HC Deb 09 January 2002 vol 377 cc849-51W
Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 2001,Official Report, column 102W, for what reason it is not possible to estimate what cost might be involved if he decides not to proceed with PPP for the London Underground. [25132]

Mr. Jamieson

It is too early at this stage to say how much grant London Underground would require if the Tube modernisation plans were not to proceed. However, it is possible to state the compensation that London Underground has agreed to pay bidders if it should cancel the competitions for reasons other than value for money. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 19 December 2001Official Report, column 503W.

Tom Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the system-wide average mean distance between failure figures for trains operated by London Underground for each year between (a) 1990–91 and 1993–94 and (b) the latest figure for 2001–02. [23269]

Mr. Jamieson

This is a matter for London Underground who inform me that the system-wide average mean distance for 1993–94 and 2001–02 is 4,146 km and 6,472 km respectively. Unfortunately London Underground would need to undertake detailed archive research to obtain comparative data for 1990–91 and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library a detailed breakdown of the 48 per cent, of costs not subjected to sensitivity analysis in the assessment by London Underground Limited of the PPP and private sector comparison; and if he will make a statement. [24891]

Mr. Jamieson

London Underground is carrying out a thorough evaluation of the value for money of bids, including a wide range of sensitivity tests. I understand that London Underground intends to publish this evaluation, but not until it has concluded its negotiations with bidders. To publish the evaluation any earlier would reveal London Underground's negotiating position and so undermine its ability to achieve best value.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the reliability of the Circle line. [25385]

Mr. Jamieson

Day to day management of the Circle line is a matter for London Underground. This line, like other parts of the underground, has suffered historic under-investment and the service provided has encountered problems arising both from this and from staff shortages which affected the reliability of operations particularly in 2001–02.1 am satisfied that these problems are in the process of being rectified in the short term, in particular through London Underground's programme of work to improve reliability across the network. In the medium and long term, the problems of under-investment will be resolved by the large-scale investment that will be brought into the system through our tube modernisation plans, which will deliver increased capacity, improved reliability and higher quality.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on how many days in 2001 platform announcements were made advising passengers awaiting Circle line services to take a District line train and change elsewhere because of failure to adhere to the timetable. [25386]

Mr. Jamieson

This is an operational matter for London Underground who inform me that this information is not held in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Norman Baker

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the cost of maintaining the Charing Cross branch of the Jubilee line since it was closed to passenger traffic. [25384]

Mr. Jamieson

I understand from London Underground Ltd. that the Jubilee line track between Green Park and Charing Cross and the old Jubilee line areas of Charing Cross station are maintained at an annual cost of £155,000.

Although the track is not used by customers, it is still part of the underground's operational capability and is used by Jubilee line trains, eg for turning trains when necessary.

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