25 Mar 2004 : Column 972W—continued
TRANSPORT
10-year Plan
Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made (a) in Greater London and (b) in each London borough in achieving the 10-Year Plan targets for growth of more than 12 per cent. by 2010 compared with 2000 in the use of (i) bus services and (ii) light rail. [162350]
Mr. McNulty:
The combined patronage total of bus and light rail has increased by 13.6 per cent. in the last two years in Greater London.
Bus patronage in Greater London has increased by 13.3 per cent. from 1,354 million journeys in 2000–01—the base year for the Government's 10-Year Plan target—to 1,534 million journeys in 2002–3. No data is available from TfL on the breakdown by London borough of this bus patronage increase.
25 Mar 2004 : Column 973W
Total Light Rail patronage in Greater London has also increased by 20.6 per cent. over this period. Annual patronage on the DLR network—which covers the boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Lewisham and Newham and the Corporation of London—has increased from 38.4 to 45.7 million journeys, an increase of 19 per cent., while annual patronage on the Croydon Tramlink—which covers the boroughs of Merton, Sutton, Croydon and Bromley—has increased from 15.0 to 18.7 million journeys, an increase of 24.7 per cent.
Bus Services
Mr. Drew:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Transport Commissioners have been consulted on the closure of Stroud bus station. [162827]
Mr. McNulty
[holding answer 23 March 2004]: There is no formal requirement for Traffic Commissioners to be consulted regarding bus stations.
Channel Tunnel
Sir Teddy Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what total amount of public funds has been spent on the Channel Tunnel and associated works since 1986; and what assessment he has made of the economic stability of the Tunnel in the future. [161696]
Mr. McNulty
[holding answer 17 March 2004]: No public funds have been spent on the Channel Tunnel itself. The Treaty of Canterbury, signed on 12 February 1986, specifically prohibits any public finance for this infrastructure. The connecting road and rail infrastructure has been developed with Government support. However, in the UK the bulk of this is in the form of guaranteed bonds.
While the Government is keen to see maximum usage of the Tunnel infrastructure, the economic foundation of the operating company is ultimately a matter for its shareholders.
Computer Misuse
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of computer misuse there were in his Department and its predecessor in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003, broken down by category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action. [163274]
Mr. McNulty:
There have been no proven incidents of computer misuse in the Department for Transport and its predecessor in 1997 and two in 2003.
In 2003, following disciplinary action, one member of staff was dismissed from the Department because of misuse of computer equipment involving access to "inappropriate" websites.
During the same year disciplinary action was taken against another member of staff who was dismissed for gross misconduct on several different counts. One being interpreted as serious negligence, causing unacceptable loss of a computer laptop.
25 Mar 2004 : Column 974W
Cycling Proficiency Tests
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many cycling proficiency tests have been (a) taken and (b) passed in each year since 1997, (i) in total and (ii) broken down by local authority; [163115]
(2) what financial support has been given from his Department to local authorities for (a) cycling proficiency testing and (b) other bicycle training (i) in total and (ii) broken down by local authority. [163116]
Mr. Jamieson:
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 February 2004, Official Report, columns 339–40W.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research has been conducted into the safety implications of (a) the cycling proficiency test and (b) other bicycle training; [163117]
(2) what recent changes have been made, and what changes are proposed, to (a) the cycling proficiency test and (b) other bicycle training. [163118]
Mr. Jamieson:
The Transport Research Laboratory's Research Project Report 214, "The Effectiveness of Child Cycle Training Schemes" has shown that cycle training is effective, with trained children found to be significantly safer than untrained children when knowledge and skills were tested two years after training. The research also identified that better performing cycling schemes involve on-road training, staged courses spread out over a number of weeks, and a problem solving or cycling awareness approach to learning.
There is no longer a single official cycle proficiency test. Local authorities adopt different practices when running cycle training schemes according to how they believe they can best deliver safer cycling locally. But we understand that many local authorities currently base their cycle training on the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' guidelines for the management and operation of practical cyclist training schemes.
