HC Deb 01 March 1999 vol 326 cc510-2W
Mrs. Laing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will lay a specific duty on Transport for London to provide services at their existing levels on those parts of the Underground network outwith Greater London. [72653]

Ms Glenda Jackson

We do not intend to place such a duty on Transport for London. TfL will be directly accountable to the Mayor who, subject to the passage of the Greater London Authority Bill, will be responsible for arranging for the setting of the general level of services provided or secured by Transport for London. More widely, the Mayor will be under a duty to develop and implement policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within Greater London. This duty therefore encompasses services to be provided by Transport for London outside the Greater London boundary.

The Mayor will also have a duty to draw up an integrated transport strategy for London, while taking account of national policy including the Government's integrated transport strategy. The Government have made it clear that their policy is to promote and encourage integrated public transport and the Mayor will need to bear that in mind when making decisions about the level of services provided or secured by Transport for London outside the Greater London boundary.

Mrs. Laing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he proposes that representatives of those areas served by Transport for London railways outside Greater London will be consulted on the development of the services. [72654]

Ms Glenda Jackson

Subject to the passage of the Greater London Authority Bill, the Mayor will be under a duty to prepare a transport strategy document. It will be open to the Mayor to consult any body or person he or she thinks it appropriate to consult about the preparation of his or her transport strategy.

In addition, we will establish a new body to represent the interests of users of all modes of transport in London, including all services and facilities provided or secured by Transport for London. The new body will be known as the London Transport Users' Committee (LTUC). We envisage that LTUC will have regular contacts with Transport for London.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers he plans to give to London's Mayor over the former British Rail network within Greater London. [73171]

Dr. Reid

Our proposals were set out in our White Paper "A Mayor and Assembly for London" (Cm 3897). Paragraph 5.27 of the White Paper indicates that the Mayor will be able toissue guidance to OPRAF regarding franchisees in London; secure the provision of new passenger services to be operated in London; promote or fund new network improvements, as well as investment in new stations or improvements to existing ones; require operators to participate in new multi-modal ticketing arrangements or concessionary travel schemes; and ensure Transport for London is consulted on timetable decisions to ensure that bus, rail and tube services can be planned to complement each other.

The White Paper made it clear that OPRAF would not be bound to accept the Mayor's guidance if it would have an adverse impact beyond London or would result in additional financial liability to the taxpayer. Transport for London will also be able to exercise powers inherited from London Transport to ensure consistency between rail, Underground and bus services in terms of Travelcard fares and ticketing, marketing and passenger information. Transport for London will also have the power to oppose rail schemes which it thinks are contrary to the Mayor's transport strategy or other policies, or to the interests of Londoners.

Clauses 163 to 166 of the Greater London Authority Bill currently set out the draft provisions which will give effect to our proposals. Those clauses were debated in Standing Committee on 23 February 1999, Official Report, Standing Committee A, columns 723–49.