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Multi-modal Studies

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much has been spent by his Department on multi-modal studies since 1997; [212066]

(2) how many multi-modal studies have been commissioned since 1997; how many have been completed; and how many are still under way. [212100]

Mr. Darling: There were 33 multi-modal studies. 21 studies have been completed. On the final study, the A34 north from Southampton, we are currently considering the results of the scoping study before deciding what further work, if any, should be carried out. Since 1999–2000 financial year, the Department has spent approximately £33.5 million of expenditure relating to the Studies. No further such studies are planned.

Railways

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers travelled on the railways in each year since 1990. [212114]

Mr. Darling: The information requested can be found in Table 1.2 of the SRA publication, National Rail Trends, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to require rolling stock leasing companies to cut the charges which they impose for leases on railway rolling-stock; and if he will make a statement. [211492]

Charlotte Atkins: Rolling stock leases are between two private sector companies, the rolling stock company and the train operating company. However, as set out in the Railways White Paper, because the Government pays for much of their cost through its funding of the rail
 
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industry, it is important to ensure that they represent good value for the taxpayer. The Department for Transport's proposals to secure best value from rolling stock leases are set out in the Future of Rail White Paper.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to establish a rail industry national archive; and if he will make a statement. [212203]

Estelle Morris: I have been asked to reply.

The National Railway Museum (NRM), a museum sponsored by DCMS as part of the National Museum for Science and Industry, plans to establish Search Engine", a Railway Industry National Archive at NRM in York.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of disposing of unwanted assets of the Strategic Rail Authority when it is abolished; [212115]

(2) what budget has been allocated for redundancy payments connected to the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority; [212118]

(3) what budget has been allocated to meet costs arising from the abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority. [212119]

Mr. Darling: It is not possible to give precise estimates of transitional costs at this stage. They will be met from the existing budgets of DfT and the SRA. In the longer term, the new arrangements for rail are expected to cost less than the present ones.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many staff he expects to transfer from the Strategic Rail Authority to DfT-Rail; [212116]

(2) how many jobs he expects will be lost when the Strategic Rail Authority is abolished. [212121]

Mr. Darling: At present about 430 people work in the SRA and about 100 in the Rail Directorates of DfT. We estimate that the new DfT Rail Group will have some 250 to 300 staff and that some 50 or so other posts for which SRA staff will be eligible may be created in other organisations. It is not possible to say how many staff will transfer from the SRA to DfT since the new posts in DfT will be open to staff of both the SRA and the DfT Rail Directorates. It is not possible to say how many jobs will be lost because there will be a degree of natural wastage.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what redundancy packages will be offered to staff at the Strategic Rail Authority who lose their jobs because of its abolition. [212120]

Mr. Darling: Any SRA staff made redundant as a result of SRA abolition will be offered packages in accordance with their existing terms and conditions.

Trust Ports

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Harbour Revision Order put forward by trust ports will be subject to public inquiry. [213160]

 
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Mr. Jamieson: Arrangements for any inquiries into these Orders will be announced in due course.

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on the payment of a levy to the Exchequer when a trust port is privatised voluntarily. [213161]

Mr. Jamieson: No trust port has sought to submit a scheme for voluntary privatisation in the lifetime of the current administration. Should a scheme be submitted we would consider the level at which the levy should be set, in accordance with the Ports Act 1991, in the light of the circumstances of the case.

CABINET OFFICE

Policy Co-ordination

22. Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchyof Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about policy co-ordination. [211861]

Mr. Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 709.

23. Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with Lord Birt about policy co-ordination. [211862]

Mr. Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr.Prisk) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 711.

Mr. Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister about policy co-ordination. [211863]

Mr. Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 709.

Ministerial Functions

25. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with the National Audit Office about the costs of separating his role from that of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. [211864]

Mr. Milburn: None.

Fiona Gordon

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the job description is of Fiona Gordon, an employee of his Department; [213310]

(2) what (a) salary, (b) pension rights and (c) other benefits Fiona Gordon claims from his Department. [213327]

Mr. Miliband: Fiona Gordon is no longer employed as a special adviser.
 
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Kirpan

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will remove restrictions on the wearing of the kirpan by Sikh employees and Sikh members of the public in Government buildings. [211294]

Mr. Miliband: The Government are committed to promoting equality of opportunity and valuing diversity in the civil service, including recognising and respecting people's different religions or beliefs. Accordingly, there is no reason that Sikh civil servants or members of the public should not wear the Kirpan in government buildings, except in places where security policy dictates otherwise and similar items are also banned. In these cases, Departments will have arrangements in place for security storage where the Kirpan can be left during working hours.

Regulatory Impact Unit

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) staffing and (b) running costs of the Regulatory Impact Unit was in the last year for which figures are available. [211896]

Mr. Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor (Ruth Kelly) gave to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 14 December 2004, Official Report, column 1004W.

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