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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 27 June 2002
TRANSPORT
Railways
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on railways in the south-east before the summer recess. [63760]
Mr. Spellar: My right hon. Friend takes an interest in all aspects of the rail system throughout the country, and will make statements to the House on rail matters as and when appropriate.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent (a) support and (b) guidance has been given by his Department to the SRA and the rail industry regarding (i) the re-opening of rail stations and (ii) the development of new lines and stations; and if he will make a statement. [64131]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government's priorities for the Strategic Rail Authority are as set out in the Secretary of State's Directions and Guidance. The Strategic Rail Authority's priorities for implementation are set out in the Strategic Plan.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what changes (a) have taken place and (b) are planned with relation to the penalty regime in the railway industry; and if he will make a statement; [64146]
- (2) what (a) guidance has been given and (b) legislation is in place with regard to the penalty regime of the railways; what plans there are to change them; and if he will make a statement; [64148]
(3) what recent (a) discussions have taken place and (b) assessment there has been of the role of the penalty regime of the railways; and if he will make a statement. [64149]
Mr. Jamieson: During the periodic review of Railtrack's access charges by the Rail Regulator in 2000, a thorough review of the incentive regime was carried out. The payment rates were raised to broadly double their previous levels in order to improve incentives to run trains punctually. Similarly, the SRA are incorporating increases in train operator's incentive rates as new franchises are let.
The SRA is currently considering whether a more wide-ranging review of incentive regimes would be appropriate to reinforce the rail industry's drive to improve performance.
Investment Projects
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the transport investment projects that his Department expects to receive final approval in the next 12 months. [63764]
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Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State will announce his final decisions in due course.
Ministerial Travel
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last travelled by train on Government business. [63766]
Mr. Darling: I last travelled by train yesterday afternoon.
Train Protection Warning Systems (Scotland)
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of rail track in Scotland are fitted with train protection warning systems; and what percentage this represents of the total rail track in Scotland. [63918]
Mr. Jamieson: The fitment programme for the train protection and warning system (TPWS) is based on the number of sites to be fitted not miles of track. Railtrack advises that in Scotland TPWS is to be installed at approximately 1,600 sites by the end of 2003. To date TPWS has been installed at 1,109 sites, of which 955 are now operational and 154 are currently being tested.
London Underground
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) which assets under the PPP of London Underground are defined as grey assets; and if he will make a statement; [63974]
- (2) what recent discussions he has had with (a) London Transport, (b) Transport for London and (c) Ernst and Young, on grey assets under the PPP of the London Underground; and if he will make a statement. [63973]
Mr. Jamieson: Grey assets are defined in the PPP contracts as those assets where a full condition assessment has not been possible, either for access reasons or lack of historical data. They tend to be older heavy civil engineering assets such as retaining walls or brick arch tunnels. The Secretary of State has had no recent discussions on such assets.
Transport 10-year Plan
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department expects to respond to the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Committee on the 10-year transport plan; and if he will make a statement. [64135]
Mr. Jamieson: We will aim to respond to the Committee's report within two months of its publication in line with the normal convention.
Prestwick Air Traffic Control Centre
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer, on Prestwick, of 20 June 2002, Official Report, column 507W, what air traffic levels would make it financially prudent to commence further work at the new Scottish centre; and what current levels are. [64460]
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Mr. Jamieson: The completion of the new Scottish centre depends on both air traffic levels and NATS' capital investment plan. Completion is expected to be during 2008 or 2009. NATS is currently engaged with suppliers in evaluating systems.
Air traffic movements in Scottish air space in the first 12 weeks of the current financial year total 122,627.
Rural White Paper
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution his Department will make towards implementing the Government's commitment in the Rural White Paper to protect the countryside for its own sake; and if he will make a statement. [64527]
Mr. Jamieson: The Department for Transport remains committed to ensuring transport fully contributes to sustaining and improving the English countryside. Since the publication of the Rural White Paper in 2000, we have, for instance:
- begun to introduce low noise surfaces on the existing trunk road network. By 2010, 60 per cent. of the network should have a low noise surface, substantially cutting road traffic noise in rural areas;
ensured that the impacts on the environment and countryside of any new road proposals—whether for the trunk road network or proposed by local highway authorities—are clearly identified and appraised using our New Approach to Appraisal; and
continued to work with local highway authorities and the Countryside Agency in order to develop local traffic management measures, which can help preserve the tranquillity of the countryside.
Annual Leave
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average annual leave entitlement is for staff in his Department in 2002. [64643]
Mr. Jamieson: For staff below the Senior Civil Service in the Department, including the agencies, the average annual leave entitlement in 2002 is 28 days. For staff in the Senior Civil Service in the Department, including the agencies, the annual leave entitlement in 2002 is 30 days.
Operators' Licences
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a question about financial standing has been added to application forms for an operator's licence; and if he will make a statement. [64795]
Mr. Jamieson: Holders of licences to operate heavy goods vehicles or passenger service vehicles are required by law to have available sufficient financial resources to maintain their vehicles in a roadworthy condition and to run a viable business. Licence application forms contain questions about financial resources to enable the licensing authority to decide if the applicant meets the criteria for financial standing. These questions are not a new addition to the forms.
Learner Drivers
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to require the use of dual controls by learner drivers for a specified period of time. [65022]
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Mr. Jamieson: We want to improve novice driver safety—young and newly qualified drivers have a poor safety record compared to older, more experienced drivers. However, we have no evidence to suggest that the learning process is dangerous and no plans to require the compulsory use of dual controls in vehicles driven by learners. We consider that learner drivers should gain more experience before they take the driving test and earlier this year we issued a consultation paper on ways to achieve this. This included an option to introduce a mandatory requirement for a minimum amount of professional tuition.
Research indicates that a mix of professional tuition and plenty of practice with friends or relatives is the best way to learn to drive and our initial view was that the introduction of compulsory professional tuition is not justified. Nevertheless we will be considering carefully all the views we receive on this issue before taking a final decision.
Coastguard Helicopter (Portland)
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has held with the MCA relating to the removal of the coastguard helicopter from Portland. [64384]
Mr. Jamieson: I met with my hon. Friend the member for Dorset South and the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on 13 June 2002 to discuss the helicopter base at Portland.
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