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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 25 October 2004
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Bona Vacantia
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Solicitor-General how much fell due to the state bona vacantia in the last year for which figures are available; how much of this was released under her discretionary powers; what plans she has to reform the law and practice relating to the application of bona vacantia; and if she will make a statement. [192083]
The Solicitor-General: The Treasury Solicitor's Department collected £19,106,467 from bona vacantia, after deducting expenses, in the financial year 2003–04.
The Treasury Solicitor made discretionary payments of £2,697,827 in the same year.
The Government has no plans to reform the law relating to the application of bona vacantia. However, the Treasury Solicitor has recently reviewed the policy on making discretionary payments from the assets of dissolved companies and is discussing with HM Treasury what changes, if any, to make to the current practice.
TRANSPORT
Drink-drive Limits
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he supports the proposals to harmonise drink-drive limits in EU countries; and if he will make a statement. [192349]
Mr. Jamieson: Whilst the Government agree with the European Commission about the desirability of concerted action by member states to combat drink driving, we have made it clear that our priority for reducing drink-related crashes and casualties is through effective enforcement of existing controls. There are therefore no plans at present to reduce the legal alcohol limit for drivers to bring it into line with a number of other EU states.
Motorways
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of competition in the provision of operating services for toll roads in the UK. [192079]
Mr. Jamieson:
There has been no formal assessment. However, we are confident from past experience that there has been sufficient competition to ensure value for money.
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Child Pedestrian Deaths
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many child pedestrian deaths there were in each of the last 10 years. [192874]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the table.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 160 |
| 1995 | 132 |
| 1996 | 131 |
| 1997 | 138 |
| 1998 | 103 |
| 1999 | 107 |
| 2000 | 107 |
| 2001 | 107 |
| 2002 | 79 |
| 2003 | 74 |
Source:
Road Casualties Great Britain: 2003 Annual Report
Navigational Aids
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his Answer of 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 311W, on navigational aids, what further progress has been made on ensuring that the Irish Government meets the full cost of navigational aids in territorial waters; and if he will list the (a) meetings he has had and (b) representations he has received on the subsidy for Irish navigation since April. [192197]
Mr. Jamieson: My officials working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, are maintaining an active dialogue with officials of the Irish Government Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR) to identify ways of addressing the imbalance of light dues revenue between the UK and Ireland, in the context of the provision of integrated GLA services for the British Isles.
Since April my Department has received one representation on this issue from the Independent Light Dues Forum.
Private Transport Projects
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport against what criteria proposals for private transport infrastructure projects are assessed by his Department. [192236]
Mr. McNulty: Any private transport infrastructure project which comes before this Department for approval is considered on its individual merits, in the light of all material considerations.
Railways
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the decision to permit First Great Western to increase the number of intercity trains stopping at Slough; and what plans he has to assess the impact of this decision. [192943]
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Mr. McNulty: The minimum service level for the franchise is set out in the Passenger Service Requirement which can only be changed by the Strategic Rail Authority. I understand First Great Western consulted extensively on its new timetable, which will take effect from 12 December.
Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department gives train operating companies on the appropriateness of discharging effluent onto the track. [193096]
Mr. McNulty: All new trains built since 1988 discharge into retention tanks which are emptied at depots rather than directly onto the track. This has since been made a requirement of Railway Group Standards. There is no requirement to convert existing direct discharge vehicles but their numbers will reduce as older trains are withdrawn from service and new ones take their place.
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate possible health and safety implications for commuters between Droitwich Spa and Birmingham of serious overcrowding on rail services. [192917]
Mr. McNulty: Trains are designed and built to function safely even when full of passengers. The responsibility for the day-to-day safety, welfare and convenience of passengers using the railway rests with the train operating companies.
I have been informed by the SRA that 'short-formation' two-car carriages have sometimes replaced three car services on a certain morning peak time service between Droitwich Spa and Birmingham New Street. However, I understand that over the next three months the proportion of three-car units used on the service will increase.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the length of time a commuter should regularly have to stand on a train. [192353]
Mr. McNulty: The Department has not undertaken any assessment of the length of time rail passengers may be required to stand throughout their journey. The Rail Safety and Standards Board is currently carrying out research into the health and safety effects on rail passengers of crowding on trains, where passengers may be required to stand while travelling. They are expected to report on their findings later this year.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public subsidy has been paid to Arriva Trains Northern in the current financial year; and what the projected level of public subsidy that will be paid to Arriva for the provision of Northern Rail passenger services will be after 17 October. [191641]
Mr. McNulty:
The net franchise payments for each year of the Arriva Trains Northern franchise 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. The new Northern Franchise has been signed and will
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commence on 12 December 2004. Subsidy payments for Arriva for the period from 17 October until the commencement of the new franchise have not yet been formulated.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public subsidy has been paid to First North Western in the current financial year; and what the projected level of public subsidy that will be paid to the First Group for the provision of Northern Rail passenger services will be after 17 October. [191642]
Mr. McNulty: The net franchise payments for each year of the First North Western franchise 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. The new Northern Franchise has been signed and will commence on 12 December 2004. Subsidy payments for First Group for the period from 17 October until the commencement of the new franchise have not yet been formulated.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the financial implications are of transferring more responsibility for railways in Scotland to the Scottish Executive; and if he will make a statement. [191900]
Mr. McNulty: The department is working with the Scottish Executive, the Office of Rail Regulation and Network Rail to identify an appropriate resource transfer from the UK Government to the Scottish Executive to reflect the new responsibilities for railways that "The Future of Rail" proposed should transfer to the Scottish Ministers. The changes outlined in the White Paper remain subject to agreement on such a transfer of resources.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the (a) rail passenger partnership, (b) rail performance fund, (c) incremental output statement, (d) rail freight grant and (e) freight small schemes fund. [192238]
Mr. McNulty: In January 2003 all discretionary schemes previously managed by the Strategic Rail Authority were suspended. This included the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme (RPP), the Rail Performance Fund (RPF), the Incremental Output Statement (IOS) and the Freight Facilities Grant (FFG). FFG continues to be available in Wales and Scotland through funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Executive. The Company Neutral Revenue Support programme is providing significant support for rail freight.
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