The Department is currently working with the National Cycling Strategy Board for England to develop a comprehensive promotion of cycling to school. This involves a close look at current cycle training provision; developing a national standard for child cycle training with road safety organisations, cycle trainers and cycling organisations.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many qualified bicycle trainers there were in each year since 1997. [163120]
Mr. Jamieson:
There is no centrally held data on the numbers of cycle trainers.
Infrastructure Projects
Mr. Collins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the major transport infrastructure projects within the responsibility of his Department to be built in (a) Aberdeen Central, i Alyn and Deeside, (c) Ayr, (d) Bassetlaw, (e) Birmingham, Northfield, (f) Birmingham, Perry Barr, (g) Blaydon, (h) Blyth Valley, (i) Bootle, (j) Bradford West, (k) Braintree, (l) Burton, (m) Cardiff West, (n) Clwyd South,
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(o) Conwy, (p) Coventry North West, (q) Coventry South, (r) Clydebank and Milngavie, (s) Cynon Valley, (t) Dover, (u) Ealing North, (v) Eltham, (w) Feltham and Heston, (x) Forest of Dean, (y) Gateshead East and Washington West, (z) Glasgow, Govan, (aa) Glasgow, Maryhill, (bb) Hammersmith and Fulham, (cc) Hendon, (dd) Hornsey and Wood Green, (ee) Ilford North, (ff) Kettering, (gg) Knowsley South, (hh) Lancaster and Wyre, (ii) Leeds North East, (jj) Leeds West, (kk) Leicester East, (ll) Lewisham, Deptford, (mm) Liverpool, Riverside, (nn) Loughborough, (oo) Manchester, Withington, (pp) Milton Keynes North East, (qq) Monmouth, (rr) Northampton South, (ss) North West Leicestershire, (tt) Ochil, (uu) Reading East, (vv) Reading West, (ww) Rugby and Kenilworth,
25 Mar 2004 : Column 976W
(xx) Sheffield, Attercliffe, (yy) Sheffield, Hillsborough, (zz) Sittingbourne and Sheppey, (aaa) Stevenage, (bbb) Stockton North, (ccc) Stoke-on-Trent, (ddd) Stourbridge, (eee) Thurrock, (fff) Tyne Bridge, (ggg) Wallasey, (hhh) Wansbeck, (iii) Waveney, (jjj) West Lancashire, (kkk) Wirral West, (lll) Wolverhampton North East and (mmm) Wolverhampton South East; and when the decision was taken to build them. [153777]
Mr. McNulty:
The following major transport infrastructure projects within the responsibility of my Department are currently planned, or are being built, in these constituencies as shown in the following table. Many of these projects, for example the West Coast Main Line modernisation, by their very nature benefit a number of constituencies and also benefit people living in many other constituencies.
| Constituency | Project | Decision date
|
|---|
| Alyn and Deeside | West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Bassetlaw | Al Peterborough to Blythe Grade Separated Junction. | March 2001(7)
|
| |
|
| Birmingham Northfield | Highway Maintenance PFI Scheme—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | October 2003
|
| Northfield Relief Bypass | December 2000 PA(8)
|
| |
|
| Birmingham Perry Barr | Highway Maintenance PFI Scheme—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | October 2003
|
| |
|
| Outer Circle Bus Showcase—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2000
|
| |
|
| Bradford West | Yorkshire Yellow School buses—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003
|
| Yorcard Integrated Public Transport Smartcard—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003 PA
|
| |
|
| Braintree | Felixstowe to Nuneaton Rail Gauge Enhancement—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | 26 February 2003
|
| |
|
| Conwy | West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Coventry North West | Coventry Quality Bus Network—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003 PA 1996
|
| West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Coventry South | Coventry Quality Bus Network—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003 PA
|
| A45 / A46 Tollbar End Improvement—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | April 2003(9)
|
| West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Dover | Southern Region Rail Power Supply Upgrade Project—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | Early 2002
|
| |
|
| Ealing North | Streetlighting PFI schemes | Project Review Group(10)decision 19/8/04
|
| LU PFI Prestige (Oyster-smart travel cards) | August 1998
|
| LU PFI Power (power supply) | August 1998
|
| LU PFI Connect (radio and communications systems) | November 1999
|
| LU PPP financial close Tube Lines | December 2002
