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3 Dec 2002 : Column 665W—continued
Illegal Parking
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will introduce adoptive powers to make it an offence to allow vehicles to be parked on verges and footpaths; [85170]
- (2) if he will bring into force section 19a of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to make it an offence for motor vehicles, other than heavy commercial vehicles, to park on verges and footways or the land between carriageways on any urban road. [85171]
Mr. Jamieson: Section 19A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 was repealed by the Road Traffic Act 1991.
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We are not in favour of a national ban on pavement parking for the reasons given in our response to recommendation [e viii] of the Walking in Towns and Cities report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee (Cm 5277). Parking on pavements and verges is a problem that should be tackled at local level using traffic regulation orders.
Jet Skis
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has had from (a) individuals, (b) manufacturers and (c) user groups about the need to regulate the use of jet-skis and make them subject to registration and insurance; and if he will make a statement. [83261]
Mr. Jamieson: My Department receives communications from time to time from individuals seeking advice. We continue to take the view that education and training are preferable to compulsory registration. My Department also liaises with manufacturers and user groups on a regular basis to produce safety guidelines and advice to encourage training and better awareness of the users' responsibilities.
Additionally my Department supports a national system, fully sponsored by manufacturers, users, and local authorities, covering voluntary training, insurance and registration.
Light Dues
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on how money received as light dues may be spent. [83570]
Mr. Jamieson: The provisions of section 211(2) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 define how monies paid into the General Lighthouse Fund (GLF) are spent. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has responsibility for the management of the fund and sanctions all expenditure by the General Lighthouse Authorities.
Modes of Travel
Mr. Andrew Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger miles were travelled in journeys by (a) train, (b) car, (c) bus, (d) aeroplane and (e) ship in the last year for which information is available. [85089]
Mr. Jamieson: The information is as follows:
| Mode of transport | billion |
|---|---|
| Rail | 47 |
| Car, vans and taxis | 624 |
| Bus and coach | 46 |
| Air | 8 |
| Water | 0.5 |
| All modes | (8)734 |
(8) Includes 9 billion passenger kilometres by pedal cycle or motor cycle.
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Mr. Andrew Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent in support of (a) road, (b) rail, (c) air and (d) sea transport in the last year for which information is available. [85090]
Mr. Jamieson: For 2001–02, the last year for which full information is available, total public expenditure was: £1,639 million on national roads; £2,080 million on railways; £92 million on aviation; and £9 million on maritime programmes.
In addition, local authorities are responsible for local roads and highways. In 1999–2000, the last year for which information on actual spending is available, gross revenue spending by English local authorities on highways was £1,994 million, with capital spending on roads of £930 million.
Motorway Congestion
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to take to reduce congestion on motorways; and what research he has conducted into the change in the speed of motorway traffic since 1998. [84243]
Mr. Jamieson: XTransport 2010: The Ten Year Plan" sets out our vision for a fairer and more effective transport system, while the Highways Agency's XStrategic Roads 2010" sets out the framework for delivering the strategic road network elements of the plan, which includes reducing congestion across the strategic motorway and trunk road network. This needs to be considered in the context of measures to improve other forms of transport, which will also contribute to delivery of the congestion target.
Pilot studies to actively manage the traffic and make better use of the existing road space will be undertaken, and where necessary, programmes of works such as the Targeted Programme of Improvements and the recently announced 92 priority junction schemes will be delivered. Both will provide increased capacity and improve conditions on the network.
To help deliver the reduction in congestion, the Highways Agency is also developing its role as a traffic manager to help motorists deal with congestion on motorways and other strategic routes, and has appointed a director whose prime purpose is to take this role forward. A number of initiatives are being pursued. These include the Traffic Control Centre project that will provide advice to motorists about travel conditions on the trunk road network, allowing them to plan their journeys more effectively to avoid congestion. In conjunction with the Police and other emergency services, the Agency is improving the way it deals with accidents and incidents on the network so that they are dealt with more effectively, reducing the time roads are disrupted to minimise congestion.
The Department for Transport has monitored trunk road and motorway speeds in 1995, 1998 and 2001. Surveys show that while, in general, overall speeds have fallen since 1995, average speeds on motorways were 2.5 mph faster in 2001 in the morning peak period when compared to the equivalent speeds in the 1998 survey. In the evening peak, they were 3.3 mph faster.
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Motorways
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the cost per mile of using a noise absorbing surface on motorways. [83904]
Mr. Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Mathews to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Ginny Clarke to Mr. Prentice, dated 3 December 2002:
- I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the cost per mile of using a noise—absorbing surface on motoways. I am replying in the absence of Tim Mathews the Chief Executive who is currently away on Highways Agency business.
- The cost varies considerably depending on site specific issues such as:
- the overall size of the contract,
- wheather the existing surface is to be planed out and to what depth, or overlaid,
- the thickness of the material to be laid and the number of layers,
- whether the work is to be carried out during the day or at night, re-opening the carriageway during the day,
- the complexity and duration of the traffic management necessary and,
- whether it is necessary to resurface the hard shoulders or carry out adjustments to other road items.
- The cost per mile for surfacing laid on both carriageways of a dual three—lane motorway would be expected to range between £200,000 and £450,000. These costs are for the quieter surfacings currently being used on the trunk road network in line with Government policy. They do not include the cost of porous asphalt for which no recent prices are available. Based on past experience however, this would be considerably more expensive; we estimate perhaps £600,000 to £700,000 per mile.
- If it would be helpful, John Williams in our pavement engineering team, would be pleased to discuss the quieter surfacings in current use on the trunk road network with you. His telephone number is 01234 796116.
Multi-Modal Studies
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the costs so far have been of the Multi-Modal Studies; and what the total estimated cost is. [85160]
Mr. Jamieson: Expenditure to 31 October 2002 on the Multi-Modal Studies has been approximately £27 million (excluding VAT). The estimated cost of the studies to completion of the programme is £32 million (excluding VAT).
New Trains (Glasgow-Euston)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when new trains will be introduced on the Glasgow-Preston-London Euston route. [84057]
Mr. Jamieson: A phased introduction of new Pendolino trains will begin early in 2003, initially between London and Manchester. Introduction of trains north of Crewe is dependent upon fleet delivery and ongoing route clearance and upgrade works.
3 Dec 2002 : Column 669W
Official Travel
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total expenditure of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies was on official travel in 2001–02. [84798]
Mr. Jamieson: The total expenditure on official travel for the predecessor Department, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in 2001–02 was £6,623,138.81. This total includes the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. Expenditure on official travel for its agencies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published, on an annual basis, the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Details of travel undertaken during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 was published on 24 July 2002, Official Report, columns 1374–75W. The cost of Ministers' visits overseas for 2002–03 will be published as soon as possible after the end of the current financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House.
All travel is undertaken fully in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. All travel by officials in my Department is undertaken in accordance with the principles set out in chapter 8 of the Civil Service Management Code (available on the net at: http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/managementcode/csmc.rtf
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total budget of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies is for official travel in 2002–03. [84933]
Mr. Jamieson: The budget for travel and subsistence is included in the high level allocation to Divisional Managers for administration costs. Divisional Managers decide on the allocation to each area of costs.
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