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Speed Restrictions Railway

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many speed restrictions were in force on the railways during (a) August and (b) September. [22871]

Mr. Spellar: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 12 December 2001, Official Report, columns 869–70W.

Airline Industry

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on the Commission authorising EU Governments (a) to pay compensation for the four-day shutdown of US airspace in the absence of insurance cover and (b) to pay for additional security to meet public policy objectives; and if he will make a statement. [22780]

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Mr. Jamieson: We have received various representations from the air transport industry on these issues. Having had regard to these views, we have accepted that the circumstances are exceptional and therefore merit exceptional assistance. We announced on 13 December that we had decided to provide up to £40 million of financial assistance to compensate airlines for losses arising directly from the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States. Qualifying airlines have been invited to submit claims under this scheme and a copy of the scheme conditions has been placed in the Library. Assistance under this package is in conformity with Commission guidelines on state aid, and we have notified the Commission of our intention accordingly.

In addition, the Government continue to underwrite, on a temporary basis, third party war risk insurance for UK airlines and service providers to the airline industry. The initiative has been extended until 23 January 2002.

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what representations his Department has received from (a) airline companies, (b) providers to the airline industry, (c) hon. and right hon. Members and (d) others requesting financial support other than the underwriting of third party war insurance to be given to airline companies; [22965]

(2) what financial support the Government plan for UK airline companies following the events of 11 September; [23083]

(3) what discussions he has had with airline companies regarding Government financial support since 11 September. [23084]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) on 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 1013W.

Rail Passenger Surveys

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department has taken to take account of the results from national passenger surveys in developing policies for the rail network; what conclusions have been reached by his Department on the findings on national passenger surveys; if he will place copies of documentation related to the national passenger survey published by (a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) his Department in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [23144]

Mr. Jamieson: The national passenger survey has shown that the key issue for passengers is performance. The Strategic Rail Authority plans to include targets for passenger satisfaction in new franchises. The results of the NPS are published in the Authority's "On Track" publication, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

Rail Freight

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has (a) carried out, (b) commissioned and (c) consulted upon into the future rail freight demand (i) for Great Britain as a whole,

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(ii) between different train operating companies, (iii) in relation to temporal variations and (iv) according to geographical variations; if he will place copies of published research reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [23149]

Mr. Jamieson: My Department commissioned research into future demand to move deep-sea containers by rail to inform consideration of Freightliner's recent application for track access grant. There is no published research report.

My Department has commissioned a review of freight modelling techniques across all modes. This will inform the future development of the Department's national transport model for Great Britain as a whole. There is no published research report.

My Department had regard to advice from the Strategic Rail Authority into future rail freight demand to inform the development of the 10-Year Plan and the last Spending Review. Details of the model and its results are reported in 'The Background Analysis' paper of 'Transport 2010: The 10-Year Plan', copies of which were placed in the Library in July 2000.

Rail Passenger Projections

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has (a) carried out, (b) commissioned and (c) consulted upon into future rail passenger demand (i) for Great Britain as a whole, (ii) between different train operating companies, (iii) in relation to temporal variations and (iv) according to geographical variations; if he will place copies of published research reports in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [23143]

Mr. Jamieson: My Department developed a model of future rail passenger demand for Great Britain to inform the development of the 10-Year Plan and the last Spending Review. Details of the model and its results are reported in 'The Background Analysis' paper of 'Transport 2010: The 10-Year Plan', copies of which were placed in the Library in July 2000.

My Department commissioned research into future rail passenger demand on Eurostar. These forecasts were used to inform commercial negotiations undertaken earlier this year with Railtrack Group plc and London and Continental Railways concerning section 2 of the channel tunnel rail link. There is no published research report.

My Department has commissioned research to develop a model of rail passenger demand. This will be a component of the Department's national transport model to be used to inform decisions taken in the current spending review. The model will consider Great Britain as a whole, temporal variations in so far as they affect crowding in the peak period, and broad geographical corridors. There is no published research report.

My Department receives advice from the Strategic Rail Authority in relation to passenger rail franchises. When awarding new franchises the SRA makes assessments of bidders' passenger forecasts.

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Transport Ticketing and Information

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to improve (i) through ticketing between different modes of transport and (ii) a public timetable information service for all modes of transport; and if he will make a statement. [23145]

Mr. Jamieson: The information is as follows:

(a) (i) Bus and train operators already offer a number of number of multi-modal ticketing products on a commercial basis, under the auspices of Journey Solutions, an initiative of the UK transport industry to promote and improve integration between transport modes. We support this initiative.

(a) (ii) Traveline, a telephone-based national public transport information system, is available throughout Great Britain and provides route and timetable information for all modes from a single national rate telephone number (0870 608 2 608). Traveline is run by local authorities and transport operators. The start-up costs were paid by central Government.

(b) (i) We are developing Transport Direct, a fully integrated internet travel service. By 2003, we expect that Transport Direct will offer internet booking of long- distance journeys involving different forms of transport. In the longer term it will be possible to book and pay for travel at the time the inquiry is made, and obtain the travel authority/ticket(s).

The Department is also working with local authorities and transport operators to increase the use of Smartcards, which will make the retailing of multi-modal ticketing products much easier.

(b) (ii) Transport Direct will also provide a full multi-modal travel information service via the internet to allow people to plan their journeys and to compare routes and prices.

Transport Infrastructure (London)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the expected investment in London's transport infrastructure is projected to come from (a) central Government, (b) the Mayor and (c) the private sector between 2001 and 2010. [22904]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government's 10-Year Plan for Transport assumes that London's transport infrastructure will benefit from £17.8 billion of capital investment over the period 2001–02 to 2010–11. Of this around 40 per cent. will be funded by central Government and 60 per cent. will be funded by the private sector. The plan does not assume that the Mayor will use income from council tax to increase transport investment in London, although it is open to him to do so.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much central Government funding will be allocated to transport improvements in London as part of the 10-Year Plan. [22894]

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Mr. Jamieson: £15.2 billion of central Government funding is allocated for transport improvements in London as part of the 10-Year Plan for Transport.

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