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4 Dec 2006 : Column 6W—continued
John Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies for which he is responsible are taking steps to meet the requirements of the forthcoming duty on public bodies (i) to end
unlawful discrimination and harassment and (ii) to promote equality between women and men. [101546]
Gillian Merron: In order to ensure better performance on the general gender equality duty which will require public authorities to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination and harassment and promote equality of opportunity between women and men, the Department will be taking the steps outlined in the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Public Authorities)(Statutory Duties) Order 2006 (No. 2930) which should come into force on 6 April 2007.
Halliburton
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many private finance initiative and public-private partnership contracts with his Department and its agencies were won by Halliburton or its subsidiaries since 1997; what the terms were of each contract; and if he will make a statement. [101226]
Gillian Merron: The Highways Agency awarded the following PFI contracts to the Road Management Services consortium consisting of AMEC, Alfred McAlpine, Dragados and Halliburton.
| Name of contract | Date of award | Terms of contract |
| (1) The Highways Agency awarded the A13 contract on 2 April 2000, the contract was subsequently novated to Transport for London on 3 July 2000. | ||
A DBFO briefing pack is available from the Highways Agency website (http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/2748.aspx).
Helicopters: Buckinghamshire
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many helicopter flights took place over Buckinghamshire in each year since 2001. [107509]
Gillian Merron: This information is not held by the Department for Transport. If the hon. Member writes to the chief executive of National Air Traffic Services Ltd. they will provide the information requested.
400 Parkway
Whiteley
Fareham
Hants
PO15 7FL.
Highways Agency
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) original estimated cost and (b) most recent cost estimate is of (i) each Highways Agency scheme in the Targeted Programme of Improvements and (ii) each local authority scheme approved through the local transport plans. [102616]
Dr. Ladyman: The information is as follows.
For (i) Highways Agency schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements, I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 6 November 2006, Official Report, column 685W, to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) which referred to an answer given on 24 July 2006, Official Report, column 746W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Ms Butler).
The Secretary of State has asked Mike Nicholas, Chairman of the Nicholas Group, to review the Highways Agency approach to cost estimating and project management, and to make recommendations, including on how the agency should best assess, monitor and report on risks to its cost estimates. He will report shortly.
For (ii) local authority schemes, I have placed a table in the Library of the House. The table provides the latest approved departmental contribution, which isthe most reliable indication of the final cost to the Department.
Lighting: Essex
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the likely effects on road safety of the decision of Essex county council to switch off the majority of street lights during the hours of midnight to 5 am. [107710]
Dr. Ladyman: No. As the local highway authority, Essex county council are responsible for considering the implications that any such decision may have on road safety.
MidMan Multi-modal Study
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public transport improvements recommended in the MidMan multi-modal study of 2002 have been (a) completed, (b) started, (c) approved for a start and (d) not actioned; and what the status is of those not actioned. [106645]
Dr. Ladyman: Tables of progress against the recommendations have been placed in the Libraries of the House. This list is not exhaustive as central Government approval (or funding) would not necessarily be needed to deliver all projects that contribute to meeting the recommendations in the study.
National Pensioners' Bus Passes
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive about reciprocal arrangements for cross-border use of national pensioners' bus passes; and what the outcome has been. [103730]
Gillian Merron:
The Department has been discussing the desirability and practicality of reciprocal arrangements with the devolved Administrations. The Concessionary Bus Travel Bill introduced 27 November includes a power to allow, via regulations in the future, for mutual recognition of concessionary bus passes across the UK. Various issues and practicalities, such
as interoperability of passes will need to be considered and consulted upon before mutual recognition is possible.
Parking Offenders (Database)
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for a national computer database of persistent parking offenders; and if he will make a statement. [104077]
Gillian Merron: The Secretary of State consulted on revising civil enforcement for parking in July this year. The consultation covered, among other things, whether it would be acceptable for the Association of London Government (now called London Councils) to expand their persistent evader database for use across England and, if not, what other options might be suitable. The consultation closed on 29 September 2006 and the Department will publish a summary of the responses when the regulations are laid in Parliament early next year.
Railways
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which Ministers have met One Railway executives in the last two years. [103064]
Mr. Tom Harris: Ministers meet with representatives from the train operating companies from time to time where a wide range of issues are discussed.
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how frequently rail franchises are reviewed; and under what circumstances franchise conditions can be altered. [103066]
Mr. Tom Harris: The performance of all rail franchises is continually monitored. Changes to a franchise specification and committed outputs are only made when there are major changes to the market demand for the services of the franchise or other external factors require a change. Examples are the opening of a new station or a change to the rail network. Such changes are negotiated with the franchisee through the provisions contained in the franchise agreement.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains of each train company were cancelled in the last 12 months; how many of those trains were cancelled (a) before reaching their final destination and (b) before departure; and what the reason was for each cancellation. [102749]
Mr. Tom Harris: Train running data for the Rail Network as a whole is collected and processed by Network Rail. The Department holds information on total passenger train cancellations broken down by franchise but not by the reason for each cancellation.
The following table shows the total cancellations suffered by each franchised train operator for the year to 19 August 2006, the most recent available figures. These figures include trains that were cancelled both before departure and before reaching their final destination. The Department does not hold
information on the breakdown between trains that are cancelled and those that are part-cancelled.
| Cancellation data for the year running to 19 August 2006 | ||
| Franchise operator | Total cancellations | Trains planned to run |
Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the legal powers and planning consent he granted to Network Rail in respect of its Thameslink 2000 rail enhancement scheme will allow the closure of Kings Cross Thameslink station to proceed once arrangements are made for the operation of passenger services at St. Pancras Midland Road station, and fare and ticket retailing requirements are transferred, as set out by the decision letter of 17 October 2006. [106573]
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on the Kent Integrated Railway franchise. [106989]
Mr. Tom Harris: Officials from the Department are currently dealing with representations regarding the forthcoming zonalisation of the fare structure in London. This change to fare regulation will simplify the fares in the London area and will pave the way for Oyster Pre Pay to be rolled out on the national rail in London.
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether plans exist to begin running a 24-hour train service (a) on lines that serve major cities and (b) on other lines. [107009]
Mr. Tom Harris: No such plans exist.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what operating revenue First Great Western is making on its service from London Paddington to Swansea for the most recent period for which figures are available. [104145]
Mr. Tom Harris: Detailed break-downs of rail franchisees' revenues are commercially confidential.
Road Pricing
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assumptions about the likely effect of his proposals for road pricing he makes when assessing the case for the construction of individual road projects; [102009]
(2) what assessment he has made of the impact of his proposals for a national road pricing scheme on the need for the construction of the Mottram to Entwhistle by-pass. [102011]
Dr. Ladyman: Current legislation allows for new trunk roads (including motorways) to be tolled in order to recoup construction costs, but powers to price existing trunk roads to manage demand are very limited. Local authorities can propose pricing on nearby trunk roads as part of a local pricing scheme. Provided suitable proposals come forward from local authorities, we would expect to see the first schemes operational in four to five years. From these initial schemes we will evaluate the impacts of pricing and how it can be effectively used to manage demand.
We have no intention of pre-empting the debate to be had on national road pricing by seeking powers for such a scheme at this time.
At the moment, while we are still gathering evidence of how road pricing will be operating in practice, the Department, does not require the appraisal process for road improvement proposals to include an assessment of the impact of road pricing. However, we are keeping the position under review and looking at schemes on a case by case basis.
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