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17 Dec 2002 : Column 696W—continued

Air Safety and Security

23. Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on plans to improve safety (a) at airports and (b) on board aircraft. [85923]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government, the Civil Aviation Authority and the aviation industry as a whole work together at all times to maintain the present high safety and security standards at UK airports and on board aircraft using our airports. These standards are monitored and further improvements made wherever appropriate.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve security checks on aircraft crews; and if he will make a statement. [87503]

Mr. Jamieson: Under arrangements being brought in next year, UK aircrew will be subject to five-year reference and criminal record checking. We have already ordered that a study be carried out into the benefits to security of conducting additional checks on crews, balanced against the practicalities of undertaking them. This study will be completed early in the New Year.

17 Dec 2002 : Column 697W

Railway Stations

24. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of the upgrading of railway stations following Railtrack's entering receivership. [85924]

Mr. Jamieson: Railtrack's arrangements for upgrading railway stations relate to like for like replacements. These have not been affected by Railtrack being taken into administration. The Strategic Rail Authority operate several schemes with other partners to improve the quality and facilities at stations.

Regional Transport Strategies

25. Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps is he taking to ensure that transport strategies support regional economic regeneration. [85925]

Mr. Jamieson: Our national planning policy guidance on regional planning clearly states that Regional Transport Strategies, produced as part of Regional Planning Guidance, should inform and support the Regional Economic Strategies being developed by Regional Development Agencies.

My Department is committed to working closely with RDAs, in conjunction with Regional Planning Bodies, in the development of these strategies and in identifying transport improvements that will support economic regeneration in all regions. Last week, for instance, we announced a major package of improvements to tackle congestion on the country's strategic highway network, helping to support business competitiveness.

M6/M56

27. Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the Government's decision on the options for improving the link between the M6 and the M56. [85927]

Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of States response to the West Midlands to North West Multi Modal Study recently instructed the Highways Agency to provide further advice on alternative options for improving connections between the M6 and the M56. That advice is expected early in 2003, following which he will consider his decision.

Transport Costs

28. Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for his transport policy of the relative changes in the cost of travelling by (a) car, (b) rail and (c) bus since 1997. [85928]

Mr. Jamieson: Development of policies in the 10-year plan has been informed by extensive modelling using the National Transport Model and its forebears. This modelling takes account of the best data we have on how demand for different transport modes varies with respect to the overall cost of using those modes.

17 Dec 2002 : Column 698W

Airports (Transport Links)

29. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his assessment is of the priorities for improvements in public transport to airports in the south-east of England. [85929]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government are committed to improving access to airports by public transport. This is a key component in the ongoing consultation on XThe Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom". Comments received will be considered carefully before final decisions are taken on the policies for the air transport White Paper, to be published next year.

Road Deaths

30. Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his strategy to reduce the number of deaths on the road. [85931]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government are fully committed to meeting or beating its casualty reduction targets for 2010 as set out in XTomorrow's roads—safer for everyone". Total deaths and serious injuries in 2001 were 15 per cent. down from the baseline for the 40 per cent. target reduction. Child deaths and serious injuries in 2001 were 27 per cent. down from their baseline—and thus over halfway towards their 50 per cent. target reduction.

Aviation Industry (Environmental Impact)

31. Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the work his Department is undertaking to reduce the environmental impact of the aviation industry. [85932]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department for Transport on behalf of the United Kingdom is a leading participant in international bodies dealing with the environmental impact of the aviation industry, including the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

For example, the phase-out of most 'Chapter 2' jet aircraft, completed in March 2002, has produced significant reductions in noise around mature airports. The UK has been and remains at the forefront of states pressing for stringent certification rules for both noise and atmospheric emissions.

Trunk Roads

32. Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the state of trunk roads. [85933]

Mr. Jamieson: I regularly receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals on the state of trunk and local roads.

Manchester Metrolink

33. Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the next phase of the Manchester tram system to be open. [85934]

17 Dec 2002 : Column 699W

Mr. Jamieson: My right hon. Friend announced his confirmation of funding approval for the third phase of Manchester Metrolink on 10 December. It is expected to be fully operational by 2010.

Norwich/Liverpool Street Rail Line

34. Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the capacity of the Norwich to Liverpool street rail line. [85935]

Mr. Jamieson: On 6 November the Strategic Rail Authority confirmed their intention to create a new XGreater Anglia" franchise, combining the services of the three current operators into Liverpool street. Provision of capacity into London Liverpool street will be a key issue for the new franchise to address.

Road Improvements (Yorkshire)

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include the provision of a bypass on the A614 for the village of Middleton-on-the-Wolds in the further studies on road improvements in Yorkshire, announced on 10 December 2002. [87383]

Mr. Spellar: Any proposal for a bypass for the village of Middleton-on-the-Wolds would be for the local highway authority, to promote through its Local Transport Plan. The proposal would then be considered on its merits.

Fatal Accidents (School Children)

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the Environment Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the implications of the recent fatal accidents involving school children travelling home from school on a scheduled bus service. [87384]

Mr. Jamieson: It would be inappropriate to meet the Environmental Secretary in the National Assembly for Wales to discuss the implications of the fatal accident near Cowbridge on 3 December 2002 in the immediate future, while there is an on-going Police investigation into it. I am not aware of there having been any other recent fatal accidents involving school children on scheduled bus services.

General Lighthouse Authorities

Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the (a) role, (b) terms of reference and (c) annual budget of (i) the Trinity House Lighthouse Authority and (ii) The Commission for Irish Lights in each year since 1997. [87597]

Mr. Jamieson: The role and terms of reference of the General Lighthouse Authorities (GLA) are set out in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 as amended. This requires them to provide marine aids to general navigation in their respective areas, adjacent seas and islands. The Trinity House Lighthouse Service is the GLA for England, Wales and the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. The Commissioners for Irish Lights is the GLA for Northern Ireland. Under the Republic of Ireland Merchant Shipping Act 1894 as amended, CIL is also the GLA for the Republic. The GLAs deliver services in accordance with international standards agreed by the

17 Dec 2002 : Column 700W

International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. All three GLAs submit annual Corporate Plans for approval by the Secretary of State.

The annual budget spend from 1997/98 to 2002/03 is set out in the table.

#000

	Trinity House Lighthouse Service	Commissioners of Irish Lights
1997–98	29,187	13,775
1998–99	29,362	13,401
1999–2000	28,587	13,701
2000–01	30,364	15,077
2001–02	30,203	16,168
2002–03	31,998	16,034

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