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29 Mar 2007 : Column 1691W—continued
Dr. Ladyman:
Correspondence between the Highways Agency and Shirley Estates on the proposed motorway service area at junction 4 of the M42 is ongoing. As this correspondence refers to work in progress it is not appropriate to publish it at present.
The conclusions reached as a result of this correspondence will be included in the Highways Agency’s proof of evidence to be presented at the public inquiry and this document will be in the public domain at the appropriate time.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the correspondence between the Highways Agency, Birmingham International airport and Swayfields with regard to the proposed motorway service area between junction 5 and junction 6 of the M42. [130473]
Dr. Ladyman: Correspondence between the Highways Agency, Birmingham International airport and Swayfields on the proposed motorway service area between junction 5 and junction 6 of the M42 is ongoing. As this correspondence refers to work in progress it is not appropriate to publish it at present. The conclusions reached as a result of this correspondence will be included in the Highways Agency’s proof of evidence to be presented at the public inquiry and this document will be in the public domain at the appropriate time.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations between the Highways Agency and Shirley Estates with regard to the proposed motorway service area at Junction 4 of the M42. [130474]
Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency is not negotiating with Shirley Estates with regard to the proposed motorway service area at Junction 4 of the M42. As part of the planning process the Highways Agency has a duty to cooperate and act reasonably in considering proposals coming forward. No conclusions on the acceptability of the proposals have been reached.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations between the Highways Agency, Birmingham International Airport and Swayfields on the proposed motorway service area between Junction 5 and Junction 6 of the M42. [130475]
Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency is not negotiating with Birmingham International Airport and Swayfields with regard to the proposed motorway service area between Junction 5 and Junction 6 of the M42. As part of the planning process the Highways Agency has a duty to cooperate and act reasonably in considering proposals coming forward. No conclusions on the acceptability of the proposals have been reached.
The Highways Agency has been working with Birmingham International Airport Limited and the National Exhibition Centre on options for improving motorway access from the M42 to their developments. A Joint Statement produced by the Highways Agency, Birmingham International Airport Limited and the National Exhibition Centre regarding options for improving motorway access from the M42 was read out and given to the inspector at the pre-inquiry meeting on 19 March 2007.
Motor Vehicles: Registration
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department monitors the registration and taxing of vehicles in their home non-EU or EEA countries when the vehicles have been in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months. [129072]
Dr. Ladyman: This Department does not monitor the registration and licensing status of non-EU or EEA vehicles that may be circulating in the United Kingdom.
Motor Vehicles: Testing
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to change the required frequency of MOT tests for new vehicles. [130617]
Dr. Ladyman: We will be consulting shortly on options for the future conduct of the MOT scheme—and specifically about the frequency of testing—following a recommendation that we do so in the Davidson Review of the implementation of EU legislation. This consultation will include a full discussion of the potential advantages and disadvantages of making any change to test frequency.
Public Transport: Concessions
Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of total central Government support for the English concessionary fares scheme (a) was distributed for 2004-05 and (b) is forecast to be distributed to (i) the Scottish Executive, (ii) Transport for London, (iii) the Welsh Assembly, (iv) the Council of the Isles of Scilly and (v) local authorities where there are no bus services in each of the next five years. [129354]
Gillian Merron: In 2004-05, as now, the funding for statutory concessionary fares in England was one of the services supported through formula grant, which comprises Revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and principal formula police grant. Formula grant is an unhypothecated block grant i.e. authorities are free to spend the money on any service. Because of the method of calculation, particularly floor damping (which guarantees local authorities at least a minimum percentage increase by scaling back increases for other authorities), it is not possible to say what has been given to each local authority for any particular service.
Up to an extra £250 million per year will be provided for the national bus concession from April 2008 (this includes Barnett consequentials which will be paid on this in line with statement of funding policy). Eligible residents of the Isles of Scilly will be entitled to national bus concession, and so the Isles of Scilly will be receiving a share of the extra funding.
The Department, in discussions with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG’s) and HM Treasury, is looking at a number of options for distributing the existing and future funding. The options will be discussed through DCLG's Settlement Working Group and, if appropriate, formally consulted upon during the summer.
Rail Franchises
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish (a) the cost benefit analysis and (b) the appraisal summary table taking account of the five objectives outlined in the New Approach to Appraisal prepared by his Department prior to the (i) award of the Greater Western franchise, (ii) award of the South Western Trains franchise and (iii) specification for the new Cross Country franchise. [117125]
Mr. Tom Harris: In respect of the Greater Western and South Western franchises, the Department for Transport determined the value for money case for the specification at the stage prior to issuing the Invitation to Tender (ITT) to bidders. This includes the preparation of cost-benefit analysis tables, and an assessment of the wider benefits. Therefore, the information does not exist in the form that has been requested at the award stage.
The bids for the New Cross Country franchise have been submitted and are currently under evaluation. At the point of awarding the franchise, the Department will review whether the value proposed by the leading bidder to deliver the specification outputs exceeds that prepared at the time of the issue of the ITT.
Railways
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) locomotives, (b) multiple units, (c) freight wagons and (d) carriages were in use on the rail network in the most recent period for which figures are available, broken down by (i) train operating company and (ii) class. [128589]
Mr. Tom Harris: Tables giving details of the number of locomotives, multiple units and carriages used by franchised passenger train operators, broken down by train operating company and class has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Not included are vehicles operated by Scotrail (for which the Scottish Executive is responsible) and non-franchised operators such as Network Rail, open access and charter operators. Information on the number of freight vehicles used on the network is not held by the Department.
