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19 Dec 2005 : Column 2305W—continued
Local Transport Plans (Tyne and Wear)
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library (a) the annual reports of the Tyne and Wear authorities on progress with their local transport plan and (b) their submissions for 2006 to 2011. [37680]
Ms Buck
[holding answer 15 December 2005]: The Tyne and Wear local transport plan and its most recent progress report are both available electronically via www.newcastle.gov.uk/ltp.nsf/a/home?opendocument.
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I am arranging for hard copies to be placed in the Library.
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from (a) Newcastle city council and (b) Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport (i) Authority and (ii) Executive for support for a new park and ride scheme for the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. [37681]
Ms Buck [holding answer 15 December 2005]: In July 2005 the Department received from Nexus, on behalf of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority, a Local Transport Plan major scheme funding bid for Phase 1 of the Orpheus Bus Improvement Corridor Programme. This includes a park and ride site in the Follingsby area of Gateshead. I understand that the proposed park and ride scheme is intended to cater for journeys to Gateshead town centre and Newcastle city centre.
Advice on priorities for major transport schemes (including this one) is currently being sought from the region and I propose to consider this advice before taking decisions on funding for this, and other, schemes in the north east.
London Olympics
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State forTransport pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 565W, on the London Olympics, which transport schemes are funded through Olympic budgets. [37022]
Ms Buck: The transport plans for the 2012 games were set out in the candidature file prepared by London 2012. These plans include the following transport schemes funded through Olympic budgets:
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 565W, on the London Olympics, how the Olympic transport plan will encourage 100 per cent. spectator use of public transport, walking and cycling. [37023]
Ms Buck:
The Department for Transport and London 2012 continues to aim for 100 per cent. spectator use of public transport, walking and cycling
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during the 2012 Olympics. Temporary parking restrictions will be operated in the vicinity of Olympic events, enforced through fines. It will not, therefore, be possible for most members of the public to travel to the games using private cars, although there will be a limited number of parking spaces for those with mobility requirements.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005,Official Report, column 565W, on the London Olympics, which vehicles producing no emissions will be used for (a) spectator and (b) Olympic family transport. [37024]
Ms Buck: Vehicles that will be used specifically for Olympic transport have not yet been purchased. In the case of the vehicles to be used for Olympic family transport, we would not anticipate these vehicles being purchased until two to three years before the Olympics. Given the pace of technological development in this field, it is not possible at this time to predict precisely which vehicles will be used. When the vehicles are purchased, we will aim to ensure that the cleanest vehicles possible are used.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 565W, on the London Olympics, what assessment he has made of whether the number of parking spaces available in connection with park-and-ride schemes at (a) the main northern side near the M11 and M25 junction, (b) the southern side near the Dartford river crossing, (c) at the Ebbsfleet station and (d) Windsor racecourse will meet demand at the 2012 Olympics. [37025]
Ms Buck: The Olympic candidature file prepared by London 2012 included plans for 6,000 cars at the Northern park and ride site, 6,000 at the Southern site, 9,000 at Ebbsfleet and 10,000 at Eton. These were based on the best information on spectator numbers available at that time.
The Olympic Transport Authority is in the process of carrying out a review of the anticipated demand at the planned park and ride sites. Should it be determined that the anticipated demand is not in line with the planned capacity, the plans will be adjusted to take this into account.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) decisions, (b) agreements and (c) procedures have resulted from the liaison between project teams on Crossrail and the Olympic games on the coordination of construction programmes. [37027]
Ms Buck: During the Olympic bid process Cross London Rail Links Limited and the London Development Agency agreed to cooperate in the delivery of the two projects. This will now be developed into detailed governance arrangements to ensure that both projects can be delivered successfully.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 564W, on the London Olympics, which part of the Construction Code specifies
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how Crossrail construction activities will be carried out; and if he will place a copy of the Construction Code in the Library; [37033]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 564W, on the London Olympics, what other mechanisms, besides the Construction Code, are being developed to ensure the construction impacts of Crossrail are suitably controlled, with particular reference to the 2012 Olympics. [37028]
Ms Buck: The current draft of the Construction Code, is available on the Crossrail Bill documents website: http://billdocuments.crossrail.co.uk and copies have been placed in the House Libraries. The code will continue to be developed in consultation with local authorities and other stakeholders throughout the Crossrail Bill's passage through Parliament.
The Construction Code forms part of a wider suite of controls known as the Environmental Minimum Requirements (EMR's) which also includes a planning memorandum, environmental memorandum and excavated materials handling strategy. The EMR's in combination with the controls in the Crossrail Bill and existing legislation will provide a comprehensive mechanism for controlling construction throughout the route.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State forTransport pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 565W, on the London Olympics, what percentage of the £2.375 billion public sector funding package will be used specifically for developing or improving transport in London; and what percentage of the £2.375 billion public sector funding package will be generated from (a) London council tax and (b) the London Development Agency. [37035]
Ms Buck: Of the £2.375 billion public sector funding package made available for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, £542 million (23 per cent.) has been assigned for Olympic specific transport schemes. London council tax will contribute up to £625 million (26 per cent.) to the £2.375 billion public sector funding package and the LDA will contribute £250 million (11 per cent.).
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State forTransport pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 565W, on the London Olympics, what estimate he has made of the effect in terms of (a) capacity, (b) cost of operation and (c) administrative organisation of converting the North London Line to Docklands Light Railway. [37037]
Ms Buck: The operation and development of the Docklands light Railway is the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL).
Subject to the approval of applications which are currently before the Secretary of State, the planned frequency of the Docklands Light Railway extension between Stratford International and Canning Town prior to the Olympics is some 10 trains per hour, per direction in the peak and six trains off peak. This would mean a passenger capacity of 5,000 per hour, per direction in the peak and 3,000 per hour, per direction off peak. During the Olympics however the frequency of services on this part of the DLR will be increased
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substantially to accommodate anticipated spectator demand. The converted part of the North London Line to DLR operation will have the capability of up to 30trains per hour.
It is anticipated that the cost of operation will be met by revenue.
TfL have indicated that they would expect the new extension to be operated within the existing franchise arrangements which currently govern the operation of the Docklands Light Railway.
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