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Rail Passengers

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, columns 526–27W, on rail passenger projections, from whom the research was commissioned on (a) future rail passenger demand on Eurostar and (b) to develop a model of rail passenger demand; for what reasons his Department did not require a research report to be published; by what means of communication his Department was informed of the research findings; and if he will provide a summary of the main findings from the research. [32547]

Mr. Jamieson: The research on future rail passenger demand on Eurostar was commissioned from Booz Allen and Hamilton. The Department did not require a research report to be published because of the commercially sensitive nature of the subject. The Department was informed of the research findings by spreadsheet reports and a seven page report. The main findings of the research were that growth in Eurostar passenger and revenues was expected to continue albeit to a lower level than forecast in 1998.

The research to develop a model of rail passenger demand is on going. The findings of the research are expected to be published following the conclusion of the study. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 17 January 2002, Official Report, column: 426W and 21 January 2002 Official Report, columns 569–70W.

12 Feb 2002 : Column 221W

Strategic Rail Authority

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 532W, on the Strategic Rail Authority, on what date the final direction and guidance will be published; what implications the update will have for the Strategic Rail Authority plan published on 14 January; and if he will make a statement. [32407]

Mr. Jamieson: Final directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority will be published in due course.

Rail Freight

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 526W, on rail freight projection, from whom the research was commissioned in both cases; for what reasons his Department did not require a research report to be published; by what means of communication his Department was informed of the research findings; and if he will provide a summary of the main findings from the research. [32546]

Mr. Jamieson: The research into future demand to move deep sea containers by rail was commissioned from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Department did not require a research report to be published because of the commercially sensitive nature of the subject. The Department was informed of the research findings by presentations and a written report.

The research to review freight modelling techniques across all modes was commissioned from ME&P part of the WSP Group. The research is ongoing and the findings are expected to be published following the conclusion of the study.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January, Ref 31538, Official Report, column 328W, how much of the £3.5 billion of funding had not been announced prior to 14 January 2002; how much of the funding is capital investment; and how much of this is unallocated. [33407]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 4 February 2002]: All of the £3.5 billion of public funding for rail freight was included in the rail expenditure figures published in the Ten Year Plan for Transport in July 2000. Around three-quarters of the £3.5 billion is expected to be capital investment. All of it will be allocated in accordance with the mechanisms for applying public funds set out in the Strategic Rail Authority's Freight Strategy, published in May 2001.

Rail Fares

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 532W, on the regulation of rail fares, on what date the results of the study on the regulation of fares will be published; what implications the conclusions will have upon the Strategic Rail Authority plan published on 14 January; and if he will make a statement. [32408]

12 Feb 2002 : Column 222W

Mr. Jamieson: The existing fares policy has been in operation since the first franchises were let in 1996, with around 40 per cent. of fares subject to regulation. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is now reviewing this policy to see how it might be improved. As part of this review it will be seeking the contribution of industry stakeholders, including both train companies and passengers.

The SRA will be issuing a consultation document within the next few months. The outcome of this study will be announced as soon as possible. However, until conclusions have been reached about the results of the review it will not be possible to know what implications they may have for the current and future strategic plans.

Rail Delays

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the total weekly rail delays, in minutes, for each week from 1 June 2001 to 30 January 2002; and if he will make a statement. [31307]

Mr. Spellar [holding answer 31 January 2002]: Delay minutes are an operational matter for Railtrack. The Strategic Rail Authority publishes information on train punctuality and reliability quarterly in "On Track". The issues published on 14 March 2002 will report performance to the end of December 2001. Data on train operating companies' performance is published on a six monthly basis in "National Rail Trends".

A5 Nesscliffe Bypass

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on (a) the progress made and (b) the expected completion date of the A5 Nesscliffe bypass near Shrewsbury. [32587]

Mr. Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 12 February 2002:

The Transport Minister, David Jamieson, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the A5 Nesscliffe Bypass.

We awarded £11.4 million Design and Build Contract for this scheme to Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd on 21 December 2001. Site clearance is due to start this month and, based on the current programme, we expect the bypass to open in Spring 2003.

Around the time the main works start in March, a public exhibition will be held in Nesscliffe, to explain the planned construction programme to local people. Details of the venue will be sent to you nearer the time.

If you require any further information, Paul Tully, the Project Manager for the scheme, would be pleased to help. We can be contacted at the Agency's offices at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL or by telephone on 0121 678 8456.

Aviation Industry (Emergency State Aid)

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with European colleagues regarding Europe- wide aid to airlines; and which European Governments have granted aid to their flag carriers in the last 12 months. [32531]

12 Feb 2002 : Column 223W

Mr. Jamieson: Guidelines issued by the European Commission on emergency state aid for the European aviation industry following the events of 11 September were discussed by Community Transport Ministers at the Transport Councils on 16 October and 7 December 2001.

A one-month bridging loan of euro 125 million to Sabena from the Belgian Government was approved by the European Commission as rescue aid on 17 October 2001. The French Government have recently notified the Commission that they propose to grant some euro 55 million in emergency aid to French airlines affected by 11 September. In Switzerland a complex financial package was put together in the wake of the collapse of Swissair, which included some euro 650 million of direct aid from the Swiss federal and Canton Governments. We do not have details of aid provided by other European countries outside the European Community.

Fixed Penalty Notices

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many fixed penalty notices were issued by (a) Buckinghamshire county council and (b) Aylesbury Vale district council in each of the last five years; what the average fine levied in each year was; and what the total sums raised in each year were. [32175]

Dr. Whitehead: The information requested is not held by my Department.

Departmental Secondments (Energy Industry)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available. [33212]

Dr. Whitehead: There have been no secondments between DTLR and the companies listed in either 1999–2000, 2000–01 or since April 2001.

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