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19 Dec 2005 : Column 2315W—continued
Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which spending programmes by his Department where the corresponding functions in Scotland are devolved are classified as non-identifiable in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses; and what the allocated expenditure on each is for the 2005–06 financial year. [37491]
Ms Buck:
The following table sets out the Department's spending programmes which are classified as non-identifiable in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses and where corresponding functions in Scotland are devolved, and the 2005–06 allocated expenditure for these programmes.
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Public Relations
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value was of (a) public opinion research and (b) public relations contracts awarded by his Department in 2004–05 in (i) each (A) nation and (B)region of the UK and (ii) London. [35962]
Ms Buck: For details of how much the Department for Transport spent on public opinion research in 2004–05, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 October 2005, Official Report, column 2857W, which lists the research and the costs.
For details of how much the Department for Transport spent on public relations contracts in 2004–05 I refer the hon. Member to a reply to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 146W, which lists the spend on public relations contracts.
Breaking these figures down between nation, region of the UK and London could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Public Transport (Disabled Access)
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve access to public transport for disabled people in Stroud. [38280]
Ms Buck: We have introduced accessibility planning" into the local transport planning process to encourage local authorities and other agencies to assess more systematically whether people can access transport services in their areas. This process covers all forms of transport from buses, coaches and taxis to cycling and walking networks. Making provision for disabled people is a condition against which the resulting Local Transport Plans (LTPs) are assessed.
At a local level, Gloucestershire county council have installed raised kerbs at bus stops in Stroud to make it easier for disabled people to get on an off buses.
At a national level there has been significant progress in making public transport accessible to disabled people through regulations made under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA 1995). We made the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR) in 1998 and many of the trains calling at Stroud station comply with these.
More generally, disabled people in Stroud as elsewhere in the country will also benefit from the provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA 2005). We have already laid regulations which will, from 4 December 2006, lift the transport exemption in Part 3 of the DDA 1995 for land-based public
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transport, vehicle hire, breakdown services and vehicles used on leisure and tourism transport services. We will also be consulting shortly on draft regulations to set an end date" of no later than 1 January 2020 for when all trains will have to meet RVAR and to apply those regulations to older trains when they are refurbished.
Railways
Mrs. Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Review of Northern Rail Services. [36018]
Derek Twigg: The review began earlier this year and recommendations are due early in 2006. A copy of the final report will be placed in the House Library once completed.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway stations in (a) Southend, (b) Essex, (c) Hertfordshire, (d) Greater London and (e) England and Wales do not meet the standards required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [37517]
Ms Buck: Compliance with Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 is a matter for station operators. Where disabled people would find it impossible or unreasonably difficult to access a station, then the station operator is under a duty to take reasonable steps to remove or alter physically the obstacle(s), find a way to overcome them, or provide the service by a reasonable alternative means. What is considered reasonable will depend on the circumstances of each case and that is something which ultimately only the courts can determine.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of railway stations have wheelchair access, broken down by (a) county and (b) London borough. [37955]
Ms Buck: The Department does not hold this information.
The rail industry has, however, improved the availability and quality of station information and this has enabled the train operating companies to keep it up to date. Disabled people can get station information at nationalrail.co.uk or by telephone through the National Rail Enquiry Service on 08457 484950.
Disabled people can get information about the accessibility of the stations they wish to use at nationalrail.co.uk
Rates
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid by his Department in rates to Coventry local authority in 2004–05. [36237]
Ms Buck [holding answer 13 December 2005]: The Department paid £1,753.96 in rates in 2004–05 to Coventry local authority.
Road Fuel
Mr. Paterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the value of road fuel
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sales to the road transport sector in each financial year since 1997–98, broken down by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and (c) biofuel sales. [38657]
Dr. Ladyman: Historic data on fuel duty rates, fuel sales and on the total amount of duty paid on those sales is available at http://www.uktradeinfo.com.
Total sales of petrol, diesel and biofuels in each of the years in question were as follows (all figures are in millions of litres).
The total amount of duty paid on those fuel sales was as follows (all figures in millions of pounds):
Data on the total value of road fuel sales is not readily available.
Road Humps (Kettering)
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment the Department has made of road humps in Kettering borough against the regulations the Department has set. [36631]
Ms Buck: The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999 give local authorities powers to construct road humps without the consent of the Secretary of State as long as they meet the requirements of the regulations.
The Department does not assess road humps against the regulations. It is the responsibility of local highway authorities to ensure that road humps comply with the regulations.
Further advice on the design and implementation of road humps is given in the Department's Traffic Advisory Leaflets (TALs). TAL 2/05 Traffic Calming Bibliography", lists those relevant to road humps, and a copy is already available in the Library of the House.
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