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24 Feb 2005 : Column 764W—continued
Blue Badge Scheme
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how application forms for disabled badges are made available to the public; and what the cost to public funds is of each method. [217479]
Charlotte Atkins: Application forms are available, on request, from local authorities. which are responsible for the administration of the Blue Badge Scheme. There is no statutory procedure that they are required to follow for the production or distribution of the forms.
It is for individual local authorities to allocate appropriate resources to administer the Blue Badge Scheme. Under existing regulations they are able to charge up to £2 for each badge they issue, to contribute towards these costs.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many tins of beans have been distributed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency as part of its recent campaign; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [217074]
Mr. Jamieson: DVLA distributed 36 tins of baked beans as part of an advertising campaign aimed at road tax evaders in the London area during January 2005. The cost of this was £305, which includes design and printing of labels and purchase of tins of beans.
These tins were distributed to a number of radio stations in London, in order to generate on-air discussion about road tax evasion, and the disposal by crushing of untaxed vehicles.
M5
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the level of congestion on the M5 between junctions 23 and 25. [217408]
Mr. Jamieson: The level of congestion on the M5 between Junctions 23 and 25 was considered as part of the London to South West and Wales Multi Modal Study (SWARMMS) commissioned by the Government office for the south-west. The final report in May 2002 stated that the motorway's operation was generally satisfactory at this location.
The Highways Agency records traffic flows and continually monitors the operation of the motorway. Although there has been an increase in traffic flows since the SWARMMS report this has not had a significant impact on the operation of the motorway.
Northern Trains
Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the remit is of the study commissioned by the Strategic Rail Authority into the respecification of the Northern Trains franchise; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) full remit and (b) final report when completed. [214469]
Mr. McNulty:
The contractors are being commissioned to provide advice to the Strategic Rail Authority for the review of the services in the Northern franchise. The review, which has always been part of the franchise specification, is required as the franchise has been derived from a complex merger of others and has a service pattern which has not been substantially reviewed for at least 10 years.
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I will place a copy of the specification to contractors for the review of the Northern franchise in the Library of the House once the contracts have been finalised. I will also publish a summary of the findings of the contractor when available.
Railway Stations
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway stations have (a) opened and (b) been re-opened since 1 May 1997. [211851]
Charlotte Atkins [pursuant to the reply, 1 February 2005, c. 763W]: The information provided should have been that since 1 May 1997 13 new stations have opened and 18 stations have re-opened.
Travel Costs
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the change in the relative costs of travelling by (a) car, (b) train and (c) bus has been in each year since 1975, taking 1975 as a base figure of 100, and discounting inflation. [216421]
Charlotte Atkins [holding answer 21 February 2005]: The following table shows the information requested on real changes in the cost of transport as indices based on 1975 = 100.
(6) "All motoring" includes the cost of purchase, maintenance, fuel tax and insurance.
Note:
The overall cost of motoring has fallen in real terms by 11 per cent. between 1975 and 2004. Over the same period, rail fares and bus fares have risen by 70 per cent. and 66 per cent. respectively.
Source:
Retail Prices Index, Office for National Statistics
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Roads (Newcastle)
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Highways Agency has been approached by Newcastle city council for (a) a 50 mph speed limit and (b) additional (i) accesses and (ii) slip roads on the A1 Newcastle Western By Pass between the Ponteland Road and Kingston Park Road interchanges. [216493]
Mr. Jamieson: Newcastle city council has not approached the Highways Agency for a 50 mph speed limit or additional accesses and slip roads on the A1 Newcastle Western Bypass between Ponteland Road and Kingston Park Road interchanges.
Train Operating Companies (Car Parking Charges)
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to discourage train operating companies from introducing car parking charges where none currently exist. [217998]
Mr. McNulty: The charging for car parking facilities, is a matter for individual train operating companies.
WALES
Regional Assistance
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received about mismanagement of EU regional development grants; and if he will make a statement. [217278]
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what procedures are in place in his Department to ensure that EU regional development grants are used in accordance with European Commission rules. [217280]
Mr. Touhig: The Wales Office does not administer the European Structural Funds in Wales. The Managing Authority for European Structural Funds in Wales is the Welsh Assembly. It operates a management and control system that the Commission has agreed fully meets its regulatory requirements. This is underlined by the performance award worth £65.4 million given to the Assembly by the European Commission last year for their management of the programmes.
Welsh Language Board
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the outcome of his latest meeting with the Chair and Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board. [217516]
Mr. Hain: I last met the Chair, Meri Huws, and the Chief Executive, Meirion Prys Jones, on 24 January.
We discussed a number of matters concerning the promotion of the Welsh language. The Government remain committed to the principle of treating Welsh and English on a basis of equality in the conduct of public business in Wales.
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