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Road Studies

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when the report of the study of road problems (a) in the Hull area, (b) in South East Manchester, (c) in the Tyneside area, (d) around Hastings, (e) around the London orbital motorway, (f) at Deeside Park Junction and (g) between Southampton and Folkestone is to be published; and if he will make a statement; [113102]

Mr. Hill: We expect final reports for the studies currently under way to be published as follows:

Areas
Access to Hastings Multi-Modal StudySummer 2000
A1 Bramham to Barton StudyBy Autumn 2000
A3 Hindhead StudyEnd 2000
London Orbital Multi-Modal StudyAutumn 2001
Deeside Park Junctions StudySpring 2001
Tyneside Area Multi-Modal StudySpring 2001
South East Manchester Multi-Modal StudySpring 2001
South and West Yorkshire Motorway BoxAutumn 2001
Multi-Modal Study Autumn 2001

Both the Hull Multi-Modal Study and Southampton to Folkestone Multi-Modal Study are in the second tranche of our study programme. Preparatory work on these studies will begin later this year. We anticipate that it will take some 12 to 15 months to complete the Hull study and between 18 and 24 months to complete the Southampton to Folkestone Study.

6 Mar 2000 : Column: 459W

Trunk Roads

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the (a) trunk roads that are carried by a bridge, or which pass through a tunnel, of at least 600 m in length and (b) the dates on which such bridges and tunnels are set to be renewed. [113114]

Mr. Hill: In England there are 33 bridges and three tunnels with a length greater than 600 m, carrying 21 different trunk roads. This figure excludes trunk roads transferring to the Greater London Authority in July 2000 as these will be de-trunked.

All these structures have long residual lives and there are no plans for their renewal in the foreseeable future. There is an ongoing programme of works to ensure all structures remain safe and serviceable.

The Secretary of State has made it clear that, in the context of the Transport Bill, he does not have any plans to charge on existing structures that are not already tolled.

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Peter Nutt, to write to the hon. Member with a list and place a copy in the Library.

Letter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Bernard Jenkin, dated 6 March 2000:



    I attach a list of those structures. Please contact Gerry Hayter in our Structures Section (telephone 0171 921 4789) if you require any further information on this subject.


    The table below lists English trunk road bridges over 600m in length 1 .

Road/ChainageBridge nameComments
A10/35.60Kings Meads Viaduct--
A14/193.80Orwell Bridge--
A19/131.50Tees Viaduct--
A38/52.60AMarsh Mills Viaduct E/B--
A38/52.60BMarsh Mills Viaduct W/B--
A38(M)/387.2Aston Expressway EB--
A39/182.40River Torridge--
A631/0.30Tinsley Viaduct, Lower(2)--
M1/260.1Tinsley Viaduct, Upper(2)--
M2/47.00Medway Bridge--
M4/12.70-15.60Elevated Section--
M5/0.00Rayhall Bents SB(3)--
M5/1.00-1.60Wigmore Bents(3)--
M5/5.60-7.90Oldbury Bents(3)--
M5/142.40Avonmouth Bridge--
M5/194.10Huntworth Viaduct--
M5/258.60Exe Viaduct--
M6/178.4-182.8Bromford Bents(3)--
M6/183.0-183.9Gravelly Hill Bents(3)--
M6/187.2-188.0Thornbridge Bents(3)--
M6/192.6-193.4Rayhall Bents(3)--
M6/194.8-196.1Bescott Bents(3)--
M6/300.90AThelwall Viaduct (1963)--
M6/300.90BThelwall New Viaduct (1995)--
M32/2.60Eastville Viaduct--
M50/5.40Queenshill Viaduct--
M53/8.40Bidston Moss Viaduct (West)--
M56/43.50Weaver Viaduct--
M62/161.60Ouse Bridge--
M63/2.20Barton High LevelRenamed M60

(1) Length is the cumulative span length taken from the Highways Agency's National Structures Database (NATS) rounded to the nearest metre.

(2) The A63 Tinsley Viaduct and M1 Tinsley viaduct is a 'double-decker' structure carrying two trunk roads.

(3) Elevated Road

Note:

Bridges due to be transferred to the Greater London Authority in July 2000 have been excluded.


6 Mar 2000 : Column: 460W




    The table below lists English trunk road tunnels over 600m in length.

    Road/ChainageTunnel nameComments
    A282(6)Dartford TunnelTwin bore tunnel
    M25Holmesdale Tunnel--
    A1(M)Hatfield Tunnel--

    (6) The M25 is not continuous and the sections crossing the Thames at Dartford are correctly called the A282


London Elections

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about the location of polling stations for early voting for the GLA and London mayoral elections. [113112]

Mr. Hill: We are providing for one early voting polling station for each London borough with less than 150,000 voters, and for two stations in every other borough. The exact locations of the polling stations is a matter for the boroughs themselves. They will be listed in an Order which I intend to lay before the House shortly.

Rail Safety

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the persons to whom media briefings were given by Government press spokesmen on the subject of rail safety on Monday 21 February, prior to the Deputy Prime Minister's statement on Tuesday 22 February. [113110]

Mr. Hill: None.

Rail Rolling Stock

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the value of new rail rolling stock that is waiting for safety approval; and if he will make a statement. [113113]

Mr. Hill: The value of rolling stock currently awaiting safety case approval is in the order of £150 million. I expect the industry to re-double their efforts to achieve safety approval and deliver these trains into service at the earliest opportunity.

6 Mar 2000 : Column: 461W

Mr. Alan Donnelly

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations in relation to specific planning applications in the last 24 months his Department has received from Mr. Alan Donnelly prior to his resignation as a Member of the European Parliament. [113122]

Mr. Raynsford: The Department has on record one representation from Alan Donnelly during this period. This was received in April 1999 and concerned a possible change of land use for the Vaux Brewery site in Sunderland.

Rough Sleepers Unit

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what will be the cost of the Head of the Rough Sleepers Unit and her department in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01. [113124]

Ms Armstrong: The administration budget for the Rough Sleepers Unit in 1999-2000 is £1.013 million and in 2000-01 £1.297 million. This excludes accommodation and other support costs which are apportioned centrally.

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what objectives and targets have been set for the head of the Rough Sleepers Unit. [113123]

Ms Armstrong: The key objective of the Head of the RSU is to deliver the Government's target to reduce rough sleeping to as near zero as possible and by at least two thirds by 2002.


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