| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Private Finance Initiative
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 July 2001, Official Report, column 19W, on PFI, what the average saving is under PFI contracts awarded; and in which projects his Department has identified mistakes in the calculation of the public sector comparator after a PFI contract has been signed. [8141]
Mr. Jamieson: PPP/PFI deals go ahead only where they demonstrate clear value for money against a public sector comparator. The last survey, which was carried out by Arthur Andersen and the LSE, identified 17 per cent. savings by PPPs against a conventional public sector procurement. However, specific information about savings in PFI contracts can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
London Underground
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects all London Underground trains to have air conditioning. [9115]
Mr. Jamieson: This is a matter for London Underground Ltd. Installing air conditioning on the Underground would be highly challenging, as most of the network is over
24 Oct 2001 : Column: 228W
100 years old and was not designed to accommodate the bulky equipment necessary. As well as work on trains, air conditioning would require equipping many stations. However, new technology is being explored and the case for air conditioning, or for other means to provide a better travelling environment, is being reviewed by London Underground. Until this work is completed it is not possible to announce a time scale for equipping trains with air conditioning. In the meantime, the modernisation contracts require all new and refurbished trains to have improved airflow and ventilation.
Best Value
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has collated on the number of building and maintenance departments of local authorities which have been externalised since the introduction of best value; if he will list the local authorities concerned and indicate (a) how many employees are involved (i) in each case and (ii) overall and (b) the name of the contractor who has taken over the delivery of those services in each case; and if he will make a statement. [9113]
Dr. Whitehead: This information is not held centrally. Local authorities have to report the outcome of best value reviews in their Best Value Performance Plans, but no co-ordination of these references has taken place, either on building maintenance or on any other work. The Best Value Inspectorate of the Audit Commission will consider whether the outcome of any particular review is likely to represent best value.
Rail Projects
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects (a) Crossrail, (b) Thameslink 2000 and (c) the west coast main line to be completed. [8993]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government, with the Mayor and the Strategic Rail Authority, have commissioned project definition work on an east-west London rail link, often known as Crossrail. This is looking into possible routes and service patterns. At this stage it is too early to say when such a scheme, if it were to receive the necessary approvals, could be completed; the earliest date is late 2010.
The Thameslink 2000 proposal is dependent on powers being granted under the Transport and Works Act 1992. The public inquiry into the scheme finished earlier this year, and the Inspector's report is expected next spring. If the scheme is approved, the earliest date that it could be operational is late 2007.
At present, phase 1 of the west coast main line project is expected to be completed in 2002–3. Some elements of phase 2 of the project are dependent on powers being granted under the Transport and Works Act and are the subject of public inquiries. If powers are given for these elements of the project, the principal outputs of phase 2 could be completed in 2005, and the work could be fully completed by 2007. However, in recent discussions with Railtrack about its financial position, the company indicated that these dates are subject to some uncertainty.
24 Oct 2001 : Column: 229W
Rail Modernisation
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recommendations he has received from the Strategic Rail Authority about the level of investment needed to modernise the rail network. [8995]
Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority are due to publish their Strategic Plan by the end of November. The Strategic Plan will set out their priorities for enhancement to the network.
Working Time Directive (Bus Drivers)
Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he has issued to transport authorities regarding the safe number of hours for urban bus drivers to work without a break. [8671]
Mr. Jamieson: Most urban bus drivers are subject to the UK drivers' hours rules. These rules, including the break requirements, are explained in a guide book issued by my Department entitled "Drivers' Hours and Tachograph Rules for Road Passenger Vehicles in the UK and Europe (PSV375)" which can be obtained free of charge from the Area Offices of the Vehicle Inspectorate or downloaded from the Departmental website.
Central Trains
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment he has made of the reliability and punctuality of train services between Worcester and Birmingham via Droitwich Spa; and if he will make a statement. [8985]
Mr. Jamieson: Performance statistics published by the Strategic Rail Authority show that 76.3 per cent. of Central Trains services arrived on time during the period 24 June to 21 July. This is a combined punctuality and reliability assessment. Services are deemed punctual if they arrived at their destination within five minutes of the timetable.
Greater London Authority
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with the Greater London Authority in the last six months regarding (a) the financial settlement for London and (b) the GLA precept on council tax; and if he will make a statement. [8954]
Mr. Byers: I and my ministerial colleagues have regular meetings with the Mayor to discuss many issues about London, including the financial settlement for the capital. The level of precept levied by the Greater London Authority is a matter for the Mayor and Assembly to discuss in their budget setting process.
Houses in Multiple Occupation
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation to license houses in multiple occupation. [8717]
24 Oct 2001 : Column: 230W
Ms Keeble: The Government have a long-established commitment to legislate for the licensing of houses in multiple occupation. Our plans for legislation are well in hand following consultations on HMO licensing and a new Housing Health and Safety Rating System to replace the current fitness regime. We envisage that the proposed legislation will extend to the Selective Licensing of Landlords in areas of low housing demand—on which we have just issued a consultation document.
Local Government (Graduate Recruitment)
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he is taking to encourage graduate recruitment in local government. [8637]
Dr. Whitehead: Local government plays a key role in delivering our public services, and the quality of its staff is critical to successful outcomes.
The DTLR provides funding and support for the Local Government Employers' Organisation (EO) and the Local Government National Training Organisation (LGNTO). These organisations provide a number of products aimed at recruiting graduates, including:
- LG careers—a website which profiles many career areas, including those open to graduates;
- LG jobs—a website advertising vacancies at over 60 per cent. of councils in the UK. The site has a dedicated graduate section;
- LG graduates—a service generally promoting local government employment to students, and includes a popular TOP scheme which provides short summer term placements to undergraduates.
Public Drinking
Mr. Lepper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those local authorities which have byelaws which prohibit public drinking; how many interventions there have been by the police; and how many successful prosecutions arising from these interventions have been recorded in each of these local authority areas in each year since the introduction of the byelaw. [9108]
Dr. Whitehead: The local authorities that have bye-laws to regulate the consumption of intoxicating liquor in designated places are listed. Information as to police interventions or prosecutions is not held centrally.
24 Oct 2001 : Column: 232W
Where two dates are shown against an authority's name, two separate alcohol byelaws are in operation in that authority's area.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |