Written Answers to Questions

Friday 30 January 2004

TRANSPORT

Birmingham Airport

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to visit Birmingham airport on official business. [151062]

Mr. McNulty: The Secretary of State has no plans to visit Birmingham airport in the near future. Ministers regularly visit all parts of the country, including the West Midlands and I visited Birmingham airport last summer.

East Midlands Airport

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met the Chief Executive of East Midlands airport. [151059]

Mr. McNulty: Within the last six months, Ministers have met the Chief Executive of East Midlands airport and the Chief Executive of the Manchester Airports Group (which owns East Midlands airport).

EU Quick Start Programme

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the UK is taking to comply with EU Quick Start programme objectives in transport projects. [151497]

Dr. Howells: The EU Quick Start programme comprises key projects, within existing Community programmes, that meet a set of criteria including readiness to start by end 2006 and impact on economic growth. There are two UK transport projects included in the programme. We are reviewing whether there are others that meet the criteria for inclusion.

Information Technology

Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost savings have been made in his Department since the introduction of the Information Technology Procurement Centre of Excellence; and how these were calculated. [151045]

Mr. McNulty: A Centre of Excellence was established within the Department for Transport in June 2003 to integrate the essential functions which underpin the successful delivery of all types of acquisition-based programmes and projects. As cost benefits will not accrue until improvements start to take effect, it is too early to measure cost savings. All Centres of Excellence are currently developing future plans and as part of this process measurement of savings will be defined.

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Ministerial Travel

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last travelled on the London Underground on official business. [151061]

Mr. McNulty: The Secretary of State regularly travels by all modes of public transport. My right hon. Friend last travelled on London Underground in November.

Railway Platforms

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans Network Rail has to lengthen platforms at London commuter stations. [151484]

Dr. Howells: Platform extensions are under way at Hollingbourne, Harrietsham and Charing, and extensions are planned at Braintree, Braintree Freeport, Cressing, White Notley, Harrow and Wealdstone, Bushey, Kings Langley, Apsley, Kernel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, Cheddington, Bletchley, Billingshurst, Portslade, West Norwood, Hampden Park, Lewes, Farnham, Virginia Water, Basingstoke, Ascot, Farncombe, Milford, Witley, Liphook, Liss, Petersfield, Bentley, Brockenhurst, Camberley, Princes Risborough, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, High Wycombe, West Ruislip, South Ruislip, Wembley Stadium and Denham.

Railways

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many temporary speed restrictions are in force on Network Rail track. [151481]

Dr. Howells: Network Rail advises that there are currently 548 temporary speed restrictions on the railway network. This compares to a peak of approximately 1,200 speed restrictions in February 2001.

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much public capital is allocated to the expansion of railway network capacity in the 10 Year Plan. [151483]

Dr. Howells: The latest allocations of public spending in the 10 Year Plan are set out in "Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report", which was published in December 2002. The total amount of public expenditure allocated for railways is £33 billion. This is broken down as follows:

Amount (£ billion rounded)

2001–02 2.1

2002–03 2.8

2003–04 3.8

2004–05 3.8

2005–06 4.3

2006–07 4.2

2007–08 3.6

2008–09 2.9

2009–10 2.7

2010–11 2.8

10 Year Plan total 33

	Amount (£ billion rounded)
2001–02	2.1
2002–03	2.8
2003–04	3.8
2004–05	3.8
2005–06	4.3
2006–07	4.2
2007–08	3.6
2008–09	2.9
2009–10	2.7
2010–11	2.8
10 Year Plan total	33

Road Deaths

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many deaths have occurred on (a) the

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A316 between the end of the M3 and the first roundabout and (b) the M4 between junctions 4 and 1 in the last three years. [151487]

Dr. Howells: There has been one fatal accident on the M4 between junction 4 and junction 1 in the three years from September 2000 to August 2003. This occurred on the westbound carriageway near junction 3.

There were no fatal accidents on the A316 between the M3 at Sunbury Cross and the first roundabout, at its junction with the A312, in the same period.

Rural Bus Challenge

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria are used to determine which Rural Bus Challenge grants are awarded. [152122]

Mr. McNulty: The main objective of the Rural Bus Challenge is to encourage cost-effective innovation in the provision or promotion by local authorities of rural bus transport. The full criteria used in assessing bids to the 2003 competition are set out in guidance to local

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authorities issued in July 2003, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House and on the Department's website.

Transport and Works Act

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public inquiries into applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 held in each of the last five years; how soon after the inquiry the inspector made his report to him in each case; and how long it took him to reach a decision in each case. [149986]

Mr. Jamieson: The following table shows the information requested in respect of applications made under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA), with the exception of a few applications that will fall to be decided by the First Secretary of State, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry or the National Assembly for Wales. The variable periods for reaching a decision can partly be attributed to differences in the complexity of the cases. But in many cases this has been for reasons outside our control, such as the need to obtain more information from an applicant or the inspector, or the need for a related consent from another Department.

