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Performance Targets
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets and performance indicators are included in his public service agreements with the Department of Education and Skills; which are in respect of the performances of named local education authorities; and what steps he takes to (a) monitor the achievement of those targets and (b) audit the quality of information obtained to the Department from less local education authorities as to their performance against those targets. [62214]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: I have been asked to reply.
The Department does not include indicators in its public service agreement targets specific to named local education authorities. However, all LEAs and schools are required to set annual targets for the performance of their pupils in the Key Stage 2 and 3 national curriculum tests and GCSE examinations.
LEAs are required to set out targets in their Education Development Plans (EDPs). The Department and Ofsted work together to assess the quality of EDPs and DfES education advisers provide guidance to assist LEAs in preparing and developing plans, which are submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. DfES both supports and challenges LEAs through monitoring and evaluating the implementation of EDPs. LEAs are visited by education advisers at least once a term; in addition EDPs are reviewed annually, and all LEAs are required to submit annually an update on targets for the coming school year for each school and the LEA as a whole, covering the targets listed in the EDP, and an evaluation report showing outcomes against targets at school and LEA level.
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TRANSPORT
National Air Traffic Services
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on how many occasions the National Air Traffic Control Service's computer has malfunctioned; [63123]
- (2) what recent delays have been caused by the failures of the National Air-Traffic Control Service's central computer; [63125]
(3) what steps are being taken to improve performance of the National Air Traffic Control Service's central computer; [63122]
(4) what has been the average duration of blackout during failures of the National Air Traffic Control Service's central computer. [63124]
Mr. Spellar: While these are essentially operating matters for NATS my understanding is as follows.
NATS computer systems have failed on three occasions in recent months—at West Drayton on 27 March with aggregate total delays to all affected aircraft of 88,000 minutes; West Drayton again on 10 April with delays of 34,000 minutes; and at Swanwick on 17 May with delays of 82,000 minutes. NATS first action is to take immediate steps to reduce traffic volumes to levels that can be safely handled by the contingency arrangements in place. While this impacts on airline punctuality, the first priority must be to ensure safe operation.
There was no interruption to radar services, and at no time did controllers lose contact with pilots. Actions in regard to software and equipment have been taken to prevent any recurrence of these problems.
Aircraft Seating
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made on implementing the recommendations of the anthropometric study to update minimum aircraft seating standards commissioned by the Joint Aviation Authority. [63756]
Mr. Spellar: The Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) are still considering the recommendations contained in the anthropometric report. The UK Civil Aviation Authority has urged the JAA to reach an early decision on a common European standard for seat spacing.
Mr. Martyn Rogers
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Maritime Coastal Agency has to award Mr. Martyn Rogers of Brixham, Devon, an ex-gratia payment following the Parliamentary Ombudsman's report of December 2001. [63902]
Mr. Jamieson: The detailed claim submitted by Mr. Rogers' accountants on 13 February 2002 is being carefully considered by the Treasury Solicitor's Department on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The Treasury solicitor is waiting for a response from Mr. Rogers' accountants to their request of 26 April for clarification of a number of elements of the claim.
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Multi-modal Studies
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which multi-modal studies (a) have reported, (b) are in progress and (c) are planned; and what the
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expected completion date or final report date is in each case. [63833]
Mr. Spellar: (a) The multi-modal studies that have reported and a final report published are as follows:
| Multi-modal study and location | Reported |
|---|---|
| Access to Hastings | Reported December 2000 |
| Cambridge to Huntingdon (A14) | Reported August 2001 |
| South East Manchester (Stockport, Manchester Airport Link West, Poynton) | Reported September 2001 |
| West Midlands Area (M5/M6 and M42 between M40 and M6) | Reported October 2001 |
| West Midlands to North West (M6) | Reported May 2002 |
| London to South West and South Wales (A303, M4) | Reported May 2002 |
| A1 (North of Newcastle) Tranche 2 | Reported May 2002 |
| North/South Movements in the East Midlands (M1 Junctions 21 to 30) | Reported May 2002 |
(b) The multi-modal studies that are currently in progress and their expected reporting dates are as follows:
| Multi-modal study | Expected report date |
|---|---|
| A453 (M1 Junction 24 to Nottingham) | June 2002 |
| Hull (East/West) Corridor (A63 and A1033 to Port of Hull) | July 2002 |
| Tyneside Area (A1/A19) | August 2002 |
| London to Ipswich (A12) | August 2002 |
| South and West Yorkshire Motorway Box (M1 J30 to A1 West Yorkshire/M18/M62 and A1(M) | August 2002 |
| South Coast (Southampton to Folkestone Coastal Corridor)—(M27, A27 and A259) | August 2002 |
| ORBIT—Transport Solutions Around London (M25) | October 2002 |
| Thames Valley (London to Reading—M4) | November/December 2002 |
| M60 Junction 12–18 (West to North Manchester) | December 2002 |
| London to South Midlands (A1, M1, M11, A5 and A421) | December 2002 |
| Norwich to Peterborough (A47) | February 2003 |
| West Midlands to East Midlands (A42/M42 to M6 Corridor and M69 and A38) | April 2003 |
(c) The final two multi-modal studies that are planned but have yet to commence are as follows.
These studies are expected to report in 2004.
- Multi-modal study and location
- A52 (Clifton Bridge to Bingham, Nottinghamshire).
- A34 (North from Southampton).
Railtrack
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2002, Official Report, column 1137W, if he will list the major stations owned by Railtrack plc. [64369]
Mr. Jamieson: I understand that Railtrack plc owns some 2,500 stations across the national network, the great majority of which are leased to train operating companies for them to manage. However, Railtrack plc manages directly 14 of the largest stations, known collectively as "major stations". These are as follows:
- London Bridge
London Charing Cross
London Euston
London King's Cross
London Liverpool Street
London Paddington
London Victoria
London Waterloo
Birmingham New Street
Gatwick Airport
Leeds City
Manchester Piccadilly
Edinburgh Waverley
Glasgow Central.
Mr. Spellar: As the exact extent of the period of administration is, at this stage, unknown it is not possible to estimate the total cost of administration.
However the fees of the Administrator and his advisers are currently averaging £3.25 million per month.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the direct grants paid to Railtrack were, and when they were paid by the SRA, resulting from the increase in access charges granted to Railtrack as part of the last periodic review carried out by the ORR; and if he will make a statement. [62297]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 17 June 2002]: Direct grants from the SRA to Railtrack are a substitute income stream to track access charges from passenger train operators. In the absence of grant, access charges would need to be higher.
Appendix D of the Regulator's October 2000 Periodic Review sets out the profile of grant payments to Railtrack. Further grants agreed as part of the April 2001 agreement between Government and Railtrack are profiled in the appendices to the Regulator's letter to Railtrack of 9 April 2001.
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Grant payments have so far been made of £337 million on 1 October 2001, £162 million on 16 November 2001 and £493 million on 1 April 2002.
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