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20 Jan 2009 : Column 1300W—continued
Helicopters
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that complaints about helicopter noise are collated in one place and made available to the public. [248885]
Jim Fitzpatrick: It has not been the practice for the Department for Transport to collate complaints about helicopter noise and there are no plans to do so.
The Civil Aviation Authority’s Directorate of Airspace Policy (CAA/DAP) has developed a strategy for answering helicopter noise complaints. This includes a well publicised contact point that receives noise complaints from across the UK. Further details are available on the CAA website at:
CAA/DAP supplied information on complaint statistics to help inform the DEFRA sponsored research by Salford university into improving the management of noise from helicopter operations. 370 complaints had been received in 2007 although a number of helicopter operations are not included (e.g. military helicopters and complaints received by aerodromes, helicopter operators and local authorities.)
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will impose restrictions on the use of helicopters for advertising; and if he will make a statement. [248886]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The use of aircraft, including helicopters, for aerial advertising is already regulated by section 82 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and by the Civil Aviation (Aerial Advertising) Regulations 1995.
While in the air, such aircraft must also comply with the Rules of the Air Regulations 2007, and any relevant air traffic control directions.
Level Crossings: Frinton-on-Sea
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about proposed changes to the level crossing in Frinton-on-Sea from people resident in the area. [248576]
Paul Clark: To date, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received representations from 16 residents of Frinton-on-Sea, regarding the proposed changes to that town's level crossing. Representations have also been received from nine organisations connected with the area.
Mr. Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Office of the Rail Regulator on changes to the level crossing in Frinton-on-Sea. [249606]
Paul Clark: Officials from the Department for Transport and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) met on 2 October 2008 to discuss Network Rail’s application to make changes to the level crossing in Frinton-on-Sea.
The Department received, on 9 January 2009, all the papers relating to the Frinton Level Crossing Order application from the Office of Rail Regulation, and a decision will be taken soon.
Local Government: Transport
Ms Angela C. Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the regulations and guidance on the quality contracts provisions of the Local Transport Act 2008 will come into force; and how many officials in his Department are exclusively or primarily working on preparation of guidance and regulations under the Act. [248623]
Paul Clark: We intend to consult on the draft regulations and guidance for the quality contracts provisions of the Local Transport Act 2008 in spring 2009, with a view to the provisions coming into force in autumn 2009.
There are many officials contributing to the work on the guidance and regulations associated with the Act, of whom two are working primarily on the quality contracts provisions.
M5
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timescale is for the proposed improvements for junction 12 on the M5; to what extent such improvements are contingent upon the Hunts Grove development; what account has been taken of the effect on the B4008 if the junction's improvements go ahead; and if he will make a statement. [248238]
Paul Clark: A timescale for improvements to Junction 12 of the M5 is in the process of being re-determined as we work towards making a public funding contribution to the proposals in recognition of existing operational problems at the junction which should be addressed. This will enable a scheme with a mixture of public and private money to be progressed.
This arrangement will allow the scheme to move forward without being contingent upon a start of works being made on the Hunts Grove development, which we anticipate during the next financial year.
The improvement scheme would result in some additional traffic on the B4008, and we are assessing the effect as part of the scheme's design which is currently being reviewed.
Motorways: Expenditure
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the capital spending being brought forward by his Department will be spent on increasing motorway and highway capacity; which schemes will receive funds from this pool; and what increase in capacity he expects will be received by March 2010. [247832]
Paul Clark: In November 2008 the Chancellor announced, as part of his pre-Budget report, that £700 million of fiscal stimulus funding was being brought forward by the Department for Transport.
£400 million of this will be used by the Highways Agency in 2009-10 to bring forward high value schemes on the strategic roads network. This includes, subject to completing statutory processes and confirmation of co-funding from the region, bringing forward by two years the start of construction for the scheme to dual the A46 from Newark to Widmerpool. In addition, the funding will allow us to bring forward work to strengthen hardshoulders in advance of the implementation of hard shoulder running as well as other high value structure and asset renewal projects.
The exact schemes that will benefit from the fiscal stimulus is being developed as part of developing the Highways Agency's 2009-10 business plan.
Newquay Airport: Finance
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) UK public funding and (b) EU funding has been spent on Newquay International Airport to support the development of new routes from that airport; and if he will make a statement. [249033]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 19 January 2009]: No UK or EU funding on the development of new routes from Newquay International airport has been spent. Support for new route development has come from within the airport’s own resources and not from national or EU funding sources.
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by (a) Cornwall County Council, (b) the South West Regional Development Agency and (c) the EU in the development and operation of Newquay International Airport in Cornwall in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [249034]
Jim Fitzpatrick [holding answer 19 January 2009]: The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) has spent £1.3 million and the EU has spent £13.75 million on the development and operation of Newquay International airport in the last five years.
