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7 Dec 2005 : Column 1312W—continued
Disabled People (Transport Access)
Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to include services which cater for disabled people unable to use public transport in the provisions for free travel from April 2006. [33211]
Ms Buck: The Government are committed to achieving an accessible transport system. We are implementing the transport provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 so that public transport, including new trains, buses and coaches and newly licensed taxis will be accessible to disabled people, including those who need to travel in wheelchairs.
The statutory minimum entitlement for concessionary travel covers off-peak local bus services. Authorities will continue to have the discretion to extend the entitlement to community transport services and/or offer travel token schemes for taxi travel based on their judgment of local needs and circumstances and their overall financial priorities.
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DVLA (Clamping Companies)
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information regarding car registration details the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is entitled to provide to vehicle clamping companies; and if he will make a statement. [35092]
Dr. Ladyman: [holding answer 6 December 2005]: DVLA is entitled under regulations to provide information from the vehicle register to those who can provide evidence of 'reasonable cause' to have it. Provisions regarding the release have been in force for over 40 years. Data from DVLA is not normally required for wheel clamping purposes. However, the name and address of a vehicle keeper is usually provided where criminal damage has been done to a wheel clamp.
I made a statement regarding a review of the release of information from the DVLA vehicle register on 2 December 2005, Official Report, columns 50–51WS.
Identity Cards
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the (a) total and (b) net cost of (i) integrating the proposed Identity Card Scheme into his Department's IT systems and (ii) the ongoing operation of the scheme within his Department. [31115]
Ms Buck: The Department has not finalised current best estimates of the cost of using the ID Cards Scheme to support the services which it oversees. The Department is represented on the Ministerial Committee on Identity Cards which oversees the work on benefits planning and realisation.
Lamberhurst Bypass
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much money was used to pay for the Lamberhurst bypass; and from which fund; [35302]
(2) what Government regional funds have been used to pay for the Lamberhurst bypass; and if he will make a statement; [35303]
(3) what funding was used to pay for the Lamberhurst bypass along the A21 in East Sussex; and if he will make a statement. [35304]
Dr. Ladyman: The estimated final cost of the A21 Lamberhurst bypass is £25.24 million. The funds allocated to the scheme were from the Government's 10-year Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI).
The scheme was funded from the Highways Agency budget, which is part of the Department for Transport's voted expenditure.
No Government regional funds have been used to pay for the A21 Lamberhurst bypass.
Light Rapid Transit
Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision will be announced on the funding of the Fareham-Gosport-Portsmouth light rapid transit scheme. [33619]
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Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made about the scheme on the 29 November 2005, Official Report, columns 16–17WS.
National Road Pricing
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what main forms of national road pricing the Department is considering. [34073]
Dr. Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Transport, on 28 November 2005, Official Report, columns 3–4WS about the Transport Innovation Fund.
Olympics
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account was taken of the potential call on resources of the transport infrastructure associated with the 2012 London Olympic games in his decision not to allocate funding to the (a) Merseytram, (b) South Hampshire rapid transit and (c) Leeds supertram schemes. [35213]
Public Service Agreements
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce more user-friendly reporting of progress against 2004 public service agreement target 6. [29802]
Ms Buck: The Department provides regular performance updates against its outstanding public service agreement targets through its annual departmental report and its autumn performance report published in spring and autumn respectively. The 2005 departmental report (Cm6527), which is the most recently published, is available in the House Libraries and online at: www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/divisionhomepage/038323.hcsp.
The DfT's 2005 autumn performance report is due for publication in mid-December and this will be the first time the Department has reported against its 2004 spending review targets.
Railways
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by (i) HM Railway Inspectorate and (ii) the Office of the Rail Regulator since 1 November 2003; what the nature of the assignment for each consultant was; and what the value of work done by each consultant was; [25699]
(2) if he will list the (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by the Office of Rail Regulation since 5 July 2004; what the nature of the assignment for each consultant was; and what the value of work done by each consultant was. [25700]
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Derek Twigg: Contracts let by HM Railway Inspectorate are a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions. Figures for the Office of Rail Regulation have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) technical and (b) financial consultants used by the Strategic Rail Authority since 1 November 2003 on a call-off basis; what the total amount paid to each consultant was; and what the nature was of each project undertaken by each such consultant. [25702]
Derek Twigg: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by his Department carrying out work relating to the railways since 1 November 2003; what the nature of the assignment for each consultant was; and what the value of work done by each consultant was; [25703]
(2) if he will list (a) the consultants used in connection with the transfer of the Strategic Rail Authority to DfT Rail, (b) the (i) private finance initiative and (ii) public-private partnership external consultants used by (A) his Department and (B) each of its agencies in each of the last two years and (c) the external consultants used by (1) his Department and (2) each of its agencies, excluding public-private partnership and private finance initiative contracts, in each of the last two years; and what the (y) nature and (z) cost of the work done by each consultant was in each case. [25705]
Derek Twigg: Tables have been placed in the Library listing:
Each of the tables includes an indication, inserted for internal record-keeping purposes, of the nature of the work involved. In view of the number of entries, more specific descriptions could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Details of technical and financial contracts in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many dismantled railway lines have been reopened since 2000; and at what cost in each case. [28278]
Derek Twigg:
In England, approximately 12 miles of former freight line between Leeming Bar and Leyburn on the Wensleydale Railway were reopened for passenger
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use in 2003. A further five miles were re-opened in 2004. The work was funded by the Wensleydale Railway plc. The Department for Transport does not have information on the costs involved.
Some 10 miles of former railway alignment were re-opened for use as part of Croydon Tramlink in 2000, and approximately six miles as part of the Nottingham Express Transit in 2004. Separate costs for the elements of these projects relating to former railway alignments are not available.
In Scotland, Greenburn rail link opened in May 2004 at a cost of £6.3 million. This was funded by the Scottish Executive and Keir Mining. Through the Larkhall to Milngavie project, the Anniesland to Maryhill line re-opened in September 2005 and the line from Hamilton to Larkhall is expected to re-open in December 2005 at a total cost of £34.5 million. This project is mainly funded by the Scottish Executive, with contributions from Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive and South Lanarkshire Council.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the costs of developing passenger services on the Coventry-Nuneaton railway line. [34704]
Derek Twigg: Services on the Coventry to Nuneaton line are among those that will be reviewed as we draw up the specification for the new West Midlands franchise. Consultations on the draft specification are expected to begin in the summer of 2006.
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