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Uff-Cullen Recommendations
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which of the Uff-Cullen recommendations have been implemented. [59356]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) published the first action plan/progress report, indicating firm commitments to implement the recommendations of the Joint Inquiry into Train Protection Systems, on 27 September 2001. A copy is available in the House Library. The HSE are currently analysing progress towards implementation of the recommendations with the intention of publishing a further progress report before the end of July 2002. A copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Dibden Bay Planning Inquiry
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the planning inquiry at Dibden Bay will report. [60425]
Mr. Jamieson: The inquiry is currently timetabled to finish at the end of this year. On that basis we are expecting to receive the inspector's report in the latter half of 2003.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the evidence that his Department has given to the planning inquiry at Dibden Bay. [60415]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department has not supplied any evidence to the Dibden Bay inquiry.
Traffic Management
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what
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guidance he gives to local authorities and to elected mayors on the timing sequence of traffic lights on trunk roads to ensure that congestion is minimised. [59107]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
The Highways Agency issues advice on the safety-related timings for traffic signals. These are contained in their Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to introduce during non-rush hour periods traffic lights which have a light vehicle flow which are switched to show only a flashing amber light in each direction. [59184]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
We do not think this is appropriate. A short flashing amber stage is already used at Pelican pedestrian crossings and has a specific meaning—if there are no pedestrians on the crossing the driver may proceed with caution. The same signal sequence cannot safely be used to indicate a different message.
The adoption of this proposal could confuse drivers and increase the likelihood of accidents at junctions, particularly those where the visibility of crossing traffic is limited, for example, by difficult junction geometry.
It is believed that the flashing amber sequence was introduced in the USA to help counter the inherent inefficiencies of fixed-time signals, particularly at off- peak times. As most traffic signals in the UK are traffic responsive, there would be little if any improvement in efficiency from adopting this proposal because our traffic signals are able to respond to varying traffic demands without compromising road safety.
Channel Tunnel
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the arrangements to secure rail freight through the channel tunnel; and who will pay for them. [59069]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
It is for the French railway industry and public authorities to ensure that rail freight through the channel tunnel is not disrupted by incursions into the Fréthun freight yard. SNCF has just announced investment of euro 7.5 million to improve physical security measures at Fréthun. I understand that this will be funded by Réseau Ferré de France.
Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority of the operation of the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick; if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [60400]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 10 June 2002, Official Report, columns 759–60W.
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The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the air safety regulator, gave National Air Traffic Services its full approval to take Swanwick into operation. Assessments made by the CAA are a matter for that organisation.
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on recent safety levels at the Air Traffic Control Centre in Swanick with special reference to reports of the (a) Health and Safety Executive and (b) Civil Aviation Authority. [60272]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 10 June 2002, Official Report, columns 759–60W.
The Civil Aviation Authority, the air safety regulator, remains satisfied that there are no breaches of the CAA safety regulations nor is flight safety affected.
Working Time Directive (Maritime Sector)
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken by the Department to monitor the effects of the implementation of the EU working time directive in the maritime sector. [60165]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 June 2002]: When the directive is implemented in the UK the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as the competent authority, will be responsible for enforcing its provisions and monitoring its operation.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the Department is making in implementing the EU working time directive in the maritime sector. [60167]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 June 2002]: Regulations are in preparation to implement the directive in the UK.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the need in implementing the EU working time directive to include measures to limit the maximum number of hours worked in the maritime sector. [60166]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 June 2002]: In implementing the working time directive in the maritime sector the UK, like several of its EU partners, has elected to apply the option within the directive of specifying the minimum hours of daily and weekly rest which must be provided to seafarers. The maximum number of hours which may be worked each day and each week can be calculated by reference to these minima.
Passenger Transport Authorities
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what benchmarks are laid down for staffing levels in PTAs. [60677]
Roads (Newcastle to Edinburgh)
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what planned works there are on the (a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh; [60644]
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- (2) what his estimate is for the increase in traffic on the (a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh over the lifetime of the 10-year plan; [60646]
(3) if he will list the major infrastructure work carried out on the (a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh in the last 15 years, in each case giving (i) the aim and nature of the works, (ii) the name of the Government body responsible, (iii) the length of time the works took and (iv) the costs of the works. [60643]
Mr. Jamieson: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Tim Matthews to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 11 June 2002:
- I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Transport to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A68, A696 and A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
- The Highways Agency only has responsibility for trunk roads in England, in this case the A696, part of the A68 and a short section of the A7 in England between Carlisle and the Scottish border that is earmarked for detrunking. Roads in Scotland, including the remaining sections of the A68 and A7, are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
- The only major infrastructure work carried out over the last 15 years on the A68/A696 was the building of the A696 Woolsington Bypass which connected to the A1 Newcastle Western Bypass providing better access to Newcastle International Airport. The scheme was completed in 1990, was delivered by the then Department of Transport and cost £12.6 million.
- Improvement works currently planned for the A68/A696 include carriageway widening and resurfacing of the A696 at Heeston Bank, carriageway resurfacing and bridge deck waterproofing on the A68 between Whitelees Farm and Carter Bar, bridge deck waterproofing on the A68 at Rochester and various small highway improvements on the A696 at Ponteland.
- On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, we plan to harden verges along the A696 to provide passing points for Army tank convoys travelling to and from the MOD Otterburn Training Area. We hope to finish these works by November 2003.
- The Highways Agency does not forecast increases in traffic for specific roads. However, the growth in traffic on rural single carriageway roads in the National Road Traffic Forecast 1997 is forecast to be 22% by 2011, relative to 1996 levels.
- If you require any further information, Peter Moffatt in our Leeds Office will be happy to assist you. He can be contacted on 0113 283 6503.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) cars, motorbikes and vans, (b) lorries and (c) camper-vans and caravans used the (i) A68, (ii) A696 and (iii) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh on an average day in the last 12 months. [60645]
Mr. Jamieson: The available information on the average numbers of vehicles per day on the A696/A68/A7 route between Newcastle and Edinburgh in 2000, is given in the table:
| Vehicle type | Number |
|---|---|
| Cars | 5,041 |
| Motorcycles | 68 |
| LGV (vans) | 639 |
| HGV (lorries) | 446 |
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