§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps are taken to ensure that the views of local economic development 565W agencies and other stakeholders are given due weight in the provision of new roads and bypasses; and if he will make a statement. [21116]
§ Mr. JamiesonAll stakeholders including local and regional economic agencies are able to comment at the various statutory stages in the development of a road scheme. These include preferred route, order publication and, if necessary, public inquiry. All parties are also free to comment at the consultation stages of the series of multi-modal and road based studies being undertaken to consider transport problems associated with the trunk road network. Regional development agencies will normally be represented on study steering groups or in the wider reference groups from whom comments are specifically sought. They may also comment at the public consultation stages of regional planning guidance when the regional transport strategies are being considered.
§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what his criteria are for areas affected by traffic congestion to be addressed by using fast track procedures for building roads and bypasses; and if he will make a statement; [21113]
(2) if he will make a statement on the process to be followed in order to designate a road scheme under the fast track procedure. [21114]
566W
Current train operating company Original franchise commencement date Length of original franchise Original franchise expiry date Original franchisee Changes since original franchise commencement date Anglia Railways 5 January 1997 7 years 3 months 4 April 2004 GB Railways Group plc — Arriva Trains Merseyside 19 January 1997 7 years 2 months 18 March 2004 MTL Trust Holdings Ltd. Previously Merseyrail Electrics. Arriva acquired the franchise from MTL in February 2000 for a period of 12 months on existing terms. An extension agreement was signed in February 2001 for a further two years Arriva Trains Northern 2 March 1997 7 years 1 month 1 April 2004 MTL Trust Holdings Ltd. Previously Regional Railways North East and then Northern Spirit. Arriva acquired the franchise from MTL in February 2000 for a period of 12 months on existing terms. An extension agreement was signed in February 2001 for a further two years. Cardiff Railway 13 October 1996 7 years 6 months 12 April 2004 Prism Rail The takeover of Prism by National Express Group was agreed on 17 January 2001. Central Trains 2 March 1997 7 years 1 month 1 April 2004 National Express Group — Chiltern Railways 21 July 1996 7 years 20 July 2003 M40 Trains Ltd. Heads of Terms signed in August 2000 for a new 20-year franchise with M40 Trains. New franchise agreement currently being negotiated. Connex South Central 26 May 1996 7 years 25 May 2003 Connex Rail Ltd. (renamed Connex Transport UK Ltd.) Transferred to GoVia on 26 August 2001. New 20-year franchise agreement being negotiated with GoVia. Connex South Eastern 13 October 1996 15 years 12 October 2011 Connex Rail Ltd. (renamed Connex Transport UK Ltd.) — C2C 26 May 1996 15 years 25 May 2011 Prism Rail Formerly known as LTS Rail. The takeover of Prism by National Express Group was agreed on 17 January 2001. Gatwick Express 28 April 1996 15 years 27 April 2011 National Express Group — Great Eastern 5 January 1997 7 years 3 months 4 April 2004 FirstGroup PLC — Great North Eastern Railway 28 April 1996 7 years 27 April 2003 GNER Holdings Ltd. Two-year extension being negotiated.
§ Mr. JamiesonThe new Highways Agency procurement strategy, which I announced on 22 November 2001, will speed up delivery of improvement schemes on motorways and other strategic roads in England. This will be achieved through streamlining the pre-construction phase and better procurement techniques and help to deliver the targets from the 10 Year Plan for Transport. This should significantly cut the 12 years it typically takes at present to deliver these schemes.
The package of measures, announced by the Secretary of State in this House on 20 July 2001, to speed up decisions on major infrastructure projects of major national significance, are expected to apply, in respect of highway projects, to the construction of a new route in excess of 30 kilometres in continuous length. This criterion and the process to be followed to designate schemes are subject to consultation before coming into force.