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A1 Development Inquiry

Mr. William O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the air quality samples taken at the Ferrybridge junior and infant school used as evidence at the public inquiry into the A1 Ferrybridge to Hookmoor proposals; and if he will make a statement. [3720]

Mr. Watts: The effect of the proposed scheme on air quality was outlined in the air quality report included in the environmental statement published in February 1995. Further information about air quality was published during the public inquiry held between 18 October and 3 November.

Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what kind of transcript service was used at the public inquiry into the proposed A1 development from Ferrybridge to Hookmore. [3717]

Mr. Watts: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 8 November 1995, Official Report, column 899.

Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the prevailing winds were taken into consideration when assessing the air quality at the Ferrybridge junior and infant school for the purpose of evidence at the A1 Ferrybridge to Hookmoor proposals. [3715]

Mr. Watts: Yes.

Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration led to the decision to take no samples of particulates by the air quality witness at the

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public inquiry into the proposals for the A1 Ferrybridge to Hookmoor proposals. [3719]

Mr. Watts: Sampling is not normally carried out for new road schemes. In this case particulate levels have been predicted using the methodology in the design manual for roads and bridges. Estimates of particulates were made at 43 selected properties alongside the new route. All the levels were found to be well within the EC limit.

Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who decided the length of time allocated to the public inquiry into the A1 Ferrybridge to Hookmoor proposals. [3716]

Mr. Watts: The independent inspector, appointed by the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport, on the nomination of the Lord Chancellor, is fully responsible for the conduct and overall length of the inquiry.

Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the involvement of the Highways Agency in a public inquiry into a major motorway within the terms of the answer of 8 November, Official Report, column 899. [3718]

Mr. Watts: When my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport announce the intention to hold a public inquiry, it is for the Highways Agency to arrange it, though the conduct of the inquiry remains the sole responsibility of the inspector. Agency representatives would also attend the inquiry to give evidence in support of the proposals.

Road Toll Schemes (Tagging Devices)

Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what tagging devices are currently being considered for road toll schemes; and how many of them involve radiation emissions. [3751]

Mr. Watts: Three of the consortiums that we have invited to take part in our forthcoming trials offer, as part of their electronic tolling systems, tags which could emit low-level radio frequency transmissions, at levels well below those emitted by, for example, mobile telephones.

Motorway Lighting

Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria his Department uses when determining which sections of motorway require lighting. [3203]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Irvine Patnick, dated 5 December 1995:

As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department uses when determining which sections of motorway require lighting.


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M1 Road Works

Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport between what date road works will be removed from the M1 during the Christmas and new year periods; and if he will make a statement. [3201]

Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Irvine Patnick, dated 5 December 1995:

As you know, the Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. John Watts, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, between what dates roadworks will be removed from the M1 during the Christmas and New Year periods; and if he will make a statement.


British Rail (Noise and Air Pollution)

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 November 1995, Official Report, column 53, on prosecution for noise and air pollution, what was the nature of (a) the successful prosecution against British Rail and (b) the two abatement notices. [3337]

Mr. Watts: Abatement notices were served on British Rail requiring a reduction in excessive noise at Paddington station, London and at Trafford Park Euro-terminal, Manchester.

The notice served at Paddington required a reduction in the noise created by the engineering work involved in the remodelling of the track layout on the approaches to the station. The use of a tamping machine on one particular night, close to residential premises, led to a prosecution. BR was unable to prove that it had done all that it possibly could to avoid the use of the machine on the night in question and a plea of guilty was entered.

The notice served at Trafford Park related to a new road-rail terminal constructed for channel tunnel freight traffic. The terminal is adjacent to residential properties, the owners of which complained of excessive night time noise after the terminal opened in 1994. In the hearing before the stipendiary magistrate at which the board's appeal against the notice was heard, the board suggested a number of measures to reduce the level of noise received by residents. The board has taken the steps necessary to implement these measures.

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the estimated date for submission

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to his Department of the inspector's report following the planning inquiry into the Birmingham northern relief road; and when he expects to be in a position to make a decision and when an announcement on whether the road is to be approved; [3188]

Mr. Watts: Given the length of the inquiry, the report cannot be expected for some time. When it has been received, my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport will reach their joint decision as quickly as possible.

The final cost of the inquiry to the Highways Agency is estimated at £1.59 million, of which £210,000 is the fees for the inspector and his team.

Bicycles (Carriage by Rail)

Mr. Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to encourage cyclists to take their bicycles with them when travelling part of their journey by train. [3460]

Mr. Watts: The Department assisted with the production of the Cyclists' Public Affairs Group's document, "Bike and Trains--Opportunities for the New Operators", which explains how train operators can make their services more attractive to cyclists. The document includes advice on the carriage of bicycles on trains and the provision of bicycle facilities at stations.

The franchising director will require franchisees, through the franchise agreement, to carry bicycles where practicable and to ensure that any charges made are reasonable.

Statutory Instruments

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many statutory instruments his Department sponsored in the last Session of Parliament; and how many of these (a) constituted a new rule or regulation, (b) were introduced to implement European Community directives and (c) amplify the minimum standards set out in an original European Community directive. [2459]

Mr. Watts [holding answer 28 November 1995]: A total of 107 general statutory instruments were made in the Session 1994-95. Of these, based on data for the first six months of 1995, we estimate that:


Twelve statutory instruments implemented EC legislation. In implementing the directives, none of these instruments go beyond the minimum standard required.

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