to recompense public funds in the event of a re-financing deal entered into by the private partner. [1024]
Mr. Spellar: The table sets out the information requested.
| PFI contract (contracting authority in brackets) | Date of contract signature | Does contract contain clause to recompense public funds in the event of refinancing by the private sector? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel Tunnel Rail Link | February 1996 | No | DTLR would directly benefit from any refinancing through a reduction in the requirement for an operating subsidy in future years |
| Birmingham North Relief Road (Highways Agency) | February 1992 | No | Finance for the Birmingham Northern Relief Road has yet to be finalised |
| A69 Carlisle to Newcastle (Highways Agency) | January 1996 | No | — |
| A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough (Highways Agency) | February 1996 | No | Refinancing not relevant due to use of bond finance |
| A419/A417 Swindon to Gloucester (Highways Agency) | February 1996 | No | Refinancing not relevant due to use of bond finance |
| M1-A1 Lofthouse to Bramham Link Road (Highways Agency) | March 1996 | No | Refinancing discussions in progress with Highways Agency |
| A50 Stoke to Derby (Highways Agency) | May 1996 | No | — |
| A30/A35 Exeter to Bere Regis (Highways Agency) | July 1996 | No | — |
| A19/A168 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel (Highways Agency) | August 1996 | No | This contract has been refinanced and Highways Agency will obtain a share of the benefit |
| M40 Denham to Warwick (Highways Agency) | October 1996 | No | Refinancing discussions in progress with Highways Agency |
| MOT Computerisation (Vehicle Inspectorate) | February 2000 | No | — |
| Traffic Control Centre (Highways Agency) | March 2001 | Yes | — |
Strategic Rail Authority (Consultants)
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish a list of the technical and financial consultants currently employed by the Strategic Rail Authority, the nature of the assignment for each consultant, and the value of each contract. [1025]
Mr. Spellar: Since its inception on 1 February 2001 the Strategic Rail Authority have used the following technical consultants with an awarded contract value. It should be noted that contract values do not necessarily equate to expenditure in this financial year.
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The SRA have also used the following technical consultants on a call-off basis.
| Consultant | Project |
|---|---|
| AEAT | General technical advice |
| Babtie Group Ltd. | CTRL technical advisers |
| Thameslink 2000 advisers | |
| General technical advice | |
| Booz Allen and Hamilton Ltd. | CSC franchise replacement |
| SWT franchise replacement | |
| Performance renegotiation | |
| Transpennine Franchise study | |
| First Class Partnership | General technical advice |
| GIBB Ltd. | Rail Passenger Partnership |
| Strategic Scenario testing | |
| Thameslink replacement | |
| General technical advice | |
| Halliburton Brown and Root Ltd. | Transpennine Express Project |
| Interfleet Technology | Mark One rolling stock replacement study |
| MDS Transmodal | General technical advice |
| Mott McDonald | Economic advice |
| General technical advice | |
| MVA | Thameslink replacement |
| ECML infrastructure | |
| General technical advice | |
| Oscar Faber | General technical advice |
| Ove Arup and Partners | Wales and Borders replacement |
| General technical advice | |
| Symonds Group | Freight grant adviser |
| WS Atkins | General technical advice |
The SRA are currently using the following financial advisers on a call-off basis.
| Consultant | Project |
|---|---|
| KPMG | Financial adviser |
| Lazard brothers and Co. Ltd. | Financial adviser |
| Marsh UK Ltd. | Financial adviser (insurance issues) |
| PriceWaterhouseCoopers | Financial adviser (external auditors) |
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Parish and Town Councils
Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many applications for the abolition of parish or town councils he has received from district or unitary authorities in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these applications he has granted. [1142]
Dr. Whitehead: The Local Government Act 1972 contains no provision for the abolition of parish councils. However, this legislation provides for the dissolution of parish councils where the population of a parish falls below 150. Dissolution in such circumstances is carried out by order of the district council. We have no record of any dissolution orders.
The Local Government Act 1992 made provision for the abolition of parishes by the Secretary of State following a recommendation by the Local Government Commission. No parishes were abolished as a consequence of the structural review of local government during 1992–97.
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In implementing recommendations made by district councils under Part II of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 the Secretary of State has abolished five parish councils, all in 1999, as follows:
- The East Lindsey (Parishes) Order 1999—the common parish council for the three parishes of Saltfleetby All Saints, Saltfleetby St. Clements and Saltfleetby St. Peter was abolished to be replaced by a single new parish and parish council of Saltfleetby.
- The Mid Sussex (Parishes) Order 1999—the parish councils of Clayton and Keymer were abolished to be replaced by a new single parish council of Hassocks.
- The Tandridge (Parishes) Order 1999—the parish council of Lingfield and Dormansland was abolished to be replaced by two new parish councils, one for each of the villages.
- The West Lindsey (Parishes) Order 1999—on the creation of the parish of Brookenby from part of the parish of Stainton le Vale, the parish council of Stainton le Vale was abolished to be replaced by a new parish council of Brookenby and a parish meeting for Stainton le Vale.
Public Transport Information System
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in implementing a national public transport information system. [1420]
Mr. Jamieson: Traveline, the national public transport information system, is now available throughout Great Britain. It provides route and timetable information for bus, coach, tram, underground, train, ferry and metro through a national-rate call to a single telephone number—0870 608 2 608.
I am delighted that transport operators and local authorities have worked in partnership to deliver Traveline, with the support of central Government. Traveline will form part of our Transport Direct initiative. Transport Direct will allow people to plan their journeys and to compare routes and prices.
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