Rail Funding (Hansard, 28 March 2003)

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the414W Strategic Rail Authority on future funding of Rail Passenger Partnership schemes; and if he will make a statement. [104495]

§ Mr. Jamieson
My right hon. Friend has frequent discussions with the SRA on a range of issues, including the funding of the Rail Passenger Partnership Scheme.

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Strategic Rail Authority Performance Fund schemes(a) which have commenced, (b) where feasibility studies (i) have been completed and (ii) are continuing, (c) which have been placed on hold and (d) have been cancelled, indicating in each case funding from the Strategic Rail Authority (A) awarded, (B) approved and (C) projected in 2003–04. [104500]

§ Mr. Jamieson
The Strategic Rail Authority has approved support from the Rail Performance Fund for 12 projects. Contracts are in place for six. The SRA investment is expected to be around £10 million. Grants are expected to total £7.5 million in 2002–03 and £2.1 million in 2003–04. In addition to the approved grants, 11 further formal bids are on hold. If these were approved the investment would total around £27 million.

§ Mr. Don Foster
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the(a) amount and (b) source of funding (i) paid, (ii) contracted and (iii) agreed to be paid by non Strategic Rail Authority sources to supplement output statement (A) track and signalling, and (B) station schemes which have been (1) approved, (2) deferred and (3) cancelled; [104498]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the past and future undertaking of incremental output statement (a) track and signalling and (b) station schemes; and if he will make a statement. [104499]

§ Mr. Jamieson
Ministers and their officials are in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority. The Authority is currently considering which schemes to take forward under the IOS programme and how these might be funded.