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Environment Agency (Staff Mileage)
Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what car mileage was travelled on official business by staff of the Environment Agency in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 1997-98; and if he will make a statement. [98084]
Mr. Mullin: The information is as follows:
- (a) 54.37 million miles
- (b) 55.00 million miles.
These figures update those in the Environment Agency's annual Environmental Report published in September 1999. The comparable figure for 1998-99 is 52.58 million.
Driving Licences
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of people who regularly take a motor vehicle on the public highway without a valid driving licence. [98039]
Mr. Hill [holding answer 10 November 1999]: It is not possible to give a precise estimate on the extent of unlicensed driving. In order to get more comprehensive and reliable information on this subject, the DETR has just let a 2½ year contract to study this area and to examine the implications. A recent report from the Automobile Association estimated that there may be around 800,000 people driving without a valid licence.
Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what format will be used for the new photographic driving licence; what information is stored on this licence; what plans he has to introduce further information onto the driving licence; and if he will make a statement. [98358]
Mr. Hill: Photocard driving licences have been issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency since July 1998. The format of the licence is set out in the 2nd EC Directive on driving licences and contains: the driver's photograph, signature, categories of driving entitlement; name, address and date of birth; and the EC flag containing the UK symbol. There are no plans to add any further information to the licence.
Vehicle Documents
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many road vehicles in use in the UK (a) do not have an up-to-date road tax disc, (b) are not registered in the name of the present keeper of the vehicle and have not been so for more than one month and (c) do not have valid insurance. [98038]
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Mr. Hill
[holding answer 10 November 1999]: The DETR has recently carried out its latest large scale survey of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) evasion across the UK for all vehicle tax classes, the results of which will be published early next year. The last major survey in 1994 estimated that around 1.5 million vehicles in Great Britain did not have an up to date tax disc.
We are committed to tackling the problem of VED evasion and have introduced a number of measures to end this, including a national scheme to wheel-clamp and impound unlicensed vehicles seen on a public road.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) holds details of the registered keeper of vehicles within its vehicle record database. At the end of June 1999, there were 327,640 cases out of some 28 million where the DVLA did not have the details of the registered keeper of a licensed vehicle. It is not possible to tell the number of cases for which this has been so for more than one month without running a prohibitively expensive scan of the database.
The DETR does not have information on the number of vehicles which do not have valid insurance.
Mr. Shaw:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many representations his Department has received from local authorities asking for greater powers to enforce high standards of work when companies are laying cables in residential areas; [98124]
Mr. Hill:
The Department has received many letters, from Members of Parliament and others, about cable activities. However, since the last General Election only one representation has been received from a local authority.
In residential areas and elsewhere, cable-laying in the street is subject to the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. Undertakers must give advance notice of works and co-operate with the local highway authority. Failure to do so can attract penalties. There is a duty to avoid unnecessary delay or obstruction of the street, and the street authority can direct the timing of street works in order to avoid or reduce traffic disruption, and restrict street works activity for a period of twelve months following the completion of highway works.
On 13 October the Government went out to consultation to honour the commitment in last year's Integrated Transport White Paper to consult on options for an incentive system, with penalties, to minimise
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disruption to road users, and to encourage improved co-ordination of street works. Copies of the consultation document were placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is the total amount of compensation paid following the cancellation of the Polegate bypass project; [98068]
Mr. Hill:
I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Nigel Waterson, dated 11 November 1999:
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussion he has held with the Anti-drugs Co-ordinator on the dangers of taking (a) illicit and (b) prescription drugs and driving. [98117]
Mr. Hill:
Ministers and officials in the Department meet their opposite numbers in other Government Departments, including the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit, to discuss a range of topics. Those include the policy and research work to deal with those who drive whilst impaired through drugs. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary who is responsible for road safety matters will be meeting the Co-ordinator in December.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment she has made of the report, "Ecstasy Use in Northern Ireland: a Qualitative Study", with particular reference to its conclusions on drugs and driving. [98118]
Mr. Hill:
The Department has noted the conclusions of the Report. We have our own research programme into the effects of drugs on driving and are considering further research. We will also consider how best to publicise the risks of driving whilst under the influence of drugs, both medicinal and illegal.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the total number of vehicles used by his Department and its agencies fuelled by (a) petrol, (b) diesel and
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(c) liquid petroleum gas; and what plans he has to increase the rate of conversion of those vehicles to liquid petroleum gas. [98207]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
My Department does not keep a central record of vehicles used and their fuel type. Property managers are asked to take account of environmental performance when hiring or buying vehicles.
The Department has prepared guidance for Government Departments on choosing greener vehicles, which is now available on the Department's website, along with other advice, including DETR's guide to New Car Fuel Consumption and Emission figures.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to set targets for the recycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal, (e) plastic and (f) other products created by his Department and its agencies; and if he will make a statement. [98223]
Ms Beverley Hughes:
My Department's approach to waste management is based on the three "R"s: with "Recovery" (i.e. recycling, composting and energy recovery) following "Reduce" and "Re-use" as the preferred options for reducing waste sent to landfill. This should help us to achieve: the Green Ministers' target for Government Departments of recovering a minimum of 40 per cent. of total office waste, with at least 25 per cent. of that recovery coming from recycling or composting, in 2000-01; and our own corporate target which is to increase the amount recovered and recycled by 10 per cent. each year to achieve 70 per cent. recovery or recycling in 2003-04. The Department has not set individual targets for paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic and other materials although work is underway on setting a target for paper.
(2) what measures are in place to prevent cable-laying companies causing disruption in residential areas. [98125]
(2) when work on the Polegate bypass will begin. [98064]
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Keith Hill, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the Polegate Bypass.
Tenders for this scheme were invited on 10th November. This should allow us to award the contract next spring, ahead of the previously announced programme.
The overall levels of compensation are close to being finalised with those who submitted tenders for the cancelled Weald and Downland DBFO Project, which included the Polegate Bypass scheme among others. Interim on-account payments totalling £5m (including VAT) have been made. The Polegate Bypass scheme is in the Government's Targeted Plan of Improvements.
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