| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
20 Nov 2007 : Column 671W—continued
M6
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her most recent estimated cost is of the proposed M6 widening between junctions 11A and 19. [164177]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Highways Agency is investigating a number of alternative options for improving travel conditions on the M6 between J11A and 19, including possible widening to dual four lanes. A range of cost estimates will result from this work and we do not have any definitive estimates at this stage.
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings have been held by (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers since 27 June; and what the dates were of each meeting. [163239]
Mr. Tom Harris: Ministers and officials have had a number of meetings with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (on an individual basis or as part of a wider group) since 27 June to discuss a range of issues.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings were held by (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers in each of the last five years. [163240]
Mr. Tom Harris: Ministers and officials have had a number of meetings with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (on an individual basis or as part of a wider group) in each of the last five years to discuss a range of issues.
Network Rail: Cost Effectiveness
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what areas she expects Network Rail to make savings in order to achieve the 31 per cent. target by 2009; how Network Rail will make efficiency savings of 31 per cent. by 2009; and what savings she has already identified within Network Rail. [163478]
Mr. Tom Harris: It falls to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) to confirm progress in the delivery of Network Rail's efficiency performance over the period from 2004-09 against the 31 per cent. unit cost-efficiency target which the ORR set under its 2003 Access Charges Review.
Monitoring by the ORR shows that Network Rail remains on course to achieve the overall cost efficiencies of 31 per cent. by 2009.
Opinion Leader Research
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many contracts were awarded by her Department to Opinion Leader Research in each year since 1997; and what was (a) the title and purpose, (b) the cost to the public purse and (c) the dates of (i) tender, (ii) award, (iii) operation and (iv) completion and report to the Department in each case. [165263]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department was formed in May 2002. It has awarded no contracts to Opinion Leader Research.
Park and Ride Schemes: Finance
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money is to be paid in total to the East Riding of Yorkshire council to enable the proposed Bridlington Park and Ride scheme and associated works to go ahead. [165100]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The total amount of funding to be provided by the Department for this scheme is £4.708 million.
Parking: Beaconsfield Railway Station
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost of constructing the upper floor car parking area at Beaconsfield Railway Station was; and when such construction took place. [165101]
Mr. Tom Harris: These are operational matters for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The right hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his questions.
Iain Coucher
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London NW1 2EE
Public Expenditure
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much she has allocated to the next tranche of Access for All funding. [165962]
Mr. Tom Harris: We are currently drawing-up the third list of stations for inclusion in the Access for All programme. Until detailed designs have been prepared for the selected stations it is too early to give an accurate estimate of the costs for these works. The programme has a ring-fenced budget of £370 million until 2015.
Railways
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of railway costs were borne by the (a) taxpayer and (b) fare payer in the latest period for which figures are available. [164637]
Mr. Tom Harris: The latest passenger revenue and Government support figures are set out in National Rail Trends which is published by the Office of Rail Regulation and is available on their website at www.rail-reg.gov.uk. Copies are also available in the Library of the House.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expected additional journey time is for commuters who will have to travel from Winchester to Romsey by rail, via Southampton, when the direct rail link bus service is discontinued; and if she will make a statement. [165427]
Mr. Tom Harris: The current time for the rail link bus between Winchester and Romsey is 25-26 minutes. In the new timetable the time by rail from Winchester to Romsey via Eastleigh will vary dependent on the time of day but at best is 42 minutes, an increase of 17 minutes.
Additionally, it should be noted that the X66 commercial bus service runs a parallel service taking approximately 30 minutes.
Railways: Stansted Airport
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to upgrade the Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street railway line. [166328]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department is currently assessing options for future train service and rail infrastructure enhancements on the Stansted to Liverpool Street line in conjunction with Network Rail, BAA and Transport for London. The focus of this work is to ensure a better service and additional capacity for commuters and leisure travellers, as well as the growing market for rail travel to Stansted airport. An announcement is expected to be made in early 2008 and the outcome of the work is expected to be reflected in the Network Route Utilisation Strategy for the route.
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to upgrade the rolling stock used on the Stansted Airport to Liverpool Street railway line. [166329]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department’s White Paper “Delivering a Sustainable Railway” published in July, set out a commitment to increase capacity on the network with around 1,300 additional carriages. The Department will publish a Rolling Stock Plan in January 2008, setting out its proposals in more detail.
Roads: Accidents
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths took place on British roads in each of the last five years. [166490]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is available from table 2 of “Road Casualties Great Britain: 2006 annual report”. Copies of the report have been deposited in the Libraries of the House. This table can also be found on the Department's website at the following address:
South West Trains: Bus Services
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations her Department has received from South West Trains on the Winchester to Romsey rail link bus; and if she will make a statement. [166400]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Secretary of State for Transport has received no representations from South West Trains on the Winchester to Romsey rail link bus.
