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Railway Policy
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the roles are of each member of staff within his Department with (a) total or (b) partial responsibility for policy on the railways, (i) as of June 1997, (ii) as of May 2001 and (iii) as of January 2002. [31524]
Mr. Jamieson: It is neither customary nor practicable to publish individual civil servants' job descriptions.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes (1) have taken place since June 2001 in the (a) role, (b) organisation, (c) structures and (d) staff numbers and roles of the Railway Directorate within his Department; and if he will make a statement; [31526]
- (2) in the (a) role and (b) terms of reference of the Railway Directorate within his Department have taken place since May 1997; what changes are planned; and what consultations on changes (i) have taken place since June 2001 and (ii) are planned. [31527]
1 Feb 2002 : Column 586W
Mr. Jamieson: In October 2001, the Department's Railways Directorate was divided into two units: the Rail Delivery Directorate and the Railways Restructuring Directorate. The division reflected the increase and refocusing of work following the placing of Railtrack plc into administration on 7 October. There was no public consultation on the change.
In June 2001, 57 people worked in the Railways Directorate. Seventy-nine people now work in the two directorates.
Automatic Train Protection Systems
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many trains were fitted with automatic train protection systems in (a) January 2001, (b) July 2001 and (c) January 2002. [31354]
Mr. Jamieson: Although figures are not available for the precise months requested, the Health and Safety Executive advises that the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) has been retro-fitted to existing stock on the following basis: 427 trains by May 2001, 1,117 trains by August 2001, 1,993 trains by November 2001 and 2,259 trains by January 2002. All new trains are being delivered with TPWS fitted. British Rail Automatic Train Protection (BR-ATP) is fitted on all First Great Western, Chiltern Line and Heathrow Express trains.
London Underground
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many meetings he had with London Underground in December 2001. [31369]
Mr. Jamieson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions meets bodies with an interest in London Underground on a regular basis.
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when Transport for London is expected to take over the running of London Underground. [31495]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government's intention is that London Underground Ltd. will be transferred to Transport for London after the competitions to modernise the underground's infrastructure have been completed.
Transport Projects (Uxbridge)
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what transport infrastructure projects have been given formal approval since 1997 which affect the Uxbridge constituency; and if he will estimate the cost of each project. [31371]
Mr. Jamieson: Comprehensive information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the following information may be helpful.
1 Feb 2002 : Column 587W
Bus Projects
Ruislip station: refurbishment of bus stands—£100,000—February 2002.
Mount Vernon hospital: refurbishment of bus stands—£220,000—April 2001.
"Countdown" real-time information displays at bus shelters have also been provided at 30 stops in the borough since 1997.
- Source:
- London Buses
| Maintenance of principal roads | Other: Including safety, local works, traffic signals, 20 mph zones, safer routes to school | Uxbridge town centre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 393 | 623 | 244 |
| 1998–99 | 353 | 631 | 375 |
| 1999–2000 | 294 | 558 | 350 |
| 2000–01 | 342 | 613 | — |
| 2001–02 | 380 | 756 | — |
| Total | 1,762 | 3,181 | 969 |
Road projects within partnerships and London—wide schemes
Hillingdon would also have benefited from works funded either on a London-wide or sub-regional basis.
- Source:
- Transport for London Borough Team.
The information we have available indicates that in addition there was SRB funding of the following schemes.
- Hayes Transport Hub—Hayes Hub East/West routes £2.1 million for projects and infrastructure.
- Key Corridors—£1.5 million.
- Source:
- London Development Agency
Railways (Speed Restrictions)
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many speed restrictions were in place on the rail network in each week since 23 October 2000 in (a) Great Britain and (b) each Railtrack operating zone (i) in total and (ii) caused by gauge corner cracking. [31585]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 12 December 2001, Official Report, columns 869–70W. At the end of December 2001 there were 644 temporary speed restrictions on the network.
Central Heating
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many households were without central heating by region expressed as an (a) percentage and (b) total number, ranked in descending order according to percentage figures in the latest year for which figures are available. [30585]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 30 January 2002]: The information requested is provided in the following table.
1 Feb 2002 : Column 588W
| Region | In all living rooms and bedrooms | In some rooms but not all | No | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 1,701 | 134 | 320 | 2,154 |
| North-west | 2,229 | 163 | 400 | 2,792 |
| South-west | 1,637 | 182 | 259 | 2,078 |
| West midlands | 1,692 | 153 | 260 | 2,106 |
| London | 2,612 | 135 | 288 | 3,035 |
| South-east | 2,874 | 217 | 271 | 3,362 |
| East midlands | 1,531 | 116 | 121 | 1,768 |
| East | 1,940 | 177 | 137 | 2,255 |
| North-east | 1,013 | 54 | 41 | 1,107 |
| England | 17,229 | 1,330 | 2,098 | 20,658 |
| Region | In all living rooms and bedrooms | In some rooms but not all | No | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 79 | 6 | 15 | 100 |
| North-west | 80 | 6 | 14 | 100 |
| South-west | 79 | 9 | 12 | 100 |
| West midlands | 80 | 7 | 12 | 100 |
| London | 86 | 4 | 9 | 100 |
| South-east | 85 | 6 | 8 | 100 |
| East midlands | 87 | 7 | 7 | 100 |
| East | 86 | 8 | 6 | 100 |
| North-east | 91 | 5 | 4 | 100 |
| England | 83 | 6 | 10 | 100 |
Source:
Survey of English Housing, DTLR
Ministerial Transport
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 181W, if he will list the occasions he used the railway service in connection with his official duties prior to 16 November 2001; what station he left from and what the destination was; and when he next expects to use the railway in his official capacity. [32605]
Mr. Byers: My arrangements for official travel are made in line with guidance set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code and the accompanying guidance document travel by Ministers, using the most efficient and cost effective mode of transport, and bearing in mind security considerations. Future travel arrangements will be in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
The occasions I travelled by train on official duties since my appointment as Secretary of State are as follows:
- 16 November 2001: London St. Pancras to Derby
9 November 2001: Leeds to Newcastle
8 November 2001: London Kings Cross to Leeds
6 November 2001: London Euston to Birmingham New Street
Birmingham to London Euston
26 October 2001: London Paddington to Exeter St. Davids
Exeter St. Davids to London Paddington
19 October 2001: London Kings Cross to Cambridge
14 September 2001: London Waterloo to Brussels (returning on 15 September)
1 Feb 2002 : Column 589W
1 August 2001: London Victoria to Mitcham
Mitcham to London Victoria
6 July 2001: London Kings Cross to York
4 July 2001: London Kings Cross to York
Harrogate to London Kings Cross
19 June 2001: London Victoria to Brighton
Brighton to London Victoria.
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