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Award Schemes

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the award schemes in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 promoted by the Department; what their scope was; when the relevant participating organisations are scheduled to be sent results; and whether other parties will be given notification of the results at the same time. [102062]

Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State sponsors the following awards.

Local Transport—Centres of Excellence initiative:

In March 2001, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions designated 16 English local authorities, or groups of local authorities, as Centres of Excellence for Local Transport Planning. This followed a competitive process, in which the Department, with the help of independent experts, assessed bidders on the quality of their Local Transport Plans, their target-setting and monitoring abilities, and their willingness to share experience and good practice with others. All bidders were notified of the results at the same time. In a separate initiative, Cornwall county council was designated a Centre of Excellence for Rural Transport, also in March 2001. There were no additional Centre of Excellence designations during 2001 or 2002. The Department for Transport now has responsibility for both schemes.

Secure Station Scheme:

The Secure Stations Scheme was launched in April 1998. The scheme awards Secure Stations status and certification to those stations that reach specified standards in crime management, station design, station management and passenger perceptions. The award is for a two year period, after which the station can apply for reaccreditation. During 2001, 60 stations were awarded either accreditation or reaccreditation; during 2002, the figure was 76. There are currently 170 stations (both mainline and underground) accredited under the Scheme.

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The Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards:

The Department is one of many partners ranging from national Governments to consumer and motoring groups involved in Euro New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP). This is an independent organisation that carries out crash tests of new cars and then publishes the results. The test programme is carried out in phases and the results are published by Euro NCAP twice a year. The cars tested are awarded between 1 to 5 stars, indicating the level of crash protection offered.

The Department contributes to the Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards, run by the Prince Michael Trust. The Department comments on candidates for awards in its capacity as a member of the Prince Michael Road Safety Advisory Board.

Consultation Exercise

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 298W, to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Jon Cruddas), if he will list the bodies being consulted as part of his review of the 1999 SACTRA report on Transport and the Environment. [104653]

Mr. Jamieson: No formal review of the SACTRA report has been carried out. The Government accepted many of the recommendations of the SACTRA report as set out in the Government's Response to the SACTRA Report on "Transport and the Economy", May 2000 Cm 4711.

Crewe-Kidsgrove Rail Route

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of the electrification of the Crewe-Kidsgrove rail route. [104224]

Mr. Jamieson: The electrification of the Crewe-Kidsgrove route was included in the Strategic Rail Authority's draft 'West Coast Strategy' consultation document as a possible enhancement element. The Authority's broad estimate is that the overhead line installation and signalling works to allow electric trains to operate would be in the region of £12 million. The final Strategy will be published shortly.

Dartford Crossing (Tolls)

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what projects net tax income from the Dartford crossing on the M25 will be spent in 2003–04. [104614]

Mr. Jamieson: The Dartford net revenues form part of the funding included in our 10 year transport plan. After actual revenues have been received we shall be able to identify projects which will illustrate the benefits this additional source of funding has helped deliver.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the economic cost of delays which will be occasioned to traffic in 2003–04 by means of having to pay tolls at the Dartford crossing on the M25. [104615]

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Mr. Jamieson: The principal cause of delays at the Dartford crossing is the capacity of the crossing and the surrounding network. Research published in August 2001 suggested that use of the Dartford crossing would grow more rapidly if there were no charge to use the crossing. Using 1997 as a base year the forecast was that traffic would be 17.6 per cent. higher in 2003 if there was no charge, compared to the situation if charging was maintained at the same level.

A significant increase in the level of traffic could have an adverse impact on the local community and users of the crossing in terms of health, the economy and the environment.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the forecast gross toll revenue is from the Dartford crossing on the M25 for 2003–04; and what the forecast cost is of collecting the tolls in 2003–04. [104616]

Mr. Jamieson: The forecast gross revenue from road user charging at the Dartford crossing for 2003–04 is approximately £66 million.

The management fee for 2003–04 to be paid to 'Le Crossing', who have been appointed to operate and maintain the crossing including collection of the user charge, is forecast to be approximately £16 million.

First Great Western

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with First Great Western over its decision to declare void days regarding compensation because of poor performance. [104028]

Mr. Jamieson: None. Under the terms of their Passenger's Charters train operating companies are allowed to declare void days when performance is particularly poor. This results in the holders of monthly or longer duration season tickets, receiving compensation to the value of a day's travel.

M6

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report from the Highways Agency on the proposed improvement of Junction 20 of the M6; and if he will publish the report. [103939]

Mr. Jamieson: The Secretary of State is currently considering options for the possible improvement of M6 junction 20 and to the A556.

Railways

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the latest performance figures on the railways, with particular reference to punctuality; and if he will make a statement. [103988]

Mr. Jamieson: The figures published by the Strategic Rail Authority on 12 March show that overall performance between October and December 2002 was

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about one percentage point better than for the equivalent period of the previous year. The Strategic Rail Authority is taking tough decisions designed to deliver sustained improvements in performance over time.

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who the Strategic Rail Authority consulted on its recent decision to cut direct rail services between Liverpool and (a) Stansted Airport and (b) Portsmouth; and when this consultation took place. [104602]

Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's decision on the September 2003 timetable changes was made in partnership with Train Operating Companies and Network Rail. The Rail Passenger Committee and Passenger Transport Executive were made aware of the outline proposals before the announcement was made on 24 February.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has received from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on plans by Network Rail to close the London Paddington to Reading line on the weekend of 22 to 25 August. [103355]

Mr. Jamieson: The management of engineering possessions is a matter for Network Rail, overseen by the Rail Regulator. I understand that Network Rail is consulting with relevant parties, including the passenger and freight train operators, Reading council and the organisers of the Reading Festival, regarding any engineering possession of this line over that weekend.

Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times he has visited Scotland on official duties each year since 2000; and what meetings were held on each occasion. [103600]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department was formed on 29 May 2002. Since its formation and up until 31 December 2002 the Secretary of State has carried out official duties on four occasions. He has of course been in Scotland on many other occasions in that time. In accordance with exemptions 2 and 7 of the 'Code of Practice on Access to Government Information', it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings or their content, as some of these discussions may have taken place on a confidential basis.

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