| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
9 May 2006 : Column 154W—continued
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when HM Railway Inspectorate last visited Llansamlet railway station; and what conclusions were drawn from the visit. [60818]
Derek Twigg: The Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate (HMRI) last visited Llansamlet station on 27 January 2006. HMRI inspected work being undertaken by a Network Rail contractor, to upgrade railway signalling and telecommunication infrastructure near the station. HMRI concluded that no action needed to be taken.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken at Llansamlet railway station (a) to improve passenger security, (b) to reduce vandalism, (c) to improve passenger facilities, (d) to provide on station ticketing machines and (e) to provide CCTV as part of the Arriva Trains Wales franchise. [60826]
Derek Twigg: There are no current plans by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) for improvements to passenger facilities and security at Llansamlet railway station. ATW do have a regular programme of station patrols and graffiti removal.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to incorporate the Westcountry coast line between Exeter and Plymouth in the Trans European Network. [68330]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 8 May 2006]: The line between Exeter and Plymouth is already defined as part of the Trans European Railway Network.
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the electrification of the Wrexham to Bidston railway line. [68890]
Derek Twigg: The Borderlands Rail Study assessed electrification of all or parts of the Wrexham to Bidston line and integrating it with the Merseyrail Electrics network. It also considered the case for extensions to the existing diesel operation and new stations at Beechwood, Woodchurch and Deeside Park. Merseytravel, together with neighbouring authorities and the North Wales local authority consortium Taith, are considering the results of the study.
Subject to all available funding sources and discussions with interested parties, Merseytravel will consider whether a scheme is suitable to promote for major scheme funding as part of the second local transport plan for Merseyside covering the period 2006-11. The specification and funding of the Arriva Trains Wales service between Wrexham. and Bidston is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the maximum speed regularly attained by (a) passenger and (b) freight trains is on the North Wales coast line between Chester and Holyhead. [69430]
Derek Twigg: The maximum line speed for passenger train services along the North Wales Mainline is 90mph and for freight trains it is set at 60mph.
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of Statefor Transport how many (a) incidents of objects thrown at or dropped on moving railway vehicles, (b) derailments, (c) incidents of livestock wandering
onto the track, (d) collisions between moving railway vehicles and (e) suicides were recorded on the North Wales coast line between Chester and Holyhead ineach of the last three years for which figures are available. [69431]
Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport does not hold this information. This is an operational matter for Network Rail and I have asked them to reply directly to my hon. Member.
Sea Defences
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been allocated to maintain the sea defences along the stretch of railway track at Dawlish in each of the next three years; and how much was spent in each of the last three years. [69129]
Derek Twigg: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. I have asked Network Rail to reply directly to the hon. Member.
Ship-to-ship Oil Transfers
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the plans to regulate ship to ship oil transfer are on schedule; and if he will make a statement. [68945]
Dr. Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) of 30 March 2006, Official Report, columns 1118-19W. My officials are still working towards the deadline outlined therein, ie to consult in the summer with a view to secondary legislation which will regulate ship-to-ship transfers within the limits of the UK's territorial sea coming into
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the economic effects of ship to ship oil transfer on (a) HM Treasury, (b) ports authorities and (c) surrounding local communities. [69203]
Dr. Ladyman: In accordance with the Cabinet Office guidance, the Department will prepare a regulatory impact assessment, which will address economic factors, to accompany the secondary legislation which will regulate ship-to-ship transfers within the limits of the UK's territorial sea.
Taxi Access (Disabled People)
Mr. Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will publish taxi access regulations under Part 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [68470]
Derek Twigg: We do not yet have a timetable for introduction of taxi accessibility regulations but the current situation is that local licensing authorities remain free to introduce their own accessibility policies and many have done so already. We are currently developing a technical specification to set the design parameters for accessible taxis. To assist this process, the Department held a seminar in June 2005 for stakeholders from
industry, organisations representing disabled people and licensing authorities to discuss the complex issues around taxi accessibility. The views expressed at the seminar will be used to shape a consultation package.
Transport Regulations
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of (a) Regulation 16, (b) Regulation 18 and (c) Schedule 3 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986; and what recent representations he has received about the operation of these Regulations. [69635]
Dr. Ladyman: The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 as amended, including Regulations 16, 18 and Schedule 3, are operating as normal and I have received no representations about their operation. I occasionally get enquiries or suggestions for amendments to the Regulations. Each request is considered on its merits and may result in changes to the Regulations. The most recent amendments to the specific Regulations mentioned were made in 2001 and came into force on 1 May 2002.
