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1 Nov 2005 : Column 865W—continued
Crossrail
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the bill setting out the major changes to the enabling works required for the Crossrail project in Romford to be ready to be introduced. [20805]
Derek Twigg:
The Crossrail Bill was introduced on 22 February and received its second reading on 19 July.
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The Bill currently seeks powers to temporarily divert two gas pipelines east-west along the southern edge of the proposed Crossrail depot worksite at Romford, in order to free up working space for the period of the Crossrail works.
A revised proposal is now being prepared in consultation with the utility company concerned which would instead divert the pipelines to the south, across Crow Lane to join an existing pipeline beneath Crowlands Heath Golf Course.
Any amendment to the Bill would take the form of an Additional Provision, which would be accompanied by an environmental assessment and which would trigger a new petitioning period for those affected. It would then be for the Select Committee to decide whether to accept the proposed amendment to the Bill.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the salaries of the directors of the Crossrail project have been in each year since the project's inception. [20806]
Derek Twigg: I understand from Cross London Rail Links Limited (CLRLL) that, until October 2004, all Directors were non-executive Transport for London (TfL) and Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) nominees, and were not remunerated by CLRLL. Sir Christopher Benson (who served as Chairman from 24 October 2001–26 October 2004), was paid £25,000 in financial year 2001–02, £60,000 in 2002–03, £60,000 in 2003–04 and £40,000 to October 2004.
Since October 2004, all Directors have been non-executive TfL and DfT nominees. The TfL nominee Directors and one of the DfT nominee directors are not remunerated by CLRL. Two of the DfT appointed Directors were paid £7,000 in total in the last financial year by CLRLL. Adrian Montague (who took over as Chairman on 26 October 2004), was not remunerated.
Departmental Consultation
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list formal consultations being sponsored by his Department and its agencies; and what the (a) commencement date and (b) deadline for responses is in each case. [22577]
Ms Buck: A list of current formal public consultations by the Department and its Executive Agencies is listed in the following table. They are available on our website: http://www.dft.gov.uk.
The following Agencies do not have any consultations in progress at the moment:
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
Vehicle Certification Agency
(21) This consultation is shorter than the standard 12 weeks required by the code of practice on consultation because it was a follow up to an earlier consultation which lasted 12 weeks.
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DVLA
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to require Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency driving assessment centres to make available a copy of the assessment report to those drivers who are being assessed as a result of a disability; and if he will make a statement. [20875]
Dr. Ladyman: Provision exists for the driver to request from DVLA a copy of any driving assessment report or other medical reports that may be held on their personal record. DVLA considers such requests in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. Copies of assessment reports would, normally, be released.
Milton Keynes
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding was allocated by his Department to Milton Keynes for (a) capital projects and (b) revenue funding in each of the last five years. [23508]
Ms Buck: The funding provided to Milton Keynes council for local transport capital expenditure since 2001 is shown in the table.
| Capital maintenance | Integrated block | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 2.069 | 1.6 | 3.669 |
| 2002–03 | 2.194 | 1.601 | 3.795 |
| 2003–04 | 1.645 | 1.51 | 3.155 |
| 2004–05 | 1.92 | 1.555 | 3.475 |
| 2005–06 | 2.069 | 1.599 | 3.668 |
Capital maintenance funding is allocated to local highways authorities for investment in their highway network, including its structures and street lighting. The integrated transport block is Government funding support for transport improvements schemes each costing less than £5 million and can be used for local highways or public transport capital projects. It has been for Milton Keynes council to determine how these allocations were spent, in line with their local transport plan and their priorities.
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Revenue funding paid by my Department to Milton Keynes council in the form of Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus challenge funding, since 2001 is shown in the following table:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 0.29 |
| 2002–03 | 0.104 |
| 2003–04 | 0.106 |
| 2004–05 | 0.113 |
| 2005–06 | 0.117 |
The Revenue Support Grant (RSG) from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister provides further revenue funding for highway maintenance, concessionary fairs and subsidising bus services. However, RSG is unhypothecated and may be applied by local authorities to any services.
Railways
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many carriages are used by the rail networks in the UK. [23028]
Derek Twigg: The number of carriages in use for regular passenger service on the main line railway network is approximately 10,800. This excludes those in use by heritage railways and heritage stock kept for occasional use on the main line network.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many railway personnel were assaulted at work in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many arrests ensued; and how many convictions followed. [23128]
Derek Twigg: The number of crimes recorded by the British Transport police (BTP) for railway staff being assaulted while on duty totalled 2,879 during the period from 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005. These resulted in 516 arrests.
Information on the number of convictions can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many suicides occurred on the railway in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the counselling offered to drivers. [23027]
Derek Twigg: The British Transport Police publishes suicide figures by financial year. The total number of official verdicts of suicide on the railway network in England and Wales was 95 for the period from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005.
Counselling is routinely offered to train drivers and rail staff in the aftermath of a railway suicide. Each train operating company is required to have provisions in place for the care of its staff under both Health and Safety and Employment rules.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what types of material are used to maintain the railway infrastructure; how much of each type was used in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [22832]
Derek Twigg: This is an operational matter for Network Rail.
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider building a train station in Wellington in Somerset on the Paddington-Penzance line. [23203]
Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport is aware of the long held aspiration for the reopening of Wellington station and the inclusion of the proposed station in the Somerset County Council Local Transport Plan 2001–06. The case for a station needs further investigation including the development of an initial business case and assessments of its technical and operational deliverability. Such assessment and development work will need to be carried out with Network Rail. Funding sources will also need to be considered.
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