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Rail Upgrades (North-East)
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans and programmes there were for (a) the upgrade of the east coast main line and (b) for upgrades and extensions of rail lines in the north-east of England as at 1 October. [10924]
Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) announced on 14 September that they had allocated £17.5 million for development work for phase two of the project to upgrade the east coast main line. The SRA is also considering a number of applications for funding from the rail passengers partnership scheme including provision of passenger services over the Ashington, Blyth and Tyne line and to reopen the Leamside line.
The SRA intends to submit its strategic plan to Ministers by the end of November which will set out its priorities for enhancement to the network.
Local Parks
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to ensure everyone has access to local parks. [10774]
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Ms Keeble: We have established the urban green spaces task force to assist my Department in developing policies and proposals for the future of parks, play areas and green spaces. Ensuring that people have easy access to their local parks and other green spaces is an issue which is being considered and for which we will develop proposals.
County Hall
Mr. Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what amount is outstanding from the sale of County hall, London SE1 to the Shiryam group; how long it has been outstanding; if interest is being charged, and when the balance will be paid in full. [11199]
Dr. Whitehead: The contract for the sale of County hall provided for a deferred sum of £10 million to be paid to the London residuary body from April 1996, subject to the full sum being paid by 2012. Following the winding up of the London residuary body on 29 March 1996, the London borough of Bromley inherited the remaining rights and liabilities in respect of County hall, including those in relation to the payment of this sum. I understand that, in line with the contractual terms, no interest is due and no amount has yet been paid to Bromley.
Strategic Rail Authority
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what salary the chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority will receive. [11220]
Mr. Spellar: This information is set out in the press release issued by my Department on 24 October about this appointment, a copy of which is in the House Library.
Jubilee Line
Ms Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many signal failures were reported on the Jubilee line for the five days from Monday 22 October to Friday 26 October inclusive. [11558]
Mr. Jamieson: I understand from London Underground Ltd. that there were seven signal failures during this period. The recurring problem has been identified and corrected. Its cause is under investigation. Recovery from signal failures on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 was hampered by a passenger taken ill on a train and a security alert respectively.
Local Government (City of Westminster)
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he intends to publish the research into public attitudes to local government structures in the City of Westminster. [11644]
Dr. Whitehead: We are currently editing the report of this research for publication, and will issue it in due course. I will write to the hon. Member when the report is published, and place a copy in the Libraries of the House.
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Crossrail
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what his latest estimate is of the total cost of completing the Crossrail project; [11654]
- (2) what proportion of funding for Crossrail will be required from the private sector. [11653]
Mr. Jamieson: The assumption in the 10-year plan is that construction of Crossrail is to be fully financed by the private sector. In advance of detailed economic appraisal of the options it is difficult to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of the project. Almost £3.5 billion was included in the 10-year-plan as a broad indication of the cost of the infrastructure and new rolling stock. Public support is assumed to be provided in the form of subsequent revenue support, but will depend on the precise project and on negotiations with the rail industry.
A total of £154 million of public funding has been allocated, jointly to the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London, for preparation costs of the project in 2001–02 to 2003–04.
White Horse (Folkestone)
Mr. Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received from English Nature on the proposal for a white horse on the downs above Folkestone since the end of the inquiry into the proposal. [12866]
Ms Keeble: We have received no further representations on this case from English Nature since the inquiry.
Greater London Authority
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what was the (a) percentage real-terms increase in the precept on average domestic rates by the Greater London Council in each year from 1975 to its abolition and (b) real-terms increase in the precept on band D council tax by the Greater London Authority since its creation; and if he will make a statement; [12579]
- (2) what was (a) the percentage increase in the precept on average domestic rates by the Greater London Council in each year from 1975 to its abolition and (b) the increase in the precept on band D council tax by the Greater London Authority since is creation; and if he will make a statement. [12578]
Mr. Byers: The available information is given in the tables. We shall this week be laying regulations to ensure that percentage cash increases in precepts, including the Greater London Authority's, will be shown clearly on council tax bills from next year.
(1) Adjusted using the GDP deflator at market prices
(2) Figures for 1977–78 onwards are taken from a different publication from those for earlier years and so may be on a slightly different basis
(3) Not available
(4) Not applicable, as the Greater London Authority did not exist in 1999–2000
Sources:
DOE and Welsh Office "Rates and Rateable Values in England and Wales", 1974–75 and 1975–76 editions
CIPFA "Financial, General & Rating Statistics", 1977–78 to 1981–82 editions
CIPFA "Financial and General Statistics" 1982–83 to 1985–86 editions
BR returns for 2000–01 and 2001–02
5 Nov 2001 : Column: 14W
| Council tax per band D property (£) | Cash increase (percentage) | Real terms(5) (percentage) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 122.98 | (6)— | (6)— |
| 2001–02 | 150.88 | 22.7 | 19.7 |
(5) Adjusted using the GDP deflator at market prices
(6) Figures for 1977–78 onwards are taken from a different publication from those for earlier years and so may be on a slightly different basis
Sources:
DOE and Welsh Office "Rates and Rateable Values in England and Wales", 1974–75 and 1975–76 editions
CIPFA "Financial, General & Rating Statistics", 1977–78 to 1981–82 editions
CIPFA "Financial and General Statistics", 1982–83 to 1985–86 editions
BR returns for 2000–01 and 2001–02
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