HC Deb 20 July 2001 vol 372 cc513-7W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when it is expected that(a) 25 per cent., (b) 50 per cent., (c) 75 per cent. and (d) 100 per cent. of stations will be accredited under the secure stations scheme; and if he will make a statement. [4875]

Ms Keeble

The Department has not set any targets for the number of stations to be accredited under the secure stations scheme. The scheme is a voluntary one and it is up to the Train Operating Companies to decide which of their stations to put through the Scheme's accreditation process.

There are currently 110 stations accredited under the secure stations scheme. This includes three reaccreditations. We are aware that a number of stations are currently working towards accreditation and that some train operating companies have a commitment to the scheme within their franchises. We will continue to work with the rail industry to encourage further accreditations. The Strategic Rail Authority is seeking to encourage train operators to obtain more accreditations at appropriate locations in the franchise replacement and extension process.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which stations are accredited under the secure stations scheme(a) for each month since the scheme began and (b) expected for the end of each year between 2001 and 2010; and what proportion they represent of the total number of stations. [4876]

Ms Keeble

The list sets out records the name of each station accredited under the Secure Stations Scheme and the month it was accredited.

August 1998 Derby

September 1998

  • Market Harborough
  • Hither Green
  • Waterloo International

December 1998 Marylebone

January 1999 Glasgow Central High Level

February 1999 Victoria

March 1999

  • Kings Cross
  • Marylebone LUL
  • Ashford International
  • Weston-super-Mare

April 1999

  • Kingston
  • Richmond

May 1999 Leicester

August 1999 Charing Cross

October 1999

  • Basildon
  • Belvedere
  • City Thameslink
  • Fenchurch Street
  • Manchester Piccadilly
  • Kew Gardens

December 1999

  • Gloucester
  • Sutton Common
  • Wimbledon Chase
  • South Merton
  • Morden South
  • St. Helier
  • Haydons Road

January 2000

  • Limehouse
  • St. Pancras
  • Wimbledon Surbiton
  • Guildford
  • Woking

February 2000

  • Chalkwell
  • Thorpe Bay
  • Chelmsford
  • Newark Northgate

May 2000

  • Southampton Airport Parkway
  • Eastleigh
  • Winchester

Feltham June 2000

  • Westcliff
  • Rainham
  • Dagenham Dock
  • Benfleet
  • East Tilbury
  • Grays
  • Laindon
  • Barking
  • Southend Central
  • Leigh-on-Sea
  • Kilburn Park
  • Tilbury Town
  • Purfleet
  • Stanford-Le-Hope
  • Tooting
  • Liverpool Street
  • West Horndon
  • Southend East
  • Shoeburyness
  • Paddington
  • Charlton
  • Greenwich

July 2000 Chafford Hundred

August 2000

  • Worthing
  • Maidstone West
  • Orpington
  • West Sutton
  • Upminster

October 2000

  • Edinburgh Waverley
  • Chipstead
  • Dorking
  • Horsham
  • Tattenham Corner
  • Oxted
  • Eastbourne

November 2000

  • Charing Cross LUL
  • London Bridge

December 2000 Ockendon

January 2001

  • Stoke Mandeville
  • Pitsea

February 2001

  • Bracknell
  • Haslemere
  • Fareham
  • Salisbury
  • Twickenham
  • Putney
  • Waterloo International (reaccreditation)
  • Waterloo
  • Birmingham New Street

March 2001

  • Euston
  • Ashford International (reaccreditation)

April 2001

  • Exeter Central
  • Barnstaple
  • Truro
  • Penzance
  • Chippenham

May 2001

  • Alton
  • Andover
  • Ascot
  • Basingstoke
  • Famborough
  • Havant
  • Hounslow
  • Petersfield
  • Southampton Central
  • Windsor and Eton Riverside

June 2001

  • Farnham
  • Fratton
  • Godalming

July 2001

  • Gatwick Airport
  • Glasgow Central High Level (reaccreditation).

The percentage of stations accredited under the scheme is very small in relation to the number of stations eligible to be accredited under the scheme. However, the accredited stations account for approximately one third of the total annual passenger throughput of overground rail journeys.

The Department has not set any targets for the number of stations to be accredited under the secure stations scheme. The scheme is a voluntary one and it is up to the train operating companies to decide which of their stations to put through the scheme's accreditation process.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made with the secure stations scheme; and if he will make a statement. [4877]

Ms Keeble

There are currently 110 stations accredited under the secure stations scheme. This includes three reaccreditations. The secure stations scheme, which was launched in April 1998, is designed to improve and standardise good security practices at all overground and underground stations. To become an accredited secure station, each station operator needs to work with their local British Transport Police crime reduction officer to ensure that their station meets the national standards on design and management to cut down crime. The standards relate to such measures as staff training, Help Points, CCTV, lighting and information. Operators also have to conduct an independent passenger survey to see whether passengers feel safe at the station, and provide evidence that crime rates are low.

We are aware that a number of stations are currently working towards accreditation and we will continue to work with the rail industry to encourage further accreditations. The Strategic Rail Authority is seeking to encourage train operators to obtain more accreditations at appropriate locations in the franchise replacement and extension process.

Ms Bridget Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made with the secure stations scheme in south east London. [6227]

Ms Keeble

There are currently 110 stations accredited under the secure stations scheme. Of these, six are in south-east London. They are as follows:

  • Charlton
  • Greenwich
  • Hither Green
  • London Bridge
  • Waterloo
  • Waterloo International.

We are aware that a number of stations are currently working towards accreditation and that some train operating companies have a commitment to the scheme within their franchises. We will continue to work with the rail industry to encourage further accreditations. The Strategic Rail Authority is seeking to encourage train operators to obtain more accreditations at appropriate locations in the franchise replacement and extension process.