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28 Nov 2005 : Column 144W—continued
Light Rail Schemes
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities which he has required to give legally binding unconditional financial undertakings as a condition of approval for light rail in their area. [31871]
Derek Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Knowsley, North and Sefton, East (Mr. Howarth) today [UIN 25617].
London Underground
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to meet the Mayor of London to discuss the renegotiation of the public private partnership deal for London Underground. [28394]
Ms Buck: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets the mayor.
There is no intention to re-negotiate the PPP and the Government remains committed to the 30-year contracts. The first of three 'periodic reviews', built into the PPP contracts at seven and a half yearly intervals, will be completed in 2010. This provides an opportunity for LU to review its output requirements under the contracts, but is not a review of the PPP structure itself.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total legal and administrative costs since 1997 have been of changes to the status of London Underground. [32193]
Ms Buck: Since 1997 the major changes to London Underground have been the implementation of the Public Private Partnership and its transfer to Transport for London.
The National Audit Office, in their report London Underground PPP: Were they good deals?" and their evidence to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) (published in the PAC's Seventeenth Report of Session2004–05 London Underground Public Private
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Partnerships") have provided detailed breakdowns of the London Underground's costs for the PPP. These can be summarised as:
The Department's costs in relation to the PPP and transfer of London Underground are provided in the following table. These do not include the Department's internal costs such as staff and accommodation.
M2
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) between which dates the M2 motorway has been free of roadworks since 1985; [32382]
(2) upon which sections of the M2 roadworks are in progress within the seven-mile coned-off section between junction 6 and Brenley Corner; [32383]
(3) when he expects work on the M2 motorway between junction 6 and Brenley Corner to be complete. [32384]
Dr. Ladyman: During the past 20 years, the M2 motorway was free of major roadworks in 1985, 1986, 1992, 1995 and 1997.
There are currently no road works on the M2 between junction 6 and Brenley Corner (junction 7). However, there is one set of roadworks on the M2 between junctions 5 and 6, which is approximately four miles in length and another separate set of roadworks between junctions 4 and 5, which is 1.6 miles long.
The roadworks between junctions 5 and 6 are due for completion on the 30 November 2005.
The roadworks between junctions 4 and 5 are to be completed in two phases. The first phase is programmed to complete on 17 December 2005 to ensure there are no
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roadworks on the M2 over Christmas and the new year. The second phase will commence on 7 January 2006 and is due for completion by the end of February 2006.
Media Relations
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on external media relations in each year since 2001. [29576]
Ms Buck: The Department has press officers who handle much of its media relations with the support of the Government News Network in the regions. In addition, the Department spent the following amount ineach year since it was established on consultancy fees for external media relations, primarily to support our marketing activities, for example the THINK! road safety campaign.
| DfT | ||
|---|---|---|
| Central | Agencies | |
| 2002–03 | 496,004 | 302,250 |
| 2003–04 | 357,146 | 503,788 |
| 2004–05 | 438,210 | 373,328 |
Merseytravel
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the efficiency and stability of Merseytravel. [31872]
Derek Twigg: It is primarily for the Merseyside Passenger Transport Authority, whose members are drawn from the districts, to assess these matters.
The Department has assessed progress in delivering the first Merseyside local transport plan (which is a partnership between Merseytravel and the district councils). This has been assessed as being either 'well above average' or 'above average' in each of the last three years. Merseytravel has been designated as a centre of excellence for transport planning and for delivering its transport plan.
Millward Brown Group
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has paid to Millward Brown Group for consultancy advice in each year since 1997. [31179]
Mr. Darling [holding answer 22 November 2005]: The Department was formed in May 2002. The Department has made no payments to Millward Brown Group for consultancy advice.
In common with other public and private sector organisations we do undertake research to understand the effectiveness of our communications. My Department has bought media research services from Millward Brown at a total cost of £248,031.40 since the creation of DfT to date. The reports are available on theDepartment's web site at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_foi/documents/divisionho mepage/041073.hcsp.
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Ministerial Engagements
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a list of the ministerial engagements of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Halton since 1 June to date. [25618]
Derek Twigg: I have carried out a wide range of ministerial engagements including meeting MPs and delegations from their constituencies. I have held discussions with a range of stakeholders including cycling organisations, local councils, rail organisations, light rail groups, unions and train operating companies.
I have made various visits related to the rail industry and to promote cycling. I have also made visits to the European Parliament.
Mobile Phones
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of accidents caused by drivers using hand-held mobile phones since January 2003. [31435]
Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not available. However, from 1 January 2005, information on contributory factors to accidents have been collected for personal injury road accidents reported at scene by a police officer. One of the factors is driver using mobile phone". Subject to quality tests, first results should be available in autumn 2006.
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