| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
19 Dec 2002 : Column 938W—continued
Highway Maintenance
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what funding has been allocated to local authorities for highway maintenance for each financial year from 1997–98 to 2005–06 (a) in total and (b) for each local authority; [86096]
- (2) what support was given by his Department to local authorities (a) in total and (b) for each authority, in each financial year since 2000–01 for roads maintenance and repair, broken down by different sources of this funding; and what changes are planned in the next 10 years to the level of funding. [86108]
Mr. Jamieson: Before 2000–01 capital allocations were made under the TSG/TPP system. Since then allocations have been made under the Local Transport Plan system. Details of capital funding for English local authorities outside London for the years 1997–98 to 2004–05 have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Capital funding for maintenance in London is a matter for the Mayor.
Revenue funding for highway maintenance is provided through Revenue Support Grant (RSG). RSG is an unhypothecated grant provided to Local Authorities to enable them to carry out their functions; local authorities can choose to spend this on any services for which they have responsibility, subject to local spending priorities. The amounts provided for highway maintenance within the national totals for RSG in the years 1997–98 to 2004–05 are set out in the table.
| Year | Local roads revenue |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1,658 |
| 1998–99 | 1,721 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,763 |
| 2000–01 | 1,859 |
| 2001–02 | 1,905 |
| 2002–03 | 1,955 |
| 2003–04 | 2,005 |
| 2004–05 | 2,055 |
The Government is committed to halting the deterioration in local road condition by 2004 and to eliminating the backlogs in carriageway, footway, bridge and street lighting maintenance by 2010. Over #30 billion for local road maintenance is being provided over the timescale of the 10-year Transport Plan.
19 Dec 2002 : Column 939W
M6
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the economic impact of traffic congestion on the M6. [87911]
Mr. Jamieson: The consultants gave consideration to this aspect of the MidMan Multi Model study. A copy of this report can be found in the House of Commons Library.
In response to its recommendations, the Secretary of State for Transport last week announced that the widening of the M6 between junctions 11a and 19 will be progressed. It is expected that the Highways Agency will add a scheme to its Targeted Programme of Improvements during the first half of 2003.
Motorway (South Preston and Warrington North)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what part of the motorway between South Preston and Warrington North will remain three lanes; and which council areas will be affected; [87517]
- (2) what plans he has to make the Warrington North to Preston South section of the M6 four lanes; and what plans and costings have been carried out of the four lanes proposal. [87518]
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 Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 19 December 2002:
- The Transport Minister has asked me to write to reply to your recent questions about plans for the M6 motorway between Warrington North and Preston South.
19 Dec 2002 : Column 940W
- There are currently no proposals to make the Warrington North to Preston South section of the M6 four lanes. However as the Secretary of State said last week we do keep these matters under review. You also asked for confirmation of which council areas are affected by this route. The M6 passes through the Boroughs of Warrington, Wigan, St. Helens, Chorley and the City of Preston.
- You may be interested to note that the Agency is currently progressing a Route Management Strategy (RMS) on the M6 between Junction 20 at Lymm to the Scottish Border as part of our 10-year plan to make best use of this route. Early investigations on the RMS have identified congestion problems during the peak periods especially between Junctions 24 and 28. However, further study work is needed before we can incorporate any local network schemes into the RMS management plan.
- We expect to hold Public consultation on the draft RMS during spring next year. I will write to you again nearer the time with more details. In the meantime if you need any further information, please contact the Highways Agency's Regional Manager for Network Strategy in the North West, Malcolm Roberts, at Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BE, Tel: 0161 930 5668.
New Roads
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of new (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads have been constructed in each of the last five years. [87910]
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 Mr. Nigel Evans, dated 19 December 2002:
- I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many miles of new motorways and trunk roads have been constructed in each of the last five years.
- In England a total length of 68.31 miles of new motorway and 139.86 miles of new trunk road have been constructed over the last five years. More detailed information is shown in the table below.
| Motorways | Trunk road | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year of completion | Newly constructed | Widened | Upgraded from APTR | Newly constructed | Widened |
| 1997–98 | 11.37 | 12.5 | 13.125 | 46.875 | 18.06 |
| 1998–99 | 0 | 7.94 | 13.125 | 12.375 | 7.875 |
| 1999–2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24.75 | 2.5 |
| 2000–01 | 10.25 | 0 | 0 | 13.75 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.8 | 11.875 |
| Sub total | 21.62 | 20.44 | 26.25 | 99.55 | 40.31 |
| Grand total | 68.31 | 139.86 | |||
I hope that this is helpful. If you would like more information, Graham Rainbow of the Programme Planning and Development team, would be pleased to help. He can be contacted at our offices at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1BL, or by telephone on 0121 678 8008.
Redhill Aerodrome
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he intends to include a proposal to develop Redhill Aerodrome in his consultation on airport capacity in the South East; and if he will make a statement; [87990]
- (2) if he will make a statement on road links to Redhill Aerodrome; [87991]
(3) what representations the Department has received regarding plans for the development of a major airport based at Redhill Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement; [87994]
(4) what estimate he has made of the effect on air movements at Gatwick Airport of the development of an international airport at Redhill Aerodrome capable of transporting (a) 2.6 million and (b) 15 million passengers per year; [87992]
19 Dec 2002 : Column 941W
(5) what proposals he has received regarding the development of Redhill Aerodrome as a major passenger airport; and if he will publish them. [87993]
Mr. Jamieson: As a response to The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East) Consultation Redhill Aerodrome Limited lodged on 13 December a submission that includes proposals to develop a new stand-alone passenger airport on the existing aerodrome site.
We will make publicly available in due course all responses to the consultation, except those marked confidential. In the mean time publication is a matter for the authors.
As part of the early SERAS analysis two options for the development of Redhill as an adjunct to Gatwick airport were considered. Details of this work are contained in Chapter three of the Stage One appraisal findings report. Following the conclusion of the first stage of the SERAS study, Ministers decided that these options would not be taken forward for more detailed assessment in the latter stages of the study.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced to Parliament on 28 November that the consultation on airports capacity will be extended until we have consulted on proposals in respect of Gatwick. Those who have already responded to the consultation will be able to amend, add to, or replace their response having considered the new document. We will set out our plans for the remaining stage of the consultation process when we publish the further consultation paper in the new year.
Road Improvements (Yorkshire)
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will include ways of improving traffic flows on both A614 and A165 in the further studies on road improvements in Yorkshire announced on 10 December. [87382]
Mr. Spellar: The further studies on road improvements in Yorkshire announced by the Secretary of State in the Statement on Transport Investment on 10 December refer to the two Multi-Modal studies that have been undertaken in the Yorkshire and the Humber region: the South and West Yorkshire Multi-Modal Study (SWYMMS) and the Hull East-West Corridor Multi-Modal Study (HUMMS), on which Ministers expect to take decisions next year. Neither of these relate to the A614 or A165 roads over any of their lengths.
The A614 and A165 roads are the responsibility of East Riding of Yorkshire Council as local highway authority and the Government allocates funds annually to local authorities to spend on their transport infrastructure.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |