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3 Feb 2005 : Column 1032W—continued
Departmental Policies (Edinburgh, North and Leith)
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Edinburgh, North and Leith constituency, the effects on Edinburgh, North and Leith of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [211576]
Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Edinburgh, North and Leith constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–97 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants—nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
Responsibility for a number of transport functions in Scotland has been devolved to the Scottish Executive, including the Scottish road network, bus policy, air transport, lifeline ferry services and harbour improvements.
Finally, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past 20 years at http://www.dft.gov.uk.
Departmental Policies (Preseli Pembrokeshire)
Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency, the effects on Preseli Pembrokeshire of his Department's policies and actions since it was established. [211319]
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Charlotte Atkins: The Department has put in place a considerable programme of improvements across a wide range of transport policy areas since 1997. I am confident that the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency will have benefited from these. For example, the injury totals for all road casualties in Great Britain fell from 327,803 in 1997 to 290,607 in 2003, and the numbers of children aged under 16 years killed or seriously injured on our roads fell from 6,452 in 1997 to 4,100 in 2003. On our railways, passenger kilometres have increased from 32.1 billion in 1996–07 to 40.9 billion in 2003–04, a rise of 27 per cent. In terms of improvements to air quality, emissions of the UK's two main pollutants-nitrous oxides and particles—fell by 31 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively between 1997 and 2002.
Responsibility for a number of transport functions has been devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government. For example, it is the Assembly that provides funding to local authorities in Wales in support of their local transport plans. Funds from the Strategic Rail Authority have supported improved passenger facilities and integration at Harverfordwest station in Pembrokeshire.
Finally, the Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./. In addition, the Department for Transport's website also contains data on transport trends over the past twenty years at http://www.dft.gov.uk.
Driving Tests
Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals (a) failed and (b) passed all parts of the driving test in each of the last five years. [211889]
Mr. Jamieson: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is unable to supply details of the number of individual candidates to have taken both parts of the driving test during the specified period. Many candidates will have taken either, or both, of the tests on more than one occasion. The following is a summary of the number of test passes and failures in each of the last five years.
Footpaths (Devon)
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy not to renew the prohibition on pedestrian traffic on Footpath No. 10, Dartmouth to Castle Cove; and if he will instruct Devon county council to carry out the necessary works to make the footpath safe. [211584]
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Charlotte Atkins: Although Footpath No. 10 has been closed for public safety reasons since June 2003, the Secretary of State will not make it his policy not to renew the temporary closure order originally made by Devon county council. If a further renewal request is made, he has a duty to consider it on its merits at the time and will take into account any current and relevant information about the circumstances of the request.
The Secretary of State has no powers issue instructions to Devon CC to carry out the necessary works to make the footpath safe.
M1 (Closure)
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason the M1 Motorway was closed between junctions 27 and 28 on 20 January; how long the closure lasted; at what time northbound lanes re-opened; and upon whose authority the closure took place. [211745]
Mr. Jamieson: Approximately 500 m of lanes 1 and 2 of the northbound carriageway of the Ml Motorway just north of junction 27 were closed by the police at about 2120 hours on 20 January as a result of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) overturning and partially blocking the carriageway. After recovery of the HGV and clearance of debris the northbound carriageway was fully re-opened approximately four hours 25 minutes later at 0145 hrs on 21 January. Responsibility for incident management in such circumstances is a matter for the police.
During this period of time the northbound entry slip road at junction 27 was also closed.
Mobile Phones
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of how effective the ban on the use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving has been since its introduction. [213343]
Mr. Jamieson: The Department for Transport carries out regular surveys of mobile phone use by drivers. The most recent survey carried out in September 2004 found that 1.1 per cent. of car drivers were using hand-held mobile phones, a 25 per cent. reduction since the survey in September 2003.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned into the suitability of the level of the fine awarded for use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving. [213344]
Mr. Jamieson:
When the Department consulted on a proposal to introduce new regulations to prohibit the use of a hand-held phone while driving, comments were also invited on the penalty. The majority of responses considered that the offence should be made endorsable. This involves amending the road traffic acts, a proposal in the Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament, making hand-held mobile phone use subject to endorsement of three penalty points, which will automatically raise the fixed penalty fine to £60.
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Meantime, using a hand-held mobile phone currently attracts a £30 fixed penalty or a maximum fine of £1,000 (£2,500 for the driver of a goods vehicle, bus or coach), like most other Construction and Use offences.
The Department's consultation document and decision letter of 24 June 2003 were placed in the Library. They are also available on-line at www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=10199&l=2.
Parking Spaces
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many car parking spaces are provided for (a) those working in and (b) visiting his Department. [208940]
Charlotte Atkins: Approximately 10,150 spaces are available across the DfT estate of 1680 properties across the country, a number of which are located remotely from centres of public transport. Also a number of these locations have transport functions that require car parking spaces e.g. Driving Standards Agency, Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.
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