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14 Dec 2009 : Column 636W—continued
| (b) Manchester | ||||
| £ million | ||||
| IT Block | Major schemes | Bus subsidy | Total | |
| (c) West Yorkshire | ||||
| £ million | ||||
| IT Block | Major schemes | Bus subsidy | Total | |
In addition, the Government subsidise bus services in England through the Department's Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG). BSOG is paid directly to operators of local bus services and funding figures are unavailable by geographic region.
Revenue expenditure on transport is generally supported through the Department for Communities and Local Government's formula grant.
DFT funding for rail projects is not available on the basis of local authority boundaries.
Railway Stations: Repairs and Maintenance
Mark Hunter: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of financial support for station improvements identified for priority improvement by the Station Champions that will come from (a) local authorities, (b) industry and (c) central Government; [306280]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of financial support for station improvements at Stockport Railway Station which will come from (a) local authorities, (b) rail industry and (c) central Government; [306281]
(3) whether station improvements on the 10 major interchange stations identified for priority improvement by the Station Champions would go ahead without financial support from local government and industry; [306282]
(4) what assessment his Department has made of the ability of (a) local authorities and (b) local industry to provide financial support for station improvements at railway stations as part of the new £50 million fund; [306286]
(5) by what date he expects to announce the amount of funding from the new £50 million fund to be distributed for station improvements at Stockport railway station. [306340]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has agreed with Network Rail that they will make up to £50 million available in the near future to tackle improvements at the 10 key stations, including Stockport, identified in the Station Champions' report as being in most need of improvement.
We are challenging the industry and local government to raise part of the money required for each of these stations themselves to help us maximise the impact of the £50 million. At this stage it is not possible to anticipate the proportion of funding that will come from Network Rail, industry and local government either at Stockport or at any of the other priority stations. However, we are expecting third party funding to be a key feature of those schemes that are taken forward. We realise that seeking additional funding in the current economic climate may be difficult, but this is crucial in maximising the benefit of the schemes.
We are keen for improvements at these stations to begin as soon as possible, and anticipate that the £50 million will be used as part of a rolling programme before 2014. Announcements will be made as improvement packages at individual stations are agreed.
Railways
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport for what reason the target of 25 new light rail schemes by 2010 was abandoned; and how many such schemes he is now progressing. [305617]
Mr. Khan
[holding answer 10 December 2009]: The 10 Year Plan published in July 2000 set out indicative figures for the number of light rail schemes that might
be delivered by 2010. This was neither a target nor a commitment for the Government.
Since 2000 the following schemes have been completed in England:
| Scheme name | Date of opening |
In addition, we have granted final funding approval to extend the Manchester Metrolink to Oldham, Rochdale and Chorlton and a scheme to refurbish the Blackpool and Fleetwood tram system. These schemes are currently under construction.
We also announced in July 2009, Conditional Approval for two extensions for the Nottingham Express Transit which are currently in procurement.
The Department is currently considering further proposals to extend the Manchester Metrolink system to East Didsbury and Ashton; an extension of Midland Metro Line One in Birmingham to the city centre and a proposal to fund a capital renewal programme on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.
Road Traffic Control
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effect on traffic volume of the introduction of speed bumps in residential roads of less than 200 metres in length. [306015]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport has commissioned various research projects into the effectiveness of road humps. These considered the effect on traffic flow but did not include the length of the road as a factor. While results for the different types of hump varied, the research found an average flow reduction of 20 per cent. can be expected through the traffic calmed area after the installation of road humps.
