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27 Feb 2006 : Column 155W—continued
Parking Charges
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much income was derived from parking by each local authority in 2004–05; how much such income has been derived by each authority in 2005–06; how much of that income came from (a) charges and (b) penalties in each year; and how much expenditure each authority incurred on parking in each year. [52023]
Ms Buck: Figures supplied to Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by local authorities showing the total income and expenditure on parking by local authorities in England in 2004–05 are in the following table.
| 2004–05 | £000 |
|---|---|
| Total income | 1,164,446 |
| Total expenditure | 708,795 |
| Net current expenditure | -455,651 |
I have arranged for a table giving a breakdown by authority to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Information on local authority parking income and expenditure for the financial year 2005–06 will be available towards the end of 2006.
Separate statistics on income derived by local authorities from parking charges and parking penalties are not available.
Pedestrian Casualties (Schools)
Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrian casualties there have been outside schools in each local authority in Greater Manchester since 1997. [52714]
Dr. Ladyman:
No information is available on the proximity of accidents to schools.
27 Feb 2006 : Column 156W
Post Office
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what services to the public which are provided by his Department are available from the Post Office. [51200]
Ms Buck: Vehicle Re-licensing (car tax renewal) and a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) service is provided over the counter in approximately 4,600 branches. Postal applications are handled in 120 of these offices.
A Photocard Driving Licence Premium Service, checking application forms and supporting identity documents, is provided in approximately 700 branches.
A range of vehicle and driving licence forms are held in all 14,000 branches.
Railways
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it a condition of the next rail franchise for the line operated by C2C Rail Ltd. that the successful company reintroduce (a) flexitime and (b) early bird season tickets; and if he will make a statement. [51205]
Derek Twigg: No. C2C Rail Limited's flexitime and early bird season tickets are both unregulated fares; such fares may be set by the train operator on a commercial basis, and discontinued (or new fares introduced) as the operator sees fit.
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the future viability of the Stalybridge-Stockport railway line for local passenger rail services. [51743]
Derek Twigg: The Department has made no assessment of the future viability for local passenger services on the Stalybridge to Stockport railway line.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many obstructions of railway track by road vehicles have occurred as a result of (a) misadventure and (b) vandalism in each year since 1997; and how many of these have led to a train striking the vehicle. [47448]
Derek Twigg: The data in the following table is extracted from notifications to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. RIDDOR data does not break down the cause of obstructions on a line.
(45) For level crossing incidents, the definition of vehicle" includes bicycles as well as motor vehicles.
Data for 2005 is provisional at this stage. The figures are for Great Britain.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the contribution that the railway industry is making towards (a) relieving road traffic congestion and (b) economic regeneration; how this contribution to these objectives is assessed; what criteria he uses for determining which railway infrastructure projects should proceed; and if he will make a statement. [53021]
27 Feb 2006 : Column 157W
Derek Twigg: The contribution that the railway industry makes towards relieving road traffic congestion and economic regeneration is assessed each time a decision is made on whether to implement a railway investment project or major service enhancement. This is done using social cost benefit analysis techniques, as defined in the Department's New Approach to Appraisal (NATA). Projects which proceed are those which yield the highest net social benefit per pound of public sector support. Where benefits or costs cannot be monetised, they will be taken into account using the approach set in the NATA. Further details are on the Department's website.
Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to achieve the renewable transport fuels obligation; and if he will make a statement. [53791]
Dr. Ladyman: The Government announced on 10 November 2005, Official Report, column 29WS, that the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) will be introduced in April 2008, and that the level of the obligation will be 5 per cent. in the financial year 2010–11. We hope to be in a position to consult by the end of this year on the draft regulations that will bring the RTFO into effect.
Roads (South West Region)
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list constituencies in the South West region in which there are non-motorway trunk roads passing through areas of outstanding natural beauty. [53607]
Dr. Ladyman: Constituencies in the South West region in which there are non-motorway trunk roads passing through areas of outstanding natural beauty are as follows:
Ryanair (Security Breaches)
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on security breaches at Stansted Airport involving Ryanair staff. [53089]
Ms Buck:
The Department views any failings in security procedures seriously. We follow up at the time with the organisation concerned and take corrective action where that is necessary. It would not be appropriate to set out the steps we may take as a result of alleged breaches in security.
27 Feb 2006 : Column 158W
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate the safety practices of Ryanair and their compliance with Civil Aviation Authority standards and procedures; and if he will make a statement. [53094]
Ms Buck: Foreign airlines operating to the UK are required to meet the international standards and recommended practices established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. In addition, EU airlines also have to meet more detailed European safety requirements.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority can carry out ramp inspections of foreign airlines on behalf of the Secretary of State and has inspected Ryanair on a number of occasions over the last year.
These inspections have not identified any significant safety deficiencies, nor have similar inspections carried out in other European states.
The CAA has discussed the recent allegations about Ryanair's safety standards with the Irish Aviation Authority. As a result of these discussions together with information from the ramp inspections, the CAA concluded that issues covered in these allegations do not give rise to any concerns about the safety of Ryanair that would merit any action against the airline.
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