House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 23 Mar 2006 (pt 6)

23 Mar 2006 : Column 494W—continued

A47/A11

Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to tackle congestion on the (a) A47 and (b) A11 in Norfolk. [59623]

Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency recently completed a congestion study report on the A47 between Peterborough and Great Yarmouth. The aim of the study was to identify where congestion occurs, is likely to occur in the future and to propose suitable remedial measures. A similar congestion study will be carried out next year on the A11, subject to funding.

In line with the recently published public service agreement (PSA) target, the agency is now working to improve journey time reliability by preventing and clearing incidents efficiently, providing improved information to road users and through better planning of roadworks. This is in addition to completing road improvements, such as the A11 Attleborough Bypass.

Bus Services

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Kick Start programme in helping to establish new sustainable bus services; and whether he plans to set up further bidding rounds. [60705]

23 Mar 2006 : Column 495W

Dr. Ladyman: Kickstart projects awarded funding in 2003 in the initial pilot phase of the scheme are making good progress. Local authorities and operators are now taking forward the 43 projects awarded funding in November last year. We, jointly with the Scottish Executive, have recently commissioned consultants to carry out an evaluation of the Kickstart programme. The results of this will be available early next year. No decisions have yet been taken on future Kickstart competitions.

23 Mar 2006 : Column 496W

Bus Subsidy (Greater London)

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much bus subsidy has been provided in the Greater London area in each of the last 10 years. [60178]

Dr. Ladyman: The following tables outline bus subsidy awarded in London between 1994–95 to 2004–05:
Bus subsidy in London (not adjusted for inflation)

£ million
Public transport support1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Concessionary fare reimbursement7, 8 Bus service operators grant⁽⁹⁾ Total (+ BSOG) RPI deflator

At cash prices

1994–95⁽⁴⁾ 55 100 No data 155 1.286

1995–96⁽⁴⁾ 30 103 29 162 1.251

1996–97⁽⁴⁾ 12 106 29 147 1.209

1997–98⁽⁴⁾ 1 110 30 141 1.174

1998–99⁽⁴⁾ 12 113 37 162 1.144

1999–2000⁽⁴⁾ 10 117 46 173 1.122

2000–01⁽⁴⁾ 84 119 47 250 1.108

2001–02⁽⁵⁾ 186 129 56 371 1.081

2002–03⁽⁵⁾ 421 128 66 615 1.048

2003–04⁽⁶⁾ 560 132 80 772 1.021

2004–05 549 143 91 783 1.000

Percentage change over:

1 year -2 8 13 1 —

10 years 898 43 — 405 —

⁽¹⁾ From administrative returns to ODPM.
⁽²⁾ Includes depreciation and renewal grant.
⁽³⁾ London data reflect changes at the time of preparation for the privatisation of LBL's buses.
⁽⁴⁾ From 1994–95 this was funded by L.T. From 2000–01 TFL took strategic control of London's bus network.
⁽⁵⁾ Operating loss of London Buses Ltd., as stated in their management accounts.
⁽⁶⁾ The congestion charge in central London raised funds which have not been set against expenditure in the table.
⁽⁷⁾ Concessionary fare reimbursement is a subsidy to the passenger rather than the operator.
⁽⁸⁾ Concessionary fare schemes for children became available in some areas from 26 October 1986. Free travel for those under 16 in London from September 2005.
⁽⁹⁾ Bus Service Operators Grant replaced Fuel Duty Rebate. It is paid by DFT directly to bus operators.
Source:
Local authority returns to ODPM (Revenue Out-turn RO2).

Bus subsidy in London (real terms)

£ million
Public transport support1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Concessionary fare reimbursement7, 8 Bus service operators grant⁽¹⁸⁾ Total (+ BSOG) RPI deflator

At 2004–05 prices

1994–95⁽¹³⁾ 71 129 No data 199 1.286

1995–96⁽¹³⁾ 38 129 36 203 1.251

1996–97⁽¹³⁾ 15 128 35 178 1.209

1997–98⁽¹³⁾ 1 129 35 165 1.174

1998–99⁽¹³⁾ 14 129 42 185 1.144

1999–2000⁽¹³⁾ 11 131 52 194 1.122

2000–01⁽¹³⁾ 93 132 52 277 1.108

2001–02⁽¹⁴⁾ 201 139 61 401 1.081

2002–03⁽¹⁴⁾ 441 134 69 645 1.048

2003–04⁽¹⁵⁾ 572 135 82 789 1.021

2004–05 549 143 91 783 1.000

Percentage change over:

