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11 Jan 2006 : Column 644W—continued
Concessionary Transport
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) elderly and (b) disabled people who paid half fare or less on public transport in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2004. [40562]
Ms Buck: Based on data from the National Travel Survey, it is estimated that in 2000 41 per cent. of people of pensionable age in England held a pass for reduced or free travel. In 2004, following the extension of the eligibility of passes to men aged 60 and over in 2003, 51 per cent. of people aged 60 and over in England had a pass for reduced or free travel.
Data on the percentage of disabled people benefiting from reduced or free travel on public transport are not available.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the cost of extending the free fares local bus scheme for over 60s and people with disabilities to a national free fares bus scheme. [40708]
Ms Buck: Initial analysis suggests the cost could be around £100 million a year, but £160 million if peak bus services were included, on top of the additional funding (£350 million for 2006–07) already being provided.
Eurostar
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask Eurostar to review security arrangements on journeys from Waterloo and Ashford, with particular reference to baggage checks on all passengers. [40361]
Derek Twigg: Eurostar is directed on security matters under the Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994. Amongst a number of measures designed to provide a level of security proportional to the threat is the requirement to screen baggage. This is done using X-ray equipment similar to that in use at airports. Security measures are kept under continual review.
Heathrow Airport
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses to the first stage of the night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports consultation relating to Heathrow advocated a rise in the number of night flights over and above the existing movement restrictions at Heathrow; how many advocated (a) a reduction in the number of and (b) a ban on such flights in (i) the immediate short-term and (ii) the long-term; and if he will make a statement. [40913]
Ms Buck:
A summary of responses to the stage one paper has been published on the Department's website and includes some of the general comments made by
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consultees. The consultation posed nine questions about issues such as the way aircraft are classified for night restrictions purposes and the possible noise abatement objectives for the airports concerned. Consultees were not specifically asked for their views on what the number of night flights at each airport should be, as this matter was to be dealt with in the stage two consultation. Of the approximately 1800 responses to the consultation paper about 400 indicated in commenting that they would like to see an immediate ban or a commitment to working towards a ban on night flights. A large majority of these responses were from the Heathrow area.
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultation responses relating to Heathrow were received in the (a) first and (b) second stage of the night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports consultation; and if he will make a statement. [40914]
Ms Buck: There were approximately 1800 responses to stage one of the consultation exercise. The following table shows responses received which commented specifically on the position at Heathrow area:
| Category | Number of responses |
|---|---|
| Local authorities | 22 |
| Environmental groups | 33 |
| Individuals | 850 |
| Petitions | 500 |
Responses were also received from airlines, airline organisations and other industry representatives but their responses tended to include all three airports and were not generally Heathrow specific.
Responses from the stage two consultation are still being analysed and a summary, including some numerical analysis will be available, in due course.
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many responses to the second stage of the night flight restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports consultation relating to Heathrow (a) supported and (b) opposed the proposal in paragraph 7.25 for a rise in the number of night flights over and above the existing movement restrictions at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement. [40915]
Ms Buck: Responses to the stage two consultation paper are being analysed and decisions will be announced in due course. A summary of responses to the consultation along with some numerical analysis will be published with the decision announcement.
Low-speed Zones
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many 20 mph zones have been established in each of the last five years; and what the total cost was in each of those years. [40563]
Dr. Ladyman:
This information is not held by the Department. Local highway authorities are responsible for setting local speed limits, including 20 mph limits where they deem these to be appropriate.
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Park and Ride
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many park and ride schemes have been opened since 2000; and how many he expects will open in (a) 2005–06 and (b) 2006–07. [40842]
Ms Buck: The local authority returns provided to the Department indicate that outside London 55 new park and ride schemes have opened in the financial years 2001–02 to 2004–05 (inclusive). 21 were forecast to open in 2005–06. There is not a recent forecast available for 2006–07.
Rail Freight
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding was made available for rail freight in each year since 2000–01. [40566]
Derek Twigg: Direct support for rail freight is provided through three schemes. These are Freight Facilities Grants (FFG), Track Access Grant (TAG) and Company Neutral Revenue Support (CNRS). The amounts spent in the period is as follows (incl. England, Scotland and Wales):
| TAG | CNRS | FFG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 13.9 | 0 | (2)22.3 |
| 2001–02 | 19.9 | 0 | 41.2 |
| 2002–03 | 21.3 | 0 | 30.6 |
| 2003–04 | 17.5 | 0 | 19.8 |
| 2004–05 | 1.7 | 22.0 | 4.8 |
(2) 2000–01 includes waterways FFG.
Railways
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age of trains used on the UK's railways is; and what the average life of a train is. [38459]
Derek Twigg: The average age of the UK passenger fleet as at 1 October 2005 is 13 years. Typically the design life of rolling stock is between 30 and 35 years.
Road Improvements
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list trunk roads widened in each of the last five years. [40570]
Dr. Ladyman: A total of eight trunk roads have been widened, over the last five years, as follows:
In addition three motorways have been widened and these are:
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| Scheme | Date of completion |
|---|---|
| A1 (M) Wetherby—Walshford | December 2004 |
| M5 J17–18A Northbound Climbing Lane | October 2005 |
| M25J12–15 Widening | December 2005 |
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list schemes completed in the Highways Agency Targeted Programme of Improvements. [40576]
Dr. Ladyman: Since 2002, 32 schemes formerly in the Targeted Programme of Improvements have now been completed. These are as follows:
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the Government have made towards their aim to halt the deterioration in local road conditions by 2004; what schemes it funded to meet that aim; and how much each scheme cost. [40839]
Ms Buck: The National Road Maintenance Condition Survey for 2004 showed that the Government had achieved their aim of halting the deterioration in local roads by that year. Local road condition overall in 2004 was significantly better than in 2000.
To help to achieve this improvement the Government provided £3.264 billion of capital funding and £7.920 billion of revenue funding for local highway maintenance in the four years from 2001–02 to 2004–05. Specific schemes that were funded in that period and their costs are shown as follows:
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