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TRANSPORT

Firefighters

14. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is to protect transport users during industrial action by firefighters. [81336]

Mr. Darling: The Health & Safety Executive has worked with operators to assess the risk to rail services, including London Underground, and Xconsiders the risks arising from a withdrawal of fire brigade cover can be adequately controlled by the industry without major effects to services".

Cross Rail

15. Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received regarding the financing of the East London Crossrail project. [81337]

Mr Jamieson: My right hon. Friend and I regularly receive representations on the Crossrail project.

Piccadilly Station, Manchester

16. Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about train congestion at Piccadilly Station in Manchester. [81338]

Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority is currently consulting on a capacity utilisation policy, which seeks to make best use of the network as a whole.

In relation to Manchester, specifically, the SRA's strategic plan identifies proposals from the Greater Manchester capacity study as a scheme for further development.

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Lewes-Uckfield Railway Line

17. Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the advantages of reopening the Lewes-Uckfield railway line. [81339]

Mr. Jamieson: This has been considered by the Strategic Rail Authority. Restoration of the Lewes-Uckfield line is not required to meet the Authority's objectives. No provision was made for it in the Authority's objectives. No provision was made for it in the Authority's strategic plan, published in January 2002.

Bus Services

18. Ms Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to encourage joint ticketing and timetabling of bus companies. [81340]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government are committed to encouraging joint ticketing schemes between operators that will benefit bus users. The Director General of Fair Trading issued a new guideline in August, setting out what operators need to do to ensure that their ticketing schemes comply with the terms of the block exemption from the Competition Act 1998. The Office of Fair Trading is looking at the competition implications for co-ordinated timetabling of competing services. Officials from my Department are continuing to monitor the situation.

A6 Bypass

19. Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the A6 Romwell/Desborough bypass to be completed. [81341]

Mr. Jamieson: The contractual completion date for the A6 Rothwell and Desborough Bypass is August 2003.

Earlier completion would be a matter for the contractor.

Cycling Helmets

20. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he is doing to encourage greater use of cycling helmets. [81342]

Mr. Jamieson: In addition to our existing publicity material to promote the wearing of cycles helmets we have supported the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust to develop national guidelines to promote cycle helmet wearing. This has been distributed widely. We are also developing a cycle safety campaign for teenagers for launch in early 2003.

A34

21. Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the re-surfacing of the A34 between Wendlebury and Peartree in Oxfordshire. [81343]

Mr. Jamieson: This section of the A34 is a concrete road. It has been identified as meeting the appropriate selection criteria for possible resurfacing with quieter materials, as announced on 17 October 2001. The

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Highways Agency has carried out surveys on this and other routes opened since 1988 to assess whether actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of their Public Inquiry. The Highways Agency are currently making their assessment. We hope to be able to announce conclusions later this year.

Liverpool-Euston Line

22. Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received about the upgrading of the Liverpool-Euston line. [81344]

Mr. Jamieson: I have received a number of representations about the Strategic Rail Authority's proposed strategy for the west coast main line project, which includes plans for improvements in services between Liverpool and Euston.

Train Performance

23. Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had since 1 January with train operating companies about train performance. [81345]

Mr. Jamieson: I, and other departmental Ministers, meet with train operating companies on a regular basis, as part of wider industry meetings and specifically to discuss their work.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had since he took office with train operating companies about train performance. [81444]

Mr. Jamieson: I, and other departmental Ministers, meet with train operating companies on a regular basis, as part of wider industry meetings and specifically to discuss their work.

New Airport (Rugby)

25. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of Transport what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on consequences involving flooding if a new airport were to be built on the proposed site near Rugby. [81347]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provided comments on the draft consultation document for the Midlands. The Environmental Agency has engaged in the consultation process. If the Midlands new site option was taken forward detailed assessment of environmental impacts, including flood risk, would be required as part of the planning process.

Train Operating Companies

26. Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about poor service from the train operating companies. [81348]

Mr. Jamieson: Ministers and officials met with the SRA on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of topics including train performance.

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Rail Subsidies

27. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of public subsidy to Railtrack and other train operators in the period since rail privatisation. [81349]

Jeremy Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the total level of public subsidy to rail services in the UK in the last financial year. [81346]

Mr. Jamieson: For five years after its privatisation in 1996, Railtrack received no public subsidy direct from the Government. However, the company's profitability was contingent on subsidy, because some 85 per cent. of its income came in access charges paid to it by train operating companies (TOCS), most of which did receive subsidy. Since 1 October 2001, Railtrack has received network grant direct from the Government to help fund its maintenance and renewals investment.

Details of annual levels of public subsidy to the rail industry in Great Britain are set out in Table 5.1 of XNational Rail Trends", copies of which are in the Library. In 2001–02, total subsidy amounted to #1,826 million. The main elements of that were #731 million paid to TOCs, #306 million paid to passenger transport executives, #499 million paid to Railtrack and #185 million paid to London & Continental Railways.

Timetables and Ticketing

28. Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State what progress he is making on integrating timetables and ticketing of public transport. [81350]

Mr. Jamieson: We are making good progress in this area. My Department assisted with the establishment of traveline and continues to provide support for this service. Traveline provides integrated, multi-modal public transport route and timetable information through a single national telephone number.

Transport Direct will build on the success of traveline. It will provide route, timetable and fare information for all modes of public and private transport and provide for the purchase of tickets. Transport Direct will initially be provided through an internet portal; the first version will be up and running by the end of 2003 as stated in our objectives in the 10-year plan.

We have also been working with other organisations to encourage integrated ticketing. One of these products is the PlusBus scheme which allows integration of zonal bus tickets on to national rail tickets. Sheffield is among the initial 35 stations where PlusBus will be available.

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