South West Trains: Franchises
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2007, Official Report, column 94W, on South West Trains: Winchester, if she will identify (a) what the new opportunities for transport integration in the franchise awarded to South West Trains were and (b) which established links have been removed from the new franchise; and if she will make a statement. [166118]
Mr. Tom Harris: The information is as follows:
(a) The Franchise Agreement commits Stagecoach South Western Trains (SSWT) to:
Procure a bus link between Waterlooville and Petersfield from December 2007
Promote other transport integration measures to customers which may include:
advertising and promotion of integrated tickets
liaison with local bus and coach operators
promotion of park and ride facilities
staff training to ensure staff are informed and helpful to assist customers with their onward journey
access integration, working closely with disability groups and organisations
Install an additional 700 bicycle spaces by February 2013
Establish two new Plus Bus Schemes
(b) The Romsey to Winchester Rail Link bus service is being withdrawn due to the low number of passengers using it. This dedicated bus link is not a commitment within the current SSWT Franchise Agreement; therefore, SSWT are under no obligation to continue to provide this facility.
Waterloo Station
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what commercial property opportunities Network Rail is exploring at Waterloo station. [166576]
Mr. Tom Harris:
This is an operational 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.
Iain Coucher
Chief Executive
Network Rail
40 Melton Street
London NW1 2EE
Home Department
Alcohol Disorder Zones
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alcohol disorder zones were instituted in each year since their inception. [165423]
Mr. Coaker: To date, no alcohol disorder zones have been instituted, as the power requires final legislative scrutiny before being commenced. This final ratification of the statutory instrument by affirmative resolution will be progressed during the next two months.
Animal Experiments
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what requirements exist on the recording of observations on the condition of animals used for scientific testing, whether or not there is a change in condition; [163011]
(2) whether records on the condition of animals are kept on a 24-hour basis by establishments with a certificate of designation under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [163012]
Meg Hillier: Record keeping requirements for designated establishments are set out in paragraphs 4.27 to 4.33 and appendices B and C of the published Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (HC321). In addition to the requirements for adequate records to be maintained by project and personal licence holders these include the requirement of a health record maintained under the supervision of the Named Veterinary Surgeon or other suitably qualified person. The Named Veterinary Surgeon’s records have to be maintained to the proper professional standard.
A number of record formats have evolved to satisfy Home Office requirements and meet local needs. Observation schedules and record keeping are expected to make proper provision for the checking of animals and recording of significant findings outside normal working hours, where necessary. The records must be made available to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate on request. Failure to maintain records in an acceptable format is in breach of the terms and conditions of authorities issued under the 1986 Act.
BAE Systems
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has received representations from the US Administration about the US Department of Justice Mutual Legal Assistance request with regard to BAE Systems. [163485]
Meg Hillier: I refer the hon. Member to previous answers provided on this matter. I can confirm that the Home Office received a request for assistance from the USA in respect of corruption allegations concerning BAE Systems. The request is being dealt with in accordance with the bi-lateral treaty on mutual legal assistance between the UK and the USA. It would be inappropriate to comment further.
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has received representations from BAE Systems with regard to the US Department of Justice Mutual Legal Assistance request into allegations of misconduct involving BAE Systems. [163486]
Meg Hillier: I refer the hon. Member to previous answers provided on this matter. I can confirm that the Home Office received a request for assistance from the USA in respect of corruption allegations concerning BAE Systems. The request is being dealt with in accordance with the bi-lateral treaty on mutual legal assistance between the UK and the USA. It would be inappropriate to comment further.
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the US Administration has made representations to his Department with regard to the UK processing of the US Mutual Legal Assistance request into allegations of misconduct involving BAE Systems; [163487]
(2) whether US investigators have visited the UK in relation to the US Department of Justice investigation into allegations of bribery involving BAE Systems in the last two months; and whether investigators have met officials from her Department. [163525]
Meg Hillier: I refer the hon. Member to previous answers provided on this matter. I can confirm that the Home Office received a request for assistance from the USA in respect of corruption allegations concerning BAE Systems. The request is being dealt with in accordance with the bi-lateral treaty on mutual legal assistance between the UK and the USA. It would be inappropriate to comment further.
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from BAE Systems with regard to the US Department of Justice Mutual Legal Assistance request in relation to allegations of misconduct involving BAE Systems; and on what dates such representations were received. [164611]
Meg Hillier: I refer the hon. Member to previous answers provided on this matter. I can confirm that the Home Office received a request for assistance from the USA in respect of corruption allegations concerning BAE Systems. The request is being dealt with in accordance with the bi-lateral treaty on mutual legal assistance between the UK and the USA. It would be inappropriate to comment further.
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations have been received by her Department on the UK processing of the US Mutual Legal Assistance request into allegations of misconduct involving BAE Systems; and on what dates such representations were received. [164612]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |