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24 Jan 2006 : Column 1983W—continued
Type 23 Frigate
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 506W, on Type 23 frigates, what plans he has to refit those Type 23 frigates carrying Lynx helicopters with Merlins. [44529]
Mr. Ingram: A programme of work is in place to provide the required modifications that will enable 12 Type 23 Class frigates to operate both Merlin and Lynx helicopters. To date, five have been modified and work to modify the remaining seven will be carried out during their forthcoming Docking and Refit periods.
TRANSPORT
Biofuels
Mr. Wills:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport
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whether he plans to set targets for the percentage of fuel filling stations to be selling a minimum proportion of biofuels by (a) 2007 and (b) 2010. [45405]
Dr. Ladyman: We have no plans to do so. The Government announced in November 2005 that a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) will be introduced from 1 April 2008. The RTFO will require all suppliers of transport fuels in the UK to ensure that 5 per cent. of their total fuel sales come from renewable sources by 2010 in order to help meet our climate change objectives. In practice this is likely to mean that the vast majority of UK filling stations will be selling biofuel blends by 2010.
Driving Licences
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what rules apply to the photographs required for the new driving licence; and whether exemptions apply for particular religious groups. [44739]
Dr. Ladyman: The law requires applicants for new driving licences to provide a photograph of their current likeness.
The photograph must be in colour and passport style and size. It must show the full face, with no hat, helmet or sunglasses, although normal glasses and headwear worn for religious reasons is acceptable. The photograph must be taken against a plain, evenly lit background.
Crossrail
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department has spent on the Crossrail project in each year since 1997; and what percentage has been spent on (a) staff recruitment, (b) technical consultants and (c) other external services. [42711]
Derek Twigg: Between its establishment in May 2001 and the end of 2005, Cross London Rail Links Ltd (CLRLL) was provided with funding of £130,750,118. I understand from CLRLL that the amount spent on staff recruitment, technical consultants and other external services was as follows:
The remaining costs included staff salaries and day-to-day running costs.
In addition, between September 2003 and the end of 2005, the internal Department for Transport unit that deals with Crossrail sponsorship, which includes the Crossrail hybrid Bill team, had costs of £6,102,814. The amount spent on technical consultants and other external services is detailed in the following below. Spending on staff recruitment is not recorded separately. All relevant staff were already employees of the Department for Transport.
| Financial year | Total spend | Technical consultants | Other external services |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 1,445,019 | 1,144,920 | Nil |
| 2004–05 | 2,657,209 | 1,937,093 | 20,937 |
| Financial year to end December 2005 | 2,000,586 | 1,231,149 | 25,657 |
The remaining costs included staff salaries and day-to-day running costs.
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Prior to September 2003 any work undertaken in respect of Crossrail was carried out by staff within the Department on an ad hoc basis as part of their other duties. Other officials have been involved in Crossrail related matters from time to time, as have officials in the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London.
Cycling Accidents
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving cyclists resulting in (a) death and (b) serious injury there were in each year since 1997 in Gravesham constituency. [43274]
Dr. Ladyman: The number of fatal and serious personal injury road traffic accidents that involve one or more cyclist in the Gravesham constituency since 1997 is shown in the table.
| Fatal accidents | Serious accidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 8 |
| 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 | 0 | 3 |
| 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 | 5 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 |
The accidents given in the table are those which occurred within the 2004 boundary of Gravesham constituency. The cyclists in these accidents did not necessarily sustain injuries themselves.
We are committed to improving safety for cyclists. Across Great Britain the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured in 2004 was 38 per cent. below the 1994–98 baseline, while the number of child cyclists killed or seriously injured was 49 per cent. below the baseline. All local authorities should have a cycling strategy, which includes improving safety through measures such as education, publicity and engineering. We introduced a new national standard for cycle training in 2005. We also have a range of cycling publicity materials aimed at the most vulnerable cyclists, children and teenagers, with a new teen campaign planned for 2006. We are also educating drivers in the need to be aware of cyclists, with this message included in the theory, hazard perception and practical elements of the driving test, with advice to drivers in the Highway Code and elsewhere.
Greater Western Franchise
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average increase in ticket prices in the Greater Western franchise was in each of the last five years. [42156]
Derek Twigg:
Regulated fares—meaning most fares used by commuters plus long distance Saver Return fares—on the First Great Western, First Great Western Link, and Wessex franchises have been limited to an average increase of 1 per cent. less than inflation from 1999 to 2003, then 1 per cent. more than inflation from 2004 onwards. Other fares are unregulated and may be set at the operator's own commercial discretion.
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Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of future passenger numbers in the Greater Western franchise. [42157]
Derek Twigg: The Department's forecast is that 779 million passenger journeys will be made on Greater Western services over the 10 years of the Greater Western franchise.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the passenger figures were for the Greater Western franchise in each quarter of the last five years. [42158]
Derek Twigg: Passenger figures for all train operating companies are set out in National Rail Trends, published by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). A copy is available in the House Library.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) the absolute and (b) the moving annual average rates for (i) punctuality and (ii) reliability for companies operating the Greater Western Franchise were for each quarter of the last five years. [42160]
Derek Twigg: Quarterly performance figures for all train operating companies are set out in National Rail Trends, published by the Office of Rail Regulation. A copy is available in the House Library.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public expenditure was allocated to (a) tracks, (b) estates and (c) rolling stock on the Greater Western Franchise in each of the last five years. [42161]
Derek Twigg: The Department does not record expenditure under these specific headings. The subsidy/premium payments for the constituent parts of the Greater Western franchise paid/received over the last five years are as follows:
| First GW | First GW Link | Wessex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 42,770. | 10,984 | — |
| 2001–02 | 27,511 | (11)3,931 | 22,582 |
| 2002–03 | 8,735 | (11)13,232 | 50,885 |
| 2003–04 | 16,089 | (11)15,027 | 75,015 |
| 2004–05 | (11)17,635 | (11)5,804 | 55,628 |
(11) Premium paid to Government.
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