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TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Railway Inspectorate
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received regarding changes in the (a) role, (b) organisation and (c) structure of the Railway Inspectorate. [21057]
Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State has not directly received any representations for specific changes in the role, organisation or structure of HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI). These would be matters for the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to consider in the context of the wider deployment of HSE resources. Lord Cullen's Inquiry report made recommendations to the HSC which affect HMRI.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes in the (a) role and (b) terms of reference of the Railway Inspectorate within his Department have taken place since 1997; what changes are planned; and what consultations on such changes have (i) taken place since June and (ii) are planned. [21024]
Mr. Jamieson: The role and remit of the Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) within the Health and Safety Executive has not changed. HMRI continues to fulfil its role in ensuring the proper control by duty holders of risks to the health and safety of employees, passengers and others who might be affected by the operation of Britain's railways. Lord Cullen's Inquiry report made recommendations to the Health and Safety Commission which affect HMRI.
Regulatory Impact Assessment Costs
Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the gross cost was of the regulatory impact assessment for (a) the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2001, (b) the Transportable Pressure Vessels Regulation 2001 and (c) the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks) (Amendment) Regulations 2001. [17691]
Mr. Jamieson: These costs are shown in the published regulatory impact assessments which are in the House Libraries.
Rail Investment
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his Department's budget was for (a) payments to Railtrack and (b) investment in the rail infrastructure in 2001–02; and what the projected outturn is. [18935]
- Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money (a) public and (b) private investment has provided for the railways in each year since privatisation of the railways. [21712]
10 Dec 2001 : Column: 554W
Mr. Jamieson: Information on investment in railways is contained in the latest (September 2001) edition of the Strategic Rail Authority bulletin "National Rail Trends". All investment in the four years 1997–98 to 2000–01 was undertaken by the private sector.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) how much was Railtrack's most recent estimate of the network's infrastructure investment needs in Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006; [18956]
- (2) what is the Government's most recent estimate of the network's infrastructure investment needs in Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006; [18958]
(3) how much money had been allocated to Railtrack for renewals, maintenance and operating expenses for Control Period 2 of 2001 to 2006 prior to administration. [18946]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department's 2001–02 budget for payments to Railtrack by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is £497 million, comprising £335 million for network grant payable under the 2 April agreement between the Government and Railtrack and £162 million for network grant in respect of the (October 2000) final conclusions of the Rail Regulator's periodic review of access charges. Projected outturn is £498.6 million, the £1.6 million variation from budget reflecting an allowance for inflation under the 2 April agreement.
While my Department has no 2001–02 budget for direct investment in rail infrastructure, its budget for SRA payments of network grant to Railtrack and of Support for Passenger Services (SPRS) to train operating companies (TOCs) takes account of the Regulator's review. That review set the level of passenger access charges to be paid to Railtrack by TOCs, most of which receive SPRS. Much of Railtrack's infrastructure investment is remunerated through access charges, which provided some 85 per cent. of Railtrack's income last year.
It is difficult in practice to distinguish between investment in renewals and maintenance and investment in enhancement. The Regulator's review set passenger access charges at a level designed to enable Railtrack to increase both types of investment expenditure. The Ten Year Plan for Transport, published in July 2000, provided for extra expenditure on both types of investment. The SRA's Strategic Plan, to be published shortly, will set out the SRA's plans for delivering the Ten Year Plan targets within the levels of funding provided for in the Ten Year Plan.
Information about the network grant allocated to Railtrack for the management and provision of assets in Control Period 2 (CP2, 2001–06) is contained in the answer I have given today (PQ 18947).
Railtrack
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on how the (a) Government and (b) Railtrack administrator will replace the £445 million due to be raised by Railtrack as part of the Renewco arrangement. [18951]
10 Dec 2001 : Column: 555W
Mr. Jamieson: The cash requirements of Railtrack in administration are being financed by a loan from Government.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what payments were made from (a) the Treasury, (b) his Department, (c) the SRA and (d) the Rail Regulator to Railtrack between 1996 and 5 October 2001; and if he will list the dates on which these payments were made and what they were for. [18948]
Mr. Jamieson: Between 1996 and 5 October 2001, no payments were made to Railtrack by the Treasury or the Rail Regulator. For payments made by my Department, and for payments of network grant made by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 26 October 2001, Official Report, columns 424–25W. Between 1 April and 5 October 2001, the SRA paid some £24 million to Railtrack for feasibility work.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date Railtrack formally requested additional investment funding from the Government above the amounts in the Regulator's most recent review. [18955]
Mr. Jamieson: In the course of discussions over the summer, Railtrack's advisers first identified three options for the company—restructuring, renationalisation and, as they described it, receivership. It was agreed that Railtrack would develop proposals for the additional finance the company required and possible restructuring. Under these proposals, Railtrack requested additional uncapped subsidy from the Government, and a suspension of the regulatory regime administered by the Rail Regulator.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what payments were scheduled to be made to Railtrack from 5 October until 5 April 2006, from (a) the Treasury, (b) his Department, (c) the SRA and (d) the Rail Regulator; and if he will list the dates on which these payments were due to be made and what they were for. [18947]
Mr. Jamieson: Between 5 October 2001 and 5 April 2006, no payments are scheduled to be made to Railtrack by the Treasury or the Rail Regulator. Apart from repayable cash advances made since 7 October 2001 to Railtrack in administration under the Loan Agreement, no payments are scheduled to be made by my Department. For payments of network grant to be made by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) in respect of the (October 2000) final conclusions of the Rail Regulator's periodic review of access charges, I refer to Appendix D of those conclusions.
