§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the dates on which parts of the(a) Bakerloo, (b) Central, (c) Circle, (d) District, (e) East London, (f) Hammersmith and City, (g) Jubilee, (h) Metropolitan, (i) Northern, (j) Piccadilly and (k) Victoria London Underground lines were closed to passengers during 2000; and if he will set out in relation to each closure the stretch of line closed and the purpose of the closure. [145703]
§ Mr. Hill[holding answer 18 January 2001]: This is an operational matter for London Underground (LUL) but they have provided the information in the table.
LUL keep a variety of records of incidents on the London Underground system. For the purpose of answering this question, LUL have taken
525Wline closure to passengers during 2000to mean formal closures of lines or sections of lines for planned works.526W527W
Line/Purpose of closure Location Dates during 2000 Bakerloo Railtrack Works Queens Park to Harrow and Wealdstone 8–10 January, 15–17 January, 22–24 January, 29–31 January Railtrack Works Queens Park to Willesden Junction 5–7 February, 12–14 February, 19–21 February, 26–27 February, 4–6 March, 11–13 March, 18–20 March, 1–2 April Railtrack Works Queens Park to Stonebridge 27–28 March, 3–4 June, 10–11 June Railtrack Works Queens Park to Wembley Central 16–19 June, 23–26 June 30 June-3 July, 7–10 July Railtrack Works Stonebridge Park to Harrow and Wealdstone 22–23 July, 29–30 July, 5–6 August, 12–13 August, 19–20 August, 26–27 August, 2–3 September, 9–10 September, 16–17 September Hungerford Bridge Piccadilly Circus to Elephant and Castle 21–23 October, 4–6 November Millennium Project 17–20 November, 24–27 November Track Works Paddington to Elephant and Castle 21–23 October, 4–6 November Railtrack Works Harrow and Wealdstone to Watford Junction 8–9 April, 29–30 April, 6–7 May, 20–21 May Central Track Works Epping to Loughton 14–17 January, 21–24 January, 28–31 January, 25–28 February, 3–6 March, 10–13 March, 17–20 March Track Works Holborn to Liverpool Street 4–7 February Track Works Woodford to Epping 19–22 May, 26–30 May Track Works Leytonstone to Hainault 16–19 June, 23–26 June Track Works North Acton to Northolt/Ealing 7–10 July Track Works Bethnal Green to Leytonstone 14–17 July, 8–11 September Track Works Hainault to Woodford 3–6 November District Track Works Putney Bridge to Wimbledon 18–21 February, 31 March-3 April, 7–10 April, 5–8 May, 2–5 June Track Works Turnham Green to Richmond 26–27 March; 22–25 September Track Works Parsons Green to Wimbledon 31 March-3 April, 7–10 April Track Works Parsons Green to Putney Bridge 2–5 June Track Works Plaistow to Whitechapel 17–20 November East London No Planned Works Hammersmith and City No Planned Works Jubilee No Planned Works Metropolitan and City Track Works Raynors Land to Uxbridge 4–7 February, 11–14 February, 24–27 March Track Works Harrow-on-the-Hill to Wembley Park 18–21 February, 28–31 July Track Works Harrow-on-the-Hill to Northwood 5–8 May, 1–4 September Track Works Rickmansworth to Amersham/Chesham 8–11 September, 15–18 September, 22–25 September, 29 September-2 October Track Works Moor Park to Amersham/Chesham 13–16 October Track Works Chorleywood to Rickmansworth 27–30 October, 10–13 November, 24–27 November, 1–4 December Northern Track Works Tooting Broadway to Morden 9–12 June, 21–24 July
Line/Purpose of closure Location Dates during 2000 Track Works Camden Town 27 August Track Works Camden Town to Kennington (via Bank) 11–17 November, 20–24 November, 27 November-24 December (after 9.45 pm) Piccadilly Track Works Heathrow Terminal 4 4–6 March Track Works Acton Town to Alperton 12–15 May Victoria Track Works Victoria to Brix on 4–26 August
§ Mr. ColemanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what impact the adoption of the accounting requirements of Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 15 had on London Underground Ltd.'s annual accounts for 1999–2000; and what impact they will have on its accounts for 2001–01. [147206]
§ Mr. HillThe accounts of London Underground Ltd. are prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 1985, which requires compliance with all accounting standards. Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 15, issued by the Accounting Standards Board, became mandatory for accounting periods ending on or after 23 March 2000 and has consequently been adopted by London Underground in its accounts for the year ended 31 March 2000.
FRS15 sets out the principles of accounting for tangible fixed assets. As well as imposing stricter rules on the allocation of overheads to capital projects, the standard requires that expenditure previously treated as renewals must now either be charged to cost of operations, or capitalised as an addition to fixed assets.
The revised accounting policies have reduced London Underground Ltd.'s gross operating margin for 1999–2000 to £153.6 million (from £293.6 million1), and increased its operating loss before grants to £145.2 million (from £101.2 million1). These are, however, purely accounting changes. Neither affects the amount of cash available, or Government grant paid, to London Underground Ltd.
In 2000–01, the changes in allocation of cost will reduce London Underground Ltd.'s gross operating margin and the value of its investment programme from the budgeted values published in the LT Annual Business Plan to £135.6 million (from £260 million) and £360.6 million (from £400 million) respectively. However, as these are again purely accounting changes, neither the External Finance Limit for the year, nor physical delivery of the investment programme, will be affected.
The actual figures for 2000–01 will be published in due course.
1 The amounts reported in the accounts of London Regional Transport, which are prepared in accordance with the London Regional Transport Act 1984, and were published as part of the LT Annual Report 1999–2000, "Improving London's transport", document on 28 June 2000.