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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 16 March 2005
TRANSPORT
Crossrail
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to announce the final funding arrangements for Crossrail. [221656]
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Mr. Darling: A hybrid Bill to take powers for the construction of Crossrail was introduced into the House of Commons on 22 February 2005. We intend to bring forward proposals on the funding arrangements for Crossrail during the passage of the Bill.
Cycling Accidents
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) slight casualties suffered by cyclists on (i) urban roads and (ii) rural roads in each year since 2000 resulted from collisions involving (A) at least one motor vehicle, (B) no motor vehicles and (C) powered two-wheel vehicles. [218490]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
(1) Includes accidents involving pedal cycles, ridden horse and other non-motor vehicles.
(2) Included in the figure for "at least one motor vehicle".
Disabled Access
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been made available to improve disabled access transport services in Tamworth. [221927]
Charlotte Atkins: Regulations introduced under Part 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) require that all new public service vehicles used on local and scheduled service with a carrying capacity of more than 22 passengers, and all new rail vehicles, have to be accessible to disabled people. In addition, duties under Part 3 of the DDA require service providers to take reasonable steps to provide access to transport infrastructure such as bus station and railway stations.
On funding, the Government provide funding to improve access to public transport through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process. Local transport authorities in England outside London produce five-year LTPs, and report on progress against these plans in Annual Progress Reports (APRs). The first five-year plans were submitted in 2000. The following table details the relevant funding categories allocated to the Staffordshire Local Transport Plan area, which includes Tamworth.
Decisions on how to target funding towards specific projects and initiatives such as those to improve public transport accessibility are made at local level.
On access to the rail network, the SRA intends to consult on its Disability Strategy at the end of March. This will include priorities for improving accessibility at stations.
(3) Includes rural bus subsidy grant and both rural and urban bus challenge funding.
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Light Railways
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for companies operating light railways of (a) the new safety regime for light railways proposed by the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the European Urban Rail Directive; and what estimate he has made of the cost to light rail operating companies of meeting each of these safety provisions. [221710]
Charlotte Atkins: The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has consulted publicly on new railway safety regulations and on a supporting regulatory impact assessment (RIA). Comments were invited from all interested parties, including the light rail industry. The Department expects to receive the HSC's final proposals and RIA shortly. The Department is currently considering its response to the European Urban Rail Directive consultation.
Motorcycle Accidents
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) slight casualties suffered by riders of powered two-wheel vehicles in (i) urban areas and (ii) rural areas occurred (A) at signal-controlled junctions, (B) at other junctions and (C) while overtaking in the last period for which figures are available. [218431]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
(4) Includes junctions controlled by an authorised person, stop sign, give way sign or markings and uncontrolled junctions
It should be noted that a two-wheeled motor vehicle rider may have been injured either at a 'signal-controlled junction' while overtaking or at an 'other junction' while overtaking, since these are not mutually exclusive.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the projects being undertaken by his Department in respect of which information cannot be given in answer to parliamentary questions as a result of commercial confidentiality. [216627]
Charlotte Atkins:
A decision not to release information relating to any project as a result of commercial confidentiality is made on the basis of the specific request made in each parliamentary question.
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An assessment of commercial confidentiality may apply to specific elements within a project as well as to an entire project. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested.
Pedestrian Casualties
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrian casualties occurring on a footway in each year since 2000 resulted from a collision with a (a) motor vehicle and (b) pedal cycle. [218488]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Motor vehicles | Pedal cycles | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3,445 | 77 |
| 2001 | 3,504 | 78 |
| 2002 | 3,432 | 65 |
| 2003 | 3,453 | 72 |
Road Casualties (Children)
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of road casualties suffered by child (a) pedestrians and (b) cyclists in each year since 2000 occurred within 200 m of a school. [218489]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is not available.
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