§ Mr. HammondTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect on the punctuality performance of train operating companies of extensions of scheduled journey times; and if he will publish figures for punctuality performance for mainline services over the most recent 12 month period re-stated to be measured against pre-Hatfield scheduled journey times. [181548]
§ Mr. McNultyTrain operators can make timetable adjustments, which may lengthen or reduce journey times, so long as they do not exceed the maximum journey times stated in the Public Sector Requirement (PSR) for each franchise. To re-calculate the performance of services over the last 12 months against historic timetable schedules could be done only at disproportionate costs.
§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much has been spent on the development of the Global System for Mobile Communications for Railways in each of the last seven years; and what the estimated cost is for each of the next five years; [184437]
(2) what the total cost of the development of the Train Control System was, excluding costs for erection; [184438]
(3) what the cost has been of erecting railway telecommunications masts intended for the Track Control System; [184439]
(4) what proportion of railway telecommunications masts on the West Coast Main Line are operational and supporting an interim voice radio system. [184440]
§ Mr. McNultyThese are operational matters for Network Rail. I have passed these questions to Network Rail, for them to respond directly to the hon. Member.
§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority on the past and future funding for rail freight through(a) the Freight Small Schemes Fund, (b) incremental output statements for freight, (c) freight facilities grant and (d) track access charges. [180742]
666W(2) if he will list the Strategic Rail Authority Freight Small Schemes 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) which have been cancelled, indicating in each case funding from the Strategic Rail Authority, (A) awarded, (B) approved and (C) projected in 2004–05. [180743]
§ Mr. McNultyMinisters and officials in the Department meet regularly with the Strategic Rail Authority about a wide range of issues. Details of the Freight Small Schemes Fund are shown in the Strategic Rail Authority's 2002 Strategic Plan. Of those listed Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine, is set to go ahead following approval by the Scottish Executive. Bletchley-Claydon is being developed by the SRA but remains unfunded.
§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list out-of-court settlements to which(a) the Department, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority and (c) other agencies of the Department were party during the last 12 months, broken down by (i) date and (ii) amount; and who the other parties were in each case. [180748]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Department does not maintain a comprehensive central record of-out of court settlements entered into by itself, its Agencies and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). The table sets out payments by three of the Department's Agencies which were made in out of court settlements following the commencement of legal proceedings finalised in the financial year 2003—04. Disproportionate costs would be incurred in identifying generally ex gratia and other settlement payments. However, maladministration claims against the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have been settled for a total of around £0.5 million, including one case finalised at the very beginning of the current financial year. These claims followed on from a ruling by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in an earlier similar case that there had been maladministration in the carrying out of certain statutory functions relating to the safety of vessels.
Full details of the names of the parties and the circumstances of the cases have not been disclosed as this could be in breach of confidentiality either formally agreed with, or reasonably expected by, the other party. It would be disproportionately expensive to review each case to confirm the position and/or to write to the parties concerned to seek their consent to any disclosure.
The SRA was party to one out of court settlement in 2003–04 but the terms of the settlement expressly prohibit the parties from disclosing any details including the date, parties or amount of the settlement sum.
667W
Type of case Amount Settled (£) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency One compensation and six personal injury cases (Total) 31,508 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency Refund of a Single Vehicle Approval fee 80 Highways Agency Four claims by third parties relating to property
Type of case Amount Settled (£) damage and personal injury on the trunk road network (Total) 172,148 For information on cases brought to Employment Tribunals, I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) today (UIN ref 181465).
No non-employment based, out of court settlements following the commencement of legal proceedings are recorded for the central Department in the financial year 2003—04.
§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the W. S. Atkins report for the Strategic Rail Authority on a North/South rail line with all commercially sensitive information removed. [180821]
§ Dr. HowellsI have asked the SRA to arrange for a revised text to be produced on this basis, and, once it is available I will place a copy in the Libraries of the House.