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20 Dec 2005 : Column 2919W—continued

London Olympics

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 565W, on the London Olympics, if he will list the relevant bodies funding improvement extension schemes for the (a) Channel Tunnel Rail Link, (b) East London Line Extension and (c) Docklands Light Railway. [37034]

Ms Buck: The Channel Tunnel Rail Link extension is being funded by the Department for Transport. The temporary works to allow the operation of the Olympic Javelin Shuttle service in 2012 are being funded from the Olympics Budget.

The East London Line Extension is being funded by Transport for London.

Extensions to the Docklands Light Railway are being funded by Transport for London. However, a number of service enhancements and station improvements for the DLR are being funded from the Olympics budget.

Lorries/Commercial Vans

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new (a) lorries and (b) commercial vans were bought in each year since 1997. [38815]

Dr. Ladyman: The number of lorries and commercial vans newly registered in Great Britain in each year are as follows:
 
20 Dec 2005 : Column 2920W
 

Thousand

	Lorries	Commercial vans
1997	35	216
1998	41	234
1999	38	234
2000	47	249
2001	51	274
2002	45	284
2003	36	318
2004	35	341

Source:
Vehicles database, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

M1 (Junction 29)

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has plans to improve egress from the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway at junction 29 to reduce congestion; and if he will make a statement. [38441]

Dr. Ladyman: A Highways Agency scheme, designed to reduce congestion on the Northbound Exit Slip Road at Junction 29 of the M1 Motorway, is currently being prepared.

The scheme consists of the signalisation of the Northbound Exit Slip Road at its interface with the Roundabout at Junction 29. There will also be localised realignment and widening of the carriageway to bring it up to current standards, together with improved signing and white lining to this slip road and the roundabout.

The works are scheduled to commence on site in February 2006 and are expected to be complete by the end of March 2006.

Metrolink Tram Network (Manchester)

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the latest financial situation in relation to the Phase Three extension of the Metrolink tram network in Greater Manchester. [29592]

Derek Twigg: I refer my the hon. Member to the Statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport made on 16 December 2004 about committing public sector funding for Manchester's transport network.

Motorbikes

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many second hand motorbikes were purchased in each year since 1997. [38661]

Dr. Ladyman: This information is not available.
 
20 Dec 2005 : Column 2921W
 

Motorised Mini-scooters

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what laws apply to the use of motorised mini-scooters on (a) public highways, (b) public land and (c) private land. [39333]

Dr. Ladyman: It is for the courts to provide an authoritative interpretation of the law, and two High Court judgments have confirmed miniature motor scooters to be motor vehicles within the meaning of the Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended. We believe it likely that a similar ruling could be made on other vehicles, such as miniature motorcycles, should a court case arise.

Motor vehicles on the public highway must meet relevant construction requirements and be registered, taxed, insured etc. Drivers/riders must hold an appropriate licence and where necessary wear a suitable helmet. Off-highway use is possible where landowners' permission (whether private or public landowners) is received.

Enforcement of road traffic law is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police. In addition police forces can counter irresponsible use of miniature motor scooters and other such vehicles under the Police Reform Act 2002. This enables the police to seize vehicles being driven in a careless and inconsiderate manner or off-road without consent and in a way which causes alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.

I understand that the packaging on powered items such as miniature scooters or motorcycles generally includes a warning that they are not for highway use. However it may be that, once such packaging is discarded, this is overlooked or ignored. The Department has issued guidance on our website to remind purchasers and others about responsible use of these vehicles and about possible penalties for mis-use, while the Home Office has published advice on its TOGETHER website for practitioners tackling the associated mis-use. In addition, a number of local authorities and police forces are running initiatives to inform the public about these matters, and are taking action where offences are committed.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the number of (a) accidents and (b) casualties which arose in a year from the use of motorised mini-scooters. [39334]

Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not available.

Motorway Lighting

Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will initiate a study to compare the number of night-time accidents on stretches of unlit motorway with stretches of motorway that have lighting; and if he will publish the conclusions. [38440]

Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency, who operate and manage the motorway network in England, have already instigated a project that is comparing night-time accidents on sections of lit and unlit roads. The aim is to review the benefit of road lighting on motorways by analysis of accident statistics. The findings will be incorporated into the revised national standard for the
 
20 Dec 2005 : Column 2922W
 
appraisal of road lighting provision on trunk roads and motorways, which is planned to be published towards the end of 2006.

Multi-modal Study (Tyneside)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action has been taken by Newcastle-upon-Tyne city council in response to his suggestion in the response to the Tyneside area multi-modal study that local authorities locate major generators of personal travel in areas best served by public transport. [38024]

Ms Buck [holding answer 15 December 2005]: The Newcastle Upon Tyne Unitary Development Plan" (UDP), adopted in January 1998 guides the consideration of possible locations for major travel generating development. The UDP also provides the context for decisions upon individual planning applications. In addition, Government's national planning policy documents—principally, planning policy guidance and planning policy statements—provide a context for the development of plans at the local level.

In order to update and review the UDP, in consultation with the local community, the city council is producing a local development framework" (LDF). The LDF will contain a suite of local development plan documents prepared under the powers of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Within the council's local development scheme,, effectively the LDF project plan of action, a key priority is to produce a core strategy" development plan document which will be the subject of public consultation in 2006. The core strategy will provide a vision, strategic objectives, spatial strategy and an implementation framework for all other more detailed and site-specific development plans that will be produced in the city. It is these development plans that will help to shape how the city develops and regenerates over the current and next decade, including how development relates to the local transport system.

Parking Offences

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times bailiffs have been used to obtain money owed as a result of non-payment of penalty charge notices following the decriminalisation of parking offences; and in how many such cases the initial penalty charge notice has subsequently been found invalid. [37977]

Ms Buck [holding answer 15 December 2005]: Information on the number of times bailiffs have been used to obtain money owed as a result of non-payment of Penalty Charge Notices is not held centrally.

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