HC Deb 25 February 2002 vol 380 cc797-8W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) of 23 January 2002,Official Report, column 872W, on railways, what estimate he has made of the likely resource requirements generated by growth in passenger numbers when setting the level of annual resource spending. [36319]

Mr. Jamieson

Revenue support to train operators is projected on the basis of a basecase growth scenario, as set out in the 10-year plan background analysis, plus anticipated additional growth through investment at a sectoral level. The actual levels of subsidy to or premiums from a passenger train operator are set through commercial franchise negotiations.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the relationship between projected rail passenger growth in the 10-year plan and inter-urban fares if such fares rise by more than the retail prices index. [36451]

Mr. Jamieson

The Strategic Rail Authority is carrying out a review of fares regulation, which will include an assessment of the relationship between fares levels and patronage.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 2002, Question 32547, on future rail passenger demand, if he will place a copy of the spreadsheet reports and the report on future rail passenger demand for Eurostar in the Library. [37224]

Mr. Jamieson

No. It is not normal practice to disclose such information under Section 13 of Part 2 of the code of practice on access to Government information.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the target increase in passengers on the railways over the next 10 years is accounted for by population increase in the south-east. [37460]

Mr. Byers

The modelling of passenger rail demand is detailed in the 10-year plan year background analysis document. Changes in population will be closely correlated with and will impact upon the principal factors driving future demand but this impact cannot be separately identified.