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Motorway Fencing

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria he uses to determine whether a particular stretch of motorway should have fencing installed alongside the carriageway; how many miles of motorway in England and Wales have met such criteria; and how many miles of fencing have been erected to date. [3743]

Dr. Ladyman: The Secretary of State for Transport is responsible for the strategic road network, comprising motorways and high-speed all-purpose trunk roads, in England. The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for roads in Wales.

Fencing designed to control the spread of traffic noise is often provided on the strategic road network to mitigate the effects of increased traffic noise arising from both newly constructed and substantially improved strategic roads. The need for these is considered as part of the assessment of the overall impact of the scheme on the surrounding environment. There are no specific criteria, but a judgment is made about their cost-effectiveness, taking into consideration the sensitivity of the area and the number of people affected, compared with the alternative of providing statutory insulation of residential properties meeting the criteria specified in the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975.

In addition, this type of fencing has been provided at a number of locations meeting sift criteria announced on 22 March 1999 in conjunction with a £5 million annual ring-fenced budget.

To date, various lengths of fencing have been provided to protect groups of properties within 26 locations on the strategic road network that qualified for consideration under the sift criteria identified in the announcement. A further four locations will have
 
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barriers provided this year. Information on the exact lengths of fencing that have been provided at these locations is not held centrally.

Oil Tankers

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the policy of the Government is on the transport of crude oil in single hull tankers in the area of the Solent. [4373]

Dr. Ladyman: Single hull tankers carrying heavy grade oils, including the heavier grades of crude oil (high density or high viscosity), are not allowed to enter or leave a port or offshore terminal or anchor in an area under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.

International agreements still allow the lighter grades of crude oil to be carried in single hull tankers. By 2006, these tankers will have been constructed with some form of protection against collision or grounding. These tankers will no longer be allowed to enter or leave a port or offshore terminal or anchor in an area under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom in 2010, unless they are modified to comply with the double hull construction requirements of the IMO MARPOL Annex I regulations.

Pedicabs/Rickshaws

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the numbers of pedicabs and rickshaws operating on a commercial basis. [3182]

Ms Buck: None, though I understand Transport for London estimate that there are about 200 pedicabs in operation in London.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the numbers of passengers using pedicabs and rickshaws in a year. [3183]

Ms Buck: This information is not available. It is not collected by the Department and to do so would involve disproportionate cost in relation to the small numbers of passengers carried.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what tests he has commissioned to assess the structural safety of pedicabs and rickshaws; when those tests were undertaken; and what the results were. [3184]

Ms Buck: The Department has not commissioned any tests of pedicabs or rickshaws.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce minimum standards of structural safety for pedicabs and rickshaws. [3185]

Ms Buck: Pedicabs and pedal rickshaws are three-wheeled pedal cycles and thus fall under the requirements of the Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1983 and the road Vehicles Lighting
 
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Regulations 1989 as amended. They are also subject to the EC Directive on General Product Safety. There are no plans to introduce new minimum standards of structural safety for pedicabs or rickshaws.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what standards relating to vehicle construction and maintenance apply to (a) pedicabs and rickshaws plying for hire and (b) licensed taxis. [3186]

Ms Buck: Pedicabs and pedal rickshaws are three-wheeled pedal cycles and therefore fall under the Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1983. Lighting requirements are prescribed in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended. The vehicles are also subject to the EC Directive on General Product Safety.

Licensed taxis, like other powered road vehicles, must comply with the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 as amended and the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended. In addition, new cars, including taxis, must have European Whole Vehicle Type Approval.

Local licensing authorities determine suitable construction standards for licensed taxis, beyond statutory roadworthiness requirements. In London, Transport for London's Conditions of Fitness essentially define the London-style cab. Elsewhere each authority formulates its own policy. Outside London a pedicab or pedal rickshaw can be licensed as a hackney carriage (taxi) under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847. In London they are not currently licensed.

The testing of licensed taxis is also for licensing authorities, who have powers to monitor vehicles' continued suitability during the currency of a licence, by spot checks or formal testing.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what training is required of riders of pedicabs and rickshaws plying for hire. [3187]

Ms Buck: In England and Wales, outside London, if pedicabs or rickshaws are licensed as hackney carriages by the relevant local authority then any training requirements for drivers would be a matter for that local authority.

Inside London, pedicabs are not currently subject to licensing controls and there are no mandatory requirements for training, though I understand some pedicab operators provide training to their drivers.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what injuries have occurred to passengers in pedicabs and rickshaws in the last 12 months. [3190]

Ms Buck: The information requested is not available. Information regarding accidents involving pedicabs or rickshaws are not separately identified in the Department's road accident collection system. Pedicabs or rickshaws are included in other vehicles whose body type is categorised as pedal cycle".

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what insurance must be obtained by the riders or owners of pedicabs and rickshaws plying for hire. [3205]

 
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Ms Buck: In England and Wales, outside London, if pedicabs are licensed as hackney carriages by the relevant local authority then any insurance requirements would be a matter for that local authority in the context of its licensing regime.

Inside London, pedicabs are not subject to licensing controls and there is no statutory requirement for riders or owners to have insurance.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received in the last 12 months about the activities of riders and operators of pedicabs and rickshaws. [3206]

Ms Buck: We have received two letters making representations on this matter in the last year.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have had with Transport for London about the activities of riders and operators of pedicabs and rickshaws in the last 12 months. [3207]

Ms Buck: The Department's Ministers or officials have had no meetings with Transport for London specifically on these matters in the last 12 months.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will convene a meeting of representatives of Transport for London, the police, affected local authorities and other relevant parties to discuss the activities of riders and operators of pedicabs and rickshaws. [3208]

Ms Buck: There are no current plans to call such a meeting, but this is being kept under review.

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