Previous Section Index Home Page

26 May 2005 : Column 168W—continued

Yemen (Smallpox)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he is proposing to provide to Yemen following the recent outbreak of smallpox. [551]

Mr. Thomas: DFID is unaware of a recent outbreak of smallpox in Yemen. However, there has been an outbreak of polio recently. As of 17 May, 66 cases had been confirmed (source World Health Organisation). Experts expect the total number of cases to exceed 100 before the outbreak is stopped. A nationwide immunisation campaign is due to get under way shortly with support from Saudi Arabia. Six million doses of
 
26 May 2005 : Column 169W
 
vaccine have been shipped to Yemen. The Government of Yemen completed a mass information campaign in April.

DFID has not received any official requests for help to date.

TRANSPORT

A57/A628 (Traffic Levels)

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the traffic levels were on the A628 and A57/A628 Mottram-Tintwistle by-pass in the last year for which figures are available; and what forecast has been made of likely future levels. [1233]

Dr. Ladyman: Annual average daily traffic levels for the A628 at Woodhead for the year 2004 were 11,900 vehicles per day. Construction has not yet started on the planned A57/A628 Mottram Tintwistle bypass. The Highways Agency expects construction work to start in 2007–08 subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and funding.

Projected annual average daily traffic levels for the A628 at Woodhead in 2023 are 12,600 vehicles per day without a bypass, and 20,000 vehicles per day with a bypass and route demand management measures, as the bypass will make the route attractive to road users.

A628

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions in each of the last five years the A628 has been closed as a result of accidents (a) in total and (b) involving heavy goods vehicles. [1234]

Dr. Ladyman: Information for the full five years requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Between July and December 2003, the A628 was closed once as a result of accidents, on five occasions during 2004, and once since January 2005. All of these closures involved HGV vehicles.

Motorways

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from road safety organisations regarding the prevalence of roadside signs alongside motorways. [1021]

Dr. Ladyman: My Department has not received any recent representations from road safety organisations about the prevalence of roadside signs alongside motorways.

Parking Spaces (London)

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many parking spaces there are in central London in (a) street slots and (b) car parks. [462]

Ms Buck: Since 3 July 2000, the Mayor has had overall responsibility for traffic management in London. However, responsibility for parking enforcement in London generally rests with the relevant local authority. It is a matter for individual local authorities to decide on
 
26 May 2005 : Column 170W
 
the nature and scope of parking controls and to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local business and those who work and travel in the area.

While we do not hold any up to date figures, Transport for London's report, "Transport Statistics for London 2001", provides the following figures for parking spaces in central London in 1999–2000:
Number of spaces
Public off-street car parks25,000
Private non residential car parks34.000
Sub-total59,000
On-street controlled parking14,000
On-street parking—unrestricted11,000
On-street parking—single yellow lines42.000
Sub-total67,000

These figures are estimates only and are based on sample surveys undertaken in 1998.

Retro-reflective Tape

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the study carried out by the Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute of Loughborough University on ECE 104 retro-reflective tape; and if he will make a statement. [1243]

Dr. Ladyman: The "Assessment of the safety benefit of retro-reflective markings on heavy goods vehicles and buses" research was completed at the end of February and the final report was issued by the Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute of Loughborough university on 18 May. It is available on the university's website at: www.lboro.ac.uk/research/esri/main/reports.htm and copies are being placed in the House Libraries. The review has up-dated our understanding of this issue and has indicated a more favourable cost benefit ratio, compared with earlier research, for the application of retro-reflective tape to some categories of vehicle. My Department is now considering how best—including wide consultation—to take this forward.

CABINET OFFICE

e-Government Unit

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has (a) to make more public services available online and (b) to develop the responsibilities of the e-Government unit. [550]

Mr. Jim Murphy: As reported in last year's Cabinet Office Autumn Performance report, 96 per cent. of Government services are estimated to be available electronically by the end of 2005, with 75 per cent. of services currently online.

The e-Government Unit will continue to work with central and local government to support the business transformation of Government so it can provide better, more efficient and trusted public services. Under the "Connecting the UK: the Digital Strategy" initiative, it is working with the newly-created Government CIO
 
26 May 2005 : Column 171W
 
Council to set out a vision of public service delivery enabled and delivered through technology, and a strategy to achieve that vision.

Copies of the Cabinet Office Autumn Performance report 2004, can be found at http://cabweb/cabwebpub/strategvandperformance/departmentalplansreportsrevi ews/df0020.htm and in the Library.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Boundary Changes

Mr. Allen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Boundary Commission's proposals for parliamentary boundary changes will be implemented. [528]

Harriet Harman: Any changes to parliamentary boundaries in Wales arising from the Boundary Commission's report presented to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 31 January, will come into effect at the first proclamation summoning a new Parliament issued after the order implementing the changes comes into force. The final report of the Boundary Commission in relation to parliamentary boundaries in England has not yet been published.

Legal Aid Budget

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which 12 barristers received the most money from the (a) criminal legal aid budget and (b) civil legal aid budget in each of the last three years; how much each received in each year; and if she will make a statement. [1138]

Bridget Prentice: The information requested has to be extracted from different computer system across Legal Service Commission and my Department and collecting and collating that data will take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information is available.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which was the most expensive case for the (a) criminal and (b) civil legal aid budget in 2004–05; how much was paid by way of (i) brief fee and (ii) refreshers to each of the barristers concerned; how much was paid to each solicitors firm involved; who the (A) barristers and (B) solicitors were; and if she will make a statement. [1139]

Bridget Prentice: Payments relating to one specific case may be spread over a number of financial years and identifying those will take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information is available.


Next Section Index Home Page