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Eye Tests

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the DVLA research project into visual field eye tests will be completed; and when the results of the study will be published. [64348]

Mr. Jamieson: Two complementary research studies are in progress.

One study uses subjects with peripheral visual field defects and assesses their performance in a range of tasks that may be relevant to driving impairment. The report on this study is likely to be available in mid 2003.

The other study is similarly examining the effect of visual field loss in the central area of the field. The report of this study is likely to be available towards the end of 2003.

Station Accessibility

Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what additional funds the Strategic Rail Authority plans to make available to (a) train operating companies and (b) Connex South East to upgrade stations to conform with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; [64253]

(2) when the Strategic Rail Authority will have completed its review of train operators' disabled people's protection policy to identify where station facilities need to be improved. [64252]

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Mr. Jamieson: Although it is the responsibility of the station facility operators to ensure that their stations meet the requirement of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, the Strategic Rail Authority has said in its strategic plan that it will make available additional funding to ensure train operating companies are resourced, where necessary, to implement the requirements of the DDA on access to stations. Until the review of the Disabled People's Protection Policy for each train operator has been completed—the SRA expects by the end of this year—the full scope of the work required will not be known and priorities will then have to be applied to implementation.

Manchester-Waterloo Rail Link

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed direct rail link from Manchester to Waterloo. [64350]

Mr. Jamieson: The train operator Wales and Borders currently provides one direct service between Manchester Piccadilly and London Waterloo via Leominster, but there is no requirement under the terms of the franchise for any such service.

Home Working

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to encourage employees to work from home; and if he will make a statement. [64532]

Mr. Jamieson: Working at or from home is one option for working flexibly which is available to staff in my Department. At present over 350 staff currently have remote access to out IT systems to enable them to work from home or on the move.

South London Metro

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals the Government have to develop a south London Metro. [64286]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 25 June 2002]: Implementation of the Strategic Rail Authority's plan will deliver increased frequency of suburban services and substantial investment in stations. Many stations in south London already receive high frequency services but more will be done to improve journeys and make better use of the established network in south London. Improvements will be delivered via franchise replacement, major projects such as the East London Line extension, and specific programmes for station improvements. The SRA is considering fares integration in London as part of its wider review of fares policy. It is also working with stakeholders to develop improved journey information and branding.

Pelican Crossing (Chelmsford)

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to revise the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994; when his Department will give approval for the operation of the pelican crossing in Chelmer Village Way, Chelmsford; and if he will make a statement. [63940]

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Mr. Jamieson: We expect to introduce revised and updated Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions in the autumn. My officials received an application on 6 June to authorise signals for a Toucan (pedestrian and cycle crossing) in Chelmer Village Way and the authorisation was issued on 20 June.

Thames River Crossing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost estimate his Department made of a new Thames river crossing from Cliffe Marshes in Kent to Canvey Island. [63797]

Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.

There are no proposals with detailed cost estimates at this time for a new Thames crossing between Cliffe Marshes and Canvey Island that my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is considering.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to consult local hon. Members, local councils and Essex county council on the possibility of a new Thames river crossing. [63792]

Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.

Consultation with local hon. Members and local councils, including Essex county council, is currently taking place in relation to the Government's London Orbital multi modal study (Orbit). Consultants published a provisional strategy for Orbit on 11 June 2002. This includes recommendations for further work on a lower Thames crossing. Details of the provisional strategy are included in an Orbit newsletter sent out to 3,000 key stakeholders in June. The content of the provisional strategy has not been formally considered by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister or his officials at this time.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings, and on what dates, his Department (a) has had and (b) are planned with the Thames Gateway South Essex on a possible new Thames crossing; and what the agenda for these meetings was. [63796]

Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.

The Department has not had any meetings with the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership about this specific issue. Furthermore no such meetings are planned at this time.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Thames Gateway South Essex on possible new Thames river crossings. [63795]

Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.

No discussions about this specific issue have taken place with the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what options he has discussed for a new Thames river crossing to the east of the existing crossing at Dartford. [63794]

Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply.

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There are no proposals at this time for a new Thames river crossing east of the existing crossing at Dartford that my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is considering.

Electoral Arrangements

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much public expenditure was incurred in organising the 2001 general election in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield; and if he will make a statement. [58967]

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.

The funds made available to acting returning officers to conduct the 2001 general election were as follows:

(a) England and Wales—£27 million;

(b) Greater London—£5 million; and

(c) Enfield—£153,000.

These figures represent advances made; when final accounts are submitted and paid they are expected to rise. In addition in England and Wales, around £18 million was paid for the delivery of candidates' election material and for electoral equipment. No further breakdown of this figure is available in the form requested. The responsibility for funding parliamentary elections in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Broadband

Mr. Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of benefits of access to broadband services for SMEs; and if she will make a statement. [61791]

Mr. Timms: The Government have conducted studies of the benefits of ICT and e-commerce to business and SME's. Other organisations have conducted studies which suggest that broadband has a range of benefits, with the potential to bring about productivity improvement e.g. lower transaction costs when communicating with customers and suppliers.

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what comparative research she has commissioned on the delivery of broadband in (a) other European countries and (b) the US. [63665]

Mr. Timms: UK Online: the broadband future published in February 2001 sets out our research activities. The UK also has bilateral contacts with countries in the EU and around the world, and has a memorandum of understanding on co-operation with the US Federal Trade Commission. This allows us to benchmark progress more qualitatively.

We are also keeping in close touch with analysis of developments in broadband markets being carried out by the OECD.

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with business leaders regarding broadband; and what was the result of those discussions. [63667]

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Mr. Timms: I have recently met with a number of business leaders, including representatives of several mobile telecommunications firms, BT, Cable companies and Tesco.com. I hope to meet shortly with several other major players, both from within and outside the telecoms sector. I have also met Keith Todd, the chairman of the Broadband Stakeholder Group, to hear the views and comments of the 250 members of the Stakeholder Group.

The Government have worked closely with business and other stakeholders to develop and take forward the UK broadband strategy and will continue to do so. Latest developments in this strategy can be found at www.e-envoy.gov.uk, and my speeches and press notices on broadband can be found at www.dti.gov.uk

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the target set in February 2001 to make the UK the most competitive and extensive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. [63666]

Mr. Timms: The UK Online annual report of December 2001 stated that the UK had the fifth most extensive market and the fourth most competitive market in the G7.

Since then the market has continued to develop, with prices falling, coverage increasing and take-up accelerating. Around 66 per cent. of the population are now able to access one or more of ADSL, cable or wireless technologies, with nearly 40 per cent. having a choice.

BT has now enabled 1,115 exchanges to deliver broadband services, and has given customers the ability to register their interest with a promise to make broadband available when the level reaches a specified figure. This allow more than 40 resellers of BT's wholesale ADSL to offer broadband to customers.

The Government have set out a comprehensive programme of action, including a £30 million fund to help the regional development agencies develop innovative schemes to extend broadband networks, as well as measures to tackle competition, supply, demand and content.

We will shortly be announcing the next steps for public sector procurement, with a view to maximising the buying power of the public sector and ensuring that broadband is bought in a cost-effective, joined-up manner.

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