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21 Oct 2002 : Column 11W—continued

Focus Group Research

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what use he and his Department has made of focus group research since June 2001; if he will identify for each research project the topics covered, the person or organisation carrying out the research, and the total cost; and if he will publish the research on his Department's website. [74992]

Mr. Jamieson: Focus group work forms an element in a number of projects that fall within the Department's research programme. This is not always costed separately. The general conclusions of the focus group work are incorporated, where relevant, in the reports of the research projects carried out.

However, the Department's Communication Directorate regularly carries out specific focus group research in order to gauge the effectiveness of particular advertising approaches and to assess audience reaction to different creative concepts for developing its advertising programme. This research relates wholly to road safety advertising. Details of the research findings are not published as they relate to work in development, are of an ephemeral nature, contain views given in confidence which are highly subjective, and will often contain approaches that advertising companies would not wish to share with competitors.

The sums paid to each company in respect of any particular piece of work are regarded as commercial in confidence. However, since June 2001, the total amount spent on focus group research in respect of road safety campaigns is #112k. The companies which have carried out this research for the Department are Abbot Mead Vickers BBDO, Andrew Irving Associates, Carne Martin, Cragg Ross Dawson, Ruth Foulds Qualitative Research, and Campbell Keegan.

Manchester-London Flights

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West of 15 October 2002, Official Report, columns 162–23, if additional

21 Oct 2002 : Column 12W

slots will be provided for domestic flights between London and Manchester during periods when the West Coast Main line is closed. [75204]

Mr. Spellar: Alternative rail links between Manchester and London will be in operation during the closure of the West Coast Main Line. London-Manchester is one of the busiest air routes in the UK. If demand for flights on this route rises, airlines could increase the size of the planes they operate on that route, or increase the frequency of services. This will be a commercial decision for them.

New Road Schemes

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) bypass, (b) road widening and (c) other new road schemes which have been completed since 1997. [75011]

Mr. Jamieson: The following trunk and local road schemes costing over #5m* have been opened since 1997:

Bypasses—Trunk

M65 Blackburn Southern Bypass Contracts 1 & 2

M66 Denton—Middleton Contracts 1 to 3

A12 Hackney Wick—M11 Link Contracts 1 to 4

A13 Wennington—Mar Dyke

A13 West of Heathway—Thames Avenue Improvement

A13 Thames Avenue—Wennington

A16 Market Deeping Bypass

A27 Polegate Bypass

A30 Honiton-Exeter Bypass

A34 Newbury Bypass

A35 Puddletown Bypass

A43 Silverstone Bypass

A419 Latton Bypass

A419 Stratton Bypass

A564 Derby Southern Bypass & Derby Spur Contract A

A564 Doveridge Bypass

Bypasses—Local

A131 Great Leighs Bypass (Essex)

A143 Broome/Ellingham Bypass (Norfolk)

A174 Skelton and Brotton Bypass (Redcar & Cleveland)

A511 Ashby Bypass Stage 2 (Leicestershire)

A617 Rainworth Bypass (Nottinghamshire)

Wainscott Northern Bypass (Kent)

Chippenham Western Bypass (Wiltshire)

Burntwood Bypass (Staffordshire)

Biddulph Inner Bypass (Staffordshire)

A421 Tingewick Bypass (Buckinghamshire)

Widenings—Trunk

M1-A1 Link Road

M5 J18–19 Widening

M25 J8–10 Widening

M40 Denham-Warwick

A1(M) Alconbury-Peterborough

A1(M) Walshford-Dishforth

A19/A168 Dishforth-Tyne Tunnel

A43 Whitfield Turn-Brackley Hatch Improvement

A43 M40-B4031 Dualling

A406 Silver Street—Fore Street Improvement

A406 East of Falloden Way—Finchley High Road,

A417 Nettleton Improvement

Widenings—Local

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A22 Dualling Nightingale Farm

