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11 Jun 2008 : Column 262W—continued
However, with consultation with the police force, once all safety works are complete on this section, the 50 mph section will be moved to just south of junction 10. This will return as much carriageway as possible to
70 mph, while still maintaining as safe an environment as possible for traffic entering the 50 mph works section.
Parking: Enforcement
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the applicability of parking regulations to parking enforcement vehicles. [209524]
Ms Rosie Winterton: It is for the traffic authority to consider the nature of the parking restriction at any particular place and include, in the associated Traffic Regulation Order, any exceptions or exemptions that would allow enforcement vehicles to park.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information her Department holds on the number of councils using CCTV cars for the enforcement of parking restrictions. [209525]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Traffic authorities wishing to use CCTV equipment for civil parking enforcement must obtain certification for the equipment from the Secretary of State. This option has only been available to authorities outside London since new legislation under the Traffic Management Act 2004 came into force on 31 March 2008. One authority, Medway council, has since applied for, and been granted, such certification. London traffic authorities have had local powers to enforce parking with cameras since 2000 and have until 30 March 2009 to obtain certification under the new TMA legislation. We do not have records of systems used by the London authorities.
Railway Stations
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many stations there are on the national rail network; how many stations on the national rail network are wholly unstaffed; and how many stations on the national rail network are staffed from the beginning to the end of traffic. [210123]
Mr. Tom Harris: There are currently 2,515 stations owned by Network Rail on the national rail network. Information about staffing levels at these stations is a matter either for Network Rail at its managed stations or for the relevant train operating company at the franchised stations.
Railways: Bus Services
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether her Department and its agencies compensate the operators of rail replacement bus services in the event of (a) planned and (b) emergency rail closures; [209274]
(2) what role is played by Network Rail in the administration and funding of rail replacement bus services; [209275]
(3) what proportion of the cost of deployment of rail replacement bus services is met by (a) her Department, (b) Network Rail and (c) train operating companies. [209276]
Mr. Tom Harris: The Department for Transport and its agencies do not have any role in the specifying, tendering and funding of bus-operated rail replacement rail services. Train operators are responsible for securing alternatives for rail services, should it not be possible to operate the specified rail service in full.
Rail replacement bus services are funded by train operators, who receive compensation from Network Rail for these and other expenses incurred (such as lost farebox revenue or staff costs) as a result of disruption to normal scheduled services caused by engineering works. The arrangements for compensation are specified within train operators' track access agreements with Network Rail.
Railways: Fares
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with (a) the Mayor of London, (b) Transport for London and (c) train operating companies to establish and extend the use of Oyster pre-pay on London's train networks. [209062]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In May 2006 the Secretary of State and Mayor of London announced that they intended to enable mainline railway stations in London to accept Oyster ‘Pay As You Go’, and to make the Oyster network in London accept ITSO smart cards.
Regular discussions, including commercial and contractual negotiations, are taking place between the Department, Transport for London and train operating companies on its implementation.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations she has had with train operating companies on the provision of e-ticketing on the UK rail network. [209063]
Mr. Tom Harris: The introduction of ITSO smartcards has been mandated in the most recently let rail franchises. The Department is also discussing with the Association of Train Operating Companies other aspects of modern ticket retailing as set out in last year's White Paper ‘Delivering a Sustainable Railway’.
The Department for Transport, Transport for London and train operators are working together on the acceptance of Oyster ‘Pay as You Go’ at London train stations and the acceptance of ITSO Smartcards on Oyster equipment. Commercial and contractual negotiations are taking place.
Railways: Greater London
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many overground train stations in Greater London have been re-zoned in the last 20 years; and if she will make a statement. [209915]
Mr. Tom Harris: Since 2005, when the Secretary of State became responsible for approving changes to the zonal map, the following stations have been re-zoned.
| Station | Current zone | Proposed to move to zone |
Rolling Stock: Procurement
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the new carriages announced in the High Level Output Statement have been ordered. [208359]
Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 4 June 2008]: 317 vehicles have been ordered from manufacturers. The first is due for delivery in October 2008.
