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28 Apr 2004 : Column 997W—continued
Diesel Spillages
Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (1) if he will take steps to encourage vehicle manufacturers to undertake or fund research into designs for a fuel tank that would not allow diesel to spill onto the highway, even if over-filled; [168612]
(2) if he will launch a campaign to raise awareness amongst commercial goods vehicle drivers of the risks that diesel spillage due to over-filled fuel tanks can cause to other road users, especially motorcyclists; [168613]
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(3) if he will support the campaign by The Road Users Campaign to Kill Diesel Spills to reduce the number of diesel spillages on British roads; [168614]
(4) if he will make non-spill fuel caps compulsory for all new diesel vehicles to prevent dangerous diesel spillages on the road. [168615]
Mr. Jamieson: I recognise the problems that can be caused by spilled diesel, particularly to motorcyclists, which is why my Department has launched a review into this issue. Part of this review is looking into the possibility of raising the profile of the existing spillage prevention Regulations. Until this study is complete I will not be making any proposals or recommendations concerning the construction and use of diesel fuel tanks in respect of preventing diesel spillage.
The European fuel tanks Directive 2000/8/EC has been mandatory, since 3 May 2003 for cars.
At present there are no pre-registration checks on the fuel tanks of commercial vehicles and buses. However, these vehicles will have to meet Whole Vehicle Type Approval by 2008 at the earliest and completely by 2011, although manufacturers are all likely to comply before this date. The new Type Approval incorporates the fuel tank Directive.
The correct fitting and operation of fuel tank filler caps is now checked during a vehicle's annual test which will have a positive effect on preventing diesel spillage.
Highways Agency Traffic Officers
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the responsibilities of uniformed Highways Agency Traffic Officers are. [168254]
Mr. Darling: The responsibilities of the uniformed Highways Agency traffic officer patrols will be to keep traffic flowing and support road users by managing minor incidents, dealing with the traffic consequences of all incidents, organising the removal of broken down and abandoned vehicles, removing debris and obstructions and implementing traffic management measures.
Uniformed traffic officers will also be working in seven regional control centres where they will work in partnership with the police to control incident management, operate variable message signs and answer calls from emergency roadside telephones.
Traffic officers will help improve the quality of traffic information to road users by providing better information on the nature, scale and anticipated duration of incidents.
The police will continue to deal with major incidents, which require significant co-ordination of the emergency services, and those involving death, injury, criminality or threats to public order and public safety.
By transferring these roles and responsibilities to the Highways Agency, it will free-up police time to concentrate more on road safety, crime and law enforcement.
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Ministerial Travel
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what form of transport he used to travel to and from London Liverpool Street railway station on 1 April to launch the new Greater Anglia Franchise. [167292]
Mr. McNulty: The Secretary of State travelled by car to London Liverpool Street railway station.
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the occasions from 1 January to 31 March when, in association with his ministerial duties, he used (a) railway services, (b) bus services and (c) underground trains. [168065]
Mr. McNulty: The Secretary of State has used various forms of transport, including railway services, bus services and underground trains, during this period, in association with his ministerial duties.
Motorways
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that all future and current construction of fencing alongside the M1 motorway in Leicestershire and South Yorkshire is set back a sufficient distance from the motorway to accommodate future widening. [168230]
Dr. Howells: There are currently no proposals to install fencing along the sections of the M1 in Leicestershire and South Yorkshire that are affected by future widening schemes.
Should any proposals arise in the future, the Highways Agency would take into account the widening of the M1 prior to carrying out any works.
Recycled Paper
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what percentage of (a) paper for printed publications and (b) copying paper used by the Department in 2002–03 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained; [166058]
(2) what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content; [166059]
(3) what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled of which a minimum in 75 per cent. post-consumer waste; [166060]
(4) when his Department expects to implement in full the quick win targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for
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printed publications brought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste. [166061]
Mr. McNulty: It is the Department's policy to use 100 per cent. recycled paper (comprising at least 80 per cent. post consumer waste) for all work not requiring specialist papers. This exceeds the minimum required by the quick win targets set by DEFRA.
99 per cent. of the copier paper bought by my Department in 2002–03 and 2003–04 was 100 per cent. recycled and contained a minimum of 80 per cent. post consumer waste.
100 per cent. of paper used for printed publications produced through my Department's Communication Directorate contained a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.
Procurement officers are made aware of the availability of competitively priced recycled papers by:
(a) promoting the use of the recycled copier papers available under this contract to the Department's stationery ordering points and across its agencies and NDPB's;
(b) monitoring HQ paper consumption monthly and investigating non-compliant purchases. The Department's agencies are expected to monitor compliance similarly.
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports, in each case stating (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the (A) recycled and (B) post-consumer recycled content of each paper. [166062]
Mr. McNulty: This information is as follows:
(a) and (b) Copier paper and stationery:
Banner Business Supplies Limited:
Evolve Office Paper—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post consumer recycled
Xerox Recycled Paper—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post consumer recycled
Banner Office Paper—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post consumer recycled
Banner Business Supplies Limited:
Banner envelopes—80 per cent. to 100 per cent. recycled, 65 per cent. to 85 per cent. post consumer recycled
New Guardian Armour gusset envelopes—80 per cent. to 100 per cent. recycled, 65 per cent. to 85 per cent. post consumer recycled
Survivor Tyvek extra strong envelopes—Not known
Greencoat—80 per cent. recycled, 80 per cent. post-consumer waste Paper
Hexagon Wove—100 per cent. recycled, 80 per cent. post-consumer waste, 20 per cent. pre-consumer waste
Evolution Satin—75 per cent. recycled, 75 per cent. post-consumer waste
Evolution Gloss—75 per cent. recycled, 75 per cent. post-consumer waste
Evolve Business—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post-consumer waste
Cyclus Print—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post-consumer waste
Cyclus Offset—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post-consumer waste
Cyclus Offset—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post-consumer waste
Cyclus Print—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post-consumer waste
Repeat—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post-consumer waste
ReVert—80 per cent. recycled, 80 per cent. post-consumer waste
Revive Matt—75 per cent. recycled, 75 per cent. post-consumer waste
Revive Gloss—75 per cent. recycled, 75 per cent. post-consumer waste
Evolve Business—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post-consumer waste
Alsaprint—100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. post-consumer waste
Revive Silk—75 per cent. recycled, 75 per cent. post-consumer waste
Revive Uncoated—100 per cent. recycled, 80 per cent. post-consumer waste, 20 per cent. pre-consumer waste
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