§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has(a) carried out, (b) commissioned and (c) consulted upon on the progress his Department has made towards developing an integrated transport policy as outlined in (i) "A New Deal for Transport" and (ii) "Transport 2010: The Ten Year Plan"; if he will place copies of the documentation in relation to this research which is not publicly available in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [23520]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe DTLR Science and Innovation Strategy covers all research commissioned by the Department and states the general policy of open publication of research requirements and results. It is available at http: //www.research.dtlr.gov.uk/sis2001/index.htm
The draft Strategy for Integrated Transport Research was published for consultation in March 2001 and is available on the web at http: //www.dtlr.gov.uk/itwp/consult/research/index.htm.
It highlights those areas where research is already being carried out in support of the Government's integrated transport objectives and outlines the key strategic research issues arising from "A New Deal for Transport" and "Transport 2010—The Ten Year Plan".
Details of the Department's transport research programmes are published annually, and are also available on DTLR's website at the following address: http: //www.research.dtlr.gov.uk/research/03.htm. These documents set out the objectives and priorities of the individual research programmes, summarise latest research findings and provide details of new projects.
Copies of these documents are being placed in the Libraries of the House.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what research his Department has(a) carried out, (b) commissioned and (c) consulted upon in relation to progress made towards the development of (i) a real time travel information service, (ii) Transport Direct and (iii) a comprehensive travel information and retailing service; if he will place copies of documentation in relation to this research which is not publicly available in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [23519]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe following research is currently under way on real time information
a wide ranging market research programme is in the process of being let. This will include the extent to which the public seek real time information and the manner in which they wish to see it delivered.We are also seeking the creation of common standards for bus real time information systems, and are currently preparing a specification to outline common standards and compatibility for real time information systems. A consultation document will be released in the new year.On the railway network, the Strategic Rail Authority has funded a feasibility study on Real Time Train Movements (RTTM) and this is due to report in March 2002.On Transport Direct, which will be a comprehensive travel information and retailing service, the following major items of research have been commissioned or 538W conducted. For a full list, please refer to the annual Departmental Research Compendium, "Roads and Local Transport Research Programme: Compendium of Research Projects 2000–2001", a copy of which is already in the House of Commons Library.
The Transportation Research Group (TRG) at Southampton University has recently carried out a review of previous, current and planned research in areas relevant to Transport Direct. Their report is available on my Department's website and the report will be placed in the Library.We have commissioned a data management framework study, to define the way in which data may be input, exchanged, transferred, retrieved and manipulated. This study will allow us to assess the data management task that Transport Direct will need to tackle.We have some research under way looking at the standards which will be necessary for Transport Direct and seeing whether further standards should be developed.We envisage further technological work being commissioned to underpin Transport Direct.Work has begun on the development of a Business Plan for Transport Direct. This will be published next summer.Further research may also be necessary to support traveline.