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19 May 2003 : Column 544W—continued

Research and Consultancy

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by his Department and its predecessors on external research and consultants in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) aviation, (b) local transport, (c) mobility and inclusion, (d) roads, vehicles and road safety, (e) shipping, (f) integrated transport, (g) railways, (h) science and research, (i) transport statistics, (j) freight logistics and (k) other subjects. [113351]

Mr. Jamieson: The information requested on external research expenditure is set out below. Separate figures for expenditure on general consultancy are not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

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Total Expenditure by DfT (and predecessors) on External Research since 1997, broken down by specified areas£ million

Area	Outturn 1997–98	Outurrn 1998–99	Outturn 1999–2000	Outturn 2000–01	Outturn 2001–02
Aviation	0.2	0.2	0.5	0.06	1.64
Transport Strategy/Local Transport(4)	7.8	6.1	7.9	7.6	8.53
Roads Vehicles and Road Safety(6)	11.5	12.0	11.7	9.4	13.62
Shipping(7)	1.7	0.8	0.8	0.55	0.43
Integrated Transport(8)	—	—	—	—	—
Railways(9)	0	0	0	0.1	0
Science and Research(10)	1.9	1.5	0.7	0.5	0.56
Transport Statistics(11)	—	—	—	—	—
Freight Logistics	—	—	0.1	0.4	0.73
Other Subjects(12)	16.5	16.3	16.6	18.16	16.5
Total of the above	39.6	36.9	38.3	36.77	42.01

Notes:

1. Outturn figures for 1996–97 to 1999–2000 were obtained from The Forward Look Publications, which are complied using data supplied by the Office of National Statistics.

2. Outturn figures 2000–01 and 2001–02 were obtained from local records of data that is collated by STP Division within DfT and supplied to ONS for inclusion in their Forward Look publications.

⁽⁴⁾ This inludes Roads and Traffic-Integrated Local Transport as well as incorporating mobility and inclusion, Integrated Transport and Transport Statistics.

⁽⁵⁾ Refer to note

⁽⁶⁾ above.

⁽⁷⁾ The figures shown for Roads Vehicles and Road Safety are the cumulative total for Road Safety and Vehicle Standards and Engineering.

⁽⁸⁾ The figures shown here are those of Maritime and Coastguard Agency (Marine Services Agency and Coastguard Agency prior to 1999)

⁽⁹⁾ Refer to note

⁽¹⁰⁾ above

⁽¹¹⁾ Some research relevant to railways is included in the figures given for Transport Strategy/Local Transport.

⁽¹²⁾ These figures are those of Science and Technology Policy Division and relate to LINK and New Horizons Programmes.

⁽¹³⁾ Refer to note

⁽¹⁴⁾ above as some limited research expenditure on Transport Statistics is included in Local Transport.

⁽¹⁵⁾ These figures include Highways Agency, Transport Security and Transport Environment and Taxation for 2000–01 and 2001–02. They do not Include Road User Charging Trails.

Road Upgrades

Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects the upgrading of the A66 between Penrith and the A1 to start; and when it will be completed; [113774]

(2) when he expects work to start on the upgrading of the A74 to motorway standards between Carlisle and the Scottish Borders. [113776]

Mr. Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend on these two issues.

Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Eric Martlew, dated 19 May 2003:

David Jamieson has asked me to reply to your two recent Parliamentary Questions asking when work will start on the upgrading of the A74 to motorway standards between Carlisle and the Scottish border, and the expected start and completion dates for the upgrading of the A66 between Penrith, and A1.

A74 Upgrading

In February this year, a contract was awarded for the design and construction of the A74 Carlisle to Guardsmill scheme using an innovative procurement method known as Early Contractor Involvement, by which it is expected that projects may be delivered more quickly. The current programme shows a start of works in September 2005 with road opening by September 2007. This is subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures, which include the expected publication next January of draft formal proposals under the Highways Act that are required to give legal authority for the upgrading. The route being followed was announced in June 2002 and follows closely the existing A74.

A66 Upgrading

In November last year it was announced that the Agency had appointed consultants to undertake preliminary survey and design work in order to determine the feasibility of upgrading the whole of the A66 between Penrith to the west and the A1 at Scotch

19 May 2003 : Column 546W

Corner to the east to dual carriageway. A number of possible schemes have been identified on which preliminary work is continuing and on which it is expected that the public will be consulted towards the end of the year. If it is then decided that these schemes should be added to the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements, it is expected that they would be completed within seven years of entry, or sooner.

In addition to the schemes that are still under investigation, preparation work is in progress on three schemes on this route which are already included in the Targeted Programme of Improvements. These schemes, with their estimated dates for completion, are as follows:

A66 Temple Sowerby and Improvements at Winderwath 2006–07

A66 Carkin Moor to Scotch Corner Improvement 2006–07

A66 Greta Bridge to Stephen Bank Improvement 2007–08

I hope this is helpful. If you would like any further information on the A74 Upgrading you may wish to contact the Agency's Project Sponsor for this Ziad El Balbisi, at Sunley Tower. Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BE telephone number 0161 930 5822. For further information on any of the proposals forming part of the A66 Upgrading would you please contact the Group Leader, David Harvey, at the same address telephone number 0161 930 5601.

Virgin Trains

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when all Virgin Pendolino trains will be operating on the west coast line. [109670]

Mr. Jamieson: All Virgin Pendolino trains are expected to be in service by the early part of 2005.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

School Playing Fields

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school playing fields have been sold in each of the last 10 years. [114170]

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Mr. Miliband: There are no central records of how many school playing fields were sold before October 1998. Section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 was introduced on 1 October 1998 to stop the indiscriminate sale of school playing fields that occurred in the 1980s and early to mid 1990s.

Applications to sell school playing fields are only approved where it is clear that any proceedswill be used to improve school sports provision or education facilities. All applications made since 16 July 2001 are scrutinised by the School Playing Fields Advisory Panel to make sure that they meet our published criteria. The panel comprises representatives from the National Playing Fields Association, the Central Council of Physical Recreation, Learning through Landscapes, the National Association of Headteachers and the Local Government Association.

The table shows the number of applications to sell school playing fields larger than a small sports pitch for the under 10s, that is larger than 2,000 m ² , that were approved in each year since October 1998. In 27 of these applications new or replacement sports pitches of the same size or greater were to be bought from the proceeds. A further 45 applications involved land at closed or closing school sites and in 37 of the remaining 56 cases, the proceeds are to be used to improve sports faculties, such as new all-weather pitches, sports halls or improved grass sports pitches. In the remaining 19 cases, the proceeds are to provide better education facilities at schools, such as new classrooms and performing arts facilities.

Calendar year	Sports pitch applications approved
October-December
1998	7
1999	42
2000	32
2001	22
2002	23

Notes:1. The table includes applications to sell school playing fields from local authorities, foundation, voluntary and former grant-maintained schools.2. All sale proceeds are used to provide new or improved sports or education facilities at maintained schools.3. 'Sports pitch' means an area of open grassed land which is equal to, or larger than, the Football Association's recommended 2,000 m

⁽¹⁶⁾ area for games played by under 10s and which has a configuration making it suitable for sports, whether laid out as a sports pitch or not.

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