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Car Stereos

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to set a maximum volume level for car stereos. [12533]

Dr. Ladyman: The Government consider the existing enforcement provisions to be the most suitable means for controlling the volume level for car stereos.

Consultants

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total expenditure saved in each of the last three years as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies within his Department. [13626]

Ms Buck: The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the costs of consultant fees incurred in connection with the transfer of the Strategic Rail Authority to DfT Rail. [13247]

Derek Twigg: Consultants have been used by the Department to help establish the new Rail Group by providing support on programme management, and organisation and process design. The cost is estimated to be £1.25 million excluding VAT.

Container Terminals

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what volume of traffic from new deep sea container terminals is required to be moved by rail; and how many planning applications for new container terminals are being considered with a view to achieving that volume. [13916]

 
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Dr. Ladyman: The extent to which container traffic can be moved by rail for a given port development has to be considered on a case by case basis according to the nature and level of traffic through the port. All of the current planning applications with my Department are being considered on the basis of the rail market share submitted in those applications.

Crossrail

Mrs. Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent research his Department has undertaken into the benefits of Crossrail. [13365]

Derek Twigg [holding answer 20 July 2005]: On 5 July 2005, the Secretary of State placed in the Library a paper called Transport, Wider Economic Benefits, and Impacts on GDP". This paper looks at transport schemes more generally but includes an assessment of the benefits of Crossrail, drawing on the economic appraisal for Crossrail carried out by Cross London Rail Links—the Crossrail development company—and including wider benefits not previously quantified in the Department's appraisal methodology.

In addition, my Department conducted a modelling exercise in 2003 to examine the potential impact of population and employment growth, land use changes and airport development on the transport networks in South East England in 2016. The results of this exercise, including an assessment of the impact of Crossrail, were placed in the Library on 19 July 2005.

East London Line

Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent discussions he has had with Transport for London about the disruption to passenger servicesas work progresses on the East London line extensions; [11641]

(2) what recent discussions he has had with Transport for London concerning the timetable for construction of the East London line extensions and progress on Phase2 of the extensions; [11643]

(3) what recent discussions he has had with Transport for London on the closure of the central section of the East London line, north of New Cross Gate to Shoreditch, during work on the East London line extensions. [11644]

Derek Twigg: Regular meetings are held between the Secretary of State and Transport for London on rail issues but no specific discussions have taken place on the points raised in the questions.

M1

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons two cameras have been erected on a gantry overhanging the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway just south of junction 21; whether such cameras are (a) permanent and (b) temporary; and if he will make a statement. [13604]

Dr. Ladyman: Speed Enforcement Cameras have been erected on the M1, both Northbound and Southbound, between Junctions 20 and 21. These temporary cameras are mounted on distinctive columns
 
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that are in the verge and extend over the carriageway, at various locations throughout the length the major maintenance works currently under way on the M1.

For safety reasons they are designed to ensure that the temporary speed limit of 40 mph is adhered to throughout the length of the works.

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason a speed limit of 40 mph has been imposed on the M1 motorway north of Junction 20 where roadworks are being carried out. [13666]

Dr. Ladyman: 40mph speed limit has been imposed for the duration of the works in order to ensure the safety of the travelling public and the workforce, undertaking major maintenance works on the M1 between junction 20 and 21.

M6 (Junction 34)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his plans are for remodelling and improving safety on junction 34 of the M6 motorway; and what the timescale is for implementation. [14026]

Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency, which is responsible for the M6 Motorway, has no current plans to remodel junction 34. Scheduled routine maintenance works will be undertaken, and safety will continue to be monitored.

Miss Shriti Vadera

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) discussions and (b) meetings (i) officials and (ii) Ministers in his Department had with Miss Shriti Vadera during 2001, broken down by (A)date and (B) subject. [13490]

Derek Twigg [holding answer 19 July 2005]: The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Motoring Offences

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the new motoring offences created by legislation sponsored by his Department since 1997. [10387]

Dr. Ladyman: The expression motoring offences" has been interpreted fairly widely and taken to include matters relating to vehicle approvals, construction and use of vehicles, traffic regulation, vehicle licensing and registration, number plates and suppliers thereof, carriage of dangerous goods and radioactive material, private hire vehicles, the wearing of seat belts and the testing for drink and drugs.

In many cases there is a provision in primary legislation which provides that it is an offence to contravene or fail to comply with statutory instruments made thereunder. Such instruments are listed but only those which were made on or after 29 May 2002 as that was the date on which this Department came into being.

Similarly, only primary legislative provisions created on or after that date are listed save where regulations listed have an effect upon what may constitute an offence under those provisions.
 
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The relevant legislative provisions have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Olympic Games

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the implications are of the successful bid to hold the 2012 Olympic Games in London for the (a) workload and (b) staffing levels of his Department. [11675]

Ms Buck: The delivery of a successful Olympic Games in 2012 will be treated like any other Government priority, and resources will be found within existing departmental staffing levels.

Operation Ariel

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list each person in his Department involved in Operation Ariel during 2001; if he will list meetings in relation to the project which representatives of his Department attended; and if he will place the minutes in the Library. [13491]

Derek Twigg [holding answer 19 July 2005]: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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