Trains
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many expressions of interest she has received in supplying a fleet of trains under the InterCity Express Programme; and from which organisations such expressions have been received. [209253]
Mr. Tom Harris: Tenders for the InterCity Express programme are scheduled to be received on 30 June 2008 from two short-listed bidders, namely Express Rail Alliance (comprising Siemens, Bombardier, Angel Trains and Babcock and Brown) and Hitachi Europe.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects a new fleet of trains supplied under the InterCity Express Programme to be fully operational; and on which routes she expects such trains to operate. [209254]
Mr. Tom Harris: The first pre-series trains are scheduled to be tested in 2013, with the first fleet deployed into passenger service on the East Coast Main Line from 2015. Bidders are also tendering proposals for the Great Western Main Line, plus options for further deployment on west coast and cross-country routes.
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the deadline for receipt of tenders to build trains under the InterCity Express Programme was extended. [209327]
Mr. Tom Harris: The original deadline for receipt of tenders was put back, at the request of both bidders, to allow them more time to complete their submissions. Robust bids are expected from both consortia on 30 June. The new deadline is not expected to have any effect on timescales for deployment of the new trains.
West Coast Railway Line: Fares
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received on the recent West Coast Mainline fare increases on the Holyhead to Euston route; and if she will make a statement. [209838]
Mr. Tom Harris [holding answer 9 June 2008]: The Department for Transport has received a small number of letters and phone calls from members of the public and MPs on the subject.
Virgin Trains have introduced a time restriction on the outward portion of the standard saver return fare on this route. This is not a fares increase, but a restriction on the time of day that the fare can be used. The rules around saver fares permit the restriction of the time of travel so long as it is valid for outward travel after 10.30 am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Virgin Trains are operating within the permitted rules.
It is worth noting that Virgin Trains do offer a range of advance purchase fares that can be used on these earlier services as a cheaper alternative to the standard open return fare. These fares are train specific, priced on a single leg basis and are quota controlled.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agricultural Shows: South West
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to ensure that agricultural shows in Devon and Cornwall are not affected by changes in the rules related to bluetongue restrictions. [209483]
Jonathan Shaw [holding answer 9 Jun e 2008]: We are currently in the process of rolling out a bluetongue vaccination programme across England. This means that as batches of vaccine are delivered, the protection zone is being steadily expanded to allow more counties to vaccinate their livestock.
We are aware of the effect this has on different areas of the farming industry, and are in regular contact with the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO) with regard to the large agricultural shows that may be affected by zone changes.
On the condition that additional vaccine would become available and the overall disease situation in England would not change, we had planned to expand the protection zone into Cornwall last week. However,
this could not happen as the batch of vaccine we were expecting needs to undergo further testing before it can be released. Opening up the protection zone into Cornwall without a new delivery of vaccine would go against the roll-out strategy and was rejected on the grounds of veterinary risk.
The Royal Cornwall Show (5-7 June) has been affected as it remains in the surveillance zone, which therefore limits the number of animals that could travel to the show because of the associated restrictions on movements out of a protection zone. We have been in contact with the organisers of the show, to keep them informed of the changing plans.
Agriculture: Subsidies
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to increase funding under Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will take steps to make the process of modulating monies more transparent. [208903]
Jonathan Shaw: The Government’s longer term vision for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is to end Pillar 1 in the period 2015-20, leaving the CAP targeted at providing environmental benefits through Pillar 2. Therefore, we support the Commission’s proposals in the current CAP health check to provide for increased compulsory modulation for all member states in order to provide additional funding through Pillar 2 to address new environmental challenges.
We will be in close discussion with key farming and environmental organisations on the implications of the CAP health check, including proposals for modulation of direct farm payments, in the coming months.
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