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Rail Delays

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent assessment has been made by his Department of the total cost, in terms of customer and business time, of delays on Britain's railways. [40952]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department has made no such estimate.

Rail Safety

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he collates on the number of speed restrictions in place on the rail network in each Railtrack operating zone (i) in total and (ii) caused by gauge corner cracking. [40949]

Mr. Jamieson: This is an operational matter for Railtrack.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the (a) date, (b) location and (c) level of penalty of safety breach incidents that have resulted in prosecution of (i) train operating companies and (ii) Railtrack in each year since 1995–96. [40947]

Mr. Jamieson: Full details of each year's enforcement action on the railways for breaches of health and safety legislation, including prosecutions, is included in the HM Chief Inspector of Railways' Annual Report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the cost of installing a new train control and safety system throughout the UK railway industry. [41298]

Mr. Spellar: A rail industry group is investigating the options and costs of train control systems and is expected to report to the Health and Safety Commission this spring. The HSC will subsequently advise Ministers.

Motorways

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what measures are in place to ensure that motorway roadworks are phased to prevent simultaneous workings being carried out close to each other on the same motorway; [41141]

(2) when he expects the roadworks being carried out between junctions 24 and 25 of the M1 motorway to be completed; and what penalties will be imposed in the event that the works are not completed on time. [41142]

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

11 Mar 2002 : Column 746W

Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Greg Knight, dated 11 March 2002

I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about phasing of motorway roadworks and about roadworks on the M1 between Junctions 24 and 25.

In line with the Road User's Charter targets, our aim is to see that a minimum of 90 per cent. of works carried out during a year are no more than 2.5 miles long and are at least 6 miles apart.

To achieve this, we have a system of booking road space so that works are co-ordinated. We also liaise with local highway authorities to avoid, as far as possible, works on the motorway conflicting with works on adjacent local roads.

There are, of course, exceptions where we have to carry out emergency works, or where it would be beneficial in terms of cost, safety and the environment.

The roadworks on the M1 between junctions 24 and 25 involve the installation of noise barriers, resurfacing the road with a low noise surface and putting in new drainage, advance work for a new communications network and improvements to structures. The work is being done in two stages, the first of which is due to finish this month. If it is delayed, and the delays are the fault of the contractor, then a penalty of £10,000 a day would be imposed. The second stage is due to start in April and take about two months. That contract will also be subject to similar penalties.

If you would like any further information please contact the Agency's Area Manager, Steve Forgham. His telephone number is 0121 678 8506.

Fire Authorities

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to amend the criteria for the calculation of SSA funding arrangements for the Humberside Fire Authority. [41306]

Dr. Whitehead: The Government, in co-operation with local government, are currently working up proposals for the new grant formula that will be introduced in 2003–04. We have therefore not yet finalised proposals for the revenue grant formula for the fire service.

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce precepting in place of the levying arrangements for combined fire authorities. [41307]

Mr. Raynsford: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Telford (David Wright) on Monday 4 March 2002, Official Report, column 101W.

Accident Reports

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what procedures are used to consult other jurisdictions prior to the release of (a) marine and (b) air accident inquiry reports. [41415]

Mr. Jamieson: Normally the Marine Accidents Investigation Branch (MAIB) does not consult other jurisdictions before releasing a marine accident investigation report, unless (1) the jurisdiction may be adversely affected by the report; (2) the jurisdiction has co-operated with the MAIB in the investigation in accordance with the International Maritime Organization's Code for the Investigation of Marine Casualties and Incidents; or (3) a recommendation has been addressed to that jurisdiction.

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The provisions for consulting other jurisdictions before releasing an air accident investigation report are laid down in Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch complies fully with these provisions.

National Rail Academy

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if a steering group has been established for the National Rail Academy. [41733]

Mr. Jamieson: An SRA taskforce has been formed and it had its initial meeting on 8 February 2002.

Regional Development Agencies

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the total public sector budget for regeneration is allocated via the regional development agencies in the current financial year. [41679]

Ms Keeble: The total DTLR Urban Regeneration allocation for 2001–02 is £1,796 million. Of this, the regional development agencies, including the London Development Agency, have been allocated £1,363 million (76 per cent.).

Green Belt Development

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what proportion of planning applications for green belt development considered in each Government Office in each of the past three years was referred to an inspector; [41739]

(2) how many planning applications for green belt development have been considered in each Government Office in each of the past three years. [41738]

Ms Keeble: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department, and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

School Bus Schemes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent estimates his Department has made on the impact of school bus schemes on road congestion. [41658]

Ms Keeble: We commissioned consultants to carry out an assessment of the potential take-up of additional home to school transport were this to be provided. The study, which reported in October 2001, found that 48 per cent. of parents who currently drive children to school would consider switching. We intend to commission an evaluation of First's pilot Yellow School Bus scheme which will include an assessment of the modal shift from car to bus.

Housing

Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce a gap-funding scheme for housing following the ban on the Partnership Investment Programme; and if he will make a statement. [41384]

11 Mar 2002 : Column 748W

Ms Keeble: Yes. We propose to seek the European Commission's state aid approval for a housing gap funding scheme shortly.

State Aids

Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which organisations have been invited to participate in the conference organised by his Department on state aids on 21 March. [41483]

Ms Keeble: We have invited officials from the European Commission and all member states to participate in the meeting on state aids and regeneration which is being held on 21 March.

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