§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the findings of the administrator as vendor on the condition of Railtrack assets. [58017]
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what incentives he proposes for rail safety in the scheme for a company limited by guarantee to take over the railways. [58007]
§ Mr. ByersDiscussions are continuing on Network Rail's incentive proposals. Network Rail has made clear that if it succeeds in becoming network operator its work will be supported by an incentive scheme based on system-wide safety and performance measures.
§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to hold discussions with the Strategic Rail Authority concerning the re-routing of the main railway line between Paddington and Penzance away from the sea wall down the Exe Estuary and the coast at Dawlish and Teignmouth; and if he will make a statement. [55300]
§ Mr. JamiesonWork has been carried out on flood defences and track re-laying to protect this section of the railway from wetting and erosion. However, there are no plans to re-route the main line.
§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) if he will list the consultants and external advisers used by the Government in the last year on railway matters; [58012]
349W(2) how much the Government have paid in fees in the last year for advice on railway and underground matters. [58011]
§ Mr. ByersThe consultants and external advisers, used by the Government in the last year on railway and underground matters, are as listed in the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member on 22 November 2001,Official Report, column 390W, except that: Finsbury Ltd., Herbert Smith, Linklaters and Alliance, Partnerships UK and Professor Andrew Evans should be added to that list; AEA Technology Rail, AON, Booz Allen and Hamilton, Deloitte and Touche and NERA should be deleted from it; and "Oscar Faber" should be altered to "Faber Maunsell".
In the last year, the Government have paid those consultants and external advisers about £19 million.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many animals have been(a) killed, (b) injured and (c) retrieved from railway lines in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [58199]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate only collect statistics on the number of trains which run into animals. Details are contained in the table. Further information may be found in HM Chief Inspector of Railways annual reports on railway safety, copies of which are in both House Libraries.
Trains running into animals 1996–97 to 2001–02 Number of trains 1996–97 142 1997–98 124 1998–99 134 1999–2000 155 2000–01 129 2001–021 75 1 Provisional
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many incidents of motor vehicles colliding with trains on railway lines there were in each year since 1997; in which locations; and if he will make a statement. [58195]
§ Mr. JamiesonInformation held by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the number of incidents where trains have collided with motor vehicles on railway lines (not at level crossings) since 1977 is contained in the table. This information is based on notifications the HSE has received from railway operators under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, 1995 (RIDDOR).
Information for the period 1 April 2001 to date is under analysis by HSE and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
350W
Date Location 3 February 1997 Ascott under Wychwood 15 March 1997 Morton Garage 8 June 1997 Burbage 9 September 1998 Thornton 16 November 1998 Slateford 22 January 1999 Firbeck 29 July 1999 Holton-Le-Moor 17 November 1999 Northumberland Park 18 August 1999 Drax Branch Junction
Date Location 14 September 1999 Aberdeen 26 February 2000 Kiveton Bridge 20 August 2000 Micklefield 28 February 2001 Great Heck
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the final report into the rail accident at Hatfield in October 2000 was originally planned to be published; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement. [58194]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Health and Safety Executive's final report will be published after the British Transport Police investigation and any possible criminal prosecutions arising from it have been completed. Safety critical information from the investigation has already been made available to the industry.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the extent is of the legal relationship between the Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail; and if he will make a statement. [58155]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Strategic Rail Authority is meeting the bid team's costs in order to ensure that there is at least one viable bidder for Railtrack plc. There is no other legal relationship between the SRA and Network Rail.
§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his oral answer of 13 May 2002,Official Report, column 508, on rail safety, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter sent to the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission on 1 May asking him to report by the end of May on the progress made on Cullen's recommendations to which he refers in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [57724]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 21 May 2002]: Normally the letter would be exempt from publication, however as I referred to it during my statement to the House on 13 May, I have placed a copy in the Libraries. I will also place a copy of the Health and Safety Commission's response when it is received.