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Transport Grant
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what level of transport grant he had set for the Greater London Authority for 2001–02. [45268]
Mr. Spellar: GLA transport grant is determined annually, and may be varied from time to time, after consultation with the Mayor of London under section 101 of the GLA Act 1999. The Secretary of State has today redetermined the level of grant for 2001–02 at £720,053,000. This represents an increase of £5,665,000.
Local Transport Plans
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of individual PTAs' effectiveness in consulting local communities and key stakeholders on development of the objectives and strategies of their LTPs. [44376]
Ms Keeble: Local transport plans (LTPs) for the metropolitan areas in England outside London are produced jointly between the Passenger Transport Authority and the relevant metropolitan district authorities.
Our guidance to authorities on LTPs sets out a range of detailed criteria against which each LTP is assessed. Within the detailed criteria on objective setting and strategy development, we asked authorities for evidence that the public were fully involved in the development of the plans objectives and strategies. We also make clear in
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our guidance on LTP annual progress reports that authorities should report on their proposals for consultation on the detailed implementation of their LTPs.
We are satisfied that the LTPs for all the metropolitan areas have followed the requirements of our guidance and have involved the public in both the development and implementation of their plans.
Golden Jubilee
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what initiatives he will take to influence the public to travel via mass transit into London during Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee weekend; and if he will make a statement; [44601]
- (2) what steps will be taken to increase the operation of (a) buses, (b) trains and (c) other forms of mass transport in the week of Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and if he will make a statement. [44600]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government are currently discussing with public transport providers, including those providing services into London, their plans for Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee weekend. Further information will be announced nearer the time, including any advice to travellers that may be appropriate.
London Underground
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress London Underground Ltd. has made in addressing the safety issues the Health and Safety Executive has raised with LUL concerning their proposed railway safety case for the running of London Underground under the proposed public private partnership. [44603]
Mr. Jamieson: I understand that the Health and Safety Executive has received London Underground Ltd.'s formal response on the issues raised. Under the safety case regime, which is an iterative process, HSE will take the time it needs to determine whether the issues have been satisfactorily closed out.
Rail Tracks
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what information
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the DTLR holds on the fault and repair reporting procedures in place for the various grades of rail track; [44357]
- (2) what information the DTLR holds on the inspection procedures currently followed for the various grades of rail track. [44356]
Mr. Jamieson: These are operational matters for Railtrack plc in Railway Administration, which remains subject to regulation by the Health and Safety Executive in respect of health and safety; and by the Rail Regulator in respect of its network operation, maintenance and renewal practices.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the Government's responsibilities are with regard to ensuring rail track safety; and if he will make a statement. [44604]
Mr. Jamieson: Railtrack plc (in Railway Administration), as the infrastructure dutyholder, has responsibility for ensuring track safety. The Health and Safety Executive's Railway Inspectorate secures compliance with health and safety legislation. Railtrack's network licence, issued by the Office of the Rail Regulator, requires it to use best practice in its maintenance of track safety on the network.
Railway Research
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who is responsible for initiating railway research programmes. [44354]
Mr. Jamieson: The Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority issued in draft by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State in June 2001 would require the authority to "encourage and as appropriate commission research related to its purposes and objectives." We expect to issue the final version of the Directions and Guidance very shortly.
Trans European Network
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the bids, and their value submitted from Britain to the European Union since 1997 for funding as part of the Trans European Network for (a) road and (b) rail projects. [43048]
Mr. Jamieson: Information on UK bids for funding under the trans-European Network grants regime is commercially sensitive. The attached table shows the amount of grant that has been allocated to the UK since 1997, for the improvement of road and rail infrastructure.
(2) Radio data system—traffic message channel.
(3) Trans-European road network.
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National Air Traffic Services
Mr. Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 807W, if he will make a statement on financial support to National Air Traffic Services. [45557]
Mr. Byers: A short-term loan facility for National Air Traffic Services has now been agreed. It is for a maximum of £60 million over the period to 30 September 2002, £30 million of which is to be provided by the Government and the other £30 million by a group of four lending banks. Each party will lend on the same commercial terms. Its purpose is to relieve NATS' cash-flow position until arrangements are put in place to secure the long-term financial stability of the company following the unprecedented events of 11 September 2001.
Air Passenger Flights
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many civil passenger flights have taken place to and from each airport in the United Kingdom in (a) 2001 and (b) each of the preceding four years; and who the (i) owners and (ii) operators of each such airport were. [43863]
Mr. Jamieson: Details of civil passenger flights to and from each airport in the United Kingdom in 2001 and each of the preceding four years is contained in Table A which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Department does not hold information about UK airport owners and operators going back over the previous four years. This could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Table B, which has also been placed in the Libraries of the House, reflects our understanding of the current position, based on data compiled from a wide variety of sources.
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