§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the benefits of extending Metrolink. [1849]
§ Mr. NorrisMy Department has received an application from Greater Manchester passenger transport executive for funding under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968 of the Metrolink extension to Salford quays. Subject to final costs and the value of the operating concession, this application appears to meet the criteria that we expect such a scheme to fulfil.
The Department has also received an initial section 56 application for the Metrolink extension to Oldham and Rochdale, although GMPTE has not submitted a bid for funding in 1996–97. GMPTE need to carry out further work on the economic appraisal of this scheme before we can give an indication of whether it meets the relevant criteria.
§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met Greater Manchester passenger transport authority to discuss Metrolink 2000 and Greater Manchester's plans for an integrated passenger transport network. [1766]
§ Mr. NorrisMy right hon. Friend visited Manchester to perform a sod-cutting ceremony at Manchester airport on 20 October 1995. While he was there, he received a presentation from Greater Manchester passenger transport authority on its plans to extend the Manchester Metrolink.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in support of the planned Metrolink extensions; and if he will list them. [2113]
§ Mr. NorrisMy Department has received a small number of letters from the general public and local Members of Parliament in support of the proposed Metrolink extensions, primarily in response to the recent public inquiries into the extensions to Manchester airport and Eccles. We also received 200 objections to the Greater Manchester (LRTS) (Airport Extension) Order.
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§ Mr. OrmeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of how many fewer car journeys will be made as a consequence of the opening of the planned Metrolink extension to Eccles via Salford quays. [2088]
§ Mr. NorrisWe have yet to receive an economic appraisal of the extension to Eccles. Greater Manchester passenger transport executive must obtain the necessary powers under the Transport and Works Act 1992 for the extension from Salford quays to Eccles before submitting an application for funding to the Department of Transport. The extension to Salford quays alone is forecast to remove 19 million car trips over the 30-year period of the appraisal.