This information is based on latest available data but variations in the figures can be expected due to short term vehicle hiring, introduction of new fleets, withdrawal of older vehicles and cascades.
Railways: Capital Investment
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the railway network over the next three years; and what capital improvements of over £10 million each are planned to start in that period. [126865]
Mr. Tom Harris:
Improvements in capacity and performance are being achieved through the record investment the Government are making in the railway. Two projects in particular—the West Coast Main Line upgrade and Channel Tunnel Rail Link Stage 2—are due to be completed in the next three years. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also announced,
earlier this month that a thousand new carriages will be introduced on some of the most congested routes in the country.
The High Level Output Specification, due to be announced in the summer of this year, will set out other Government’s requirement for railways from 2009-10 and subsequently.
Railways: Fares
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how train fares have changed on average over the last 10 years; and what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of people travelling by train. [129677]
Mr. Tom Harris: Fares regulated by the Department for Transport cost on average 2 per cent. less in real terms today than in 1996. In that period, passenger numbers have grown by over 40 per cent. with more than a billion passenger journeys on the railway for the first time since 1959.
Railways: Franchises
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what adjustments he has made to his Department’s working assumptions on future projected revenues from rail franchise premium payments following the collapse of the GNER franchise. [124832]
Mr. Tom Harris: We do not specify the levels of premium or subsidy payments that bidders may propose in franchise competitions. The Department maintains a close review of the current and projected future financial health of currently operating franchises.
Railways: Freight
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) role and (b) actions his Department has taken in the development of the Strategic Rail Authority's policy towards large-scale railfreight interchanges. [130798]
Mr. Tom Harris: On 14 October 2005 the Department for Transport issued a statement regarding the status of the Strategic Rail Authority’s Strategic Rail Freight Interchange Policy. This statement still represents the position of the Department. Both documents are available in the rail freight section of the Department’s website.
Railways: Hastings
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with train companies on the Hastings to Charing Cross train line. [130593]
Mr. Tom Harris: I have had no specific discussions with either Southern or Southeastern about the Charing Cross to Hastings line. However I, and my officials, have regular discussions with both train operators about performance and other issues.
Railways: Standards
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many train journeys were cancelled in each year between 1997 and 2006, broken down by train operating company. [122382]
Mr. Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. For a response, the right hon. Member may wish to contact Network Rail’s Chief Executive at the following address:
John Armitt
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London
NW1 2EE
Railways: Tees Valley
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has to fund the development of a Tees Valley metro system. [130896]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department has no plans to fund the development of a Tees Valley Metro system and has received no request to do so.
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of funding an extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro system to incorporate South Durham and Hartlepool in its network. [130897]
Mr. Tom Harris: It would be for the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority and Executive, and not central Government, to investigate the feasibility of any such extensions to the Metro system. The Department is not aware of any such plans.
Railways: Thames Valley
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007, Official Report, columns 2131-2W, on railways: Thames Valley, if he will place in the Library (a) copies of the information provided to his Department by First Great Western of their (i) assessment of and (ii) plans to meet passenger demand to and from Maidenhead and Twyford and (b) his Department’s analysis of those proposals. [127989]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department does not publish contents of bids on the grounds of commercial confidentiality. The Department’s analysis of franchise bid information provides the basis for further clarification and any subsequent negotiations with bidders. Publication of officials’ assessments would be prejudicial to the department’s commercial interests.
The Greater Western Franchise Agreement contains details of the franchisee's ongoing obligations in relation to capacity and is available on the Secretary of State’s public register. The register can be consulted on application to the Department.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007, Official Report, columns 2131-32W, on railways: Thames Valley, what First Great Western’s ongoing obligations are in relation to capacity as defined in the Greater Western Franchise. [127990]
Mr. Tom Harris: The obligation for capacity in the First Greater Western (FGW) National Rail Franchise Terms requires that the Franchisee use reasonable endeavours in planning its timetable and the rolling stock diagrams needed to implement it, to provide passengers with a reasonable expectation of a seat off peak and within 20 minutes of boarding during the peak period.
The Greater Western Franchise Agreement is available on the Secretary of State’s public register. The register can be consulted on application to the Department.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2007, Official Report, column 1574W, on Railways: Thames Valley, what changes to the timetable and consequential amendments were agreed between the Secretary of State and FGW during their discussions in February and March 2006 on the December 2006 timetable; and what changes and amendments were refused by either party. [130240]
Mr. Tom Harris: The changes which were agreed between the Secretary of State and First Great Western (‘FGW’) are set out in Appendix 11 of the FGW franchise agreement. The agreement is available on the Secretary of State’s public register. The register can be consulted on application to the Department.
No potential changes or amendments in relation to the Thames Valley were refused.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2007, Official Report, column 1574W, on Railways: Thames Valley, if he will set out the figures for the established passenger loads during the stated time periods for journeys from, and to, Maidenhead and Twyford stations. [130263]
Mr. Tom Harris: The data referred to in the previous answer are contained in the “Market, Service and Review Report” produced for the Strategic Rail Authority in June 2004. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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