Roads: Accidents
Jeff Ennis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport (1) how many accidents involving vehicles in the other motor vehicle category have been recorded by his Department in each of the last five years; [306491]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2009, Official Report, column 264W, on "Invalid Vehicles: Accidents", which types of vehicle his Department includes in the other motor vehicle category. [306492]
Paul Clark: The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving vehicles in the "other motor vehicles" category in each of the last five years is shown in the table:
| Reported personal injury road accidents involving 'other motor vehicles': Great Britain, 2004-08 | |
| Number | |
Other motor vehicles are types of motor vehicle that do not fall into any of the main categories recorded by the police. Examples include ambulances, fire engines, motor caravans, motorised wheel chairs and quad bikes. Details of what vehicles are included in the main categories, together with further examples of other motor vehicles, can be found on pages 44 and 45 of the 'Instructions for the Completion of Road Accident Reports', which is on the Department's website at the following link:
Roads: Construction
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many new (a) bypasses and (b) major local road schemes he plans to construct by 2015. [305619]
Mr. Khan
[holding answer 10 December 2009]: 62 bypasses (on both the strategic highway and local road network) and 39 local major road schemes (costing over
£5 million) have been completed since 2000. A further four bypass and 14 local major road schemes are currently under construction in England.
Regions in England have allocated funding within their Regional Funding Allocations programme for approximately 14 bypasses and 57 local major road schemes to be taken forward to construction by 2015.
A scheme's inclusion within the Regional Funding Allocation programme does not necessarily mean the funding has been approved. Schemes will only proceed once they have successfully completed the Department's funding approval processes and secured any necessary legal powers.
Speed Limits: Cameras
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many speed cameras were deployed in each local authority area in Wales in each year since 1997; and how much revenue there was from fines in each area in each such year. [306631]
Paul Clark: The Department for Transport only holds information about the number of speed camera sites operating within the National Safety Camera Programme which started in 2001 and ended on 31 March 2007. Separate information for each local authority in Wales is not held. The number of camera sites operating each year in Wales from 2001 to 2007 is outlined in Table 1. Details of fine revenue collected is outlined in Table 2.
| Table 1: Fixed and mobile speed camera sites in Wales by partnership area and year | |||||||
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |
| Table 2: Speed and red light revenue from fixed penalty notices paid in Wales by financial year and partnership area | |||||||
| £ | |||||||
| 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| (1) This figure refers to the number of fixed penalty tickets issued and paid. From 1 April to 31 October 2000 the fixed penalty was £40.00, this was increased to £60.00 on 1 November 2000. | |||||||
Transport: Planning
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will make it his policy to ensure that any planning application for a major transport matter will continue to be subject to the public inquiry system that has hitherto operated until such time as the relevant national planning statement has been agreed by Parliament. [306875]
Mr. Khan: The Government intend that the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) established under the Planning Act 2008 will deal with applications for nationally significant transport projects, as defined by that Act, with effect from 1 March 2010, with the aim of delivering decisions in a more timely, efficient and predictable way. As part of the process of examining such applications, the IPC will consider evidence from interested parties and will where it considers appropriate hold open hearings at which oral evidence can be given. Until the relevant National Policy Statement has been designated, the final decisions on such applications will be taken by the relevant Secretary of State, on the basis of the IPC's recommendation.
Underground Railways: Tyne and Wear
John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his agreement is required before the Tyne and Wear Metro concession is awarded. [306515]
Mr. Khan: Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, as the procuring authority, do not require the agreement of the Secretary of State to award a contract for the concession for the operation of the Tyne and Wear Metro. Nexus are, however, seeking the Department's commitment to provide funding support towards the operating costs of the Metro before they award such a contract.
Olympics
Departmental Public Relations
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what payments the Olympic Delivery Authority has made to Mandate/AS Biss in the last 12 months; for what purpose; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the contract under which such payments have been made. [305107]
Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has a programme of active engagement across central, regional, devolved, and local government.
To assist this process it has used the services of Mandate Communications, jointly with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), to provide research, administrative and event management support. This contract was competitively tendered. Over the last 12 months the ODA spend with Mandate was £51,634.82 excluding VAT.
It is not possible to provide a copy of the contract as it is a joint contract with LOCOG, which is a private company.
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Olympics with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 3 February 2009, Official Report, column 976W, on departmental public relations, which public relations consultancy was hired; for what purpose; and what consideration was given to undertaking the activity using Government press officers. [305168]
Tessa Jowell: Fleishman-Hillard Group Limited were procured to provide a consultancy service, which included research and communications advice.
Government Press Officers were not considered for this role as the service required did not involve media work and was therefore outside press officers expertise.
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