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14 Oct 2008 : Column 1033W—continued
The data are based on incidents reported to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95).
Injuries to trespassers, attempted suicides and confirmed suicides have been excluded from the table.
M25
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars broke down on the M25 in each of the last five years. [225620]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold data on the total number of cars broken down on the M25 in the last five years. This is because many individuals who break down make their own private recovery or repair arrangements using direct contact by mobile telephone and these are not recorded by the Highways Agency.
The Department for Transport records vehicles broken down on motorways that have been reported to the regional control centres operated by Highways Agency's Traffic Officer Service.
These data have only been collected from the introduction of the Traffic Officer Service which achieved full service on the M25 on 1 October 2006.
The numbers recorded for light vehicles that were broken down on the M25 are listed in the following table.
| Incidents recorded by Traffic Officer Service | |
| Time period | Number of hard shoulder and live lane breakdowns of cars and light goods vehicles (under 7.5 tonnes) |
M25: Repairs and Maintenance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average annual cost was of cleaning the M25 motorway in the latest period for which figures are available. [225615]
Paul Clark: The Highways Agency has estimated the annual cost of cleaning the M25 motorway in the financial year 2007-08 as £1.272 million. Data are not collated or held in a format which provides a breakdown of costs for the cleaning of individual roads within the Highways Agency's Area 5 network. The figure for cleaning the M25 is therefore only an approximation based on the proportion of network to costs. The M25 forms just under half (49.92 per cent.) of the Area 5 network.
M6
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will take steps to approve a scheme for the re-location of junction 14 of the M6 to a position further north of Stafford; [225297]
(2) if he will take steps to approve a scheme for the early re-construction of junction 15 of the M6 to a modern motorway standard; [225301]
(3) when he expects to introduce the first active traffic management scheme on the M6; and at what location; [225303]
(4) what his policy is on the widening of the M6 between junctions 11 and 19. [225304]
Paul Clark: Following the Advanced Motorway Signalling and Traffic Management Feasibility Study published in March 2008 the Secretary of State announced a programme of work to examine in detail where dynamic use of the hard shoulder should be implemented more widely to ease congestion and improve reliability on the network.
The M6 from junctions 10a (Wolverhampton) to 19 (Knutsford) is one of the areas being examined for potential roll-out of hard shoulder running. This detailed feasibility work is due to be complete by the end of the year and includes examining what improvements to existing junctions may also be necessary, although it does not at this stage consider the relocation of junctions. Decisions on the nature, priority and timing of improvements to the M6 and the need for any further investigation works, such as looking at relocating junctions, will be made following the conclusions of this work.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timetable is for the construction of a direct link from the M54 to the M6 toll road. [225306]
Paul Clark: The Highways Agency is currently assessing options for the provision of a new link from the M54 to the M6 (northbound) and the M6 toll. The way forward for this scheme will be reviewed once the results of the options assessment work are known, which is expected to be in early 2009.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to arrange the early re-surfacing of the M6 between junctions 13 and 14. [225307]
Paul Clark: The Highways Agency has indicated that tests are currently under way between junctions 13 and 14 of the M6 to identify when the next major resurfacing scheme will be required, although this is unlikely to be within the next three years.
Following recent spending reviews, the Government decided that resurfacing schemes should not be brought forward ahead of normal maintenance needs. When resurfacing is carried out, general policy is to use materials with low noise properties wherever possible.
Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport Railway Line
Mr. Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many trains per week on the Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport line did not make a scheduled stop at (a) intermediate stations and (b) Burnage station due to the service recovery protocol in the latest period for which figures are available. [225128]
Paul Clark: During rail industry period 6 (17 August 2008 to 13 September 2008), a total of five trains were recorded as not having called at intermediate stations between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly as a result of service recovery incidents. The Department for Transport does not hold centrally the number of trains failing to call at individual stations.
Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of resurfacing motorways has been in the last five years. [225611]
Paul Clark: The Highways Agency does not separately record or report the cost of resurfacing motorways. However, the annual accounts for the HA over the past five years has reported the following in terms of expenditure on maintenance.
| £ million | |
Expenditure figures have been adjusted to account for spend relating to roads trunked or detrunked in the financial year.
