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Warm Front Grants
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received regarding the level of Warm Front grants in England; and what plans she has to change the level of the grant. [12438]
Mr. Meacher: [holding answer 6 November 2001]: The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, marketed as the Warm Front Team, is managed under contract by the Eaga Partnership Ltd. and TXU Warm Front Ltd. Both companies provide regular advice to the Department about the average cost of work under the scheme. This is then used to review the appropriate maximum level set for grant paid to individual householders.
Sovereign Harbour (Eastbourne)
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations the Environment Agency has made with respect to the building of homes at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne. [12891]
Ms Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
The Environment Agency has responded to consultations by Eastbourne borough council about planning applications for proposed residential development in the area between the sea defence and the inner harbour. The Agency's responses to such consultations can be viewed at Eastbourne borough council's offices.
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
London Underground (SPADs)
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many signal passed at danger events there were on the London Underground lines in the past five years for which figures are available. [7448]
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Mr. Jamieson: London Underground take SPADs very seriously and are constantly working to reduce the number on their network. Information on the number of SPADs is regularly placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The most recent information, which includes data for SPADs since 1993, was placed in the Library on 7 November.
Departmental Promotions
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how
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much his Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in the financial years (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99 (e) 1999–2000 and (f) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement. [12259]
Dr. Whitehead: The Department's financial year starts 1 April and runs to 31 March. For each financial year from 1995 the advertising spend, broken down by category, is set out in the table.
| Advertising | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Television | Radio | Press | Other(5) | Total | |
| 1995–96(6) | — | — | — | — | 9,300,000 |
| 1996–97 | 3,836,887 | 461,937 | 1,741,197 | 1,178,979 | 7,219,000 |
| 1997–98 | 3,154,027 | 926,232 | 1,559,001 | 860,740 | 6,500,000 |
| 1998–99 | 3,449,938 | 1,048,951 | 861,097 | 640,014 | 6,000,000 |
| 1999–2000 | 7,457,172 | 661,303 | 1,059,974 | 2,821,551 | 12,000,000 |
| 2000–01 | 13,475,335 | 1,932,364 | 971,796 | 1,314,395 | 17,693,890 |
(5) e.g. posters, leaflets
(6) A breakdown into separate categories would only be possible at disproportionate cost
The increased expenditure on advertising in 1999–2000 resulted from:
- (i) An increase of £3.6 million on the "Are you doing your bit" campaign to help people to take action to protect the environment; and
- (ii) £2.9 million spent on a campaign to encourage voting in the Greater London Authority elections.
The increase in expenditure in 2000–01 resulted from:
- (i) An additional increase of £2 million on the "Are you doing your bit" campaign; and
- (ii) A £4 million increase on the campaign aimed at further reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
- (iii) Advertising aimed at providing information to the general public on access to the countryside during the foot and mouth disease outbreak.
Train Operating Companies
Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to ensure (a) Arriva in West Yorkshire and (b) other train operating companies recruit and retain sufficient drivers to fulfil their timetable commitments. [12533]
Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) expects all train operators to recruit sufficient staff, including drivers, to run a reliable train service and meet their timetable commitments.
The SRA has in place performance regimes under which train operators are penalised if they fail to meet certain standards. The SRA can also issue enforcement orders and penalties against operators for continuing poor performance, as it proposes with Arriva Trains Northern.
Kane v. New Forest DC
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the implications of the judgment in the case of Kane v. New Forest DC. [12968]
Ms Keeble: The case was an appeal against the summary dismissal of a claim for damages for personal injuries caused by negligence. The appeal succeeded, so that the substantive claim can now proceed. Pending its conclusion, the matter is sub judice and I cannot comment.
Light Rail Schemes
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the investment outlined in the Government's 10-Year Plan is allocated to Light Rail schemes. [12750]
Mr. Jamieson: Light Rail schemes account for about 1.7 per cent. of total spending in our 10-Year Plan for Transport.
Suburban Train Lines (Waterloo)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on how and when the proposed extension of trains and platforms on suburban lines into Waterloo will be financed. [12749]
Mr. Jamieson: Investment in new trains for the Waterloo suburban lines is being made by Angel Trains under a £1 billion deal, announced on 24 April 2001, between the company, Stagecoach Holdings plc and Siemens. It will be recovered through leasing charges paid by the train operator, South West Trains, which will be in receipt of franchise payments from the Strategic Rail Authority. No agreement has yet been reached with Railtrack or with other private investors on the financing of station improvements, including platform extensions, but the investment is similarly likely to be recovered through access charges paid by the train operator.
Railtrack
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant
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to his answer of 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 395W, on Railtrack, if he will list the actions that will be required to secure investment grade ratings for the debt of the company limited by guarantee. [12986]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 671W.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his reply of 22 October 2001, Official Report, column 94W, on Railtrack, when he met Mr. Alun Evans to discuss release of the document proposing changes to the Parsons Brinckerhoff report; and to what extent the propriety of the conduct of Ms Jo Moore in respect of the release of this document was discussed with Mr. Evans. [12993]
Mr. Byers: This information is exempted from disclosure under Part 2 of Section II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact on the crossrail project of Railtrack being placed into administration. [12695]
Mr. Jamieson: Work on the development of a crossrail project will continue on the same basis as before Railtrack administration. It has always been expected that a special purpose vehicle would be created to take forward any scheme which might be developed as a result of the current project definition work.
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect on the rail services to and from the Beckenham constituency of the decision to place Railtrack into administration. [12670]
Mr. Jamieson: Rail services will not be affected by the process of administration. The Government will ensure that the administrator has the funds to maintain the full operation of the network.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the value of the railway stations within the ownership of Railtrack on 4 October was. [13214]
Mr. Spellar: The balance sheet valuation of all of Railtrack Group plc's tangible assets as at 31 March 2001 is shown in their 2000–01 annual report and accounts. Separate accounts for Railtrack plc are held at Companies House.
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