1 year -4 6 11 -1 —

10 years 676 11 — 293 —

⁽¹⁰⁾ From administrative returns to ODPM.
⁽¹¹⁾ Includes depreciation and renewal grant.
⁽¹²⁾ London data reflect changes at the time of preparation for the privatisation of LBL's buses.
⁽¹³⁾ From 1994–95 this was funded by L.T. From 2000–01 TFL took strategic control of London's bus network.
⁽¹⁴⁾ Operating loss of London Buses Ltd., as stated in their management accounts.
⁽¹⁵⁾ The congestion charge in central London raised funds which have not been set against expenditure.
⁽¹⁶⁾ Concessionary fare reimbursement is a subsidy to the passenger rather than the operator.
⁽¹⁷⁾ Concessionary fare schemes for children became available in some areas from 26 October 1986. Free travel for those under 16 in London from September 2005.
⁽¹⁸⁾ Bus Service Operators Grant replaced Fuel Duty Rebate. It is paid by DFT directly to bus operators.
Source:
Local authority returns to ODPM (Revenue Out-turn RO2).

23 Mar 2006 : Column 497W

£ million
	Public transport support1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Concessionary fare reimbursement7, 8	Bus service operators grant⁽⁹⁾	Total (+ BSOG)	RPI deflator
At cash prices
1994–95⁽⁴⁾	55	100	No data	155	1.286
1995–96⁽⁴⁾	30	103	29	162	1.251
1996–97⁽⁴⁾	12	106	29	147	1.209
1997–98⁽⁴⁾	1	110	30	141	1.174
1998–99⁽⁴⁾	12	113	37	162	1.144
1999–2000⁽⁴⁾	10	117	46	173	1.122
2000–01⁽⁴⁾	84	119	47	250	1.108
2001–02⁽⁵⁾	186	129	56	371	1.081
2002–03⁽⁵⁾	421	128	66	615	1.048
2003–04⁽⁶⁾	560	132	80	772	1.021
2004–05	549	143	91	783	1.000

Percentage change over:
1 year	-2	8	13	1	—
10 years	898	43	—	405	—

£ million
	Public transport support1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6	Concessionary fare reimbursement7, 8	Bus service operators grant⁽¹⁸⁾	Total (+ BSOG)	RPI deflator
At 2004–05 prices
1994–95⁽¹³⁾	71	129	No data	199	1.286
1995–96⁽¹³⁾	38	129	36	203	1.251
1996–97⁽¹³⁾	15	128	35	178	1.209
1997–98⁽¹³⁾	1	129	35	165	1.174
1998–99⁽¹³⁾	14	129	42	185	1.144
1999–2000⁽¹³⁾	11	131	52	194	1.122
2000–01⁽¹³⁾	93	132	52	277	1.108
2001–02⁽¹⁴⁾	201	139	61	401	1.081
2002–03⁽¹⁴⁾	441	134	69	645	1.048
2003–04⁽¹⁵⁾	572	135	82	789	1.021
2004–05	549	143	91	783	1.000

Percentage change over:
1 year	-4	6	11	-1	—
10 years	676	11	—	293	—

Concessionary Travel

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether local authorities are required to spend the funding allocation for the concessionary travel scheme entirely on the provision of transport. [60830]

Dr. Ladyman: The funding for concessionary fares is unhypothecated; therefore the funding for concessionary fares is not separately identified. It is for local authorities to decide on their overall funding priorities based on their judgment of local need and circumstances.

GNER

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the East Coast Main Line franchise's performance indicators were met by the train operator in (a) the 12 months prior to the new franchise being awarded in March 2005 and (b) the 12 months after the awarding of the franchise. [60373]

Derek Twigg: GNER met all its franchise obligations in the 12 months prior to the commencement of its new franchise. Three franchise commitments were carried over into the new franchise agreement at the request of the Department for Transport. Since the commencement of the new franchise agreement, GNER has met all its obligations to date.

Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of GNER's timetabled train services were cancelled in (a) the 12 months prior to the new franchise being awarded and (b) the 12 months after the awarding of the franchise. [60374]

Derek Twigg: The number of GNER's timetabled train services cancelled in the 12 months prior to the commencement of the new franchise (29 May 2004 to 30 April 2005 was 974 cancellations.

The number of GNER's timetabled train services cancelled in the 10 months since the start of the new franchise (28 May 2005 to 4 February 2006 is 393 cancellations.

Foreign Registered Aircraft

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to report on the outcome of the consultation in respect of foreign registered aircraft based in the UK. [61120]

Derek Twigg: We have received a large response to this consultation and are currently working on a summary of these responses. We hope to have this document finalised shortly. Once this is done the document will be published on the Department's website and a copy will be sent to all those who responded to the consultation. This document will give an analysis of the responses received and explain how these have informed the Department's views.

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