Year in whichpublic inquirystarted Title of Transport and Works Act 1992 application/order Period from end of inquiry to receipt of inspector's report (weeks) Period from receipt of inspector's report to decision (weeks)

2003 Proposed London Gateway Logistics and Commercial Centre Order Inspector's report awaited —

2003 Proposed Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) Order Inspector's report awaited —

2003 Proposed Docklands Light Railway (Woolwich Arsenal Extension) Order 11 Under consideration

2003 Proposed River Tyne (Tunnels) Order 23 Under consideration

2002 Proposed Greater Manchester (Leigh Busway) Order 22 Under consideration

2002 Proposed Network Rail (West Coast Main Line) (No. 2) Order 26 Under consideration

2001 The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Trafford Depot) Order 9 30

2001 Proposed Yorkshire Marina (Bridlington) (Works) Order 20 23

2001 Proposed Fawley Branch Line Improvements Order 40 Under consideration

2001 The Network Rail (West Coast Main Line) Order 30 38

2000 The Railtrack (Shortlands Junction) Order 10 16

2000 The London Underground (East London Line Extension) (No. 2) Order 5 43

2000 The Docklands Light Railway (Silvertown and London City Airport Extension) Order 17 53

2000 The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Land Acquisition) Order 5 21

2000 The Alconbury Airfield (Rail Facilities and Connection to East Coast Main Line) Order 76 35

2000 The Chester Guided Busway Order 15 33

2000 Proposed London International Freight Exchange and Proposed London International Freight Exchange (Variation) Orders—joint inquiry 27 15

1999 The South Hampshire Rapid Transit Order 13 51

1999 The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Trafford Park) Order 11 51

Year in whichpublic inquirystarted	Title of Transport and Works Act 1992 application/order	Period from end of inquiry to receipt of inspector's report (weeks)	Period from receipt of inspector's report to decision (weeks)
2003	Proposed London Gateway Logistics and Commercial Centre Order	Inspector's report awaited	—
2003	Proposed Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) Order	Inspector's report awaited	—
2003	Proposed Docklands Light Railway (Woolwich Arsenal Extension) Order	11	Under consideration
2003	Proposed River Tyne (Tunnels) Order	23	Under consideration
2002	Proposed Greater Manchester (Leigh Busway) Order	22	Under consideration
2002	Proposed Network Rail (West Coast Main Line) (No. 2) Order	26	Under consideration
2001	The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Trafford Depot) Order	9	30
2001	Proposed Yorkshire Marina (Bridlington) (Works) Order	20	23
2001	Proposed Fawley Branch Line Improvements Order	40	Under consideration
2001	The Network Rail (West Coast Main Line) Order	30	38
2000	The Railtrack (Shortlands Junction) Order	10	16
2000	The London Underground (East London Line Extension) (No. 2) Order	5	43
2000	The Docklands Light Railway (Silvertown and London City Airport Extension) Order	17	53
2000	The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Land Acquisition) Order	5	21
2000	The Alconbury Airfield (Rail Facilities and Connection to East Coast Main Line) Order	76	35
2000	The Chester Guided Busway Order	15	33
2000	Proposed London International Freight Exchange and Proposed London International Freight Exchange (Variation) Orders—joint inquiry	27	15
1999	The South Hampshire Rapid Transit Order	13	51
1999	The Greater Manchester (Light Rapid Transit System) (Trafford Park) Order	11	51

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff there are in his Department's Transport and Works Act processing unit, broken down by grade; and how many are (a) full-time, (b) part-time and (c) casual workers. [149988]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department's Transport and Works Act Orders Unit currently consists of 13 members of staff. The following table breaks down the Unit's staff into the categories requested.

Grade Number of staff at grade Work pattern

Grade 7 (PB6.1) 1 Full-time

Senior Executive Officer (PB5.1) 2 Full-time

Higher Executive Officer (PB4.3) 4 3Xfull-timeand 1Xpart-time

Executive Officer PB3.2 4 Full-time

Administrative Officer PB2.1 2 Full-time

Grade	Number of staff at grade	Work pattern
Grade 7 (PB6.1)	1	Full-time
Senior Executive Officer (PB5.1)	2	Full-time
Higher Executive Officer (PB4.3)	4	3Xfull-timeand 1Xpart-time
Executive Officer PB3.2	4	Full-time
Administrative Officer PB2.1	2	Full-time

The Unit will shortly reduce to 12 members of staff, upon the reallocation of one Administrative Officer to other departmental duties.

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