|
| LU PPP Metronet | April 2003
|
| These schemes benefit the entire London Underground network and are not specific to this constituency. | March 1999
|
| |
|
| Eltham | Southern Region Rail Power Supply Upgrade Project—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | Early 2002
|
| |
|
| Feltham and Heston | Southern Region Rail Power Supply Upgrade Project—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | Early 2002
|
| LU PFI Prestige (Oyster-smart travel cards)—This scheme benefits the entire London Underground network and is not specific to this constituency. | August 1998
|
| Hammersmith and Fulham | LU PFI Prestige (Oyster-smart travel cards) | August 1998
|
| LU PFI Power (power supply) | August 1998
|
| LU PFI Connect (radio and communications systems) | November 1999
|
| LU PPP financial close Tube Lines | December 2002
|
| LU PPP Metronet | April 2003
|
| LU PFI BTP accommodation.These schemes benefit the entire London Underground network and are not specific to this constituency. | March 1999
|
| |
|
| Hendon | LU PFI Prestige (Oyster-smart travel cards) | August 1998
|
| LU PFI Power (power supply) | August 1998
|
| LU PFI Connect (radio and communications systems) | November 1999
|
| LU PPP financial close Tube Lines | December 2002
|
| LU PPP Metronet | April 2003
|
| LU PFI BTP accommodation.These schemes benefit the entire London Underground network and are not specific to this constituency. | March 1999
|
| |
|
| Hornsey and Wood Green | LU PFI Prestige (Oyster-smart travel cards) | August 1998
|
| LU PFI Power (power supply) | August 1998
|
| LU PFI Connect (radio and communications systems) | November 1999
|
| LU PPP financial close Tube Lines | December 2002
|
| LU PPP Metronet | April 2003
|
| LU PFI BTP accommodation.These schemes benefit the entire London Underground network and are not specific to this constituency | March 1999
|
| |
|
| Ilford North | LU PFI Prestige (Oyster-smart travel cards)—This scheme benefits the entire London Underground network and is not specific to this constituency. | August 1998
|
| Kettering | Corby Link Road (borders Kettering Constituency)—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | 2002 PA 2003 PA
|
| Isham Bypass—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | 2003 PA
|
| |
|
| Knowsley South | M62 Junction 6 | March 2001(11)
|
| Merseytram Line 1 (Light Rail)—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2002
|
| |
|
| Lancaster and Wyre | West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Leeds North East | Yorcard Integrated Public Transport Smartcard—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003 PA
|
| |
|
| Leeds West | Yorcard Integrated Public Transport Smartcard—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003 PA
|
| |
|
| Leicester East | Upperton Road Viaduct Maintenance Scheme | 2003 PA
|
| |
|
| Lewisham Deptford | East London Line Extension | 2001
|
| LU PFI Prestige (Oyster-smart travel cards) LU PFI Power (power supply) | August 1998
|
| |
|
| LU PFI Connect (radio and communications systems) | August 1998
|
| LU PPP financial close Tube Lines | November 1999
|
| LU PPP Metronet | December 2002
|
| LU PFI BTP accommodation | April 2003
|
| These schemes benefit the entire London Underground network and are not specific to this constituency | March 1999
|
| Southern Region Rail Power Supply Upgrade Project— This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | Early 2002
|
| |
|
| Liverpool Riverside | Merseytram Line 1 (Light Rail)—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2002
|
| |
|
| Manchester Withington | Manchester Urban Traffic Control—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2000
|
| South East Manchester Multi Modal Strategy (SEMMMS)—Quality Bus Corridor—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is. not specific to this constituency. | August 2003
|
| |
|
| Milton Keynes North East | Central Milton Keynes Public Transport Access Improvements—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003 PA
|
| Integrated Transport Scheme—Bus Network—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2000 PA
|
| West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Northampton South | West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| Quality Bus Network—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003
|
| Reading East | M4 Junction 11 (Green Park) | 2001 PA
|
| |
|
| Reading West | M4 Junction 11 (Green Park) | 2001 PA
|
| |
|
| Rugby and Kenilworth | Rugby Western Bypass—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2000 PAApril 2003(12)February 2003(13)June 1998
