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20 Jun 2005 : Column 680W—continued
A27
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on his plans for the A27 between Beddingham and Polegate, with particular reference to the Folkington link. [5139]
Dr. Ladyman: We have asked the Highways Agency to carry out further work on less environmentally damaging options for this section of the A27. That work should be available soon and we expect to make an announcement on the way forward in the autumn.
Air Travel Organisers Licensing Scheme
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend the air travel organisers licensing scheme to non-charter airlines. [5726]
Ms Buck: The Department is currently considering the Civil Aviation Authority's economic analysis and assessment of the likely regulatory impact of a range of options for the future financial protection of air travellers.
Aircraft Emissions
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to tackle aircraft emissions. [4379]
Ms Buck:
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 24 May 2005, Official Report, column 60W, to the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes). The Government's plans to tackle aircraft emissions are set out in The Future of Air Transport" white paper, which sets out the Government's belief that the best way of ensuring aviation contributes towards the goal of climate stabilisation would be through a well-designed emissions trading regime, for which the Government will press at international and European level.
20 Jun 2005 : Column 681W
Airport Expansion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Government policy for airport expansion in the UK. [4380]
Ms Buck: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 20W.
Buses
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money the Government provided for rural bus services in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; and what the projected figure is for 2005. [4358]
Ms Buck: Allocations to local authorities of Rural Bus Subsidy Grant were £48.5 million in 2003–04, £51 million in 2004–05 and £53 million in 2005–06.
In 2003, new awards totalling £20.3 million were announced in the final annual round of the Rural Bus Challenge (RBC) competition. Typically RBC awards provide project funding lasting for two to three years.
In addition, support for rural bus services was included in awards made under the Countryside Agency's Rural Transport Partnership and Parish Transport schemes. A total of over 250 awards were made by the Agency under these schemes in 2003–04, the last year new awards were made.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money was spent on rural bus services by the Government in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; and how much is projected to be spent in 2005. [4505]
Ms Buck: The actual or projected spend by this Department on rural bus services under the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus Challenge schemes is as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 61 |
| 2004–05 | 69 |
| 2005–06 (estimated) | 72 |
Awards under the Countryside Agency's Rural Transport Partnership and Parish Transport schemes have also included funding for the provision of rural bus services. Total spend under those schemes was £14 million in 2003–04 and £13.5 million in 2004–05 and the projected figure for 2005–06 is £8.4 million.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents involving buses there were in each year since 1997. [5279]
Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not available. The numbers shown in the following table are for bus/coach, this category is determined by the construction of the vehicle rather than its use and includes vehicles equipped to carry 17 or more seated passengers, regardless of whether or not the vehicle is being used in stage operation.
These figures are published each year in table 23 of Road Casualties Great Britain: Annual Report".
20 Jun 2005 : Column 682W
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 11,034 |
| 1998 | 11,585 |
| 1999 | 11,735 |
| 2000 | 11,524 |
| 2001 | 11,334 |
| 2002 | 10,586 |
| 2003 | 10,765 |
(1)Accidents involving at least one bus/coach.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment the Government have made of the cost to local authorities of the Government's plans to introduce free bus travel for pensioners and the disabled; and if he will publish a regulatory impact assessment; [5567]
(2) what the estimated cost is of the Government's plans to introduce free bus travel for pensioners and the disabled in each year for which such an estimate has been made. [5568]
Ms Buck: The Government will provide an extra £350 million in 2006–07 and an extra £367.5 million in 2007–08 which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities.
A regulatory impact assessment will be published later this year.
Concessionary Travel
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will calculate the grant settlement to cover the costs of the concessionary fare scheme announced in the Budget according to public transport usage figures or figures for the take-up of concessionary travel; [4213]
(2) what estimate he has made of the costs to local councils from April 2006 of the introduction of a free fare scheme for people aged 60 plus and the disabled for local journeys by bus; how he expects councils to meet the increased costs of concessionary fares; and what proportion of the increase will be met by the Treasury. [4214]
Ms Buck: The Government will provide an extra £350 million in 2006–07 which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities. A final decision on the distribution of the extra funding has not yet been made.
Container Ports
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the results of the outstanding applications for major container port developments. [4685]
Dr. Ladyman: Decisions will be announced on individual applications for major container port developments when Ministers have completed their consideration on each case.
Crossrail
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has given to the preferred bidders for the Greater Western franchise on the impact of Crossrail on the bid. [4566]
20 Jun 2005 : Column 683W
Derek Twigg [holding answer 14 June 2005]: Crossrail is currently the subject of a hybrid Bill before Parliament and the timing of its construction and operation is therefore dependent on the outcome of that process. The tender documentation notes that, in the event that Crossrail is authorised by Parliament and proceeds, the impact of its construction will be dealt with under the Network Change provisions of the Track Access Agreement. Furthermore, bidders have been advised to assume that Crossrail services will not operate during the term of the Greater Western franchise.
Elderly Drivers
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has carried out into accidents caused by elderly drivers suffering from medical conditions which rendered them unfit to drive. [5192]
Dr. Ladyman: Research on elderly drivers and medical conditions has been included where relevant in the Department's programme of research on Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive, but specific projects on elderly drivers have not been commissioned. Research has been completed on medical aspects of fitness to drive relating to visual field defects and excessive daytime sleepiness. Research is in progress on risks of further acute vascular events, insulin treated diabetes and driving, further study of visual field defects relating to central scotoma, and attitudes of health professionals to giving advice on fitness to drive.
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