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29 Mar 2010 : Column 759W—continued
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the cost to his Department was of employing press and media officers in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what the cost to his Department was of employing such staff in the financial year 1996-97, expressed in real terms. [324801]
Chris Mole: Press office activities across the Department are not exclusively carried out by staff or units solely dedicated to this purpose. Press officer function pay costs have been estimated for 2008-09 in the following table.
| Press officer activities 2008-09 | Payroll cost (£000) |
The Department for Transport was created in May 2002. Records of costs for 1996-97 are not readily available owing to departmental and agency re-organisations and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Marketing
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department and its agencies spent on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years; and what such items were. [324710]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport has not spent any money on promotional items carrying the Department's branding and logo in the last five years apart from the Government Car Despatch Agency who spent £818 in 2006-07 on desk planners.
Departmental Written Questions
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what methodology his Department used to determine whether answers to questions in the formulation "if he will set out with statistical information related as directly as possible to the tabling hon. Member's constituency the effects on that constituency of his Department's policies since 1997" could be provided without incurring disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement. [323873]
Mr. Khan: The information used by the Department in responding to these questions was readily available on the Department's or the local authorities' websites or from the Government offices for the regions. The risk of incurring disproportionate cost did not therefore arise.
East Coast Railway Line: Franchises
Mr. Gale: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what penalty payments (a) NXEC and (b) National Express made to his Department following the termination of their tenure of the East Coast Main Line franchise. [324590]
Chris Mole: As a result of the termination of the NXEC franchise, the Department for Transport called both the performance and the season ticket bonds maintained by the company. These were valued at £31.4 million and £4.8 million respectively.
Additionally, before the termination and in accordance with their franchise agreement, National Express was required to provide £40 million of financial support to NXEC to maintain the financial ratios specified in NXEC's franchise agreement. This represents a non-refundable cost to National Express.
East London Line
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what representations his Department has received from (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Lewisham council's Executive Mayor on funding a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line. [325019]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport has received a number of representations from Transport for London, the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Lewisham in relation to the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road. Transport for London and Lewisham have also submitted a business case in relation to the new station.
Officials at the Department continue to discuss this business case with officials from Transport for London and Lewisham council.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether his Department has informed (a) Transport for London and (b) Lewisham council that it will contribute to the funding of a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line. [325020]
Mr. Khan: The business case for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road was submitted by Transport for London and Lewisham council late last year. The Department for Transport had a number of concerns with the business case provided and officials have been discussing these issues with both parties.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the demand projections made by Transport for London for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line. [325021]
Mr. Khan: The business case and the demand projections for the proposed new station at Surrey Canal Road were provided by Transport for London. Some concerns have been noted with regard to the projected demand levels at the station when compared with other neighbouring stations.
The specific concern was that projected demand levels at the station were similar to or higher than other stations in established residential and shopping locations with significantly higher levels of train service, such as New Cross Gate and Peckham Rye.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what process his Department is undertaking to evaluate the case for a new station at Surrey Canal Road on the extended East London Line; and if he will make a statement. [325022]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport is assessing the business case submitted by Transport for London and Lewisham council to ensure that it is robust; that it is based on realistic future population and employment forecasts; and that it accords with the appraisal criteria used for all transport schemes that the Department is asked to fund. It is important that this process is carried out to ensure that taxpayers' money is being used effectively and that the proposed benefits will be realised.
The appraisal criteria, Webtag, are available on the Department for Transport's website at:
First Capital Connect
Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what meetings he has had with representatives of First Capital Connect in each of the last six months; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each such meeting. [320898]
Chris Mole: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 27 January 2010, Official Report, column 877W. In addition, a meeting was held on 2 February 2010 between the Secretary of State, the Chief Executive of First Group, the Managing Director of First UK Rail and the Managing Director of First Capital Connect. The minutes of the meetings on 12 November 2009 and 2 February 2010 have been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Wareing: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent representations he has received on the operation of First Capital Connect; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the merits of withdrawing its franchise and taking its operations into public ownership. [324644]
Chris Mole: A number of representations have been received regarding the operation of First Capital Connect from Members of Parliament and passengers.
Since 18 January 2010, when First Capital Connect's full timetable was reinstated, we have continued to monitor performance closely and the indication is that First Capital Connect is returning to pre-disruption levels of service.
To date, no Event of Default, as set out in the Franchise Agreement, has occurred.
Galileo
Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate has been made of the number of satellites which can be launched and maintained within the £3.4 billion funding ceiling for the Galileo project. [324525]
Paul Clark: The €3.4 billion budget is the cost for full operational capability (FOC) of the Galileo system which is to build all necessary space and ground-based infrastructures, including the launch of 30 satellites. The European Commission let a contract for 14 satellites in January this year. The procurement process is still ongoing so the final contract prices are not yet known.
Costs related to the maintenance of the Galileo system fall to the next European Financial Perspective starting in 2014. The European Commission will come forward later this year with a mid-term review of the programme which will make proposals for the operation and maintenance of the system.
Heathrow Airport: Noise
Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the total (a) area and (b) population was within the (i) 57, (ii) 60, (iii) 63, (iv) 66, (v) 69 and (vi) 72 dBA noise contours at Heathrow Airport in each year from 2000 to 2009. [323780]
Paul Clark: The following statistics have been extracted from the annual aircraft noise contour reports covering Heathrow airport, which are available on the Department's website. They relate to the actual modal split contours. Standard contours-based on a 20-year average of east/west splits-are also available in the reports.
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