The RDA has also approved an additional £9.3 million, which has yet to be spent.
Expenditure by Cornwall county council on their total spend on Newquay International airport is a matter for them. The Government do not have this information.
Railway Stations: Disabled
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway stations in Wave One of the Access for All strategy are (a) fully completed, (b) started but not completed and (c) not yet started. [249529]
Paul Clark: Of the 50 stations in the first Tranche (2006-09) of Access for All works the following 17 are complete:
Balham, Exeter Central, Haslemere, Hazel Grove, Herne Hill, Kidderminster, Kingston, Orpington, Purley, Sandhills, Sleaford, Taunton, Westbury, Weybridge, Barrhead, Kirkcaldy and Mount Florida.
Additionally, Boston station has been brought forward from the second Tranche and is complete.
Work has started on site but is not complete at the following 12 stations:
Clapham Junction, Fazakerley, Lewisham, Loughborough, Oxted, Shipley, Staplehurst, Streatham Hill, Three Bridges, Twyford, Motherwell and Rutherglen.
The remaining 21 stations in the first Tranche are in design and procurement, have begun preparatory works on site or prefabrication works off site.
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has (a) budgeted and (b) spent on Wave One of the Access for All strategy in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09, broken down by railway station. [249530]
Paul Clark: Assets created by the Access for All Programme are added to the Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) by Network Rail, who have a target to invest approximately £35 million, at 2004 prices, for each full year of the programme through to 2015.
Network Rail’s actual spend over the first three years is as follows:
| £ million | |
| (1) As at January 2009 with £36 million forecast total. | |
Historical information on individual station budgets and actual spend, broken down by year, is held by Network Rail and their contractors and is not stated here due to its commercial sensitivity.
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the guidelines for the completion of improvements to station buildings and platforms in Wave One of the Access for All strategy are. [249531]
Paul Clark: Each station selected for the Access for All programme will receive an obstacle free, accessible route into and out of the station, and between each platform. Work is being carried out to the standards specified in “Accessible Train and Station Design for Disabled People: A Code of Practice”. This is available to download at:
Railways
Ms Angela C. Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the rate of change in passenger numbers for (a) Northern Rail, (b) Transpennine Express and (c) the franchises that provide commuter services in London and the South East has been in each of the last five years. [248628]
Paul Clark: Statistics on rail passenger numbers are published by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in the National Rail Trends Yearbook, which is available in the House Library, or from the ORR website
Railways: Adlington
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation with passengers took place before the change to the timetable was made by Northern Rail to reduce services between Adlington and (a) Manchester and (b) Preston. [248369]
Paul Clark: Northern’s proposed timetable for December 2008 was discussed with stakeholders at a meeting in April 2008 which included representatives from Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, Lancashire county council, Rail User Groups from the North West and the independent national rail consumer watchdog, Passenger Focus.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent changes to the timetable for rail services from Adlington to (a) Manchester and (b) Preston on commuters using the services. [248466]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport meets Northern Rail on a four weekly basis to review delivery of rail services and its ability to meet passenger requirements, particularly noting timetable changes.
Railways: Bus Services
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on rail replacement bus services between (a) Manchester and Leeds, (b) York and Leeds, (c) Hull and Leeds and (d) Sheffield and Leeds in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [248607]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has spent nothing on these services.
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on rail replacement bus services in Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [248608]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not hold this information.
Railways: Expenditure
Ms Angela C. Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent to date on preparation for (a) Crossrail and (b) the Manchester Hub. [248627]
Paul Clark: As of 31 December 2008 approximately £175 million has been spent on preparation of the Crossrail project.
The Department for Transport has not undertaken expenditure to date on preparatory work for the Manchester Hub, other than officials’ time. The Manchester Hub studies are being carried out and funded by Northern Way and Network Rail.
Railways: Overcrowding
Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the answer of 25 November 2008, Official Report, column 1189W, on railways: overcrowding, when the refurbishment programme will be completed; and whether the 13 per cent. increase in seating capacity will also apply during rush hour periods. [249186]
Paul Clark: The refurbishment programme is contracted to be completed by 31 December 2010.
Seating capacity of all East Midlands Trains ‘Class 158’ trains will be increased by 13 per cent. as part of the interior refurbishment. Therefore, this increased capacity will be available on all services operated by these trains.
Railways: South East
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he (a) has had and (b) plans to have with the Association of Train Operating Companies on the introduction of railcards for train journeys (i) commencing and (ii) ending outside South East England; what his policy is on railcards; and if he will make a statement. [247999]
Paul Clark: The Secretary of State requires franchised train companies to accept the 16 to 25, senior and disabled person's railcards. These offer 34 per cent. off most journeys, though the specific terms vary for each card. He has not had discussions with ATOC on the card described, though officials meet with ATOC on various ticketing issues on a regular basis.
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