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14 Jul 2004 : Column 1189W—continued
Cross-border Toll Roads
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales regarding the introduction of cross-border toll roads. [183021]
Mr. Jamieson: There have been no specific discussions regarding the introduction of cross-border toll roads with the National Assembly for Wales.
Drivers (Drug Testing)
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been put in place for the testing of drivers of road vehicles who are suspected by a police officer to be driving while under the influence of drugs. [183483]
Mr. Jamieson: Where the police suspect that a driver is unfit to drive, and may be under the influence of drugs, there are long-standing provisions for the police to arrest and test the driver in custody. In addition, section 107 of and schedule 7 to the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 provide powers for the police to require specimens for roadside screening tests for the presence of drugs and to undertake impairment testing that will help an officer reach a judgement whether a driver may be unfit to drive.
The type-approval specification for roadside screening devices and the Code of Practice for officers administering impairment testing (required by the new legislation) are presently in preparation.
14 Jul 2004 : Column 1190W
Foreign-registered Vehicles
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 23 June 2004, Official Report, column 1405W, on foreign registered vehicles, under what statutory powers UK police may prosecute Irish registered vehicles that do not display up-to-date Irish road tax; and in respect of how many such vehicles prosecutions have been brought in the last three years. [181407]
Mr. Jamieson: The UK enforcement authorities may prosecute Irish registered vehicles which do not display up-to-date Irish road tax under Section 29 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. Figures for prosecutions against foreign registered vehicles are not available.
Heathrow-Belfast Flights
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold discussions with British Airways as part of the Regional Air Services Consultation in relation to the reintroduction of a Heathrow-Belfast service by the airline; and if he will make a statement. [183496]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 13 July 2004]: It is not Government policy to intervene in individual airline's commercial decisions with regard to flight destinations. However we recognise the importance of regional air services to London and recently launched a public consultation on the protection of regional air services to London. We will continue to hold discussions with the UK airline industry as we develop policy in this area. In addition, the hon. Lady will be aware that since it was set up in September last year, the Northern Ireland Route Development Fund has lead to the establishment of four new routes to destinations in the UK and continental Europe and discussions are under way on additional services.
HGV Accidents
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents in (a) 2003 and (b) 2002 involving heavy goods vehicles resulted in a person being killed or seriously injured; and how many people were killed or seriously injured in collisions involving an HGV in (a) 2003 and (b) 2002. [182735]
Mr. Jamieson: The following table shows both fatal and serious accidents and fatal and seriously injured casualties in accidents involving heavy goods vehicles in 2003 and 2002.
| Fatal | Serious | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accidents | |||
| 2003 | 480 | 1,755 | 2,235 |
| 2002 | 480 | 1,888 | 2,368 |
| Casualties | |||
| 2003 | 528 | 2,111 | 2,639 |
| 2002 | 532 | 2,374 | 2,906 |
14 Jul 2004 : Column 1191W
Ministerial Air Travel
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each year since the Department's creation the number of miles flown by each Minister on official departmental business. [181866]
Mr. McNulty: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, 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. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2003–04 is currently being assembled and will be published shortly. All ministerial travel is undertaken 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.
Motor Cycling
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with groups representing motorcyclists with a view to involving them in efforts to reduce road casualties attributable to motorcycling. [183486]
Mr. Jamieson: The Advisory Group on Motorcycling, which I Chair, has been reviewing motorcycling safety in considerable depth, among other motorcycling issues, and will shortly publish its Final Report to Government, following which the Government will issue its national strategy for motorcycling. The Advisory Group includes the British Motorcyclists Federation, the Motorcycle Action Group, the Motorcycle Industry Association, the Motorcycle Retailers Association, the Motorcycle Rider Training Association and the Despatch Association.
Oil Transfers (Lyme Bay)
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2004, Official Report, column 481W, on oil transfers (Lyme Bay), if he will list the vessels involved in oil transfers in Lyme Bay in 2003, broken down by (a) mother ships and (b) shuttle tankers. [183151]
Mr. Jamieson: Further investigation by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has confirmed that there were in fact 20 ships involved in transfers in 2003.
Iran Hormoz
Arosa
Iran Nabi.
Baltic Commander
Fili
Natura
Kogalym
Zoja II
Maremar
Montreaux
Seine
White Point
Kapitan Putilin
Kazym River
FS Vanessa
Odin
Kapitan Zhuraylov
Blue Dolphin
Alia
Nounou.
Ports
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he subscribes to the policy on port development set out in paragraph 2.5.10 of Modern Ports: a UK Policy. [183577]
Mr. Jamieson: Yes. Government policy on port development remains as set out in this and other related paragraphs in the document.
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he subscribes to the policy on container ports set out in paragraphs (a) 2.1.4, (b) 2.1.5, (c) 2.4.6 and (d) 2.4.8 of Modern Ports: a UK Policy. [183578]
Mr. Jamieson: Yes. Government policy on container ports remains as set out in these and other related paragraphs in the document.
Potters Bar Rail Accident
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers he has to intervene in the payment of compensation by Network Rail to the bereaved families and survivors of the Potters Bar derailment; what plans and representations he has made to Network Rail on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [182865]
Mr. McNulty: Compensation cases of this kind have to be resolved between the victims or their representatives and Network Rail and Jarvis. Ultimately the courts are the only body that can intervene if no agreement is reached. There are no powers for Ministers to intervene. However, I have written to Network Rail about the issues raised on compensation in your adjournment debate on the Potters Bar derailment on 30 June.
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