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25 May 2005 : Column 130W—continued
EU Discussions
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list items of legislation within his responsibilities that are being discussed at European Union level. [459]
Dr. Ladyman: The following legislative proposals, within the responsibility of the Secretary of State, are currently being discussed under the co-decision process:
Amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3922/91 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (EU-OPS)
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community Air Traffic Controller Licence
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the rights of persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the information of air transport passengers on the identity of the operating carrier and on communication of safety information by member states
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code) within the Community
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by the member states and amending Directive 2001/25/EC
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of sanctions for infringements
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on harmonised River Traffic Information Services on inland waterways in the Community
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 82/714/EEC of 4 October 1982 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the Community's railways
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the certification of train crews operating locomotives and trains on the Community's rail network
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on International Rail Passengers' Rights and Obligations
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on compensation in cases of non-compliance with contractual quality requirements for rail freight services
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport and amending Council Regulations (EEC) No. 3821/85 and (EC) No. 2135/98
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on minimum conditions for the implementation of Council Directive 2002/15/EC and of Council Regulations (EEC) Nos. 3820/85 and 3821/85 concerning social legislation relating to road transport activities
Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 1999/62/EC on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures (Eurovignette)
Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on market access to port services
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the second "Marco Polo" programme for the granting of Community financial assistance to improve the environmental performance of the freight transport system ("Marco Polo II")
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the deployment and commercial operating phases of the European programme of satellite radionavigation.
EU Working Groups
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list European Union working groups to which his Department sends representatives. [458]
Dr. Ladyman: Officials of the Department for Transport attend meetings of the following Council Working Groups:
Graffiti (Motorway Bridges)
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on the removal of graffiti from motorway bridges. [487]
Dr. Ladyman: The removal of graffiti from motorway bridges is the responsibility of the Highways Agency. The agency's contractors make daily patrols to assess the problem and any obscene, blasphemous or offensive material is removed as soon as practicable after it has been observed. Non-contentious graffiti is removed at 12 month intervals or in combination with other work, where appropriate.
Where graffiti is persistent and widespread in environmentally sensitive areas, consideration is given to alternative solutions, other than frequent removal or obliteration. Possible strategies include involving local schools to raise awareness of the socially unacceptable nature of graffiti, and engaging with Neighbourhood Watch, local councils and the police more effectively in preventing graffiti. Physical measures include the use of anti-graffiti coatings.
Motorways
Mr. Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway have been constructed in England and Wales since 1998; and at which locations. [405]
Dr. Ladyman: My Department holds the information for England only. The following table shows changes in the length of motorways in England that have been constructed since 1998. This excludes roads that have been reclassified as motorways and motorway widening schemes:
North East Regional Transport Board
Mr. Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the Regional Transport Board for the North East of England will be set up. [200]
Ms Buck:
In the consultation document "Devolving decision making: a consultation on regional funding allocations" the Government indicated that they do not intend to prescribe how regions should coordinate and prepare advice on regional priorities. It will be for regional bodies in the North East of England to decide if they wish to establish a Regional Transport Board or make other arrangements. In reaching their views, regions will be able to draw on the experience of the
25 May 2005 : Column 133W
experimental transport boards which were established in the South East and Yorkshire and Humberside last year.
Overseas Drivers
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to improve enforcement procedures against overseas drivers who infringe British traffic laws. [67]
Dr. Ladyman: The Government are strengthening the enforcement of the law against overseas drivers. The Road Safety Bill, introduced into Parliament on Tuesday 24 May, includes provisions designed to make it easier to take action against drivers who do not have a licence counterpart, which includes most foreign licence holders, by allowing enforcers to issue them with fixed penalty notices in respect of endorsable offences. At present they can only be dealt with by a court. We also propose to introduce a scheme of financial deposits in lieu of fixed penalties where a traffic offender cannot provide a verifiable United Kingdom address.
A Framework Decision under Article 31 of the Treaty of the European Union for the mutual recognition of financial penalties has also now been adopted, and provides for the transmission between member states of fines imposed on foreign drivers and the mutual enforcement of such fines in the relevant member state.
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