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Road Traffic
Mr. Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) by what percentage he estimates road traffic will increase in the London area over the next 30 years; and what assessment he has made of the impact of this on the speed of traffic; [90648]
- (2) by what percentage his Department estimates that road traffic levels will increase over the next 30 years; what assessment it has made of the impact that will have on current rates of traffic movement; and if he will make a statement; [90649]
(3) if he will estimate (a) the cost of building roads to accommodate the projected increase in road vehicles over the next 30 years to maintain current rates of traffic movement and (b) the number of miles of road this would require. [90650]
Ms Glenda Jackson [holding answer 12 July 1999]: The National Road Traffic Forecasts published in 1997 predicted that on the basis of the capacity of the road network as it then stood, and in the absence of the new policies set out in the Integrated Transport White Paper, road traffic in Great Britain could increase by nearly 50 per cent. over the next 30 years. This growth was forecast to result in a reduction in average speeds of 10 per cent., although the reduction during the peak on the busiest roads would be substantially greater. The Department is currently working on a new set of traffic forecasts which will reflect the potential of the New Deal for Transport to tackle congestion and pollution.
The 1997 National Road Traffic Forecasts were not designed to provide forecasts at a local level. However, it is possible to use the 1997 forecasts to produce crude estimates of what they imply for traffic growth and speeds in different area types and regions. These estimates suggest
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that the national figures quoted would imply traffic growth in London of about 30 per cent. over the next 30 years and a decline in average speeds of 14 per cent.
No estimate has been made of the additional road capacity that would be required to accommodate the rates of traffic growth in the 1997 forecasts at unchanged speeds, nor has the Department attempted to quantify the enormous environmental, economic, and social costs that would be involved. Adding road capacity in congested conditions generates additional traffic, thereby adding to the road traffic growth to be accommodated. This link highlights one of the fundamental flaws in the predict and provide philosophy and is a key reason why simply building more roads is not the answer to traffic growth.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the average cost of traffic calming schemes approved in the last financial year for which figures are available. [90855]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 12 July 1999]: This information is not held centrally. Local highway authorities are responsible for the decision to introduce a traffic calming scheme, and do not need the Secretary of State's approval unless, exceptionally, they wish to use a traffic calming feature which is not covered by regulations under the Traffic Calming Act 1992.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many meetings the Minister for Transport in London had with officials and others regarding the draft Stansted Airport Aircraft Movement Limit (Amendment) Order 1999. [91049]
Ms Glenda Jackson
[holding answer 14 July 1999]: By convention, Government do not comment on internal discussions between Ministers and officials.
My right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill (Dr. Reid) met a delegation of local MPs led by the right hon. Member for Saffron Walden (Sir A. Haselhurst) on 14 April.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to improve the enforcement of bus priority schemes. [91496]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Bus priority measures are important for helping to make bus services quicker and more reliable. Their implementation is the responsibility of the local highway authority which should liaise with the local police on their enforcement.
Trials of enforcement cameras for bus lanes have been carried out successfully in London. This involves prosecuting offenders using camera evidence. Cameras will be installed across London over the next few years. Further trials using existing CCTV cameras are also being undertaken.
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Outside London we are encouraging local authorities to take up decriminalised parking enforcement powers. This would enable them to target parking offences that affect the operation of bus priority schemes.
We hope to see a wider use of these approaches to improve enforcement.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department is holding with bus and coach manufacturers on developing vehicles to cater for the needs of elderly and disabled people. [91774]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Bus and coach manufacturers have been closely involved in discussions with my Department over the past two years on the development of standards for accessibility that will form the basis of the regulations we will be bringing forward under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
In addition to a large number of one to one meetings with manufacturers, there has been an extensive round of informal consultation on the proposals. There will shortly be a further round of consultation on the final proposals and the draft regulations which will come into effect from next year.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many bus journeys were made on local stage bus journeys in English shire counties in the year 1998-99; and if he will make a statement. [91728]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Estimates of bus passenger journeys in 1998-99 will be published later this year. The latest available estimate shows that 1.25 billion passenger journeys were made on local, or stage, bus services in English shire counties in 1997-98. Our bus policy proposals, together with additional funding for rural transport, are aimed at better bus provision and increased bus use.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much the Greater London Authority will pay to his Department for leasing Romney House until the London Bridge City building is ready for occupation. [91511]
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 15 July 1999]: It is anticipated that staff from the GLA and some associated bodies will occupy around 60 per cent. of the available space in Romney House from next year. This is expected to cost around £2 million per annum to provide and will be taken into account when the budget for the GLA is set later this year.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of Single Regeneration Budget funds for schemes currently in operation has been spent on capital projects for (a) housing improvement and (b) new dwellings. [91701]
Mr. Meale:
The Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) currently funds over 500 (Rounds 1-4) regeneration schemes managed by local partnerships. A large number
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of these are likely to have multiple objectives, and cover a wide range of activities depending on local regeneration needs and priorities. It is not possible to break down expenditure to say how much has benefited one objective, therefore no information is available on the amount spent on capital projects for housing improvement or new dwellings.
Mr. Burgon:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Green Ministers Committee last met; and what was discussed. [92119]
Mr. Meacher:
The Green Ministers Committee met on 6 July. The main item on the agenda was finalising our plans for publishing our first annual report later this month. Publication of the report will be another important step in the greening Government process, making our work more open and transparent. It will set out our future programme of work as well as what we have achieved so far.
The Committee also discussed the recent report from the Environmental Audit Committee on the greening Government initiative, how Departments can raise awareness of sustainable development and the role that Departments have in promoting biodiversity. Each Department will prepare a strategy statement on raising awareness of sustainable development and action plans on biodiversity.
Seven of the 15 English Departments were represented by Ministers (and a further five by officials) and Lord Dubs attended for the Northern Ireland Office.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to ensure that leading counsel are remunerated on the basis of the work they have carried out on a case and its complexity. [91582]
Mr. Vaz:
The Rules of Court provide sufficient powers to ensure that lawyers are paid for the weight and complexity of the work they have undertaken and not simply because of their status. The new Civil Procedure Rules specifically require the Court awarding costs to have regard to what is proportionate to the issues at stake and the complexity of the particular case. This is in addition to the existing tests that it must have been reasonable to incur the expense at all and that the sum being claimed is itself reasonable in amount. If these tests are applied robustly, they ought to be sufficient. However, if there is any evidence that these tests are insufficient, I am happy to consider what more may be needed.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the rules of court governing the levels of fees charged by leading counsel. [91583]
Mr. Vaz:
The Civil Procedure Rules do not govern the levels of fees charged by leading counsel, other than in the specific case of fast track trial costs. However, the
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new Rules do require the court, when deciding the amount of costs, to have regard to what is proportionate for the particular case. This is in addition to the existing tests that it must have been reasonable to incur the expense at all and that the sum being claimed is itself reasonable in amount. Where the court believes costs incurred are not proportionate, it has the discretion to amend the costs allowed accordingly.
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