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21 Oct 2004 : Column 866W—continued
Milford Haven (Liquefied Gas Storage)
Lembit Öpik:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions his Department has had with the Milford Haven Port Authority in respect of the proposed development by Petroplus of a liquefied natural gas storage facility; and if he will make a statement; [191645]
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(2) what discussions his officials have had with Milford Haven Port Authority in respect to the drawing up of a risk assessment for the proposed Petroplus liquefied natural gas storage facility; and if he will make a statement; [191651]
(3) what discussions his Department has had with the International Maritime Organisation in respect to the proposed Petroplus liquefied natural gas storage facility; and if he will make a statement; [191652]
(4) what assessment his Department has made of the offshore risks posed by the proposed Petroplus liquefied natural gas storage facility; and if he will make a statement; [191653]
(5) what plans he has to raise the proposed Petroplus liquefied natural gas storage facility with (a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) the Environment Agency, (c) the Countryside Council for Wales and (d) TRANSEC; and if he will make a statement. [191654]
Mr. Jamieson: The Milford Haven Port Authority is an independent statutory undertaker and the Department does not have a role in the decision-making process in respect of the Petroplus development. Our only contact with the Authority has been to obtain information, given parliamentary interest in the development.
We understand that risk assessments have been undertaken for the project by the Port Authority and the developer and have been accepted by others involved. The Department has not been involved in these assessments. Milford Haven Port Authority has an oil spill contingency plan approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after appropriate consultation with other statutory bodies. The plan will need to be reviewed in the light of the new development.
The Department has had no contact with the International Maritime Organisation. The existing Port Facility Security Plan will need to be reviewed and approved by the Department's Transport Security team.
The Petroplus project has had to obtain consents, not just from the planning authority but also from the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales and to the Port Authority's knowledge has satisfied them in all respects.
MOT
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many MOT testing stations in the UK are trialling a new computer system; which stations are involved; what reports he has received about delays being caused by the new equipment; and if he will make a statement. [191187]
Mr. Jamieson
[holding answer 15 October 2004]: 43 MOT testing stations including five operated by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency are trialling a new computerised service for administering the MOT testing scheme. The trials involve volunteer testing stations recording data on MOT tests both electronically and manually as well as testing other important aspects of the computerised service. Some testing stations have also experienced difficulties operating the new system, resulting in longer test times.
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Further trials are programmed within a wider group of testing stations later this year. These will test changes to software to address issues found during the initial trials and the computerised system's conformity with contracted service levels designed to ensure MOT tests are not delayed.
Motorways
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what average daily volume of traffic passed (a) between junctions 11 and 20 of the M6 motorway, (b) along similar lengths of the M6 motorway either side of junctions 11 to 20 and (c) along other comparable parts of the motorway network in the last period for which figures are available. [192076]
Mr. Jamieson: The figures in the following table provided by the Highways Agency show two-way flows (Average Annual Daily Traffic-AADT-for 2003 unless otherwise indicated) along the section of motorway as indicated.
| Junctions | Flow AADT |
|---|---|
| J12-J13 | 104400 |
| J13-J14 | 105800 |
| J14-J15 | 99000 |
| J15-J16 | 107700 |
| J16-J17 | 119200 |
| J17-J18 | 122000 |
| J18-J19 | 121400 |
| J19-J20 | 103200 |
| Junctions | Flow AADT |
|---|---|
| M1-J1 | 69100 |
| Jl-J2 | 76300 |
| J2-J3 | 106600 |
| J3-J4 | 102800 |
| J4-J4A | 98100 |
| J4A-J5 | 142900 |
| J5-J6 | 118400 |
| J6-J7 | 132600 |
| J7-J8 (East) | 121100 |
| J8 East-J8 West | 97200 |
| J8 West-J9 | 159200 |
| J9-J10 | 150100 |
| J10-J10A | 140000 |
| J10A-J11 | 99500 |
| Junctions | Flow AADT |
|---|---|
| J19-J20 | 103200 |
| J20-J21 | (13)148300 |
| J21-J21A | 129900 |
| J21A-J22 | 99100 |
| J22-J23 | 101000 |
| J23-J24 | 98100 |
| J24-J25 | 119900 |
| J25-J6 | 93000 |
| J27-J28S of Services | 85200 |
| J28-J29 | 90500 |
| J29-J30 | 76200 |
| J30-J31 | 139600 |
(13) Year 2002 as figures not available for 2003
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(c) Other comparable parts of the motorway network.
