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24 Feb 2003 : Column 290W—continued

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes in unit payments for electricity have resulted from the switch by his Department to purchasing renewable energy which is exempt from the Climate Change Levy. [96488]

Mr. Jamieson: In response to Government targets, my Department has switched a number of its sites over to the purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources that are exempt from the Climate Change Levy. Where this has taken place, the actual average price was 4.07p/kWh, the 'standard' electricity price would have been 3.9p/kWh, so the increase due to the purchase of this renewable energy is 0.17p/kWh or 4.3 per cent.

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Road Building

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the schemes in the Government's targeted programme of improvements have been through all their statutory processes. [98021]

Mr Jamieson: There are 72 schemes in the Targeted Programme of Improvements and 28 of these, including six already delivered, have been through all their statutory processes.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the roads schemes where a full Environmental Statement under Directive 97/11/EC was produced before inclusion in the Government's targeted programme of improvements. [98024]

Mr. Jamieson: A full Environmental Statement under Directive 97/11/EC was produced for the following 33 schemes, before inclusion in the Government's targeted programme of improvements; Al Willowburn-Denwick Improvement, A1(M) Ferrybridge-Hook Moor, A1(M) Wetherby-Walshford, A2/A282 Dartford Improvement, A5 Nesscliffe Bypass, A6 Great Glen Bypass, A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass, A6 Rothwell-Desborough Bypass, A6 Clapham Bypass, A6 Alvaston, A10 Wadesmill-Colliers End, All Roudham Heath-Attleborough Improvement, A21 Lamberhurst Bypass, A27 Polegate Bypass, A41 Aston Clinton Bypass, A43 Silverstone Bypass, A43 Whitfield Turn-Brackley Hatch Improvement, A43 M40-B4031 Dualling, A46 Newark-Lincoln Improvement, A63 Selby Bypass, A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass, A120 Stansted-Braintree Improvement, A249 Iwade-Queenborough Improvement, A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass, A650 Bingley Relief Road, A1033 Hedon Road Improvement, M25 J12–15 Widening, M60 J5–8 Widening, M6 Carlisle-Guardsmill Extension, A595 Parton-Lillyhall Improvement, Al Dishforth-Leeming, Al Bramham-Wetherby (including Wetherby Bypass), Al Leeming-Barton.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are taken by the Highways Agency to evaluate the potential effects of road building schemes on (a) SSSIs, (b) AONBs and (c) national parks before Ministerial approval. [98054]

Mr. Jamieson: All road building schemes undertaken by the Highways Agency are subject to environmental assessment. Potential effects on SSSIs, AONBs and National Parks are considered as part of this assessment process.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list completed road building programmes that have affected designated (a) SSSIs, (b) AONBs and (c) national parks in each year since 1997. [98056]

Mr. Jamieson: The following major trunk road schemes completed in or since 1997 (completion year in brackets) affected:







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Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list road schemes proposed by local authorities in England and Wales in local transport plans that will affect (a) sites of special interest, (b) areas of outstanding scientific natural beauty, (c) national parks and (d) internationally designated sites; and in each case whether a preferred route has been announced. [98057]

Mr. Jamieson: The following schemes listed, which have been accepted or provisionally accepted in local transport plans, will have some effect on such areas as indicated by an (a), (b), (c) or (d) as appropriate. Local authorities will work with the statutory environmental bodies to implement appropriate mitigation. Where a preferred route has been announced this is indicated by "PR". My Department is not responsible for road schemes in Wales.


Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list road building programmes by county. [98053]

Mr. Jamieson: A table containing a list of Highways Agency targeted programme of improvements road schemes by county and a list of English local authority major road schemes by local highway authority has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Road Gritting

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the authorities in England who have the direct responsibility for gritting trunk roads; and what the authorities' new responsibilities are for gritting roads. [98556]

Mr. Jamieson: The operation and gritting of trunk roads in England is the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

In England there is no explicit statutory duty on a highway authority to remove ice, but we shall introduce one at a suitable legislative opportunity.

Road Quietening Schemes

Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road quietening schemes that are being examined by his Department for the ASO. [98885]

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Mr. Jamieson: The following lengths of A50 are included in the Ten Year Plan for Transport with a view to replacing the existing concrete surface with a quieter material:


Rural Road Hierarchy

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Government will implement a new rural road hierarchy. [98025]

Mr Jamieson: Following the publication of the Rural Road Hierarchy Report in November 2001 we are progressing work to improve safety across our rural road network. This includes the development of a framework to assess what speeds are appropriate together with surveys of what speeds are actually being driven on rural roads. The first results of this work should be available shortly and will feed into other work including a review of the guidance on setting speed limits due to start later this year.

Signage

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Circular which will explain the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 will provide guidance to highway authorities on avoiding sign clutter in the countryside; and when it will be published. [98027]

Mr Jamieson: DfT Circular 02/2003 was published on 31 January. It explains the differences between the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2002 and the TSRGD 1994 that they replace. It does not contain guidance on sign clutter. However the Department will be publishing updated guidance later this year which will remind signing practitioners that signs should be used sparingly whether in the countryside or in towns. The revised Chapter 4 of the Traffic Signs Manual, on the use of warning signs, which we expect to publish in the summer, will provide advice on how to provide effective signing while minimising environmental intrusion. Revised guidance on the use of directional signs to tourist destinations will remind local authorities of the need to minimise the environmental impacts of signs, particularly in rural areas.

Speed Limits

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the highway authorities which have a policy of adopting a 30 mph speed limit as the norm through villages; and what action the Government are taking in respect of highway authorities which have not adopted a policy of 30 mph speed limits as the norm through villages. [98026]

Mr Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. Local highway authorities have powers to set speed limits on their roads according to local needs.

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The Department is however developing guidance to local highway authorities on village entry signing to assist with introducing 30mph speed limits in villages —

supported by other work that is seeking to simplify the process.

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