§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the National Audit Office report, "Improving Public Transport in England through Light Rail"; [173915]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of its (a) bidding process for and (b) evaluation of light rail proposals since publication of the National Audit Office report, "Improving Public Transport in England through Light Rail." [173916]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Department is currently considering the findings of the report published on 23 April, including those conclusions relating to the bidding process and the evaluation of light rail projects.
§ Mr. Gordon MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with organisations representing the disabled about the inclusion of access criteria in the assessment of the Blackpool light rail bid. [173917]
§ Mr. McNultyThe impact on accessibility is one of Department's criteria used for assessing the value for money of all transport projects. The Department has no direct discussion with organisations representing the disabled regarding accessibility issues on the Blackpool tramway; this would be for the promoters when developing their bid.