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Roads

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which roads have been subject to noise attenuation measures during each of the last three years; and what the average noise level experienced in gardens adjacent to those sites was. [193076]

Mr. Jamieson: The following locations on the trunk road network, which were among those listed as meriting consideration for treatment in the 11 November 1999, Official Report, column 681, have received noise attenuation measures in the past three years.
 
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2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Al Long Bennington	Ml J10–11 Luton (2)	A1(M) Doncaster Bypass
A46 Kenilworth (1)	Ml J28, Pinxton	M6 J34–35, Carnforth
Ml J10–11 Luton (1)	M4 J6–7 Chalvey/Lake End	Ml J11–12 Luton
Ml near J25, Sandiacre	M50 Bromsberrow Heath	A40 Whitchurch
M3 Dummer, Hampshire	M60 J13–14 Swinton	A46 Sherbourne
M3 J4–4A Farnborough/Hawley	M61 J5–6 Lostock	A46 Kenilworth (2)
M4 J7–8/9 Holyport—Dorney Reach		A52 Clifton (2)
M5 Upton St. Leonards
M6 Ash Green
A52 Clifton (1)

Note:
Bracketed figures indicate a phased treatment has been applied at a location in different financial years.

In all cases, attenuation measures were designed to reduce noise levels at the facades of adjacent domestic residential properties by at least 3 dB and additionally to reduce the average noise level to 68 dB if practicable. Actual noise levels depend on the distance and screening between individual properties and the road. Information about the noise level in gardens is not available.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of total spending on highways repair and maintenance in Somerset from 1988–89 to 2004–05, in real terms; and if he will make a statement. [192127]

Mr. Jamieson: Reported out-turn spending on all aspects of highways repair and maintenance from Somerset county council, which is the highways authority for Somerset, are available on a consistent basis from 1993–94. In 2003 prices they are:

	£
1993–94	31,090,000
1994–95	35,056,000
1995–96	34,659,000
1996–97	32,379,000
1997–98	25,015,000
1998–99	25,415,000
1999–2000	29,139,000
2000–01	26,712,000
2001–02	35,694,000
2002–03	43,941,000

For 2003–04, Somerset county council were given indicative road maintenance budgets of £35,688,000, and for the current financial year £38,624,000 (cash prices).

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on the viability of the Rotherwas Industrial Estate if the proposed access road is built; and if he will make a statement. [191366]

Mr. Jamieson: The proposal for a Rotherwas access road was re-submitted to the Department for Transport in July of this year by Herefordshire Council. The submission included an economic impact study undertaken by consultants. This concluded that the construction of the proposed road would facilitate an increase in employment at the Rotherwas Industrial Estate of between 690–1,030 jobs through the expansion of existing businesses and inward investment.
 
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The information on jobs and the overall viability of the Rotherwas Industrial Estate is being carefully considered, along with other factors, as part of the Department for Transport's appraisal of the scheme. The Secretary of State for Transport will make an announcement later this year as part of the Local Transport Settlement.

Speeding Offences

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what factors underlay the proposal to introduce a system of graduated fixed penalties for speeding offences; and upon what research the proposal is based; [190991]

(2) what analysis has been made of the potential effect on the casualty rate should speeding penalties be altered in 30 mph areas. [190992]

Mr. Jamieson: Research evidence suggests that lower speeds result in fewer collisions of lesser severity, and that excessive speed exacerbates the severity of accidents (TRL Project Report 58 (1994) and TRL Report 421 (2000), and international research such as Transportation Research Board, Washington, Special Report 254 (1998)). The Government are seeking to introduce flexibility into the fixed penalty system for speeding offences to address this link by ensuring that the more extreme the speed, the greater the penalty that applies. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 15 June that the Government take the view that greater flexibility in the fixed penalty system would be fairer and better, and plan to take legislative powers, when the opportunity arises, to introduce graduated fixed penalties, subject to detailed parliamentary scrutiny of proposed penalties. Our aim is to address the risks that arise from inappropriate speeds wherever they occur—in 30 mph limits and elsewhere. We are currently consulting on the general principles of how a graduated structure could operate, so as to inform our policy approach.

Strategic Rail Authority

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many staff (a) have transferred and (b) will be transferring from the Strategic Rail Authority to the Department for Transport railway divisions; [192598]

(2) how much he expects to save annually through the proposed abolition of the Strategic Rail Authority; [192599]
 
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(3) whether his Department is undertaking work which had previously been conducted by the Strategic Rail Authority. [192602]

Mr. McNulty: No staff have transferred from the Strategic Rail Authority to the Department for Transport. It is not yet possible to say how many staff will be transferring in the future, or what the cost implications are. The Department for Transport has not yet taken over work from the Strategic Rail Authority. My right hon. Friend will keep the House informed.

DEFENCE

Bosnia

16. Mr. Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress is being made in transferring command in Bosnia from NATO to EUFOR. [193219]

Mr. Hoon: Planning and preparation for the EUFOR mission, which commences on 2 December, is going well, with key documents such as the Concept of Operations and the Operation Plan agreed in the EU. The Commander of EUFOR designate, Major General David Leakey, and the NATO Senior Military Representative in NATO Headquarters Sarajevo are working closely together to ensure a smooth handover.

Afghanistan

18. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the role of British forces during the recent elections in Afghanistan. [193221]

Mr. Hoon: Afghanistan's first presidential elections mark an important milestone in the country's political development. While security for the elections was primarily an Afghan responsibility, British forces also played their part. Our troops in the International Security Assistance Force, for example, increased the number of patrols during the election period; and our Harrier GR7s provided an appropriate air presence.

20. Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance the Department is providing to counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan. [193223]

Mr. Hoon: The Government are committed to assisting the Afghans in ending the trade in opium. The deployment of British forces with the International Security Assistance Force and our training of local security forces, taken together with efforts to provide alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers and to develop a functioning judicial system, help to create the conditions in which the Afghans themselves can combat the drugs trade.

United States Administration

23. Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he last refused a request from the United States Administration; and what the circumstances were. [193226]

Mr. Hoon: We have a comprehensive and continuous dialogue with the United States at all levels on the entire spectrum of our defence relationship. We have never
 
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and will not provide a running commentary on this. When appropriate, we announce the outcome of our discussions to Parliament.

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