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TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS
Regional Government
14. Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss proposals for the reform of regional government. [5582]
Mr. Raynsford: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State frequently meets my right hon Friend the Chancellor, and other ministerial colleagues, to discuss a range of issues, including regional government.
London Underground
15. Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will indicate the expected annual rate of return for investment of the infrastructure companies in London Underground over the next 15 years. [5583]
Mr. Spellar: The Government's plans for a publicly run, privately built London Underground will deliver £13 billion of investment over the next 15 years.
London Underground is currently negotiating the contracts to deliver this investment. To estimate what the private sector's rate of return might be while these negotiations are still ongoing would undermine London Underground's commercial position and jeopardise its ability to deliver best value.
Biofuels
17. Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will allocate substantial resources over the next two years to develop clean renewable biofuels for road transport. [5585]
Mr. Jamieson: Budget 2001 announced a new duty rate for biodiesel from Budget 2002 of 20p per litre below the rate for ultra low sulphur diesel. It also announced duty exemptions or reductions for pilot projects, lasting up to five years, to establish and assess the benefits of novel road fuels, including ethanol and biogas. The Chancellor will announce the first pilot projects granted duty concessions in the pre-Budget report.
West Coast Main Line
18. Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the latest estimate by Railtrack of the upgrade of the west coast main line; and if he will make a statement. [5587]
Mr. Spellar: First, I would like to reassure my hon. Friend that the west coast main line upgrade will not be put at risk by Railtrack going into administration. The Government remain committed to providing a revitalised rail network in the UK, and the upgrade of the west coast main line is an integral part of that commitment. Work on the west coast main line upgrade will continue, and we are discussing with the administrators and the Strategic
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Rail Authority the best way of carrying it forward, without prejudice to the outcome of the public inquiries into specific elements of the project.
Local Government
19. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the recent discussions he has had with representatives of local government on improving local services. [5588]
Dr. Whitehead: My Department has frequent discussions with representatives of local government about improving local services and other matters. Such discussions will be particularly useful in helping us develop the forthcoming local government White Paper.
25. Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with local authority associations on the formula for allocating local government finance. [5594]
Dr. Whitehead: I have not had any recent discussions with the Local Government Association on this issue. However, I have met representatives of local government special interest groups, and the LGA attend regular working groups with my officials on formula reform. The most recent of these was on the 4 October this year.
35. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with representatives of local government on improving local services. [5606]
Dr. Whitehead: My Department has frequent discussions with representatives of local government about improving local services and other matters. Such discussions will be particularly useful in helping us develop the forthcoming local government White Paper.
Bed-and-Breakfast Accommodation
20. Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of people in local authority paid bed-and-breakfast accommodation. [5589]
Ms Keeble: We have significantly increased money for housing and targeted new affordable housing in areas of shortage. We have also established a bed-and-breakfast unit. Over the next two years the unit will work with partners to introduce measures to reduce the need to place families in B and B.
Bus Services
21. Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in rural areas. [5590]
22. Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in urban areas. [5591]
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29. Mr. Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in rural areas. [5598]
Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve bus services to disadvantaged communities in urban areas. [5586]
Ms Keeble: The new powers in the Transport Act 2000 will improve bus services throughout the country by raising standards and improving access to services. Furthermore, increased funding for our rural bus grant schemes and the new Urban Bus Challenge will directly assist disadvantaged communities by improving transport links.
28. Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much subsidy is provided to bus services in west Kent. [5597]
Ms Keeble: Local authorities are responsible for decisions on bus subsidy within their area. However, I understand Kent county council's subsidy on bus services in west Kent is currently £2.88 million (gross) per year. This includes services supported under the Government's Rural Bus Grant Subsidy scheme. All local bus services also receive fuel duty rebate from my Department.
Road Safety
23. Dr. Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on speed management on the roads. [5592]
Mr. Jamieson: The Road Safety Strategy, published last year, set challenging new targets to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads and the measures required to achieve them. These include better speed management through engineering, education and enforcement.
Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department is taking to improve road safety. [5577]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government published a comprehensive road safety strategy, "Tomorrow's roads—safer for everyone", in March 2001 and, at the same time, set challenging targets for reducing road deaths and serious injuries in Great Britain by 2010. We are making solid progress on all fronts. Our latest quarterly report will be posted on the Department's website soon.
As part of the ongoing implementation of the Road Safety Strategy, the following are examples of recent activities:
- The THINK! road safety publicity campaign has included action on speed, drink-drive, seat-belts, and child safety, including the successful "Hedgehogs" advertisements.
- A national scheme for child pedestrian training in schools has been launched and the first tranche of 38 authorities to receive funding was announced in September.
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The pilot safety camera funding arrangement which started in eight partnership areas has been extended nationally and seven new partnerships have recently been set up. We expect the scheme to cover most areas over the next two years.
- Road Safety Good Practice Guidelines were published in June to assist local highway authorities in their efforts to reduce casualties and meet their local target.
- The Government will be consulting on various measures to improve the safety of novice drivers through a more structured approach to learning to drive.
Passenger Rail Franchising
24. Miss Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on passenger rail franchising. [5593]
Mr. Jamieson: On 16 July we issued a draft statement of franchising policy for consultation with key stakeholders. Over 60 responses were received. We will publish a final statement in due course.
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