| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
21 Mar 2006 : Column 244W—continued
King's Cross Station
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) timetable for and (b) cost is of the refurbishment and regeneration work at London's King's Cross station; what progress has been made with the project to date; and if he will make a statement. [59394]
Derek Twigg: The London Underground works at King's Cross are being delivered in two phases. Phase 1 works, including the new western ticket hall and the refurbished and enlarged tube ticket hall, are due to be completed this year. The current programme shows a completion date for the phase 2 works, which include the new northern ticket hall, in 2010. The northern ticket hall works re-commenced on site in March 2006.
Network Rail is planning to complete the construction of a new Western concourse at King's Cross by the 2012 Olympics. The western concourse project is in the design stage and applications to the planning authority are expected later this year.
The total cost of the London Underground and Network Rail western concourse works is around £1billion.
Network Rail is also planning to carry out renewal work to the fabric of King's Cross station and this project is in the initial planning stages.
M1
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he next expects widening of the M1 motorway to be carried out, apart from the stretch of motorway north of junction 8; and at which locations. [59426]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 20 March 2006]: The M1 widening schemes are expected at the locations and at the times specified as follows:
(23)Dependent on completion of M1 J6A-10 widening.
(24)Delivery of these schemes is subject to funding and completion of statutory procedures.
Mini-motorbikes
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what data his Department collects on accidents involving mini-motorbikes. [58386]
21 Mar 2006 : Column 245W
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 14 March 2006]: Personal injury road accident data in Great Britain are collected by the police and reported to the Department using the STATS19 accident report format. While motorised mini-motorbikes involved in personal injury accidents on public roads will be recorded in STATS 19, they are not identified as a distinct group of vehicles.
The vast majority of these vehicles do not meet the required European and UK technical standards for road vehicles, cannot be road-registered and must not be used on our public roads, footpaths, bridleways or cycle tracks. Where they are used illegally or antisocially the police have a range of powers under road traffic law and the Police Reform Act 2002 which can be used against offenders.
The Department for Transport is aware that there have been a number of accidents involving these vehicles and considering the safety and other issues raised by mini-motorbikes.
Mobile Telephones
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to encourage mobile telephone operators to use existing Network Rail infrastructure along tracks for transmission purposes. [59669]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 20 March 2006]: This is an operational matter for Network Rail who will reply directly to the hon. Member.
Motor Cycle Licences
Mr. Malik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2005, Official Report, column 1141W, on motorcycle licences, what progress has been made towards political agreement with EU partners on the proposed new European Community Directive on driving licences, with particular reference to the proposals for new requirements in respect of motorcycles. [60565]
Dr. Ladyman: The proposed Directive was discussed at the Transport Council in December 2005 but agreement was not achieved. Negotiations on this dossier continue. The next Transport Council will take place on 27 March 2006.
Motorway Signage (Advertising)
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the use of brand advertising on motorway signage. [60166]
Dr. Ladyman:
Current policy and regulations permit the name and logo of the motorway service area (MSA) operator in their house style to be displayed on a header board above the advance informatory half-mile and slip road signs before each MSA. In addition the names of the operators of the next three MSAs may be shown using the standard motorway alphabet on a sign sited one mile in advance of each MSA. No other company names or logos may be displayed.
21 Mar 2006 : Column 246W
Network Rail
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to allow Network Rail to finance capital projects beyond the existing Government indemnity; and if he will make a statement. [59934]
Derek Twigg: The Financial Indemnity provided by the Secretary of State for Transport allows Network Rail to raise sufficient finance for all its planned investment projects.
Night Flights
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) environmental and (b) economic impact of night flights at (i) Gatwick, (ii) Stansted and (iii) Heathrow airports. [59542]
Derek Twigg: Chapter 4 and Annex C of the Stage One consultation document on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted set out our assessment of the environmental impact of night flying at each of these airports, as required by Directive 2002/30/EC. On the basis of the evidence available to us, including the responses to Stage One, the Stage Two consultation document then set out environmental objectives, and proposed noise-abatement objectives, for each airport.
The Government's consideration of the economic impact of night flying takes account of the combined effects on the national economy of night flights at the designated airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
A broad statement on the economic importance of night flying at the designated airports was made in the draft regulatory impact assessment published in the stage two consultation document on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, published on 10 June 2005.
We acknowledged in the stage two consultation that responses to the stage one consultation had not provided a comprehensive picture of the economic impact of night flights and of night restrictions. The stage two consultation therefore made a specific request for further information to inform the Government's decision-making. The consultation closed on 16 September 2005 and the Department for Transport is analysing responses from consultees.
A final Regulatory Impact Assessment will be published when the decision on night flying restrictions is announced in due course, as will a summary of consultation responses.
Rail Services
Chris Grayling To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 556W, on trains, what five train services had the highest number of passengers in excess of capacity levels in each of the 10 largest cities in the UK. [54962]
21 Mar 2006 : Column 247W
Derek Twigg:
Passengers in Excess of Capacity (PIXC) applies to weekday commuter trains arriving in London between 07:00 and 09:59 and those departing between 16:00 and 18:59.
21 Mar 2006 : Column 248W
The five train services serving London with the highest levels of Passengers In Excess Of Capacity in autumn 2005 were:
The PIXC measure does not apply to other cities in the UK and such information cannot be provided, due to the disproportionate cost in resource required to extract this in the format requested.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |