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13 Sept 2004 : Column 1392W—continued
Cycleways
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers (a) he has and (b) are vested in local authorities to prevent motorised vehicles from blocking cycleways including those on the highway; and what plans he has to ensure that cycleways are not blocked by motorised vehicles. [188379]
Mr. McNulty: Parking enforcement is a matter for the police or, where local authorities have acquired decriminalised parking enforcement powers, those authorities.
It is an offence under section 21 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to park a motor vehicle wholly or partly on a track provided for use by pedal cyclists. Parking in a cycle lane marked on a carriageway for the use of cyclists may be prohibited by means of a traffic regulation order made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The restriction would be indicated by yellow lines and may operate 24 hours a day or for a more limited period. It is an offence under sections 5 or 8 of the 1984 Act to contravene such an order.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether provision of cycleways was part of the safer city project in Gloucester. [188380]
Mr. Jamieson: Gloucester Safer City Project addressed safety issues on the roads in Gloucester and implemented measures to improve safety for cyclists along approximately 15 km of the carriageway. Off road cycleways were not part of the project. However, cycle lanes were provide in Elmbridge Road, Finlay Road, Cheltenham Road, Stroud Road and Bristol Road. In addition, on the Stroud Road the cycle lane was taken on to the footway for part of its route and in Metz Way the off-road cycle route was improved.
EU Emissions Trading System
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) research he has commissioned and (b) steps he has initiated to facilitate the incorporation of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading System. [188754]
Mr. McNulty: The information requested is as follows:
(a) There is a growing body of research on emissions trading, some of it funded or part funded by the Department for Transport. Recent examples include projects by (i) ICF Consulting for the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (ii) OXERA for BAA plc and (iii) The Institute of Applied Ecology for the German Environment Agency. The European Commission is also in the process of letting a major research contract to consider the incorporation of aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
(b) The Department is having discussions with stakeholders and other EU States to gather support for the UK's initiative and seek views on potential answers to some of the difficult design issues.
M40
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the accident rate per number of vehicles on the M40 between
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junctions 3 and 6 in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average accident rate for motorways was in the same period. [188051]
Mr. Jamieson: The Highways Agency publishes accident rates per million vehicle kilometres travelled. On this basis, the accident rates in 2003 for the section of the M40 between junctions 3 and 6 are as follows:
| Junctions | Accident rate |
|---|---|
| 3 to 4 | 0.187 |
| 4 to 5 | 0.033 |
| 5 to 6 | 0.087 |
The national accident rate for a three-lane motorway is 0.089.
Motorcycling
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities there were of (a) motor cycle riders and (b) pillion passengers in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by police authority area. [188396]
Mr. Jamieson: Numbers of fatalities of two wheeled motor vehicle riders and pillion passengers by police authority area for 1999 to 2003 are given in the following table.
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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the main motor cyclist associations on accident prevention. [188397]
Mr. Jamieson:
The Advisory Group on Motorcycling, which I Chaired, discussed motorcycling safety in considerable depth, among other issues. The Group included the British Motorcyclists Federation, the Motorcycle Action Group, the Motorcycle Industry
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Association, the Motorcycle Retailers Association, the Motorcycle Rider Training Association and the Despatch Association.
The "Advisory Group on Motorcycling: Final Report to Government" was published in August and is available in the House Library. It makes 16 suggestions and 38 recommendations to Government. A number of these concern improving safety and helping to prevent accidents. We are considering them carefully in the context of preparing a national strategy for motorcycling, which we hope to have developed before the end of the year.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with interested parties on banning the carriage of child pillion passengers on motorcycles. [188398]
Mr. Jamieson: I have had no such discussions. Regulations are already in place to ensure that passengers of any age or size can be carried safely, when they are complied with. These include a requirement for passengers to wear a securely fastened safety helmet and to sit astride a properly fixed seat, with their feet reaching suitable supports or rests. Only motorcyclists who have passed a motorcycle test may carry passengers.
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the final report of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling; and if he will make a statement in response to its recommendations. [188448]
Mr. Jamieson: The Government welcomes this Report. It concludes the work of the Advisory Group on Motorcycling set up by my Department, which was established to consider the role of motorcycling within an integrated transport policy, including important issues such as safety and environmental impact.
The Report contains 38 recommendations and 16 suggestions covering a range of issues. These are designed to make motorcycling safer and to improve the motorcycling experience. The Government are considering them carefully in the context of preparing a national strategy for motorcycling, which we hope to have developed before the end of the year.
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