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Buses

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many low-emission buses were introduced in each of the last five years, broken down by type of (a) fuel and (b) engine that cause the lower emissions [64968]

Mr. Jamieson: To help reduce traffic pollution, low-emission buses and other heavy vehicles are eligible for lower 'reduced pollution certificate' (RPC) rates of Vehicle Excise Duty. The numbers of buses being registered in the last five years and qualifying for RPCs, broken down by fuel/engine type, are as follows:

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Petrol	0	0	0	6	2
Diesel	29	122	385	583	429
Gas	23	7	30	12	5
Total	52	129	415	601	436

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Road Safety

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people in each of the last five years for which figures are available have been killed as a result of motorists driving under the influence of (a) alcohol and (b) drugs; what new proposals he has to stop (i) drink and (ii) drug driving; and if he will make a statement. [64717]

Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is in the following table.

Estimates of road users killed in accidents where one or more drivers were above the legal limit

	Number
1996	580
1997	550
1998	460
1999	460
2000(54)	520

⁽⁵⁴⁾ Provisional

National road accident statistics do not identify cases where drivers involved were under the influence of drugs.

Publicity remains a major factor in combating drink driving. We are moving to a year round more diversified campaign involving a wide variety of media. With respect to drugs, we are considering the best way of targeting advice to potential users about the dangers of driving after taking drugs.

We intend also to strengthen enforcement by giving the police the power to undertake roadside evidential breath-testing and, where appropriate, to take blood samples from unconscious subjects in hospital. We are monitoring the impact of the new police drug recognition and impairment tests and also intend to take legislative powers to enable the police to require suspect drivers to undertake roadside tests which, could include specialised drug detection devices if they become available.

Roads (North-West)

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for new road schemes in the north-west; and if he will list those schemes, giving in each case the (a) cost and (b) commencement date. [64540]

Mr. Jamieson: The planned new road schemes in the Government's targeted programme of improvements that are not yet at the construction stage in the north-west are as follows. (The TPI is a programme of major road improvements announced in July 1998 in support of the Integrated Transport White Paper 'A New Deal for Transport'.)

Scheme and brief details	Estimated cost (£ million)	Start of Works
M60 Motorway Junctions 5 to 8 Widening.	80	2003–04
Widening the motorway from the present dual two and three lane carriageways to dual three and four lane carriageways with associated improvements to junctions.
A595 Parton to Lillyhall.	17.7	2005–06
Upgrading the route between Parton and Lillyhall, including improvements to junctions, and a dual carriageway bypass of the villages of Distington and Howgate.
A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass (dual carriageway).	18	Spring 2004–05
Removal of some 90 per cent. of traffic through Temple Sowerby, including a substantial number of heavy goods vehicles, bringing safety and environmental benefits.
M6 Motorway Extension Carlisle to Guards Mill.	65	2005–06
Upgrading to motorway status the only non-motorway link between Central Scotland and Southern England, which will include the replacement of the Mossband Viaduct.
M62 Motorway Junction 6 Improvement.	24	2007–08
Improvements to the junction by providing links from the M62 motorway (westbound) to the M57 (northbound), and from the M57 (southbound) to the M62 (eastbound). The scheme will contribute to the regeneration of Merseyside and relieve congestion at the junction 6 Roundabout.

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The start dates given are subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures.

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There are two other TPI schemes that are currently under construction. These are:

Scheme	Estimated cost (£ million)	Completion date
A500 Basford Hough Shavington Bypass.	28.2	Spring 2003
Removal of some 80 per cent. of traffic through Basford Hough and Shavington, including a substantial number of heavy goods vehicles.
A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass.	7.2	December 2002
Removal of some 75 to 80 per cent. of traffic through Stainburn and Great Clifton, including a substantial number of heavy goods vehicles.

There is also one other scheme that is not in the TPI, but which is currently under construction. This is the provision of a new junction 8 on the M62 at Warrington, and the widening of the motorway between junctions 8 and 9. The cost of the scheme is around £20 million, which is being met by the developer of the nearby Omega Development site. The expected completion date is December 2002.

There are also a number of local authority road schemes, which have been provisionally accepted for funding by the Secretary of State. They are:

Scheme	Estimated cost (£ million)	Completion date
Alderley Edge Bypass	38	October 2003
Bridgefoot Environmental Enhancement	6	April 2003
Carlisle Northern Development	22	June 2004
The Glossop Spur	7	August 2004
Hall Lane Improvement—Liverpool	9	April 2005

The SEMMMS report recommended three new road proposals to be taken forward by the local authorities. These are: Poynton Bypass; A555 MALRW; and the A6(M) Stockport north-south Bypass.

Roads

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total lengths of roads controlled by each local authority is, sub-divided between road classification. [66001]

Mr. Jamieson: The total length of public road controlled by local authorities in Great Britain was 377,346 kilometres as at 1 April 2001. A full analyses of the 11 classes of local authority roads within each of the 204 local authorities within Great Britain can be found by following the links at the following website: http:// www.transtat.dft.gov.uk/roadtraf/gorlen01.htm

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to reduce the value he puts on reducing road congestion when calculating a rail scheme's value for money. [66060]

Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's Freight Strategy, published in May 2001, announced that it was undertaking a review of the valuation of road congestion costs in time and money for lorry miles switched to rail. This review is on-going and I cannot prejudge the SRA's conclusions.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action the Government are taking to reduce road congestion. [64351]

Mr. Jamieson: It is intended that the 10-year plan will reduce road congestion below current levels by 2010. Under the 10-year plan £181.9 billion of investment will improve strategic roads, railways and local transport.

Speed Limits

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted (a) for and (b) by his Department into the impact of variable speed limits; what plans he has in relation to variable speed limits; and if he will make a statement. [64133]

Mr. Jamieson: The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) monitored trials on the effectiveness of variable speed limits outside schools. Variable Message Signs were installed outside schools that reduced the speed limit typically one hour around school arrival and leaving times. The result showed very little reduction in vehicle speeds and the report concluded that as a speed reducing feature they were ineffective.

The Highways Agency is also currently trialling variable speed limits on sections of the M25. Independent monitoring and assessment of the scheme is being undertaken by TRL and the results so far have been encouraging. The area over which the variable speed

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limits operate has recently been extended. The extension is being closely monitored and results are expected next year.

"Walking in Towns and Cities"

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken to implement the Transport Committee's report, "Walking in Towns and Cities"; and if he will make a statement. [64223]

Mr. Jamieson: Since the Government's response to the Select Committee was published in November 2001, a number of actions have taken place. A draft national walking strategy is being prepared and will be issued for consultation in due course. A series of regional seminars is under way throughout England and we are reviewing proposals for the establishment of an interactive website. We are developing a specification for research on attitudes to walking. Finally, we are reviewing and updating our technical guidance on walking.

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