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Energy Council
Mr. Tim Smith: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the outcome of the Energy Council meeting on 3 December. [8632]
Mr. Page: The Council considered several issues and received reports from the Commission on matters of interest. My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Energy represented the United Kingdom.
A policy debate was held to discuss the way forward on a proposal to liberalise the gas market. The Council recognised the presidency's compromise proposals as an important step in the right direction and as a good basis for progress in further discussions. There was considerable convergence of views on the four key issues of public service obligations, unbundling and transparency of accounts, access to the system and take or pay contracts. The Council agreed that further work was required in order to ensure a rigid conclusion of this proposal under the Dutch presidency, due to end in June 1997.
The Council discussed a proposal for a Council regulation establishing a multi-annual programme to promote international co-operation in the energy field--SYNERGY--and asked for work on this dossier to continue.
A debate was also held on renewables following a Commission presentation on an EU strategy. Lord Fraser stressed that renewable forms of energy had to be both economically attractive and environmentally acceptable if they were successfully to penetrate the market.
Council conclusions were agreed on a Committee report on oil supply, refining and markets in the Community. The conclusions welcomed the report and asked the Commission to undertake studies and continue to monitor and analyse the situation in close co-operation with member states.
Conclusions were also agreed on the energy dimension of climate change. They recognised the contribution of energy policy to the climate change debate and asked for reports to be made on progress in this area including on the negotiations on a protocol in the framework of the UN convention on climate change.
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On deregulation, the Council endorsed a report from the Commission on the review of Community energy legislation which will enable several legislative acts to be repealed.
The Council reached a common position on a proposal for a Council and European Parliament decision amending the guidelines on trans-European energy networks, updating the list of projects of common interest.
The Council agreed the decision on the conclusion of the energy charter treaty.
The Commission gave a presentation on a proposal for a council decision on the organisation of co-operation around agreed Community energy objectives. The Commission also gave progress reports on the energy dimension of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, the proposed electricity liberalisation directive, the proposed decision on a multi-annual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community--SAVE II--and the proposed directive on rational planning techniques in the electricity and gas sectors, and gave information on the auto-oil programme.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions he has had with the directors of the private utilities regarding their pay and conditions. [6500]
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Mr. John M. Taylor:
The remuneration of directors at the privatised utilities is a matter for the companies and their shareholders.
Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress he has made in securing modifications to the European Union's electro-magnetic compatibility directive to minimise the cost of compliance for British small businesses. [6510]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
My Department continues to seek support from other member states for modifications to the directive, and we have requested the European Commission to review the directive in 1997 as part of the simpler legislation for the internal market--SLIM. The Government have also commissioned a consultant to study compliance problems concentrating on the problems faced by small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, the Department supplies guidance to business on how to minimise compliance costs.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress towards implementing the Government's manifesto commitments in respect of competition policy. [6511]
Mr. John M. Taylor:
The Government are committed to the reform of competition law. In March of this year, my Department published a consultation document on the approach to reform, and in August we published a draft Competition Bill. We intend to introduce the Bill when parliamentary time allows.
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Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the capacity of the M1 between each junction from junction 1 to Luton, assuming typical flow composition, traffic speeds and weather; and what the current flows are for the hours of (a) 7 am to 10 am and (b) 4 pm to 7 pm as a percentage of that capacity between each junction; [6802]
Mr. Watts:
I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 9 December 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about traffic flows and accident rates on the M1 between Junction 1 and Luton (Junction 10).
Figures in percentages are the actual flows as a percentage of the capacity based on 2,000 vehicles per lane per hour.
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(2) what have been the accident rates in each of the past five years per mile of motorway (a) on the M1 between junction 1 and Luton and (b) on the motorway network as a whole. [6801]
There is no precise measure of road capacity which can be universally applied, even for motorways. The spacing of junctions and the volumes of traffic leaving and joining can have a significant impact on capacity for a typical motorway. The capacities used in calculating the percentages in the table below have assumed a maximum flow per lane per hour of 2,000 vehicles. At this level, the average speed will be significantly lower than the National speed limit. This is also the point at which stop/start conditions may be expected arising from traffic joining and leaving the motorway, incidents, poor driver behaviour or adverse weather conditions.
Junction Vehicles southbound 7am -10am Vehicles northbound 7am -10am Vehicles southbound 4pm-7pm Vehicles northbound 4pm -7pm
1-2 (3 lanes dual) 10,000 (56 per cent.) 4,500 (25 per cent.) 5,100 (28 per cent.) 9,100 (50 per cent.)
2-4 (3 lanes dual) 12,200 (68 per cent.) 5,600 (31 per cent.) 6,000 (33 per cent.) 11,200 (62 per cent.)
4-5 (3 lanes dual) 13,700 (76 per cent.) 7,100 (39 per cent.) 7,300 (41 per cent.) 12,800 (71 per cent.)
5-6 (3 lanes dual) 11,000 (61 per cent.) 6,200 (34 per cent.) 7,200 (45 per cent.) 11,200 (62 per cent.)
6--6a n/a n/a n/a n/a
6a-7 (4 lanes N/B, 3 lanes S/B) 15,00 (83 per cent.) 11,5000 (48 per cent) 12,000 (67 per cent) 15,000 (63 per cent.)
7-8 (4 lanes dual) 17,800 (74 per cent.) 14,100 (59 per cent.) 14, 600 (61 per cent.) 18,100 (75 per cent.)
8-9 (3 lanes dual) 13,000 (72 per cent.) 11,200 (62 per cent.) 12,200 (68 per cent.) 15,100 (84 per cent.)
9-10 (4 lanes N/B, 3 lanes S/B) 11,300 (63 per cent.) 11,000 (46 per cent.) 11,500 (64 per cent.) 15,600 (65 per cent.)
n/a = not available.
Details of the accident rates for the main carriageway of the M1 between Junction 1 and Junction 10, together with the national accident rates are set out in the table below. The rates are provided both in terms of the number of accidents per mile, and in terms of the number of accidents per 100 million vehicle miles travelled, the measure normally used when comparing safety records between different sections of road.
| Year | National rate (accidents/mile) | M1(J1-J10) rate (accidents/mile) | National rate (accidents/100 million vehicle miles) | M1(J1-J10) rate (accidents/100 million vehicle miles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.42 | 7.48 | 16.5 | 14.8 |
| 1992 | 3.54 | 8.21 | 17.7 | 16.3 |
| 1993 | 3.76 | 8.85 | 17.7 | 17.6 |
| 1994 | 3.92 | 7.69 | 17.7 | 15.3 |
| 1995 | 3.99 | 9.57 | 17.0 | 19.0 |
Motorway Cleaning
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) of 18 November, Official Report, column 410, on cleaning motorways, how many people are employed by the Highways Agency to inspect the state of cleanliness of motorways. [7282]
Mr. Watts: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
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