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English Partnerships
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total annual budget is for English Partnerships' investment activity; and what proportion is allocated in (a) Telford and (b) the west midlands in the current financial year. [26748]
Ms Keeble: In line with all my Department's non-departmental public bodies, English Partnerships is controlled by net expenditure limits in accordance with the principles of resource accounting and budgeting. These are divided into separate limits for the Commission for the New Towns and Urban Regeneration Agency to reflect EP's twin statutory base. In 2001–02, the net Capital Expenditure Limit for the URA is £112.6 million and that for the CNT is -£80.5 million.
However, in cash terms, EP's total budgeted capital expenditure in 2001–02 is £203 million. Of that, £4.3 million (2 per cent.) is allocated to Telford and £16 million (8 per cent.) to the wider west midlands.
London Underground
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many trains run on the busiest sections of each line of the London Underground during (a) the busiest hour and (b) the busiest quarter hour during weekdays. [27662]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 15 January 2002]: This is an operational matter for London Underground who have provided the information:
(a) For the busiest hour, I refer the hon. Member to the figures for 2001 in the answer I gave him on 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 505W. However, on the Central Line, the new timetable introduced on 13 January 2002 will mean an increase in peak frequencies in the morning peak hour to 30 trains per hour westbound and to 24 trains per hour eastbound.
(b) The number of trains currently scheduled to run in the busiest quarter hour in the morning peak for each line is set out in the following table.
| Line | Number of trains per quarter hour |
|---|---|
| Bakerloo (measured at Oxford Circus) | Sevenin each direction |
| Central Line (measured at Liverpool Street) | Eight westbound and six eastbound (from 13 October 2002) |
| District and Circle (measured at South Kensington) | Eight in each direction |
| East London Line (measured at Rotherhithe) | Three in each direction |
| Jubilee (measured at Waterloo) | Five westbound and six eastbound |
| Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle (measured at King's Cross) | Eight in each direction |
| Metropolitan (measured at Finchley Road) | Seven in each direction |
| Northern (measured at Charing Cross) | Five in each direction |
| Northern (measured at Moorgate) | Five in each direction |
| Piccadilly (measured at Hyde Park Corner) | Seven in each direction |
| Victoria (measured at Oxford Circus) | Seven in each direction |
| Waterloo & City (measured at Waterloo) | Five in each direction |
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the latest date is by which he estimates that the modernisation investment programme for London Underground will have begun. [26294]
Mr. Jamieson: London Underground is responsible for managing the competition for the contracts to modernise the tube infrastructure. I understand that, subject to bids representing value for money and to consultation with the Mayor and Transport for London, London Underground expects to be able to sign contracts before the end of the financial year. Provided the safety arrangements are accepted by the Health and Safety Executive, the contracts would take effect, and the modernisation programme commence, as soon as possible thereafter.
16 Jan 2002 : Column 343W
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the future funding plans for the London Underground. [27836]
Mr. Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 11 May 2001, Official Report, column 379W.
Planning Appeals (Listed Buildings)
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he last met the Chief Executive of English Heritage to discuss the planning appeal system involving listed buildings. [25964]
16 Jan 2002 : Column 344W
Ms Keeble: My right hon. Friend has not met the Chief Executive of English Heritage to discuss this issue.
Driving Tests (West Yorkshire)
Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the (a) number of driving tests taken per year conducted at each centre in west Yorkshire over the last 10 years, (b) pass rates for written and practical tests at each of these test centres in the last three years and (c) waiting time for each practical test at each centre in the last three years. [26241]
Mr. Spellar: The number of car and motorcycle practical tests conducted, and the associated pass rates, at test centres in west Yorkshire for each of the last three years are shown in the tables. These data are not available for previous years.
| Conducted | Pass rate (percentage) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | |
| Car | ||||||
| Bradford (Eccleshill) | 3,380 | 3,569 | 3,444 | 43.7 | 44.6 | 45.0 |
| Bradford (Heaton) | 5,736 | 5,302 | 5,591 | 41.8 | 39.7 | 39.4 |
| Halifax | 3,551 | 3,144 | 3,197 | 47.8 | 43.2 | 43.3 |
| Heckmondwike | 5,007 | 5,346 | 5,248 | 32.6 | 31.5 | 31.6 |
| Huddersfield | 5,974 | 5,536 | 5,445 | 35.8 | 31.9 | 34.5 |
| Keighley | 965 | 1,812 | 1,710 | 50.3 | 50.2 | 51.2 |
| Leeds (Horsforth) | 5,568 | 4,785 | 4,608 | 37.9 | 36.1 | 36.5 |
| Leeds (Harehills) | 7,190 | 7,472 | 7,599 | 31.3 | 28.1 | 30.4 |
| Wakefield | 4,756 | 4,519 | 4,142 | 31.4 | 32.4 | 32.5 |
| Motorcycle | ||||||
| Bradford (Eccleshill) | 616 | 526 | 323 | 58.6 | 54.0 | 62.3 |
| Halifax | 816 | 853 | 772 | 67.0 | 64.6 | 57.2 |
| Leeds (Horsforth) | 922 | 939 | 842 | 54.4 | 49.8 | 54.6 |
Note:
Wakefield has recently become a testing centre for motorcyclists, but there is no data series.
The number of car and motorcycle theory tests conducted, and the associated pass rates, at test centres in west Yorkshire for the same period are shown in the tables.
| Conducted | Pass rate (percentage) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | |
| Car | ||||||
| Bradford | 11,778 | 11,389 | 11,585 | 57.08% | 55.12% | 56.66% |
| Huddersfield | 5,766 | 5,947 | 6,736 | 61.78% | 61.89% | 64.39% |
| Leeds | 18,383 | 17,720 | 17,072 | 64.48% | 63.92% | 65.54% |
| Motorcycle | ||||||
| Bradford | 69 | 75 | 137 | 63.73 | 54.50 | 75.29 |
| Huddersfield | 38 | 46 | 131 | 60.19 | 65.97 | 68.34 |
| Leeds | 159 | 174 | 395 | 65.06 | 62.63 | 67.67 |
The average waiting times at the practical driving test centres in west Yorkshire for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are shown in the tables. These data are not available for 1998–99.
| 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | ||
| Bradford (Eccleshill) | 5 | 6.08 |
| Bradford (Heaton) | 8.82 | 5.58 |
| Halifax | 2 | 3.67 |
| Heckmondwike | 7 | 6.33 |
| Huddersfield | 4.36 | 4.25 |
| Keighley | 1.82 | 4 |
| Leeds (Horsforth) | 7 | 6.17 |
| Leeds (Harehills) | 6.91 | 6.75 |
| Wakefield | 5.45 | 4.33 |
| Motorcycles | ||
| Bradford (Eccleshill) | 4.91 | 2.5 |
| Halifax | 2.82 | 2.5 |
| Leeds (Horsforth) | 3.18 | 2.33 |
Note:
Wakefield has recently become a testing centre for motorcyclists, but there is no data series.
16 Jan 2002 : Column 345W
Powering Future Vehicles
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will give details of the Government's consultation on "Powering Future Vehicles", referred to on page 124 of the pre-Budget report. [26430]
Mr. Spellar: The consultation draft "Powering Future Vehicles" strategy was published on the 3 December. Copies of the consultation were placed in the House Library. Responses to the consultation were invited to be submitted by 1 March.
The Government will publish the final strategy taking account of the responses received.
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