§ Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Strategic Rail Authority's threat to reduce funding to "rural lines" will not include the Cumbrian coast line. [HL4703]
§ Lord Davies of OldhamThe Strategic Rail Authority'sSpecification of Network Outputs strategy proposes that, in order to achieve better value for money, maintenance and renewal should be commensurate with the requirements of differently used lines. The strategy views the network in terms of two high-level groups, with the first prioritised for expenditure. The two groups are: (i) primary/ London and south-east commuter/main secondary; and (ii) other secondary/rural/freight only. The Cumbrian coast line is classed as an "other secondary" route. The SRA, the Rail Regulator and Network Rail will be taking forward the implementation of the strategy in the next few months.
The Strategic Rail Authority wants to improve the performance of rural lines and secure their future on a sustainable basis. The authority has recently 123WA appointed an executive director of community rail development to work to this end.
§ Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the approximate 40 minutes extra journey time included in the recently published autumn and winter timetable for the West Coast Main Line journey from Cumbria to London is not principally intended to reduce the scale of financial liability for late arrival. [HL4704]
§ Lord Davies of OldhamThe increased journey time is due to engineering works to improve the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and Stafford. Passengers will benefit from these works once they are completed. Under the proposed winter 2004 timetable the Oxenholme to London journey time will be reduced to just over three hours.
A. Traffic Enforcement Year Number Examined(inc the number weighed) Prohibited for drivers hours, tachographs & records Prohibition rate Number weighed Prohibited for overloading Prohibition rate 2002–03 11,421 1,460 12.8% 5,540 701 12.6% 2001–02 13,122 1,618 12.3% 5,430 691 12.7% 2000–01 12,204 865 7.1% 5,426 515 9.5% 1999–2000 13,790 853 6.2% 5,800 504 8.9% 1998–99 13,288 841 6.3% 4,842 589 12.2%
B. Roadworthiness Year Number examined Immediate prohibitions issued Prohibition rate 2002–03 3,018 485 16.1% 2001–02 3,213 422 13.1% 2000–01 3,951 391 9.9% 1999–2000 3,684 314 8.5% 1998–99 3,498 301 8.6%
§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many foreign goods vehicle operators have been reported to their own licensing authorities regarding vehicle prohibitions acquired in the United Kingdom in the past five years. [HL4765]
§ Lord Davies of OldhamThe details of all traffic enforcement prohibitions issued to foreign vehicles/ drivers are reported to the licensing authority in the operator's home member state, hence the figures are