§ Tom BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what(a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the past and potential future role of improvements to public transport access at United Kingdom airports upon (i) past increases and future total passenger and freight numbers and (ii) past and future (A) economic, (B) environment and (C) social impacts; [81415]
(2)what research has been conducted by his Department or is planned on the potential impact of high speed rail links on the modal shift of (a) internal and (b) international air passengers and freight away from air; what incentives have been provided or actions have been taken or are planned to encourage such a modal shift; [81400]
(3)what assessment and research has been made by his Department or is planned of the past and potential future impact of improvements to public transport access at United Kingdom airports upon (a) past increases and future total passenger and freight numbers and (b) past and future (i) economic, (ii) environment and (iii) social impacts; [81414]
(4)what (a) discussions his Department has had or plans to have and (b) representations have been received by his Department with regard to the potential impact of high speed rail links on the modal shift of (i) internal and (ii) international air passengers and freight away from air; and if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library; [81401]
(5)what research has been conducted by his Department or is planned on the causal processes and mechanisms responsible for (a) past and (b) potential future modal shifts between air transport and other modes of transport for (i) passengers and (ii) freight transport, distinguishing between (A) internal and (B) international flights. [81398]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 20 November 2002]: The Department's policies aim to deliver safe, reliable and secure transport for everyone that respects the environment, encouraging modal shift where appropriate.
261WThe research which has been carried out into recent and future public transport improvements for access to United Kingdom airports and on rail-air mode shift has been extensive and is set out in the seven consultation documents "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom" published on 23 July and the background technical reports which support them. The latter include reports commissioned by the Strategic Rail Authority and the Commission for Integrated Transport on the potential for rail-air substitution and the different environmental effects of journeys made using different modes on key inter-regional journeys within the UK.
The Strategic Rail Authority is also conducting a study into a potential North-South high speed line which will consider its likely impact on other modes, including air.
The service quality improvements resulting from use of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link are expected to result in some transfer of international air passengers to Eurostar. However, the forecast of Eurostar demand does not allow the transfer from international air services to be separately identified. The report of this research was not published because of the subject's commercially sensitive nature.