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6 Feb 2007 : Column 767W—continued
Finsbury Park Station: Repairs and Maintenance
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the refurbishment of the interior of Finsbury Park station; and if he will make a statement. [119193]
Mr. Tom Harris: The overground part of Finsbury Park station is owned by Network Rail and operated by First Capital Connect. Any matters relating to interior refurbishment will be agreed between these two parties and Transport for London.
Freight: Transport
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in how many (a) airports, (b) airfields, (c) ports, (d) harbours and (e) landing points on tidal rivers the unloading of goods was possible in each region and country of the UK in 2006. [118043]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 5 February 2007]: The terms used in the question do not reflect classifications used in legislation. The following table shows the nearest available equivalents.
| Aerodromes and ports by Government Office region | ||||
| Licensed aerodromes (airports, airfields and heliports) | Airports reporting ‘freight set-down’ to CAA in 2005 | Ports listed in Focus on Ports 2006 | Commercially active ports supplying traffic returns to DFT in 2005 | |
| Notes: 1. Focus on Ports 2006 (DFT, 2006) stated that there were more than 650 harbours where statutory harbour powers had been granted. Of these 418 were listed in detail—this list included all commercially significant ports, as well as a number of smaller ports and harbours. Some very small wharfs, terminals and harbours were not included. 2. Forty-three airports in the UK reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that they set down freight in 2005. Not all 142 licensed aerodromes would be able to handle freight. | ||||
Great Western Trains
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the change in freight train capacity and use on the south Wales line since 1997; and what steps his Department is taking to increase such capacity and use. [118365]
Mr. Tom Harris: These are operational matters for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. My hon. Friend should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive for a response to her question:
John Armitt
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London NW1 2EE
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans First Great Western has to dispose of Adelante rolling stock; and what plans they have to acquire new rolling stock. [118371]
Mr. Tom Harris: As part of its franchise proposal First Great Western identified that the Adelante rolling stock would be returned to the lessor in December 2007. To replace this rolling stock First Great Western has taken on lease additional high speed train (HST) sets which have a higher seating capacity. The HST sets are going through a programme of major overhaul and refurbishment which includes re-engineering and reliability improvements.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) locomotives and (b) carriages operated by First Great Western were built before 1980. [118372]
Mr. Tom Harris: The following number of locomotives and carriages operated by First Great Western were built before 1980.
| Number | |
However, it should be noted that although the HST sets are now around 30 years old they are subject to major investment committed through the franchise agreement to extend the life of the vehicles and locomotives. This will include re-engineering the locomotives and incorporating a reliability package which will improve the service to customers and the impact on the environment as the new engines are more environmentally friendly. The carriages are currently going through a programme of enhancement to improve the internal customer environment.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age is of Mark III carriages used by First Great Western. [118373]
Mr. Tom Harris: The average age of Mark III carriages used by First Great Western is around 29 years. However taking this in context it should be noted that significant refurbishment has taken place throughout the life of the high speed train (HST) sets. As part of the commitment in the First Great Western franchise agreement, First Great Western is committed to life extension work which includes replacing the locomotive engines with ones which emit less smoke and toxic gases and are more fuel efficient, as well as investment in a reliability package. In terms of the carriages, they are currently undergoing a programme of major enhancement to improve the environment of the interior for passengers.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what minimum number of services west of Swansea is stipulated by the First Greater Western franchise; and what consideration his Department has given to increasing the number of west Wales services. [118391]
Mr. Tom Harris: The service level commitment 2 (‘SLC2’) for the First Great Western franchise is available in the House of Commons Library.
The services to be included in the Greater Western franchise were considered in the ‘Greater Western Franchise—Stakeholder Consultation Document’ published by the Strategic Rail Authority in June 2005.
Immobilisation of Vehicles
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the operation of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 in relation to the activities and charges of private clamping companies; and if he will make a statement. [118306]
Mr. Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
The Private Security Industry Act 2001 provides for the Security Industry Authority to license individuals who carry out licensable vehicle immobilising activities as defined by the Act and to ensure that they comply with the licensing requirements. It does not provide for the regulation of fees or other commercial matters.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the regulation of private clamping companies operating on private land; and if he will make a statement. [118307]
Mr. Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
In January 2004 the Home Office published a full Regulatory Impact Assessment entitled “Regulations to implement the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (the 2001 Act) in respect of Door Supervisors and Vehicle Immobilisers”. This publication is available on the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) website at:
http://www.the-sia.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2AE9A564-0443-4E47-AFCF-95BF8820A2B7/0/sia_ds_vi_ria.pdf.
This covered individual vehicle immobilisers operating on private land where wheel-clamping is not governed by the Road Traffic Acts 1988 and 1991, as this was the scope defined by the 2001 Act. Licensing for these vehicle immobilisers has been required since February 2005. The 2001 Act does not regulate companies or their trading practices.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the activities of private clamping companies; and if he will make a statement. [118308]
Mr. Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
During the second half of 2006 the Home Office received about 50 items of ministerial correspondence and three written parliamentary questions about the
regulation of vehicle immobilisers. These included correspondence accepted on behalf of the Department for Transport and the Department of Trade and Industry. Most correspondence related to business practices, such as signage and fees, that are not governed by the Private Security Industry Act 2001 or the Road and Traffic Acts.
Leeds Traffic Area Office
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legal advice was obtained by the Vehicle and Operating Services Agency in advance of centralising licensing work to the Leeds Traffic Area Office; from whom the legal advice was obtained; when it was obtained; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [111806]
Dr. Ladyman: It is not the Department’s policy to comment on the legal advice which it obtains or what, if any, legal advice may have been obtained in a particular case.
Mayor of London: Powers
Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the consultation closed on his proposals to extend the powers of the London Mayor beyond the London boundary; and when he expects to announce a decision. [118917]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 5 February 2007]: The consultation closed on May 31 2006. An announcement on the decision is expected shortly.
Milton Keynes Station: Repairs and Maintenance
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the platforms at Milton Keynes Central train station were last extended; to what length they were extended; and why the platforms were extended. [119293]
Mr. Tom Harris: This is a matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question.
John Armitt
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London NW1 2EE
North London Railway Line
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to electrify the North London railway line between Barking and Gospel Oak; and if he will make a statement. [119192]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department has no plans to electrify the North London railway between Barking and Gospel Oak.
Pendolino Trains
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he plans the maximum permitted length of Virgin Pendolino trains to be. [118969]
Mr. Tom Harris: The practical limit on the present west coast main line for the length of Pendolino trains is 11 cars, or 253 metres. Longer trains would require significant work at a number of stations along the route.
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