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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 25 February 2004

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Parliamentary Questions

Llew Smith: To ask the Leader of the House if he will take steps to ensure that the texts of ministerial letters sent to hon. Members in respect of written answers are printed in the Official Report. [156641]

Mr. Hain: I have recently written to the Speaker assuring him that, following representations from hon. Members, my office is actively engaged with the House authorities and departments in exploring how we can best reduce the number of "will write" answers and make any subsequent ministerial letters more accessible.

TRANSPORT

Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many days on average his Department took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a parliamentary Question for Ordinary Written Answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a Question was. [155932]

Mr. McNulty: In the Session 2002–03, the Department for Transport received 2,785 parliamentary questions for Ordinary Written Answer, of which 2,522 (91 per cent.) were answered on time. Records on average processing times for parliamentary questions are not collected and to compile such data would incur disproportionate cost. The greatest number of days taken to answer an Ordinary Written Question was 44 sitting days.

Speed Cameras

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the relative effectiveness of (a) inconspicuous speed cameras accompanied by high-profile advertising and road signs and (b) single brightly-coloured speed cameras. [153021]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 February 2004]: The objective of the safety camera programme is to reduce injuries and crashes by deterring excessive speed at places with a history of speed related accidents. Visible cameras, clearly signed, help achieve this. Drivers can also obtain information on the location of cameras from local safety camera partnerships' websites.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money raised in fines from speed cameras during the last year for which records are available was spent in (a) West Sussex and (b) the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency. [154400]

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Mr. Jamieson: Information on all the "Safety Camera Partnerships" expenditure for the financial year 2002–03 is being prepared and will be published shortly. This was the first year in which the West Sussex Safety Camera Partnership was operating.

We do not hold statistical revenue information broken down by parliamentary constituency areas. The hon. Member may wish to contact the West Sussex safety camera partnership for more detailed information.

Speed Limits

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes to (a) emission levels, (b) fuel consumption, (c) accident rates and (d) severity of accidents he estimates would result from an increase in the motorway speed limit to 80mph. [155498]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 23 February 2004]: Although no detailed estimates are available for such an increase, there is evidence to indicate that emission levels, fuel consumption, accident rates and severity of accidents would all rise.

Road Resurfacing

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the trunk road network has been (a) re-surfaced and (b) re-surfaced with lower noise surfacing in each of the last three years. [155070]

Mr. Darling: Government policy is to encourage the implementation of technologies that reduce the noise arising from road traffic wherever these are cost effective and do not have adverse consequences on safety. Categorisation of sites for low noise surfacing is primarily based on maintenance need. In addition, we have criteria for categorisation for noise reduction of roads with concrete surfaces. We announced these criteria on 17 October 2001; they are:

1. that wherever possible the application of quieter surfaces will fit in with normal maintenance needs;

2. that priority will be given to those sites where treatment would benefit the greatest number of people;

3. that the works will be carried out in such a way as to minimise disruption to general public and users of the network;

4. that priority will be given to roads, opened since June 1988, where actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of Public Inquiry.

Priority is given to road surfaces that are deteriorating and to locations where road safety is an issue. Where the resurfacing is specifically for noise reduction purposes priority will be given to those cases in which the actual noise levels exceed those predicted by at least three decibels, or where more than 100 properties per kilometre are affected by excess noise.

During 2000–01 4.3 per cent. of the Highways Agency's core network was resurfaced including 3.5 per cent. with quieter surfacing. During 2001–02 the figures were 4.2 per cent. and 3.8 per cent. respectively, and in 2002–03 5.5 per cent. and 5.0 per cent. respectively. In the current year, 2003–04, the Highways Agency estimate these figures will be 5.0 per cent. and 4.6 per cent. respectively.

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Vehicle Insurance/Taxation

Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department is taking to reduce the number of motor vehicles on the roads (a) without insurance and (b) without road taxation. [155791]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department is determined to take effective action to tackle the problem of uninsured driving,. To that end, we commissioned last August an independent review of motor insurance with uninsured driving as a key consideration. The reviewer, Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University, is expected to report in April. We shall take a keen interest in his recommendations, with a view to taking appropriate action as soon as practicable.

We have considerably tightened the enforcement of Vehicle Excise Duty through the "continuous registration" package of measures. By introducing continuous registration and using modern technology, we are improving the accuracy of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's vehicle register to the benefit of law enforcement and the honest motorist. To deal with short term Vehicle Excise Duty evasion, we have introduced fines for those over a month overdue with relicensing their vehicle. We are tackling those vehicles already outside the system of registration and licensing with enhanced enforcement using wheel clamping and ANPR cameras. By enhancing the quality of the vehicle register these measures are intended to assist the police in the fight against crime, and to assist local authorities in tracking down and enforcing costs against those who abandon vehicles.

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to take to reduce the number of uninsured drivers. [155888]

Mr. Jamieson: The Department is determined to take effective action to tackle the problem of uninsured driving. To that end, we commissioned last August an independent review of motor insurance with uninsured driving as a key consideration. The reviewer, Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University, is expected to report in April. We shall take a keen interest in his recommendations, with a view to taking appropriate action as soon as practicable.

WALES

Structural Funding

7. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury on matching the funds of Objective 1 payments. [155774]

Mr. Hain: I have regular discussions with the Treasury on a wide range of subjects.

Crime

9. Mrs. Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the crime figures in North Wales. [155776]

Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I regularly discuss crime figures with various interested parties.

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Recently, we have received correspondence from the Chief Constable of North Wales, clarifying the impact of important changes in the reporting of crime, and pointing out that the British Crime Survey's latest findings show that crime in England and Wales as a whole has gone down by 25 per cent. since 1997.

NHS Funding

10. Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government on the funding of the NHS in Wales. [155777]

Mr. Touhig: I regularly meet the Assembly Health Minister to discuss the NHS and health provision in Wales including funding.

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