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18 Apr 2006 : Column 49W—continued
Aircraft Noise
John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the difference between peak and mean aircraft noise levels near British airports. [60786]
Derek Twigg:
The Department has not made any specific assessment of the difference between peak and mean aircraft noise levels. This is because the suitability of what measurement is used will depend on the type of noise situation being addressed.
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The Department uses various measures of aircraft noise levels. The departure noise limits at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted relate to peak noise 1 and aircraft noise events at the fixed noise monitors (where the limits apply) are measured accordingly.
Since 1990, the Department has used equivalent continuous noise level—effectively an averaging out of noise energy over a given period—as the measure of average aircraft noise exposure 2 .
Mean peak aircraft noise levels are not assessed on a routine basis but would be considered if appropriate andreported in technical studies carried out by the Environmental Research and Consultancy Department of the Civil Aviation Authority. For example, CS Report 9539 Review of the Departure Noise Limits at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports" includes statistics broken showing the reference mean levels, standard deviations and other statistical information relating to the peak noise of actual flights. A copy of this report was placed in the House Library.
2 This entails the calculation of Leq, logarithmic average sound exposure levels (SEL) for each aircraft type
Airports (Alternative Fuelled Vehicles)
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to encourage the use of alternative fuelled vehicles at airports. [61743]
Derek Twigg: The UK aviation industry has developed and published A Strategy Towards Sustainable Development of UK Aviation". This includes a commitment to deliver continued improvements in airport ground vehicles, along with improvements in supply of ground power services, operational practices and the availability of cleaner fuels. The industry is committed to reporting on progress with this commitment by the end of 2006.
British Railways Board
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what property, including railway structures, is owned by the British Railways Board (Residuary) Ltd.; and where the property is located. [56373]
Derek Twigg [holding answer 6 March 2006]: As at 31 March 2005 BRB(R) Limited owned 735 pieces of non operational railway land and property. Details of their location are available on the company's website at www.brbr.gov.uk. This website will be updated in the next two months. The company also has leasehold interests in the following buildings:
These leases were taken out by the British Railways Board prior to the privatisation of the railway in the 1990's and are of a long-term and onerous nature. As such it was not considered appropriate to transfer them to the private sector at privatisation. BRB(R) will routinely exit its obligations under these leases as and when the opportunity arises and where such an exit provides good value for money for the taxpayer.
BRB(R) also owns and is responsible for the upkeep of some 4,000 structures, details of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Congestion Charging
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which cities have applied for funding to establish a congestion charging scheme. [62691]
Dr. Ladyman: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 6 February 2006, Official Report, column 802W.
Defective Vehicles
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of vehicles driving with defective (a) brakes, (b) brake lights, (c) head lights, (d) tail lights and (e) side lights; and if he will make a statement. [62878]
Dr. Ladyman: Vehicle and Operator Services Agency's latest assessment of vehicle defects, including lamps, is published in their effectiveness report which is available online at www.vosa.gov.uk
Drink-driving
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many drink-driving accidents there were in (a) Romford and (b) Havering in each of the past 10 years. [62991]
Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not available. Estimates of drink drive accidents in Great Britain as a whole are published each year in an article in Road Casualties Great Britain—Annual Report". Estimates below Government office region level are not available.
Energy Efficiency
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to increase energy efficiency within his Department; and if he will make a statement. [60330]
Derek Twigg:
The Department is committed to improving energy efficiency. We will undertake a number of actions to improve energy efficiency on our estate.
18 Apr 2006 : Column 52W
Greater Western Franchise
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the document SLC2 relating to the Greater Western Franchise. [61544]
Derek Twigg: A copy of the Greater Western SLC2 will be placed in the Library when it becomes a public document. SLC2, together with the Greater Western franchise agreement with which it needs to be read, is currently going through the statutory exclusions procedure in the Railways Act 1993 (as amended). This must be carried out before SLC2 can be made public by being placed in the Department for Transport's public register.
Heritage Railways
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for heritage railways of the EU directive on Railway and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations 2006; and what representations he has received on this matter. [62430]
Derek Twigg: I laid before Parliament on 17 March 2006 the proposed Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (Safety) Regulations (ROGS) which implement the safety management aspects of EU Directive 2004/49/EC. An Explanatory Memorandum, Transposition Note and Regulatory Impact Assessment for all sectors of the railway, including heritage railways, accompany the proposed regulations. A copy has been placed in the House Library. Before laying the proposed regulations, I had a constructive meeting with representatives of heritage railways and representatives of the tramway industry on 1 March.
Hit and Run Incidents
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many hit and run incidents have been recorded in each of the last eight years, broken down by police force area; [61278]
(2) how many (a) deaths, (b) serious injuries and (c)injuries have been recorded as a result of hit and run incidents in each of the last eight years, broken down by police force area. [61279]
Dr. Ladyman: Tables showing (a) the number of personal injury road accidents which involved one or more hit and run drivers or riders and (b) the resulting fatalities, serious and all injuries resulting from these accidents, for the years 1997–2004 (the latest year for which figures are available), broken down by police force, have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
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