Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 28 January 2010
Transport
High-Speed Rail
13. Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of progress on the development of a North-South high-speed rail link. [313723]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport is continuing its assessment of the detailed report from High Speed Two which was received at the end of last year. If the Government decide to pursue proposals for high speed rail, we will publish a White Paper setting out plans by the end of March 2010.
Rail Fares
14. Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the average change has been in the level of regulated rail fares since 1997. [313725]
Chris Mole: Figures derived from the Office of Rail Regulation's National Rail Trends show that, between January 1997 and January 2009, regulated fares rose by 5.1 per cent. in real terms. The figures for 2010 have not yet been published.
Speed Cameras
15. Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proposals he has to install further speed cameras on the motorway network. [313726]
Paul Clark: Speed cameras are used on the motorway network to improve the safety of the travelling public and road workers.
The Highways Agency are planning to deliver 19 Managed and Controlled Motorway schemes by March 2015.
Southend Airport
16. Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the expansion of Southend Airport. [313727]
Paul Clark: Between late 2008 and January this year my Department received five representations on Southend airport from the Member for Southend, West and one from the Member for Rochford and Southend, East, as well as 13 letters and e-mails from members of the public.
East Midlands Trains
17. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will discuss with East Midlands Trains the merits of reinstating non-stop passenger rail services between London St. Pancras and Kettering; and if he will make a statement. [313728]
Chris Mole: The East Midlands timetable was designed to ensure that there is sufficient capacity for the increasing demand at Kettering and other stations on the route. Having long-distance services call at Kettering would increase the likelihood of there being insufficient seats for all passengers.
Rail Franchise System
18. Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what plans he has for the future of the rail franchise system. [313729]
Chris Mole: "The Future of Rail Franchising", which was published on 20 January, discusses potential changes to franchise competitions and contract design. Consultation papers for the Essex Thameside, East Coast and Greater Anglia were published on 21 January. Final decisions on these franchises will be taken before the invitations to tender are issued.
A14
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether any air pollution mitigation measures are planned as part of the A14 improvement work; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such measures. [311189]
Chris Mole: No specific air pollution mitigation measures are planned as part of the A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton improvement as no exceedences of air quality limit values are predicted at any property in the assessment of the scheme. Overall, an improvement in air quality is expected.
Airports: Security
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent measures he has put in place to increase security at UK airports. [313724]
Paul Clark: Following the incident on Christmas day, the Government have directed airports to increase the proportion of passengers' baggage tested for traces of explosives, and to introduce explosive trace detection equipment at all UK airports by the end of the year. We have also brought into force new restrictions which tighten up security screening for transit passengers. Alongside this we intend to introduce more body scanners, the first to be deployed at Heathrow.
Aviation: Dual Nationality
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what arrangements are in place for the advance registration of air passenger details for holders of duel citizenship who book flights and leave a country on the passport of that country and arrive in the UK using a UK passport. [313024]
Paul Clark: Passengers' passport data are collected by airlines at or before the point of departure and transmitted to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) under the e-Borders programme. Discrepancies, such as different passport details, will be picked up by UKBA staff at the border and investigated as necessary.
Aviation: Security
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what provision his Department plans to make as an alternative to full body scanners for passengers with pacemakers or other implanted electronic medical devices. [313420]
Paul Clark: There are currently no plans to provide an alternative to body scanners for passengers with pacemakers or other implanted electronic medical devices. Our advice is that they are safe for passengers with such devices to use.
Dartford Railway Station
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what funding his Department expects to provide in respect of the refurbishment of Dartford rail station. [313431]
Chris Mole: Dartford station will be receiving £1 million under the National Stations Improvement Programme: a £150 million scheme to enhance around 150 medium sized stations up to 2014. It is anticipated that this will be supplemented by some £6 million third party funding.
The Department for Transport has also received an application from Dartford station for £6,000 towards a £12,000 Access for All scheme, although the outcome will not be announced until later this year.
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Stewart Jackson:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 90W, on departmental buildings, what the addresses of the 13 properties which are beyond economic repair are; for how long each has been empty;
how much his Department paid in empty property council tax in respect of such buildings in 2008-09; and what plans there are to sell such properties for redevelopment. [312050]
Chris Mole: The Highways Agency uses statutory powers to acquire property in connection with the operation, construction and maintenance of the Trunk Road and Motorway network. The Agency receives Blight Notices under the Town and Country Planning Acts which provide protection for property owners who cannot sell their properties because of planned road improvement schemes. When these notices are accepted, they require the Agency to purchase property in advance of its operational requirements. These properties are held while the scheme is in the programme and the route is protected from development. In some cases this can be for a number of years.
Where possible, properties are let until they are required for operational purposes or can be sold and their management is contracted out to a private letting and management agent.
Properties which are not cost effective to repair, but which are repairable, are maintained in their present condition because a future sale may take place. These properties are described as being beyond economic repair. Derelict properties that present a safety risk or will have an enhanced value by having planning permission for rebuild/development may be demolished if it is cost effective to do so.
The 13 properties beyond economic repair being held by the Highways Agency are detailed in the table. This shows their addresses, how long they have been vacant, and how much council tax has been paid in respect of each property for the financial year 2008-09.
The road schemes that affected Woodview and Park Hill Lodge are now complete. These properties did not need to be demolished and are now at the beginning of the Agency's disposal process. The other 11 properties are not available for sale.
The Agency obtains appropriate professional advice about valuation, method of sale and planning potential in respect of all its surplus properties. The Agency has not yet obtained that advice in respect of Woodview and Park Hill Lodge.
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 90W, on departmental buildings, for what reasons there are 34 properties vacant in the disposal process. [312051]
Chris Mole: To ensure best value for the taxpayer the Highways Agency sells properties that are surplus to operational requirements with vacant possession whenever possible.
One property has just been sold. The remaining 33 properties that are currently vacant and in the disposal process are:
in the process of being formally declared surplus by the Agency, this includes obtaining and acting on planning/valuation and sales advice;
being offered to former owners under the Crichel Down Rules;
being offered for sale on the open market;
under offer awaiting legal completion of the sale.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) associated non-departmental public bodies plan to sign up to the 10:10 campaign for cutting carbon usage in 2010; and if he will publish the (i) criteria and (ii) research upon which such a decision will be taken. [313433]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport is committed to delivering its share of the challenging targets which the Government have set for long term reductions in carbon usage on the Government Estate, but does not intend to sign up to the 10:10 campaign which is focussed on reductions this year.
The Department is involved in a number of initiatives and has several activities underway targeted at reducing carbon emissions.
Carbon Reduction Commitment-due to start in April 2010;
The Carbon Trust Standard-attainment in the next financial year.
Carbon Budgets-the Department has worked closely with DECC, DEFRA and OGC to set the scope of transport emissions;
Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) Framework-the Department continues to work with OGC, and DEFRA, looking to extend the SOGE travel targets to include commuter travel and freight supply emissions;
Low Carbon Vehicles-the Department is supporting the trial of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and the Government Car and Despatch Agency will trial a plug-in hybrid later this year;
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