Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 1 December 2009
House of Commons Commission
House of Commons Annunciator System:
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the House of Commons Commission plans to carry on the annunciator system a feed of proceedings from the chambers of the devolved assemblies. [302124]
Nick Harvey: It is not possible for Members to view proceedings of the devolved assemblies on the Parliamentary annunciator system as there are no broadcast links available. The proceedings can however be viewed via the internet using the following sites:
For the Northern Ireland Assembly:
Transport
Arriva
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions his Department had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the (a) new Arriva Trains Wales North to South Wales Express service and (b) merits of that service including a stop in Hereford. [303051]
Chris Mole: This is a devolved matter for the Welsh Assembly Government. The Department for Transport has not had any detailed discussion about this service with the Welsh Assembly Government, apart from clarification of the contractual status of this service.
Aviation: Waltham Forest
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of the revised London City Airport standard instrument departure procedures on the number of aircraft flying over areas of Waltham Forest; and which areas of Waltham Forest have been affected by such changes. [302042]
Paul Clark: London City Airport's standard instrument departure (SID) routes passed over parts of Waltham Forest before the recent changes and under the revised SIDs, still do. The Civil Aviation Authority, as the independent regulator of airspace, will assess the full impact of the changes 12 months after their introduction.
Bus Services: Fares
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the percentage change in bus fares was in (a) London and (b) England in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09. [302039]
Mr. Khan: The annual percentage change in local bus fares in London was 5 per cent. in 2007-08 and 0 per cent. in 2008-09, at current prices. The equivalent figures for England were 6 per cent. in 2007-08 and 5 per cent. in 2008-09.
These statistics are derived from the bus fares index maintained by the Department for Transport and are calculated as the annual percentage increase in the average value of the relevant index across the whole financial year.
East Coast Main Line
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department is taking to increase internet access speeds on passenger rail services operating on the East Coast Main Line. [302655]
Chris Mole: The franchise requirements with respect to wi-fi internet access on the East Coast route have transferred from National Express East Coast to the East Coast Main Line Company trading as East Coast. I understand that East Coast is reviewing the service that is provided.
Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties and Insurance
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what requirements his Department makes of cars registered abroad to have (a) road tax and (b) insurance when being driven on UK roads; and if he will make a statement. [303554]
Paul Clark: A vehicle which is properly registered and taxed in its home country may be used by a visitor for up to six months in any 12 without being subject to domestic registration and licensing.
All vehicles in use on UK roads, whether or not registered in the UK, are required to be insured against third party risk under Section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
National Express East Coast
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what plans he has for future operational arrangements for the two rail franchises currently held by National Express; and if he will make a statement. [302636]
Chris Mole [holding answer 30 November 2009]: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Transport on 26 November 2009, Official Report, column 100WS.
North Cotswold Line
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether he plans to create a dual track railway line on the North Cotswold Line between Ledbury and Hereford; and if he will make a statement. [303125]
Chris Mole: There are no Government plans at present for re-doubling the North Cotswolds Line between Ledbury and Hereford, although Network Rail is currently reviewing the requirements of the line as part of its West Midlands Route Utilisation Strategy. The outcome from this and other route utilisation strategies will guide rail investment from 2014.
Norwich-London Railway Line
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) on how many occasions trains or rolling stock used on the Norwich to London railway line failed routine safety inspections in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009 to date; [302200]
(2) how many instances have been identified of employees (a) operating vehicles and (b) managing infrastructure on the Norwich to London railway line without the appropriate safety certificate or authorisation during (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009 to date; [302201]
(3) how many breaches of health and safety regulations have been reported on the Norwich to London railway line in each of the last 10 years. [302434]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport does not hold the information requested. The Office of Rail Regulation is responsible for safety regulation. The hon. Member may wish to contact the Office of Rail Regulation at the following address for such information:
Office of Rail Regulation
1 Kemble Street
London
WC2B 4AN
Penzance-Plymouth Railway Line
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will bring forward measures to amend the terms of the CrossCountry franchise agreement to include a requirement for the train operating company to provide catering facilities between Penzance and Plymouth. [303371]
Chris Mole: The obligations upon CrossCountry to provide catering between defined points on its network were based upon market research conducted by the successful bidder (Arriva). The Department for Transport has no plans to amend the terms of the Franchise Agreement to include a requirement to provide catering facilities between Penzance and Plymouth.
Public Transport: Tyne and Wear
Jim Cousins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what projects his Department plans to fund from the Transport Innovation Fund in Tyne and Wear as a result of the work of the Tyne and Wear People in Motion Partnership. [302539]
Mr. Khan: It is for Tyne and Wear authorities to decide whether to bid for funding for schemes from the Transport Innovation Fund. The Department for Transport has not received any such bids to date.
Railways: Penalty Fares
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport under what (a) statutory or (b) other authority train operating companies may apply penalty fares. [302633]
Chris Mole [holding answer 30 November 2009]: The legal basis for charging penalty fares is section 130 of the Railways Act 1993.
There are also two statutory instruments relating to regulations for penalty fares: the Railways (Penalty Fares) Regulations 1994 (Statutory Instrument 1994 No. 576) and the Railways (Penalty Fares) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 (Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1095).
Railways: Repairs and Maintenance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the replacement of railway sleepers. [302691]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has had representation from two companies regarding the use of railway sleepers made from recycled material.
Roads: Accidents
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many people have been (a) killed and (b) injured while driving on roads in each year since 1997. [302858]
Paul Clark: The following table shows the number of motor vehicle drivers and riders (a) killed and (b) injured in reported road accidents in each year since 1997:
| Reported motor vehicle driver and rider casualties: GB 1997-2008 | ||
| Killed | Injured | |
A breakdown of these statistics can be found in the Reported Road Casualties Great Britain: 2008 Annual Report. Copies of the report have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.
Rolling Stock
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate he has made of the fuel consumption of the proposed bi-mode Intercity Express train per mile when running (a) under the wires and (b) on diesel; and what percentage of fuel consumed when running under the wires will be attributable to the transportation of the vehicle itself. [301212]
Chris Mole: Based on "flat out"(1) running, the fuel consumption of a 10-car bi-mode Super Express train is approximately (a) 30 kWh per mile when on an electric-powered journey from London to Edinburgh (same as for the bi-mode train running on electric) and (b) 7.3 litres per mile when on a diesel-powered journey from Edinburgh to Aberdeen.
When either a bi-mode train or an electric train is running London to Edinburgh, the percentage of power attributable to transportation of the train is estimated to be approximately 80-90 per cent., with the remainder providing power to air conditioning, lighting and other onboard 'hotel' services. This proportion will vary depending on the route being operated, dwell times, turn around times, etc.
(1) Reflecting maximum acceleration and braking, and station stops (zero dwell times).
Transport: Weston-super-Mare
John Penrose: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of progress on the West of England Partnership's Weston Package bid; and when he expects it to be granted programme entry. [301778]
Mr. Khan: Assessment for Programme Entry of the Weston Package scheme has now been completed and I expect to make a decision shortly.
Wales
Departmental Consultants
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many external consultants work for his Department. [303227]
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many full-time equivalent press officers (a) are employed by and (b) work for his Department. [303608]
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