---

Exhaust Emissions

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many roadside tests of car exhaust emissions have taken place in the UK during the last 12 months. [37113]

Mr. Jamieson: Such tests are undertaken by the Vehicle Inspectorate and by certain local authorities piloting a scheme to improve air quality. The Inspectorate conducted 68,549 tests in 2000–01, and expect to complete a similar number in 2001–02. Local authorities have conducted 1,514 tests since April 2001.

Freight Modelling

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the contract for research commissioned by his Department from ME&P on freight modelling was awarded; when the research project began; what research questions are to be answered; when the study is to conclude; what form the final research report will take; and if he will place related documentation in the Library. [37527]

Mr. Jamieson: The review of freight modelling was awarded to ME&P on 2 November 2001. It began at the start of December 2001 and the end date of the contract is 31 May 2002.

Methods used for modelling and forecasting freight both in the UK and abroad will be reviewed and recommendations made on the most appropriate techniques for use by the Department, having regard to the availability of UK data and the opportunities for collecting additional data. The review will include road, rail and other freight modes and will also include the modelling of light goods vehicles.

The review will in particular examine the scope for modelling the effect on freight movements of changes in the location of activities such as manufacturing, retail and warehousing.

The findings of the review will be assembled in a final report and this will be placed in the Library.

Research Documents

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will provide a classification of the different categories of written and printed documentation from research conducted by and commissioned by his Department; and if he will state which of these are (a) available to the public, (b) available to hon. Members, (c) regarded as commercially sensitive and unavailable externally and (d) other. [37094]

Mr. Jamieson: Information about all my Department's research is made widely available through publications, websites and events. Each programme, however, selects the best method of publication which can range from formal publication of full reports to simple availability on demand, depending on subject matter and likely interest.

25 Feb 2002 : Column 816W

The exceptions to this policy are work related to national security or which involves issues of commercial confidentiality.

Full details of my Department's policy on publication of research material are included in the science and innovation strategy on the website. The website also includes details of the research programmes (including for most programmes summaries of research results).

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the titles of all (a) unpublished research reports, (b) other documentation from research and (c) other work (i) conducted and (ii) commissioned by his Department (A) between May 1997 and March 2001 and (B) since 1 April 2001. [37095]

Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today [ref: 37094]. Details of the Department's research are available on the website, except where it relates to matters of national security or commercial confidentiality. Currently a complete record of research is not held centrally. An improved database facility is near completion.

Train Delays

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 524W, on train delays, if he will place in the Library the latest information available on delay and cancellation information, distinguishing between peak and off-peak, as referred to in his reply. [37577]

Mr. Jamieson: The SRA publishes every quarter a bulletin (National Rail Trends) which includes Public Performance Measure (PPM) data by network sector, the overall network and for London and the south-east peak hours. This information is placed in the Library and on the SRA web site.

I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 741W.

On Monday 18 February my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published the DTLR rail performance scorecard which includes PPM information on train operating companies (TOCS) as well as by sector, overall and for London and the south-east peak hours. The information is on the DTLR website and can be accessed through http://www.railways.dtlr.gov.uk. A copy of the press release has been placed in the Library of the House.

The next report (showing punctuality and reliability for the period from October to December 2001) will be published on 18 March, alongside the SRA's quarterly performance figures for the period.

Train Drivers

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 323W, on train drivers, whether the plan, including the part relating to the recruitment and training of 800 new drivers, was agreed with the industry in November 1998; what the timetable is for recruitment and training of the new drivers in this plan; and what progress has been made towards this. [37582]

25 Feb 2002 : Column 817W

Mr. Jamieson: There was no fixed timetable for the new driver training and recruitment announced in 1998. As at 5 January 2002, 2,433 new drivers have been recruited since November 1998 of whom 1,168 are currently being trained.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 25W, on train drivers, if he will list the enforcement action taken by the strategic rail authority against (a) South West Trains in 1997 and (b) on Arriva Trains Northern at the end of 2001; and what timetable for increasing driver numbers was agreed between the Strategic Rail Authority and GNER. [37578]

Mr. Jamieson: In 1997, South West Trains were threatened with enforcement action and a £1 million penalty. However, as performance improved the penalty was not enforced.

In October 2001 the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) consulted on a £2 million penalty and final order against Arriva Trains Northern. The SRA are currently considering and evaluating the responses received from the consultation exercise and will be making a further announcement in due course.

The SRA and GNER have discussed GNER's need for increased driver numbers, but the SRA has not sought to agree any particular timescale for recruitment.

Rail Freight

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2002, ref 32546, on rail freight, if he will place the written report in the Library. [37573]

Mr. Jamieson: No. It is not normal practice to disclose such information under Section 13 of Part 2 of the code of practice on access to Government information.

Regional Assemblies

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what local authorities have written to his Department to (a) support the establishment of regional assemblies based on a Government defined region, (b) support the establishment of regional assemblies not based on Government defined regions, (c) oppose regional assemblies based on Government defined regions and (d) oppose the policy of setting up regional assemblies. [36961]

Dr. Whitehead: Since the general election in 2001 the Department has received four representations from local authorities in support of the establishment of regional government based on the Government office regions, and one in support of the establishment of regional assemblies not based on a Government office region. We have not received any under (c) and (d) above.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people have indicated their support to him for the setting up of a regional assembly for their region, whether Government-defined or not, through (a) letters, (b) meetings, (c) partitions and distributions and (d) other means in the last six months. [36634]

25 Feb 2002 : Column 818W

Dr. Whitehead: The Department has received 29 written representations in favour of directly elected regional government for their region since the general election in 2001, including a petition signed by over 50,000 people in Cornwall, 17 per cent. of whom gave addresses outside of Cornwall. The Secretary of State and Ministerial colleagues have met many individuals and organisations that have expressed support for regional government, but numbers for these are not recorded.

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings he has had with representatives of constitutional conventions and similar bodies seeking to achieve regional assembly status since the general election. [36635]

Dr. Whitehead: The Secretary of State and Ministerial colleagues have met formally with representatives of a number of campaigns and constitutional conventions since the general election. These include the Campaign for the English Regions (whose membership includes the constitutional conventions from the North East, North West, West Midlands and South West and the Campaign for Yorkshire), as well as the Cornish Constitutional Convention.

---