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ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Bus Lane (M4)
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many buses a day use the bus lane on the M4 between the M25 and the elevated section; and how many cars a day use the same section of motorway. [88491]
Mr. Prescott:
The eastbound carriageway of the M4 motorway, between junction 3 and the elevated section where the motorway reduces from 3 lanes to 2, incorporates the bus lane. Based on the first three weeks monitoring of the operation of the road since the opening of the bus lane, 450 buses a day use the bus lane and some 49,200 cars use the same section of motorway. Additionally 2,900 taxis use the bus lane and 2,400 commercial vehicles use the motorway.
8 Jul 1999 : Column: 587
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received from 10 Downing Street in respect of the M4 bus lane. [88636]
Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 29 June 1999]: I received no representations from the Prime Minister, but my Department and 10 Downing Street have discussed the improvements in traffic flow for all vehicles which have occurred.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 23 June 1999, Official Report, columns 404-05, on George Green Tunnel, how many vehicles were employed in the limited staged incident on 28 May; how many London Fire Brigade vehicles attended; and if he will place a copy of the Fire Brigade's report in the Library. [89391]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Three cars were used to simulate an accident in the eastbound bore of the tunnel and three London Fire Brigade appliances attended. The publication of the report is a matter for the Fire Brigade. I would not normally place copies of such reports in the Library but, subject to the Fire Brigade's agreement, I will send my hon. Friend a copy as soon as one is available.
Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on what dates he has made official visits to the New Forest, East constituency since 2 May 1997. [89630]
Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons he has not replied to the (a) letter dated 16 March and (b) fax dated 25 May from the hon. Member for New Forest, East. [89631]
Mr. Prescott:
Because the matter was dealt with by our offices over the telephone.
Mrs. Lait:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that mental health service users have the same legal entitlement to local authority bus passes as physically disabled people. [89545]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Outside London, local authorities may provide concessionary travel for people who are mentally handicapped, but not for people who are mentally ill (except for those who would be refused a driving licence on medical grounds). Local authorities also have the power to provide concessionary travel for people with a number of specified physical disabilities (including those who are blind) as well as those people with a disability or injury which seriously impairs their ability to walk. In all these instances, the decision on whether to allow concessionary travel for any or all of these groups of people is a matter for the local authority.
8 Jul 1999 : Column: 588
In London, local authorities have the legal power to provide concessionary travel for people who are blind, or who have a disability or injury which seriously impairs their ability to walk.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the reasons for the resignation of the architect responsible for designing the Millennium Urban Village at Greenwich; and if the sustainable aspects of conservation and design have been changed from the original project proposals. [89733]
Mr. Caborn:
I cannot comment on the reasons for the resignation of HTA Architects Ltd. from the Greenwich Millennium Village project, since that is a commercial matter between HTA and its client. However, the lead architect responsible for the Village masterplan has publicly expressed his continued commitment to the scheme. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has asked English Partnerships for a full report on progress against the original aspirations for the Village, but we are confident that this exciting development will, as planned, set high standards of innovation and sustainability.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to discourage parking on public footways; and if he will make a statement. [89933]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Highway Code (Rule 218) makes it clear that motorists should not park on the footway or pavement as it can seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, the visually impaired and people with prams and pushchairs. Enforcement is a matter for the police under the law relating to obstruction.
Motorists should also be aware that where there are yellow line or clearway restrictions in operation, it is an offence to park on the adjacent pavement or verge.
Pavement parking is a specific offence in London, unless there is a positively signed exemption. Local authorities in London are generally responsible for enforcement of pavement parking under the Road Traffic Act 1991.
Elsewhere, local authorities can also make pavement parking a specific offence in individual streets or over a wider area by the making of traffic regulation orders and placing the appropriate signs. We are encouraging local authorities outside London to apply for decriminalised parking enforcement powers under the 1991 Act as this offers scope for them to target enforcement where it is most needed--such as pavement parking.
We also issue advice to local authorities on the use of largely self-enforcing methods, such as bollards, to prevent or deter pavement parking (Traffic Advisory Leaflet 4/93).
8 Jul 1999 : Column: 589
Mr. Green:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to encourage the use of alternatives to HFCs in refrigeration; and if he will make a statement. [89953]
Mr. Meale:
The Government do not promote one refrigerant over another but encourage business and industry to choose the safest, most environmentally acceptable and energy efficient system for each particular application.
The Government have also agreed a Declaration of Intent with the refrigeration and air conditioning industry with the aim of reducing emissions of HFCs. The Declaration recommends that the servicing, maintenance and decommissioning of equipment containing HFCs are carried out only by competent persons. It also encourages all reasonably practicable precautionary measures to minimise refrigerant leakage, and recommends that refrigerants are recovered for reuse, reclamation or disposal during servicing and prior to equipment decommissioning.
We are reviewing the effectiveness of this Declaration and the other voluntary agreements on minimising HFC emissions as part of the development of a new climate change programme to meet the UK's legally binding target of 12.5 per cent. reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-12, and move towards the domestic goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Mr. Green:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to designate wild boar as (a) vermin and (b) game; and if he will make a statement. [89938]
Mr. Meale:
There are no plans to designate wild boar as vermin or game.
Wild boar are not protected and may be killed or taken by owners and occupiers of land using any method, e.g. shooting or trapping, which is not prohibited by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Mr. Horam:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will arrange for London Transport to disclose the terms regarding times, frequency and interchange arrangements sent to those invited to tender for any bus service. [89942]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
This is a matter for London Transport. Although they do not publish details of the invitation to tender, I understand that where changes to a bus route are proposed, London Transport do provide details in terms of the route and service frequency as part of the consultation process. If these details remain unchanged, the information will already be in the public domain.
Mr. Wyatt:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans his Department has to issue guidelines to local authorities
8 Jul 1999 : Column: 590
regarding concessionary fares for children travelling to and from school in order to reduce the volume of school traffic at peak times. [89918]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Concessionary fares are essentially a matter for locally elected councils. However, my Department, with the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Health, published on 30 June a booklet entitled "School travel strategies and plans--a best practice guide for local authorities". This set out many instances of steps that have been taken in different parts of the country to improve safety and reduce car use on the journey to school; it included an example of the introduction of lower fares for pupils.
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