It has been suggested that consolidation of the Regulations would be useful. The Department has sympathy with this view but does not see such a consolidation as a high priority at present.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989; and what recent representations he has received about the operation of this Act. [69636]
Dr. Ladyman: The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, as amended, are operating as normal and I have received no representations about their operation. I occasionally get suggestions or enquiries about amendments or additions to the Regulations. Recent enquiries have included requests for the Regulations to include special retro-reflective markings for the emergency services' vehicles, to permit red lights to be used by emergency and recovery vehicles and to require the fitment of retro-reflective tape to trucks. Each request is considered on its merits and this may result in changes to the Regulations; the latest amendments were made last year.
The Department is at present planning further amendments to the Regulations. These would permit the distinctive retro-reflective liveries on vehicles used by the emergency services, such as the blue and yellow block pattern used by the police, which are not allowed under the existing Regulations. This change would remove the need for the individual temporary exemptions that are currently issued to each service.
Scotland
Joint Ministerial Committee
7. Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Joint Ministerial Committee last met. [67713]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Joint Ministerial Committee is the policy responsibility of the
Department for Constitutional Affairs. The last plenary meeting of the JMC was in October 2002.
Manufacturing
8. Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the future of Scotland's manufacturing industry. [67714]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Prospects for the future of the Scottish manufacturing sector are now very positive with a number of reports of growth in output, demand and employment in the first quarter of this year.
Energy
9. Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the energy review takes account of the views of the energy industry and energy consumers in Scotland. [67716]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: A wide range of Scottish interests have contributed to the consultation process in connection with the Energy Review. My hon. Friend, the Energy Minister, and his review team are in regular contact with the devolved Administrations.
12. John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Department for Trade and Industry on the commercial development of tidal energy in the Pentland Firth; and if he will make a statement. [67719]
David Cairns: Scotland Office Ministers and officials have discussions with their counterparts in the Department of Trade and Industry on a wide range of energy-related topics.
Government support development of tidal and other marine energy technologies by assistance for the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney and through the£50 million Marine Renewables Development Fund.
Personal Debt
10. John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on levels of personal debt in Scotland. [67717]
David Cairns: Personal debt data is collected on a UK basis by the Bank of England. The UK Government, in partnership with the Scottish Executive, is however committed to addressing problems that may arise from over-indebtedness, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Barnett Formula
11. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the socio-economic effects of the Barnett formula in Scotland. [67718]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: I have received no representations on the socio-economic effects of the Barnett formula. The Government are content with current arrangements and have no plans to replace or to review the Barnett formula, which has delivered fair, stable and transparent settlements for Scotland under successive administrations for almost 30 years.
Voting Rights
13. Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the voting rights of hon. Members representing Scottish seats on issues which do not affect Scotland. [67720]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) during Scottish oral questions on 28 February 2006.
TV Licences
14. Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the BBC and Cabinet colleagues on television licences in Scotland. [67721]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: I intend to have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues affecting Scotland. TV licensing is a matter for the BBC.
Loan Sharks
Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the work of the loan sharks pilot scheme in Scotland. [67715]
David Cairns: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry. I recently met the manager of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit, based in Glasgow, to discuss this groundbreaking initiative that tackles the problem of illegal loan sharks.
Constitutional Affairs
Sexual Offences (Anonymity)
22. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Home Department on anonymity during court proceedings for those accused of sexual offences. [68822]
Ms Harman: I have had many discussions with Home Office Ministers about sexual offences since I became Solicitor General in 2001 and since 2005 in my role as Minister of State in the Department for Constitutional Affairs. There are no plans to change the rules to provide anonymity for those accused of sexual offences.
Compulsory Voting
23. Ann McKechin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether her Department has considered recent studies on the merits of compulsory voting; and if she will make a statement. [68823]
Bridget Prentice: The Government have noted with interest the findings of the report just published by the Institute for Public Policy Research on this subject, and will wish to give them careful consideration.
Electoral Fraud
24. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the incidence of electoral fraud. [68824]
Bridget Prentice: Although instances of fraud often get prominent coverage in the media, it should be put in context, as actual proven cases are few and far between. That is not to say we are complacent, as the legislative and other action we have taken in recent years demonstrates.
Court Houses (Private Finance Initiative)
25. Bob Russell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many court houses have been built by means of a private finance initiative in the last five years. [68825]
Ms Harman: There have been 15 courthouses built under the private finance initiative in the last five years.
Court Modernisation (East Anglia)
26. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she next expects to meet representatives of the lay magistracy to discuss the modernisation of courts in East Anglia. [68826]
Ms Harman: I have no current plans to meet representatives of the local magistracy in East Anglia to discuss the modernisation of courts in East Anglia. I am of course ready to do so if that would prove useful.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |