---

Railtrack

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2001, Official Report, columns 783–84W, on the company limited by guarantee as a model for Railtrack, if he will list (a) the failures of the existing regime from which lessons have been learned and (b) the tried and tested cases of companies limited by guarantee to which he refers. [31596]

Mr. Spellar: Railtrack failed in a number of key areas. These include lack of knowledge of the company's assets, failure to manage projects and contracted-out work effectively, an inadequate skills base and a lack of customer focus.

A company limited by guarantee is a suitable vehicle for a wide range of activities. For example, many national charities are set up as companies limited by guarantee. Companies limited by guarantee are also frequently used for the not-for-profit promotion of education, sport or commerce. Examples of companies limited by guarantee in commerce include the British Phonographic Industry Ltd., City Disputes Panel Ltd., the National Readership Surveys Ltd., British Venture Capital Association, BioIndustry Association, Lloyd's Register of Shipping Trust Corporation Ltd. and Glas Cymru Cyfyngedig.

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the dedicated unit within Railtrack which is aimed at identifying and more speedily addressing problems and faults with the railway infrastructure was set up; how many people are employed within the unit; and what its remit is. [33044]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Railtrack advise that there is currently no dedicated unit as described. However, the company has identified as a priority the need to improve the management and operation of the railway infrastructure and this is currently being taken forward.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of (a) public money and (b) the private finance set out in the 10-year plan for the railways is for Railtrack in administration and its successor company. [33995]

Mr. Spellar: Railtrack in administration and its successor company will continue to receive income from grant and other sources as set out in the regulator's October 2000 periodic review and in the 2 April agreement between Government and Railtrack.

Gypsy/Traveller Camps

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to publish a revision of the Good Practice Guide on Managing Unauthorised Camping by gypsy and travellers; and if he will make a statement. [32466]

Ms Keeble: Work is in hand to produce a revised version of the Good Practice Guide on Managing Unauthorised Camping.

Rail Safety

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant

8 Feb 2002 : Column 1183W

to his answer of 18 December 2001, Official Report, column 225W, on the rail industry, if he will list (a) each of the health and safety issues contained in railway safety cases and (b) for each train operator the address of the premises at which railway safety cases are available for public inspection. [32693]

Mr. Jamieson: The health and safety issues contained in railway safety cases are included in the schedules of the Railway (Safety Cases) Regulations 2000. They are: risk assessments, health and safety management systems, developing and maintaining staff competence, specifications and procedures, infrastructure, train operation, train integrity assurance and maintenance, station operation, control of contractors, incident investigation, compliance with safety cases, emergency response arrangements, safety case change control, additional criteria for infrastructure controllers.

The address where the safety case is available for inspection can be obtained from train operators. Contact details for passenger train operators are given on the Strategic Rail Authority website at www.sra.gov.uk.

Rail Industry Group

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the members of the Strategic Rail Authority's cross- industry working group; when this group (a) first met and (b) subsequently met; what are the terms of reference of this group; and what outcomes have emerged to date as a result of the work of the group. [32610]

Mr. Jamieson: The Rail Industry Group (RIG) was formed in early 2001 building on the successful collaborative arrangements developed following the Hatfield crash. RIG is chaired by the SRA and its membership includes senior representatives from ATOC, Railtrack, EWS, infrastructure maintenance contractors and the Rail Passengers Council. Observers from the DTLR, Office of the Rail Regulator, Health and Safety Executive and Rail Industry Association attend meetings. The group meets on an ad hoc basis depending on circumstances.

The purpose of the RIG is to bring the SRA and industry leaders together to discuss, agree and then implement changes to Britain's railway. The work of the RIG has been wide ranging, including co-ordinating changes to the possessions regime and setting up groups to address skills shortages.

The new chairman of the SRA, Richard Bowker, has been asked by the Secretary of State to review existing arrangements to determine if changes are needed to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

London Underground

Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received on the proposed public- private partnership for London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [33037]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport to the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) on 29 January 2002, Official Report, columns 176–77W.

8 Feb 2002 : Column 1184W

Ministerial Meetings

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if (a) he and (b) other Ministers have met the Rail Regulator in the last month. [33367]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 December 2001, Official Report, column 789W.

Millennium Dome

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if financial responsibility for the upkeep of the millennium dome will be transferred to Meridian Delta upon completion of the contract. [32804]

Ms Keeble: Yes.

Congestion Charging

Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the Government will consider the likely net revenues of the Mayor of London's proposed congestion charging scheme against the opportunity cost of the scheme when assessing whether the spending plan represents value for money. [33741]

Ms Keeble: It is the Mayor of London's responsibility to consider the costs and benefits of the proposed congestion charging scheme before deciding whether or not to confirm the scheme order.

My right hon. Friend will have regard to the relevant statutory requirements in deciding whether to approve the spending plan.

Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what criteria he will use when assessing whether the Mayor of London's plan for spending congestion charging revenues represents value for money. [33742]

Ms Keeble: My right hon. Friend will consider the final version of the spending plan when he receives it in the light of the statutory requirements. Paragraph 16(1) of Schedule 23 to the Greater London Authority Act 1999 provides that the net proceeds of a charging scheme shall be available for "relevant transport purposes". These purposes are defined by paragraph 1 as any purpose which directly or indirectly facilitates the implementation of any policies or proposals set out in the Mayor's transport strategy. And paragraph 16(5) provides that the net proceeds of charging schemes may only be applied for purposes which provide value for money. My right hon. Friend will wish to satisfy himself that the spending plan is consistent with the Mayor's transport strategy which he has considered at an earlier stage.

Strategic Rail Plan

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations the Strategic Rail Authority has made on the achievability of the 50 per cent. target for passenger growth in the 10-year plan. [32936]

8 Feb 2002 : Column 1185W

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 4 February 2002]: The SRA has made no representations on this issue to the Department.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the public funding for investment in the railways in the 10-year plan is uncommitted. [32944]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 4 February 2002]: Currently around £8.1 billion remains contractually uncommitted out of a total budget of £18.6 billion.

---