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10 Oct 2005 : Column 83W—continued
Changing Development Partnerships
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities who are members of changing development partnerships. [15216]
Ms Buck: The Charging Development Partnership last met in August 2002. It is no longer an active forum.
Crossrail
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that London firms are given key roles in the development of Crossrail; and if he will make a statement. [15220]
Derek Twigg: Crossrail related procurement will be undertaken in accordance with the relevant legislation and the aim of obtaining value for money.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on Brent residents of Crossrail; and if he will make a statement. [15255]
Derek Twigg:
The Environmental Statement accompanying the Crossrail Bill shows that no construction works are proposed to take place within the London borough of Brent and no Crossrail lorry routes would use roads in the borough.
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Following the opening of Crossrail, many journeys to and from Brent will be improved by the provision of interchanges between Crossrail and London underground lines that serve the borough.
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether a full cost benefit analysis has been made of the case for a Crossrail station at Woolwich; and if he will make a statement; [15300]
(2) what steps have been taken to ascertain the views of people in southeast London with regard to a station at Woolwich for Crossrail; [15301]
(3) what assessment has been made of whether a station at Woolwich for Crossrail would meet the Government's integrated transport criteria for new rail schemes; [15302]
(4) what steps he took to ensure that the case for a station at Woolwich was properly assessed before the Crossrail Bill was presented to the House; [15303]
(5) what the estimated costs are of building a station at Woolwich after the Crossrail link through to Abbey Wood has opened. [15304]
Derek Twigg: Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRLL), the company set up to develop and promote the Crossrail project, did consider a Crossrail station at Woolwich during the development of the project, but, based on the then current estimates of cost, passenger numbers and benefits, they concluded that it could not be justified. Powers to construct such a station are therefore not being sought in the Bill introduced into Parliament on 22 February 2005.
However, CLRLL are, at the request of the London Borough of Greenwich and other stakeholders, currently undertaking a more detailed study of the costs and benefits of a station at Woolwich, which will be published in due course. This study will assess the case for the station against the Government's integrated transport criteria for new rail schemes and will include a cost benefit analysis.
No estimate has been made of the potential cost of constructing a station at Woolwich once Crossrail is operational. However, this would entail closure of the route from Custom House to Abbey Wood for many months, and therefore the cost would be greater than for construction before operation.
CLRLL consulted widely including two twelve-week rounds of public consultation on the project. During both rounds, public information centres were held at Woolwich and Abbey Wood, to provide information and seek residents' views. These were supported by mail drops to those potentially affected, newsletters, a dedicated website and a 24-hour telephone, helpline.
Croydon Tramlink (Offences)
Mr. Pelling:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list offences recorded by the British Transport Police occurring on the Croydon Tramlink
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System for each year since the inception of the system, broken down by (a) type of offence and (b) tram stop. [15541]
Derek Twigg: A table showing the number of offenceson the Croydon Tramlink system, recorded by (a) offence group and (b) tram stop for financial years 2000–01 to 2004–05 and within British Transport Police's jurisdiction, has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Disused Railways
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the disused sections of railway track where agreement has been reached that they should be reopened for passenger traffic. [15691]
Derek Twigg: Network Rail advises that it is committed to re-opening the following sections of line:
EU Directives
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on the measures to be introduced under the planned directive amending directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the Community's railways; [16168]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on the certification of train crews operating locomotives and trains; [16169]
(3) pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on international rail passengers' rights and obligations; [16170]
(4) pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on compensation in cases of non-compliance with contractual quality requirements for rail freight services. [16171]
Derek Twigg: These four proposals form the commission's third rail package and are intended to help revitalise the European Communities' rail industry.
The planned directive amending directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the community's railways would extend the existing liberalisation of the international rail freight market to cover international passenger services, including cabotage—the right to pick up and set down passengers on domestic sections of an international route.
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The planned directive on the certification of train crews operating locomotives and trains would introduce a system of train driver licensing that will facilitate the recognition of driver competences throughout the European Union.