|
| A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | April 2003(12)
|
| Ml Junction 19 | February 2003(13)
|
| West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Sheffield Attercliffe | Yorcard Integrated Public Transport Smartcard—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003 PA
|
| |
|
| Sheffield Hillsborough | Yorcard Integrated Public Transport Smartcard—This scheme benefits constituencies across its area of operation and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2003 PA
|
| |
|
| Sittingbourne and Sheppey | Southern Region Rail Power Supply Upgrade Project—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | Early 2002
|
| |
|
| Stockton North | South Stockton Link Road—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | December l999
|
| |
|
| Stoke-on-Trent Central | West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Stoke-on-Trent North | West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Stoke-on-Trent South | West Coast Main Line Modernisation—This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Thurrock | West Thurrock Regeneration Route (Phase 1) | February 2003
|
| Felixstowe to Nuneaton Rail Gauge Enhancement, London Route— This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | 26 February 2003
|
| |
|
| Tyne Bridge | Centrelink (Public Transport Scheme) | December 2000
|
| Quayside Public Transport | December 2000
|
| Central Motorway East (A167M)— This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | 2000
|
| |
|
| Wansbeck | Al Morpeth to Felton Dualling— This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | July 2003(14)
|
| |
|
| Waveney | South Lowestoft Relief Road— This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | 2000 PA
|
| |
|
| Wolverhampton North East | Wolverhampton Centre Access and Integrated Transport Interchange— This scheme benefits nearby constituencies and is not specific to this constituency | December 2000 PA
|
| West Coast Main Line Modernisation— This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
| Wolverhampton South East | Wolverhampton Centre Access and Integrated Transport Interchange— This scheme benefits nearby constituencies and is not specific to this constituency. | December 2000 PA
|
| West Coast Main Line Modernisation— This scheme benefits constituencies along its entire route and is not specific to this constituency. | June 1998
|
| |
|
(7) Date entered the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements
(8) PA-Provisionally Approved and subject to completion of the relevant statutory procedures and final approval by Ministers
(9) Date entered the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements
(10) Project Review Group (PRG)-a treasury led interdepartmental group that takes decisions on the suitability of schemes for PFI.
(11) Date entered the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements
(12) Date entered the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements
(13) Date entered the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements
(14) Date entered the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements
Notes:
1. Major projects are taken to be those with a capital cost of £5 million or over.
2. This answer does not cover any transport matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament or the National Assembly for Wales.
3. Unless stated otherwise, the "decision date" is the date when the decision to fund was taken.
4. The list has been compiled on the basis that the project or its route is physically located in the relevant constituency. However, some complex projects such as West Coast Main Line Modernisation and Channel Tunnel Rail Link will benefit many nearby constituencies. Thus, the following constituencies will be beneficiaries of the projects listed:
West Coast Main Line Modernisation
Bootle
Clydebank & Milngavie
Glasgow Govan
Glasgow Maryhill
Liverpool Riverside
Manchester Withington
Wallasey
West Lancashire
Wirral West
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
CTRL
5. There are no major infrastructure transport projects within the responsibility of my Department relevant to the following constituencies:
Aberdeen Central
Ayr
Blaydon
Blyth Valley
Bootle
Burton
Cardiff West
Clwyd South
Clydebank and Milngavie
Cynon Valley
Cynon Valley
Forest of Dean
Glasgow Govan
Glasgow Maryhill
Loughborough
Monmouth
North West Leicestershire
Ochil
Stevenage
Stourbridge
Wallasey
West Lancashire
Wirral West
25 Mar 2004 : Column 981W
