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Level Crossings

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date a red light camera facility to detect crossing infringements was first installed at Beddingham level crossing on the A27; for what reasons it remains inactive; and on what date he expects that it will be operational. [200693]

Mr. McNulty: This is an operational matter for Network Rail who will write to the hon. Member.

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent to date in connection with the installation of the red light camera facility at the Beddingham level crossing on the A27. [200694]

Mr. McNulty: This is an operational matter for Network Rail who will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many manned level crossings are operated by each train operating company. [199418]

Mr. McNulty: Network Rail, as the mainline railway infrastructure manager, operates all level crossings on its national network.

Local Transport Authorities

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when local transport authorities will be informed whether bids for funding for projects have been granted. [200095]

 
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Charlotte Atkins: [holding answer 29 November 2004]: The Department is currently considering all of the bids for funding under the local transport plan process. The date for decisions for this years settlement has yet to be confirmed, but an announcement will be made in December.

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date each local transport authority was informed about the postponement of decisions on each local transport project. [200096]

Charlotte Atkins [holding answer 29 November 2004]: Decisions on the individual schemes that will comprise this years local transport plan settlement have yet to be made. However, arrangements are in place to ensure that local authorities are informed of decisions as soon as possible after the statement to Parliament.

Local Transport Plans (South West Region)

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the South West Regional Development Agency on the (a) financial and (b) engineering viability of the local transport plan in each local transport authority in the South West Region. [200199]

Charlotte Atkins: None. It is for a local authority promoting a local transport scheme to ensure its proposal is supported by a robust appraisal case, and for them to discuss any relevant issues with regional stakeholders. The Department would consider the appraisal case carefully, as part of the decision making process.

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many proposals for final approval from each local transport authority in the South West region have been put on hold. [200200]

Charlotte Atkins: The final decision on the schemes that will comprise this years local transport plan settlement, which to postpone and those that should not be taken forward has yet to be made. The Department is currently considering the relative merits of the proposals received in all of regions and an announcement will be made shortly.

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many requests for immediate approval he has received from Somerset county council in relation to the North West Taunton Package; and what discussions he has had with the council on the likely impact of delays in approval. [200203]

Charlotte Atkins: Since September my officials have been in discussion with Somerset on the final appraisal of the North West Taunton Package following the approval of the Compulsory Purchase Order for the scheme. As part of these discussions the council have expressed their views on the timing of the scheme to officials in both the DfT and the Government Office. In addition the Department has received a letter from Councillor Carroll and an email from the Leader of the Council, both dated 8 November, which set out Somerset's position in relation to the scheme.
 
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Loran C Navigational System

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is the intention of the Government to continue their programme of investment in the Loran C navigational system. [200460]

Mr. Jamieson: The General Lighthouse Authorities are planning to operate an experimental Loran C signal from a site near Rugby for a 2-year period, starting early in 2005. Decisions on possible future investment in Loran C will be made in the light of the experience gained and on international developments in the use of this system.

Ministerial Visits

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Ministers from his Department have visited the London borough of Wandsworth in each of the last five years; and what the purpose was of each visit. [199666]

Charlotte Atkins: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. Since that date no Ministers from the Department have undertaken a departmental visit to Wandsworth.

Train Services (Hereford)

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the First Great Western and Thames Trains about possible reductions to the direct service from Hereford to Paddington; [200485]

(2) what representations he has received about the direct rail service from Hereford to London. [200486]

Mr. McNulty: None.

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations are in place to preserve the frequency of direct trains from Hereford to London; and if he will make a statement. [200487]

Mr. McNulty: Train operating companies must provide a minimum level of service as prescribed by their franchise agreements. Services beyond these minimum levels are provided at operators' discretion on a commercial basis. Under its franchise with the Strategic Rail Authority First Great Western is contractually required to provide one service per day in each direction between Hereford and London to arrive in London by 1000 and depart no earlier than 1700. There is no contractual requirement for First Great Western Link (previously Thames Trains) to run services between Hereford and London.

Unadopted Roads

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many unadopted roads there are in (a) Lancashire and (b) Pendle. [199929]

Charlotte Atkins: This information is not held centrally.
 
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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Commercial Radio Licences

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions Ofcom has held regarding Jazz FM's radio licence requirements; and if she will make a statement. [199519]

Estelle Morris: The matter raised is the responsibility of Ofcom as independent regulator. DCMS officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the criteria by which Ofcom assesses applications for changes to commercial radio licences; and if she will make a statement. [199520]

Estelle Morris: The criteria are set out in Section 106 of the Broadcasting Act 1990, as amended by Section 312 (3) of the Communications Act 2003, which states:

Conditions included in a licence for the purposes of subsection (1) may provide that Ofcom may consent to a departure from the character of the licensed service if, and only if, they are satisfied:

(a) that the departure would not substantially alter the character of the service;

(b) that the departure would not narrow the range of programmes available by way of relevant independent radio services to persons living in the area or locality for which the service is licensed to be provided;

(c) that, in the case of a local licence, the departure would be conducive to the maintenance or promotion of fair and effective competition in that area or locality; or

(d) that, in the case of a local licence, there is evidence that, amongst persons living in that area or locality, there is a significant demand for, or significant support for, the change that would result from the departure.

The matters to which Ofcom must have regard in determining for the purposes of this section the character of a service provided under a local licence include, in particular, the selection of spoken material and music in programmes included in the service.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the (a) name and (b) marketing of a commercial radio station is taken into consideration when commercial radio licence bids are considered. [199521]

Estelle Morris: The matter raised is the responsibility of Ofcom as independent regulator. DCMS officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

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