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Mixed Oxide Fuel
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in what forms mixed oxide fuel is transported by (a) road, (b) air and (c) sea. [5460]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Mixed oxide fuel (MOX) is normally transported by all modes in the form of fuel rods, consisting of ceramic pellets encased in metallic sheaths, or as finished fuel elements, consisting of a bundle of such rods in a supporting structure. MOX fuel is carried in packages approved by this Department.
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Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans the Government have to provide funding for alternative measures to address the environmental and transport problems which originally gave rise to road schemes dropped following the roads programme review; what the priorities will be for transport expenditure in that respect; and if he will make a statement. [5962]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We are currently taking forward our review of the roads programme. No decisions have yet been taken on specific schemes. The review will be very closely co-ordinated with the work on an integrated transport policy and the comprehensive spending review. Future funding of transport will be a major consideration of this work.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people (a) who died in road traffic accidents were found to have been driving with excess blood alcohol levels and (b) tested positive for driving with excess alcohol in respect of fatal road traffic accidents in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [5966]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
(a) Rounded estimates of drivers or riders of motor vehicles killed in road accidents in Great Britain with illegal blood alcohol levels are shown in the following table. Estimates for England and Wales are not available separately.
(b) Reported numbers of drivers or riders of motor vehicles who tested positive following a fatal road accident are shown in the following table. These numbers will exclude a small proportion of fatal drink drive accidents where it was not possible to administer a breath test.
1994 340
1995 300
1996 320 (provisional).
| Great Britain | England and Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 123 | 115 |
| 1995 | 128 | 119 |
| 1996 | 117 | 111 |
Traffic Enforcement Officers (Powers)
Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will remove the limitations on the powers of traffic enforcement officers to seize driver and vehicle records. [6243]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government accept that there is scope for clarifying the powers of enforcement officers to inspect and remove tachograph charts as well as to search for other evidence and will promote amending legislation when a suitable opportunity arises.
3 Jul 1997 : Column: 254
Liz Blackman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that United Kingdom drivers are immediately prohibited from driving when they are found to have exceeded permitted driving hours. [6242]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Where the driver of a UK registered vehicle is found to have exceeded permitted driving hours, or taken inadequate rest, he or she would normally be advised to take the rest or face the prospect that any refusal to do so would be reported to the court in any subsequent prosecution, or cause possible further charges to be brought. Although there is no evidence that this procedure is inadequate, the Government accept that there is a case for a power to prohibit the drivers of UK registered vehicles and will promote amending legislation when a suitable opportunity arises.
Liz Blackman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that United Kingdom domestic drivers' hours regulations are as stringent as those obtaining in the European Union.[6251]
Ms Jackson:
The United Kingdom legislation on drivers' hours pre-dated the European Union rules and now applies only to certain types of vehicle operation which are exempt from European Union rules. We shall be considering the practical and legal implications of bringing some or all of those types of operation within the European Union rules. Such a change would require primary legislation and we would consult operators and their employees before making it.
Liz Blackman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) United Kingdom and (b) EU regulations governing HGV drivers' hours; and if he will make a statement on areas of disparity between (a) and (b). [6249]
Ms Jackson:
The United Kingdom regulations on drivers hours are contained in part VI of the Transport Act 1968 as amended. The European Union regulations are contained in Council Regulation (EEC) 3820/85. The main differences between the UK and EU rules for goods vehicle drivers are:
| UK rules | EU rules | |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous driving (max) | No limit | 4½ hours (after which a break of 45 minutes must be taken) |
| Daily driving (max) | 10 hours | 9 hours (10 hours twice a week) |
| Fortnightly driving | No limit | 90 hours |
| Daily rest (min) | None but there is a daily duty limit of 11 hours | 11 hours (reducible to 9 hours 3 times a week) |
| Weekly rest (min) | None | 45 hours (after 6 days) |
Dartford Crossing (Toll)
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will meet the Dartford Crossing operators to discuss the advantages of avoiding an increase in the toll being triggered under the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Act 1988. [6288]
3 Jul 1997 : Column: 255
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I have no immediate plans to discuss with the operators of the Dartford Crossing changes to their current entitlement to toll increases in line with the RPI.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects tolling to end on the Dartford Crossing. [6282]
Ms Jackson:
The current legislation requires tolling to end when the concessionaire has achieved its financial objectives and a fund for future maintenance has been accumulated. On current projections that point would be reached in 2001.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what was (a) the total received in tolls on the Dartford Crossing and (b) the number of vehicles using the crossing in each year since 1988. [6284]
| Year to | Vehicles (000) | Revenue (£000) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 months to 30 September 1988 | 5,252 | 4,330 |
| 30 September 1989 | 28,735 | 26,642 |
| 30 September 1990 | 30,386 | 28,230 |
| 30 September 1991 | 29,361 | 29,952 |
| 30 September 1992 | 34,798 | 35,966 |
| 30 September 1993 | 37,385 | 40,952 |
| 30 September 1994 | 39,947 | 44,849 |
| 30 September 1995 | 42,557 | 48,320 |
| 30 September 1996 | 44,364 | 51,749 |
M25 Widening
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Regional Director for the Government Office for the South East will reply to the letter of 21 April from Mr. Chris Fisher on behalf of FLAME relating to air quality within the vicinity of the proposed widening of the M25 in Surrey. [6341]
Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 1 July 1997]: The Government Office for the South East acknowledged Mr. Fisher's letter on 23 April, explaining that the letter had been forwarded to the Highways Agency as the agency responsible for this scheme, but that it would not be possible to respond before the general election.
The scheme in question now falls within the roads review announced by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport, on 19 June 1997 and is one of those that are subject to the accelerated review procedure. The outcome of the accelerated review will be known by the end of July and the Highways Agency will respond once this is announced.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will refer the representations he has received from FLAME to those bodies charged with assessing the proposed widening of the M25 under the accelerated highways review. [6338]
Ms Jackson
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: The proposed widening of the M25 between junctions 12 to 15 has been included in the accelerated review of urgent
3 Jul 1997 : Column: 256
schemes which is currently taking place. In the course of that review, account will be taken of views that have been expressed about the schemes under consideration.
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