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Discretionary Travel Schemes

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the discretionary travel schemes which have been adopted in each Passenger Transport Executive area in addition to the free off-peak bus travel. [56738]

Ms Buck [holding answer 7 March 2006]: All schemes must meet the statutory minimum entitlement by 1 April 2006. The Department does not yet have full details of any discretionary enhancements that will be offered in PTE areas. We will carry out a comprehensive survey of concessionary fares schemes later in the year.

Evesham Station

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what involvement his Department has had in the provision of disabled access to the up platform at Evesham station; what assessment he has made of the reasons for the delay to the project; and if he will provide financial assistance to meet cost increases attributed to decisions and requirements of his Department. [56608]

Ms Buck: All access improvements at stations are required to meet the requirements of the Train and Station Services for Disabled Passenger Code of Practice. Where an operator considers that they are unable to do so they can seek a dispensation from the Department.

First Great Western Link (FGWL) sought a dispensation for the ramp to the up platform because it failed to provide adequate resting places and each section of the ramp would be twice the required length. The dispensation was refused on 20 December 2005 on the grounds that the ramp would be unsuitable for many of the disabled passengers for which it was intended.

We understand that an alternative design for the ramp is being considered. The Department has indicated to FGWL that we will consider an application to use its Small Works Budget to make up the shortfall in funding. We understand that FGWL are awaiting a decision from Worcestershire County Council about co-funding of the scheme.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many unelected people are provided with cars by the Government Car and Despatch Agency; and what the cost to public funds was in 2004–05. [53377]

 
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Ms Buck: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office, to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 22 November 2005, Official Report, column 1889W, and to the letter of 20 December from Roy Burke, the chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member, copies of which were placed in the Libraries of the House.

Infrastructure Fund

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department will be contributing to the Community Infrastructure Fund in each of the next five years. [54968]

Ms Buck: The Community Infrastructure Fund, jointly managed by this Department and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, comprises £50 million in 2006–07 and £150 million in 2007–08. Any future funding will depend on the outcome of the 2007 Spending Review.

Insecticides

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is mandatory for airlines to spray insecticide in the interior of aircraft cabins on flights arriving in the UK; what rules govern this practice; what insecticides are permitted for use; and if he will make a statement. [57393]

Ms Buck: The use of insecticide is required under the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on flights to or from certain destinations to prevent infectious and contagious diseases. This process is known as disinsection.

Rules established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) require that disinsection does not injure or cause discomfort to passengers or crew. These rules permit the use of certain insecticides, which have the approval of and are recommended by the WHO, based on their efficacy and minimal human toxicity. The rules are binding on ICAO contracting states.

Within Great Britain, the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations 1979 lay down provisions intended to prevent infectious and contagious diseases. These provisions are enforced at airports by the local port health authority.

All pesticides used for aircraft disinfection in Great Britain must be approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986.

ICAO is looking into alternative methods of keeping mosquitoes and other insects out of the aircraft cabin. These methods include wind curtains at entrances and mechanical devices. If there is evidence to suggest alternative methods are more effective that the current methods, ICAO will consider a review of the disinsection process.

M5 (Junction 14)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons full traffic lights have been introduced
 
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at junction 14 on the M5; and what evidence his Department has collected of traffic flow problems at that junction. [57198]

Dr. Ladyman: Traffic lights were installed at junction 14 on the M5, due to the number of personal injury accidents as a result of turning movements to and from the B4509. All of these accidents occurred outside the morning peak period.

Measurements of traffic flows on the north and south bound exit slip roads of the M5 were taken in both March and September 2005 and a full peak hour vehicle movement survey was undertaken in November 2005. The traffic lights are switched off between 7am and 9am. The implementation of full time traffic lights will only occur if the Highways Agency is confident that this will not result in significant queues.

The junction will continue to be monitored for safety and operational reasons to identify whether further modifications are necessary to the phasing of the lights.

Northern Rail

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to reduce the annual subsidy given to Northern Rail. [57394]

Derek Twigg: There are no plans to reduce the annual subsidy given to Northern Rail.

Queen's Birthday

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to celebrate Her Majesty's 80th birthday; what advice he has issued to his Department's executive agencies on celebrations for the birthday; and if he will make a statement. [54188]

Ms Buck: The Department has no special arrangements planned to celebrate Her Majesty's 80th birthday.

All staff are entitled to one day privilege leave every year during May to mark Her Majesty's birthday.

The Department will fly the Union Jack on Her Majesty's birthday on 21 April and during the official celebration of Her Majesty's birthday on 17 June.

Road Improvements

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timetable is for the additional £600 million announced on 15 February 2006 to be made available to help local authorities modernise and update their local roads. [54963]

Ms Buck: The deadline for the return of expressions of interest (Eois) in pathfinder schemes for highway maintenance schemes procured through the private finance initiative is 10 September 2006. We will then consider which local authorities should be invited to prepare an outline business case (OBC). It is anticipated that the time required to prepare an OBC for these schemes, which are likely to be complex, will be approximately a year. Each local authority is required
 
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to propose their own timetable for procurement with both their Eoi and OBC. These will be considered as part of the assessment process.

Transport Provision (Forest of Dean)

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) he, (b) Ministers in the Department and (c) his Department's officials have had recent discussions regarding the development of the (i) rail and (ii) road network in Forest of Dean constituency. [55490]

Ms Buck: No recent discussions have been held on the development of rail and road network specifically in relation to the Forest of Dean. However, officials have held discussions recently with Gloucestershire county council in relation to the council's local transport plan for the period 2006–11.

It is for Gloucestershire county council, the local transport authority, in consultation with members of the community, key stakeholders and partners (including Forest of Dean district council), to determine local transport priorities and the provision of services.

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