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21 Mar 2006 : Column 238W—continued

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Evesham Technology

Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Leader of the House whether Evesham Technology made a bid to supply hon. Members with their computing needs. [60364]

Nigel Griffiths: Evesham Technology was one of 30 companies who replied to the advertisement for expressions of interest in the contract for upgrading hon. Members' IT equipment. It was not one of the 6shortlisted companies invited to tender.

TRANSPORT

Railways

15. Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding the Government will provide to the rail network in 2006–07. [59791]

Derek Twigg: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement to Parliament on 10 February 2005 setting out the Government's funding plans for the railway. This shows that some £5.8 billion of Government funds will be spent on the Railway in 2006–07.

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the marketing of railway services. [59936]

Derek Twigg: The marketing of rail services is a matter for their operators.

Noise Pollution

16. Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Government policy on noise pollution from airports in the South East. [59792]

Derek Twigg: Our basic aim is to limit and, where possible, reduce the number of people in the UK significantly affected by aircraft noise. This aim applies to the South East as it does to the rest of the UK.

The Government set noise-related operating restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, which include departure noise limits and night flying restrictions. At other airports, a range of similar measures are implemented by the airports themselves, responding to local circumstances.

In The Future of Air Transport" white paper we set out the measures we wish to see larger UK airports (with over 50,000 movements a year, by jet aircraft over 34,000 kg) apply as a benchmark for mitigating aircraft noise.

Concessionary Bus Fares Scheme

18. Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the implementation of the concessionary bus fares scheme. [59795]

Dr. Ladyman: From 1 April 2006, 11 million people in England, aged 60 and over, or with disabilities, will be guaranteed free off-peak local bus travel for the first time.
 
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Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely impact on other services of free bus fares for pensioners in Tyne and Wear; and if he will make a statement. [59788]

Mr. Darling: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister—the department responsible for local government funding—continues to talk to Tyne and Wear about the funding for concessionary fares.

A11 (Fiveways Roundabout)

Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the conclusion of his investigation into whether improvements to the Fiveways roundabout on the A11 should be carried out. [59621]

Dr. Ladyman: The study has been completed and I am considering the recommendations alongside the advice from Regions associated with the regional funding allocations exercise.

A21

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Highways Agency has plans to seek compulsory purchase orders on properties along the A21 between Flimwell and Robertsbridge. [59641]

Dr. Ladyman: We are currently considering the advice from the south east region on the region's transport priorities, including schemes on the A21, as well as other schemes in the south east. We plan to make an announcement later this year.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the proposed A21 upgrade; and if he will make a statement. [59632]

Dr. Ladyman: We are currently considering the South East region's advice on the priority it attaches to the upgrade of the A21 within the indicative funding allocation for major transport schemes in the South East. No other recent representations have been received. We hope to announce our response to the South East region's advice later this year.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the draft orders for the proposed A21 upgrade. [60066]

Dr. Ladyman: We are currently considering the advice from the South East Region on transport priorities, including schemes on the A21, as well as other schemes in the South East. We plan to make an announcement later this year.

A47/A11

Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of developing route management studies for the (a) A47/A12 and (b) A11 has been. [59620]

Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency has carried out route management strategy studies that have resulted in Route Management Strategies.
 
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The Agency's expenditure for developing the A47/A12 Route Management Strategy from 2002 to 2005 was £195,000.

The expenditure for developing the A11 Route Management Strategy, including an update, from 2003 to 2005 was £118,000.

The Agency estimates that it will spend a further £1,000 a year to produce an annual update of these two route management strategies.

Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with (a) Ministerial colleagues and (b) others about the impact on (i) the economy and (ii) regeneration of the local area of upgrading the (A) A47 and (B) A11. [59622]

Dr. Ladyman: I discuss a wide range of transport issues, including road schemes, and their impact on (i)the economy and (ii) regeneration with Ministerial colleagues and others on a regular basis.

A555

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on funding for the proposed A555 relief road. [60246]

Dr. Ladyman: We are currently considering proposals for this scheme and will make an announcement in due course.

British Transport Police

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Transport Police have been employed in each year since 1997 in (a) England, (b) the North East and (c) the boroughs of the Tees Valley sub-region. [59740]

Derek Twigg: The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on the number of police employed in each year since 1997 in (a) England and Wales and (b) the North East. A figure for England alone is not available as one of BTP's operational areas, Wales and Western", covers both England and Wales.

The data requested is not collected broken down by boroughs and therefore can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

	England and Wales	BTP North Eastern Area
1997–98	1,898	195
1998–99	1,906	205
1999–2000	1,874	197
2000–01	1,907	192
2001–02	1,920	188
2002–03	2,001	193
2003–04	2,073	197
2004–05	2,283	205

Bus Routes (West Lancashire)

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus routes are operating in West Lancashire. [60223]

 
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Dr. Ladyman: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) holds information on bus services broken down by traffic area. West Lancashire is in the north western traffic area where there are 4,399 bus routes currently operating. To break this data down by constituency can be done only at disproportionate cost.

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