HC Deb 18 April 2002 vol 383 c1096W
Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans his Department or its agencies have for the improvement of transport links between the Isle of Wight and the mainland of Great Britain. [51069]

Mr. Jamieson

Improvements to the transport links between the island and the mainland are primarily for the Isle of Wight council to consider as part of their local transport plan work and in liaison with mainland local authorities and private sector ferry and hovercraft operators. My Department has frequent discussions with the council about its local transport plan, including recent proposals to improve interchange facilities at Ryde.

Mr. Andrew Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has received for improvements to the railway network of the Isle of Wight. [51068]

Mr. Jamieson

The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will make recommendations regarding the future of the rail network on the Isle of Wight in due course. The current franchise will expire in September 2003, and the SRA is currently working to define what it would expect a new franchise agreement to deliver.