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23 May 2006 : Column 1617W—continued
Protectionism
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in reducing the impact of protectionist trade policies on poor countries; and if he will make a statement. [69532]
Mr. Thomas: In recent years there has been a good deal of progress in reducing protectionist trade policies which impact on poor countries. Within the EU for example, agricultural import tariffs declined by an average of 36 per cent. between 1995 and 2000. Our current projections are that once the reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy agreed in 2003 have worked through, EU reliance on export subsidies will have reduced by approximately 65 per cent. compared with 1997.
But there is still much to be done outside the EU as well as within, which is why the UK supports an ambitious outcome to the current round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations in areas such as agriculture, industrial products and services, with meaningful special and differential treatment for developing countries built in. It also includes the elimination of export subsidies and other equivalent measures by 2013, which was agreed at the Hong Kong ministerial meeting in December. Time is running out for such an ambitious outcome to the current WTO negotiations, and discussions between the key players have intensified since the Hong Kong meeting to try to narrow the gaps that still remain, and reach a consensus on a balanced package of agreements across the main negotiating areas.
Tsunami Evaluation Coalition
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the Tsunami Evaluation Coalition’s report will be published. [71542]
Mr. Thomas: The Tsunami Evaluation Coalition, a group of UN relief agencies, non-government organisations, the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement and other donors, will publish its report on 14 July 2006, in both London and Geneva.
Transport
Channel Tunnel
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with (a) the French police, (b) Kent police and (c) Eurotunnel regarding security in the channel tunnel. [72353]
Derek Twigg: The Secretary of State has not had reason to discuss security issues with any of the named parties recently. However, Department for Transport officials meet with these organisations regularly at various fora including the Intergovernmental Commission, its Joint Security Committee, the channel tunnel operational sub-group of the National Rail Security Committee and the Multi-Agency Threat and Risk Assessment (MATRA) group at Eurotunnel. Officials also have regular contact and discussions in the course of routine security monitoring activities.
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what security equipment is in place to scan (a) freight traffic and (b) passengers on Eurotunnel. [72355]
Derek Twigg: While I cannot publicly disclose the details of the security equipment, or how it is deployed at the channel tunnel, to avoid its potential compromise, I can confirm that, among other measures, x-ray equipment and explosive detection technology is in place to screen freight at the Eurotunnel site at Cheriton. A range of security measures is in place in respect of passengers, their luggage, and their vehicles including explosive trace detection, manual searching and under-vehicle video.
Consultants
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the relationship between his Department's expenditure on external consultants and efficiency gains; and if he will make a statement. [71428]
Gillian Merron [holding answer 17 May 2006]: External consultants have only been used in support of the Department's efficiency programme to provide expertise that is not available in-house. The use of external consultants is assessed on a case by case basis in terms of the value that can be added by their skills and expertise and the potential benefits.
Cycling
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all children have the opportunity to undertake the cycle proficiency training scheme and test. [71828]
Derek Twigg: The responsibility for delivering cycle training in schools rests with individual local highway authorities.
We have with the help of over 20 road safety and cycling organisations including ROSPA, the CTC, local authorities and Cycling England developed an improved new child cycle training standard to replace the old style cycle proficiency test.
To support the new standard we have throughour advisory body Cycling England awarded over£1 million to support capacity building in cycle training. Grants and bursaries are available for trainers and training centres to teach the new standards together with a national training helpline.
Cycling England is also funding jointly with the bicycle industry cycle training through their ‘Bike It’ initiative which delivers additional funding for cycle training, cycle parking at schools and helps schools implement their school travel plans on cycling.
Lamp Posts
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lamp posts on motorways and trunk roads in each region of England have reached the end of their recommended lifespan. [71994]
Dr. Ladyman: The number of lamp posts on motorways and trunk roads, for which the Highways Agency (HA) is responsible, that have reached the end of their recommended lifespan, is given in the following table:
| Region | Number |
The numbers contained in the table are as accurate as possible.
Further details are contained in a table which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
It should be noted that where a lighting column is beyond its estimated lifespan it does not necessarily mean that it is dangerous. By using careful maintenance, the practical life of a column can be extended. The HA employs a robust maintenance strategy.
M60
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in resolving the flooding problems on the M60 motorway between Denton and Hollinwood, Oldham. [72650]
Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency's initial works pilot to re-profile a section of the affected carriageway to improve surface water drainage was originally planned for spring 2006. The design is currently being finalised, and to avoid conflict with other works, this work is now programmed for summer 2006, with the aim of undertaking the remaining work in 2007.
Manchester Metrolink
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement concerning the funding for the Manchester Metrolink extension to Ashton-Under-Lyne. [72653]
Derek Twigg: An announcement will be made in due course, once we have completed our consideration of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive's business case.
Milton Keynes South Midlands Growth Area
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by (a) his Department and (b) the Highways Agency of(i) projected traffic volumes into and out of the West Midlands and (ii) the improvements that would be needed as a consequence of the development of the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area. [72984]
Dr. Ladyman: The Highways Agency has commissioned consultants to study the future capacity and operational performance of the M6 between junction 4 and the M1 at junction 19, and the A46 between junction 2 of M6 and the A46/A45 Tollbar End junction to the East of Coventry. The anticipated traffic growth resulting from the additional development expected in the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area will be taken into account in the traffic modelling for this scheme.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will improve junction 19 of the M1 to improve traffic flows between the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area and the West Midlands region. [73066]
Dr. Ladyman: A scheme to improve junction 19 of the M1 was incorporated into the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements [TPI] in February 2003.
The improvement scheme will allow for all traffic movements to and from the M1, M6 and A14, by providing an elevated four level junction. The improvement will reduce congestion, long tailbacks and accident risks on all three routes.
Subject to funding and the successful completion of statutory procedures, construction is programmed to start in late 2007/early 2008 with completion in 2010.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what local transport infrastructure improvements are being considered in consequence of an enlarged travel to work area for the Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area as indicated in its development plans. [73067]
Dr. Ladyman: The Milton Keynes South Midlands Sub Regional Strategy, published in March 2005, provides strategic guidance on the scale, location and timing of development and associated transport infrastructure to 2021. It is for local authorities in the growth area (and on its boundaries) to consider and bring forward proposals
for local transport infrastructure through their Local Transport Plans. Those plans should be informed by the Sub-Regional Strategy.
Motoring Revenues
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the total revenue from (a) motoring taxes, (b) road tolls and (c) fees paid to the Government by motorists in each of the past 10 years. [72082]
Dr. Ladyman: On (a), motoring taxes are a matter for the Chancellor.
On (b), the Government only receive income from one undertaking—the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing. Income from tolls at other statutory tolled undertakings is retained by the operator. For information about the revenue from the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing, I refer to the answers given to the hon. Members for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) on 14 February 2006, Official Report, column 1884W and Gravesham (Mr. Holloway) on 20 April 2006, Official Report, columns 752-53W.
On (c), figures for fee income are set out in the following table.
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