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Passenger Vehicle Safety
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the maximum permitted number of passengers is that can be carried on a scheduled (a) 48 seater and (b) 53 seater bus if all the passengers are aged under 14 years. [17871]
Mr. Jamieson: Provided that the scheduled bus is not equipped with seat belts and has seats fitted in pairs, under the three for two rule, it would be possible to carry (a) in a 48 seat bus, 72 seated passengers under the age of fourteen plus any standees that are permitted and (b) in a 53 seater bus, 79 seated passengers under the age of fourteen plus any permissible standees. However, in practice it is likely that the vehicles will be fitted with more than one single seat so the totals in that case would be less.
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the investigations by the Vehicles Inspectorate into breaches of regulations concerning (a) scheduled and (b) private bus and coach operators in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001. [17877]
Mr. Jamieson: The Vehicle Inspectorate's data identify the operators of public service vehicles (PSVs), but the records do not differentiate between the operators of scheduled, private bus and coach services. In 1999–2000 investigations carried out by the Vehicle
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Inspectorate into breaches of the traffic regulations by operators and drivers led to 623 cases being taken to court covering a total of 1,633 offences. In 2000–01 the number of cases was 578, which covered 1,753 offences.
Rural Bus Services
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to amend the Competition Act 1998 to facilitate arrangements between bus companies, with particular reference to rural areas. [18176]
Ms Keeble: Naturally, we wish to encourage joint ticketing schemes between operators, aimed at making life easier for bus users in rural areas and elsewhere. This is an important component in delivering the Government's integrated transport policy and achieving our target of increasing bus patronage by 10 per cent. over the period of the 10 year plan.
Any proposal to amend existing competition legislation would be a matter for my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The Director General of Fair Trading has made a block exemption Order exempting, among other things, multi-operator ticketing schemes. I understand that the Director General of Fair Trading intends to consult shortly on a revised guideline on the terms of the block exemption.
Cranford Agreement
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to review the Cranford Agreement. [17794]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 23 November 2001]: We recognise there is a case for reviewing the Cranford Agreement. We will do this next year in conjunction with the review of daytime westerly preference announced in the Terminal Five decision letter.
Gatwick Station
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans exist for a special purpose vehicle to be created to undertake works in connection with Gatwick Station; and if he will place the plans in the Library. [17787]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 23 November 2001]: It is intended that a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be formed to carry out works under the new South Central franchise, including track works at Gatwick station. Discussions on the appropriate structure for the SPV are being taken forward by the Strategic Rail Authority and GoVia.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans exist for a special purpose vehicle to be created to undertake works in connection with the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; and if he will place the plans in the Library. [17786]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 23 November 2001]: Construction and financing of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is being undertaken by London and Continental Railways who won a competition to do so in 1996. Those
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arrangements were restructured in 1998 and arrangements for the construction and finance of Section 2 were concluded in the summer of this year. Construction of Sections 1 and 2 is currently proceeding on time and on budget.
Deprivation (South-West)
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will
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publish in rank order the 100 most deprived wards in the Government Office South West region indicating their (a) local authority and (b) parliamentary constituency. [17865]
Ms Keeble: The information, based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) from the Indices of Deprivation 2000, is shown in the table.
Source:
This information is based on the ward level Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) from the Indices of Deprivation 2000 which is the Government's current measure of multiple deprivation. The IMD brings together information from six supporting domains of deprivation: Income, Employment, Health Deprivation and Disability, Education Skills and Training, Housing and Geographical Access to Services.
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