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14 Nov 2005 : Column 889W—continued
TRANSPORT
A14
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the average daily number of vehicles which use (a) junction 7, (b) junction 8 and (c) junction 9 of the A14; and what estimate he has made of the average daily number of vehicles which will use each junction in (i) 2011, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2031. [28107]
Dr. Ladyman: Junctions 7, 8 and 9 of the A14 are the three junctions on the Kettering Bypass. Following the recommendations of the London to South Midlands multi-modal study in July 2003 to widen the A14 through the East Midlands to dual three lanes, the Secretary of State asked the Highways Agency to carry out further work on the A14 Kettering Bypass section of the route.
A study is currently under way of possible options for this route. This will take into account the growth in local development set out in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub-regional strategy.
Traffic counts are being undertaken as part of the study which will provide estimates of the traffic flows using these junctions. The study is expected to report in February 2006.
A21
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions have been taken by the Highways Agency on public consultations with representatives of interest groups related to the proposed A21 upgrade. [28219]
Dr. Ladyman: We announced the preferred route in February 2005 having taken into account the views expressed during and following the public consultation held in 2002–03. Following my meeting with the hon. Member on 20 October 2005, I asked the Highways Agency to meet with representatives of interest groups and I understand they have arranged a meeting for the 28 November.
A27 Lewes Bypass
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to have the A27 Lewes bypass resurfaced with a quieter material in the next financial year. [27679]
Dr. Ladyman: Whenever a road needs to be resurfaced for safety and maintenance reasons, quieter surfacing is used as a matter of course. Last year a 1 km stretch of the A27 Lewes bypass was repaired using low noise material.
The bypass is now in good condition and there are no plans to resurface the remainder in the next financial year. However a technical survey is programmed for next financial year and any works identified as a result of the survey, such as resurfacing with a quieter material, would be carried out in financial year 2008–09, subject to allocation of funds.
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A43
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of congestion on the A43 Kettering-Northampton road at peak times; and what estimate he has made of the expected level of congestion in (a) 2011, (b) 2021 and (c) 2031. [28104]
Dr. Ladyman: The A43 between Kettering and Northampton is the responsibility of Northamptonshire county council, as local highway authority. The Department for Transport has, therefore, made no assessment of congestion on this section of road.
A45
Mr. Anthony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the traffic levels were on the A47 Acle Straight in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [28044]
Dr. Ladyman: The Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) 24 hour traffic flows for A47 Acle Straight between 1999 and 2004 are as follows:
| AADT (Westbound) | AADT (Eastbound) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 10,796 | 9,713 |
| 2000 | 10,850 | 10,089 |
| 2001 | 11,435 | 10,803 |
| 2002 | 11,664 | 11,349 |
| 2003 | 13,129 | 12,267 |
| 2004 | 12,723 | 11,821 |
A63
Ms Diana R. Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what Highways Agency funding is triggered by recognition of the A63 as a trans-European network route by the European Commission. [26836]
Dr. Ladyman: The presence of the A63 on the European Union's trans-European transport network does not trigger Highways Agency funding for potential projects on that road. While trans-European network funding may in principle be available from the EU, it is in the first instance for the region to consider its own regional road network priorities within the framework of its regional funding allocation.
Air Pollution
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets his Department has set for air levels of (a) carbon monoxide, (b) lead, (c) nitrogen dioxide, (d) particles, (e) benzene and (f) 1.3 butadiene. [27607]
Dr. Ladyman:
The Government and Devolved Administrations air quality policies are set out in detail in the Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland", published in January 2000. An Addendum to the Strategy was published in February 2003. Copies of both documents are available in the Library of the House.
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The strategy sets objectives for nine main air pollutants to protect human health and two objectives to protect vegetation and ecosystems. The air pollutants covered by the strategy are benzene; 1,3-butadiene; carbon monoxide; lead; nitrogen dioxide; particles (PM10); ozone; sulphur dioxide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Buses
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the passenger use figures for each of the 43 bus schemes that will receive funding under the scheme announced by his Department on 1 November, for each year since 1997; [28313]
(2) if he will list the 43 bus schemes that will receive funding under the scheme announced by his Department on 1 November. [28314]
Mr. Darling: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement of 1 November 2005 announcing the results of the Kickstart competition. A list of the schemes was placed in the Libraries of the House.
The schemes are for new, or in some cases substantially enhanced, services which will begin operation in the new few months, now that funding has been announced. The question of passenger use figures in prior years for the services concerned does not therefore arise.
Congestion (Urban Areas)
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets his Department has set for reducing congestion in urban areas. [27564]
Dr. Ladyman: In July 2005 the Government published a new public service agreement target for urban congestion that, by 2010–11, the 10 largest urban areas will meet the congestion targets set in their Local Transport Plan relating to movement on main roads into city centres.
Local Transport Plans will be published in March 2006.
Correspondence
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will respond to the letter of 19 October from the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle on train services from Bexhill to London Victoria. [28218]
Derek Twigg: We have no record of a letter of 19 October. I have written to the hon. Member today in response to his letter of 14 September.
Driving Licences
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have had their driving licences removed due to their use of illicit substances since 1997. [28038]
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Dr. Ladyman: Data are only immediately available for the past and current financial year. They are as follows:
These figures do not include licences revoked by the courts.
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for driving licences had documents lost (a) by and (b) in transit to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 2004–05. [27325]
Dr. Ladyman: During the financial year 2004–05 the number of documents in support of driving licence applications lost by DVLA was 734 (0.01 per cent. of the 6.8 million driving licences issued last year). Holders of digitised UK passports now need only to quote the number on the application form and do not need to forward the document to DVLA.
No record of non-receipt of applications (including associated documents) is kept. Drivers are advised that the responsibility for their delivery rests with Royal Mail.
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