The expenditure figures provided are for maintenance on the strategic road network managed and maintained by the Highways Agency. This includes renewal of the road surface and repairs to structures, as well as routine maintenance such as gully clearing, white lining, cleaning and winter maintenance, but not those associated with our Private Finance Initiative contracts.
To disaggregate the cost of resurfacing motorways only would be a very lengthy exercise, and as such could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Powers of Entry
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by her Department has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since May 1997. [222123]
Mr. Hoon: A response covering all Government Departments was provided by the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 7 October 2008, Official Report, column 577W.
Railway Network
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to open new train lines in England. [225606]
Paul Clark: The Government's immediate priority is increasing capacity on the existing rail network and £10 billion will be invested from 2009 to 2014 on measures to bring this about.
In March 2008, the Secretary of State for Transport invited Network Rail to examine options for supporting further growth in the longer term, which might include new lines. Network Rail's new lines study is due to be completed in summer 2009.
Railways: Contracts
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train operators have requested a renegotiation of their franchise agreement in the last 12 months. [227129]
Paul Clark: None. The Department for Transport has consistently stated that it will not renegotiate franchises.
Railways: Fares
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to repeat the 2003 Future Fares Policy Consultation to review the Strategic Rail Authority’s fare structures. [225703]
Paul Clark: In our White Paper “Delivering a Sustainable Railway” published in July 2007 we confirmed the policy of capping most regulated fares to RPI plus 1 per cent. until 2014.
But we are never complacent about issues that affect rail passengers. The previous Secretary of State for Transport asked Passenger Focus to address how well the current system of fares and ticketing meets passenger expectations so that we can consider options for further improvements. That process is under way.
Railways: Milton Keynes
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the upgrade of Milton Keynes Central train station is due to be completed; and at what cost. [226473]
Paul Clark [holding answer 13 October 2008]: The upgrade of Milton Keynes Central station, including the track and associated signalling, is due to be completed over the Christmas and new year period 2008.
The total cost is some £120 million.
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many extra (a) Virgin and (b) London Midland trains will stop at Milton Keynes Central as a result of the platform upgrade. [226538]
Paul Clark [holding answer 13 October 2008]: With the introduction of new timetables on the West Coast Main Line, there will be an additional hourly service, provided by Virgin Trains, between London and Chester, which will call at Milton Keynes Central.
London Midland will also provide a new hourly service between London and Crewe, via Northampton, also calling at Milton Keynes Central.
Southern is planning to extend its hourly West London Line service, presently terminating at Watford Junction, to Milton Keynes Central.
Currently these changes are proposed to be phased in between early December 2008 and late January 2009.
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) potential and (b) actual capacity for commuters has been created at Milton Keynes Central train station by the recent works. [226539]
Paul Clark [holding answer 13 October 2008]: An opportunity exists to increase commuter services between Milton Keynes Central and London as a result of the work now being completed on the West Coast Main Line. Up to two such trains an hour could operate on the fast lines, if additional 125 mile/hour trains are available and demand increases to justify such an investment.
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what capacity for non-stopping trains will be created at Milton Keynes Central by the recent works; and how many trains per hour this represents. [226540]
Paul Clark [holding answer 13 October 2008]: The new layout at Milton Keynes Central station, with an extra line and additional platform capacity, provides for the operation of up to four additional fast trains an hour.
Railways: Public Appointments
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to appoint a chairman for the Office of Rail Regulation. [226630]
Paul Clark [holding answer 13 October 2008]: The process for appointing a new chairman of the Office of Rail Regulation is already under way. It is hoped that the new chairman could be in place by July 2009, with a transition period beginning in April 2009.
Railways: Repairs and Maintenance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how often railway sleepers were replaced in the latest period for which figures are available. [225616]
Paul Clark: 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 questions:
Iain Coucher
Chief Executive
Network Rail
Kings Place
90 York Way
London, N1 9AG.
Railways: Students
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money the Government provided for scholar discounts for train tickets for young people attending schools in Cambridge via First Capital Connect and WAGN in each of the last three years. [223942]
Paul Clark: The Government have not provided any funding to either First Capital Connect or WAGN in any of the last three years in relation to discounted scholar train tickets.
Road Traffic Control: Carbon Emissions
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the quantity of carbon dioxide produced each day by the use of traffic lights and electronic signs. [225617]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has not estimated the level of carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the use of traffic lights or electronic signs.
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