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24 May 2006 : Column 1901W—continued
Resilience Exercises
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the resilience exercises carried out on (a) the transport infrastructure and (b) Eurotunnel since 11 September 2001. [72352]
Derek Twigg: Transport resilience exercises are regularly carried out across the transport infrastructure by transport operators and by agencies of government or in combination. Details are not held centrally by the Department. The value of multi-level exercises was shown clearly on 7 July 2005 and on other occasions when an emergency response has been required.
Since 11 September 2001, 22 emergency response exercises have been held involving Eurotunnel. These have been run variously in conjunction with Kent police, other relevant authorities, and the UK and French Government.
Road Pricing
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage increase in motoring costs required to provide an effective disincentive to motorists to drive on congested roads. [71874]
Dr. Ladyman: The Feasibility Study of Road Pricing in the UK, which reported to the Secretary of State in July 2004 (a copy of the study is available in the Library of the House), considered a number of different scenarios for a national road pricing scheme. The study presents estimates of the potential reduction in congestion arising from a number of illustrative ‘revenue neutral’ and ‘marginal social cost’ pricing scenarios. The analysis completed for the study suggested that a ‘revenue neutral’ scenario of national road pricing, could lead to an overall reduction in congestion of 41 per cent. on all roads and a 48 per cent. reduction on urban roads.
Roads
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the latest cost estimates are for (a) road schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements, (b) road schemes approved under the local transport plans and (c) road schemes approved under the Community Infrastructure Fund. [71862]
Dr. Ladyman: I have arranged for three tables to be placed in the House Library. The tables provide information on latest cost estimates for (a) schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements, (b) local major road schemes, costing over £5 million, that have been approved for funding through the local transport plan programme and (c) road schemes approved under the Community Infrastructure Fund. Funding allocated for road schemes under the Community Infrastructure Fund are for fixed amounts and are time-limited to 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Rolls-Royce Engines
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the compliance with (a) health and (b) safety standards of the nickel super alloy content of the Rolls-Royce(i) RB211-535C and (ii) E4 engines. [71201]
Gillian Merron: The Civil Aviation Authority assessed the engine designs and the manufacturer's production processes against the relevant airworthiness safety standards applicable to them at the time applications for safety approvals were made.
The Rolls Royce RB211-535 and E4 series engine designs and the manufacturer's engine production
processes were assessed against safety standards established in British Civil Airworthiness Requirements documents. These were superseded first by European-wide Joint Aviation Authorities Airworthiness Requirement documents and subsequently by Commission Regulation (EC)1702/2003, one of the implementing rules made under Regulation (EC) 1592/2002 which set up the European Aviation Safety Agency.
Ryanair
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that Ryanair complies with all the existing applicable rules when it operates from airports within the UK; and what meetings officials have held with Ryanair to discuss these matters. [70865]
Gillian Merron: If information is received which suggests that a foreign airline has committed a significant breach of UK legislation this will be followed up with both the airline and its regulatory authority and could result in prosecution or the refusal of permission to operate to the UK.
The Department is not aware of any ongoing issues of non-compliance by Ryanair with UK legislation governing aviation safety. Therefore no specific action has been taken and no specific meetings have been held with Ryanair.
South East Manchester Multi-modal Study
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the implementation of the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Study objectives by the constituent local authorities and partner organisations; and if he will make a statement. [72652]
Gillian Merron: Following the response to the South East Manchester Multi-Modal Study in March 2002, an Implementation Group was set up, chaired by the Government Office for the North West. The objectives of the Group include the co-ordination of the delivery and development programmes for the multi-modal strategy, as well as to monitor and review progress.
Many of the objectives of SEMMMS are progressed through the authorities Local Transport Plan. An assessment of Final (Second) Local Transport Plans is currently being undertaken by the Department and Government Office for the North West. The monitoring of LTP integrated transport objectives and targets, as agreed by local authorities, are carried out through Annual Progress and Delivery Reports.
Ministers are currently considering the scheme appraisal for the SEMMMS Relief Road and advice from the North West region on the priority it attaches to the conventional funding element of this and other schemes in the North West. Ministers plan to make an announcement in due course.
Southampton Tunnel
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in upgrading the Southampton tunnel to take larger containers; what the cost of the project has been to date; and what the estimated final cost will be. [72578]
Derek Twigg: Over the next few months Network Rail will be undertaking work to refine cost estimates and develop designs to gauge clear Southampton tunnel.
Any work to upgrade the tunnel is part of a wider project to allow the efficient passage of trains carrying large, 9’6” containers from Southampton to the West Coast Main Line. The overall cost of the core scheme from Southampton to the West Coast Main Line is estimated at circa £57 million.
Staff Surveys
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff surveys have been conducted in his Department in each of the last three years. [72872]
Gillian Merron: The Department has carried out the following staff surveys in each of the last three years.
| 1 April to 31 March | |||
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
Staff Team Building
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost was of (a) staff away-days and (b) staff team-building exercises in his Department in each of the last three years. [69085]
Gillian Merron: The information requested is not collected centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Terrorist Threats
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many terrorist threats there have been on average per month on (a) the Channel Tunnel and (b) Merseyrail since 11 September 2001. [72841]
Derek Twigg: Due to security considerations it would not be appropriate to comment on threats to specific elements of national transport infrastructure.
If and where threats to transport infrastructure arise, the Department for Transport has security procedures in place and works closely with partner organisations to respond appropriately.
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government have to increase security against terrorist attacks on UK airlines. [72957]
Gillian Merron: The security measures in place, both for aviation in the UK and for UK airlines overseas, are kept under constant review and are adjusted as and when necessary, including in the light of any change in threat assessments.
Transport Improvements (Hackney, North and Stoke Newington)
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what transport improvements for which his Department is responsible there have been in Hackney, North and Stoke Newington constituency in the past 12 months; what further improvements are planned; and if he will make a statement. [66133]
Gillian Merron: The Department provides Transport for London with a block grant, which doubled over the last five years, to £2,181 million 2005-06. The Mayor is responsible for providing a Transport Strategy for London while the boroughs are required to provide Local Implementation Plans which set out how they will contribute to the Mayor's strategy.
In addition, the Department funds improvements to rail services in London. This investment includes the current preparatory rail bridge building work for the East London Line Extension to Dalston. The project will provide three new stations for North Hackney and Stoke Newington. Further investment is planned for improvements to the North London Line (NLL) which have been confirmed by the Mayor when he takes control of the line in 2007.
These include new, higher capacity, accessible trains replacing the existing fleet and a £25 million station enhancement programme of NLL stations. The funding of further rail enhancements across the country will be considered as part of the development of the High Level Output Specification for the railway to be published in Summer 2007.
Transport Infrastructure Projects
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Institution of Civil Engineers on improvements to the management of transport infrastructure projects; and when such discussions took place. [62693]
Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has had no discussions with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on improvements to the management of transport infrastructure projects.
Officials are aware of ICE work in the transportation sector, and from time to time contribute to this work both a regional and national level.
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