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Train Services

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the proportion of seats occupied by passengers on peak time Midland mainline train services to and from London (a) at the latest date for which figures are available and (b) at the end of the current franchise. [17679]

Derek Twigg: As the train operator, Midland Mainline monitors the passenger usage of its services and predicts future levels of demand. Current usage levels, as measured between 1 September 2005 and 6 October 2005, on peak services (defined as any train departing for London before 9 am and all trains leaving London between 4 pm and 7 pm) are 64 per cent. on southbound services and 61 per cent. on Northbound services.

The current Midland Mainline franchise is due to end in April 2008.

The closest estimate to the end of the franchise for peak usage figures is at September 2007 and the estimate is 71 per cent. for southbound services and 68 percent. for Northbound services.

UK Air Travellers (Financial Protection)

Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the regulatory report on financial protection for UK air travellers will be published. [17575]

Ms Buck: The Civil Aviation Authority published its assessment of the case for modernising the financial protection of air travellers on 22 September 2005. It is available on its website (www.caa.co.uk).

Waterloo Station

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the platforms at Waterloo made available by the Eurostar move to St. Pancras will be used to accommodate South West train services. [15893]

 
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Derek Twigg: The SRA has recently completed a study into the future use of Waterloo International Platforms. This has been placed in the Libraries of the House and is available on the DfT website. The Study has concluded that there is a strong case to use the platforms for domestic train services once Eurostar have stopped using the station.

A decision on which specific services should use the platforms will be informed by the SRA/DfT Southern Regional Planning Assessment (to be published in spring 2006) the Network Rail Route Utilisation Study for the South West Main Line routes (which will go to consultation in spring 2006) and further work to be carried out by the Department.

Ultimately if South Western train services are to use the platforms then this could be incorporated into the new franchise specification (as an option). It is likely that the earliest that domestic services could use the platforms would be the middle of 2008, following the transfer of Eurostar services and any necessary infrastructure works at Waterloo.

It should also be recognised that other (significant) infrastructure investment may be required on the rail network to fully utilise these platforms given the existing constraints on the approaches to Waterloo which are not impacted upon by the withdrawal of Eurostar. Any infrastructure changes will of course be subject to the normal investment process and subject to a value for money assessment and tests on affordability.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

British Olympics Association

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether members of (a) her Department, (b) UK Sport and (c) Sport England discussed the election of a new chairman of the British Olympic Association with (i) candidates for the post, (ii) potential candidates for the post and (c) voting members of the association. [17369]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 13 October 2005]: I can confirm that prior to the election of the new chairman, I was approached by both a candidate for the post and a voting member of the association who asked for my opinion on the nature and scope of the role.

I can also confirm that the chair of UK Sport was approached by a potential candidate for the post and that they discussed the nature and scope of the role.

No member of Sport England has discussed this matter with any of the identified categories of person.

Casinos

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what steps she is taking to ensure that local communities are consulted by local authorities on plans to introduce casinos in their areas; [17430]

(2) what steps she is taking to ensure that local people are consulted at the earliest opportunity on the possibility of a casino being built in their area. [17431]

 
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Mr. Caborn: We have established an independent Casino Advisory Panel to advise the Secretary of State on her powers under Section 175(4) of the Gambling Act 2005 to specify which local authorities may issue the new casino premises licences created by the Act. The panel will consider submissions from local authorities. We envisage that local authorities will wish to take account of the views of local people, to whom they are accountable, when considering whether to make a submission to the panel.

Under section 166 of the Gambling Act 2005, local authorities may also resolve not to issue casino premises licences in their area. Again, we envisage that local authorities will wish to take account of local views when considering whether to make such a resolution. It is currently anticipated that the Gambling Commission will publish draft guidance to local authorities on the exercise of their functions under the Act, including the use of section 166, later this year.

Under sections 158 and 161 of the Act, people living close to premises which are the subject of an application for a premises licence are interested parties, and may make representations on the application.

Consultation with local people will also take place during both the process of the preparation of land use plans and in relation to planning applications for casinos. Public consultation forms an integral part of the process of preparation of both Regional Spatial Strategies and, at a local level, Local Development Frameworks. If any proposals at a regional level to identify broad locations or, at a local level specific sites, for casinos are included in emerging plans, then they will be subject to public consultation. Similarly, where a planning application is received for a new casino, this will also be subject to the normal statutory requirements for publicity and consultation on planning applications.

Olympic Games

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are to include Northern Ireland in the regions that will be asked to host (a) the teams of participating countries and (b) events as part of the 2012 Olympics. [15263]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 10 October 2005]: Decisions on staging pre-Games training camps for visiting teams will be for individual National Olympic Committees. However, the Government and the British Olympic Association will work to attract visiting teams to the UK before the Games in 2012, and will be providing advice and support to the UK's nations and regions to help them secure the agreement of visiting teams to stage preparation camps in the UK.

At present no Olympic or Paralympic sporting competition is planned to take place in Northern Ireland. If Northern Ireland builds its planned national stadium, we will consider incorporating this venue as a location for the Olympic football competition.

However, the torch relay, and other events as part of the cultural Olympiad are planned to take place in Northern Ireland to help ensure the people of Northern Ireland can be part of and share in the excitement of the 2012 Games.
 
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Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on the route the Olympic Torch should take when it comes to London in 2012; and if she will make a statement. [15589]

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Torch Relay is an important part of our plans for 2012. We intend that the Olympic flame will pass through every town and city in the UK—ending up at the Olympic stadium in time for the opening ceremony. The precise route of the torch relay has not yet been finalised.

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the 2012 Olympic Games on Brent; and if she will make a statement. [15590]

Tessa Jowell: We expect the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 to have significant sporting, social and economic benefits for London and the UK. With the finals and semi finals of the Olympic football competition taking place at Wembley, the people of Brent will be able to share in the excitement of Olympic competition on their doorstep.

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the 2012 Olympics are expected to cost the average Band D council tax payer in London; and over what period these costs are expected to be borne. [16352]

Tessa Jowell: On the basis of a planned precept of £550 million the 2012 Olympics are expected to cost the average Band D council tax payer £20 per year over a period of around 10 years. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London provides for this period to be extended should it be necessary to raise the further £75 million for which the agreed public sector funding package allows, to take the total precept to £625 million.

Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expenditure was made by the public sector on promoting the successful London 2012 Olympic bid. [16410]

Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Development Agency (LDA) provided, in equal part, up to £30 million to promote the successful bid for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expenditure is budgeted by the public sector for delivering the London 2012 Olympics. [16411]

Tessa Jowell: The public sector funding package, agreed with the Mayor, specifically to deliver a successful London 2012 Olympics is £2.375 billion. However, as the published "Candidate File" explains, the further regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley, including remediation, and the underlying infrastructure, services and utilities, will be met by other contributions from both the public and the private sector.

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the cost of increased security measures needed for the 2012 Olympics in light of the recent terror attacks on London;
 
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and whether (a) the Government and (b) council tax payers in London will meet the extra costs if the 2012 Olympics makes an overall loss. [16678]

Tessa Jowell: Our security planning and budgeting for 2012 has been thorough and detailed. However, we cannot predict at this stage what the security situation will be in 2012. For this reason we are keeping the position under review, advised by the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police and our security services and we have made an allowance for additional security measures.

In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London, the cost of any increase in funding over and above the public sector funding package will be met by a sharing arrangement to be agreed, as appropriate, with the Mayor of London and through seeking additional National Lottery funding.

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