§ John BarrettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 778W, on railways, how much of the money provided by the SRA (a) will be spent in Scotland and (b) has been spent so far. [62064]
§ Mr. JamiesonThis is a national initiative. Funding is not being allocated geographically. No money has yet been spent.
§ Mr. HurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the condition of the railway track on the line between Liverpool Street and Colchester. [58992]
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
Track condition is an operational matter for Railtrack. Railtrack and their contractor, Balfour Beatty have inspected this line and have assured my Department that this line is safe. The Health and Safety Executive have also said that the line is safe.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposals for establishment of a railway industry safety body; and if he will place the consultation papers in the Library. [62440]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 784W.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the development group meetings of key stakeholders of the rail industry safety body will be available to the public. [62452]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002,Official Report, columns 784–85W.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the initiatives and management systems that the rail industry use to ensure employee involvement in safety issues. [62453]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 785W.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the terms of reference, term of office and the job description for the successful candidate applying for the position of director in Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate. [62449]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 789W.
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§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons for non-completion of recommendations 4, 6, 9 and 72 of the Cullen report into the Ladbroke Grove rail inquiry; and what the timetable is for their completion; [62438]
(2) what the terms of reference are for the local management teams that monitor the implementation of contracts for the rail industry. [62448]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 786W [60604].
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the shortcomings in the scope of contract documentation reported in the Cullen report on the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. [62447]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 786W [60603].
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the primary legislation required to set up the Railway Advisory Investigation Branch will be published. [62451]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002,Official Report, column 784W [60607].
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on details regarding the timescale, terms of reference and costing of the consultation exercise on the establishment of an independent rail accident investigation body. [62439]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002Official Report, column 785W [60595].
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the terms of reference are for the two additional members of the Railway Industry Advisory Committee; and from which areas nominations will be accepted. [62450]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 10 June 2002,Official Report, columns 789–90W.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budgetary provision has been made for compensating train operating companies for increases in track access charges determined by the Rail Regulator in the current and future control periods. [62978]
§ Mr. SpellarPayments made to train operating companies by the Strategic Rail Authority under franchise agreements are automatically adjusted by the amount of any change in fixed track access charges determined by the Rail Regulator. For the current control period the amount of 10-year plan funding committed to the rail industry was set, and subsequently adjusted, to reflect the (October 2000) final conclusions of the Rail Regulator's periodic review of access charges. For future control periods, track access charges will be determined by future periodic reviews.
§ Mr. MartlewTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the SRA about improving the skills level on the railways; and will he make a statement. [62033]
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§ Mr. JamiesonThe SRA, in conjunction with DfES, is taking forward work identified in the Framework for Skills in the Rail industry, published in March last year. The first progress report was published in December. The SRA is also leading on proposals for a National Rail Academy, to take a strategic overview of skills in the rail industry. It will be working closely with other key stakeholders and aims to consult widely on the proposals in the autumn.