A6002/A6007 Coventry Lane Improvement

Other—Trunk

M1/M621 Link Road

A1 Tempsford Junction Improvement

A50 Blythe Bridge—Queensway Phase 1(B) & 2

A50 Derby Southern Bypass (Contract B)

Other—Local

A6042 Manchester/ Salford Inner Relief Road Phase 1 (Manchester/Salford)

Avon Ring Road II: B4465 Shortwood—A420 Warmley (South Gloucestershire)

Dearne Towns Link Road (Barnsley)

West Central Route (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Dawdon to Seaham Town Centre Link Road (Durham)

A46/47 Link Road (Leicester City)

A179 Improvement (Hartlepool)

Werrington to Glinton Phase 2 (Peterborough)

A16 Peakes Parkway Stage 3 (North East Lincolnshire)

A289 Gillingham Northern Bypass (Medway)

A22 New Route Dittons to Seaside Eastbourne (West Sussex)

Park Lane Improvement Scheme (Sefton)

South Ribble M65 Interface Improvements (Lancashire)

* This excludes schemes funded by private developers.

10 Year Plan

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to publish an updated version of the 10 Year Plan; and when he intends to publish an updated version of Table A3 published in the plan. [75010]

Mr. Jamieson: We will be publishing a progress report on implementation of the 10 Year Plan for Transport in due course. This will include updated details on expenditure under the Plan along the lines set out in the table referred to.

Aircraft Noise (Compensation)

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what precedents there are for his Department's paying compensation to people in the UK in connection with disturbance from flying activities in the last five years. [75395]

Mr. Jamieson: Compensation for depreciation in the value of properties may be payable under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 for certain physical factors caused by the use of new or altered public works, including aerodromes. Compensation would be paid by the aerodrome manager. The physical factors are noise, vibration, smell, fumes, smoke, artificial lighting and the discharge of any solid or liquid substance.

Normally, the physical factors are those arising from the works themselves, but for aerodromes, this is extended to those from aircraft arriving or departing.

Railways (European Policy)

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations have been received from and discussions have taken place with the railway industry on the forthcoming Third Railway Package of the European Commission; and if he will place copies in the Library. [75594]

21 Oct 2002 : Column 14W

Mr Jamieson: The European Commission indicated its intention to bring forward further measures over the next three years to improve the quality of passenger and freight rail services in the covering Communication (COM(2002)18) to its 2nd railway package.

A number of industry parties and individuals commented on these future plans in response to the Government's consultation exercise on the 2nd railway package, which ran from May to 23 August 2002. Copies of the replies (excluding those from respondents who have requested confidentiality) will be placed in the library. My Department holds regular discussions with rail industry parties on the Commission's current and future proposals for the rail sector.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what submissions have been made by his Department to the (a) European Commission and (b) European Parliament with regard to the Directive on the Interoperability of Trans-European Rail Transport being discussed within the European Parliament; and if he will place copies in the Library; [75597]

(2) what submissions have been made by his Department to (a) the European Commission and (b) the European Parliament on the Directive on Safety, Licensing and Levying of Charges Certification of Community Railways being discussed within the European Parliament; and if he will places copies in the Library; [75619]

(3) what submissions have been made by his Department to (a) the European Commission and (b) the European Parliament on the Directive on European Rail Agency Interoperability and Safety being discussed within the European Parliament; and if he will place copies in the Library. [75611]

Mr. Jamieson: No written submissions have been made to the European Commission. However, Ministers and officials from my Department participate on a regular basis in Council meetings convened by the Presidency to discuss these elements of the Commission's proposed Second Rail Package. The European Commission is represented at those meetings.

My officials provided written briefing to UK Members of the European Parliament on these proposals in April, July and September 2002. I will arrange for these sets of briefing to be placed in the libraries of the House.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what submissions have been made by his Department to the European Commission with regard to progress on the implementation of the First Railway Package; and if he will place copies in the Library. [75605]

Mr. Jamieson: None.

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