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Concessionary Travel

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional funding he is providing (a) in England and (b) to each of the district councils in Gloucestershire in 2005–06 to cover the cost of providing concessionary travel for the over-60s; how much funding he plans to provide in future years; what percentage of the total costs of providing this travel the funding will represent; and if he will make a statement. [24955]

Ms Buck: The Government will provide an extra £350 million in 2006–07 and £367.5 million in 2007–08 which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities. A decision on how the extra funding will be distributed will be made in due course.

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements he is making to enable cross-boundary travel between County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Teeside under the concessionary travel scheme for over-60s; and if he will make a statement. [25696]

Ms Buck: From 1 April 2006, residents who are 60 or over, or disabled will be entitled to free off-peak bus travel within the boundary of the district or unitary council, or the passenger transport executives (PTEs) in metropolitan areas. However, local authorities and PTEs will retain their discretion to work together to provide cross-boundary travel.
 
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Cross London Rail Links

Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether a new (a) chair and (b) chief executive of Cross London Rail Links has been appointed; and if he will make a statement. [23716]

Derek Twigg: There will be an announcement in due course.

Deparatmental Skills Development Plan

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which individual is responsible for developing and implementing his Department's Skills Development Plan. [23835]

Ms Buck: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 November 2005, Official Report, column 1074W, by my right hon Friend, the then Minister of the Cabinet Office.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Skills Development Plan. [23860]

Ms Buck: The available copies of the Department's Skills Development Plans have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Estate

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) land and (b) property his Department owns in Kettering constituency. [24382]

Ms Buck [holding answer 3 November 2005]: The Secretary of State owns one small plot of land in Kettering, details are as follows:

Narrow waste strip on Rockingham Road.

This land adjoins a recently completely residential estate and details have been entered onto the English Partnerships Register of Public Sector land.

Gershon Review

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time equivalent employee reductions his Department has made as a result of the Gershon review; what cost savings relating to IT projects were achieved; what value of efficiency savings (a) were achieved in 2004–05 and (b) are expected to be achieved in 2005–06; and if he will make a statement. [24331]

Ms Buck [holding answer 3 November 2005]: Progress on efficiency gains and headcount reductions was reported in Budget 2005 and in the departmental annual reports. Further progress will be reported in the Department's autumn performance report and at aggregate level in the pre-Budget report.

The Department has a published efficiency target for 2005–06 of £174.8 million.

Investment in IT projects, for example to open up or extend e-channels, has made a contribution to the Department's Efficiency Programme, but these efficiency gains are not identified or measured in isolation.
 
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Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made, in terms of (a) headcount reductions and (b) cost savings, in achieving the efficiency objectives set for the Department by the Gershon review. [21305]

Ms Buck: Progress was reported in Budget 2005 and in the departmental annual reports. Further progress will be reported in the autumn performance reports and at aggregate level in the pre-Budget report.

IT Projects

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many IT projects have been developed for his Department since 2001; and whether he has agreed to make public (a) in full and (b) in part Gateway reviews for these projects. [23525]

Ms Buck: 235 IT projects have been developed for DfT from 29 May 2002, when the Department was formed.

A Gateway review is conducted on a confidential basis for the senior responsible owner of each project. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 each request for the release of information contained in a Gateway Review is considered on a case-by-case basis. To date the Department has not received any requests for disclosure of Gateway reports under FOI.

London Olympics

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the role of the British Transport Police in the run-up to the Olympic Games to be held in London in 2012. [22313]

Derek Twigg: British Transport Police (BTP) carries out an important role in maintaining the security of the railways and in deterring potential terrorist activity. The excellent work that it does was demonstrated in its response to events in London on 7 and 21 July.

The Secretary of State for Transport announced to the House on 11 October 2005 that he is to undertake a review of the role of the BTP. The review will be undertaken by the Department for Transport in parallel with the review of the 43 local police forces being undertaken by the Home Secretary. The aim of the review is to examine the functions of the BTP and whether some or all of these are best carried out by a national force, regional forces, or, indeed, by the industry itself.

The future role of the BTP in the run up to the Olympic Games, will depend on the outcome of the review.

Motor Vehicle Emissions

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to address air pollution and emissions from motor vehicles. [25123]

Ms Buck: Since the early 1990s, tighter EU emissions standards (known as Euro Standards) have been adopted for new cars, light and heavy goods vehicles and buses. The latest (Euro IV) standards are being
 
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progressively introduced for all new vehicles over the next 12 months. An additional stage that further tightens the NOx limit for heavy duty vehicles (trucks and buses) is already in place and will come into force in 2008. The European Commission is also giving consideration to further measures that are expected to take effect from the end of this decade. These measures already have, and will continue to play, a major role in further improving air quality.

Noise Pollution

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding noise pollution from cars fitted with double exhausts; and what discussions he has had with manufacturers on this. [25138]

Ms Buck: The answer to both points is none. Since 1996, the noise limit for all new passenger cars registered for on-road use in the European Union has been 74 dB(A). This limit applies to all cars, regardless of the type of exhaust system fitted.

Railways

Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to direct Network Rail to start work in developing a scheme to lengthen the platform at Bromsgrove station; and what estimate he has made of the costs of such a scheme. [24838]

Derek Twigg: Network Rail has commenced discussions with Central Trains and Worcestershire county council to investigate proposals for a platform extension scheme at Bromsgrove station. The decision on whether to proceed will be for Network Rail to take.

Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department has allocated to the West Midlands for rail transport infrastructure for 2005–06. [24839]

Derek Twigg: The Department does not hold data on the funding allocated for rail transport infrastructure by region. Spending on railway infrastructure is managed by Network Rail, within the total sums made available to them. This amounts to £22 billion for 2005–06 for the entire rail network, including the West Midlands.

The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive as a regional transport authority, also allocates funding support for rail related infrastructure schemes. In 2005–06 this amounts to £5.262 million.

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway lines he expects to close in order to allow more high speed and freight services to run. [25139]

Mr. Darling: There are no plans to close railway lines in order to allow more high speed and freight services to run.

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the railway lines being considered for closure by his Department in the next 12 months. [25189]

 
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Mr. Darling: There are two current closure notices in respect of railway lines between Stratford and North Woolwich and Farringdon and Moorgate.

The Stratford to North Woolwich notice is in anticipation of the conversion to light rail and the transfer of services to DLR between Stratford International and Royal Victoria stations in East London.

Rail services between Farringdon and Moorgate are currently provided by main line rail and London Underground (LUL), with LUL being the dominant provider. In connection with the Thameslink 2000 Project, LUL will become the sole provider if proposals are implemented.

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what restrictions are in place regarding the sale of alcohol on board trains. [25191]

Mr. Darling: The national railway byelaws allow a train operator or the police to give reasonable notice prohibiting the possession of intoxicating liquor, and therefore also its sale and consumption, on any specified train service or services.

The Licensing Act 2003 will give magistrates courts the power to prohibit the sale of alcohol on trains if requested by a senior police officer.

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