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Illegal Fuel
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government are taking to tackle fuel fraud; and how much has been allocated to this task in the last three years. [62944]
John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
Following consultation in the November 2001 pre-Budget report, the Chancellor announced in the Budget a comprehensive strategy to tackle the rising problem of oils fraud including the release of additional resources in 2002–03 to enable the effective enforcement of these new controls, involving the deployment of more staff and investment in new technology. Details of this are contained in the Budget 2002 Press Notice, HMG 2, published on 17 April.
Customs' estimate of officers wholly dedicated to the oils sector over the last three complete financial years is:
| Dedicated oils officers | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 172 |
| 2000–01 | 253 |
| 2001–02 | 285 |
These officers assure and assist compliant traders and also tackle those who seek to evade revenue through fraudulent activities.
In addition, multi-functional Customs officers undertake a range of activities in their areas of responsibility including work in the oils sector. It is not possible to separate the time spent by these officers on oils work alone.
Motoring Costs
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has carried out as to the cost of running a private motor car within the Greater London area. [65053]
Mr. Jamieson: The average expenditure on motoring per car per week for people living in Greater London, averaged over the period 1998–99 to 2000–01, was £54.30.
Bus Priority Schemes
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what bus priority schemes have been introduced since 1997, giving (a) the date of introduction of the scheme and (b) the body introducing and responsible for the scheme, distinguishing between (i) guided bus systems, (ii) infrastructure improvements and (iii) other schemes. [64967]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 27 June 2002]: Since 1997 we have approved or provisionally approved the following bus-based major local transport schemes in England outside London. The table lists the schemes, their type, the local authority and the year of approval.
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Allocation of road space is a matter for the local highway authority. In addition to the major schemes, local authorities outside London indicate that they proposed to implement over 100 smaller scale bus priority schemes in both the last and present financial years.
In London, since 3 July 2000 the implementation of bus priority measures has been the responsibility of the London local authorities and Transport for London (which reports to the Mayor). They are taking forward the London Bus Initiative, which is a strategic initiative to improve the service on London's key bus routes and includes priority measures. This £60 million initiative is being funded by the Government, including £50 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund.
Before 3 July 2000, bus priority measures in London were taken forward by the London local authorities through the London Bus Priority Network initiative.
Details about schemes in London and specific smaller schemes outside, including their timetable for introduction and detailed cost break-down, are not kept centrally.
Network Rail
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is selecting the initial non-executive board members of Network Rail; and who has selected the member organisations of Network Rail. [66053]
Mr. Jamieson: The appointments of directors and members are for Network Rail to determine.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the bridging loan to Network Rail is shown on the balance sheet of the Strategic Rail
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Authority; what assets the Strategic Rail Authority has to back the loan; what consultations took place with the European Commission about whether this loan should be included in Government accounts; and to whom the loss is charged if there is default on the loan. [65486]
Mr. Jamieson: The Comptroller and Auditor General, in his capacity as statutory auditor of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), has concluded that Network Rail should be accounted for as a subsidiary of the SRA. At the same time, the Office for National Statistics has confirmed that Network Rail—once its board has been confirmed by its members—would not be classified as a public sector organisation. The ONS classification is based upon the European System of Accounts 1995.
The contingent credit facility has been notified as a potential state aid to the European Commission, and it set out in the statutory contingent liability minute laid before Parliament on 27 June. As a contingent liability, the credit facility would only score as public expenditure in the extremely unlikely event of it being drawn.
The assets of the SRA were outlined in its 2000–01 annual report and will be updated in its 2001–02 annual report to be published shortly.
Road Accidents
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths and serious injuries there were in road accidents in 2001; and if he will make a statement. [66466]
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Mr. Jamieson: Provisional figures, published in June, show that there were 3,443 people killed and 37,094 seriously injured on the public roads in Great Britain in 2001.
This year, despite our firm commitment to improving road safety, it is sad to see an increase in the number of road deaths when both serious and slight injuries have continued to fall. We will be looking to see if there are identifiable reasons for this year's increase in the number of road deaths.
Delay Indicator Maps
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place copies of the Highways Agency delay indicator maps in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [66213]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency's annual report for 2000–01 contains on page 39 the latest version of a map depicting stress levels on the trunk road network. The annual report was published on 31 January 2002 and copies were placed in the Libraries of the House.
Road Schemes
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what road schemes will be proposed in the next round of local transport plan annual progress reports; and if he will make a statement; [66301]
- (2) when the next set of local transport plan annual progress reports will be published; and if he will make a statement. [66300]
Mr. Jamieson: Our guidance to authorities makes clear that local transport plan annual progress reports for 2001–02 should be made available to the public and easily obtainable at a reasonable cost. The reports are required to be submitted to my Department by English local authorities outside London by 31 July 2002 as are any proposals for new major local transport schemes. When received, both the reports and any bids for new major schemes will be considered as part of the determination of local transport capital settlement for 2003–04.
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