It is not easy to indentify other parts of the motorway network which might be comparable without a specified set of criteria for comparison.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he has put in place to collect data on the overall time gained or lost by motorists passing through the West Midlands as a result of the operation of the M6 Toll road. [192077]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency, together with local authority partners and Midlands Expressway Ltd., have set up a programme of collecting and reporting information on traffic flows on the M6 Toll road and the adjacent road network since the road opened in December 2003. Assessment of before and after impacts will be reported after three months, 12 months and five years of opening.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effects on time costs for motorists travelling (a) on the M42 between junctions 3 and 9, (b) on the M6 in Warwickshire between the M1 and the M6 toll road and (c) on the M6 in Staffordshire between junctions 11A and 13 as a result of the changes in traffic levels arising from the opening of the M6 toll road. [192078]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency's three month report identifying the impacts of M6 Toll indicates that the M6 Toll has removed a significant level of traffic from the existing M6 which has improved operating conditions and journey times. A full breakdown of time savings can be found in the Report (M6 Toll Traffic Monitoring Study—three month Traffic Impact Study Report) which is in the House of Commons Library and on the Highways Agency's website. However, these time savings have not been converted into 'time costs'.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the suitability of the operating contract for the M6 Toll road as a model for future toll road operations. [192080]
Mr. Jamieson: If the Government were to proceed with any future toll road proposal, it would determine what delivery arrangements were most appropriate.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish his updated assessment of the operation of the M6 Toll road and its effects on traffic volumes on the M6 motorway. [192082]
Mr. Jamieson:
In June this year the Highways Agency published a report covering the first three months impacts of the M6 Toll road. The Highways Agency and other interested parties including Midland Expressway Limited continue to monitor the M6 Toll and its effects on the surrounding road network. It is the intention to publish a second report, approximately 12 months after the opening of the M6 Toll, in December 2003. This will provide a more detailed evaluation of the before and after situation.
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Railways
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many points failures there were between Swindon and Paddington in each month of the last two years for which figures are available. [192944]
Mr. McNulty: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail will respond directly to my hon. Friend.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is in respect of the future level of rail fares relative to the overall inflation rate within the economy. [193098]
Mr. McNulty: In the Secretary of State's statement to the House on 19 June 2003 following the outcome of the Strategic Rail Authority's Fares Review, he stated that the SRA had concluded that regulated fares should continue, but they should rise by RPI plus 1 per cent. from January 2004. Rises in unregulated fares are a commercial matter for the train operating companies.
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects to announce a decision in relation to the future of the Integrated Kent Rail Franchise; [192801]
(2) if he will provide support for the development of a fast rail link between East Kent and London, including Manston Airport. [192802]
Mr. McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority wrote to stakeholders in July letting them know that the Invitation to Tender and Stakeholder Briefing Document would be issued in the autumn.
With regard to the provision of services to Manston Airport, the SRA has not as yet received any proposals for a new station in the vicinity of Manston Airport and any such proposals will need to be the subject of detailed analysis as set out in the SRA New Stations document published in September. Funding for such a station will also need to be considered from the outset.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much money the Government have invested in the rail network since 1 May 1997; [191460]
(2) how much money the Government expect to spend in improvements to the rail network over the next five years; [191464]
(3) how much the Government plan to invest in improving the safety of railways over the next five years; [191469]
(4) how much it will cost to maintain the current standard of safety on railways over the next five years. [191470]
Mr. McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Tamworth on 19 October 2004, Official Report, column 611W.
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to refurbish (a) High Wycombe station and (b) Marlow station; and if he will make a statement. [193002]
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Mr. McNulty: High Wycombe station is managed on a day-to-day basis by Chiltern Railways, and Marlow station by First Great Western Link. As part of their franchise agreements these train operating companies are required to maintain a minimum standard of facilities at stations in terms of waiting, accommodation, the provision of information, and cleaning and maintenance.
At High Wycombe station, platform extension works to allow for seven car trains are being finalised. Work to replace the existing station subway with a new footbridge and lifts is due for completion in 2005. Further station redevelopment proposals (including a new booking hall and increased car-parking facilities) are being developed in conjunction with the local authority.
There are no plans to refurbish Marlow station.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total subsidy was from the Strategic Rail Authority to Connex for the South Eastern franchise in each year of operation. [192228]
Mr. McNulty: The Connex South Eastern rail franchise commenced on 13 October 1996 and was terminated on 8 November 2003. The net franchise payments for each year are set out in Appendix 3 of the Strategic Rail Authority's Annual Report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of track in the rail network have been (a) modernised and (b) replaced since privatisation. [189577]
Mr. McNulty: Network Rail advises that for each year between 1996–97 and 2003–04 the total length of track where re-railing has been carried out is as follows:
| Total track re-laid in miles | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 244 |
| 1997–98 | 283 |
| 1998–99 | 247 |
| 1999–2000 | 321 |
| 2000–01 | 661 |
| 2001–02 | 611 |
| 2002–03 | 628 |
| 2003–04 | 871 |
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