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10 Feb 2005 : Column 1705W—continued
In-house Magazines
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on the production of in-house magazines in the Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997. [213644]
Charlotte Atkins: Total expenditure on staff magazines for the central Department and the executive agencies from 2002–03 onwards is given in the table. Figures for previous years would cover the work of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The six executive agencies are the Highways Agency, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).
| 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05(14) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DfT Central | 64,000 | 80,000 | 72,000 |
| Highways Agency | 127,000 | 119,000 | 72,000 |
| VOSA | 8,506 | 10,628 | 10,222 |
| DSA | 19,520 | 17,562 | 18,975 |
| MCA | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| DVLA | 64,809 | 48,281 | 44,776 |
| VCA | 2,100 | 2,500 | 6,500 |
(14)Estimated
M40
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what projections of (a) traffic volumes and (b) road noise were made in respect of the M40 through Stokenchurch and Lane End at the time of the road's widening in 1991; what the most recent figures are for each; and if he will make a statement. [215738]
Mr. Jamieson: The M40 passes through the Chilterns between junctions 4 and 5. This stretch of motorway was widened in 1990–91. Traffic and noise projections will have been produced as part of the preparation for this widening scheme. The Highways Agency holds some historical records for past motorway and trunk road schemes and an extensive search of its archives have produced extracts which are available in the Libraries of the House.
The noise related figures are taken from a report commissioned in 1988 and the traffic figures are taken from a report of the feasibility study in 1987. Both of these reports were commissioned prior to the widening scheme commencing.
The most recent figures for traffic flows are 94,000 vpd (approx 47,000 in each direction. The Highways Agency does not have current noise levels adjacent to the motorway as these are not monitored.
Motor Toll Systems (England)
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the motor toll systems in operation in England. [213341]
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Mr. Jamieson: Following is a list of statutory tolled undertakings in England:
The list does not include the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing and the Sadler Street, Durham charging schemes. Both of these are road user charging schemes enabled under the provisions of the Transport Act 2000.
There are also a number of small private unregulated tolled undertakings; two of which are allowed to toll by Royal Charter, the others are on private land. There is no central record of all these private undertakings.
Private Car Parks
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what restrictions are applicable to private companies operating within private car parks that issue fines for alleged offences; and if he will make a statement; [215995]
(2) if he will issue guidelines to private companies which impose fines for alleged offences in a private car park that penalty notices should be placed on the vehicle at the alleged time of the offence; and if he will make a statement. [216006]
Charlotte Atkins: Privately owned car parks are private property and charges and conditions for their use are a contractual matter between the owner and users. This is not a matter that is the subject of public legislation concerning fines and it would be for the owner to pursue any unpaid charges as a civil rather than criminal matter. The Secretary of State has no powers to issue guidelines on the management of private car parks. When using a private car park a motorist is effectively agreeing to abide by the terms and conditions of its use, which should be displayed clearly.
Mrs. Brooke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is allowed to issue details of car ownership to private companies who operate within
10 Feb 2005 : Column 1707W
private car parks and issue fines for alleged offences; and what assessment his Department has made of whether the issuing of such information is compliant with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. [215996]
Mr. Jamieson: Regulations provide for the release of vehicle keeper details from the register maintained by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to applicants who can demonstrate reasonable cause" for their request. The enforcement of parking restrictions on private property meets the reasonable cause" criterion. If information was not released in these circumstances landlords would have great difficulty in enforcing their rights to their property. The Information Commissioner is aware that personal data is used in this way and he has issued advice, which is available on his website.
Railways
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how much the Government expects to spend in overall improvements including safety improvements, to the Rail Network over the next five years; [209430]
(2) how much money the Government have invested in the Rail Network since May 1997. [209431]
Mr. McNulty: Historic and forecast public spending on all modes of transport is set out in table A3 of Transport 2010 The 10 Year Plan" published in July 2000 as supplemented by table Al.l of Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report" published in December 2002.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today made a statement setting out the funding levels for rail for the remainder of Network Rail's current regulatory control period.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the opening of Buckshaw Village railway station. [215532]
Mr. McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority is currently awaiting further work by Lancashire county council to assess the viability of the council's proposal to open a station at Buckshaw Village.
Road Maintenance
Mr. Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on local authorities' obligations to keep pavements and highways in a good state of repair. [215957]
Charlotte Atkins: The Highways Act 1980 places a duty on highway authorities to maintain footways and highways in a safe condition, taking into account the nature of these roads and the traffic that could reasonably be expected to use them.
The Department for Transport strongly recommends that local authorities maintain their highways in accordance with the Code of Practice for Maintenance Management Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance", published in 2001.
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Speed Cameras (Accidents)
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of road traffic accidents occurred on or near to the calibration lines of speed cameras in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [214363]
Mr. Jamieson: The specific information requested is not available. But The National safety camera programme—Three year evaluation report", carried out by University College London and PA Consulting Group, found that there had been a 40 per cent. reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites, and a 33 per cent. reduction in the total number of personal injury collisions at camera sites. The report was published in June 2004. Copies are available in the Library and from the Department's website.
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