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28 Jun 2005 : Column 1412W—continued

A38

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome of the noise hotspots assessment was for the (a) A38 Shobnall Road, (b) A38 Wyggeston, (c) M6 Western Downs, (d) A38 Branston and Ashmole—Branston B—Near A38 Junction and (e) A38 Branston and Ashmole—Branston A—Lichfield Road. [7684]

Dr. Ladyman: The A38 Wyggeston Road; M6 Western Downs between Junctions 12 and 13; and A38 Branston and Ashmole (sites A and B) are eligible for future funding as they meet some of the criteria. The A38 Shobnall Road received quieter noise resurfacing works as part of the Burton By-pass renewals scheme. This was completed January 2005.

A40

Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many accidents occurred in each year between 1984 and 2004 on the A40 road between Carmarthen and St. Clears; [6910]

(2) how many accidents occurred in each year between 1984 and 2004 on the A40 road between St.Clears and Haverfordwest. [6911]

 
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Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the following table. Figures for 2004 are not yet available.
Number of accidents (involving personal injury) on the A40: 1984–2003

	Section between Carmarthen and St. Clears	Section between St. Clears and Haverfordwest
1984	30	17
1985	12	24
1986	19	27
1987	8	33
1988	9	30
1989	14	46
1990	17	51
1991	22	33
1992	15	30
1993	19	33
1994	18	30
1995	15	39
1996	14	34
1997	13	39
1998	9	37
1999	13	26
2000	11	31
2001	9	19
2002	10	29
2003	9	22

Air Displays

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on air displays of the proposed increase in fees for an Article 70 display permission; and if he will make a statement. [7060]

Ms Buck: The Secretary of State has made no such assessment. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) commenced a 12 week consultation on proposals for its safety regulation charging schemes on Friday 10 June. This covers the charging period from 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2007. In due course, the CAA Board will seek the Secretary of State's approval for the revised schemes, as required by the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

Aircraft Pollution

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce pollution from aircraft. [6216]

Ms Buck: The Government are committed to tackling pollution from aircraft. The measures we are taking are set out in Chapter 3 of The Future of Air Transport" White Paper. They include pressing for the inclusion of aviation in the European Union emissions trading scheme from 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter.

We have introduced the Civil Aviation Bill which clarifies and strengthens the measures available to airports for dealing with aircraft noise. This includes a greater ability to introduce and enforce noise amelioration measures beyond airport boundaries and an ability to impose penalties where aircraft stray from routes designed to minimise noise. The Bill also makes explicit the powers of airports to set charges which reflect local emissions from aircraft.
 
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These plans build on Government action pressing for tighter international emissions standards, funding research and promoting sustainability within the sector.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Crossrail is exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [7490]

Derek Twigg: Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRLL) is not wholly owned by any one public authority, and as such is not covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). I understand from CLRLL that the board of directors have undertaken that the company should behave as though it has to conform to the Act.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used to decide that the Romford Crossrail Depot Option required a dive-under. [7491]

Derek Twigg: Due to the high frequency of trains running at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour on the main lines past the proposed Crossrail depot, a grade separated crossing is required in order for Crossrail trains to enter and leave the depot and access the electric lines on which Crossrail services will operate.

Double-deck Trains

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) on what train lines the Government is planning to introduce double-deck trains; [7797]

(2) whether the existing UK rail network can accommodate double-deck trains; [7798]

(3) what assessment the Government has made of the merits of (a) introducing double-deck trains and (b) lengthening platforms and adding extra carriages to trains. [7799]

Derek Twigg: The Department will be looking at a variety of options for increasing rail capacity both over the short term and the longer term. Among other options, this will include an assessment of the potential costs and benefits of using double-decker trains in the UK.

Durham Roads Budget

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what central funding has been allocated to Durham county council roads budget in each year since 1997. [6884]

Ms Buck: The Department has approved over £103 million of block funding to Durham county council between April 1997 and March 2005. Of this, £46.115 million was for capital maintenance, £35.697 million was for Integrated transport and £21.382 million was for major transport projects.
 
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The funding provided to Durham county council over the above-mentioned period is shown in the following table.
Durham CC central funding for roads £ million

	Capital maintenance	Integrated block	Major schemes	Total
1997–98	0.956	0.480	0	1.436
1998–99	0.658	0.370	0	1.028
1999–2000	4.238	4.871	0	9.109
2000–01	5.24	2.190	4.200	11.63
2001–02	8.555	5.397	1.955	15.907
2002–03	9.103	6.440	6.117	21.66
2003–04	8.008	8.054	1.007	17.069
2004–05	9.357	7.895	8.103	25.355
Total	46.115	35.697	21.382	103.194

Gatwick Express

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met (a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) the British Airports Authority to discuss the future of the Gatwick Express; and if he will make a statement. [5036]

 
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Derek Twigg [holding answer 16 June 2005]: Officials from the Department for Transport and Strategic Rail Authority meet regularly to discuss the Brighton Mainline. They have also recently held a series of meetings with the British Airports Authority to specifically discuss the future of the Gatwick Express.

Heathrow

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of passengers at Heathrow who were (a) UK residents on business trips, (b) overseas residents on business trips to the UK, (c) overseas residents on business trips transferring or transiting at Heathrow en route to an overseas destination, (d) UK residents on leisure trips, (e) overseas residents on leisure trips to the UK and (f) overseas residents on leisure trips transferring or transiting at Heathrow en route to an overseas destination, in each of the last five years. [6465]

Ms Buck: The following table shows terminal (terminating and transfer) and transit passengers at Heathrow who were UK and overseas residents on business or leisure trips by routes.
Terminal and transit passengers at Heathrow 2000–04

Answer:		2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
A	Business trips by UK residents	11.7	11.0	10.4	10.3	11.5
B	Business trips to/from the UK by overseas residents	8.6	7.7	7.7	7.4	7.7
C	Overseas residents on business trips transferring at Heathrow between an overseas origin and an overseas destination	4.0	3.8	4.6	4.6	4.7
D	Leisure trips by UK residents	17.4	16.7	17.9	18.0	19.0
E	Leisure trips to/from the UK by overseas residents	12.4	10.7	10.1	11.0	11.5
F	Overseas residents on leisure trips transferring at Heathrow between an overseas origin and an overseas destination	9.6	9.8	11.6	11.6	12.3
Transit passengers (million)		0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2

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