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22 Jul 2004 : Column 664W—continued
Public Relations
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the salary costs to the Department were for employees working in public relations and publicity in each year since 1997. [183858]
Mr. McNulty: The salary costs of staff employed by DfT(C), since its creation in May 2002, are as follows:
| (85)2002–03 | 2003–04 | |
|---|---|---|
| Press Office | 510 | 697 |
| Publicity (86) | 459 | 729 |
(85) From 28 May 2002. There was a high vacancy rate in this period as a result of the split of what is now DfT from the former Department of Transport Local Government and the Regions.
(86) Advertising and media buying for public information campaigns (e.g. Think! road safety), publishing (e.g. Rail Review), publication and distribution of information leaflets, posters etc.
Information for each of the financial years 1997–98 and 2001–02, when transport policy formed part of the remit of the former Departments' of Environment, Transport and the Regions and Transport, Local Government and the Regions (respectively), is not available in a comparable format.
Public Transport Subsidies
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned on the costs of public subsidies to public transport in the last five years. [184038]
Mr. Jamieson: In the last five years the Department has commissioned a number of research projects investigating the costs and benefits of public transport. Projects specifically investigating the effects of public subsidies included:
Monitoring Quality Partnerships (1999–2002)
Croydon Tramlink Impact Study (2000–01)
Evaluating Rural Bus Grant and Rural Bus Challenge (2001–04)
Monitoring Local Bus Tenders (2001–04)
Monitoring effects of extending BSOG to Community Transport (2003–04)
Further information about these and other research projects is available from the Research Database at www.rmd.dft.gov.uk.
Radioactive Materials (Shipment)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2004, Official Report, column 999W, on radioactive materials, what constitutes a justifiable reason. [182863]
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Mr. Jamieson: The use of the word 'justifiable' was intended to make clear that radioactive material being moved without a serious purpose would not be acceptable.
Rail Crossings (Safety Equipment)
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the audio and CCTV safety monitoring equipment installed in relation to the Medhurst Road, Edenbridge rail crossing has been approved by the Health and Safety Executive. [186072]
Dr. Howells: The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) approved the audio monitoring equipment installed at Medhurst Row, Edenbridge rail crossing. The HSE is not required to approve the CCTV monitoring equipment, which was fitted by Railtrack to gather evidence of level crossing user misuse.
Railways
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect on the punctuality performance of train operating companies of extensions of scheduled journey times; and if he will publish figures for punctuality performance for mainline services over the most recent 12 month period re-stated to be measured against pre-Hatfield scheduled journey times. [181548]
Mr. McNulty: Train operators can make timetable adjustments, which may lengthen or reduce journey times, so long as they do not exceed the maximum journey times stated in the Public Sector Requirement (PSR) for each franchise. To re-calculate the performance of services over the last 12 months against historic timetable schedules could be done only at disproportionate costs.
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much has been spent on the development of the Global System for Mobile Communications for Railways in each of the last seven years; and what the estimated cost is for each of the next five years; [184437]
(2) what the total cost of the development of the Train Control System was, excluding costs for erection; [184438]
(3) what the cost has been of erecting railway telecommunications masts intended for the Track Control System; [184439]
(4) what proportion of railway telecommunications masts on the West Coast Main Line are operational and supporting an interim voice radio system. [184440]
Mr. McNulty: These are operational matters for Network Rail. I have passed these questions to Network Rail, for them to respond directly to the hon. Member.
John Thurso:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the past and future funding for rail freight through (a) the Freight Small Schemes Fund, (b) incremental output statements for freight, (c) freight facilities grant and (d) track access charges. [180742]
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(2) if he will list the Strategic Rail Authority Freight Small Schemes Fund schemes (a) which have commenced, (b) where feasibility studies (i) have been completed and (ii) are continuing, (c) which have been placed on hold and (d) which have been cancelled, indicating in each case funding from the Strategic Rail Authority, (A) awarded, (B) approved and (C) projected in 2004–05. [180743]
Mr. McNulty: Ministers and officials in the Department meet regularly with the Strategic Rail Authority about a wide range of issues. Details of the Freight Small Schemes Fund are shown in the Strategic Rail Authority's 2002 Strategic Plan. Of those listed Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine, is set to go ahead following approval by the Scottish Executive. Bletchley-Claydon is being developed by the SRA but remains unfunded.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list out-of-court settlements to which (a) the Department, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority and (c) other agencies of the Department were party during the last 12 months, broken down by (i) date and (ii) amount; and who the other parties were in each case. [180748]
Mr. McNulty: The Department does not maintain a comprehensive central record of-out of court settlements entered into by itself, its Agencies and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). The table sets out payments by three of the Department's Agencies which were made in out of court settlements following the commencement of legal proceedings finalised in the financial year 2003–04. Disproportionate costs would be incurred in identifying generally ex gratia and other settlement payments. However, maladministration claims against the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have been settled for a total of around £0.5 million, including one case finalised at the very beginning of the current financial year. These claims followed on from a ruling by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in an earlier similar case that there had been maladministration in the carrying out of certain statutory functions relating to the safety of vessels.
Full details of the names of the parties and the circumstances of the cases have not been disclosed as this could be in breach of confidentiality either formally agreed with, or reasonably expected by, the other party. It would be disproportionately expensive to review each case to confirm the position and/or to write to the parties concerned to seek their consent to any disclosure.
The SRA was party to one out of court settlement in 2003–04 but the terms of the settlement expressly prohibit the parties from disclosing any details including the date, parties or amount of the settlement sum.
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For information on cases brought to Employment Tribunals, I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) today (UIN ref 181465).
No non-employment based, out of court settlements following the commencement of legal proceedings are recorded for the central Department in the financial year 2003–04.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the W. S. Atkins report for the Strategic Rail Authority on a North/South rail line with all commercially sensitive information removed. [180821]
Dr. Howells: I have asked the SRA to arrange for a revised text to be produced on this basis, and, once it is available I will place a copy in the Libraries of the House.
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