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Transport for London

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the credit rating is of Transport for London; and if he will make a statement. [14496]

Mr. Jamieson: Transport for London's credit rating is a matter for Transport for London.

Departmental Name Change

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total cost has been to public funds of re-branding his Department to accommodate its name change following the last general election. [14450]

Dr. Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 July 2001, Official Report, column 438W.

Westminster City Council

Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has

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been the cost to public funds of the Westminster Auditor's inquiry into Westminster city council's designated sales policy for the period since 30 April 1999; [14329]

(2) what the cost to public funds of the Westminster Auditor's inquiry into Westminster city council's designated sales policy was from 18 July 1989 to 31 October 2001. [14328]

Dr. Whitehead: We are advised by the Audit Commission that the auditor's costs for the investigation, up to and including the publication of his report in 1996, was £3,017,905, which has been met by Westminster city council.

The Commission has a responsibility to indemnify the auditor for the cost of any proceedings resulting from such investigations. Under the indemnity the Commission had met, up to 30 April 1999, costs of £2,997,000 incurred by the auditor, his solicitor and barrister, in relation to the inquiry. The total litigation costs, including those of some of the appellants whose appeals were successful in the Divisional Court, amounted to £3,705,000 in the same period.

The auditor's costs (including those of his solicitor and barrister) incurred since 30 April 1999, indemnified by the Audit Commission, amount to £1.75 million to 31 October 2001, including the costs of the remaining successful appellant (£514,265), which were not paid over until after 30 April 1999, but exclude any costs borne by Westminster city council since 30 April 1999.

Train Toilets

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers the Rail Regulator has to oblige train operating companies to make working toilets available to passengers on trains. [14705]

Mr. Jamieson: This is a matter for the train operating companies.

Rosyth Ferry Terminal

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date his Department first informed the European Commission of plans for the Rosyth ferry terminal; what correspondence took place between his Department and the European Commission; and if he will place copies in the Library. [13935]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The Commission has been aware of plans for the Rosyth ferry terminal for some time, and a meeting was held to discuss the state aids issues on 9 November.

Millennium Dome

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate the Government have made of the value of the Millennium Dome site. [14503]

Ms Keeble: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 21W.

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Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the Government will publish the requirements for potential buyers of the Millennium (a) Dome and (b) site. [14504]

Ms Keeble: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 26 October 2001, Official Report, column 431W.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions by what date the Government expect to have sold the Millennium Dome. [14511]

Ms Keeble: The aim is to secure a sale as quickly as possible, consistent with value for money, securing a worthwhile and sustainable future for the Dome and a deliverable outcome.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans the Government have to allow residential building on the Millennium Dome site; [14510]

(2) what plans the Government have to dismantle the Millennium Dome. [14505]

Ms Keeble: None.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what assessment he has made of the factors which will influence the costs incurred by the Millennium Dome after 31 December; [14507]

(2) what estimate the Government have made of the costs that will be incurred by the Millennium Dome after 31 December. [14506]

Ms Keeble: English Partnerships, as owners of the Dome, are continuously revising their estimates of costs in the light of changing circumstances, and are making every effort to keep costs down. The average monthly maintenance cost has fallen to £240,000, including security, rates and services. These costs, together with the costs of any additional works required in preparation for a future Dome use, will be kept under review, and budgets adjusted accordingly.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to regenerate the Greenwich peninsula; and what role it expects the Millennium Dome to play in this regeneration. [14509]

Ms Keeble: The regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula is a key element in developing this part of east London, and driving the transformation of the Thames Gateway.

The development of the 300 acre peninsula site is creating a template for future mixed use development and is bringing unprecedented regeneration benefits to a part of London which was inactive for many years. In doing so, English Partnerships, the Government's regeneration agency, has transformed one of the largest tracts of derelict land in Europe. The development area, which also contains the new North Greenwich Interchange, includes the United Kingdom's first Millennium Village; Britain's first low energy Sainsbury's food store; Britain's largest B&Q store; Europe's first round multiplex cinema; a fully integrated school and health centre and a 162-bed hotel.

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In addition there are 50 acre of parks, open spaces and new river walks and cycle path, together with a new river pier and a new yacht club.

Like many others, including the London borough of Greenwich, the Government are committed to the Dome staying in Greenwich. It is an important landmark on the London skyline which has hastened the regeneration of Greenwich peninsula and more widely and has added to the quality and variety of world-famous structures that were already so prominent in the area. Delivering a successful future for the Dome will build on this, ensuring continued recognition world-wide and enabling the regeneration momentum that has been established to continue.

Runway Capacity

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he will take to make runway capacity available for increased regional air (a) services and (b) routes. [14321]

Mr. Jamieson: The South East and East of England Regional Air Services study (SERAS) is considering runway capacity issues. The forthcoming consultation documents on air services in the south-east of England and regional air services will present a range of runway capacity options.

Airport slots are allocated in accordance with EC Regulation 95/93. Ministers are currently considering policy options for the protection of slots at London airports for regional access.

Regional Air Travel

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what change there has been in the amount of regional air travel in the last six weeks. [14322]

Mr. Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the market for regional air services after the events of 11 September. [14336]

Mr. Jamieson: Over the last six weeks air services across the UK have been in a state of flux. Routes have been cancelled, put on hold, reduced in terms of frequency, moved between airports and put back on by another airline.

BAA reported that at their airports their worst affected routes were the North Atlantic down 25.9 per cent. in September (38 per cent. in the period after the 11 September). However growth has continued in Scotland, figures for October show Edinburgh up 13 per cent. and Glasgow up 7 per cent., Stansted has also recorded growth of 5 per cent. These increases are largely the result of the continued development of low cost airlines.

The Government are working hard to help return the aviation industry to business as usual as quickly as possible. We are carrying out a fundamental review of aviation security to ensure that air travel is as safe from terrorist attacks as we can make it while, at the same time, balancing security with our freedom to travel.

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