§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which contractual safety cases for each infrastructure company have(a) been conducted and (b) will be conducted by the Health and Safety Executive relating to the London Underground PPP; what timetable for assessment is being followed; and if he will place in the Library all related documentation. [38974]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Health and Safety Executive has accepted three successive versions of London Underground's safety case during the development of the tube modernisation plans. HSE is now considering a revised safety case covering the involvement of the private sector. The contractual safety cases of the infrastructure companies are interdependent on London Underground's safety case, and under the relevant regulations are not subject to HSE acceptance. However,736W HSE's assessment of the London Underground's case includes consideration of the adequacy of arrangements to control the infrastructure companies through their contractual safety cases.
I understand that completion of HSE's assessment will depend on how quickly LUL is able to respond satisfactorily to the issues raised so far. HSE will release its assessment and acceptance reports when an acceptance decision is taken.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will(a) list the titles and (b) provide details of the length of the document supplied to his Department making up the contracts tendered by bidders Metronet and tube lines wishing to enter into a public-private partnership with London Underground. [38966]
§ Mr. JamiesonLondon Underground is responsible for the development of PPP contracts for the modernisation of the underground's infrastructure.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what the anticipated(a) public resource, (b) public investment, (c) public resource supporting private investment and (d) private investment for the London Underground PPP is during (i) zero to seven and a half years, (ii) seven and a half years to the end of the 10-year Transport Plan period and (iii) the remainder of the contracts beyond the end of the 10-year Transport Plan period; [38983]
(2) what the total level of private investment (a) expected and (b) required under contract with the Infracos for the London Underground PPP is; and what restrictions are placed on the procurement of finance by Infracos (i) within the first seven and a half years of the contract and (ii) in the remainder of the contracts after seven and a half years. [38982]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made to the House on 7 February 2002,Official Report, columns 1126–28.
London Underground is finalising contract terms with bidders on each of the three contracts. At the same time, the Government are discussing with Transport for London the greatly increased level of public grant with which it intends to support the tube modernisation programme. I understand that London Underground intends to make the contracts publicly available following completion of the competitions. Information on the expected level of investment and grant will also be made publicly available at that stage.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what responsibility his Department(a) has had and (b) will have relating to the development of the PPP contracts for the modernisation of London Underground's infrastructure. [42116]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Secretary of State has powers under section 212 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to designate contracts as PPP agreements.
737W
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers he has to(a) place into administration and (b) take over work from the London Underground PPP Infracos; and under what circumstances he envisages it may be necessary to carry out such action. [42114]
§ Mr. JamiesonIn relation to(a), I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 March 2002, Official Report, column 85W.
In relation to (b), the Secretary of State has no such powers.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions against what(a) test and (b) definition he measured the London Underground PPP to ensure that the plans did not involve privatisation. [42115]
§ Mr. JamiesonI refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 March 2002,Official Report, column 88W.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2002,Official Report, column 85W, on London Underground real estate and property, (a) by whom and (b) how the length of leases of infrastructure were measured as appropriate and necessary; what involvement is meant by the phrase, interest in the infrastructure; and by whom, and against what criteria, sufficient interest has been and will be measured. [42265]
§ Mr. JamiesonDetails of the leases required for the plans for the modernisation of the underground are a matter for London Underground.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2002,Official Report, column 85W, on contracts with Infracos, what the safety changes and qualifying law changes will include; and what the reasons are for the change in level of financing for these changes in the final contracts. [42266]
§ Mr. JamiesonLondon Underground is responsible for the development of contracts for the modernisation of the underground' infrastructure, including detailed provisions on safety change and qualifying change of law. I understand that London Underground concluded the revised level of and mechanism for financing would provide better value for money and a greater total of finance available for such changes. I understand that London Underground intends to make the contractual documentation publicly available following completion of the competitions.