Under the 2 April 2001 agreement between the Government and Railtrack, the SRA is scheduled to make the following payments of network grant to the company on the following dates:
| Due payment date | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1 April 2002 | 217.5 |
| 1 October 2002 | 217.5 |
| 1 April 2003 | 142.5 |
| 1 October 2003 | 142.5 |
| 1 April 2004 | 117.5 |
| 1 October 2004 | 117.5 |
| 1 April 2005 | 77.5 |
| 1 October 2005 | 77.5 |
(6) In 2000–01 prices.
(7) Payments from 1 April 2003 onwards are to be increased by an adjustment for freight access income. The size of the adjustment to each payment will be one-sixth of the difference between the total amount of freight income allowed for in the second regulatory control period in the Regulator's final conclusion on passenger charges and that to emerge from the Regulator's freight charging review.
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Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what date his Department last discussed Railtrack administration with (a) the Treasury and (b) the No. 10 Policy Unit. [18936]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department has regular contacts with the Treasury and the No. 10 Policy Directorate on a range of issues.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what cash (a) guarantees and (b) sums have been made available to the administrator of Railtrack plc. [19424]
Mr. Spellar: On the question of cash made available to the administrator, I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to him of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 388W. The administrator is obliged to use reasonable endeavours to procure commercial bank facilities to refinance all outstanding advances under the Loan Agreement. The commercial bank facilities will be guaranteed by the Secretary of State.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which senior executive positions in Railtrack are (a) vacant and (b) undergoing change of personnel. [19960]
Mr. Spellar: Railtrack plc is a private company in railway administration. This is a matter for the Administrator.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what liabilities Railtrack plc has incurred for poor performance since 5 October. [19958]
Mr. Spellar: This is a commercial matter between Railtrack and train operating companies.
Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average earnings were of Railtrack directors in (a) salary, (b) bonuses and (c) additional payments in each year between 1996–97 and 2000–01. [19495]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 3 December 2001]: The table provide information on the average remuneration of Railtrack directors based on information available in Railtrack's annual reports and accounts, 1996–97 to 2000–01. The averages are calculated and presented separately for executive and non-executive directors.
(i) Average payments to the chairman and executive directors (termed executive directors for ease of reference) are provided in table 1.
(8) This average divides payments to executive directors by the number of executive directors serving that year. The number of executive directors used to calculate the average has been pro-rated to take account of directors who did not serve a full year
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(ii) In addition to the payments detailed, the compensation paid in each financial year to executive directors who resigned prior to or during the financial year is provided in table 2. Because it is only directors who lose office who receive payments, the table presents total payments and the number of individuals receiving compensation rather than providing an average based on the total number of directors in service in the year.
| Compensation in respect of loss of office (£000) | Number of directors compensated | |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 292 | 1 |
| 1997–98 | 335 | 3 |
| 1998–99 | 309 | 2 |
| 1999–2000 | 153 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | 594 | 2 |
(iii) Average fees paid to non-executive directors are provided in table 3:
| Fee(10) | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 15 |
| 1997–98 | 19 |
| 1998–99 | 21 |
| 1999–2000 | 31 |
| 2000–01 | 32 |
(9) This average divides payments to non-executive directors by the number of non-executive directors serving that year. The number of non-executive directors used to calculate the average has been pro-rated to take account of directors who did not serve a full year.
(10) More detailed figures are not provided in Railtrack's annual reports and accounts.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether Mr. John Robinson asked him for a letter of comfort for Railtrack at the meeting on 25 July. [20420]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the supplementary note of the meeting of 25 July, which was provided to the Transport Sub-Committee of the Select Committee on Transport. Local Government and Regional Affairs and which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if it is his policy that the company limited by guarantee he is proposing for Railtrack will seek to include property management as part of its core business. [21046]
10 Dec 2001 : Column: 558W
Mr. Jamieson: A team is being assembled to take forward to develop the CLG bid. It will put forward proposals to the Administrator in due course.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the expenditure (a) planned and (b) allocated by Railtrack plc on (i) office costs, (ii) expense accounts, (iii) entertainment budgets, (iv) workforce training, (v) staff promotion costs, (vi) information technology costs and (vii) other administration costs, for each month from January 2000 to November 2001. [21035]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department does not hold this information. These are matters for Railtrack.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what amounts have been repaid to date under section 7.2 of the commercial loan agreement with the Railtrack administrator. [21490]
Mr. Jamieson: A total of £20,107,776 has been repaid.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guarantees he has made to the Railtrack administrator under section 9.1 of the commercial loan agreement. [21482]
Mr. Jamieson: No guarantees have been given to date.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made by the Railtrack administrator in refinancing the facilities set out in the commercial loan agreement, as outlined in section 7.1.3. [21489]
Mr. Jamieson: This is a matter for the administrator.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the Railtrack administrator has sought consents under section 8.1.2 of the commercial loan agreement. [21488]
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much of the trust facility outlined in section 2.1 of the commercial loan facility with the Railtrack administrator has been drawn down. [21494]
Mr. Jamieson: A total of £1,208,287,305.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much of the working capital facility referred to in section 2.2 of the commercial loan ageement with the Railtrack administrator has been drawn down. [21493]
10 Dec 2001 : Column: 559W
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the Government have fulfilled its obligations under section 5.6 of the commercial loan agreement with the Railtrack administrator. [21492]
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