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Road Accidents
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made towards reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents over the past 12 months. [3547]
Mr. Jamieson: Good progress is being made in implementing the Government's Road Safety Strategy that was launched in March 2000. Progress to date and proposed next steps on the many elements of the strategy are reported in a quarterly schedule which is placed on the DTLR website (www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadsafety/ strategy/imp/index.htm). The end-June 2001 schedule will be available there soon.
The main road casualty results for 2000 were published on 14 June 2001. Fuller details will be published in September. I am pleased to say that the number of deaths and serious injuries in 2000 was 2 per cent. less than that for the previous year, and for children up to age 15, the number was 9 per cent. lower. I very much hope that this is part of a continuing downward trend and that we achieve or better the target casualty reductions set for 2010 in the strategy: a 40 per cent. reduction in the number of deaths and serious injuries, a 50 per cent. reduction in the number of child deaths and serious injuries, and a 10 per cent. reduction in the rate (by vehicle mileage) of slight injuries—all compared with the averages for 1994 to 1998.
Community Transport Schemes
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when community transport schemes will be entitled to claim a fuel rebate. [3457]
Ms Keeble: Following consultation with relevant organisations earlier this year, we will be bringing forward regulations on the introduction this financial year of fuel duty rebate for a wide range of community transport services.
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Cycle and Pedestrian Routes
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many routes for safer cycling and walking have been introduced in the past 12 months; and how many are planned to be introduced in each of the next nine years. [3455]
Mr. Spellar: Information on cycling and walking provision is not available in the form requested. The Government have encouraged local traffic authorities in England to include strategies for increasing cycling and walking in their local transport plans (LTPs).
Local cycling strategies contain plans for up to 4,300 km of new cycle routes in England by 2005, as well as a range of facilities for cyclists such as advanced stop lines, toucan crossings and junction treatments. Local strategies to promote walking include pedestrian routes, pedestrianisation, safety measures, better facilities for the disabled and greater accessibility to transport interchanges and facilities. A number of authorities are likely to use LTP funding to make walking more accessible, by improving pavement and footway maintenance, and removing obstructions.
We shall also be continuing to help Sustrans in the development of the National Cycle Network, which it is hoped will be 10,000 miles long by 2005.
Docklands Light Railway
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will open the extension of the Docklands Light Railway to London City airport. [3543]
Mr. Jamieson: The powers required to extend the DLR to London City airport have been sought from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by way of an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992. A public inquiry has been held and the inspector's report is under consideration. I cannot therefore comment on the merits of the scheme or say anything which might prejudice my right hon. Friend's decision. The application will, however, be dealt with as quickly as possible. If powers were to be given, responsibility for taking forward the scheme would rest with the Mayor of London in his role as Chairman of Transport for London.
Road Traffic Estimates
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the change in traffic levels has been since (a) May 1997 and (b) June 2000 on (i) motorways and trunk roads, (ii) other major roads and (iii) minor roads. [3551]
Mr. Jamieson: The Department estimates traffic quarterly, not monthly. These figures do not distinguish between trunk and principal 'A' class roads.
The percentage changes in road traffic for all motor vehicles in Great Britain for the relevant quarters until the first quarter of 2001 (the latest available) are as shown in the table.
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| Road class | Q2 1997 to Q1 2001 | Q2 2000 to Q1 2001 |
|---|---|---|
| Motorway | 10 | 1 |
| Other major roads | 5 | 0 |
| Minor roads | 1 | -1 |
Alternative Fuels
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of registered motor vehicles are equipped to run on (a) liquified petroleum gas, (b) compressed natural gas and (c) biodiesel. [3546]
Mr. Jamieson: Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency show that, as of 31 March 2001, there were 25,540 vehicles, out of a total vehicle parc of 29,174,788, registered in Great Britain as being capable of being powered by road fuel gases. DVLA does not hold separate figures for vehicles powered by CNG and LPG. These figures do not include vehicles from Northern Ireland for which quarterly data are not collected.
As any compression ignition engine should be able to use biodiesel without major modification, no separate figures are kept for biodiesel.
Green Ministers
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when his Department's Green Minister attended meetings of the Green Ministers' Committee during the current session of Parliament; when meetings are planned to take place during the current session of Parliament; and if he will make a statement. [3991]
Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 13 July 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 13 July 2001, Official Report, column 690W.
Fishing Fatalities
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many fatalities there were in the fishing industry following an incident when at sea in each of the last five years. [4336]
Mr. Jamieson: In each of the last five years the number of fatalities occurring at sea were:
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 20 |
| 1997 | 28 |
| 1998 | 25 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 2000 | 28 |
Fatalities occurring in harbour, or when anchored outside harbour are not included.
Traffic Congestion
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what
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anti-congestion traffic measures, other than increased taxation, are being considered by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [4116]
Ms Keeble: We have forecast that, without the 10-year Plan for Transport, congestion will rise by 15 per cent. across the road network as a whole, and by 28 per cent. on the inter-urban trunk road network by the end of 2010.
With the plan, overall congestion is forecast to fall relative to 2000, as would congestion on the inter-urban trunk roads. Action on relieving congestion will be focused on the most congested parts of the network and therefore much bigger improvements in journey times will be seen in these areas.
The implementation of the 10-year Plan as a whole rather than traffic measures alone, will deliver the planned reduction in congestion, The targets in the plan to increase passenger rail use by 50 per cent. and rail freight by 80 per cent. will be important contributions, as will better local road maintenance, road improvements, the introduction of better bus and light rail services and better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.
Transport (Environmental Damage)
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment his Department has made of the negative environmental impacts caused from (a) road traffic and (b) aviation; what policies his Department plans to reduce the negative environmental impacts caused from (i) road traffic and (ii) aviation; and if he will make a statement. [4000]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 13 July 2001]: Assessing environmental impacts is a well established and long standing practice in this Department and across Government. Our comprehensive policies for reducing environmental impact were set out in our White Paper, "A New Deal for Transport", in 1998. Our 10-year Plan for Transport, published in July 2000, has a number of policies specifically to reduce noise. Progress on specific commitments and announcements of our continuing plans are regularly announced.
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