The planned regulation on international rail passengers' rights and obligations would introduce new mandatory provisions on passenger rights, including rights of persons with reduced mobility, and compensation entitlements.
The planned regulation on compensation in cases of non-compliance with contractual quality requirements for rail freight services would impose mandatory provisions on compensation for poor service quality.
These proposals are still under negotiation in the council and European Parliament. Negotiations in the council have so far focussed on the proposal for train driver licensing, on which a general approach on a compromise text was reached in December 2004; and on the passenger rights proposal, on which the UK presidency is aiming to general approach on a compromise text by the end of this year.
The proposal on freight quality contracts has also been discussed and unanimously opposed by member states. Discussion of the proposal on liberalisation of international passenger services will start under the UK presidency.
The European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee has proposed a number of amendments to three of the four Commission proposals. It has voted to reject outright the fourth proposal (freight quality contracts). The plenary first reading has not yet taken place.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport. [16173]
Dr. Ladyman: Two legislative proposals relating to harmonisation of social legislation relating to road transport are currently being negotiated within the EU institutions. The first is a proposal to replace the existing rules on drivers' hours as contained in EU Regulation (EEC No. 3820/85). The second is a proposed directive (known as the enforcement directive") to replace the current requirements relating to the levels of checks member states must undertake to ensure compliance with the driver's hours rules.
The transport council reached a political agreement on both these proposals on 11 June 2004, and the Common Positions were formally adopted on 9 December 2004. Under the Common Position on driver's hours the main changes proposed for the core provisions on driving and rest times are:
an increase in the minimum uninterrupted daily rest period from 8 to 9 hours (plus changes to the way total daily rest is taken);.
at least one regular weekly rest period of 45 consecutive hours must be taken during any two consecutive weeks, and either another regular weekly rest period or a reduced weekly rest period (at least 24 hours) which can be taken anywhere provided the reduction is compensated for within three weeks;
an uninterrupted 45 minute break after 4½ hours driving or, alternatively, a break of 5 minutes for every ½ hour driving (or part thereof)—subject to a minimum of 15 minutes and a maximum driving time of 4½ hours.
The Council is also seeking through this piece of legislation to rectify significant gaps in the associated Regulation on digital tachographs by setting down requirements for drivers to enter data about non-driving work and for companies to download data and make it available at, or from, their premises. It will also provide a revised date for the introduction of the digital tachographs.
The Common Position on the enforcement directive would require increased numbers of checks both on vehicles by the roadside and at company headquarters.
On 13 April 2005 the European Parliament, at 2nd Reading, requested many amendments to both Common Positions—some relating to the changes mentioned above. Under the co-decision procedure the Council and European Parliament will now seek to reach agreed texts through conciliation. This process is scheduled to be completed in December.
Once the EU legislation is adopted, the Government will prepare Regulations for the implementation of those measures that are not directly applicable.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on market access to port services. [16176]
Dr. Ladyman: The European Commission's proposed directive is currently being scrutinised by the European Parliament. As significant amendments have already been proposed (notably the removal of reference to self handling) it is too early to speculate on measures to be introduced. However, an explanatory note setting out the initial UK Government viewpoint and our detailed assessment of the potential impact of the Commission's initial proposal are now available on the Department for Transport website.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on Marco Polo II. [16179]
Dr. Ladyman: The European Commission's proposed Regulation would establish a second 'Marco Polo' Programme to fund projects that will lead to the transfer of traffic from road to rail or water (sea or inland). The objective of this measure is to reduce road congestion, improve the environmental performance of the freight transport system within the EU and to enhance intermodality.
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he
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will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on satellite radio navigation. [16181]
Dr. Ladyman: The proposal is for a Regulation of the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on future financing for the deployment and operation of the Galileo (European Global Navigation Satellite System) programme. The Commission's proposal, like others on EU finances, will not be agreed until an overall decision has been reached on the next EU budgetary cycle 2007–13.
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