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28 Nov 2005 : Column 150W—continued
Quality Contract Schemes
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many quality contract schemes have been given ministerial approval since the introduction of the scheme in the Transport Act 2000. [31615]
Ms Buck: We have to date received no applications for a bus quality contracts schemes for approval.
Railways
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with train operating companies on passenger safety on late night services. [30730]
Derek Twigg: The Department liaises with train operating companies on personal safety issues for both passengers and staff through regular meetings and relevant research project steering groups.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail passengers used (a) Birmingham New Street, (b) London Victoria and (c) Liverpool Lime Street station in 2004. [32560]
Derek Twigg: The latest complete-year data published by Network Rail for these stations covers the2004–5 financial year. Birmingham New Street was used by 30.5 million passengers, London Victoria by 92.5 million passengers and Liverpool Lime Street by 12.8 million passengers.
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the levels of crime have been on the railways since 1997; and what measures his Department has taken to minimise these levels. [27944]
Derek Twigg:
The number of crimes recorded by the British Transport police on the railways (excluding London Underground) from April 1998 is shown in the following table.
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| Financial year | Number of crimes recorded |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 57,395 |
| 1999–2000 | 57,521 |
| 2000–01 | 55,610 |
| 2001–02 | 59,594 |
| 2002–03 | 63,404 |
| 2003–04 | 65,051 |
| 2004–05 | 63,377 |
Note:
Data is not available prior to April 1998, as the comparison is not meaningful due to a change in Home Office counting rules.
In 1998 we launched the Secure Stations Scheme, which is designed to improve security at overground and underground stations for passengers and staff, and we have recently published guidance on improving personal security on trains. Also we are continuing to raise the profile of transport crime among Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships.
The British Transport police (BTP) play an important role in keeping Britain's railways safe and secure, and pleasant to use. The force works closely in partnership with those who manage the railway, staff and tenants, and local police forces. It also takes a lead in combating the antisocial behaviour that can impact so much on those who use and work on the railway.
I recently launched South Eastern trains' team of railway enforcement officers which has been accredited under the RSAS. The Department encourages the participation of all TOCs in this scheme.
Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on ministerial responsibility for maintaining and improving the railway infrastructure in Scotland. [32654]
Derek Twigg: The railway infrastructure is owned and managed by Network Rail. The Secretary of State is responsible for the legislative framework for the provision and regulation of railway services including rail safety. The Scottish Parliament have legislative competence over the promotion and construction of new railways wholly within Scotland. The Railways Act 2005 provides for the specification of network outputs and financing of infrastructure costs in Scotland to be the devolved executive responsibility of the Scottish Ministers.
Road Charging (Tyne and Wear)
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether Tyne and Wear authorities willbe required to implement (a) road charging and (b) pricing schemes as part of their proposals to reduce congestion; [31574]
(2) whether road charging is being considered for any part of the A1 Western Bypass in Newcastle and Gateshead. [31575]
Dr. Ladyman
[holding answer 24 November 2005]: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced today, the Tyne and Wear authorities have bid successfully for pump priming funding, to support the development of innovative packages of measures to tackle congestion. All of the seven bidders which are to receive pump-priming funding propose to explore the feasibility of road pricing in their areas among other
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demand management options. This work will help inform the development of a coherent national framework for road pricing. We are not however requiring the implementation of any particular scheme or solution.
Road Gritting
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of road traffic accidents on (a) gritted and (b) un-gritted roads in each year since 2000, broken down by local authority area. [32647]
Dr. Ladyman: Although the Department for Transport does not hold information on actual costs incurred as the result of road accidents, it does estimate the value of prevention of road accidents in its annually published Highways Economics Note No.1". Estimates for the total value of prevention of all road accidents 2000–04 are as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 18,004 |
| 2003 | 18,094 |
| 2002 | 17,760 |
| 2001 | 17,420 |
| 2000 | 16,959 |
The Department is unable to provide information on costs disaggregated by local authority and by grittedand un-gritted roads as this data is not collated centrally.
The Department strongly recommends that local highway authorities carry out winter maintenance in accordance with section 13 of Well-maintained Highways: Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance Management" published by the UK Roads Liaison Group earlier this year.
Road Safety
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on road safety in each year between 1994 and 2004; and what percentage of the budget of his Department was in each year. [29894]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department for Transport was formed in July 2002. Around £40 million (0.5 per cent.) in 2002–03 and £42 million (0.4 per cent.) in 2003–04 was spent on road safety against the departmental expenditure limits of £8.8 billion and £10.8 billion respectively. These figures exclude expenditure on the national safety camera programme, which is funded from fine revenue from speed and red light offences. In addition, much of the expenditure by the Department's agencies and local authorities, which is funded through block funding by the Department, contributes to road safety.
Road Traffic
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the total vehicle miles driven in London by private motor cars in (a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2004–05. [31885]
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Dr. Ladyman: The total vehicle miles driven in Greater London by private motor cars, including taxis, are available for calendar years only. The figures for each year since 1999 are shown in the following table:
| Vehicle miles | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 16,644 |
| 2000 | 16,569 |
| 2001 | 16,559 |
| 2002 | 16,650 |
| 2003 | 16,389 |
| 2004 | 16,323 |
Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many road traffic accidents were caused by drivers falling asleep in the last year for which figures are available; [31653]
(2) what steps the Government are taking to alleviate road traffic accidents caused by drivers falling asleep. [31654]
Dr. Ladyman: Research for the Department has established that driver sleepiness is a principle factor in around 10 per cent. of all accidents and about 15 to 20 per cent. of all accidents on motorways and other similar roads.
Separately, under a pilot scheme, 15 police forces collected data on contributory factors to accidents, 2000–04. The table shows the estimated proportion of accidents where driver fatigue was deemed to be a contributory factor.
(68)Estimates are based on data from the pilot contributory factors scheme.
As a result of the pilot, from January 2005, police nationally are reporting contributory factor data.
The Department continues to research driver sleepiness topics and a publicity programme aims to help make drivers aware of the dangers of sleep related accidents using motorway variable message signs and through our THINK! publicity campaigns. Those include radio advertising, truck back advertising, partnership marketing and PR. Advice on how to avoid and combat driver tiredness is in the Highway Code and on the Department's THINK! road safety website at:
A question on sleep disorders is included in the medical report that all lorry and bus drivers must submit when applying for a licence. In addition, those drivers who have a medical condition likely to cause them to fall asleep at the wheel are required by law to notify the
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Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Following such a notification, an assessment is carried out to determine whether the driver should retain his or her licence.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997. [29854]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department issued guidance, related to the Act, to local authorities for consultation in January 1998 and in final form in March 2000, as part of the 'Guidance on Full Local Transport Plans'. Local authorities outside London produced Road Traffic Reduction Act reports in 2000 as annexes to their first five year local transport plans and in London in association with their integrated transport plans.
Department of Transport guidance issued in December 2004 for the second five year local transport plans includes a requirement for authorities covering each plan areas to each set a target for area wide road traffic levels. The final second transport plans, including the targets, are due to be completed by local authorities outside London by March 2006.
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