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Road Transport System Costs
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the total costs of the road transport system in the UK in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by (a) road building and maintenance, (b) traffic law enforcement, (c) pollution and (d) congestion; and if he will make a statement. [86111]
Ms Glenda Jackson: The latest estimate of expenditure in England on road building and maintenance are set out in the table. Costs incurred in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the respective devolved authorities.
| £ million | ||
|---|---|---|
| Road building | Road maintenance | |
| Trunk roads in England | 580 | 652 |
| Local Authority roads in England | 162 | 1,938 |
The deployment of police resources to different functions are operational matters for individual chief constables, and information on expenditure on traffic law enforcement is not collected centrally. Even at a local level it can be difficult to make such assessments, since traffic officers spend a good deal of their time dealing with ordinary crime and crime prevention, while officers assigned to general beat duties act against breaches of road traffic law.
Estimates of the levels of pollution caused by road traffic are published on a regular basis. The latest estimate of CO 2 emissions from road transport in the UK in 1997 is 32 million tonnes of carbon, some 21 per cent. of total UK CO 2 emissions 1 . We do not currently attempt to place an economic value on these.
As part of the Department's work on revisions to the 1997 pre White Paper National Road Traffic Forecasts, alternative ways in which congestion costs could be estimated are being explored. As yet, however, there is no agreed basis for such calculations. A number of external estimates have been made, these include an estimate of
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£15 billion in 1989 by the CBI (increased to £20 billion in 1996); and £7 billion in 1996 by National Economic Research Associates.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what advice he has received on the future of mark 1 rolling stock from the HSE; and if he will make a statement. [86190]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Deputy Prime Minister has received advice from the Chairman of the HSC recommending that all mark 1 rolling stock on the network should be modified by 2003 and replaced by 2007. Ministers are considering the recommendations, and an announcement will be made shortly.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions who will be participating on the scientific steering group overseeing the farm-scale trials of genetically modified crops; and when they plan to meet. [85949]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 8 June 1999]: Membership of the scientific steering committee overseeing the ecological studies which are part of the farm-scale evaluations of genetically modified crops was announced on 25 May and is as follows:
The first meeting of the steering committee is to take place on 14 June 1999.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if all aspects of the scientific design of the field-scale evaluations of the ecological effects of genetically modified crops will be subject to the scrutiny of members of the Scientific Steering Group. [86176]
14 Jun 1999 : Column: 44
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that genetically modified crops will be tested in EU countries only once the timetable, rules and regulations with regard to conducting those trials have been agreed by the Council of Ministers. [86415]
Mr. Meacher:
All consents for the deliberate release into the environment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are issued on the basis of the procedures laid down in Council Directive 90/220/EEC, which are now being reviewed in the context of the revision of this Directive. Part B of the Directive sets out the procedures for the deliberate release of GMOs for research and development purposes.
Mr. Soames:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to conduct a deer count in West Sussex. [85774]
Mr. Meacher
[holding answer 8 June 1999]: Visual censuses have been conducted in the West Sussex area for a number of years by the local Deer Management Group. However, this method of census is notoriously inaccurate and the Forestry Commission have been investigating alternative methods. As part of these trials the study area in West Sussex between Eatham and Buriton was surveyed at night during April 1999 using thermal imaging equipment. The results are currently being analysed and will be available shortly.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether in petrol was authorised in the United Kingdom. [85869]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has been used in petrol in the United Kingdom as an octane enhancer at very low levels for many years. Directive 85/536/EEC, which came into effect in domestic legislation on 24 April 1989, stipulates that member states may not prevent, restrict or discourage the production, marketing and free movement of blended petrol which contains 10 per cent. or less MTBE by volume. Directive 98/70/EC sets a maximum limit of 15 per cent. MTBE by volume applicable from 1 January 2000. Not all petrol sold in the UK contains MTBE; where it is used the concentration typically averages less than 1 per cent.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to publish the data to substantiate the recently revised household projections. [86357]
Mr. Caborn:
The technical volume giving the main results and methodology for the 1996 based household projections is due to be published later this summer.
14 Jun 1999 : Column: 45
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the latest agenda of the Transport Council of 17 to 18 June, prior to the meeting. [86829]
Mrs. Liddell:
The proposed agenda for the 17 June Transport Council comprises the following items:
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much was spent on (a) roads and (b) public transport by the Government in the most recent year for which figures are available. [86672]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 11 June 1999]: The most recent breakdown of the expenditure for the Department of Environment Transport and the Regions and its associated departments is given on page 15 of the Department's Annual Report 1999 [Cm 4204]. An analysis of the estimated outturn for 1998-99 on Main Programmes shows that:
1 Source:
UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory estimates of emissions at source.
Professor Christopher Pollock, Research Director of the Institute of Environmental and Grassland Research (Chair);
Professor Mick Crawley, Imperial College, London;
Dr. David Gibbons, Head of Conservation Science at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds;
Dr. Nick Sotherton, Director of Research for the Game Conservancy Trust;
Dr. Nicholas Aebischer, Director of Biometrics at the Game Conservancy Trust;
Dr. Alistair Burn, English Nature; and
Jim Orson, Director of the Morley Research Centre.
Dr. Brian Johnson, of English Nature, representing Statutory Nature Conservation Agencies, will also be participating on the group. The Secretariat will be provided by officials from my Department. Officials representing the research contractors, the Departments funding the ecological studies and SCIMAC (Supply Chain Initiative on Modified Agricultural Crops), who are funding the growing and management of the crops, will also attend meetings; not as advising members of the steering group, but to provide information to the members on progress with the ecological studies and the farm scale evaluations and listen to their advice.
1. Adoption of the agenda
2. Approval of "A" points
Maritime transport
3. Shore waste reception facilities
Air transport
4. Delays in air transport in Europe
Measures concerning all modes of transport
5. Year 2000 computer problem
6. Revision of Trans-European Network guidelines
7. Satellite navigation systems ("Galileo")
Land transport
8. Working time in road transport
9. Railway policy
10. Other business.
(a) the estimated amount spent on roads is £1.8 billion; and
(b) the estimated amount spent on public transport is £2.6 billion.
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