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Environmentally Friendly Cars

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions his Department has had with vehicle manufacturers to encourage the development of more environmentally-friendly cars. [59733]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

DTLR together with the DTI, DEFRA and the Treasury published "Powering Future Vehicles, a draft Government Strategy", setting out and inviting comment on the Government's proposals for promoting the development, introduction and take-up of environmentally friendly low-carbon vehicles and fuels. As part of the consultation, the four Ministers held a major discussion seminar with all the stakeholders in the shift to low-carbon transport, including vehicle manufacturers. We are very grateful for their input to the development of the strategy, which includes the setting up of a Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, involving vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in the strategy's implementation. The final Powering Future Vehicles strategy will be published shortly.

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Biodiesel

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of fuel sold in the UK in 2001 was biodiesel; and what proportion of overall fuel sales his Department estimates will be biodiesel in (a) 2002, (b) 2003, (c) 2004, (d) 2005 and (e) 2006. [59731]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

Currently, we estimate biodiesel production to be approximately 0.1 per cent. of road transport diesel consumption in 2001. The Government expect this figure to rise substantially with the introduction of a 20p fuel duty reduction for biodiesel. Preliminary projections collected from the industry suggest that existing and planned production would represent around 1.5 per cent. pure biodiesel by 2003, likely to be used as a 5 per cent. blend with conventional diesel. The Government have made no further estimates beyond this date.

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what percentage of new cars sold in the last 12 months (a) were capable of running on biodiesel and (b) had diesel engines. [59732]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

(a) Nearly all diesel car manufacturers warranty their new vehicles to run on blends of at least 5 per cent. biodiesel. Some manufacturers warranty their vehicles at higher blending levels.

(b) The Department's own figures show that 17.83 per cent. of new cars sold in the last 12 months were diesels.

Road Schemes

Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which current proposals for road schemes in excess of 30 kilometres in length are (a) in the targeted programme for improvement, (b) recommended by multi-modal studies and (c) supported in local transport plan settlements. [58886]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

There are no road schemes in excess of 30 km in length in the targeted programme of improvements, nor have any local authority schemes of this length been fully or provisionally approved since local transport plans were introduced in 1999. The West Midlands to North West multi-modal study has recommended on-line widening of the M6 between junctions 11a and 19 (a distance of 81 km). The north/south movements in the East Midlands multi-modal study as recommended on-line widening of the M1 between junctions 21 and 28 (40 km). Neither recommendation includes new sections of road.

Mobile Home Owners

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions further to his answer of 16 May 2002, Official Report, column 802W, on mobile home owners, since when compensation booklets have been made available at public exhibitions, inquiries and on request to those whose property may be required or affected by road construction. [59193]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

10 Jun 2002 : Column 770W

Compensation booklets have been publicly available since 1973. The current booklets that advise owners of mobile homes about the new regulations under which they may claim a noise payment in respect of new road schemes have been available to the public since August 2001.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many names and addresses of vehicle owners and keepers have been disclosed by the DVLA to third parties by virtue of that party showing reasonable cause for the disclosure over the last three years; if he will break down these disclosure statistics by categories of reasonable cause; and if he will make a statement on the number of cases where disclosure has been subsequently shown to be not for a reasonable cause, with the action taken in these cases. [59169]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

The number of "reasonable cause" inquiries resulting in the release of vehicle keeper details held on the DVLA register during the last three years was:

Year	Number
1999–2000	883,522
2000–01	955,484
2001–02	1,001,421

The majority of requests are from insurance companies and finance houses in respect of insurance claims and vehicle-related loan arrangements. The remainder are from solicitors, car parking enforcement companies and members of the public. Statistics relating to specific categories of "reasonable cause" are not recorded.

The information commissioner has powers under the Data Protection Act to prosecute anyone who knowingly or recklessly obtains information without consent. Any disclosure subsequently used for a purpose other than that stated in the application is referred to the information commissioner to investigate. Seventeen such cases in the last three years have been referred to the information commissioner.

Vehicle Registration Numbers

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to allow third parties to be granted entitlement to a retained vehicle registration number; and if he will make a statement. [59901]

Mr. Jamieson: I plan to extend the vehicle registration number retention facility to cater for third party entitlement as soon as the necessary powers can be obtained. My officials are scanning the legislative programme for an opportunity to take this forward.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the value of sales by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for the sale of cherished number plates in each year since 1997. [59902]

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Mr. Jamieson: Gross receipts from the sale of personalised registration numbers for each year from 1996–97 were as follows:

£ million

Financial year	Revenue
1996–97	44.95
1997–98	57.47
1998–99	64.92
1999–2000	66.89
2000–01	79.58
2001–02	91.78

Revenue is inclusive of VAT, assignment fees and other fees for the extension of rights or the later addition of nominees.

Vehicle Taxation (Disabled People)

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the criteria are for eligibility for exemption from taxation of vehicles used by disabled people; whether such exemption will be extended to non-disabled people who make occasional use of the vehicle; and what evidence there is of abuse of the concession. [59064]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

Eligibility for exemption from paying Vehicle Excise Duty is available in respect of vehicles kept or used for the purposes of those claiming disability living allowance at the higher rate or war pensioners' mobility supplement. There are in addition a number of people who claim exemption under the former Disabled Passenger Scheme via attendance allowance. This was abolished in 1993 but those entitled to exemption from paying Vehicle Excise Duty at the time have remained eligible.

There are no plans to extend eligibility for the exemption.

It has long been recognised that there is potential for abuse of the system. The responsibility for addressing abuse lies with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Department for Work and Pensions. Approximately 250 cases per month are referred to DVLA for investigation, but in no more than a handful of cases each year is the entitlement rescinded.

A5 (Road Accidents)

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people have been (a) killed and (b) injured in road traffic accidents along the A5 road between Shrewsbury and Wrexham in each year since 1992. [59223]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

The number of people (a) killed and (b) injured between Shrewsbury and the Wrexham turning from the A5 are shown in the table.

Number of casualties on A5 between Shrewsbury⁽⁸⁾ and the turning for Wrexham⁽⁹⁾ 1992 to 2000

	Killed	Injured
1992	2	76
1993	7	83
1994	1	70
1995	5	66
1996	2	119
1997	3	74
1998	1	58
1999	5	71
2000	1	85

⁽⁸⁾ The roundabout at the junction with A458.

⁽⁹⁾ The roundabout at the junction with A483.

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